Chapter Text
The day was like any other. Birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and the sheep were grazing while the soft sounds of construction from different hermits could be heard across the server.
A soft breeze gusted through the birch forest where Grian had set up his home. Sure, he had his smaller home back around the Shopping District, however, his large home would become a masterpiece. And, hopefully, he’d get to live there.
As the smaller hermit arose from a deep sleep, he quickly took notice of the beautifully wrapped present sitting at the foot of his bed. Grinning, he scampered over and tore the gift open.
Inside, he found a stack of sandstone as well as a bouquet of lilacs and roses. Looking around for a note, he didn’t find any and assumed the present was probably a prank or a dare.
Grabbing the sandstone, Grian chucked it into one of his building chests. Maybe he’d get to a point in his building that would require sandstone and he would just happen to have it. Grabbing the flowers, Grian picked them up and placed them in a vase close to one of the large windows that his home had. Smiling, he began to get ready for the day. He had a large number of things he had to do.
The first of which was to restock his shop and buy materials he didn’t want to grind for.
Opening his beautiful wings, a couple of patches of feathers fell loose. Wincing, Grian stared at the broken and bloodied feathers that lay on the floor.
It had been a couple of months since he and a few other hermits had been shoved into yet another life game; the twist this time is that he and one other had been soulbound.
And his luck had permitted him to be soulbound to his good friend Scar.
Chuckling at the memories of discovering his soulmate (whom through the trials and wars of the last game he had grown to love deeply) he scooped up the broken feathers. His wings still hadn’t fully healed, but thankfully every other injury had.
Including the numerous broken ribs he had due to his last death.
A warden’s shriek was lethal when one wasn’t careful. And of course, Grian hadn’t been careful; killing him both and Scar who felt the ghost pains while not being in any danger.
Grabbing shulker boxes that were scattered around the room, Grian flew across the rock bridge between his and Mumbo’s bases. Turning around, he stared at the large rocks that he had suspended and carved out. A couple of the smaller rocks he had found he had managed to suspend in the air, however, most would have called the rocks boulders.
“Good morning Grian,” A sleepy voice called out. Turning around, Grian chuckled as a dishevelled Mumbo made his way over to the bird-hybrid. His jet-black hair was in messy tuffs covering his head and falling in front of his eyes.
“Good to see the potato man up and running,” Grian teased. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Mumbo chuckled.
“Listen, I haven’t been the potato man since we moved, and I’ve given myself the liberty of-”
“‘Killing countless creatures including yourself,” yes, Mumbo, I know.” Grian finished. The cocky smile that grew on Mumbo’s face made Grian shudder with a hint of playful fear behind his eyes.
He and Mumbo had played in a Life game together once. Last Life. The world where you could start with anywhere from two to six lives. Not to mention the horrible infection that would lead to countless amounts of betrayal spread throughout the server.
“If you know, then stop taunting me. It just makes wanting to kill you more and more tempting,” Mumbo teased.
“I’ll kill you first,” Grian teased back.
The two of them continued to chat while Grian scoped out the next part of his build. Wrapping his home around a rock sometimes felt like a chore, but Grian had spent so much time on his builds that he felt like he couldn’t back out.
After a couple of hours of planning and building, Grian and Mumbo were about to part ways when a simple, but slightly concerning message appeared on their coms.
Hey all, can you come to the shopping district? We have an announcement.
Grian groaned. This could be all of the hermits falling into the trap of Ren only to be pranked senseless. On the other hand, it felt serious enough to warrant checking out.
Equipping his elytra, Mumbo took to the skies while Grian flew close by, his wings finally able to carry his weight without feeling like they were being torn off him.
As they grew closer to the shopping district, Grian watched as a couple of other hermits flew down; their small bodies landing gracefully.
Or not.
Landing next to Mumbo, the two hermits were quickly pushed into the castle along with several other hermits.
The castle was magnificent; the materials were gradient and while looking bright and pristine the building held a level of grandeur and power. Entering the castle, Grian watched as Scar flew over once again and collected his things.
“Hey G!” He called out, smiling largely. “Glad to see you can fly again!” He remarked. Chuckling, Grian nodded.
“Feels good to fly again.”
“Say, if you want, we should meet up and hang out sometime,” Scar smiled. Grian smiled as well.
Hearing a cough, the two soulmates glanced over at Mumbo who was patiently waiting. Twiddling his moustache, he eyed the two of them.
“You both can flirt and plan your date later, for now, let’s just go here what Ren has planned.” Mumbo offered. Laughing, Scar wrapped his arm around Grian.
