"Mumbo- how did...what happened to you, man?" Doc asked quietly, his voice softened with surprise.

"It's...it's a long story." He replied, hugging his arms close to his chest.

"You can tell it to us later then- we gotta get you and G-Man outta here." Scar said, "Where's G?"

And he could just see the moment Mumbo broke. The redstoners eyes teared up as he bit his lip to keep it from trembling, his breaths becoming shaky and he slowly slid his hand over his mouth. As if it could muffle his cries.

"Mumbo? What's wrong?" Iskall asked.

He just shook his head no as he stood there shaking with sobs, tears rolling down his face as he refused to make eye contact with any of them, shying away when the wizard took a step forward.
"He's... he's not." He stammered, the words barely audible in the quiet room.
"He's not- he's not alive."

"...what."
Everyone froze, the reality of the words sinking in as Scar pushed aside the curtain of vines, silently preparing himself for what he was going to see.

Grian lay on the bed, one hand on his chest while the other lay on the bed with the palm up as if he were waiting for someone to hold it.
He looked peaceful.
Flowers surrounded his body, a mix of yellow and red in a perfect wreath around his head.

Scar slowly walked towards Grian, sitting down suddenly on the floor with his forehead resting on the side of the bed.

"No...no, no, no, no, no...this can't be- how did this happen?" Scar asked as he stared up at Grian as if his body could tell him the answer.

Mumbo gave the answer instead, stammering out words through his tears. "Lemur- she said... he was trying to- to charge a crystal...to save this world, and-and he gave too much."

"Mumbo, what do you mean by 'charge' a crystal?" False asked, taking a hesitant step closer.

"He used his own energy to-to charge one. I found him on...on the floor of the lab. He was dead when I-I got there." Silence followed his words, everyone rendered speechless at the idea of Grian being dead.
It was hard to imagine the lively prankster like this. He would be almost overflowing with energy, restless and fidgeting at every moment. And yet...here he was, lying on a bed surrounded in beautiful flowers. He looked asleep, eyes closed to the world- it was as if he was going to wake up at any time and smile at them all.

"I know we're all really sad about this, but we should get back to the other hermits." Stress said finally, wiping tears from her face. "We found them, Scar. We should go."

"You won't be able to. G said there wasn't enough magic here to reopen the rift. We're-" Mumbo jerked up at the sound of wingbeats, quickly pushing his friends behind the vines and shushing them.

"Mu-"

"Shut up, Wizard!" Doc hissed, bonking Scar upside the head.
False reached out and pulled the vine curtain shut, concealing them from the newcomers.

"I must say, Dust. The two of you have found an answer rather quickly." Thorn hummed, looking over the paper Mumbo had rescued days earlier.
"Though you now being fully fae has been an interesting development."

"But we found the solution all the same. Will you let us go?"

The king sighed. "That was the deal wasn't it? As much as I'd love to keep you two, a deal is a deal. You and Red are free to go. Lemur will be heading the project from now to ensure it's developed quickly."

Mumbo simply nodded, pushing back the vines to pick up Grians body as he subtly gestured to wherever his friends were to follow him.
Not being able to see red would get annoying very quickly.

"You didn't tell me Red was dead..." Thorn sounded surprised, eyebrows raised in surprise as Mumbo turned around with Grian cradled in his arms.

"I didn't know how to."

Thorn seemed to mull things over before he wordlessly handed Mumbo a glowing crystal before gesturing for him to follow.

So follow he did, walking through the hallways to the main hall, hoping his friends were following.