Space Man

Shopping District

I ended up subtly reaching for Xisuma’s hand, not entirely sure if he’d reciprocate. For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t, but to my surprise, his fingers gently intertwined with mine. It was a small, quiet gesture, but it meant more than I could put into words.

We held hands as we walked, Grian happily chatting away beside us. The sound of his cheerful voice filled the otherwise calm air, and I couldn’t help but smile. His earlier sadness had completely dissipated, replaced by the uncontainable excitement of sharing his ideas and plans.

As we strolled into the shopping district, the familiar buzz of activity surrounded us. Hermits had been busy building and trading, their quirky and creative shops lining the area with colorful facades and whimsical designs. Grian’s eyes lit up as he took in the view, his steps quickening as he darted over to admire a new build.

“Look at this!” he exclaimed, gesturing toward a shop shaped like a giant axolotl. “How do they even think of these things? It’s brilliant!”

Xisuma chuckled softly, his voice warm. “Impulse probably had a hand in that one. He’s been on an axolotl kick lately.”

As Grian and Xisuma fell into an easy conversation about the shop designs, I hung back slightly, content to listen. Their voices blended seamlessly with the gentle ambient sounds of the district—the hum of redstone contraptions, the soft splashes from nearby fountains, and the occasional rustle of leaves from the decorative trees.

Grian glanced back at me and grinned. “You’re awfully quiet. What do you think of the shops here?”

I shrugged with a smile. “They’re impressive, as always. But I’m more interested in seeing what you two think. It’s fun just listening to you both geek out over them.”

Xisuma gave my hand a small squeeze, his hidden expression still somehow feeling affectionate. “You’re too modest. I’m sure you’d have some great ideas for a shop yourself.”

Grian nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, absolutely! You should totally make something. Maybe something honey-themed? I mean, you already brought us honey jars—why not take it a step further?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Maybe someday. Right now, I’m happy just tagging along and watching you two get inspired.”

The three of us continued to wander through the district, stopping occasionally to admire a particularly clever build or share a laugh about the odd quirks of Hermitcraft life. With Grian’s excitement and Xisuma’s quiet warmth, the walk was turning out to be one of the most peaceful and enjoyable moments I’d had in a long time.

“Xisuma! Papa K!” a voice called urgently from behind us.

We turned to see Mumbo sprinting toward us, his face flushed with worry. He stopped a few feet away, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. “Have you guys seen Grian? Me, Scar, and him got into a fight, and—” He cut himself off mid-sentence as his gaze shifted behind me. His expression faltered when he noticed Grian standing there.

I instinctively let go of Xisuma’s hand, preparing myself in case things got heated. Xisuma, on the other hand, crossed his arms, his stance firm and unreadable. “What happened, Mumbo?” he asked, his voice calm but tinged with authority.

Mumbo ran a hand through his hair in frustration, his normally composed demeanor cracking. “A lot, okay? It’s... it’s hard to explain fully.”

Grian, who had been quietly standing behind me, stepped forward cautiously, his oversized red jumper still damp with traces of earlier tears. “It’s fine, Mumbo,” he said softly, his voice steady despite the earlier upset. “I know it’s my fault. You and Scar didn’t mean to upset me; I just got in my own head again.”

Mumbo’s shoulders sagged in relief and guilt at the same time. “No, Grian. It’s not your fault. Scar and I—we shouldn’t have pushed you like that. We were trying to cheer you up, and it backfired spectacularly.”

Xisuma shifted his weight slightly, his sharp gaze flicking between the two of them. “So, let me get this straight,” he interjected. “You and Scar got into an argument with Grian, and instead of working it out, you all split up, leaving Grian to wander off on his own?”

Mumbo winced, rubbing the back of his neck. “When you put it like that, it sounds terrible.”

“Because it is terrible,” Xisuma replied bluntly, his tone carrying the weight of a disapproving parent.

I glanced at Grian, who seemed torn between defending Mumbo and letting Xisuma scold him. “It’s not like they abandoned me,” Grian mumbled, fidgeting with the hem of his jumper. “I chose to leave. I just... I needed some space.”

Mumbo looked down, visibly ashamed. “Still, we should’ve followed you sooner. Scar’s still looking for you, by the way. He’s practically tearing the shopping district apart.”

I sighed and looked between all of them. “Why don’t we all just sit down somewhere and talk this through? It sounds like you all have a lot to say, and it’s better to get it out than to let it fester.”

Xisuma gave me a small nod of approval, while Grian and Mumbo exchanged hesitant glances. Finally, Grian broke the silence. “Fine. But only if someone tells Scar to stop freaking out. I don’t want him causing a scene.”

“I’ll handle Scar,” Xisuma said, already pulling out his communicator. “The rest of us can start walking back to Grian’s fishing hut. It’s quiet there, and you all could use a calm place to talk.”

With that, we started making our way toward Grian’s base, the tension in the air slowly beginning to dissipate. Mumbo stuck close to Grian, muttering apologies under his breath, while I stayed near Xisuma, grateful for his steady presence as we worked to bring peace back to their little trio.

Grian’s face twisted in frustration as Mumbo muttered yet another apology. His wings gave a sudden, sharp flap, the gust stirring dust from the path and causing Mumbo to stumble back slightly.

“Enough, Mumbo!” Grian snapped, his tone firm but not unkind. “I get it, okay? You’re sorry. I’m sorry. We’re all sorry. But I can’t keep hearing it over and over.” He took a deep breath, his feathers ruffling as he exhaled.

He turned to Xisuma and me, his expression softening slightly. “I’ll meet you guys at my house,” he said before taking off into the sky with another powerful flap of his wings.

The sight of him ascending through the trees was impressive, his silhouette framed against the sky as he climbed higher. Within moments, he was out of sight, leaving a trail of rustling leaves in his wake.

Mumbo watched him go, his face a mix of guilt and exasperation. “I didn’t mean to upset him even more...”

Xisuma sighed, placing a hand on Mumbo’s shoulder. “Sometimes it’s better to give someone space. He needs time to cool off, and that’s okay. Let’s head to his place and wait for him. He’ll come around when he’s ready.”

Mumbo nodded reluctantly, and we continued our walk toward Grian’s fishing hut. The atmosphere was quieter now, the tension slowly dissipating as we listened to the soft crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant sounds of the server coming to life.