Chapter 38 The Haunted Mansion

As the relentless rain showed no sign of relenting, I gently nudged Goblinworth, hoping to rouse him from his slumber. He responded with a jaw-cracking yawn so immense that it seemed like I could glimpse the secrets of his stomach. His eyes blinked open, and he smacked his lips in a manner that suggested he had just awakened from the most divine of naps.

"Mmm, tasty... heavenly nap that was," Goblinworth mumbled with a disoriented expression. He blinked in mild confusion as he took in the rainy landscape.

 "Rain... rain still raining, yes, it is."

I suggested that we make a dash for it, highlighting the growing intensity of the rain and the ominous lightning that crackled in the distance, threatening to strike at any moment.

Goblinworth, his goblin logic as sharp as ever, readily agreed. With a nod and a giddy sort of hop, he prepared to join me in our dash to the mansion. As we sprinted through the rain-soaked terrain, I couldn't help but notice the comical spectacle of his spindly legs working overtime to keep up.

"Come on, Goblinworth! Move those spindly goblin legs! I had an image of a goblin being a nimble creature!" I encouraged him, my voice carrying a mixture of urgency and amusement.

The goblin panted and huffed as he tried his best to keep pace. 

"Noooo! We are not... Master Kazuki! Spindly legs... doin' their best... but goblins not... best at running," he admitted while gasping for air.

After a frantic minute of his dashing at full throttle, the goblin abruptly came to a halt, his energy reserves utterly depleted. He flopped face-first onto the ground, resembling nothing less than a pitiful creature laid low by a heavyweight champion's devastating punch.

 "Master!" he gasped, struggling for breath, "I... I can't run... not a step further!"

I swiftly scooped him up and made my way to a nearby overhang in the alley. There, my eyes fell upon a discarded, though still serviceable, umbrella.

Understanding that the goblin had next to no stamina left, I gently seated him on my shoulder and handed him the umbrella. With our improvised shelter keeping the rain at bay, we embarked on a leisurely journey back to the mansion, the pattering of raindrops accompanying our steps.

As we walked, the goblin seemed to find the rhythm of the raindrops falling on the umbrella oddly captivating. He began to pat my head in a playful manner, his high-pitched voice chiming in with a delightful yet nonsensical song about rain.

"Rainy day, splashy drops, pitter-patter on our tops! Up and down, all around, goblin dance on the soggy ground!" he warbled, his words a whimsical tapestry of rain-inspired gibberish.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the goblin's playful words and infectious spirit. With each verse, he seemed to add an extra layer of his own goblin flair, creating a truly unique and utterly silly rain song. The rain, no longer a nuisance, became a backdrop to our shared moment of fun.

"Gobble-di-gobble, rain is fallin' down! Pitter-patter, splish-splash, all around town! Gobble-di-gobble, I like rain's funny sound! With my Master Kazuki, no worries to be found!"

Our walk back home took us a while, the evening fell upon us as we wearily made our way back to the mansion, battling the unrelenting storm that raged around us. The goblin, perched upon my shoulder, seemed as if he had just emerged from a war of his own. His tiny adorable hands drooped low, and his head bobbed up and down as he valiantly fought to stay awake. His oversized ears, usually perky and lively, now hung like damp towels. In his half-asleep state, he mumbled incoherent nonsense, adding to the amusing sight.

"Zigzaggle hopper-doodle! Adventure, mushventure! Slippity-slidey raindrops make my noggin fuzzy-wuzzy. Fizzlenot... hiccup-hoop... the fish wore a top hat... jibber-jabber... no more friendship whips, please... Leash-woopeesh... wonky-wonk... the cheese sang a mournful tune... jibber-zabber..."

His drunk-like nonsensical response prompted another bout of laughter from me, and I patted his tiny head affectionately.

 "Well, looks like we're back safe and sound. I have to say, you've been quite the trooper. Let's get inside and warm you up, little buddy!"

The goblin seemed to understand my intent and he perked up slightly, his demeanor transforming into one of cautious optimism. 

"Warmth? Toasty-toasty by the big, glowy fire-doodle? Goblin like warm... mmmm..."

I nodded, "Yes, by the big, glowy fire-doodle. And perhaps a nice, hot mug of something soothing to chase away the chill."

I entered the mansion, and another goblin butler greeted me with an endearingly clumsy welcome, his big meaty ears wiggling with enthusiasm. 

"Oh, Master Kazuki, welcome back, welcome back! Did you have a good day out, yes? Wet, cold, and soaked you are! Goblinworth too! Ah, the storm, it be nasty, yes!"

I smiled and nodded at the goblin butler's welcome, "Yes, it's quite the storm. Is Lumi or Alitia back yet?"

