Chapter Text
"Any replaced stock on the G-Train?"
Grian glances up at the newcomer, smiling at his friend. "Some. Depends what you need."
Scar grins back, poking his head into one of the shulker boxes. The companionable silence is broken by a single ping from Grian's communicator. It's odd enough that the message doesn't arrive for both of them, but it's even stranger that the sound comes again once, then twice more in quick succession before letting off a barrage of sound as several more alerts register. Grian feels his brow furrow and Scar looks up at him in mild concern.
"Is everything okay?"
"I... I don't know." Grian pulls out the device, glancing at the screen. He feels his stomach plummet into a pit at the off-world signal indicating a message sent with a high enough priority to bypass even the Hermitcraft whitelisting.
Fruitberries: Something’s wrong and I didn't know who else to ask.
Fruitberries: Please can you help?
Fruitberries: Please.
Fruitberries: Please, Grian.
Fruitberries: I can't get through to HBG.
Fruitberries: I don't know what to do.
Fruitberries: It's Illumina.
The churning in Grian's gut intensifies. He likes Fruit, certainly, but he very rarely sees him. It's almost exclusively an occurrence for when they're both in MCC. Even aside from that, Ren and False have teamed with Fruit much more often than Grian has. To hear from him at such a random time in this sort of situation... It implies that the younger is panicking. Grian doesn't really know Illumina: he's newer to MCC and the two of them haven't been teamed yet. If Fruit vouches for him, though, Grian has no doubt in his mind that he's a good person.
Grian: What's wrong? I'll do whatever I can.
Fruitberries: He just passed out.
Fruitberries: He hasn't been feeling well for the past few days.
Fruitberries: He won't wake up. I don't know what to do.
Grian: I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Grian chews his lip. He doesn't know how he can help, but it does make some degree of sense that Fruit reached out to him. He's probably spoken to False and Ren too, and maybe Cub and Pearl.
"You look worried. Is it serious? Can I help?" Scar asks.
"I don't even know if I can help," Grian admits, "I'm not sure what's actually happening."
He types a hasty message to False, Ren, Cub and Pearl to ask if they've heard from Fruit. The affirmative response confirms his suspicions: Fruit's messaged all of them in a panic. It takes barely any time for them to gather at the Boatem pole, each looking concerned. Some of the others have joined them, including Scar, who's been watching Grian's intensifying look of concern, and Impulse and Mumbo, who've both taken notice out of their windows. Xisuma rounds out the group, worried by the tension running through so many of the Hermits.
"We have to do something," False says, almost immediately, "I mean, even if it wasn't Fruit asking on Illumina's behalf, we wouldn't let anyone be this upset if we could help."
"We don't even know what's wrong," Grian points out. His seriousness is a far cry from the person who was giggling mere hours ago about managing to successfully blow Impulse up yet again. "I'm not saying we shouldn't help, obviously, but what can we do if we don't know the problem?"
"What's going on?" Xisuma interrupts.
"Fruit – someone we know from MCC – is asking for help." Pearl chews her lip.
"His friend's passed out and he won't wake up," Cub adds, "And Fruit doesn't know what's wrong."
"Illumina's a sweet dude," Ren chimes in, "Thinking of him suffering and nobody knows what's up... It's not right, man. It's just not."
"Seconded," False agrees.
X hums to himself, clearly thinking. The conclusion he comes to clearly surprises even him. "I'll whitelist the two of them temporarily. Get... Fruit, was it? Get Fruit to bring his friend here. We'll all help."
Grian feels the tiniest amount of the pressure in his chest begin to lift. "I– Really?"
"This is important to you lot," X says, "Which means it's important to all of us. I'll have them cleared within the hour."
Fruit arrives without ceremony. Seeing him knelt on the floor with a tight grip on Illumina is heartbreaking, and the limp form in his arms somehow looks incredibly small. Even those who weren't present at the original conversation have been made aware of the goings-on, which means that they're present to help. Grian can't help but be grateful for it when Mumbo gives him a sympathetic smile to calm his nerves. It still doesn’t stop the way his hand twitches slightly with worry and his stomach lurches with anxious nausea.
"Where are we setting up?" Impulse asks, already moving to lift Illumina's unconscious body away from Fruit to help carry him. "This village probably isn't the best place."
"There are a few shops completed in my section of Boatem that'll give some privacy," Grian says, "We can just stick some beds in there."
With a nod and some assistance from Doc, Impulse lifts Illumina onto a hastily-made stretcher False had asked Stress for once it was agreed that Fruit would bring his patient to Hermitcraft. Even with the movement of his body, Illumina himself remains deathly still. It's the first time Grian has seen his face uncovered. He presumes Fruit did it while trying to take care of him, but it still sends a jolt to his stomach that he hadn't been given some sort of... Some sort of permission. The group that departs for the first shift watching over their unconscious visitor is fairly small, but Grian trusts Impulse, Doc and Stress to take care of their charge. Suddenly left without the task of caring for his friend alone, Fruit blinks up at the group around him, and it's then that Grian gets to see him properly. The young man's face is ashen, with black circles gouged under his eyes.
"Thank you," Fruit says shakily, "Thank you. I didn't know who else to ask."
"Fruit, my dude," Ren begins, voice gentle, "When's the last time you slept?"
"I... I'm not sure. Before Illumina passed out, I guess. I thought he was just... I thought he was injured or exhausted or something, and he'd wake up. But he doesn't have any wounds, and it's been days."
