The two could finally breathe freely as they entered the dark and looming obsidian and Nether-brick fortress that lay dormant among many tall mounds of settling snow. The interior of the tower was cold, dark, and wet from soaking up too much snow. Though the air was uncomfortably damp, the Nether theme still poked through, as if the spirit of the realm itself had taken hold of the dark fortress. Lyla stared in awe at the tall ceiling and spiraling staircase.
"Down here." Steve grabbed her attention, steeping down that same spiral staircase and further into the darkness. Lyla followed, ignoring the stinging chill that crawled up her spine. The two walked side by side down the staircase, silently rubbing against one another's shoulders. Lyla couldn't help but notice Steve had suddenly become distant again. He seemed to be fluctuating a lot between open and closed off. The stairs didn't seem to be ending any time soon, so Lyla decided to bring up conversation with him once again.
"Hey, Steve.. What's up?" She asked, looking up at her friend. He seemed to jump a little by having a question to suddenly answer.
"O- oh, fine. You?" Was his response. Lyla only raised her eyebrow at him.
"I know we may have not been on this adventure together for too long, but I know more is going on in your head than you keep saying there is. And, I have opened up quite a bit, to be honest.. so it is only fair that you do the same." She said with a crooked bottom lip. Steve looked at her for a moment too long, nearly tripping down the stairs. Luckily, he was quickly kept from falling by Lyla grabbing his arm and pulling him back up. He chuckled awkwardly a little when Lyla's arms kept themselves wrapped around his, but Lyla kept on a completely innocent and unknowing face as she let go after he was completely steady. There was a little more silence after that as they continued down the stairs.
"I guess.. I am just really glad to have you as a friend, again." Steve chuckled uncomfortably.
"Same! I am so glad we are on the right track now. We both have quite a bit in common too, almost like siblings!" Lyla said happily. But when she looked over at Steve, his face had only fallen sadder. "..I'm sorry, Steve. Did I offend you; because it wasn't on accident!"
"-No.. no. You didn't offend me." Steve said, finally letting the fake happy act fall.
"Then, what is it? Steve, just tell me. I am going to annoy you to your grave if you don't." She threatened with a tease. He didn't make any effort to speak until Lyla placed her hand on his shoulder, telling him that she was all ears and genuinely cared enough to listen.
"...It's just.. it's just... I don't know what is going to happen, when we face my brother.. afterwards."
"Aww, Steve. We'll be fine, right? Wait, they took all your weapons, didn't they?." Lyla suddenly remembered back to the Trudgers. Steve was internally grateful the conversation had shifted.
"Oh, yeah. That stuff. Not to worry, though. I always hide chests in places I think I may need them the most, including this tower. In it is probably my favorite set of armor.. and heavily enchanted diamond sword." Steve smirked, making Lyla sigh in relief after that little scare she made for herself.
"Is there anything in there that I can use?"
"I.. never really prepare for anyone except me, but, there should be some extra things you can use." Lyla looked a little disappointed. She wanted to help fight instead of having yet more reasons to be left behind. "...Heh, just teasing. We can share my set of diamond armor." Steve smiled down at her, reading her face perfectly. She smiled back at him for that. Then more silence fell over them, followed by more thinking.
"...Steve.." Lyla looked back up at her friend, a change in attitude. "I.. I am sorry... for giving away your amulet.. and for dropping it before. If I had known-" She was interrupted by Steve placing his own hand on her shoulder this time.
"Lyla, that stuff isn't your fault. I gave it to you years ago as a token of our friendship, and you giving it away was you only keeping that friend.-"
"But, your mother-"
"And- ..We can always take it back when things blow over, when we have nothing to do but kill time." He smirked.
"You really do think like a thief, don't you?" She smirked back.
"Hey, the life of a Steve is a difficult one at that." He said, trying to sound poetic, but it didn't work when both broke out into laugher at the end, struggling to keep their faces from turning red in that moment, as they finally reached the bottom of the stairs, placing their feet on cold cobble floors. Around them was an empty, dark room, dimly lit by old torches. "Hmmm.." Steve looked around at the floor, then came up to a certain spot, got down on his knees, and punched at the cobblestone floor under him. Lyla watched with a raised eyebrow until she realized what he must have been doing right as the stone finally gave way to his lightly bruising fists. He then lowered his top half into the floor he had created and opened a chest. One by one, he pulled out all the chests continents and set them sloppily on the floor right next to him. Lyla watched in awe as he pulled out all sorts of rare items, such as totems of undying, gold, a couple magma blocks, potion tipped arrows, golden apples, potions of all kinds, and finally, a full set of diamond armor.. and his shiny diamond sword. Steve was right. That thing WAS heavily enchanted. It was also very unique, having a much thicker and longer handle to match the even larger, curved diamond blade.
"Wow, I've never seen a sword like that before." Lyla breathed in astonishment.
"Makes sense. There are only a few in existence. This one is actually one of the last, since many of them were melted in the Nether's lava sea when a group of black knights tried to take down my brother all those years ago, turning him fully into the monster he is now." He no ended with somewhat of a growl, checking his sword for any scuffs or cuts that may need to be repaired.
"You know.. when I saw my sister in the forest, which I was SURE it was actually her, she told me that he had changed..." Lyla returned softly.
"Heh, we can all dream.. but, he already made it clear to me that he was not going to change several years ago, giving me this." He showed what he was meaning in that moment by lifting his shirt slightly, slowing a very thick scar above his hip that looked like it went from one side of him to the other, but clearly it's worst on the side where it was the darkest. Lyla gasped slightly, having never seen a scar that big before.
"I'm.. I'm sorry..." She lowered her head, allowing Steve to continue what he was doing.
"No.. It's alright. I would do anything honestly to believe that little twerp could be good again. He just... He just hasn't given me anything to go off of... Only the complete opposite." The conversation ended there, somewhat sad looks on both their faces as Steve looked over his items, evenly splitting everything between the two of them. After they had split his things, Lyla dug deep into her pockets, pulling out the last remains of her food, and the two shared that, just talking about simple things like their favorite color and whatnot.
After the two believed they were as mentally ready as they were ever going to be, they disputed over the armor set, both insisting the other have the chest-plate until Steve finally gave up and put it on, but insisted Lyla at least wear the leggings. They eventually agreed to Steve wearing the chest-plate and boots, while Lyla wore the leggings and helmet. Satisfied, the two walked around that staircase, where a purple glow Lyla hadn't even noticed before illuminated an obsidian frame. The purple mix of swirls called out to both of them as they stepped closer, silently daring them to enter with the risk of never leaving again.
Absolutely transfixed on the adventure ahead, Steve gently grabbed Lyla's hand, making her look at him curiously.
"Just one, final, challenge left." Steve smiled calmly.
"Heh, on the quest to not die." Lyla added. She held his in return.
"It really has been a challenge." Steve.
"Yep..." More silence.
"Well, are you ready?.." Steve.
"Are you?" Lyla.
"....." Steve.
"Yeah, me neither.." More blank staring forwards. "Umm, you go first." She playfully pushed Steve forwards.
"Eh, I vote you." He joked, pulling her ahead of him.
"How about this?.. We go through, together." Lyla. Trying not to smile a certain way, Steve nodded.
"That sounds like a good idea." And, with that, the two stood side by side again, and stepped through, together.