Author's Note: Welcome to the introduction of Keralis and gateway into the next story in the timeline. 

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((three weeks after No One to Protect You))

 X's POV:

 I sat on top of my newly constructed minigame. We've all been hard at work while our wounds healed. Void had some major wounds, so TFC told him to remain in my base. I wish that the two told me that because I didn't know until Void broke down from pain last week. 

 Void ended up having to remain bedridden for a few more weeks due to his collapsing. I wanted to stay by his side, but my brother simply told me that he'd call if he needed something. The other hermits all agreed to check up on the injured or tired to help them out. 

 Speaking of the injured and tired, Mighty is delirious and awake. The hybrid didn't speak to anyone, and could only bark and chew on toys. The odd part is that some of the other wattpadders, like Aqua and Fantasy, have become sick along with Mighty. They, however, were still mobile and talkative. 

 I shook my head as I looked around the minigames. My legs swung as I felt the cool afternoon air go through my hair. I've heard that Doc has been experimenting with portals, but he thankfully returned Villager Grian without any problem. Grian decided that he'd just build a new time machine. When did he make the odd contraption that can go through history? I don't honestly know.  

 I stood up and stretched causing everything in me to pop. My body flinched as something in me popped uncomfortably.

 " That was not pleasant..." I sighed with a shake of my head. I glided down from my spot and looked around. I started to walk down the pathways. It was good to walk around and get some fresh air after everything we've been through. The portal were still unexplainable, and we didn't know the cause of them. The good news was that we could figure out a way to get people home now. 

 We could win this man vs. nature story. That was one thing that we had down. At the end of the day, I'm just glad that Grian, Wels, and Void are doing better now. In fact, Grian has been building a new minigame lately. I've seen the outside of it, and I'm excited to play it. 

 I continued to walk down the path until I reached Grian's trailer and Renbob's trailer parked next to it. My eyebrow raised as I studied the area. I've only been here by flying over, and that caused my signal to go fuzzy. 

 " Area 77 center?" I looked up at the center that False had built. The center was unfinished as of right now, but I'm curious as to what purpose this place serves. I started to walk back towards the village. I wanted to get home and see how Void was doing. 

 The stone clicked below me as I pasted by some trees. A sudden sound. A hurt animal perhaps? It was something hurt, at least. I searched around for the noise with my sword out. I didn't have my armor on, which I regret fully now. 

 " H-hello?" I called out as the noise sounded again. I followed the sound until I came to the boarder of area 77. My communicator started to buzz due to the signal being weaker. I sighed as I continued to follow the noise.

 My whole body froze when I found a body unconscious on the ground.

 " X!" I jumped and looked up. 

 Doc and Scar ran up to me. Scar in the lead, and Doc was trailing behind. I looked down at the man again. I sighed, " What did you two do?" I questioned as my hand twitched. Scar crossed his arms behind his head; he seemed slightly stressed out. 

 " I did this, X.... " Doc sighed as his tail twitched, " I made this.... portal, and it brought an old friend back..." he told me as he rolled the mysterious figure over. 

 My heart sank as I looked at the unconscious figure.

 Keralis1. 

 " He went missing though." I told Doc, " I was with him." I mumbled as I looked at Keralis's bleeding, unconscious body. Doc nodded, " and none of us could explain it.... Until now." he sighed as he picked Keralis up. 

 The three of us started to hurry towards the village. I looked at the two, " Why is he so hurt though?" I questioned as I studied his body. Half of Keralis's face was covered by a dark grey substance that seemed to dig into his eye like a silverfish. Keralis's arm was also covered in bite marks, and the skin was torn up to shreds in some spots. The last set of injuries were six solid marks that were a heavy purple. 

 I growled at the two men causing Scar to cower behind Doc, " Did you two throw your tridents at one of our own?" I snapped as I stomped my foot on the ground. Scar anxiously nodded, " We...We thought he was an alien!" he defended awkwardly as he tapped his fingers together. 

 I sighed as I rubbed my temples, " I know we are all on edge due to the whole portal fiasco, but we should just knock people out... Not hurt them." I sighed. Scar looked down at his feet as we started to walk again. 

 " We... We may have let Keralis get chased by a creeper for over thirty minutes..." Scar mumbled causing Doc to stare at him. Scar squeaked and crossed his arms. Doc sighed, " I may have also let him touch a ravager..." he frowned at me. That explains his arm...

 As much as I wanted to shout at them, we needed to heal Keralis before he lost his body to the Wither beast's influence. My body twitched as we hurried into a makeshift nursing room. Doc laid Keralis down onto the bed. 

 I looked at Scar, " Go find Cubfan, Cleo, or Jevin." I told him causing the hermit to bolt out of the room and take off into the sky. Doc and I summoned in some supplies and quickly went to work. 

 We worked late into the night. When Scar came back with Cub and Cleo, Cleo immediately started to study the Wither sickness. She frowned as she looked at us, " Doc, X, you two get some rest. Cub and I will take care of Keralis." she told us. I wanted to protest, but Doc and Scar made me leave. 

 (( Timeskip to the morning brought to you by S and Q fighting themselves))

 I woke up to the less than good news. Keralis was alive, yes, but his eye had to be removed due to the Wither's magic corrupting it. The good news was that he was alive and stable for the most part. Doc said that he would insert a robotic eye into Keralis's head once he got consent. Keralis's arm was wrapped up into the tight sling as he was moved to Hermitcraft's main island.

 We all kept careful eye on our unconscious friend. We watched him until we all got sick from a mix of a lack of sleep and concern. False and Stress decided to do a joint shift in order to allow the rest of us to take some medicine and sleep. 

 I entered the bedroom that I shared with Void. He was reading in bed, " Are you okay X?" he questioned as he put down his book. Void gave me a confused stare as I carefully took my boots off. 

 I collapsed onto my bed and sighed, " Today was rough Void..." I mumbled as I curled up onto my bed. Void sat up, " I know.... Get some sleep X.... You look like you're about to die." he told me as I nodded. Void helped me get a blanket around me. 

 Void frowned as he coughed into his elbow, " I think you're.... ahem.... I think you're sick mate..." he sighed as he rolled me deeper into my blankets on my bed. Void walked over to his bed and continued to cough. The hermit laid down and fell asleep. I looked at him briefly before drifting off as well.