My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 50: Farewells And New Beginnings

Kace could feel the sombre mood in the air. It had been a few days since the allied forces had pulled out and retreated to the gods knew where.

His quest had been completed and he had been promoted to the General rank of monster. The effects had been substantial. Raising all his stats by five, his health, AP and MP had also experienced significant gains.

He had not time to celebrate though. Immediately after the work to clear the town and rebuild as much as possible began. During this phase he had been reduced to an emotional wreck.

Today was the day that they would all be saying there final farewells Kharja and Gyn. Their bodies had been discovered alongside a shocking number of monsters. Most of them being the ones that Kace had sent in their direction to help them.

Unfortunately it looked as though they had been made to suffer horrendously before being struck down. Vaskra had survived, however she was missing both legs and an eye now.

It seemed that Sarah's attention had been caught before she finished the shaman off. His eyes turned red yet again as warm tears leaked from them trickling down his face. He stood before his friends bodies that had been wrapped up in soft hides to prevent others from seeing the state they had been left in.

'If only I were stronger...' a fresh wave of tears flowed freely as his eyes felt puffy.

His mind wandered back to his first meeting with Kharja. There fight in the cavern where the orcs pride would not allow him to crush Kace with all his strength.

Then his mind thought about Gyn, the small goblin who had too much faith in him. A practical genius amongst goblins as he made all sorts of strange and dangerous devices.

The way the pair had bonded as they travelled with Kace. Teasing each other while also getting on like a house of fire. The new orc chief Gharog had sworn the orcs fealty to King Shagrat.

Bringing in a new era of true cooperation between them. The trolls had sent someone back to bring the rest of their village here. After all there was plenty of space in the town and they would 've safer in numbers.

They had achieved much but it had come at a devastating cost for Kace personally. He wished that he could share this moment with the two of them. As he stood over their lifeless, wrapped bodies.

The door behind him creaked open. An orc stepped into the room with a heavy sigh, keeping his head bowed. Not daring to look Kace in the eye.

"Sir?" the orc questioned in a hesitating voice, "It's time?"

Kace barely registered the orc's words directed at him. Taking a few seconds before nodding his head. The orc quickly ducked out into the night before returning with another five.

The one who had spoken to him took three others and they flanked Kharja's body. Lifting it into the air before placing it on their shoulders. The other two repeated the same action with Gyn's smaller body.

Upon seeing that their preparations were complete Kace turned his back on them. Taking deep breaths to suppress his emotions he took slow steady steps forwards.

With halberd in hand he did his best to look dignified as he led the funeral procession. Coming out onto the streets goblins, orcs and trolls stood quietly lining the sides. Torches were flickering on the roadside, lighting the final journey that their mortal bodies would ever take.

It was like a dream to Kace and it was so surreal. All these bloodthirsty monsters showing so much respect to these two. It felt more like a close knit family's funeral back on earth. An image that he would never have associated with them.

Some female orcs they passed by even openly weeped at the loss of their chief. As they came to the town centre a large funeral pyre had been built in the middle. The air was even heavier here than the journey from where their bodies had been left to rest, silently waiting for this moment.

Kace took a sharp turn and continued his march around the encirclement of monsters. The King himself even bowed his head with deep respect as they passed by. Kace stood at the foot of the funeral pyre as the orcs laid their bodies atop of it.

A goblin held a torch out for Kace to take with a heavy expression worn upon her face. Holding back the tears that were once again beginning to form he too the torch in hand.

With heavy steps he approached the fire, pausing just before reaching it.

"My friends!" he began, having practiced this speech before hand, "You fought valiantly till the end. Giving the enemy all you had to pave the way for a brighter future for those you have sadly left behind. You have been taken from us far too soon. We will always remember this gift that you have helped to give us and the debt that the humans mist pay in rivers of blood. I hope your souls take flight to a better life. One where you will be free to enjoy all the things you love. Worry not for those of us left behind. We will continue marching ever onwards. Your memories by our side to give us strength."