Even though they were just friends, the two of them would always have a unique bond.
They had been partners in third life; the first round of the Life Games that they had been forced to play.
They had been friends in last life; the round where Mumbo was. Scar didn’t join Grian on his journey that time, though the two still hung out together.
They had been soulmates in double life; forever bound together due to their lives.
“Come on, let’s go here Ren,” Grian said, dragging both his friends behind him. The three of them laughed and chatted about their builds and plans as they entered the castle. The inside was more magnificent than the outside. The large vaulted ceiling with a gorgeous crystal chandelier hanging over what looked like a throne lit up the room in a thousand different ways and the red carpet underneath their feet was lined with gold.
“Is everyone here yet?” A familiar voice called out. Looking towards the throne Grian saw the server’s admin Xisuma standing and looking over the crowd.
“I think we’re all here except for Ren and Bdubs,” Doc said.
“Where are they?” Keralis asked.
“Right here!” Bdubs shouted, bursting through a door off to the side of the throne. “I am at least, Ren will be here shortly.”
The hermits chatted softly as they waited for Ren to show up. After ten minutes of waiting, a slight cough could be heard from behind one of the doors. “Everyone, me and Ren are pleased to announce our grand idea for Hermitcraft!” Bdubs started, quickly hushing the group.
“As you all know, there has been a bit of a diamond war happening. Now, whether this was planned or not, it will certainly crash our economy,” Bdubs said. Grian could feel a couple of eyes shift to him.
Yes, he had taken Scar’s large pillar of diamond ore as a challenge and sought to tower over his friends with his own. This led to a server-wide diamond ore tower war. Many of the hermits would build with their diamond ore, diamond blocks, or other materials which just further caused the impending economic failure.
Thankfully, no one had mined any of the diamond ore and turned it into real currency. The inflation rate would be horrendous.
“So, we decided to offer a situation for this problem. A remedy. So, I am here to introduce you to your new king, Ren!” Bdubs cheered.
Once the words were spoken, Grian instinctively placed an arm over Scar’s chest.
“The Red King has risen!” Ren cackled, his crimson eyes staring down at the thirteen other players of third life. “Martyn, kill Scar!” Ren instructed.
Grian reached for his sword and pulled it out.
“RUN SCAR!” He shouted as he approached the hand of the king. His netherite sword was much more powerful than the diamond sword the hand had, however, the diamond sword had better enchantments on it.
“I will serve my king!” Martyn shouted.
He and Grian got into a fight. Grian had come out victorious with Martyn running back to Dogwarts with cuts and bruises all over. Both were soaked in blood, and as Grian stumbled back to the desert, he had seen the rage and worry flood Scar’s face as he realised what Grian had done.
“I didn’t kill Martyn. He ran off,” Grian coughed, blood spitting up into his hand.
“It’s okay. I’m here, don’t worry,” Scar said sweetly as he tended to Grian’s wounds. “G, thanks for that. Defending me that is. I might be big and strong, but I’m no good with a sword.” Scar said.
“Hey, we’re friends. Why wouldn’t I protect you?” Grian smiled.
Glancing over at Scar, Grian watched as his friend's gaze intensified as he glared at the king. The applause and cheering from around the room felt fake.
Grian didn’t cheer. He didn’t clap. He wasn’t proud. Neither was Scar.
Mumbo didn’t seem to mind. He hadn’t seen the carnage that Ren had caused as king.
“Thank you all for coming to support me as the servers king!” Ren smiled as he stood before the people. “Now, for the diamond situation; everyone will throw their diamonds into a hopper and they will be taken and transported to a vault underground where they will be stored.”
“Ren, doesn’t that seem a bit, risky?” Tango’s voice echoed from somewhere throughout the crowd. Grian smirked.
Tango had been there during third life. He had seen the chaos.
Faltering, Ren looked at Bdubs nervously. Grian watched as Bdubs pulled out a clock and began to fiddle with it.
His first mistake.
“Really Bdubs?” Impulse shouted angrily. The two were soulmates, however, they had decided to remain just friends after Double life. Just like Grian and Scar. “A clock? Did Ren win you over with that too? Or did he win your gullible mind over with that charming smile of his?”
“I didn’t win anyone over, Impulse,” Ren tried to diffuse.
“I’m not that gullible, Impulse,” Bdubs fired. Grian watched as a couple of hermits shifted uncomfortably in the room.
