"-Okay! So how long exactly will it take to get to wherever?" Lyla asked from slightly behind Steve as the two walked out into the early morning. The front door of Lyla's house was just then being obscured by leaves and she was already asking questions.
"By myself, probably only three to four days, however with you dragging behind.." Steve hinted. Lyla scowled and sped walked so that she was in front of Steve and he took wider strides as well to match her. "At this pace it should only be three days, counting at least one night of sleep."
"Wait, you don't plan on sleeping?!" Lyla snapped her head towards Steve immediately.
"Why sleep when you have potions of night vision?" Steve.
"Pfff! For rest of course! You are the one who had so much trouble waking up!" Lyla.
"That is because I hadn't slept the night before. I usually only sleep every other night." Steve.
"That's kina bad. Everybody needs their sleep." Lyla mumbled.
"Heh, not me. At least not as much. I don't seem to get as tired as everyone else, for some reason." Steve stated. And the conversation wasn't continued. Cue the walking through a forest montage! Because that was literally the entire day! Neither of them had anything to say, so they both just stayed silent. But at least Lyla had learned some useful information about this new traveler who claimed to be so popular. He was very blunt. If she tripped he wouldn't ask if she was okay or even look back. Only a little "hurry up," to keep her going. And even though Lyla was used to walking a lot, the amount she was used to was nowhere near to the miles upon miles they trekked that day. At least for her the worst thing were some sore feet and tired legs. And by the end of the day, it started to get a little chilly.
The sun was starting to set when a small gust of the first bit of cold wind Lyla had felt in months gently brushed against her skin. A small shiver in preparation made Lyla realize that they were indeed going north.
"Um, are there any villages nearby?" Lyla asked after a long day of silence.
"Yeah, we just passed one. Why?" Steve turned slightly. Inside, he was a little surprised she hadn't given up already. Most people who insisted on going with him ended up trailing too far behind or straight up giving up after a majority of the day. She would probably be that rest of the percentage who gives up on the second day. He was sure of it.
"Um, can we go back to it? I forgot to pack anything warm, and it is getting a little cold." Lyla answered. She wasn't cold enough to be getting goosebumps, but she was being smart about a warmer outfit.
"Ugh! Fine! Just don't take forever shopping." Steve groaned.
"That should be pretty easy. I am not the picky type." Lyla smiled, turning to lead the way back in the direction of where they just came from. After a little bit, Steve took the lead again since he was the one who actually knew where the village was. When the two arrived, they found it was right between the usual oak forest they had been walking through and a spruce forest with it's grass coated in dead leaves and thorny berry bushes.
"The shop is just in town. Shouldn't be too hard to find it." Steve pointed into the village.
"Why aren't you coming along?" Lyla asked him.
"I tend to only make things worse when entering a populated area." Steve stated solidly.
"Oh come on, you can't be that famous!" Lyla smiled, rolling her eyes.
"Heh, fine. Just watch." Steve smirked, putting the sword he had been carrying with him the entire time, a shiny enchanted diamond blade and tough dark oak handle, and walked casually into the village. Lyla walked just as casually behind/beside him, looking around for any reactions from the citizens. It looked like everyone was getting goose ready for the night, sweeping the front stairs, cooking and preparing dinner, saying goodbye to their friends, all the things you might expect from a small, quaint village.
However, all of that changed in an instant when children, women, and even full-grown men dropped what they were doing to admire the presence of this rare hero. In mini swarms the villagers (not the ones with the big noses) ran out to flock around Steve. Lyla looked around in shock at everyone's reaction, then up at steve, who was just smirking back down at her. He WAS right, and Lyla didn't like that.
"Steve! Where have you come from? What quest do you need my assistance on?"
"Can I get you anything Mr. Steven? Perhaps some armor, or a shield? I have an iron sword in the back of my shop. It has all the enchantments you could ever need!"
"Steve, did you really kill the Ender Dragon?!"
"Can you tell us the story about the time you defeated Herobrine?"
"-I want to join you on your mission! I promise I can be helpful! I practice archery every day!"
So many people all spoke over eachother that it quickly became annoying. Steve looked like he was understanding everyone and even nodding or shaking his head at times while giving a weak smile. But Lyla knew he was feeling overwhelmed. It was hard for her to then imagine how he even could get through a city. This was just a tiny village and it was more people Lyla had seen all at once in years!
After a slow trudge through the village, Steve and Lyla managed to, as politely as possible, jump inside the shop and close the doors harshly behind them so no one could follow.