"My friends, I will forever be in your debt. I swear as long as I live. Your names and deeds shall never be forgotten. I now say farewell to you, Kharja, Orc Chieftain of the mountain. I now say farewell to you, Gyn, curious of all wonders. I will forever miss you both as you begin the next stage of your journey."

These heavy and sincere words resonated with the crowd. They all raised a single hand high into the air. As if to guide their souls to the beyond. Kace placed the torch that had kept him warm into the centre of the pyre.

Watching solemnly as the flames took hold. Before long the wood crackled as the flames leapt higher. Shielding the bodies from view. As time passed the crowd began to dissipate. Leaving Kace alone and cold as he watched it burn.

Heavy steps sounded behind him as a bony yet heavy hand came to rest on his shoulder. Providing him with comfort.

"It is. Done." said the Eljein in his usual slow tones as he stared at Kace with eyes full of concern. "We must. Leave. Much. For us. Is left. To do."

"I failed them Grugda." Kace's voice began to crack as he made this simple statement.

"This was. Fate. Nothing you. Could do." A strangely sympathetic tone leaving his mouth along with those words.

Kace just silently nodded. He knew the truth though. The quest he had been given hinted that there had indeed been a way to save them. Making him feel even guiltier at not knowing how this could have been achieved.

Turning his back on the still raging fire he said a final farewell. As a dark hatred of humans took a deep root in his heart. 'I'll kill them all.' he thought as a mind consuming amount of bloodlust escaped from him. Causing Grugda to watch him with an even higher level of concern.

'I just. Hope it. Does not. Consume him.' the Eljein silently prayed as they took their leave.

*

One Year Later...

A man stepped out from a forest resting atop a cliff. Spread out before him was the sea, the smell of it in the air filled his nostrils. His golden eyes glimmered as he cast his glance over the town before him.

Smoke was rising at the break of dawn from several homes. Moss grew on the rooftops and walls of the stone buildings. A harbour protruded out into the waters with several docks. The seagulls screamed as they circled in the air.

Dock workers were already busy rushing back and forth. Loading crates onto the galleon like ships.

A large mass exited the forest behind the man with golden eyes. 'He's become. More stable.' the mass thought. Not sure if it was a good or a bad thing. As he looked once again at the fresh scar running from the man's brow, across his eye and towards his lip. 'He's lucky. He didn't. Lose it.' he thought as he stared into those golden eyes.

'He's grown. So much. This past. Year.'

"This is where we depart Grugda. Let us hope we can find Sonja quickly." Kace said with palpable excitement. "If we aren't quick about it they may catch up again."

The Eljein nodded in agreement. Their journey had been most treacherous. Their enemies had tracked them for quite some time. Every now and then catching up to them.

'I wonder how Shagrat and Vaskra are doing back in Stonefall?' Kace found himself wondering as he placed his foot forward, excited about taking that first step towards the next stage of their adventure.

The sky had an unusually ominous colour of black in the direction they were headed. Storm clouds gathered on the horizon....

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Hey guys, read the Authors Thoughts as it's quite important. Left you something there, a goal of sorts for a reward.

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Important Author Note Please Read

Hey folks! I've had to edit this is to quite a few chapters so that as many people as possible see it. Please read to the end as it is important.

First off. I need to thank each and everyone of you for the massive show of support in the past few days. You guys are the heart and soul of why I do this.

Second. You deserve to be rewarded. You have shown so much support that I feel you deserve something more in return. Therefore I'm going to try to start releasing two chapters a day. They may be a tad shorter but you'll end up with more to read overall.

Third. Some goals! We're doing well in quite a few of the charts. So let's aim for more. See below for targets to meet and the rewards to go with.

1. Enough votes to make it into top 100 in power Ranking. Two extra chapters to be released next Monday.

2. Top 50. You get 3 extra chapters.

3. Top 25. You get 4 extra chapters.

4. Top 10. You get 5 extra chapters.

5. Top 3. It's a secret but will be worth it.