Chapter Text
As Mumbo sat on his bed, he kept watching Grian walk around his room, almost pacing at times, before he finally sighed. "I really feel like there's something up with you. Other than the whole... dying thing. What's on your mind? Can we only talk today and then you're gone or..?"
"No! Nothing like that! I'm totally fine, obviously. There's nothing for you to worry about, please don't worry!", the watcher stopped in his tracks as he frantically answered.
"I don't think lying is part of your new superpowers, Grian.", he almost felt bad, but at this point, the king's voice sounded way more serious.
"Mumbo... I'm...sorry.", Grian slowly went up to him, kneeling down before him, taking Mumbo's hands in his as he looked up with a worried expression. There was something oddly... majestic about his movements that kept him quiet.
"It's not about me, actually. I admit, I was snooping around the castle a bit- I mean everyone would if they got powers like those, right? And I... I saw Jimmy argue with Martyn. He said something about doing the same with me that worked with you- and I was so curious. It wasn't for my ears or eyes, but I heard them, and I saw it. Mumbo... you...", there was a worry in the watchers eyes that Mumbo has never seen before, not even before his own death. As Grian struggled to speak, the king freed his hands from his grasp and softly put them around his face.
"It's fine, whatever it is you want to say, just say it. You're not the one I'd be angry about, whatever it is."
With a weak smile, the blonde continued.
"Thank you... But it's just, it's all so weird. Mumbo, you have... also died before. I saw it- your death certificate. And Martyn was telling Jimmy about it. I don't even know- I don't know what you are now? Undead? They talked about a necromancer helping them. I'm just so scared if this will end up badly for you. Just living because of a spell... This doesn't seem safe..." There were some tears forming in Grians eyes which Mumbo wiped away with his thumbs. But he needed a moment to realize what he just got told... He was dead, too? What??
"How boring. I should've become a watcher too, looks way more fun being able to fly around and turn invisible!", the king eventually said, trying to cope with humour.
"Mumbo... I don't know yet. Like, how it will end up for me the longer I am a watcher, but I also don't know what will happen to you. And on top of that, to revive someone, two people have to be sacrificed."
"Two people? You're telling me someone died for me?"
"Not... exactly. Martyn orchestrated it. He seemed to... be able to communicate with watchers? And he knew about your parents assassination- but... but instead of interfering, he just used that opportunity and made their deaths work for your revival... This was all I heard before I left."
There was a moment of heavy silence in the room, before Mumbo broke it again.
"Martyn did all that for me? Wow, he must've really seen something in me. As for my parents... I can't even say I remember them much. Or anything good, or them showing any love for me or anyone in the kingdom. It felt like going to work, talking to them. Of course I didn't hate them, but I also didn't exactly care. I feel bad that I... almost feel indifferent..."
"Maybe those are side effects! You're starting to lose memories of your parents!"
The moustached man chuckled. "I don't think that's it. Even if it was, I can't mourn something I don't remember. I feel oddly at peace knowing about me... being dead... I hope I can live longer because of that! So I can be around you longer, now that you're basically an immortal being!"
Now, there was an unreadable expression in Grians eyes as he looked at the king.
"Why... Why is it that you care more about being with me than being dead...?"
"Well, first of all, you're dead too, right? And here you are also worrying about me being dead. I think we're kind of similar."
"That... that's not how that works! The circumstances are completely different!"
"Well... How about we try and find the person who revived me... and ask some questions? Like how does it all work? Does it ever wear out? All that."
"Yes... Yes, I can do that! I have to do that!", Grian suddenly stood up, seemingly ready to take off.
"I want to come with, though!", the king quickly added.
"Okay, secretly transporting a king could be harder.", the blonde put on a thinking expression.
"I'll just dress up and try to hide my face a bit, it's fine! And, if anything happens, sure you have some cool watcher powers or something like that?"
"I think I do? Hell, I've just died and became one, I'm not a veteran watcher!"
"They should really think of giving you guys a handbook or something.", both of them chuckled.
It was this moment when Martyn suddenly burst into the room, without a knock or warning, both Grian and Mumbo jumping in shock, and the first thing he did was sigh.
"Sorry, I picked up your conversation. I have to say, I'm not totally surprised that you and Pearl are alive again, Grian. But I am still happy and relieved.", he smiled for a moment before continuing. "And I can answer questions for you, as well as take you to the necromancer, if you want to see them."
"Martyn..." Mumbo said while the watcher next to him was just glaring at the listener, before speaking up. "Well, was that so hard!? Why didn't you tell him before?"
"It... was a mix of two reasons. First one being that it's part of the contract. The less people know about it, the better, for obvious reasons. The person themselves should only know about it when they start to feel different. Should be about 50 years in where the body starts to show signs of being undead. Quite a long time! Didn't always use to be like this. The necromancer I've hired, Cleo is their name, has been in the business for over 400 years! It started with someone reviving her, and then she quickly realized how her body changed. Their goal was to improve the technique more and more, so here we are now.
