Section 3:

Tonk! 

     The human was awake, groaning under his blanket. 'Would that racket just stop already?!' Steve complained in his head. It had been going on for the past couple hours, and that left Steve hardly any time to sleep since it started. He had managed to doze off a few times, but only for a couple minutes before being woken up again.

Tonk!

     That time, the noise cracked across the village. Steve was almost certain he could hear it echo off the village walls and back into his ears again, just to annoy him. For some reason the other villagers in his house were much more sound sleepers than he was...but he could always make the excuse that whoever was making that noise could wake up everyone else if they kept it up any longer. With a grunt, Steve hoisted himself from his bed and trudged out the house, not even caring that he had no shoes nor socks on. The grass he stomped on felt weird under his bear feet, for he always wore some form of shoes in the past, but he had not the energy to ponder the tickley sensation. Following more wood hitting wood noises, the human rounded a house, finding his look-a-like dancing in the grass... Of course it was him.

     Steve huffed as he stopped, hand coming up to rub his tired eyes. What on earth was that clone doing?! Hero held a wooden sword in his right hand, flailing it about. He wasn't even holding it correctly! In front of him was a green robed villager Steve believed was called Drake, however, the villager had never tried to talk to him before. Watching the two was the now large and intimidating Billy, likely instructing the two. While Drake looked like he was actually trying to fight correctly, Hero was acting out like a five year old in his first day of school; absolutely out of hand! The younger man pranced around like he thought he was dancing, even doing a twirl or two in the air. His sword rarely made contact with Drake's as the two sparred one another. Drake, though not much the fighter, was at least improving. Hero, however...

     Having had enough of this, the human marched in to correct this. At this rate, Hero was more likely to stab himself five times before he finally hit a monster. He stomped in between the two trainees, lifting his hands to both of them and turning to glare at Hero.

     "What the heck do you think you are doing with that sword?" The human groaned at his look-a-like. Hero jumped back from the newcomer, almost poking himself with his own wooden blade. Steve stepped forwards and immediately began correcting Hero's posture and grip on the sword's handle. The younger man's reaction was not of thankfulness, but instead of disappointment, curiosity, and a little fear.

     "W-what am I doing wrong?" Hero finally commented on Steve's teaching methods as the older man fought with his hand so he would hold his weapon properly.

     "Everything. You keep dancing around like that and you'll end up with one eye like Billy." Steve explained. Before Hero could open his mouth to speak, Steve shoved his back a little forwards to get him in the proper stance.

     "Oh.. Well then can you teach me what I should do?"

     "I am."

     "Ah..." The younger man's spirit seemed to be sapped right out of him, just letting the original puppet(eer) him without any clear emotion showing. Billy hurred at Hero, and the younger hurred back.

     "Alright, now when you swing, don't flail your arm around like a block of slime. Think of both your sword and your arm as one long stick. Be precise in your movements, and think before you act. Don't just jump around like some helpless rabbit. You have a sword for blazes sake!... Hhh, anyways, I'm tired... Be quieter. Your playing woke me up." Steve stretched his back as he turned away from them to return to his bed. The sun was just barely peeking over the distant trees, turning the sky a bright pink. "Bye." And, with all that said, Steve trudged back over the grass to his house, leaving Hero dumbfounded.

Section 4: (original font)

     Hero watched Steve from where he stood, as the elder man dragged himself back to bed. Both Drake and Billy watched the same man over his shoulders.

     "Well, that was rude!" Billy finally spoke up, his words coming out in a completely butchered accent; audible words coming out with extra effort behind them; his voice even a little deeper: the remains of Billy's old voice.

     "Wait what did the human say?" Drake asked the two.

     "Oh, I'm sure he's just tired." Hero added, his eyes still on Steve's back. Steve still had his splint on his leg that one of the medics had built for him -- at least he accepted that -- but a slight limp was still visible in his steps. In his eyes, Hero held sympathy for the elder still; he was just having a rough morning. Billy wasn't as forgiving, however.

