"It's nice that you finally decided to show up." Sherenidy crossed her arms in front of her chest and leaned against the door behind her.

Xelqua spared her an innocent smirk, knowing exactly what he had done.

With them on the hallway was standing a female with copper hair and red eyes. Next to her was a Watcher with short black hair.

"Well, I was busy with Hermitcraft," Xelqua reasoned, knowing very well that she wouldn't care about his excuses. They both knew very well that the communicators lacked mute button and had to be carried around all the time.

"ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ↸𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ᔑꖎ∴ᔑ||ᓭ, ↸𝙹リ'ℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ||?" the copper haired Lead Admin asked from the Watcher next to her.

"ᔑ⍑, ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ↸𝙹. ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ↸ᒷ⎓╎リ╎ℸ ̣ ᒷꖎ|| ↸𝙹," she confirmed with a sigh. "╎ ↸𝙹リ'ℸ ̣  ꖌリ𝙹∴ ╎⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ꖎᒷᔑ↸ᓭ ᔑリ↸ ∷𝙹𝙹ꖌ╎ᒷᓭ ᓭᒷᒷ ╎ℸ ̣ , ʖ⚍ℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ╎ᓭ ᔑ ⍊ᒷ∷|| ⊣𝙹𝙹↸ ᒷ ̇/ᔑᒲ!¡ꖎᒷ 𝙹⎓ ⍑𝙹∴ !¡∷𝙹⎓ᒷᓭᓭ╎𝙹リᔑꖎ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᒲᔑ╎リᓭ ᔑ∷ᒷ," she continued, eyeing the other two purple cloaked Watchers with her hidden eyes.

"||ᒷᔑ⍑, ∴ᒷ ᓭᒷᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ᔑᓭ ∴ᒷꖎꖎ. ╎リ ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ʖ𝙹𝙹ꖌ ∴ᒷ ᔑᓵℸ ̣ ⚍ᔑꖎꖎ|| ᒲᔑℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ ᓭ╎リᓵᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ʖᒷ⊣╎リリ╎リ⊣," the Lead Admin nodded.

"∴⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ∴ᔑᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ?" the Main Watcher asked, raising her eyebrow.

"リ𝙹ℸ ̣ ⍑╎リ⊣," the Lead Admin hummed.

"I was spamming you through the whole day and you didn't answer with even a single word!" Sherenidy exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

Xelqua shrugged, "I was busy building a rock and gathering materials."

"And I had to write three over thousand word essays on the most useless things alone because you were busy building rocks!" Sherenidy snapped back, seeming very annoyed by this. "And this isn't even the first time you've ignored me like this," she groaned.

"||𝙹⚍ ᔑꖎᓭ𝙹 ʖꖎᒷ∴ ⚍!¡ ᔑ ℸ ̣ 𝙹ᔑᓭℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ ∴╎ℸ ̣ ⍑ ⚍!¡ℸ ̣ 𝙹リ," the Main Watcher pointed out.

"ᒲᔑ╎リ ∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷ ⊣𝙹↸╎⍊ᔑ, that isn't necessary information to be brought up," Sherenidy hurried to answer, trying to shut her up.

"↸╎↸リ'ℸ ̣  ||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ ∴𝙹 ⊣ᒷℸ ̣  ꖌ╎ᓵꖌᒷ↸ 𝙹⚍ℸ ̣  𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᒲᔑ╎リ ⍑ᑑ ⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ∷ᒷᓭℸ ̣  𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ↸ᔑ|| ⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ?" Godiva continued with a smirk on her face.

"Shut" – Sherenidy raised her finger – "We don't need to talk about that," she warned. "Plus, it was completely for science!"

"This isn't even the first time you've blown something up here," Xelqua sighed, hiding his amusement with fake disappointment.

"I'm not the only one who has blown something up here," Sherenidy pointed out. "You've exploded quite a lot of stuff as well," she reminded.

"ᓭ⍑ᒷリリ╎⍑ᔑᓭ ᔑ !¡𝙹╎リℸ ̣," Godiva sang on her defense. "ʖ⚍ℸ ̣  ᓭ⍑ᒷ ⍑ᔑᓭ ᒲ𝙹ᓭℸ ̣  ꖎ╎ꖌᒷꖎ|| ᓵᔑ⚍ᓭᒷ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᒲ𝙹ᓭℸ ̣  !¡∷𝙹!¡ᒷ∷ℸ ̣ || ↸ᔑᒲᔑ⊣ᒷ," she added to also go against her.