I haven't exactly broken the contract by accidentally showing papers to a watcher that happens to be around me! Not that most people know what watchers are to begin with.
Then... I was also scared of Mumbo's reaction. But now... He doesn't even seem to care at all. So this makes me feel weird about it. Would he never have cared, or did enough time pass? Or did you take away his pain simply by your presence, Grian? Maybe because you died, too?"
Mumbo stayed silent for a while. He didn't even know what he really thought about all this. At first he felt like freaking out, but seeing Grian also close to freaking out wanted him to stop it more than anything. It's like his feelings for him overshadow the ones for himself. But that didn't have to be a bad thing, maybe it was just his way of coping.
It's not like he was unaffected by it, it was just such an odd thing. Everything happening recently just was so... bizarre. Barely out of grieving, dead people being alive again- as some sort of god-like beings? Even he himself seemed to have died? Now, he knows that his parents had many enemies and he can't say they were good people at all. Weirdly enough, their sacrifice seems like the least worrysome thing out of everything that happened.
"I don't know if you... deserve a thanks, but I thank you for at least coming clean, now that we know about it. You could've acted like Grian lied, but I think you're not the type of person to do that. You keep secrets, but you will own up to them if needed. One day, I'd like to see Cleo, but I realize it is not the time for this yet." Mumbo was even surprised at himself for sounding so professional!
Martyn bowed in front of him for a moment. "Thank you for understanding... I'll leave you again for now."
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Pearl was happily jumping after Gem and holding her hand, swinging it back and forth, while they were on their walk home.
"People are gonna think I'm a bit crazy when they see me like this!", Gem said, more amused than anyhing.
"We're almost home now, so I think I can probably show myself? I can hide my wings!"
"Wait, you can hide your wings? If you told me sooner, you probably didn't have to stay invisible..."
"Well, I think at the castle it's better to be safe.", the watcher said while turning visible, completely without showing her wings. "But that's only for a short time! Oh- wait, what's that? Lost puppy?"
Something in the bushes piqued Pearl's interest, she saw two ears of what she assumed to be a wolf she hasn't seen before. All the wolves she knows around here have white and grey fur, but this one was brown!
"Hellooo?", she carefully said while getting closer.
"Hello?", someone answered. The wolf can speak!?
Suddenly, she saw a person come out, half human half wolf, she immediately realized. Must be a hybrid!
"Oh!", the watcher giggled, "I'm sorry, I thought you were a lonely little wolf!"
The stranger pouted with overexaggerated sad eyes. "What if I am?"
Gem was now caught up to them and they both chuckled.
"Aww, I'm so sorry, do you want to be friends? I'm Pearl, and this is Gem!" Pearl smiled sweetly.
"I would absolutely love to! My name is Ren and I come from a distant planet, a while ago I landed on this earth to check the place out. Ever heard of Gigacorp?"
The two girls exchanged confused glances and shook their heads in unison.
"Well, as I expected... But, when I came to this planet for the first time, I was a bit shaken. The arrival wasn't the safest and let's just say, I was quite lost in my houndish instincts. But there came a traveler, my saviour of the moment by the name of Martyn, who saw me and offered me a hand. We've been friends ever since, but... uh, as you can see, I am a bit lost right now. There was trouble at his work and he suggested that I go look around and explore the town a bit, and now I have no idea where I am anymore!"
"Waow... so you are basically a lost puppy..."
"Pearl! That sounds a bit rude!"
"Sorry! Wait- wait, Ren, right? You mentioned a Martyn? Does he work at the castle by any chance? Close with the king?"
"Exactly!", Ren exclaimed, his tail wagging for a moment. "So you know him? Do you know how to get back?"
"Yeah, I work at the castle too! Uhm... I can show you the way back, but you need to promise you won't tell anyone about seeing Pearl? Or meeting her in general?"
"My lips are sealed! But may I ask why?"
"It's... a long story. Kinda personal. I don't want to tell too many people, maybe Martyn will tell you when the time is right and I come back to the castle.", the watcher carefully explained.
"I understand. Now-" Ren was suddenly interrupted by a loud growling from his stomach. "How embarrassing, I am so sorry! I haven't eaten all day..."
Pearl thought for a moment, then nodded. "I know. We were just about to go home, I'm gonna make soup, you want some?"
"Really? Just like that? Inviting a stranger for food?" The way Ren stared at her with puppy eyes made everyone giggle.
"She's invited strangers in for less. Like me a while ago- well, I was also dumb enough to get invited into a strangers house. But as you can see, I'm fine!", Gem assured him.
"Then, I will gladly accept! Lead the way!"