“Uh, listen, how about we don’t argue at the coronation of the king,” Xisuma intervened, breaking up the impending fight. “Ren, any last words before everyone goes their separate ways?”
“Uh, yeah! The king has risen!” Ren cheered. Grian couldn’t hold Scar back after that one.
From his seat, Scar launched onto his feet, seething. “Ren! I know you did not just say that,” Scar shouted. His loud voice sliced through the room. Ren’s happy demeanour shifted to being tense and somewhat unforgiving.
“Scar, if you have a problem with me being king then I suggest-”
“Of course, I have a problem! And I think Tango does too. So does Impulse, and I know that Grian isn’t too happy about this!” Scar said. Mumbo eyed Grian who just mouthed he would explain later.
“Well, if those three other men would stand up and tell me what I could do better, that would be greatly appreciated,” Ren said. “Or, I can have Bdubs arrange a meeting with me in a more private place-”
“Is he your hand now? Is he going to die next to you like the first one?” Scar threatened.
Murmuring erupted within the room. Ren’s face paled at Scar’s words.
“Scar, that was highly inappropriate for the situation,” Xisuma tried, but Scar wasn’t finished.
“I would gladly shoot you as I did before. Watch you bleed out on the ground next to everything you love-”
“Scar,” Grian said, standing up to try and calm his friend down. “That’s enough.”
Scar shook him off. “And what about Etho? You going to enlist him into your little charade too?”
“Scar, I want no part of this-” Etho interjected.
Grian raised his hands in front of Scar once more, his time putting a little more force into his words.
“Scar. This is enough. Let’s just go-”
“Or are you going to get others killed? Are you going to blow me or Grian up again? You going to have Bdubs shoot Grian?” Scar said, a tear spilling over his cheeks; rage burning through him.
“SCAR!” Grian shouted, trying to pull the taller of the two hermits out of the mindset he was devolving into, but it didn’t seem to be working.
“Listen, I know that you care for Grian a lot considering everything-”
“You need to just shut up,” Scar cut the king off. Grian could see Scar reach behind him and grab his bow as well as begin to doc an arrow.
Jumping forwards in front of the hermits, he watched as Scar let the arrow fly.
Grian closed his eyes as the arrow hit his neck; lodging itself deep. As he collapsed to the ground, shocked gasps, as well as a startled and broken Scar, quickly rushed to check if Grian had been okay.
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
Grian woke up to Mumbo sitting next to his bed and Scar pacing his room. Shifting slightly, both sets of eyes landed on him as he attempted to get up.
“Grian, rest. The arrow went pretty deep and you just respawned,” Mumbo said.
“It’s fine. I’ve gotten used to the aching pain,” Grian groaned, shifting out of his bed. Thankfully the arrow had only hit his neck and he had taken no other damage, so he rubbed at the sore spot on his neck where the arrow had hit.
“Why would you jump in front of the arrow?” Scar asked, rushing to pull Grian into a hug. Grian couldn’t help but feel like he was standing in monopoly mountain after his first death; the comforting arms of his business partner and friend surrounded him as he broke apart.
“Because I can’t let a repeat of last time happen. Scar, the hermits don’t know. Only the life players know and even then,” Grian eyed Mumbo who coughed awkwardly. “Listen, Tango was subtle, Impulse isn’t happy, but he’ll manage. I don’t know about the others, but Xisuma was right. That wasn’t a great way to handle that,” Grian said. “We’re not at monopoly mountain; we don’t have that free reign. We’re on Hermitcraft. We’re safe.” Grian comforted.
“I know,” Scar sighed, releasing Grian from the hug. Sitting down on the end of Grian’s bed, it croaked slightly under the new weight. “I haven’t fully recovered yet Gri. I mean, look at me,” Scar said, rolling his elven sleeves up to reveal large gashes; none of them healed. “I’ll still wake up and feel like a red. My skin is grey in the mornings. I can’t go outside until it turns back to a more normal colour. It’s gotten better but,” Scar shook. “But I’m still part red life. It always takes me a while to get back to normal. I guess I was just acting,”
“Like a red life,” Mumbo interjected, his stare watching Grian and Scar. “I know the feeling. It took me a while to readjust too; the bloodlust feeling never fully leaves you, does it?” Mumbo asked. Grian and Scar shook their head. Mumbo had only played one of the Life games. He didn’t have as much experience with it. “Speaking of the games, I take it you two have recently come back from one?”
“Yeah,” Grian laughed. “The Velvet Keep.”
“Gosh, it did look like a cake didn’t it,” Scar reminisced. “The twist was that your life was linked with someone else's. If you died, they did too.” He explained. Mumbo nodded.
