Chapter 248: Recovery

The group would be carefully carried towards the outside world, seeing the sun once more, basking in its rays, as Satan lowered itself and kept his line of sight down towards the gaping wound that was once the Witch Hour. People abroad would avert their eyes from the demonic entity, yet word was spreading like wildfire, crowds being formed and slowly being enamored by what was happening, fingers even pointing towards them when they noticed the Staff Member being hoisted over. Once they got on the ground, the Monster released such people and continued its stare, closing the eyes from the back and sides of its head to prevent the populace from being affected. The children looked on to the unconscious body, with Harvard specifically patching his riddled holes and getting a spell ready before one of his friends took the lead. "Okay, how are we gonna fix this guy?" Solomon would ask, keeping the body steady as he'd open through his book to find the Garden of Eden, casting a small part around the group to let the natural, fresh air flow through in the Staff's lungs.

"Easy. I noticed when I was fighting them that they got something on their face. Hang on a sec, will yah?" The Card Magician would have his other hand explore the facial features of the unconscious man, caressing each part of his skin until he found the small slit resting around his attached earlobe. "There it is!" He'd declare, slipping one of his fingers to open the slit and move out the way, preparing Potion and timing himself. "Count of three, we pry that sucker out and heal him before he dies off." 

Such words nearly shocked Gabriel, as he'd turn his head and kneel down. "WHAT!? You're going to rip his face off!?" He'd shout, before noticing the crowd was coming over, prying eyes being confused as to what was the meaning of them outside such a building.

"Great. Told you we should've kept it to a minimum." Solomon complained, yet he would be the first to rest his hand underneath the slit.

"You gotta admit, it's REALLY cool to see the guy, even if he's in a box state." Stolas would add, being the second. Harvard would be curious about such words, but Zazel, who became the third, helped in explaining.

"Basically, that's a living prison. Ever since he ah...well, lets not sugarcoat it, got his butt handed to him, the Big Guy decided it's not enough to be locked in an early version of Hell. He had to box the beast in and made sure it's never opened as long as he's watching him. I'm actually still shocked you managed to summon, much less control, him." Zazel would joke a bit, which Harvard picked up on and laugh somewhat.

"Well, it IS a Monster. By extension, they're my friends! Getting sidetracked though. On three....One.....two....THREE!"

SHIIIIK!!!

It was like ripping a paper in half, needing a quick and efficient removal of the mask, the member screaming loudly, his sheer volume nearly piercing through everyone's ears, causing them to be covered, except for Harvard's. Even when his ears bled, he still applied the potion on the bloodied face, providing its healing across the entire skull. He was focused on ensuring such a process was done. As he did this, the body started to revert itself, steam being visible as the vial's contents took effect. Slowly, the tall, lean build of the man began to revert, slowly giving a more stout and gremlin-like appearance, the skin tone changing from a blank grey to a soothing green, the screaming slowly coming down, letting people uncover their ears and see such a sight. Gabriel would be the first to hug his long lost colleague, tears swelling and pouring down from his eyes, smiling once more. "IT WORKS! IT WORKS!! YES, YES, IT WORKS, I TELL YOU!! HE LIVES! HE TRULY, TRULY LIVES!!!" He'd yell, bawling his eyes as he lets the Goblin open his eyes, the color of diamonds resting upon his iris, with Gabriel knowing who he was by heart. "Bambli! You're okay! You're okay! Your king is here, It's ok. It's ok.....You're ok now....You're ok..."

The crowd couldn't help but smile and shed a tear, not knowing what was going on, but was able to understand how much the goblin meant towards the man. Natalie would kneel down and pat her brother on the shoulder, smiling just as much. "Sire...you.....you actually returned...?" The goblin whispered, his voice nearly silent.

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes! I returned! I am so sorry! All of you, every single one of you! Please accept my apology for being an absolute fool in taking the Devil's hand! I never would've known you've become something like THAT! I should've known, I should've heeded the signs, I should've been prepared...but now we can change that! Our gallant knight has the remedy! We can still salvage our beautiful kingdom! I will provide you all the food you want, all the drinks you need, all the games and festivals we can enjoy! Please, just please accept my apology." The Prince pleaded with his very life, wrapping his arms tightly at his injured comrade, letting Bambli peek over to see the children, smiling in acknowledging the very saviors.

"I.....on behalf of all.....accept it. I.....on behalf of all.....wish to apolo-"

"No! No, no, no! You do not need to apologize. I am the one at fault here-" The Prince would see the hand weakly being raised up, trying to quiet his ruler, before feeling his touch.

The Goblin was being cold. The prince's eyes widened as his villager continued to speak. "We....ngh...Apologize....for not staying with you....to the bitter end....my lord. We.....truly are sorry....for not prolonging our life....to continue serving you."

"DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK LIKE THAT! YOU CAN'T DIE! NO, NOT AFTER ALL THIS! NOT AFTER THE TORTURE YOU SUFFERED! NOT AFTER THE PAIN WE ENDURED! NOT AFTER ALL THIS!! PLEASE-"

"It's okay....It comes for us all.....My Lord...." The Goblin raised his hand up to caress his king's cheek, trying to wipe off the tears that are coming down. "At the very least.....with my last breath....I am so glad....it is spent seeing you....one more time." The Goblin's murmurs slowly grew silent, his breath slowed, his heartbeat disappearing, his arms laying limp, his eyes closed, his smile still present.

He was gone. The process was all for naught.