"For fucks sake, ᓵ𝙹↸ᓭ!" Sherenidy groaned, shooting her a really annoyed and betrayed look.

"ᒲᔑ╎リ ∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷ ᓭ⍑ᒷ∷ᒷリ╎↸||, ᒲᔑ╎リ ∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷ ⊣𝙹↸╎⍊ᔑ," a platinum blonde man with olive eyes called out as he approached them with a clipboard in his hand. He was followed by a couple of civilians. "ᔑ ᒲᒷᒷℸ ̣ ╎リ⊣ ⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓭ⚍!¡!¡𝙹∷ℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ᒷᔑᒲᓭ," he warned in Galactic, nodding towards the people behind him.

Sherenidy and Godiva shared a shocked look under their masks. They seemed to have forgotten about it, which wasn't even surprising.

"ꖎᒷᔑ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᒲᒷᒷℸ ̣ ╎リ⊣ ∷𝙹𝙹ᒲ. ∴ᒷ'ꖎꖎ ʖᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ᒷ ᓭ𝙹𝙹リ," Sherenidy informed in Galactic. "ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑリꖌᓭ ⎓𝙹∷ ╎リ⎓𝙹∷ᒲ╎リ⊣ ⚍ᓭ, ∷𝙹𝙹ꖌ╎ᒷ ᔑ↸ᒲ╎リ ᓵᔑℸ ̣ 𝙹リ," she added with a polite smile on her lips.

"Let's go to the meeting room," Caton told the group behind him. As they turned around he shot the other four people an annoyed look, gesturing towards the group.

"We definitely weren't informed about this.." Sherenidy bit her lip, switching back to English.

Switching to Galactic around the civilians while they were in the Main HQ's private parts was a dirty trick to do. The civilians didn't understand the language, nor the meaning behind the switch, which was the reason why non of them understood the disrespect it held.

Switching to Galactic was a way The Council used to show – unknowns to the visitors – disrespect for them. The reason behind the act was because the Main HQ – apart from the lobby, medical center, public library and meeting room during public meetings – was a private place for The Council's members. It was their home and they didn't appreciate most of the visitors, even if the reasoning was good.

-----

     The public part from the Main HQ was simple: a grand space with huge entrance doors. Across from the entrance were huge spruce doors that led to the meeting room that was only open for public during public meetings. On both of the sides of the spruce doors were stairs that connected to a small balcony above the doors. On the balcony stood two of The Council's members, guarding smaller double door that led to the second floor, which was for The Council only. On the left of the entrance to the lobby were doors to the medical center and on the right to the public library.

Some of the visiting groups marched to the balcony and informed that they had a meeting. To appear respectful, they were led to the second floor, but the hidden looks and Galactic speaking they received were nowhere near respectful.

But hey, we haven't looked into The Council at all. Who are they and how do they work?

You see, they're divided into three groups: The Mains, The Leads and The Rookies. All of those groups are divided into Watchers and admins.

The Mains are the most important. The Main Leader Alden is the one in charge of The Council. He has his right hand, The Main Admin Mao, and left hand, The Main Watcher Sherenidy. The second and third in command. Both of the hands have their own students. The Main Admin Mao's student is The Main Admin Upton. He is the fourth in command and is destined to take Mao's place if he happens to die. The Main Watcher Sherenidy's student is the fifth in command. He is The Main Watcher Xelqua.

Then there are The Main Leader's right and left sides, The Main Admin Edita and The Main Watcher Kasen. While the right and left hand have their own works, the right and left sides are there to help The Main Leader with his work.

The Main Watchers wear a dark purple cloak and The Main Admins wear a light purple cloak. They're the ones on top of The Council.

After them are The Leads. They have their leading member: The Lead Admin Blake, who is in charge of them and making sure they follow The Mains' orders.

The Lead Watchers wear a dark blue cloak and The Lead Admins wear a light blue cloak.

Last there are The Rookies. Out of the over 50 Rookies only six are being treated as well as The Mains and Leads, but the remaining ones don't know that. The remaining ones are there only for public purposes, for show. They know nothing of what's going on in The Council, but don't realise it. Their leader is The Rookie Watcher Leslie.

The Rookies' cloaks colour is red.

Then to the purpose of The Council. They're a group of powerful Watchers and Admins, whose job is to protect servers and players. They are risking their lives to help others, and know that for the rest of their lives they will be dancing the dance of death with their own devils.