"Let's get you to a bed," False says firmly, "You're no good to him if you keel over."
"But I... I shouldn't leave him."
"Stress has gone to take care of him, and Impulse and Doc are there too. They won't let anything happen."
X steps forward. "I know you don't know me, but as the admin around here, I promise you that none of us intend to let anything happen to your friend. You can take some time to rest if nothing else."
Fruit hesitates, then nods and tries to push himself to his feet. He stumbles instead, thrown off-balance by the lack of sleep, and Grian darts forward, wings extended for balance as he catches the other. A trembling pair of arms wraps around Grian's neck. It's initially a surprise when Grian notices that Fruit isn't even attempting to move away but instead buries his face in the avian's neck. When the first patch of dampness soaks through Grian's sweater, though, he realises what's happening. Fruit, usually calm and composed even when under pressure, is crying. Grian tightens his grip on the younger in response.
"Okay, Fruity B," he says quietly, "It's okay."
He doesn't know how long he stands there holding onto the strangely fragile figure in his arms. He doesn't really care. He just waits, feeling a heavy rain on his shoulder even though the sky is clear.
Fruit cries himself to sleep in Grian's embrace despite being stood up, and it's that more than anything that displays just how tired he is. Grian can't help the protective feeling that floods through him. Even when False and Ren step forward to help carry him to a bed, the avian simply holds on more tightly. After a few more murmured words to the gathered Hermits, he takes flight with a few powerful beats of his wings. Fruit mumbles a little at the sudden rush of air, but he's barely awake and it takes little effort for Grian to soothe him back to sleep with whispered words of reassurance.
Finding out which building the others have settled Illumina in is a quick job, and Grian elects to place Fruit on a bed in the house directly next door. In the time it takes him to get the other settled, he begins to hear voices arriving and doors opening and shutting. In what seems like no time at all, Ren and False are entering the room, voices hushed to avoid waking Fruit.
"Illumina's settled," False reports, "But it's not surprising that Fruit couldn't see what the problem was, since none of us can either. He's not showing any recognisable signs of illness other than the fact that... Well, he won't wake up."
"X is checking him over too," Ren adds.
"Why is X–?" Grian starts, then cuts himself off. "He thinks something might have corrupted his code."
False nods. "It's the only thing left that any of us can think of."
At that moment, Scar and Iskall enter as quietly as the others had done. Each one is holding a tray.
"We thought he might need something to eat when he wakes up," Iskall says, "And something to drink. Also the rest of you get something too, since I expect you've forgotten that it's lunch time."
"What about–?"
"Joe and Cleo are taking stuff to the others," Iskall interrupts.
"Made with my own fair hands," Scar coaxes, brandishing a plate with a sandwich on it in Grian's direction.
"In that case, definitely not," Grian teases even as he reaches for the proffered food.
He's finishing his second sandwich in companionable silence with the others when Xisuma arrives. The admin looks troubled, but unfortunately he also seems no less confused than any of the others.
"His code is unusual in places," X informs them, sinking tiredly into the only remaining spare chair in the room, "But there's nothing in there that I've not seen before. I didn't see any completely unique anomalies. I've left Stress with him, and most of the other Hermits are happy to take care of either him or Fruit as necessary."
"You don't think there's anything else wrong with Fruit, do you?" Ren asks, concern shining through in his words.
"I think he's just exhausted," X says, "It sounds like he hasn't slept in days, and I seriously doubt he's been eating right either." His concerned tone softens briefly as he adds, "He's lucky to have you lot. They both are."
Grian can't help but feel like it's misplaced praise. He doesn't know Illumina as anything other than a name and a competitor. He's never been a teammate of Grian's, and certainly not to the level of making jokes about being a Hermit himself the same way that Fruit does. The guilt of the feeling is clearly visible on his face, because X clarifies immediately.
"I know you said you've not really spoken to Illumina, Grian, but that includes you. You've gone above and beyond simply because Fruitberries asked you to. You may have been asked for help because Fruit knows you, but you agreed because Illumina was in trouble."
The words settle over Grian like a blanket. He isn't quite sure he believes it, but it's nice to hear. There's a moment of silence, then Ren stands.
"I'm going to go back to Illumina. I know it's not likely right now, but if he wakes up, he should have someone he recognises with him."
"I'm going to try to get some sleep," False says, "If you need to sleep yourself at some point, I can trade off with you while Fruit's still asleep."
Grian nods. "Good idea. I'll stay with Fruit."
"I'll tell Cub and Pearl to get some sleep so you can leave if you have to."
The twisting in Grian's gut suggests that he won't be sleeping any time soon. More than just concern, he can't shake the feeling that something is deeply, horribly wrong.
"Do you want company?" Iskall offers as everyone begins to file out. Grian waves him off.
"I'll be fine. I'll send a message if I need something."
Once Iskall's shut the door softly behind himself, Grian settles in. He could be here for a while.
Grian doesn't sleep for the full sixteen hours it takes Fruit to wake up. Instead he sits, alert and watchful, until there's a stirring in the bed. As Fruit sits up, Grian sends discrete messages to X, Cub, Pearl, Ren and False to let them know, then turns his full attention to the other.
"Hey," he says, keeping his voice soothing and calm, "How are you doing?"
"Ugh," Fruit croaks out, "I feel like I got hit by a ravager. How's Illumina?"
