When he had found out that the hermits came through the rift, he was excited, hopeful. He thought that somehow his soulmate had come through.
"So, who all came through the rift?"
Grian could see the hope in his eyes.
"Oh Joel... I'm so sorry. Etho didn't come through."
"Oh... Oh well. Guess I'll just have to wait right?" the god just laughed sadly, not really knowing how else to react.
"How do you even remember Double Life?"
"I remember a lot of things, Grian. Not sure why."
"Ah well. I'll see you later then, need to go make sure the hermits aren't getting themselves into trouble. Take care."
"Yeah, I will. Bye G."
Grian turned before he left, leaving Joel with one last bit of information.
"I'm sure Etho'll turn up at some point. I haven't talked to him much since after Double Life, but I know he remembers. He'll find his own weird way here."
And then the avian was off, leaving Joel to himself.
That was a foolish decision.
or
When Joel finds out Etho didn’t come through the rift, he decides to take things into his own hands