Chapter 293: Final Goodbyes...

The next few days went by as usual, and Moby used them to do all the important stuff before he had to leave, which included a good mix of hardcore training and spending time with his loved ones. It was to the point where he did not even sleep, which was no big deal considering he was a demon. There was no room for sleep after all. 

Yet, although he liked to believe and act like things were still normal, he knew it would never last and so did the people around him. Avoiding gloomy, slightly awkward moods was almost impossible. And, the height of it was during his last day there.

*Argg…* 

Moby grunted, stretching his tired eyes awake after his first-ever nap of the week. He woke up to a velvety blue ceiling in a comfortable bed, completely naked under the sheets. To his side was a naked Jayden, her sexy curves on full display, sleeping loudly like a bear in hibernation yet he could not help but also find it rather cute and attractive.

He smiled, slowly getting out of bed and swiping his hands to fully dress himself using his inventory, making sure not to wake Jayden up.

Looking around, he noticed he was in Jayden's personal room in her own mansion and quietly but quickly exited the door to do his daily quest and take his shower before coming back to see her already awake, getting ready to leave. 

They chose not to take their morning breakfast and simply exited the mansion with everything prepared in storage rings and their inventory, going towards the Griffith family mansion with the butler. 

There, they noticed everyone was there waiting for them at the dining hall, it was no party, just simply all the people that he knew, including general Ryker that seemed to have brought HikariYami along with him. 

"Hey, high general Ryker, do you think I'm also gonna be well known and famous with the elites?"

"Well, you were on national television and received a medal of honour young man," he replied, laughing. "I would be surprised if no one knew you up there!"

"I don't know if that's good or bad…"

"Oh! I wouldn't worry about it! I have faith in you! We all do! Just show them your might and come back to us safely as hardened elites! Make our school and country proud! That goes for you too young lady!"

"Yes! Of course sir!" Hikari smiled brightly, eating another bite of her rather small breakfast.

There, they all had breakfast and casually conversed amongst each other, trying to avoid the gloomy situation to have a more playful, upbeat conversation. Everything that had been talked about had already been addressed prior, speaking about the situation would add nothing but anxiety. 

Everyone on the table knew that both Ryker and Mason were not exactly on good terms with each other even now yet they managed to somewhat get along, which was slightly off-putting as they did not know if it was an act or not.

Moby, who sat next to Nags, Ray, and Jayden could not help but notice HikariYami taking subtle glances at him from the other side of the room. Yet, it seemed like he paid it no heed. 

It was now 10:00 am and there was no more real-time, they had to go, yet Moby could of course not forget about one important person. 

He went to the only red door in the entire mansion and said his final goodbyes to Abby, who cried in his arms before smiling and telling him good luck, both she and Alucard with a regretful look on her face that hurt Moby more than he expected. 

Altogether, they took a limousine that fit all of them and went to some massive military base, the main one for country Z and where the teleporters to elite school were safely guarded. 

The outside had fairly mild security, allowing named people to enter and visit whenever they needed. However, it was certain areas on the inside that harboured most of the security. 

Altogether, they exited the car at the foot of the building and they could not help but admire its grandeur. It truly put into perspective how much power the military held.

The building spanned for what looked like a kilometre in both directions. It was made out of white quartz along with certain blue gemstones and opaque glass giving the building a futuristic vibe. 

"This is it, I'm really going to miss you guys…" Moby took a deep breath looking at the long flight of stairs ahead of him before turning towards his family with shaky eyes. 

It was hard to keep things civil and calm the entire time, especially now at a moment like this.

And, without even knowing it, they all hugged him at once. 

"Moby, I've been working on a present for you… A personal invention of mine… I put a storage ring in your pocket… I hope you like it…"

"Show them who's boss… Boss…"

"Stay strong and don't you forget about me…"

He heard their voices enter his head all at once before, in what only felt like a split second then went away leaving only him and Jayden who kissed him passionately on the cheeks. And, part of him could not help but feel a slight look of envy stare at him from behind.

"Thanks for that guys…"

He smiled as hints of water began to well up in his eyes that he swiped away, looking at his friend's twitchy smiles and tear-filled eyes. 

He only wished that one more person was there to fill out the team. However, he knew fully well that it was not possible.

He turned around to face Ryker and HikariYami who seemed to be waiting for him. 

Yet, before he even spoke a word, he felt another painful slap to his back. 

"Go get 'em, tiger! Show them what I taught you!"

"Geeeezz! Do you know how to hold back gramps!?"

"I was holding back! Is that how you talk to your master?!" He laughed, smacking him again even harder until he tumbled to Ryker's side. "And, you better not be ogling other girls while you're there… Or else you will be getting paid a visit from me personally…" Mason leaned in and whispered the last part, making Moby nervously smile and nod with a slight chuckle.

"Yeah… Don't worry about it… Gramps..."

Ryker smiled at what happened and looked at the two teens to his side, one taking nervous peeks at the other.

"Well, we're now off! Let's go!"

As all three of them were going up the stairs, he could not help but shake away an ominous feeling from someone or something below him…  However, those thoughts were brief and were immediately followed by laughter, as Moby could not help but chuckle picking up on the sounds coming from below. 

"DAD! Why are you threatening my boyfriend!"

"Wait! You heard that!?"

"Yeah! Of course, I did! You couldn't have been louder!"

"B-but"

Yet… His smile did not last for long…

In the middle of the mayhem happening underneath, he heard a voice that he never expected to hear in a million years… 

"MOBY! I CAME TO SEE YOU OFF! I-I couldn't stay at home knowing I will never see you for a long time… I could never be able to forgive myself… I just came here to say… I really do love you! You really mean a lot to me but I know that you have to go… Alex and I really wish you the best of luck!"

"A-Abby?" 

Moby mumbled, his eyes out in disbelief… It was undoubtedly her voice, and when he turned around he saw exactly what he expected yet almost didn't want to believe. 

It was indeed Abby, her messy bed hair on full display, her face looking both bright and half-dead at the same time with an endless stream of tears running down her face from her shaky, crimson red eyes. Behind her was a black car with a servant in the driver. She wore her usual reddish dress that looked more like what one would see in a hospital, standing strong with her hands to her side. 

Moby's shock was beyond unquantifiable. She actually left her room… And not only her room but the entire house and drove… It was more than she ever did for the last year. 

Why… Why now had she done this? Why must she do this when he had to go… He felt conflicted, happy that she was doing better, and sad that he won't be there for her anymore, and the pain leaving her will cause her.

Was that what it took to take her out of her comfort zone? Taking away something or someone she relied on?

Moby thought that he cried for the last time that day yet here were the waterworks welling up in his eyes once more looking at Abby's figure.

"Thank you for coming here! It really means a lot! More than you think actually… I may not be here for you now. But I'm sure Jayden and everyone else here will! They are great people! Trust me! Like I told you, you two were best friends at one point... It shouldn't be too long! Only 1 year! And hopefully, by then, I come back here and see all of you doing better than ever! This is my final goodbye! Thank you, Abby… and thank you all for everything…"

His voice rang out to everyone below him who looked at his crying figure, before he turned his back and entered through the automatic front doors of the building as he heard a subtle scream coming from behind him… 

"MOby don't lea…"