"Still out. Nobody's seen anything out of place."
"You didn't?" The disappointed tone is heartbreaking.
"Well," Grian hedges, "I've been here with you. But I doubt I'll see anything they haven't, so if you mean 'you' as a plural, then..."
Fruit's mouth twists unhappily. "Oh."
"I promise I'll have a look when we head through." The guilt is churning in Grian's gut again.
"I appreciate how hard you guys have been trying," Fruit says genuinely, shifting himself back to lean against the headboard. Grian leans in, holding the other upright a little as he shoves a couple of spare pillows behind him for comfort before sitting back down.
"I don't feel like I've done much," Grian responds, "I've just sat here, really. False and Ren would have been here, but they wanted someone Illumina would know to be there if he woke up, and Cub and Pearl are getting some rest. And it's not like any of us have found a solution."
"It's still better than having nobody to help." Fruit frowns. "I couldn't get through to anyone from HBG. I thought it'd be the easiest place to get help, but none of my messages were going through, and I couldn't get Illumina into the world. I was... Okay, I was panicking."
Grian rests a hand on Fruit's arm. "But you got through to us. That's what counts."
At that moment, the door opens a crack and Ren's head appears round it.
"Fruity Loops! How are you doing, dude?"
False materialises behind him moments later, a smile on her face. "Good to see you awake, Fruit."
"Hey, guys." For all the worry he's been experiencing, Fruit's clearly happy to see them now that he's had more rest.
"Cub, Pearl and X are on their way, and Impulse and Stress are both with Illumina right now," False reports.
"Can I see him?" Fruit asks. The concern for his friend is clearly exacerbated by the extended time he's spent watching over him alone.
"Get out of that bed and stand on your own two feet for thirty seconds and we'll talk about it," Grian says, mostly joking.
Fruit rolls his eyes lightheartedly and swings his legs out, pushing himself to his feet and only wobbling slightly. "I've had enough rest. I don't even feel tired anymore."
"I'll let X, Cub and Pearl know we'll be next door," False says with a smile.
It takes them barely a minute to make it into the next building over. Although Cub and Pearl are still on their way, Xisuma arrives just as they head through the front door. He gives Fruit a kind smile.
"Hi. Sorry, I didn't get to properly introduce myself before. I'm Xisuma. I'm the admin. It's nice to meet you, though I wish the circumstances were better."
"Yeah, you too. I guess you probably know who I am already then? I figured you probably whitelisted me."
"Yep, that was me," X replies.
The small group travels to Illumina's room in silence. It's not awkward, per se – perhaps more uncomfortable. The closer they get, the larger the knot in Grian's stomach grows. It's almost like there's a quiet buzzing in the back of his mind, and a disquieting sensation tickling the back of his neck. The door opens with a near-soundless click. Fruit, False, Ren, and X file in, but Grian can't help lingering by the door for a moment. It feels like if he steps through the door, he might be sick, and he can't say why.
"Grian?" X prompts.
"Right. Sorry."
Fruit's already pulled up another chair beside Illumina's bedside by the time Grian comes closer. Illumina's skin is pallid, his body almost lifeless. Without the subtle, gentle rise and fall of his chest, it would be difficult to claim that he was still alive. As it is, his breathing is the only indicator of anything more than a corpse.
"Will you check him over?" Fruit asks. "You said you would."
"Yeah," Grian says, mouth dry, "Of course."
His limbs feel like they're moving through molasses as he reaches out to take Illumina's arm to check his pulse. The comatose man is clammy, and it takes everything in Grian not to recoil at the touch. He doesn't quite understand the reason for the sensation – the feeling of the skin itself doesn't inherently put him off. Instead, it's like something small and scared is crawling under his skin, whispering warnings into his very being. Illumina's pulse is sluggish but mostly regular at first. Even as Grian tries to measure it, though, it creeps up in speed, pounding in an alarming, inconsistent manner which makes no logical sense. Grian frowns in concern, and the look doesn't go unnoticed by the others.
"What's wrong?" False asks, her own brow furrowing in response.
Grian doesn't answer. He's distracted, the churning, anxious, fearful feeling in his stomach increasing exponentially. The faint purple particles he's beginning to see are unsettling, instilling fear in his core. He reaches out tentatively, raising the lid of Illumina's left eye carefully.
Pure purple glows back at him, malevolent in its simplicity, horrifying not because of the person whose eyes are shining but because of its familiarity. Grian pulls his arm away hastily, letting Illumina's eye shut again naturally. He barely makes it out of the room before he's vomiting, eyes streaming, everything in his body tense, taut and ready to flee. Despite the lack of cold, he's shivering, and he can feel it rising within himself, harder to push down and suppress than it has been in a long time. He barely notices his legs folding, narrowly missing the puddle of his own vomit as he slips into a kneeling position and rests his forehead against the cool wall. Even behind his own closed eyes, he can almost see the broken portal symbol.
"Grian?"
X's voice is kind and concerned. It floats into Grian's ears in a detached sort of way.
"They'll know," Grian whispers hoarsely, "They're going to find me. They want him, and they'll take me too."
"Grian, what are you talking about?" Xisuma asks, worry evident even as he attempts to suppress it.
Grian can't bring himself to answer. With a tremendous amount of effort, he staggers to his feet. A shimmering purple light floods over him once, uncontrolled in a way it hasn't been for years, and with a final glance over his shoulder at the door which hides Illumina's prone body, Grian launches himself out of the nearest window, beating his wings and leaving as fast as he possibly can.