     "That still doesn't give him right to push you like that. He never did that while teaching me. He was always stern, but... I wish I could talk to him about it..." With a sigh, Billy turned from watching Steve turn a corner to Drake. "Alright, Drake, let's call it a night. Better get some sleep before the sun makes that impossible."

     "Okay, but what did he say?" Drake.

     "I'll explain as we walk to your house. Mind if I sleep in the pile of hay at your place?" Billy.

     "Of course. Sleep wherever you want!"

     "Thanks... You coming, Hero?" Billy called. The tall one spun around upon hearing his name, breaking himself from deep thought and useless gazing.

     "I can craft a bed for you if you want, though I don't have very much space to put it in my house." Drake chimed in.

     "No no, thanks. I.. think I'll just not go to sleep. I'm not tired, anyways." The man responded with a soft smile that assured the two he wasn't lying. "In fact, I think I'll help Steve out with his chores. He might need some help." What Hero at first thought would bring happy looks, instead created apprehensive expressions on both Drake and Billy. "What?" Hero chuckled, beginning to worry if what he said was offensive or something.

     "Uhhh, I wouldn't do the human's chores if I were you.." Drake said, scaring Hero with his now distraught expression. Billy's face wasn't too different.

     "Heh..why?" Hero.

     "For as long as I can remember, no one has dared to help the human out with his chores." Billy said. At first, Hero thought the two were just joking, but now, with neither showing any signs of that, Hero's smile began to plunge.

     "...Why..? Does he kill you if-"

     "No! Of course not! He, just, uhhh, doesn't apericeate it." Drake answered.

     Billy added with, "Yeah, I've tried several times before, but he just appears to spiral into madness for a day, doing nothing but fishing and running circles around the village until night finally comes. Then, by the next morning, he is back to normal. We figured he just doesn't like it when others help him out."

     "Oh..." Hero was, of course, confused. His eyes drifted to the wall as he thought again. "Well, are there any chores he might not be able to do with his hurt leg? I just.. it might take him all day if he has to do everything around the village, just limping everywhere."

     "Hmmm, I do agree... but usually he is fine."

     "Fine? We're talking about Steve, the one who rescued me from the Illagers! At the very least I should try to help change his day from fine to great!" The young man paused to ponder some more. "I got it! That's how I can thank him for everything! I can make today, the best day of his life!... Or, at least better than just fine."

     Or, at least that's what Drake told me what went down! I wish I had been there, buuuut, I got too tired to even lift a sword after the sun went down, so I went to bed. Had no idea the three would stay up all night! Haha!

Section 5: (font 2. Don't ask about the fonts)

     Steve, as diligent a man as he was, didn't even wake to the morning rays of sunshine. Instead he enjoyed the next couple hours of pure, peaceful sleep. Eventually, he woke up on his own. The human stretched in his bed. His covers drooped over the edge of his bed like a curtain for the bed under his. A deep yawn left the man's throat, and his eyes finally opened, satisfaction them as he enjoyed the softness of his bed and warmpth of his blankets. But then, suddenly, he wasn't enjoying himself quite as much.

     "Oh, silverfish!" The human flung from his bed, falling onto the hard wood floor, trapped in the cocoon of his blankets. He was already late for his chores! What a morning indeed.

     Springing out of his front doors in a hurry, the human had no time to see the rope he was destined to trip over. The man fell again down the front stairs and onto the dirt road outside his house.

     "Oh! Sorry! I shouldn't have tied her up like that!" Hero immediately apologized. When the human had sat up, he saw that one of his horses had been tyed to a fence on one side of the door, while the animal herself was eating some grass on the other side. "Beige," as Steve had named her, had a saddle on her back, even though the human was certain he had taken it off of her after he retired her to live out peacefully in the village. She wasn't exactly the fastest mare in the meadow anymore. "Here, I'll help you up." Hero ran down to where Steve sat and held out his hand.

     "Nah, I got it." The human helped himself up. "And why is Beige saddled? She is too old for running now." Steve asked the younger as he pushed himself off the ground without stretching his leg or anything.