-----

     "Who even were those visitors?" Xelqua asked, staring at where Caton had just disappeared to.

"╎'↸ ᓭᔑ|| ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ||'∷ᒷ ⎓∷𝙹ᒲ ᓭ𝙹ᒲᒷ ⍊𝙹ꖎ⚍リℸ ̣ ᔑ∷|| ℸ ̣ ᒷᔑᒲ ⎓𝙹∷ ᒲᒷ↸╎ᓵᔑꖎ !¡⚍∷!¡𝙹ᓭᒷᓭ," Friede guessed with a shrug.

"∴ᒷ ʖᒷℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ ⊣ᒷℸ ̣  ⊣𝙹╎リ⊣ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᒲᒷᒷℸ ̣ ╎リ⊣ ∷𝙹𝙹ᒲ. 𝙹ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷∴╎ᓭᒷ ᔑꖎ↸ᒷリ ∴╎ꖎꖎ ʖᒷ !¡╎ᓭᓭᒷ↸ ∴╎ℸ ̣ ⍑ ⚍ᓭ," Godiva sighed, running a hand through her short raven hair.

"  ̇/ᒷꖎ, I haven't forgiven you for ignoring me. We'll get back to it later," Sherenidy warned, casting him an annoyed look before turning on her heels and rushing after Godiva.

"You got any batteries?" Xelqua asked, turning to look at Friede. She couldn't hold back a snort.

"ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ 'ᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ⎓╎∷ᓭℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑╎リ⊣ ||𝙹⚍ ᔑᓭꖌ ᒲᒷ?" she asked, trying to hold back laughter. "╎⎓ ╎ ⍑ᔑ⍊ᒷ ᔑリ|| ʖᔑℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᒷ∷╎ᒷᓭ?" She seemed pretty amused.

"Yeah, my personal communicator died yesterday and I need batteries," Xelqua proceeded to explain. "So could you please answer me if you have any?" He raised his wrist in front of her eyes to show of his ancient device.

"⊣𝙹 ᔑᓭꖌ ↸ᒷ ̇/||. ⍑ᒷ ᓭ⍑𝙹⚍ꖎ↸ ⍑ᔑ⍊ᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ," she answered. Her brows furrowed as she examined the communicator with her eyes.

"Fine!" Xelqua huffed with fake offence, raising his hand to knock on the door behind him.

"ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ 'ᓭ ᔑᓵℸ ̣ ⚍ᔑꖎꖎ|| ⋮ᔑ||'ᓭ ↸𝙹𝙹∷–," Friede coughed. Xelqua spun around just in time as the door opened.

"What kind of trouble are you causing now?" sang a deep, yet silky voice. The owner of the voice was a female with shoulder length raven hair and fully white eyes.

"Sorry, wrong door. I was actually looking for the other trans person!" Xelqua gave her an apologising smile.

She rolled her eyes – even if it wasn't clear, thanks to them being fully white – and snapped her band-aid filled fingers towards the door on her left. "You know that he's there, don't you?" She tipped her head.

"I know, my bad," Xelqua answered. "You seem pissed.. Let me guess: I accidentally disturbed your working without a good reason, didn't I?" He gritted his teeth.

Jaylee sighed. "I'm just temporarily annoyed with you because your absence caused ᒲᔑ𝙹 to make me watch after ᓭ⍑ᒷリ and ⚍!¡. The moment I turned my back on them, they exploded a toaster," she groaned. Friede turned her head to cover her grin. Jaylee casted her a dead-serious look. "ᒷ↸ᒷ, I would appreciate it if you didn't laugh at my misery," she warned the other Lead Admin.

"ᓭ𝙹∷∷||, ᓭ𝙹∷∷||," she snorted.

"You know what? Come help me out." Jaylee gestured for Friede to get into her workroom. The latter froze, starting at her with wide eyes. "I need some help and you surely wouldn't mind sacrificing your fingers. The weapons don't make themselves after all," the ravenet continued.

Friede casted Xelqua a look, silently asking for help. Xelqua just shrugged, holding back a smirk. "She's the spare leader of the Leads after all, which means that she does, in fact, have control over you," he reasoned. "And she does have a point: the weapons won't make themselves. So go on, give your older sister a hand!"

"She's 24 and I'm 23," Jaylee coughed.

"Really?" Xelqua's eyes widened. "I thought you were old!" he exclaimed. Friede bursted into laugher again as Jaylee's eyes went wide and mouth gaped open.