"Fiew!.. Now do you believe me?" Steve asked Lyla as the two of them still stood leaning against the door.
"..No kidding.." Lyla panted.
"You get pretty used to it after a while though." Steve smiled. "So! Grab something quickly. We need to head out as soon as possible." Steve pointed his blocky fist st the rows of pixely outfits hanging on a rod at the opposite wall of the room. In the center were rows of trinkets and food. It was a small but pretty packed store, with just about everything. Lyla quickly walked to the other side of the room and looked at the woman's clothing. The only really warm coats were in the guys' section, which were too big for Lyla.
"Having trouble, Miss?" A kind old man, who looked to be the storekeeper, walked into the open space from a closet door smiling at his new customers. Instead of running up to Steve like even some of the older men outside, he simply smiled and nodded at him as a welcome.
"Um, I am looking for a woman's size coat. One good enough for standing against any kind of cold." Lyla turned her attention to the kindly old store manager with a kind smile in return.
"Heh, no coat can withstand anything my dear. But, sadly, I sold out of the woman's size coats today. A hiking group consisting of mostly young ladies came through earlier this day and bought the entire shelf! You will have to wait until tomorrow morning for the emergency shipment to arrive." The store holder informed both Steve and Lyla.
"Do you know why so many would buy a bunch of coats all of a sudden?" Steve asked the man, looking a little too curious for such a simple thing.
"Unfortunately, no. I heard it is beginning to snow already just past this village. Perhaps they went further north. I also heard that there might have been something that happened up north as well.. but my memory isn't as good as it used to be.." The storekeeper again informed the two.
"Well, we can't wait for a whole new shipment to come in, and I know a coat so big won't be very helpful.. Perhaps..." Lyla turned to look at Steve with a question in mind.
"Oh no! I am NOT staying here until tomorrow. I had planned that I would be nearing the cavern by the end of today, and this little visit has slown me down enough." Steve huffed.
"We go now, and I could freeze! I am sure you wouldn't want someone to die under your watch!" Lyla retorted.
"Then why not just stay here and DON'T risk you freezing to death?!" Steve.
"I said I would be going with you to save (Y/n)! And you promised not to leave me behind!" Lyla.
"Then just leave yourself behind already! You WILL, die, if you come with me!" Steve.
The entire time, the old store clerk just watched between the two, trying to think of a way to break the elevating argument.
"ENOUGH!" The store holder suddenly shouted, stopping Lyla from jumping to kick Steve in the knee. They both turned their heads swiftly towards the man who didn't even know he had that shout in himself, and waited for him to speak again. "Listsn, I may not know what exactly is going on here, but you two shouldn't be shouting. My guess is that you both need rest, correct?" Lyla nodded. Steve didn't want to, but he was feeling a little tired after not being able to sleep in that morning. "Now I am not going to make the decision for you, but I would suggest that you two stay the night in the Inn just across the street until morning. By then the shipment should arrive." The store holder suggested. Lyla smiled, knowing at least someone sided with her, and looked at Steve, who was still thinking.
"Uhh.. Fine." Steve eventually sighed in agreement. Lyla sighed in relief and the store holder smiled contently.
"Alright then. I will make sure to have a full outfit ready for the young lady as soon as the shipment comes in so you two can be on your way as soon as possible." The storeman told the two.
"Thanks." Steve smiled a little. He then looked at the coats as well.
"Um, exactly how much are these?" He asked.
"The best of the bunch are two diamonds each. You could hike up a mountain and hardly feel a shiver. Those were the same coats I sold out on for the womens' size. And there should be plenty more to come, with winter setting in and all." The store holder stated.
"..I might just buy one. I didn't really come that prepared either." Steve chuckled nervously. Then he walked over and grabbed a large black coat and tried it on. It was a little loose, but he seemed to like it that way, and he instantly felt hot in the room temperature store. "I'll go ahead and buy this one." Steve decided, turning to the old man.
Within seconds Steve slid the coat into his inventory and handed the store holder two shiny diamonds in return.
"My niece is the one who owns the Inn, perhaps I can get you guys a room without charge.-" The kind man offered, but Steve interjected.
"No, I think we will be fine. This girl here can have the room. I'll sleep in the tent where no one can bother me." Steve.
"Oh but she is a big fan of yours. I am sure she would give you two a free room." The old man coaxed on the idea.
"...Fine. But she better not freak out like everyone else when she sees me." Steve agreed.