He isn't quite sure where he stops. Based on the surrounding terrain, he thinks it might be near Iskall and Etho's place, but he can't focus long enough to be certain. His landing is nowhere near as smooth as it usually would be, and he stumbles ever so slightly before tucking his wings around himself and falling to his knees. He inhales, then exhales and repeats, losing himself in the rhythm of his own breathing. He can't help the thoughts that batter the inside of his head like waves on a beach during a storm.
"And you will learn from this in the future?" a voice asks coldly.
"Yes, of course," Grian says, head down, hands laced behind his back, voice subdued. He feels the power pumping round his body with his blood, and he knows that he isn't the one controlling it in this moment. It's not his magic: that feels familiar now, almost like home. This is foreign and restrictive, lighting up his insides both metaphorically and literally. He knows that every major vein and artery in his body is glowing purple right now, matching the colour he can somehow feel emanating from his eyes.
"Good," murmurs the figure before him, "A Watcher must always learn from their mistakes."
"Hey." The voice jolts him from his memories and the panic they bring with them. Grian flings his arm out instinctively, unleashing a wave of purple energy that pins the new arrival to the rocky cliff edge. "Whoa, okay! It's okay, Grian, it's just me."
"Etho," Grian croaks out, "What– How did you find me?"
"I didn't mean to," the other says, brushing his white hair from his eyes as Grian relaxes the grip his magic holds on him, "I just heard that you'd run off this way. So, is that a new thing, or what?" He gestures at Grian's hands, which are still sparking with purple flecks.
"Not new," Grian grits out.
"You don't have to talk about it. No pressure. I just didn't realise it was something you could do."
"I... I have to... I need to talk about it. I need to explain. I've been putting everyone in danger, and now that Illumina's here..."
"I don't think you're in any state to be talking about it right this second," Etho says calmly, "So we're going to go and sit with a drink, and when you're not shaking so hard you might vibrate through the floor, we can go and talk to the others."
Grian nods almost mindlessly as Etho wraps an arm around him comfortingly, letting his friend guide him back to the base he shares with Iskall. It registers distantly how right he'd been to presume he was near the two of them. He sits, still as a statue, as Etho brings him a glass of water before seating himself directly opposite Grian. It doesn't take too long before Grian manages to force his anxious shuddering to a halt, steadying his breathing as best he can.
"Sorry," he mumbles.
"No need to be sorry. I think the others are going to want to know what's going on, though."
"I think I can wake him up. Illumina, I mean."
"Has it got something to do with that purple energy from before?"
Grian swallows heavily before sipping at the water Etho's given him. "Yeah. Yeah, it does."
"I didn't know you could do anything like that," Etho probes gently.
"I... I'm sorry about that. If I hurt you, I mean. I never told anyone. I didn't want to... If they'd even heard rumours about me..."
"Who?"
"I can't... Can I tell you when I tell everyone else? You all... You deserve to know, but I don't know if I can say it more than once."
Etho gives him a sympathetic look. "That's fair enough. Are you okay to travel? We can go now, if you want. We don't have to, though. No need to run before you can walk."
Grian tilts his head back to let the last mouthful of water run into his mouth. He lets out a small sigh as he steels himself, then places the glass down and grits his teeth.
"Let's go."
The stomach-churning feeling of eyes on him is the worst addition to the nausea he's already feeling when he returns to the others, Etho a comforting presence beside him. Grian can't help the wave of emotion he feels at the support his friend is giving him, and as much as he hates being watched, knowing that the others had been worried is oddly reassuring too. He can trust them.
"Are you—"
"I'm fine," Grian interrupts. He feels bad for cutting Impulse's question off, but he needs to just get through this. "I... I'll explain everything soon, but first... I think I can help Illumina. I think I can wake him up."
Despite lingering concern for Grian, Fruit immediately sits up a little straighter in response. "You can?"
"Well, I— I can try."
It's disconcerting to see the way his friends part before him as he makes his way to Illumina's bedside. The fact that Fruit gives up his seat, the closest one to Illumina's head, so that he can reach better without even having to ask is just as nerve-wracking. Grian seats himself beside the bed, ignoring the nausea that the presence of the growing magic inside Illumina – because that's what it is, not only the anxiety he'd thought it was the first time – is causing. With a shuddering breath in, he reaches out, places a hand on Illumina's forehead, shuts his eyes, and lets the floodgates open.
Feeling magic coursing through his veins again, on purpose no less, is as terrifying as it is exhilarating. Grian can feel it rushing inside him, knows the way it literally lights up his skin, practically tastes the tingle on his tongue. It almost, almost feels wrong to push the power through his palm and his fingers, reaching for the responding tendrils that he knows will extend back toward him reciprocally if he can just—
‘Hello?’
Grian's eyes snap open, unseeing of the prone form in front of him. Instead, he stands in the End. There are no Endermen, and no Ender Dragon is in sight. All there is is Illumina. He looks much healthier than the version that Grian knows, logically, is real. The lower part of his face is covered as it always had been when Grian had seen him before Fruit had brought him to Hermitcraft. His eyes, though, are tinged with purple, not so obvious that it covers the natural colour, but enough for his irises to shine a little oddly.
‘Illumina?’
