(We're getting rather close to chapter 20, aren't we...
TW: Blood, violence, stabbing)

"Focus!" Grian's mentor roared, putting all their strength into their downwards cut. The small admin's sword pathetically dipped down under the blow, his defense breaking easily. "You told me you wanted to be a Prime Admin. You will not pass your trial like this. You can not afford to have a single bad day. You can not afford any simple mistakes!" They made an outwards push with their hand, and Grian was unceremoniously thrown across the training room, the pulse of the Prime's magic instantly overpowering whatever weak shield Grian had.

"I'm trying!" Grian said, staggering to his feet. He was used to being thrown around in training, especially recently with his upcoming trial, but he wasn't used to the black spots dancing his his vision.

The Prime growled, "Then it's not good enough!" They had made their way over to Grian as he recovered, and raised their sword over him. Grian cried out in alarm, raising his sword faster than any normal player, and blocked the strike. The blades ground against each other as Grian maneuvered away from the wall.

His mentor stuck his foot out and tripped him, sending him toppling to the floor again. The Prime pressed his knee into his back, pinning him against the floor. Grian's sword dropped to the ground when the Prime twisted his wrist in a way that would have broken it. "Were you really trying, or is that an excuse for your horrible performance today?"

And finally, the dam that held his bottled up emotions snapped like a twig.

Grian yelled in frustration as a pulse of silver and golden magic erupted from his body. The Prime Admin was thrown away from him in a flurry of white and golden robes. Throughout the HeadQuarters, the torch flames danced and extinguished, lanterns flickered off, a few windows shattered, and the large weapon rack on the wall crashed to the floor, the weapons uselessly clattering to the floor.

The Argentum admin's chest heaved as rolled onto his knees. Grian bent low to the floor, putting his hands on his knees but keeping his sword ready for another attack. (Rule whatever-it-was: never let your guard down.)

He glanced up towards the Prime, locking eyes. The room was dark, the only light being the rays of light that shone through the cracked windows. The Prime stood and turned their cold and calculating gaze towards Grian. It softened over so slightly before they waved their hand, the torch light in the room returning.

"Good."

Grian's eyes fluttered open as a door slammed open. Unfortunately, he was still back in the cell, but he didn't get time to fully wake before he was hauled to his feet and shoved through the doorway.

The Watchers that dragged him by his sweater roughly pushed him through the dark and eerie halls. He tried committing the path to memory, but easily forgot after the twenty third turn. Close enough, he'd be able to make his way out faster.

They quickly approached large double doors, and with a swirl of black magic, they opened. It was a grand entry hall, the very same one Grian found himself in just a week or so back. The large pillars lining the central black and dark grey carpet cast a shadow in the already dim room. At the end of the hall, a throne that all but screamed Prime Watcher sat there alone.

'Speak of the devil and he shall come,' Grian bitterly thought as the Watcher stepped out of a pillar's shadow.

"I know who you are, Grian," the Prime Watcher growled. "You seriously didn't think you could hide it from me, did you?" He stepped forwards and towered over Grian, glaring down at the small builder.

"What are you talking about?" the admin asked, restlessly fighting against the bonds. The Watcher only took off his gloves and grabbed Grian by the neck. Grian choked as both their skins began burning, smoke eventually curling off their skins. Despite the pain that the Prime Watcher was hiding with a calm facade, he didn't let go, and instead hauled Grian into the air.

"Does this seem familiar, Grian? Or should I say, Prime Admin?" he said. Grian hissed and kicked as the Watcher cruelly smirked. "After we take over Minecraft- which you cannot stop- I will go after each of the little Hermits, and kill them off. One. By. One." He brought up his free hand and flicked his fingers.

In a side entry doorway, Xisuma was pushed in, his iconic helmet missing from his head. The lower half of his face under his nose was covered by a metal muzzle, preventing him from speaking.

"Xisuma!" Grian choked out, the habit of butchering the admin's name gone.

"And after you," the Watcher sneered. "He's next in line." Before Grian could say anything, the Prime Watcher dropped and pushed him towards X. Said admin's eyes widened, and he tried to call out a warning. It only came out as an incoherent muffled yell-

Grian gasped and jerked forwards. He looked down to see a black blade impaling his chest. As Grian choked on his blood, he reached up and tentatively brushed the blade with his fingertips. The sword was yanked out his back and he was thrown to the floor, where his blood pooled underneath him.

