Mortalized

Your Loss (3)

><>Herobrine's POV<><

     My eyes widened for some reason when I saw the blade of my enemy pierce through my mentor, Rey. She had actually tried to save me while I was looking hopeless, practically vibrating with the jolts of mental and physical pain caused by the heated battle between us two. Null looked at me with a satisfied tilt of his head, before teleporting away; he didn't even care to finish me off; and so I walked over to Rey, my usual straight face set into place.

     "Get up." I told her sternly. She only chuckled, it ending in her coughing blood from her lungs.

     "You really think I can do that?" She asked, puzzling me. I tilted my head slightly, with no other way to express my confusion. "Heh, Hero.. I'm dying... You know, what humans do whenever they are stabbed through the chest." She said weakly, trying to put humor into it, but I still saw faint tears in her eyes.

     "No. Not you. You can't die. I know you more than I knew any other human." I siad as if it were fact. She only smiled weakly, sticking up her hand to me. I grabbed it, and like she had taught me, when she pulled it gently, I followed, getting down onto my knees, wondering what she was going to do next.

     "You're so stupid." She said with an amused smile. I tried my best not to take that as an insult. Perhaps there was another meaning for the word. "But.. I have seen it in you, Hero." She said, I got a little curious.

     "Seen what?" I asked.

     "Hope.. hope that you will someday *coughs painfully* learn the magic.. known as love." She then squeezed my hand tightly: something she had never done before. So, mimicking her, I did the same.

     "..You.. You do?.." I asked. All this time, she had told me it was impossible. But, now, she was telling me that was, indeed, possible.

     "Yes, just... Keep doing what I have taught you, and, don't kill anymore... Promise me?.." She asked weakly, placing a shaky hand on my grasp of her other hand.

     "I.. I promise..." I said. But then I began to question why I was promising this. Surely, she would be okay. Surely, she would be there to help me. So.. why?

     "Oh... And one more thing.. One of the most important lessons, about love.." She was at a weak whisper by then.

     "What?." I said softly, hoping it would help her somehow since she was speaking so quietly all of a sudden.

     "Love, is beautiful.. but, it comes with a cost." She whispered. I leaned in closer just so I could hear.

     "Cost? I didn't know you had to pay for love. What is the cost?" I asked her. She blinked slowly. No, wait, she just closed her eyes entirely, before finally whispering.

     "Loss...."

     "..What do you mean by that?" I asked after a moment of silence. Only her heartbeat stopping answered me. "Wait. No. You. You are not allowed to go. Rey.. Rey!" I attempted to wake her as if she were only sleeping by shaking her a little. But, I knew this was no sleep. Still, for some reason, some part of me was having a hard time accepting her death. "Rey! I demand you come back to life this instant!" But, obviously, there was no response from her. She just lay limp, her hand on top of mine having already fallen, and her chest having stopped rising and falling. I still sat there in denial. Yes, humans die. But not Rey. Rey wasn't like the other humans. She- she- she just wasn't supposed to die! I didn't know why! I just knew she wasn't supposed to! After a couple more quiet moments, the truth finally sunk in, and I had to accept that she wouldn't be getting back up. So, I was the one who stood. I was the one who drew my sword again. And I was the one, who swore I would never fall so low beneath Null.. ever... again.

><>Quite Some Time Later<><

     Once again, I was walking through the ashes of another village I led an attack on, hunting for survivors. Once again, I walked through silent streets, scanning those fallen along the streets, checking for any life signatures. In the distance, I heard quiet whimpering from somewhere to my left. I looked further down the street to see a small figure covered in ash. It was not a small animal, which was my first assumption. It was a small human child. The young female's hair was a dark shade of grey, nearly black if you scrubbed out all the ash that clumped together on it. Looking at her confused and sorrow filled eyes, I saw that they were a pale blue color, which stuck out like a firework in the dark sky amongst all the shades of gray around her. Though she was far younger, no older than five years of age, she reminded me an awfully lot of that human female I had made my mentor all those years ago. This had to be a coincidence, however, because I knew for sure that Rey had died. I even buried her on a small, secluded hill, under a large birch tree. This child was possibly related, however. Perhaps some of her family did survive my previous attack.

     "...Um.. Sir..?" The Small child spoke with a scratchy voice as she walked up to me. I was surprised to spot no fear in her as she hobbled over to me on her still developing legs. Her voice was soft, almost silent, so I had to tune in my ears to listen further. "...I.. I am lost.. Can you help me find Mommy and Daddy?" She asked. I just looked down at the child, quietly wondering why such a frail offspring of man would come to ask assistance from someone such as myself. Though I could have easily killed this child, I found her behavior somewhat amusing.

     Slowly, I crouched down, as I had learned from a more recent old friend, and looked the young child directly in the eyes. I could see it now. I could see her emotions in her eyes. She mostly just looked dazed as she had a hard time comprehending what happened, but there was also a sorrow in her eyes.

     "Young child." I spoke gently, as to not startle or scare such a fragile figure. "I do not know where your parents are. Most likely, they are dead." I told her. Tears sprung up in her eyes, but she wiped them away before they could fall. For such a young female child, she had a strong spirit. "But.. perhaps I can help you find a new home." I offered. The young girl looked a little too dazed to really think about the loss of her parents, but she nodded, wiping away a few more tears. I slowly stood back up and began walking away, expecting her to follow. After a few steps, however, I realized that she was not. "Do you not know how to follow?" I asked her bluntly, keeping away any signs of sternness, since my more recent lost one had taught me how important my tone was when talking to a naturally created creature. The little girl nodded, but had a hard time moving her feet forward. "Well, come on then. I will help you find a new home." I coaxed her forward. I honestly had no idea why I was acting out this way, but there was no turning back after having spoken to her.

     "..C... can you hold my hand?.." The young female child asked quietly.

     "May I ask why..?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.

     "M.. my Mommy and Daddy always held my hand.. Wh.. when I was scared." She answered, sounding like worry was slowly rising in her. I didn't know how to respond to that.

     "..Will it help you follow?" I asked. She just nodded quickly. I sighed. What was the point of this 'holding hand?' I saw no convenience to such a thing. But, I opened up my hand as the girl stepped closer. Her hand slipped into mine so easily, it made me think that it was a little leaf. So, I held it as such, hoping I would not crush her tiny hand. "What is your name, young child?" I asked after we had started walking. I had had to slow down tremendously just so that she would not drag behind.

     "Mm.. Maple..." She answered quietly.

     "The name fits." I said emotionlessly, now thinking that her small hand was a good comparison to a maple leaf. "So.. Where do you want your new home to be?.." I asked. Little Maple looked down at the floor, trying to think.

     "I.. I don't know..." She answered after some time. "Maybe, we can look around a little bit.. if you don't mind."

     "...I have a lot of time on my hands." That was me agreeing. Slowly, the two of us walked through the ash-thicken streets, traveling quietly along the body and rubble littered street, off to find Maple Leaf a new home. Little did I know, however.. was that that new home would be none other than my own...

... [To Be Continued.. Eventually]