My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 108: Fill Me In

Kace groaned as his eyes flickered open. His vision was blurry as a dark shadow passed over his line of sight. His body felt stiff and tender as the aches in his bones and muscles made themselves apparent. 'Ugh, where am I?' He wondered, his mind was still groggy from having just woken up.

"Finally awake. That's good. Thought you might. Take a bit. Longer, though." Grugda said solemnly in his rough tones.

Kace tried to reply and ask him a few questions. However, he soon discovered his mouth was as dry as the desert. Trying to force the words out of his mouth resulted in him having a coughing fit instead. Grugda quickly realised the problem and held a flask of water up to his mouth. He carefully poured the cold liquid inside down Kace's throat.

Kace felt awkward as his head was held by Grugda's firm grip. Although the Eljein was gentle with his actions, Kace found himself having an unpleasant image developing in his head. Nurse Grugda! The idea was very displeasing to him personally. 'There's no substitute for a caring woman dealing with you in your times of need.' Kace complained mentally.

Suddenly a nostalgic yet equally disturbing image formed from his memories. The memory of waking up in goblin caverns for the first time to find the wrinkly hag Vaskra under the covers beside him. It took a moment for him to recover from this image. 'I wonder how all those guys are doing?'

"Grugda?" Kace coughed as his throat and mouth were still recovering, his voice sounded hoarse. "What's going on?"

"Hmm, it will. Take time. To explain." Grugda replied as he looked at Kace with a pitiful expression.

Kace did not like the look his friend was giving him. It was the type of look that made him feel as though he were cattle that had just been sold to a slaughterhouse. In his current condition, he had nothing else to do. So he was not worried about how long it would take Grugda to clue him in on recent developments.

Kace sat through the Eljein's depiction of everything that had happened quietly at first. Showing his shock his when he was told the part about Sonja declaring that he would become her apprentice. Secretly, Kace was delighted that he would be able to learn from such a figure. His most significant shortcoming so far was that he had no official training in how to fight correctly. 

He had always just barely gotten through due to his instincts and relying on the skills that he had picked up along the way. If he could adequately learn how these skills could be used. As well as gain training in how to properly handle different weapons well, his fighting prowess would see a qualitative change like never before.

As Grugda's explanation reached the part about Captain Raven receiving a beating from the queen. Only to be told he would be her husband, his heart could not help but pity the man. 'He's in for a rough life.' Kace shook his head as he thought about his own beating at her hands. 'It's clear who will be in charge of that relationship.'

Next came Grugda's views on the recent unrest and turmoil between the different factions. Kace was feeling agitated to discover that he was the reason behind it. 'A few people will probably attempt to make some plays during this time. I'll have to be careful of anyone that approaches me.' Kace made a mental note. If he could help it, he did not want to get involved with these matters. However, he had a feeling that fate would not be so kind to him.

The next part managed to make him feel even more worried that his life may still very well be in danger. Grugda had just filled him in on how Sophia had been acting. 'She might just kill me for making her worry for so long. It shouldn't have been that big of a deal to her right?' Kace pondered as he considered his actions. 

He had hoped that by setting her free from her constraints of duty and if he survived. That it would make an obligation of sorts for her. In a way, adding to the manpower of their group by making her feel indebted enough to accompany them. Unfortunately for him, he had failed to take into account the effect this had on how she felt about him as a woman.

'Whatever, she should be fine with an apology. Right?' He felt as though this should be enough to satisfy her. Nodding his head in satisfaction with the decision he had just made. At this moment, Kace heard a sound and turned his head to face the doorway. As quickly as she had appeared, Celia vanished without saying a word.

'I wonder what that was about?' Kace pondered with an amused expression as he considered her strange actions. However, he became concerned when he saw the look on Grugda's face. This feeling became solidified by the loud groan the Eljein let out as his head sunk into his hands. Massaging his own temples to relieve the headache that was brewing.

"Um, Gurgda?" Kace asked, his voice quivered as he knew that he was probably not going to like the answer to his next question. "Is there something I should know?"

Grugda thought long and hard about how to break the news to him. He had hoped that on the day Kace would wake up that it would be after Celia's usual check-in time. Clearly, that had not happened though, and Kace would only be able to blame his own bad luck. He was unwilling to put himself between his friend and the violent storm that would be coming for him shortly.

"Hmm, the queen. Has been adamant. Your training. Was to start. As soon. As you awoke." Grugda's voice almost sounded like he was complaining. 

"Oh, is that all? For a moment, you had me worried." Kace laughed nervously, noticing that Grugda was shaking his head in resignation.