‘G-Grian? I, uh... It's nice to meet you, I guess. Fruit's said a lot of good things about you. What are you doing here?’
He sounds confused and a little awkward, but it's clear he's being genuine. Grian's heart aches a little at the situation. The sentences the two are exchanging echo ever so slightly, as if speaking them isn't quite what's happening, but their mouths continue moving in time with their words.
‘You're not awake. You passed out. Fruity B's worried about you, and there's... Something's... You won't be safe if you don't wake up.’
‘I'm not—? Then how are you here? I... I don't understand.’
‘I know. I'll explain when you wake up, but I need you to try and reach out.’
‘What do you mean?’ What's visible of Illumina's brow furrows slightly.
‘You'll feel it,’ Grian assures him, impressed at how confident he sounds even as he feels the terror that he's wrong rising inside himself, ‘You'll know how to do it. Just reach out for me, and let me pull you out. I know you don't know me, but can you trust me enough to do that?’
Illumina nods once. ‘Fruit trusts you. That means I do too.’
Grian pushes forth every piece of his magic that he can reach, stretching it out toward Illumina. For a moment, there's nothing. Then, tentatively, intertwining with his own, the familiarly unfamiliar energy tugs ever so slightly.
‘Hold on,’ Grian says.
And then he pulls.
With a shuddering gasp, Grian's eyes shoot open, blazing purple for a few seconds before fading into their usual dark irises. In the bed in front of him, he's vaguely aware of Illumina going through the same motions, his back arching as he jolts with the shock of being jerked awake, his own purple magic dying out as the colour of his eyes and veins returns to normal. The veins are less obvious for Illumina only due to the fact that more of his skin is covered, but without his mask, it's not too big of a difference as the tendrils of light slowly seep back down his face. Grian slumps back in his chair, trying to slow his breathing. It feels more like he's just run a marathon than just sitting in a chair and using magic. Illumina pushes himself into a seated position faster than anyone can tell him to go slowly, his eyes darting around frantically, meeting Grian's and lingering a second on the faces he recognises before settling on Fruit.
"Ow," he says ineloquently.
The tension leaving Fruit's body is obvious. "Oh my God," he says, "You're such an idiot. I was worried."
"I can tell," Illumina says, seeming half amused and half confused, "Because otherwise I have no idea why there's a bunch of Hermits here."
"Well, I should hope there are," X chimes in, "Because you're on Hermitcraft. I don't know where else we'd be."
"It's nice to see you awake, Illumina," False says.
"Thanks, False," Illumina replies, "And, um, hi, by the way. And hi, Ren. And everyone else, I mean."
"Unfortunately," X says, "I think we should probably hear what Grian has to say before the rest of us get started on the introductions."
It isn't said harshly, but Grian feels himself shiver slightly anyway. He receives a few concerned looks for it. He shrugs them off as best he can, swallows hard, and then starts.
"I... Pearl probably remembers it. I know some of you lot know some of the others who were there, Martyn and Jimmy and... Well. Anyway. We used to be on another world. We called it Evo. Things... We kept finding these— These portals, almost. They had broken corners, and we didn't know what they were. We were having fun but when I eventually killed the dragon... I guess the world carried on. I don't know exactly what the others did, I never asked when I finally saw them again. But I— There were these beings. They call themselves Watchers. Anything odd that we'd noticed about the world... They did it. And they wanted new Watchers. They'd engineered the whole thing to find one. They wanted me, for some reason. I... I hated it once I realised exactly what sorts of things they did. They'd dressed it up in smiles and friendliness, but that all faded away the longer I was with them. They create worlds as experiments. They destroy them with inhabitants still on them because they come close to even beginning to understand anything about their existence. I've seen them influence admins to cruelty, just to see what happens. It wasn't supposed to be a choice, but I found a way out. I think... I think they want Illumina, and I don't think anyone would even have known about it if Fruit hadn't been there and my magic hadn't interfered with them blocking his messages."
The information feels insufficient, but Grian can't bring himself to say anything more. It feels like his tongue has glued itself to the roof of his mouth and each word he says means having to unstick it over and over again. Illumina looks alarmed.
"Me? Why? What did I do?"
"I'm not sure," Grian admits, "But I'd assume it has something to do with your frequent travels to the End."
"But we all do that," Fruit says, brow furrowing in concern, "All of HBG Runs. What about the others? Are they going to be okay?"
"Fruit," Illumina interrupts, his voice quiet. It's clear that he's realised something. "Even if these things do want the others, too... The rest of HBG share a world. You all have worlds with other people. It was just luck that you were with me when I passed out."
His unspoken words ring through the room. It's easier to do something to a person who's on their own.
"And the length of time you've been doing what you do is probably appealing, if that's what drew these— these Watchers to you. It makes sense that they'd start with you," False adds.
"So what do we do?" Ren asks. "Obviously, we don't want them to get hold of Illumina, and we don't want them to find Grian here either."
"For now," X answers, "We spread the word just to warn everyone who wasn't here, and we let Grian and Illumina rest. They both look exhausted."
"I'm fine," Illumina tries to insist, "I've been unconscious for... Uh, for however long it's been. I don't need more sleep."
"You literally can't keep your eyes open," Fruit points out.
"Yeah, well, you..." Illumina trails off. He sighs. "Okay. Three hours. Then you have to wake me up."
"We'll wake you up," False tells him, "If we think you've had long enough."