     "Oh, well you don't have to ride her that fast. She's just here to help you get around, with your broken leg and all." Hero chirped, a large smile on his face already. An eyebrow of Steve's lifted above the other as he locked eyes with Hero.

     "I.. can get around just fine, thank you." Was Steve's snarky remark. He then began to turn away from the offer when Hero spoke up.

     "W-wait!" Steve turned back. "I... I just want to thank you for taking me with you, when you escaped. You saved me. I, just. I hope you will accept my help as a thanks?" The younger one cringed back at Steve's silence. Steve was frozen for a moment, searching Hero's face for something that wasn't there. After a moment of silence meant for thought, the human opened his mouth.

     "...O..okay then. Lead the way." Hero's face lit up immediately, something that just had to make Steve smile.

     "Right this way, sir!" The taller one gestured to the sturdy steed with the wave of his hand. Hesitantly, Steve climbed up the saddle and sat down carefully while Hero took the reigns.

     "Okay.. first is the-" The human began to point, but his look-a-like cut him off.

     "The stable? Yep! Already fed them and cleaned out the stalls!" Hero announced with glee. He was too bouncy, leading the horse somewhere, to notice the color draining from Steve's face. "And I fed the pigs, sheep, cows, and even your dog! I also fed the chickens and collected all the eggs -- they are in that chest! Oh, and I also. . ." The younger one's words were slowly drowned out by Steve's own ever increasing heart-rate.. What on earth was he going to do now..? The question sat like a lump in his throat, slowly increasing in intensity. The last time someone did everything for hint he nearly had a panic attack... What if they started doing all of his chores daily? What if they learned how to do everything he could do? What if they didn't need him anymore? These were the questions he asked himself so often, especially when he saw the villagers starting to mimic his behavior and do tasks only he was known for doing. And now... All those questions returned, except much stronger this time.

     ...His very life here was being threatened...

     Before Steve could even wrap his head around the concept, as if on cue, villagers burst out from behind every bush, every tree, every door, and every house, all shouting something in their own language at the same time. The human was a little overwhelmed by what happened next. Colors bumped in his direction. Flowers were tossed this way and that. He couldn't keep track of them all. Bells were rang, loud cheers were repeated, but he didn't understand the meaning of any of them. Baked potatoes, carrots, freshly baked bread -- all of it -- was tossed into his arms.. but he had no idea what to do with it.

     The color was too much. The noise was too much. Everything! It was just too much! And buried under it all: 'Is this my farewell party?.. Are they kicking me out for good?...' He knew it was unlikely, but what if it wasn't?... What if it wasn't?

     As stressed as he was, as panicked as he was, and as messed up he felt inside for missing out on his daily schedule, the human faked a smile, and kindly waved to all those around him. So many eyes. Peering into his. So many. Why were there so many? Why so many eyes? Why eyes?..

     Steve had to look away from the crowd, looking up at the sky. It was such a beautiful day. Hardly any clouds. Wonderful breeze.-

     "See, Steve? They love you!" Hero broke him out from his mental escape, and back to reality; to all the bright colors and harsh noises. For this Steve accidentally released a scowl as he looked down to look at his look-a-like. The man looked so much like him, beside a few facial features, being a little taller, and having a v-neck t-shirt instead of the o-neck one Steve always had. Must have been some designer flaw on the Illagers' part. The Illagers! It was as if Steve was teleported away from the loud village for a moment, to a place completely opposite to the one he was in. Cold, dark, and most of all.. completely helpless. The human visibly shook as he returned, but the dreaded feeling didn't leave him. Trapped. Scared. Overwhelmed. Steve had to leave. There was just so much going on around him he felt paralyzed. He didn't even notice the large table and cake Hero was leading him to.

     "Sor-.. hav-.. t-go." The human hopped down from Beige and made his way through the crowd. Every single time he bumped into a villager he felt as if he might just explode. The crowd of villagers began to question what the human was doing, and many decided to follow him. Hero too tried ro follow, but was pushed back by the sheer amount of villagers between him and the human.

