Grian's POV

I carefully lift the metal helmet onto my head, lying down on my bed and curling up into a small ball. It's comforting to have it on, and I've found myself wearing it more and more frequently these days.

Smiling slightly, I feel my eyes droop a little, tired from weeks with little rest. I keep holding onto the helmet though, like it'll fall off if I don't. Before I know it though, I'm falling asleep.

I don't have any dreams, which I'm happy about. Every night since Evo was... destroyed, has been plagued with horrible nightmares. I think that's the reason Xisuma let me keep this. It really comforts me to have it.

"Grian?"

I open my eyes, realising everything still has a red tint to it and briefly panicking. I really can't think of a way to explain this one to a Hermit. Rolling over, I see it's only Mumbo though.

"Um... why are you wearing EX' helmet?"

"Ah... that's a good question" I sigh, sitting up and taking it off. "I like wearing it."

"Why do you like... actually you don't have to answer that, sorry!"

"No it's ok. Remember a couple months ago, Xisuma said he and I used to be close? That's why I like wearing it, it's comforting... it reminds me of him in a nice way"

Mumbo sits next to me, silently offering a hug. I accept it, letting him wrap an arm around me. I keep my hands on the helmet though.

"Grian... were you and EX... 'close' close?"

I look up at Mumbo with a smirk, knowing he's figured it out.

"And what do you mean by that?"

"Stop trying to make me embarrassed Gri, you know exactly what I mean!" He laughs

"Ok ok... maybe I was trying to embarrass you. But yeah, he was my boyfriend."

"Ohhh, that's why you wear his helmet. I get it, I sometimes wear Iskall's scarf when I miss them. Funny though, I was pretty sure you were into Xisuma.

It's always weird when Hermits think I like X. Mostly because he's my FRIEND, and the person I actually love happens to be his brother.

"Come again?" Mumbo asks

"I didn't say anything"

"You did... about a brother?"

I silently curse at myself. Xisuma had asked me NOT to mention Ezra being his brother for now, but I have a habit of thinking out loud.

"Do you have a brother who Xisuma likes?"

I don't respond, and he seems to get it.

"Oh... Xisuma and EX are..."

"Brothers... yes"

I turn, to see a slightly sad looking Xisuma in the doorway.

"Twins, to be more specific" he sighs, sitting down beside me.

"Oh goodness" Mumbo mumbles. "That's... unfortunate"

"As with most things in our lives" I admit

"Well... at least you both ended up being Admins. I could only imagine what would've happened to you had you been Watchers."

I look at X. He looks at me. Then he nods.

I roll the sleeve of my sweater up to show the three black stripes. Mumbo's face drains of all colour, and he slowly lifts a hand to his mouth in shock.

"Goodness me, I- I really spoke too soon..."

"We aren't on their side!" I quickly add.

"We escaped them a long time ago... at least we think so" Xisuma tells him, which seems to calm the panicked Redstoner, but only slightly.

"Oh god... I- I'm sorry you had to go through whatever you did"

"It's alright... we had eachother, and Ezra, and Joe."

"Joe?" Mumbo repeats, eyes widening.

"Yep" I respond

"And... Ezra?"

"My brother." X explains

"Ok... that's a lot to take in. Um... do you need a hug?"

The combined awkwardness and innocence of the question makes me laugh, and I embrace my friend. Xisuma, who isn't really one for hugging, awkwardly leans in to the embrace. But I grin, pulling him inwards. I forget that X is wearing a helmet, and Mumbo unfortunately gets the heavy metal smashed into his chest.

"OW, GRIAN THAT HURT A LOTx"

"Sorry Mumbo!" I gasp apologetically

"Sorry, that was also partially my fault." Xisuma admits, pulling it off his head and leaning back into the hug. I laugh a little, and he looks back over at me with raised eyebrows.

"What?"

"Hehe...Helmet hair." I tease, reaching across Mumbo to mess with it even more. 

"Hey, cut it off!" X laughs, pushing me away. 

"Both of you cut it off!" Mumbo insists, attempting to pull us away from each other but instead dragging the three of us into a pile of laughing Hermits on the floor.

Prime Watcher's POV

"Who is it you're looking for?"

The Watcher keeps his eyes on the ground, not daring to look up at me.

"A young Watcher... by the name of Xelqua."

"Why not leave him be?"

"He possesses Gold Magic, and is in league with a powerful Admin"

"And you destroyed an entire server and murdered its innocent members to try and catch him?"

Gulping, the man tries to think of an excuse, but is left silent. Sighing heavily, I stand, leaving the room without a word. The second Watcher exhales in relief, under the assumption I'm not angry.

But I am. I'm livid. Not that they haven't found this missing Watcher, that such horrible treatment has fallen upon innocent players. Not only the players, but young Watchers themselves.

And I'm angry that I hold a position that induces fear in others. I'm angry that beings of peace have turned to violence. I'm angry injustices have gone unnoticed and ignored.

Watchers weren't always feared and antagonised. We used to be a proud group of strong magic users who protected players and worked side by side with Admins. Then, 8,000 years ago, something went wrong.

I pause when I think about that horrible day and it's outcomes. I don't want to. So I won't.

Apparently, the boy who escaped the training facility stole one of the last remaining books that tell the true history of Watchers, not the fabricated garbage they tell those they train these days. I don't know if the book is still in his possession, or destroyed along with the server he called home, but I can only pray it's intact.

Thinking of those innocent players who lost their lives angers me again. I'm not proud to call myself a Watcher anymore, to wield magic that's hurt so many, to be a representation of cruel beings who inflict only suffering upon others.

Prime Watcher.

What a joke.

I'm well aware my role is one only created to scare The Admins and to keep me under their control. I'm only a useless puppet of the Council, unable to do anything at my own will. This is why I'm quiet. One word out of line, and some 'tragic accident' might just befall me.

I instead am observant, preferring to quietly listen to those around me, gathering information beneath the hood that frequently conceals my face. I've learnt a lot from just listening, and not having to talk seems to help. The young Watcher I just spoke to was probably the first person I've verbally engaged with all week...

Not that I'm complaining.

My thoughts drift back to the poor young boy who's been chased for nearly 6 years. He'd probably suffer a terrible fate should they find him, one I'd ideally like to prevent. I can only imagine the carnage that would result in his capture.

Closing the door to my room behind me, I make sure it's locked, before throwing the ridiculously long cloak I've been wearing to the ground. I trip over it on a regular basis, so I really don't know why I still agree to wear it.

Getting ready to teleport out of here, I can't help but roll my eyes at how simple this is going to be. I'm perfectly capable of getting out of this prison of a fortress, the reason I didn't escape eons ago was because I wouldn't want innocent players to get attacked and killed while the Watchers went looking for me. 

I mean, they'll come looking for me anyway, but I'd consider this an emergency. This boy with Gold magic is exactly what they need to complete their plan and I for one am not going to let it happen. Even if it's the opposite of what the Council is planning, I need to do something about this as Prime Watche-

I stop.

I'm not the Prime Watcher. 

That's what people call me. 

"I'm Stella." I tell myself, briefly glancing at the mirror in at the other end of the room. I tell myself this every day, refusing to forget who I really am under all these lies and propaganda. I smile, pushing some of my bright purple hair out of my bright purple eyes.

"And Grian, whoever you are, I'm going to help you."

And so, we meet the Prime Watcher, who would much rather go by her real name, Stella.

She may or may not run into someone else in this book. ;)

-Xan