"I agree. Let's focus on Shado. These villagers can handle themselves."
"That's not what Butch says!" I said, following Butch in exasperation.
"I don't know," I replied as I struggled to keep up with her.
They rode down the other side of the hill, then across a flat plain that led to the very doorstep of the village. Ahead, I could see Butch reaching down and opening one of the wooden doors that served as the village gates.
"Butch...wait for the rest of us!" I yelled, but the stubborn NPC charged in without any backup or assistance.
"He's gonna get killed doing that one of these days," Digger grumbled behind us.
I turned and gave Digger a shrug, then kicked my horse into a gallop and shot through the doors.
Inside the village, I expected chaos: a scene of destruction as the village was consumed in flames. But instead, I saw villagers calmly but quickly moving back and forth between the well and the blacksmith's house that stood near the central tower. A column of smoke rose from the half-wood, half-stone structure.
Butch charged forward, yelling at the top of his lungs, ready for battle. This startled many of the NPCs, causing them to drop their buckets in fear.
I shook my head in exasperation, then moved cautiously forward, my sword held at the ready. Off to the right, I saw a donkey shuffling about near fields of wheat and carrots, a wooden chest embedded in his hips; it was a pack mule. I drew closer to the burning structure. The crackle of flames could be heard over the shouts of the NPCs. That wasn't surprising, as the blacksmith's shop always had multiple furnaces burning. But now, I could see flames licking up the thin wooden supports that held up the shop's roof. NPCS were throwing water onto the flames, trying to extinguish them.
Butch charged about, searching for monsters to attack, but there were none. As far as I could tell, this was just an accidental fire.
I reached out and took a pail of water from one of the villagers, who looked up at me with curiosity but handed the bucket over. I then moved to the side of the blacksmith shop and jumped into the air, placing a cube of dirt under my feet. After rising four blocks, I stepped onto the roof, then poured the water over the burning section. The water spread across the structure and extinguished all the flames.
Many of the villagers began to cheer, but only to fall silent one by one as Butch stepped up and questioned them.
"Who set this fire? Was it a monster? Which one?"
The villagers stepped back slightly, confused and a little afraid. Butch still had his sword out and was wildly swinging it around in the air to emphasize his point. I placed a block of dirt on the flowing water, stopping the watery cascade, then jumped into the flow and rode it to the ground. I then moved to Butch's side and gently pushed the NPC's sword hand to the ground.
"Who set this fire? Was it a monster? Which one?"
The villagers stepped back slightly, confused and a little afraid. Butch still had his sword out and was wildly swinging it around in the air to emphasize his point. I placed a block of dirt on the flowing water, stopping the watery cascade, then jumped into the flow and rode it to the ground. I then moved to Butch's side and gently pushed the NPC's sword hand to the ground.
"What are you doing?" Butch snapped.
"There are no monsters here," I said. "Put your sword away."
"There are no monsters here," I said. "Put your sword away."
The big NPC glanced around, suddenly realizing that there were no other weapons drawn. Reluctantly, he put his blade back into his inventory.
"If this wasn't a monster attack, then how did the fire get started?" Butch demanded to know.
The villagers all pointed to the pack mule.
"The mule got out and knocked over one of the furnaces," the village's crafter said.
"Then...then there is no danger here?" Butch sputtered.
"Then...then there is no danger here?" Butch sputtered.
The old crafter shook his head and smiled.
The big NPC kicked the ground in frustration, sending a clump of dirt flying, then turned and jumped onto his dark horse.
The big NPC kicked the ground in frustration, sending a clump of dirt flying, then turned and jumped onto his dark horse.