     "Steve!! Wait!!! The party is just now starting!!!" Hero cried over the crowd, however, Steve couldn't hear him. He couldn't hear anything! It was all just one big staticy mumbled mess! "Steeeeeve!"

     Finally! Steve was outside the village. He shut the iron door behind him tightly and placed stone behind the door just to be safe. Then, in the openness of the meadow just outside the village, Steve began to run. He had quite the limp in his step, but if he didn't run he might spontaneously combust! The human ran along the outside of the village wall until he reached where it ended at the river, then he ran back all the way around to the other side of the village. On his way back, The human finally had to stop, for his brace wasn't sturdy enough and would break if he continued. That, and his injury was beginning to swell up with all the blood rushing to it. The human sat back against a dark oak pillar against the wall and propped up his leg on some rocks. The urge to run was still coursing through him though, and the only way to ease that swelling urge was to comb his fingers through his hair and mess with it, maybe even pull on it at times. After maybe five minutes of sitting restlessly, Hero came running Steve's way, nearly out of breath already.

     "Steve! What- what happened?!" Hero was completely out of the loop, looking personally offended by the human's leave, even. When the man couldn't come up with an answer, he simply ignored him. Try as he might to look unphased and tough in the moment, the human really just wanted to curl up in a ball and hide away for the day.

     Steve scoffed as Hero came closer. "Oh, please! Go back in the village! I'll be alright." He ended with a grumble.

     "Listen, I am sorry if anything I did hurt you. I- I had been warned that doing your chores for you was a bad thing-!"

     "-It isn't about the chores!" Steve interrupted Hero. He wasn't liking the position he was in, so Steve stood himself up again using the wooden beam for support and leaned against it once he was standing, already planning his escape.

     "Huh? Then what was it? Was it the cake? I never thought to ask you about whether you liked cake or not.. uuhg, I just heard it tastes really good."

     "Cake?.. -No, it wasn't the cake either." Steve shook his head, now halfway turning himself away from Hero to show his disinterest in the conversation.

     "Then... What was it?! Come on! I can't make it better if you just won't tell me!"

     "I won't! Because.. because I don't know what-- it was all of it! The whole thing! I just- I just can't stand it all! Come on! I thought that maybe, out of everyone, that at least you would understand! You are a clone of me afterall, right?! Created to replace the old, the beaten, and the broken, right?! Why else would they have created you afterall?!" You could say Steve shriveled away after that outburst, which was mostly spent facing Hero, to instead hide partially behind the standing log. All was silent for a while, as Steve regained his posture, slowly winning the fight over the part of himself that wanted to spill everything on his mind; cutting it short where he had just leaked already.

     "...Steve..? Are you.. are you alright..?" The younger man leaned in, trying to get a look at the man's turned away face.

     "Perfectly fine." The human growled, reaching out to shove the taller one away from him. "Just... give me some space..." Said Steve as he sank back down to the ground, where he turned to picking the thorns off the berry bush he had planted outside the wall a while back. The whole wall was lined with berry bushes, since they usually kept some of the monsters at bay. Plus, they were also a fine snack for moments like this. The human began slowly picking off a few berries from the bush carefully as he waited for Hero to leave. Eventually, the younger one got the message..and Steve was alone yet again. Just him, and the berry bush. What a fine adventure.

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Hoi, guys! Sorry for so little updates, especially with my other books! I want this one to be finished before I turn eighteen, so this one stays a priority until then.

On top of that, my YouTube channel has blown up lately, so I have been a lot more busy on there, making videos and doing live streams.

On top of THAT I have sort of jobb and am busy with irl stuff most of the time. Soooo, the o lyrics time I really can write now-a-days is right before bed, and for some reason the WiFi for my tablet likes to cut out after a speciffic time, so usually I can only write a few paragraphs before having to put away the online book stuff. XP

So, anyways, with all those excuses having been said, hope you enjoyed the chapter!