Her voice is stern enough that the parts of Illumina capable of doing anything other than fighting back a yawn abandon their resistance. Grian watches in amusement as Illumina nods sheepishly while X begins herding their friends out of the room. This time, Fruit leaves willingly too. Grian's stood by the door when he hears Illumina's voice behind him.
"Hey, Grian? Thanks. For, you know, coming to get me."
Grian smiles back even through his own exhaustion. Even without using his magic, a panic attack is always tiring.
"Of course. Get some sleep. We can talk about it when both of us are more awake."
As he pulls the door shut behind himself on his way out and heads over to his starter base, he hopes they have time to have that conversation. A sinking feeling in his stomach tells him that something might go wrong first.
When Grian wakes up, he's horrified to realise it's been almost a full day. He can't help but feel that he shouldn't have taken the time to rest, that he should have spent those hours telling the others what to expect. What's done is done, though – it's too late now. Instead, he emerges from his starter base, squinting a little in the sunlight, and heads over to the entrance to his alleyway, where he can see Tango, Bdubs and Keralis. He lands alongside them as they arrive at the gathered group in the alleyway. All of the other Hermits are there already, and Grian's heart swells when he sees that even the most introverted of his friends are present. Illumina is there too, and the visible upper half of his once-again covered face looks surprisingly healthy albeit slightly more gaunt than usual from his lack of food over the past few days. Beside him, Fruit shoots very occasional, discrete glances to ensure his friend is still doing alright but otherwise looks more relaxed than he has done since his arrival in spite of the looming danger of the Watchers. Grian thinks it probably has something to do with the fact that he at least knows where the threat is coming from.
"I see we timed our meeting perfectly," X says, grinning from beneath his helmet even though the expression manages to convey concern more than any real humour, "Good to see you up, Grian. I hope you're feeling better."
"I... You really don't have to worry about me," Grian stutters, "We should really be asking Illumina if he's okay."
"Trust me," Illumina mumbles, slightly awkwardly, "They already did. Ow!" Fruit's elbow in his ribs cuts off the lighthearted complaint.
"It sounds like we need to spend less time asking about everyone's wellbeing," Doc chimes in, "And more working out what to do about these Watchers, or whatever they're called."
"I— I don't even know what we can do," Grian replies, "They never... They didn't exactly want to talk about what could hurt them, you know? All I know is that... Some of you have seen some of the things I can do. But... I'm not even very good at it. I managed to get away really early on, and I never used it again in case it meant that they found me. Anything I can do, they're a thousand times more experienced at."
"But we can at least try," Impulse says, "Right? There's got to be something."
"Fruit and Illumina can fight," False says, "Better than most people I've ever met. And some of us are pretty good too."
"Falsie's right," Ren agrees, "We can hold our own. I'm sure of it."
Subtly, Xisuma frowns underneath his helmet. It sends a ripple of guilt through Grian for putting X in this position. The Watchers may want Illumina right now, but Grian's been a reason they might have come to one of the Hermits' worlds since he first joined them. On top of that, he's the one who had asked if there was a way they could help after Fruit had contacted him, and he has a suspicion that the only reason Fruit could get through to the Hermits but not any of the others he tried to contact elsewhere is Grian's own magic counteracting a block the Watchers had placed over communications from whichever world Illumina had been on at the time. As glad as he is that he's been able to help in some way at all, it's another reason he can hold himself responsible for the impending danger.
"If there's anyone who isn't confident in their fighting, I can help." Fruit's face is set in determination.
"What if I just left?" Illumina blurts out. "This is all because they want me, right? I don't want to put any of you in danger. Most of you don't even know me! I can't ask you to do that. I'll go somewhere else, they won't bother you, and they'll leave Grian alone."
"Absolutely not," X says, "We agreed to help you. We're not going to force you to leave now, and something tells me that that won't help Grian at this point."
"I think you're right," Grian agrees, "They're probably headed here either way."
"In that case," Scar says, sounding almost convincing as he speaks with just a fraction less than his usual cheerfulness, "I'm going to go netherite mining to make sure we have everything we need. Does anyone want to come?"
"I'll join you," Iskall answers.
Zedaph briefly lifts his hand a little before lowering it as if volunteering awkwardly. "Me too."
"I was planning on stocking up on End crystals for the shop anyway, but this seems like a much better use for them. I'll be doing that, if anyone needs me," Mumbo chips in.
"I wouldn't say I'm bad at all, but it's been a little while since I sparred with anyone," Etho says, "So I'll take you up on your offer. Fruit, right?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"I'll come and practice too," Cleo adds.
"And me," Beef chimes in.
The rest of the Hermits divide themselves up into resource gathering and sparring. Grian feels tears prick his eyes; he's so, so grateful for his friends. Judging by the way Illumina ducks his head to conceal what's visible of his face, Grian thinks the other is experiencing a very similar feeling.
Grian is sat inside the shop-turned-house which Fruit had recently slept in when X finds him. He'd briefly considered going into the one Illumina had been in, but it's as though the magic is lingering in the air around it. Although he thinks it's just his imagination, the mere idea turns his stomach – he doesn't think he'll be using that building for anything much at all in the future. The bed dips as X seats himself on it, about a foot away from Grian. He isn't close enough to read the contents of the notebook Grian's writing in, but the avian shuts it anyway as a precaution.
"Hi, Grian."
"Hi, X."
"What is it that's still bothering you?"
