My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 195: The Right Path

The group sat around a stone table that Grugda had created for them. Kace sat at the head of the table, resting on his throne as he contemplated all the information that Vaskra had just shared with him. She looked a little grateful that Grugda had left an open space for her own chair on Kace's right-hand side. Grugda took the seat to his left, making Sophia feel bitter that she had to take a seat a bit further from him.

Dao and Josh took up the remaining two seats on the second half of the table alongside Sophia. Shadow, naturally stood a little off to the side and behind Kace's right side. Acting as a guard of sorts. He just felt that their Lord should keep up appearances when dealing with foreign powers. To him, this was exactly what the others apart from Grugda represented. Vaskra was essentially an ambassador for a Goblin King. Sophia and Dao represented the vampires. Then there was Josh, he just gave Shadow the creeps.

It was nothing personal, but his presence just felt unnatural. So as far as Shadow was concerned, Kace could only truly rely on Grugda and himself. His eyes darted attentively between his Lord's 'guests'. Making sure that none of them would try anything funny.

"Hm, the situation is far from desirable, isn't it?" Vaskra suddenly broke the tension surrounding the table and their meal.

"You're right, but at least now we have a way to return home," Kace replied while he eyed the now cold meat placed before him. "However, I don't know how Yul will react, seeing us again. We didn't exactly part on good terms."

"True. I think. He will try. And crush. Us." Grugda grunted as he thought about their unpleasant experience on Ulafor Island.

"We still have to find out what happened to my mother. For all, we know she and others might have survived the attack!" Sophia said desperately. She was no idiot. She could tell the conversation was headed towards abandoning this world. That included her family along with it.

"Yes, I owe her that much at least," Kace confirmed Sophia's statement, alleviating her fears a little. "But we can't afford to waste too much time on her. I hope you understand that?"

"Of course," Sophia replied while lowering her eyes. She knew that the longer they stayed here, the greater the risk would become of being found out by Zornok. It was like playing with fire and expecting to not get burned.

"I don't really have a part in this. I only came to the city to retrieve the crew. However, according to your scouts, they are all dead now. I like you Kace, but I won't risk losing this new life of mine. I hope you understand." Josh interrupted with his cold voice.

"I do, but it's a shame. Your power could have been a great help to us. What will you do now?"

"I'll spend some time searching for Raven's body. He was my captain, he deserves a funeral and somewhere quiet to rest."

Kace nodded in response. He could understand Josh's sentiments so he would not try to convince him to stay with them. However, it would have been helpful if he had offered them a lift to the gate on his ship! Kace sighed with jealousy as he thought it. Josh's ship could be sent back to the Dead Sea whenever he wished, but it would take some time for him to gather the necessary strength to recall it to a world of the living.

"I hope we meet again someday. Don't hesitate to seek me out if you need anything. I'll help if I can." Kace replied with a warm smile. Since Josh had made his intentions clear, there was no point in saying anything else.

After saying a round of brief farewells, Josh took his leave from the safety of the caverns. Shadow sighed in relief. Josh had been his biggest concern amongst those gathered. He had been on edge the entire time that he had taken shelter here. With him gone, he could finally afford to relax a little. However, it appeared that he was the only one who was glad to see him go.

"I'll send out more scouts to search a wider area for traces of the queen and any other survivors. They have five days. After that, whether they have been located or not. We're leaving." Kace announced his decision startling Sophia and Dao the most.

They had hoped for a little longer than just five days! Sophia hastily excused herself from the table followed by Dao. As far as they were concerned the arrival of Vaskra was ill-timed. There was nothing binding Kace to this place anymore. Before, he would have had to rely on the queen and their resources to reactivate the gate. Sophia wiped the tears from her eyes as she was now caught between two paths. 

When the five days were over, she could either stay behind and continue the search alone with Dao. Or she could follow Kace back to the island, and possibly a new life. She had been promised to his cause, but things had changed. She never imagined that her race would be pushed to the brink of extinction in such a short time. 'I don't know what to do!' She wanted nothing more than to curl up and cry her heart out.

Kace sighed as he watched them leave. Now he was alone with two of his oldest friends plus one new one. It was strange to almost be in the exact same spot he started out from. He was barely any closer to completing his goal, and the only real thing that had changed was himself. 'Is going back the right thing to do? Should I have given Sophia more time to find her mother?' Kace had no idea if he made the right decision.

'You did what you thought was best. No effort has been spared in the search so far and any more than five more days would be unlikely to yield any results. For what it is worth. I think you made the right call.' Sylvan offered his own words of encouragement. Sensing the turmoil within Kace's heart