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“Ah, dear Xelqua ” A poisonously sweet voice breathed out. Grian’s eyes snapped open, and they darted around the black space. As his senses slowly came back to him, he noticed his shallow breaths. As well as the puffs of hot air that came from his mouth. It was unbearably cold here. He also could feel that he was seemingly floating, almost as if he was underwater. But it wasn’t… wet, or even an open space. If he could describe it, he’d say it was like swimming in a vat of honey; a force pressing into him on all sides that seemed to stick to his skin, yet it didn't exist at all. And the uncomfortable pressure wouldn't let up.
A shiver then shot up his spine, and Grian instinctively curled in on himself for warmth. His shaking form jerked when the voice spoke again. “ We welcome you once again! It was such a pity that you decided to leave us all those years ago.” The voice softened, and Grian could tell that they were trying to hide the malice in their words. The player suddenly felt an ice cold touch on his cheek, almost indistinguishable from the already freezing temperature digging into his bones. A claw-like hand cupped his face, the owner’s sharp claw; what felt like a thumb, grazed underneath Grian’s eye.
“ You regret it, don’t you ?” the voice had become terse, and Grian let a whimper escape his closing throat, “You know what you’ve done now haven’t you? This entire server is now under our care, although we know you don’t approve of that. Admit it, you led them here. Yet you accepted their invitation, knowing we’d find you again someday. And then you dared to stay here! 4 years, Xelqua, and look how it has ended. But don’t fret darling, you’ll be with them again. We are generous people after all.”
Somewhere during the Watcher’s monologue, Grian had broken down. A cry was torn from deep in his chest, but the ancient being had continued. The worst part is that, they were all right . Grian had known in the back of his mind, that it would only be a period of time until they found him again. But he had still accepted Mumbo’s offer, even though the other man had knew of the Watchers as well. Void, Mumbo was there for him ! With Grian, to help him through the aftermath and escape the public’s eye for those infuriating, tiresome weeks, while still keeping him company. And this is how he repays his best friend? This is how he repays the hermits for their kindness, their understanding, and compassion? This is how he repays these people for filling the hole in his heart that was stolen, with 4 years of joy?
With this realization, Grian began to openly sob, not caring for the humiliation this Watcher was going to give him. “Oh, don’t cry dear, you knew this the entire time. You are just cracking from all this denial aren’t you, Xelqua.” The Watcher’s tone was still dripping with venom and disgust at Grian’s display. The being shouted, “ Quit whining, ᓭᓵ⚍ᒲ! I've already told you, you will see them soon. Under our care, you’ll be how you’ve always been. Fulfilling your true purpose of your tiny, insignificant life. But, at most it will be a well served one.”
Grian had started to flail and kick at the empty space, as he felt the hand that had been clutching an entire side of his head, drag down onto his chest. The sharp claws suddenly dug into his sweater, through his being, as the hand had a death grip on his soul, code? Whatever the Watcher had grasped, it forced a choked sound out of Grian, and his sobs were cut short, escaping as pained squeaks. He knew what happened next, as his vision began to fade. All he could hope for is that the hermits made it out unharmed, with him or not. It's the best he could do for getting them into this mess. As his mind began to slow, he grasped onto the fleeting memories of friends laughing and smiling, of him laughing and smiling. He wished his hermits luck, as Grian was killed off, and Xelqua came in his place.