"What makes you think something's bothering me?"
"Well, for a start you've shut yourself away in a building you didn't think people would look for you in, you're being quiet, you looked guilty through the whole meeting, and," X says, eyes starting to twinkle ever so slightly with mirth as he starts the last part of his sentence even as worry still fills his voice, "You aren't mangling my name beyond all recognition."
Grian sighs. "I'm that obvious then?"
"Unfortunately for you, the answer on that one is a definite yes."
"It's... I can't help but feel like this is my fault." Grian raises a hand, attempting to forestall any rebuttal as X opens his mouth. "Just— Please let me finish. It... I was putting you all in danger even before Illumina came here. It was selfish."
"You deserve to be safe, Grian," X says, "And you need to know that none of us think any less of you just because you didn't say anything, alright?"
"I don't even know how to stop them," Grian replies quietly, "I'm no use to Illumina. I'm no use to the rest of you. I've just told you what's going to happen, so now you all get to share in the worry as we wait for a bunch of magic-wielding beings to show up and take Illumina – and probably me – away to somewhere that I've already told you is miserable."
"You don't only matter when you're useful." Xisuma's tone is firm but not upset. "But that doesn't mean you're no help. I get that you're scared. Based on what you've told us, it makes sense. We still aren't giving up without a fight."
Grian smiles at him weakly. "Thanks, X. Really."
"I should get back to the others. Are you coming?"
"Not yet. I promise I'll be out soon, though."
X pats him on the shoulder, then stands and leaves the room. He casts only a brief final look at Grian as he closes the door behind him. The second it clicks shut, Grian exhales softly, then reopens his notebook. He still has more to write before he can join the others.
The day the Watchers arrive is slightly later than Grian would have anticipated, but sooner than he'd hoped. Then again, he'd hoped – perhaps somewhat forlornly – that there was a chance that they wouldn't come at all, so for them to arrive sooner than that had always been something of an inevitability. Somehow, though, in less than a week, the Watchers find their way to Hermitcraft. It starts out as a regular day, or at least what's starting to pass as one: a variety of the Hermits stop at the new makeshift arena to train, Fruit helps to teach them, and the group slowly but surely displays improvement. At first, Illumina had tried to help Fruit, but on the very first day he'd accidentally propelled Wels across the practice space with the energy which now crackles through him and out through his fingertips. After apologising profusely, he'd taken to standing at the side and adding onto Fruit's displays verbally rather than through any participation.
Today is only the second day of Illumina's new plan: learning from Grian how to control his magic. Grian can imagine that at some point in the future he'll be able to look back on the conversation with mild amusement, but at the time he'd winced with the shared awkwardness between himself and Illumina. The latter had rambled his way through a polite request for assistance, and Grian had babbled out an agreement, with the caveat that Illumina remembered just how out of practice his would-be teacher was and that he hadn't actually got that much experience anyway. Now, the two of them are sat with only each other for company as Illumina wrestles for control of his new-found powers.
"Just breathe," Grian says, feeling a little silly, "Let it flow naturally. Push it into your fingers a bit, see if you can light them up a little."
The younger man's fingers stutter with sparks before faltering out into simple skin once again.
"It's... I just can't do it!" The exasperation and anxiety is apparent in his voice.
"Could you speed bridge when you first tried it?" Grian counters. Illumina averts his eyes, but it's clear that the words are hitting home. "Were you instantly amazing at fighting? Or even at Running? Just because you think you need to learn immediately doesn't mean you can. You're already doing better than you were yesterday, and you're definitely miles better than I was the first time."
"I just... I want to be able to help. I know I can sit down and take the time to learn to do something and do it well, but for this... I just don't have that time!"
Grian opens his mouth to say something more, but at that moment, the most ill-timed message imaginable arrives on the screen of Grian's communicator. It's from X.
Xisuma: Whitelist not functioning correctly. Someone is forcing server entry. Come to spawn NOW.
He glances up at Illumina. What's visible of the Runner's face is alarmed. He isn't the only one – Grian can feel the blood draining from his own cheeks. The avian bites his lip, then speaks.
"I— Before we go. I need you to... If something happens, I need you to look under the floorboards in the room Fruit slept in the first day you guys arrived here, in the right hand corner by the window. It's important, for you and for the others."
Illumina nods once seriously. "I will."
"I need you to promise, Illumina!"
"Okay! Okay, I promise."
"Then let's go," Grian says grimly.
They reach the spawn village within minutes. Almost all of the others have gathered already, and the two of them have barely come to a stop when Joe, Cleo, xB and TFC – the last stragglers – arrive as well. It's easy to see the concern: in front of the amassed group is what appears to be a bedrock portal, broken at the corners but still filling in around the gaps. Only three blocks are still missing, and in front of the eyes of those observing, one of the spaces fills in with another piece of bedrock, seemingly placed by an invisible builder.
"They're speeding up," Gem points out, trying to keep her voice steady, "The first few took minutes, these last ones are only taking seconds."
As if on cue, the penultimate piece of the portal appears. Once the last block has followed mere moments later, the portal seemingly lights itself, blazing into activity with a purple which is somehow more intense than that of a regular nether portal yet shines with the stars of the void. The ripples across the surface indicate an impending arrival, and the entire group instinctively steps both away from the portal and closer to one another.
