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MinuteTech had seen a lot of things in his time as the self proclaimed Guardian of The End. He had seen a lot of honest players come through looking for resources. He had fought off people who wanted to claim the dimension for themself. He had even sheltered people who just needed somewhere to hide.
He had seen noobs who were too sure of themselves, and pros who didn’t know when to stop. He had seen people who thought they were clever, and fast, and powerful. All the things you needed to be on a server like this.
He had seen a few good people, and a lot of bad people. He had mostly seen people in between.
Minute had never seen anyone quite like ParrotX2.
When he first heard the dull voice calling out from the landing chamber he had been prepared for another bored player and another routine interaction. He would guide them to one of the End gateways and then he would see them again in a few days when they needed to go back to the Overworld. Nothing new.
What he wasn't prepared for was to see a player with no armor, covered in dirt and bruises, holding himself up on the wall. His breath was heavy, and he had eye bags darker than the void. Even as he held himself up, the player swayed back and forth as if standing up took more energy than he had to give.
The player was a bird hybrid. Not unheard of, but kind of rare. His wings… well. They were noticeable for sure. They were huge, beautiful, colorful. And they were torn to shreds.
Minute didn't know a lot about wings since he didn't have any himself, but even he was able to see that this wasn't right. The ends of the feathers were cut off, there were bald patches, even the feathers that were there seemed dull and damaged.
There was no way he could fly like that.
Minute glanced at the name tag above the players head. ParrotX2. The name was familiar but he couldn't place where he had heard it before.
Minute was torn from his thoughts as Parrot cleared his throat, “Bro, can you let me out.” His voice was heavy with exhaustion, but Minute could have sworn that there was a hint of something else in his voice as well, fear maybe?
Minute shook himself, flipping the lever to activate the pistons and unlock the landing chamber, “Yeah, of course.” Really the only reason why he had the area locked down was to avoid confrontations with old, skilled players. People like Parrot were not a threat.
As soon as the ancient debris retracted into the wall, Parrot stumbled out. He kept his eyes on Minute as he walked backward toward the exit, putting as much distance between them as he could.
Minute bit back a wince. Whatever happened to this kid, it wasn't pretty. The better lighting threw Parrot’s face into sharp contrast, emphasizing his shallow cheeks and red, swollen eyes. He clutched a handful of carrots like a lifeline and his eyes were glazed with exhaustion. Despite everything, he still seemed hyper aware of Minute’s netherite armor and the sword he wore at his hip.
This wasn't a new player.
Players fresh from Spawn didn't have that same wariness that Parrot seemed to wear like an old coat. As dangerous as Spawn was, there was no way it could teach someone fear like this.
This was the kind of fear that weighed on your heart and tore into your bones. The kind of fear that made Minute run from the mafia and never stop running. The kind of fear you learned through days spent guarding resources with glares and blades, and nights spent with baited breath and prayers that they wouldn’t find you. The kind of fear that drove you to brandish courage like a weapon even when all else fell apart.
Still, no matter how much experience Parrot had, Minute couldn't in good conscience let him do… whatever he needed to do. “I don’t think I can let you out to the End islands in this state,” he tried to keep his voice level so as to avoid a fight. It was more a force of habit than anything. If it came down to it, Parrot was a one-tap. “You don't even have armor!” Minute gestured vaguely at Parrot's simple clothes.
Despite Parrot’s determination to not turn his back to Minute, he never made eye contact. “I’m not trying to go to the outer islands, I—I’m just trying to go to spawn.” His voice was dull and quiet. A far cry from the brashness Minute was used to.
Minute grimaced, “Spawn is really dangerous right now—“
“You can't just keep me here.” Parrot took a step back, flicking his eyes toward the stairs up to the main island. He tensed visibly, getting ready to fight or run if he needed to. Whatever it took to not be trapped here. Even if it killed him.
Even though he was already at least 10 feet away from Parrot, Minute stepped back with a sigh. “I suppose you're right.”
Parrot seemed to relax slightly once he realized Minute wasn’t going to imprison him here. He still kept his guard up, but he seemed to retreat into himself further. Minute looked over Parrot again. Not only did he not have armor, he didn't seem to have any items except for the carrots. Minute shook his head, “I have some gear, at least take some armor with you.”
Parrot hugged his carrots to his chest. “No… I need to… I need to start over. I don't want to owe anyone anything”
Minute was once again left wondering what happened to make Parrot this way. He started toward the stairs, “Will you at least sit down for a little while? You may not be able to sleep in The End, but please at least rest? You look dead on your feet.” Minute was halfway up the stairs when he realized Parrot hadn't followed him. He just stood at the bottom looking up at the void sky hesitantly. Minute frowned, gesturing for Parrot to join him.
It was only after he did that that Parrot started to stumble his way up the stairs.
Interesting…
“I… I can’t.”
For a moment Minute could have sworn he heard longing in Parrot's voice, but it was quickly replaced with the same dull, exhausted acceptance that had colored their interaction.
“I just want to go… I need… I need to keep going.” Parrot stayed a few steps behind Minute, probably ensuring he didn't expose his back. Minute didn't mind, he was used to leading people from here to there anyway.
Minute stopped at the center of the main island, right in front of the structure that contained the portal. He looked at Parrot one more time then flicked the lever to open up the portal.
Minute sighed, “You’ll be okay?” He kept his eyes on Parrot, watching the way he drifted toward the portal as soon as he could see it.
Parrot stopped. The gentle purple light of the void flared overhead. The End didn't normally have shadows, but the sudden glare cast harsh black lines across Parrot’s face.
He made eye contact with Minute for a moment before his gaze fell to the floor. He shrugged. “I’ll survive.” There was no drive in his voice. He sounded almost dejected. Parrot shifted his feet, glancing back at the portal. “I always do.” The last part came out as a whisper, almost as if Minute wasn't intended to hear it.
Minute sucked his teeth. This whole thing rubbed him the wrong way. Parrot worried him. Not in the way he worried about a fight, it was closer to the way he worried about Spoke, Mapicc, and Planet during the Mafia. It wasn’t a normal thing to feel on a server like Unstable, but Minute couldn't control his emotions. No matter how much he wished he could.
Minute sighed. He really didn't want to let Parrot go. Some deep instinctual part of him wanted to keep him here in The End where he would be safe…
But Parrot was right. Minute couldn't keep him here.
Even if the only way out was to go through hell. Exactly the way Parrot wanted.
Parrot was still standing by the portal. Still painted purple and black by the empty sky. Minute looked at Parrot. Parrot looked at the ground.
Eventually Minute sighed again, drawing Parrot’s gaze back toward him. Minute just nodded.
Parrot nodded back. He drifted up the stairs and to the edge of the portal. He glanced back to look at Minute one last time.
Then he stepped forward.
And he was gone.