Chapter Text
Etho
I had the sensation that I was falling. I was falling in an endless void with no end. I thought I could see a glimpse of pale yellow stone above me, but before I could be sure I slipped out of consciousness and into darkness.
I awoke to find myself laying on a black surface surrounded by fog. I sat up with a wince, rubbing the back of my head. I felt his spine crawl with the feeling of being watched. It was prickling sensation, one of extreme discomfort.
I suddenly realised my mask had fallen. I panicked and quickly pulled it up, praying no one saw.
"There's no point in hiding" a voice from the shadow said, "we know who you are, Etho".
"How do you know my name?" I demanded, spinning around.
"We know everything" a second voice hisses, "we have been gone too long if you don't know who we are".
Suddenly a figure steps out of the fog. I stared up in fear as a well over seven foot tall person walks out, with another person of near equal height next to them.
I gazed up at them, confused. From their long purple robes to their large wings. I realised they were wearing a mask that covered their eyes, which had an odd symbol on it. Like a square broken into parts.
Wait.
I know that symbol. I stared at the figures.
They were Watchers.
I instantly drew my sword, holding it in sweaty palms. Watchers are evil creatures, not to be trusted under any circumstances.
"Don't bother" the tallest snarks, "we are far too strong".
"What do you want from me?" I snarled.
"There's no point telling you" the second growls, "you will remember none of this".
I wondered what they meant by this. I realised the tallest was approaching me. I tried to back away, but can't. As though my feet were glued to the floor. I feel my sword fall from my hands and hit the floor with a clatter.
I felt a gloved hand rest on my face. It felt oddly soothing. I rarely got touched like this and it felt nice.
Suddenly I let out a scream of pain. My whole body felt like it was on fire, as though all my bones were being melted. My brain was burning and I felt as though wings I didn't have were being ripped off my back. It was the most painful thing I had ever felt.
A moment later, it was over. I wobbled a bit as I struggled to stand. The last thing I saw before falling unconscious was the sight of the two Watchers turning and leaving.
Is this the end?, I thought wearily. I felt his body evaporate in nothing. After what felt like forever I felt warmth of the sun on my back and the cool wetness of grass.
But what the others saw, after months of waiting was:
Etho joined the game.
Grian
I gazed around the purple-black void around me. This oddly familiar place held no sentimental value to me. The only memories I held of it were bitter and filled with pain.
What am I doing here?
I let out a cry of shock as I spotted two distorted figures, their form appears to glitch in and out and their voices were shaky. I recognised them immediately, but what were they doing here?
"̇/ᒷꖎᑑ⚍ᔑ" the tallest hissed, "we've found you at last".
My stomach flipped as I heard my former name spoken.
"What do you want from me?" I responded, "I am free, Hermitcraft is protected from your kind, how did you even manage to get into my mind space?".
"We're growing stronger" the tallest snarled, "you may have left us but we will hunt you to the ends of the universe until you are gone".
"My friends won't let that happen" I raised my chin boldly. They didn't scare me anymore. That was a lie. I was terrified of them. After what they did to Evo... I was nervous just thinking about them.
"The moment they find out what you are they will abandon you" the other Watcher growls, "why don't you ask your friends Mumbo or Scar what they think of us? I'm sure they'd be more than happy to kill you if they knew".
I flinched, as though I had been hit.
"Xisuma is strong, you can't break the code wall" I insisted, "And even if you did, we'd fight you off".
"You are being weakened as we speak" the Watcher says, "we have someone, and hopefully another someone soon, and he will not fail us, and you will not find him as he does not even know what he is".
"What do you mean?" I felt panic rising. What could they possibly mean? Who was 'he'?
"You'll know soon enough, ̇/ᒷꖎᑑ⚍ᔑ".
"My name is Grian, not Xelqua" I shouted, "get out of my head!"
"You were never meant to be here" they hiss again, "you only ever meant to watch".
The Watchers smile and nod. To my immense surprise, they turn and leave. I slipped once more into peaceful, dreamless sleep.
When I awoke I was sweating all over. It had been so long since the Watchers had invaded my mind. The last time had to have been when they tried to breach the code wall in season six, but obviously failed. After that they couldn't find me, much to my relief. It really worried me knowing that they had found me again. But I trust Xisuma would keep the code wall strong, and that they couldn't breach it.
I took a deep breath, gripping the compass tightly in my hand. Soon. I don't know where it goes, but where ever it did go, they wouldn't be able to find me. I looked out the window towards the hole in the ground where the rift lay.
Soon.
Wherever the portal led, I knew it was some place where the Watchers couldn't find me. Even if they found me here, I should be safe.
And I would be free of King Ren. I gritted my teeth in anger. I had failed to dethrone him. My mind swirled into the memory of the bitter defeat.
I was fighting. Flames swirled and swords clashed. I watched as ally after ally fell. King Ren's army was too strong.
My eyes were growing hazy with exhaustion. Suddenly Ren was in front of me. Blood stained his clothes, and his ears were flat to his head. He looked truly terrifying yet so familiar. He really has always been the red king, I thought deliriously in the heat of the moment.
"Please.." I had pleaded breathlessly. It was no use.
King Ren gripped my shoulder tightly and stabbed the blade in. I felt it slide in and lodge against my spine with a brutal thud. I let out a choked cry of agony.
The blade was ripped out and blood spurted everywhere, covering Ren and I. I felt blackness coming for me like a wave. I was too tired to fight it. My eyes closed as I fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
I felt my spiritual form swirl around in the void as my new body was made. I hoped someone would collect my gear, as i didn't want it to be wasted. I had the sense of myself being pulled towards something, and I knew he was respawning. I felt the body solidify and fresh air blow over me. I took a deep breath.
My eyes shot open and I sat up quickly, sweating. My pulse quickened as I remembered what happened. I winced as i felt a sore spot from where the blade had entered. When you died all your wounds were healed but for a couple days after you would get ghost pains from it.
Dying was always avoided where possible for good reason.
I shook my head, clearing my mind from the memory. What kind of King killed his subjects like that?
I looked out my window again.
Soon.