The goblin butler scratched his head thoughtfully, his goblin ears flapping comically as he answered, "Hmm, no, not back yet, no. Still out they are, in the storm, oh my."

Feeling the chill of the evening and knowing that both Goblinworth and I were damp from the earlier rain, I decided it was time for a warm bath. Turning to Goblinworth, who was now almost entirely passed out and looking somewhat bedraggled, I made a decision.

 "Goblinworth, it's time for a bath. You're almost as wet as a..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Goblinworth, with his last ounce of energy, piped up with an enthusiastic, albeit mispronounced, response. 

"As wet as a fish in a sea, yes, yes! Bath time!"

With a gentle chuckle, I made my way to the bath area, the goblin still perched on my shoulder showed the way. In the steam-filled room, we stripped off our wet clothes and eased into the soothing embrace of warm water. Goblinworth's eyes glimmered with an almost childlike fascination as he splashed water around him, creating a gleeful mess.

The bathroom was a serene haven, a sanctuary of relaxation in the heart of the mansion. The walls were adorned with intricately designed mosaic tiles, their soothing shades of azure and aquamarine mimicking the tranquility of a crystal-clear lake. Soft, ambient lighting danced upon the water's surface, casting ethereal reflections on the walls.

In the center of the room lay an opulent, sunken bathtub, its marble surface cool to the touch. Steam wafted gracefully from the water's surface, enveloping the room in a warm, comforting embrace. Fragrant candles, carefully arranged on ornate ledges, released fragrances of lavender and jasmine into the air, adding to the sense of serenity.

The goblin's tiny form bobbed along the water's surface as he floated, his blissful sighs a testament to his comfort. As we soaked in the comforting embrace of the tub, Goblinworth couldn't help but engage in some chatter.

"Hot water, it is! So comfy, yes, yes! Ah, hot water is good, yes! Warm like goblin heart, it is! Gobbies, we love warm baths, Master Kazuki. Makes us feel like we're in goblin heaven! And when gobbies take warm baths, all the worries and troubles float away like leaves on a river. Poof, gone!" Goblinworth declared with a blissful grin.

Laughing, I agreed, "That's a beautiful way to put it, Goblinworth. A bath does have a way of washing away the cares of the day."

Goblinworth's eyes sparkled with delight as he continued his animated monologue, his words a rhythmic cascade of goblin wisdom. 

"Yes, yes! A warm bath, like giving your bones a cozy hug, it is! All troubles melt away, and the goblin spirit feels light as a feather! Oh, but Master Kazuki, listen to this, listen! Warm bath, it's like friendship, you know? Sharing warmth, like sharing joy, like sharing secrets. Gobbies understand warm water and warm hearts!"

I couldn't help but smile at Goblinworth's unique perspective, his heartfelt words resonating with a simple wisdom that transcended cultural barriers. 

"You're right, Goblinworth. Warmth is indeed a universal language that connects us all."

Goblinworth, his buoyant spirit unyielding, chimed in once more, his words accompanied by gleeful splashes of water.

 "Splashy splash, bubbles and giggles! Like goblin laughter, it is! Warm water and good company, what else could goblin ask for, eh?"

The sentiment wasn't lost on me as I let the serenity of the moment wash over me.

 "You've summed it up perfectly, Goblinworth. Sometimes, it's the simplest things that bring the greatest joy."

Goblinworth nodded, his head bobbing in the water like a mischievous cork as he yelped, "Yes, yes! And now, Master Kazuki, we float and relax together, like true goblin pals!"

After a long, relaxing bath that temporarily eased the weariness from our eventful day, we both changed into dry clothes and exited the steamy embrace of the tub. Goblinworth escorted me back to my room. With a parting farewell and a wish for a peaceful night, he retreated, his frame disappearing into the shadows.

As the goblin ventured off on his own, the mansion's halls seemed to echo with solitude, an eerie ambiance that amplified the lateness of the hour. The storm outside raged, a symphony of wind and rain. My room, with its view over the garden and the fountain, held an air of solitude.

I settled onto the bed, closed my eyes, and let the symphony of the rain lull me into a restless slumber. As I nestled into the comfort of the bed, the rain's cadence provided a peculiar backdrop to my thoughts. The rhythmic sound began to transform, morphing into something altogether unnerving. Beneath the rain's tapping, I discerned faint, irregular noises that appeared to mimic a muffled whip's lash, followed by strained grunts. My imagination ran amok, conjuring images of haunted whispers and otherworldly apparitions - ghosts.

Curiosity piqued, I cracked open my eyes, my gaze traversing the room. In the dim glow, I peered out through the window, drawn by a sight that chilled my bones. There, amidst the garden's turmoil, stood a figure by the fountain, its presence shrouded in the storm's cloak.