The first figure to emerge is somehow simultaneously terrifying and underwhelming. Despite the unsettling aura and purple glow, the Watcher looks relatively unassuming. Unfortunately, another newcomer arrives, followed by more until at least twenty individuals are stood in front of them. By the time the final Watcher has arrived, the reality has set in: this is the moment. The hooded figures come to a stop in a line which is slightly too perfectly spaced despite the lack of any deliberate coordination for it to not be unsettling. One of them seems to be assigned to speak, since the central figure steps ever so slightly forward out of the formation.
"You know why we are here. Give us what we are here for, and your world will be left untouched."
"Grian and Illumina aren't objects," Xisuma says, voice firm and unyielding, "They aren't ours to give. And even if they were, you can't have them."
"We cannot?" The air around the speaker seems to grow heavier. "Do not presume to tell us what we can and cannot do. We are the Watchers."
Throughout the gathered Hermits, several hands tighten on the hilts of swords. Fruit and Illumina both do the same, muscles coiled tight, ready to spring.
"You'll have to go through us, I'm afraid," X tells them. It sounds mild-mannered, but the steel in his tone is still present.
"Then we shall."
"Wait!" Grian blurts out. "Just... Everyone, wait."
The Watchers' designated spokesperson pauses, tilting his head inquisitively. "Grian."
"Aurum," Grian replies.
"So, you remember me."
"I do."
"You have something to say?"
"I... Yeah. Yes. I do." Grian winces at his nervous stuttering. He wishes he could sound as confident as X had moments ago. "I— I have a proposal for you."
Despite the hood covering Aurum's face, his body language shows his curiosity. "A proposal?"
"I'll come with you," Grian says. He ignores the shocked and alarmed gasps which escape the others and steps forward from the group, shaking off someone's concerned grip on his arm. "If you leave the others be. And that includes Illumina. You don't insist on making him a Watcher. I won't fight you."
"Grian, you can't—"
"No! What are you—?"
"Wait, you—"
The horrified responses come immediately, but Aurum disregards them all. "I see no benefit for us. The Watchers gain nothing from this."
"I know details about the Watchers," Grian answers, hardly able to hear his own voice through the thumping of his own heartbeat echoing in his ears, "I can spread secrets. If we escape, I'm the only one who can tell anyone anything. Illumina doesn't know anything, so what difference does it make if you just leave him be? And you can try to take both of us by force, but you're outnumbered. The number of you who've come to take us is enough to get the job done, but you'll suffer losses. Is it worth the risk of losing three or four Watchers – or maybe even more – for the chance to gain two?"
"You think your companions could hurt us?" It's not a genuine question, the tone filled with derision. Grian answers it like it is anyway.
"I have faith in my friends. If you try to take us by force, they'll make sure you don't have an easy job of it."
Aurum turns his head first to his left, then to his right. His fellow Watchers say nothing, but it seems that they somehow provide him the information he wants anyway, since he simply says, "Express your terms."
"I will come with you. I won't fight you, and I'll do as instructed. I'll be the Watcher I was supposed to be the first time, and your secrets will stay... Uh, secret. In exchange, my friends are left unharmed. Illumina doesn't become a Watcher. You don't pressure any of them, and they're allowed to continue as they were. You all leave them alone."
"He has our magic," Aurum says, "Once given, it cannot be taken away, and only Watchers are permitted to have it."
"He doesn't know how to use it," Grian counters, "What good is it to him if he can't do anything with it?"
"Grian," Illumina says quietly, "You don't have to do this."
Aurum disregards his words, instead replying solely to Grian. "Very well. We will leave those gathered here to their own devices, and we will not harm them if they do not harm us first. You will join us without resistance."
"I agree."
The outraged, upset cries wash over him as he speaks. It's a deal with the devil, but it's one he's willing to make if it means keeping the other Hermits, Fruit, and Illumina safe.
"So be it."
There's a flash of purple. Grian closes his eyes against the brightness, and when he opens them again, Hermitcraft is nowhere to be seen.
The hallways are plain white, with no decoration or differentiation. Following Aurum down them is something of a trial in both speed and memory – not only do the Watchers move quickly, but Grian is left grasping at the straws of memory to try and recall exactly where he's being led. The blank room they enter, though, is one he doesn't remember.
"What is this place?" he asks. He doesn't receive an answer for a brief moment. Eventually, Aurum speaks, but his tone is colder than it had been throughout the negotiations.
"The Watchers have no use for one who is unloyal. Count yourself fortunate that we are bound by our word. Your friends will have a little more time. Only a little, though. They cannot be protected by someone who has changed their mind."
"Changed their mind? What do you mean, changed their mind? I haven't changed my mind about anything!" The panic is mounting, filling his voice. He knows what's happened: they found a loophole.
"Not yet," Aurum replies. He's made his way to the doorway, and it's then that Grian realises that the rest of the Watchers who had come to Hermitcraft have left them. "But you will. And it will be a pleasure to watch your friends fall at your hands. After all, we agreed that we would not harm them if they did not harm us first. You made no such promise."
The door shuts behind Aurum's departing figure with a foreboding clang, followed by the click of a lock. Grian pounds a fist on it helplessly. He isn't sure what to expect. When it starts, he barely even notices, but it rises in intensity, crescendoing alarmingly. It vibrates through him, even though he can't adequately quantify quite what 'it' is.
Alone in a room, with only the thought of his friends' safety to reassure him through the agony, Grian opens his mouth and screams.