Chapter #5 Matt Forbeck's MineCraft Dungeons The Rise of the Arch-Illager

Ashcraft Minecraft Podcast

Despite the Villagers’ initial reservation about him, Archie managed to find a way to fit in well in relatively little time. The morning after he arrived, Yumi sat him down and listened to the Tale of how he’d been banished from his tribe. Later that day she took him around and introduced him to everyone in the village, one home at a time.

In the naked light of day, Archie must have seemed much less threatening to the Villagers. Yumi had found an old set of clothes to dress him in. They were simple but serviceable for Villager clothing, or so she told him. Even so, they were nicer than just about anything he’d ever worn as part of his Illager tribe.

Most of the Villagers Archie met seemed kind and happy now. Even ones who’d scowled at him last night. A few of them actually said “Welcome to our Village,” to him.

The only real exception was Salah. He refused to speak to Archie at all. Instead, he tried to pretend the Illager wasn’t there as he growled at Yumi. “That thing you dressed up like a doll is vermin,” he told her. It doesn't belong here, and every minute you keep it here, you put the entire village in danger.” Yumi scoffed at him and gestured at Archie. “Look at him. Does he look like a threat to you?”

Salah pointedly didn't take his eyes off Yumi’s face. That's an Illager, not a Villager. Only Villagers belong in the village. It's in the name.”

With that, he slammed the door of his house in Yumi’s face. She narrowed her eyes at it for a moment, as if she was considering kicking it down. Instead, she turned and escorted Archie away.

“Don't worry about him,” she said as they headed back to her place. “He’ll come around eventually.”

“What if he doesn't?” Archie couldn't help but worry that the man would do anything in his power to get rid of him.

“Then it’ll make him miserable- not you- but there’s nothing you can do about that.”

Over the next couple of weeks, Archie did his best to make himself useful. He accompanied Yumi out of her house whenever she went out, mostly because he didn't want to be left alone.

Anytime she asked him to do something, he jumped to comply. He wanted nothing more than to please her and to —- as Yumi often commented with a gentle smile —- earn his keep.

Archie wasn't always good at doing what he was asked, but he put every bit of effort into it that he could muster. Terrified that Yumi's mercy toward him could expire any moment, he made up his mind that he wasn't going to give her any excuse to let the rest of the people kick him out of the village. At least, not if he could help it.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Archie actually felt more useful than he ever had at any other point in his life, and even appreciated. While the people of the village didn’t completely trust him — yet, he told himself — they treated him better than almost all of his fellow Illagers ever had.

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