“So I take it you two were linked then?”
“Yeah, we were,” Grian said sadly. He had wanted desperately to have been linked with someone else. He had betrayed Scar’s friendship. And while they were mostly able to brush the games off; not hold anything against each other, after they got back from a game every wound would ‘reopen.’
“It’s why I freaked out over Ren being king. He is really good at leading people and whatnot, it’s just, he was with Martyn a lot and,” Scar's voice trailed off.
Grian could finish his friend's statement in his head.
The two were acting a lot like the Red King and the Hand.
“How long ago was the last life game if you don’t mind me asking,” Mumbo inquired, breaking the short silence that had filled the room.
“Around two months ago,” Grian said. “Thus my wings still healing,”
“And my scars still closing up,” Scar chuckled. The three of them fell into a somewhat comfortable silence. Grian watched as Scar rolled his sleeves down over his cuts; hiding them from the world.
After a couple of minutes, a knock was heard on Grian’s door. Mumbo stood up to answer it, but the person didn’t wait for someone to answer, rather they just walked in.
As Xisuma walked into the room with Tango and Pearl following behind him Scar shifted defensively up further onto Grian’s bed.
“Grian, glad to see you awake buddy,” Tango smiled. “How's your neck doing?”
Grian watched as Tango opened his mouth to say more, but didn’t. Grian laughed softly and smiled back. “It hurts, but not terribly. I think a healing potion should fix it up.”
“That’s good,” Pearl sighed.
“Yes, that’s good, however, I do need answers,” Xisuma said. “For starters, Scar, I would like to tell you that your behaviour is not the kind of behaviour I want to see on Hermitcraft. I understand playful fighting, pranking, teasing, and some dangerous pranks as long as you help clean up, but threats? Absolutely not. If I hear of another threat again, Scar, I can temporarily ban you. I know you have a good heart, but you freaked a lot of hermits out including myself.”
“I’m sorry X,” Scar said, his eyes trailing to the ground. Sighing, Xisuma sat down next to him.
“It’s okay, Scar. You are a good person. If you need to express thoughts like that, please just come to me and talk about it instead of making threats and whatnot. Okay?” Xisuma offered.
Scar tensed up. Grian, Mumbo, Tango, and Pearl all instinctively backed away slightly. Scar could be pretty dangerous.
And him tensing up usually meant a fight was about to happen.
“Xisuma, as much as I appreciate your offer, I’m worried you wouldn’t understand what I’m trying to say to you. It would be me trying to teach you a new language by only speaking in it,” Scar laughed.
“I can speak English and Galactic,” Xisuma stated, sounding somewhat offended. “What ‘new language’ are you referring to?”
“Not one that you would understand. Roughly nine other hermits can speak it.” Scar smiled. Tango hissed at the sight of Scar.
Scar’s eyes were slowly turning red, and his skin grey.
“Scar, I think you should stop-” Grian tried, but Scar just turned his red gaze towards him.
“Stop what Gri?” He asked. Grian wanted to shrivel up. He had only heard that tone when he was working with Scar. He sounded so defenceless. Like he could break any second.
“Scar, stop messing with X,” Pearl said. Scar’s gaze moved to her. Jumping back, he grinned.
“Come on, Pearl. I know you feel it! The pulling sensation to--”
Before Scar could finish his sentence, Tango tackled him, thrusting a piece of cloth into Scar’s mouth. Glaring, Tango pulled out a small dagger and held it to Scar’s neck.
Scar fell limp against Tango and whimpered. “Tango, get off of Scar,” Grian said. As much as he needed Scar to stop speaking and realise that he was acting like a red life once again, he was still linked to the man in some way. Even if the damage to him was no longer direct, he could feel phantom pains.
“Grian, he’s still uncontrollable,” Tango growled. “What’s next Scar? Going to burn the new castle down?”
“Tango, why would say that?” Pearl said, eyes widening. Xisuma launched up from the bed, startled after everything that had happened in a short amount of time.
“No one is burning anything down,” Xisuma commanded. Even with the cloth in his mouth, Scar’s laugh could be heard by all in the room. Shaking away from Tango, Scar freed his mouth.
“Are you sure about that X?” Scar’s eyes were fully red now, however, the Admin didn’t seem to notice. “Because I’m pretty sure that you have the flint and steel.” Scar’s grin said it all. Grian jumped from where he was spectating and practically threw Tango off of Scar only to slap the man.