"What?" she exclaimed. "Out of the around 35 of us only 25 are younger than me!"

"||𝙹⚍ ᔑ∷ᒷ ᔑᒲ𝙹リ⊣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ℸ ̣ ᒷリ 𝙹ꖎ↸ᒷᓭℸ ̣  𝙹⎓ ⚍ᓭ, ᔑ∷ᒷリ'ℸ ̣  ||𝙹⚍?" Friede pointed out.

"Shut your mouth and come help me out, plus you're older than me," Jaylee snarled, gesturing into the room behind her.

"Well, I'll just leave you two and go find ↸ᒷ ̇/," Xelqua chimed in before rushing out of the hallway to escape the conversation.

-----

     The strawberry blonde returned to the hallway a minute later. He waltzed past the multiple doors before stopping in front of the right one, raising his hand to knock.

"Come in!" called out a voice that was a bit higher than his own. It made Xelqua reach for the handle and push the door open.

Dexter was looking towards him from his work desk. His brown hair was messy and dark blue cloak nowhere to be seem, which wasn't even so surprising anymore.

"Good..." – he trailed off to look at the clock on his wall – "Wait, no, that's broken.. Shit.." he mumbled to himself, grimacing. Xelqua followed his gaze and nodded to himself – the clock on the wall was in fact broken.

"..Morning?" Dexter guessed hesitatedly.

"Close, it's actually past one pm already," Xelqua answered, glancing at the screen of his newer communicator.

"Great.. I'm a bit behind on my schedule.." Dexter muttered to himself, sparing a look towards the metal pile on his desk. "Did you need something?" he asked, wiping his dirty hands on his white collared shirt. They left more black stains to the already dirty cloth.

"I need batteries to my communicator," Xelqua announced, waving his old communicator in front of Dexter's eyes in the same manner as a hypnotist moved their clock in front of the victim.

"Right," he hummed, reaching into a drawer behind him. "By the way, if you happen to see ⚍!¡, please tell him to return the broken toaster and bended fork. I might need them for something," he chatted away as he dug through the useless items that filled the drawer.

"Is that a fucking nuke in the corner?"

"And I think that ᑑ⚍╎リリ stole a car seat, so if you see her, it'd be nice if you–"

"Is this a real human skull?"

"Told her to return it."

"Why is there a helicopter propeller stuck in the wall?"

"These batteries should–," Dexter stopped, staring straight at him. "How the fuck did you manage to get yourself stuck in the coffin..?" he asked.

"There was a hole on the side," Xelqua answered, trying to wiggle out.

"I turn my back on you for five seconds and in those five seconds you have gone through everything I own and got stuck," Dexter sighed, face-palming.

"What do you expect from me?" Xelqua tipped his head.

"I don't even know anymore.." Dexter mumbled, burying his face in his hands.

-----

     Grian logged back to Hermitcraft after some more chaos. Now his ancient communicator had batteries and he could see what the Hermits were up to in the chat.

"Hey there Grian!" Pearl called out as she passed by him, carrying a shulker box in her hands.

"Hey Pearl, up to something sketchy?" Grian joked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nooo~ I'm just building my base!" Pearl answered with a chuckle, playing the role of an innocent. "Why would I be up to something?" she questioned.

"Just looking a bit suspicious, walking around like that," Grian answered, strapping his communicator back around his wrist.

"Well, I better get going before you catch me!" she winked, definitely not seeming even more suspicious.

Grian smiled after her as she disappeared to the horizon, but soon his smile faded. His expression turned cold as he turned around.

"How can you have just forgiven her like that?" Xavier's voice was mocking and filled with blame. Guilt washed over Grian.

"How could I ever forgive her..?" he asked, his hand balling into a fist, nails tearing into the skin. "Sometimes you just have to pretend to have done so..." he whispered.

"She doesn't even remember you," Xavier pointed out.

"That's better.." Grian mumbled. "Get lost.. I have a base to build," he warned the demon.

"Yeah, yeah."

Grian picked up a shulker box and plastered a smile on his face. He had a base to build. And it would be great.

Words: 2720

[17.8.2022]

You can have some crack before this story takes a roller-coaster ride straight to hell–

Also, I hope that everyone's doing alright and taking care of themselves. This year hasn't been a good one for the Minecraft community. We've lost Techno and TFC in just a few weeks..