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Xisuma always kept a very keen eye on his server. He knew when Hermits logged off and when Hermits logged on. He could tell when a Hermit was acting strange. He knew when their patterns changed.
Nine Hermits didn't log on Monday. The next day, eight of those same ones didn't show. Several people came up to X with concerns. "They're just resting for a little bit," he said. He was lying. He didn't know.
It was now Thursday, and there was no sign of the eight missing Hermits. Every now and then, there was someone different who didn't log on that day, but that was normal.
A third of the server was gone.
By Tuesday of the next week, missing persons cases had been filed. Mumbo mentioned in passing that the Empires admin, alongside two Players from that server, were also missing. They showed up in the news alongside the Hermits and a few others.
Doc reached out.
"This is really unlike them. Are you sure they're okay?" He asked.
"Of course." Xisuma responded, hoping that if he could convince Doc, he could convince himself.
He was still lying.
A third of the server was still gone.
Two more weeks passed. No news. According to local techs, none of their usernames had grazed their servers. Xisuma was worried sick.
The next day, law enforcement put a pause on the case. "We can't afford to be putting people out there when we have nothing to work with," one officer said. Of course, that wouldn't stop the remaining Hermits from theorizing.
A third of the server was still missing.
Mumbo and Pearl had a theory they refused to share. Pearl said it was too unlikely. "It's been years," she reasoned. "We shouldn't waste our time on nothing.
They were the only ones to log off that day. Pearl would be back the next. Mumbo would be out with his sister.
A third of the server was still missing.
Pearl didn't show up the day she said she was. No one could get a hold of Mumbo. It was happening again, X knew it.
They were looking to him for help.
They needed him.
Why can't he help?
Why can't he be there?
He needs to be there for his friends. His family. He can't break right now. Not yet.
Not yet.
A third of the server is missing.