“AHH-- Grian! Why?” Scar shouted, his eyes quickly turning back to normal and his skin returning to its normal colour.
“Scar. Can we talk in private please?” Grian said, hoping the panic in his voice wouldn’t show.
“Uh--yeah.” Scar said, hoisting himself from off the ground where Tango had been holding him. Following Grian like a sheepish dog, the two entered Grian’s kitchen.
“Scar. What the heck has gotten into you? I mean, I thought coming out of third life was bad, but this is a whole new level.”
“I don’t know,” Scar cried, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t know Gri, I thought I had it under control. I didn’t think that Ren becoming king would get me this worked up!”
“Hey, it’s okay. You can stay with me while we work this out, alright?” Grian offered. Maybe spending time with his soulmate would help.
“I can’t do that, I’m dangerous Gri.”
“When has that stopped me?”
Scar’s eyes filled with tears at the offer. Grian knew that Scar hated the Life games. Scar enjoyed the chaos and bloodlust he would feel as a red life and he had told Grian that he hated himself for it.
So when Grian told him that he liked it too, he told Scar that it was most likely just the red life impulses kicking in and not what a person truly enjoys.
“Grian, I like killing people! I like their blood on my hands! Who likes that?” Scar cried.
“Scar, we’re linked. I’m your soulmate,” Grian started.
“Grian, I get that. We are soulmates, but you’re soulmates with a sadistic person who hunts blood!” Scar sobbed, falling to his knees. Grian sat down next to him.
“Well, Scar, I feel the longing to hunt for blood too. To be honest, I’ve been greedy for kills. I want more and more,” Grian admitted. “And we’re not the only ones. I was talking with Mumbo after last life, he said he felt that too. I think every Life member feels it when on their red life.” Grian said.
“So what? I still like it,” Scar said, tears streaming down his face.
“Scar, would you want to seek out the blood and pain that you seek out here on Hermitcraft? Kill our friends there?” Grian asked. Scar’s eyes went wide at the idea.
“I mean, no, I wouldn’t want to.”
“You’re not a bad person. You were forced to participate in a bad situation. Just like I and everyone else here have been. You’re not alone. Listen, when we get home if you need anything; a person to stab, a person to talk to, a person to just sit with you, I’ll be there. The hermits who are here will be there for you. The hermits that aren’t here will be there for you. They’ll come to understand.” Grian comforted.
“Grian,” Xisuma interrupted his and Scar’s conversation. “Listen, I understand that you and Scar are friends. And I don’t want to do this, but Scar is becoming… dangerous to say the least. I’m temporarily banning him.”
Scar’s pained cry echoed throughout the house.
“Xisuma, please,” Grian begged, worried for his friend. “He can’t be banned. For any reason. He’s hurt-”
“Explain to me how he’s hurt. I’ll hear you out, but the reason must be valid.” Xisuma cut off. Folding his arms, Grian stared at the Admin panel in his hand.
“Well, we were recently forced to play a game of sorts,” Grian started, adrenaline rushing through him. “The game required people to kill one another, and me and Scar were involved. He’s still coming out of the mindset that you are set in when you enter the game. It takes a while, and it seems like this time the transition is taking longer than normal.” Grian finished. He didn’t want to share too much. Whether that was for Scar’s sake or his he couldn’t tell.
“Grian, I know about MCC. Yes, there’s killing, but other hermits play all the time. It’s not an excuse. The mindset is a competitive one, not a killing one or whatever mindset you are referring to. He’ll be banned for a week. No longer, alright? I won’t tell people if that’s what you’re worried about.” Xisuma stated.
“X, please,” Pearl said, entering the kitchen with Tango and Mumbo following. “That’s a rash decision-”
“I’m sorry Scar,” Xisuma said, opening his Admin panel. “See you in a week,”
“Grian, please, don’t let him,” Scar said, grabbing onto Grian. Pulling his friend into a hug, Grian began to sob softly as Scar began to disappear.
“Be safe, Scar,” Grian muttered as his friend faded from the world.
“You too.” Scar said before fully disappearing.
Then the wave of pain hit.
Grian felt like he was being torn apart inch by inch; collapsing on the ground. Immediately, the three others rushed over to him as he gasped for air, his skin raw and red; old wounds opening up and spilling blood.
“Crap, I didn’t think about the link,” Tango muttered, hoisting Grian up onto his feet as he began to spasm with pain. Crying out, Tango and Mumbo carried him to his bed. Just before he bled out, a blood-curdling scream escaped his lips.
And his world went black.