Xisuma broke free from the Watchers (or maybe they let him go) and stumbled towards Grian. Another muffled sound that vaguely resembled a sob reached Grian's ears, louder the rushing blood that muffled all other noises. Next to his body, Xisuma fell to his knees, his hands hovering over the chest wound. He was unsure of what to do, of how to help him, but the terror was clear in his eyes.

The admin didn't get time to do anything before the Prime Watcher pulled him away and unceremoniously tossed him to the side. Grian's view was blocked by a black robe and boots to match.

"I can't have you in my way, Grian," the Prime Watcher crouched down and whispered into his ear. "You might not have died in the Hermitcraft server because of your magic, but now..." A malicious grin curled onto his face. "You don't have access to that magic to keep you from Permadeath."

Grian drew in a shaky breath, choking on blood. "You can't-"

"You are in no position to tell me what I can and can't do, mister Prime." The Watcher stalked over to where Xisuma laid. He picked him up by the neck and sneered. "A pathetic excuse for an admin. It's a wonder your server isn't in flames."

And without warning, the Watcher drove his sword through Xisuma's side.

Grian cried out, completely forgetting the wound in his chest. What he was screaming was incoherent combinations of Xisuma's name, curse words, and phrases of denial. He tried dragging himself over to X, but black spots danced in his vision. Another clot of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as his vision went black for a moment.

When he was able to see again, the power-hungry Watcher stood over him, his foot on the Prime's chest.

The Prime Watcher smirked before bringing his sword down over his heart-

Grian jerked upright with a yelp. His heart rate was astronomically high and he was heaving as if he'd just ran a marathon. The adrenaline coursed through his veins, leaving his sweaty hands to tremor with fear.

Across the small cell, Xisuma blinked at him with slightly lowered eyebrows. "Gri?" The Prime flinched at the sound. X frowned and scooted next to him, his arms angled awkwardly in his lap. "You alright?"

Grian swallowed and weakly raised his tied hands. His fingertips brushed Xisuma's side in the exact spot the Watcher had driven his sword. He didn't care that he barely had energy to move or if it seemed weird, he needed to know if this was an illusion or not.

The admin drew in a careful breath, and let it out slowly. There weren't any indications of being stabbed, and Xisuma was physical and indeed sitting next to him.

It was only a typical nightmare mixed with a memory.

Of course, unless it was a vision...

"Grian?" the Hermitcraft admin softly asked again, softly nudging him in the side. "Are you alright?" The Prime shook himself out of his thoughts, focusing his gaze back on Xisuma. That was when he realized he didn't remember Xisuma's face from the dream, as if what he saw was only a placeholder.

Grian nodded, albeit hesitantly. "Yeah... yeah, I think. Just... had a horrible dream. Nightmare," he rambled. Xisuma hummed and shifted positions. He seemed to be in the same state as he was when they were thrown in here, maybe slightly more tired.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Grian wordlessly shook his head, giving X what he hoped was an apologetic look. "That's quite alright," Xisuma said. After a few moments of awkward silence, he added, "Well, it's been about a day, if that helps at all?" The Prime tilted his head upwards in acknowledgement. That would explain his extreme lack of energy.

"Seriously hope the admins come soon," Grian finally managed to say. "One more day and you're on your own." He began to pick at the cold stone floor, scraping the moss off and pushing it around.

"I know," came Xisuma's quiet reply. "But they won't let it happen." Grian could tell Xisuma was trying to reassure himself more than anything. The Prime grunted in response, then glared at the ropes preventing him from blowing up the Lair.

After a few minutes of silence and zoning out, Grian spoke up again. "Xisuma, I'm honestly not sure of..." A rhythmic pattern of footfalls sounded just outside the hall of the prison dungeon, effectively interrupting him. The Prime Admin perked up, drawing Xisuma's attention back to the real world. The footsteps continued, drawing closer and closer each time it patted against the floor.

"What was that?" Grian's voice had lowered to a whisper. The door to the dungeon opened slowly with a creak, and the footsteps continued as if there wasn't a reason to pause.

"Don't know," Xisuma muttered back. "Hopefully admins, yeah?"

Grian didn't have the time to reply as the door to their cell slammed open.

(Just a little announcement: I put the explanation in the latest chapter of my oneshot book, but basically I need to take a break from Wattpad. I know these updates have been once every two weeks, but I kinda need a break from everything. Hope you understand and thank you <3)

(Sorry 'bout the nightmare by the way. I made it messy and quick paced because I dunno my dreams are weird like that.)