Being quiet was hard for Grian.

Bad had fallen asleep once more, and the hermit couldn't blame him. You could only afk and zonk out for so long before you got a headache, and Grian had passed that limit a while back.

With no afk... and no sleep... he was still just so bored.

His mind consistently bounced back and forth between the hermits and the Helsians. He used to belong here, he used to call this place his home. But everyone seemed so different, and he couldn't blame them, he'd be so shocked and angry if one of the hermits had killed another - like what the Helsians believed he had done.

He couldn't expect much else of them when he wouldn't expect much else from himself.

He wished he had his axe. Of course, it was probably for the best he had kept the weapon hidden in his enderchest back on the Hermitcraft server. It was one of his favorite weapons, and one he rarely got to use.

It had technically been owned by Xelqua first, given to the player by the Watchers soon after he swore loyalty. Grian had that memory, as well as the years of training Xelqua had received after gaining the axe. He had practiced on his own with the axe after getting it himself, building up a similar level of strength with the blade. It had quickly become his favorite - and it was one of the few things he agreed with Xelqua on.

He hoped the man didn't realize he'd been using the weapon himself. He had taken it when the Helsians first took Xelqua as prisoner after capturing him with the help of Xisuma and Welsknight.

Grian should have just killed him... sure he would have died as well but at least the hermits would be safe.

If he just had a weapon on him... something to get these chains off.. something within range to help.

He glanced up at the sword Bad was holding. It was loose in his grip - as the man was still passed out against the wall. It wasn't the sword he normally used.

All the Helsians had custom weapons. They didn't have netherite or enchantments like players did, so they made up for it by creating weapons custom to each individual's strengths. He'd've loved to help make the hermits custom weapons but they were often too busy to sit down and test different weapon types for hours - or even grind out the materials for weapon making. They were far too focused on bases and games to worry about that.

They had no big evils to fight in the Hermitcraft server. Not yet.

Grian's sword was here somewhere... but most likely broken. He hadn't remembered exactly when the weapon broke - but he distinctly remembered seeing it shattered. His custom sword, the feathered hilt and sharp diamond surface broken apart, coated in blood.

Why did that memory seem so fuzzy?

The hermit shook his head, looking back to the resting Helsian. Where was his sword? Bad's sword was far bigger than the default diamond sword he'd been using, with a large, flat blade and heavier hilt with custom engravings. Bad never went anywhere without his sword, had Xelqua taken it from him?

"Bad?" He spoke, his voice a bit hoarse from disuse, "Where's your sword?"

The Helsian opened his eyes, blinking wearily, "Wh-?" He looked down at the sword in his hand, "Oh... yeah, no ones allowed to use custom weaponry. Which sucks but," he shrugged, yawning.

"What," Grian shuffled, the chains rattling, "And you just deal with this?!"

"Look, G, I don't wanna die."

Grian's eyes widened, "We can do something! I just need my sword back. Where's the one you made me, the one VintageWheat made?" Maybe it wasn't broken..? Maybe that was his imagination!

"It was melted down for scrap after it broke."

"WHAT?!"

Bad flinched at the volume, and shook his head, "Why do you even care? Hermits don't even have special weapons!"

"Sure, not usually- I mean it's much easier to make a base level sword and enchant it - but that's not the point! A custom weapon is different! And you just let Xelqua take them from you?"

A light tinge of red coated Bad's cheeks and he shrugged.

"Your sword?"

"yep."

"Serene's bayonet?"

"mhmm"

"Holliday's guns?"

"uh-huh"

"Wheat's scythe? Phenom's staff? Red's bow??" Grian's voice raised in pitch and his hands gripped the bars of the cage.

"Yes! Everything! We have base-level diamond swords! I don't know what more you want!"

Grian went quiet, just staring in utter disbelief. His eyes were wide and he almost felt like crying. Just... regular diamond swords? They were nice but... they couldn't take down Xelqua with those.

He leaned back, flopping back on the floor of his cage, the chains unceremoniously clashing around him. He looked down, pausing in thought before sighing.

He looked up, "That doesn't piss you off?"

"There's nothing I can do about it."

"Wh-? What happened to all of you?" His voice broke, "Where's the group that stampeded me out of Hels? The impenetrable town of warriors and entrepreneurs and builders! You're all... slaves! It's pathetic!"

Bad tightened his grip, pointing the sword at the hermit. "Hey!" He nearly growled, "It's your fault we're in this situation, okay? If you hadn't teamed up with Xelqua we wouldn't be here."

"You teamed up with him!"

"Only because you did first!"

Grian slammed his hand against the metal ground of the cage, "I only teamed up with him because he killed Hels and Ex!"

There was a horrible pause, and both men kept steady eye contact. Bad's yellow irises danced across Grian's face before the man swallowed.

"He what?" The helsian whispered.

Grian felt a hot tear drip down his face, and he quickly wiped it away, "You think I would kill Hels? That I could even hurt Evil!?" He trembled, "They were my best friends, Bad. Ex has been with me my entire life! I didn't join Xelqua and kill them - Xelqua killed them and... he'll kill the rest of you too."

There was another moment as Bad took in the information. It... made sense and at the same time, it didn't. Bad had seen Grian covered in the blood of his friends, he had helped chase Grian to the portal - he had seen the chat notifications from the deaths!

Of course, why would Grian team with Xelqua? Grian had been adamant about the capture and containment of Xelqua, and even discussed with the Helsians about killing him - which they had all refused to let happen. But - Xelqua and Grian looked so similar, but he had seen the blue and red wings... the deep red eyes...

Was he under control? Was it a disguise? He needed more information, but... surely... he shook his head. He knew Xelqua was powerful, but how far did that power stretch beyond Admin abilities and threats of violence? He didn't know.

He believed Grian, or at least he wanted to. This was all he had, and he was willing to believe Grian, they had been friends too.

Grian and the other hermits would be good allies nonetheless. He just... had to put his faith in Grian for now, as he had done so many times before.

He looked to the hermit, and tilted his head "So... its not all of us against you two?"

Grian nodded, smiling just slightly "It never was. It's all of us against Xelqua."