Unlikely Love

13

Xisuma POV:

A few weeks after Xavier returned, I began to notice something troubling. At first, it was just my brother slipping away from the server almost every night after everyone had gone to bed. I thought it was odd but figured he might just need some time alone. However, things took a turn for the worse when I realized that Xavier wasn’t alone on these nightly excursions anymore. He started bringing a few hermits with him, and their secrecy about these trips only deepened my worry.

Xavier’s behavior grew increasingly elusive. Whenever I tried to inquire about his late-night departures, he would brush off my questions or change the subject, offering no real explanation. One night, I caught him heading out and asked, “Xavier, where are you going? You’re out almost every night now.”

He gave me a vague smile. “Just some errands. Nothing you need to worry about.”

“But you’re not telling me what’s going on. It’s affecting everyone,” I pressed, feeling the tension rising.

He avoided my gaze. “It’s nothing serious. You’ll see.”

This growing pattern of clandestine trips, combined with his refusal to share any details, made me uneasy. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. The more I thought about it, the more concerned I became about what he might be involved in—and why he was so determined to keep it hidden from even a few people.

Soon, I noticed that the concern wasn’t limited to just me. Scar came up to me one evening, looking troubled. “Hey, have you noticed anything off with Grian? He’s been having these mood swings lately, and it’s not like him.”

Mumbo, overhearing our conversation, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’m worried about him too. He’s been acting really strange and withdrawn.”

Doc approached us, his face etched with concern. “It’s not just Grian. I’ve noticed Ren acting odd as well. He’s been unusually quiet and seems on edge.”

As if that wasn’t enough, B-buds and Etho had also started changing their routines. They began sleeping during the day, their usual schedules disrupted.

The growing web of anxiety among the hermits was palpable. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken worries and unanswered questions. I felt a knot tightening in my stomach, knowing that Xavier’s secretive behavior was casting a dark shadow over all of us.

As I tried to make sense of it all, Hels approached us, looking deeply troubled. His face was drawn, and he reeked of alcohol. “Xisuma,” he said, his voice thick with exhaustion.

I frowned, noticing the strong smell. “Hels, are you okay? You reek of alcohol.”

Doc, equally concerned, added, “Yeah, Hels, you don’t look well. What’s going on?”

Hels shot Doc a sharp glare before turning back to me. “Xisuma, Xavier’s been going off the server at night to visit a bar. He came home last night completely drunk.”

The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. “What? Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

Hels’s voice trembled with frustration. “I tried to confront him, but he brushed me off. I’m worried about him, and I’m worried about what he might be doing during those trips. It’s not just about his drinking; he isn’t going alone—he takes a few hermits with him. I know he’s okay on that end, kinda. I told him if he didn’t cool it for a bit, I’d come talk to you. He didn’t believe me.”

The weight of Hels's words sank in. “So he’s dragging others into this… but why? And what’s really going on during these trips?”

Hels rubbed his face wearily. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out. He’s keeping everything so secretive, and it’s driving me crazy. I just want to understand what’s happening and make sure he’s okay. I thought if I could get through to him, he might open up, but now I’m not sure what to do next.”