Chapter Text
If you were to ask Grian what Hels is like, at the end of this story, when all is said and done and he could talk about these things without a deep need to run, he would tell you that you don't really breathe in Hels. It's only after you leave the iron and burnt hair atmosphere of the lower depths that you realize you can breathe deeply, that you are capable of breathing deeply. It's a magical, terrifying feeling, and one that settles into your bones along with a deep conviction. You will never, ever return to Hels.
If you were to ask, Grian would tell you this with a small, sad smile. He has come a long way, and he knows the fear of returning to Hels all too well.
Let's talk about Grian, let's talk about Hels. Let's talk about learning to breathe free.
Let's tell this story!
~~~
Xelqua couldn't say that he was waiting patiently for the Hermits to arrive in their new world. Patience simply didn't fit with Xelqua's reality most of the time, and most of the time that suited him perfectly fine. Waiting for the biggest moment of his life so far, waiting to become a hermit? Xelqua almost wished he had the skill.
Alas, the world was still singleplayer, and he had to be as close to patient as he could manage. Xisuma was a capable admin, but converting a world to allow for many people to live safely was a time consuming task. In the meantime, Xelqua busied himself with constructing the portal his new servermates would use to hop into the nascent world. He set to work, building each step on top of the last. Iron smelted, diamonds gathered, roughhewn timber fashioned into a pick handle. A convenient pocket of surface lava found. Xelqua's vision swam in the heat of newly cooling volcanic glass, and he wiped his brow as sweat threatened to add saltstains to his freshly laundered green tunic. Flint and steel acquired-
Crack .
Xelqua froze, shoulders hunching and hand patting at his side for a sword he ( stupidly ) didn't have.
Crack-SNAP
Xelqua spun to face the noise, eyes widening as he saw nothing at head height. Casting his gaze lower and lower, he was surprised to see… a chicken.
The buff coloured hen angled one beady eye at him, clucking in a way that seemed somewhat judgmental.
Xelqua chuckled, squatting down to the chicken's level.
"Jeez, you had me scared there. I thought you were a creeper!"
The chicken raised a wing and nibbled at a feather dispassionately. Xelqua grinned and brushed his bangs out of his eyes.
"I was being silly, wasn't I? This server hasn't even had a nighttime yet, I don't see how a creeper would spawn out here."
The chicken wandered off in the direction of a patch of shrub, clucking softly. Xelqua laughed and trailed behind her.
"You're right! I guess a creepy crawly could hide away from the sun if there was a gap in the bush, but I doubt it. Seems barely big enough for a play…er."
Xelqua stopped.
Almost entirely shaded by the foliage, bathed in darkness, there was the unmistakable glint of a pair of eyes. Xelqua froze for the second time in as many minutes. The eyes met his, unblinking- black eyes- pale face- TangoTek ?
This was all Xelqua had time to register before a tremendous blunt weight came crashing down on his head. In the space between consciousness and oblivion he had the briefest moment to realize what had happened and wonder what being knocked out feels like before abruptly gaining firsthand knowledge.
~~~
Above the unconscious form of Xelqua, a figure in a red sweater and grey vest stood, frozen in fear.
…Grindcore Gears was having a very bad day.