On the fourth day, it was well under way all recruits you and old were up early to see the legendary war hero. Most of them never had personally met Grillby much less talked to him whether it be the inability to go to Snowdin so be health reason. Or nerves at talking to such a well decorate and admired veteran he made the human flinch and prey to their guard for salvation, when he appeared on the battlefield. Even aspiring guards are very wary of approaching the veteran at his bar looking for tips on combat. Grillby showed up in the flare he had a relaxed pace wearing his signature look of very classy gentlemen in a suit. Though Him walking anywhere had the little problem when in Snowdin he created a slight mist when walking in the snow. He was one of the strongest flame monsters around surviving never ending winter town without falling or his flame dying down. He was the hero of many a young monster the inspiration that you're only limited if you choose to be. He had that tendency to kind of just automatically bring all of the attention on himself regardless of him being a war veteran. He had a pep in his step and a smile on his face. Though at the same time he felt turmoil. He was a ball of an emotional mess but it's to be expected but for right now he is an instructor, it's better to leave my troubles out the out here on the path to the training arena in the oasis. He owed to Sans and undyne to teach the guards the things he could do and stop bemoaning what he couldn't do at the moment.
He would be the kind of monster that would take a lot of attention in regardless of the room he is in. He was a tall flame elemental, dressed formally as is his personal preference dressed in black slacks and a black vest that was slightly opened. With a smile on his face why he was a smiling? Who knew but they the guards waiting on bated breath but they could tell he was in a good mood. Most had gone to the bar in recent year to find him out of sorts the older in the guard knew why that was and knew better than to talk about it or even bring it up. But the younger crowd had no clue being born after the war no one wanted to burden them with the knowledge of what happened to the war veterans. Why explain to them what was wrong with them when it would be fixed once they reached the surface? There's also that would make the younger generation more fearful of the humans then you should have any right to be.
Most had never directly talked to Grillby before. At least the female monsters intimidated by the handsome monster good looks. The males out of hero worship from the account that they did know about the war, Grillby was one of their strongest fighters. Who quit fighting and protecting the Kingdom when the war ended. The teachers in school and their parents never explained why he stopped fight just saying it was too gruesome to talk about and his private business. Most who knew Grillby knew he also had on hand a machine Dr. Alphys created especially for him to be able to speak as seldom as it is it's come in handy ever so often.
"Now I was asked by Sans by and Undyne to teach you few techniques you will need if you going to be guarding towns, right? Firewall and landmines after what's happened to me these are some of the few magical attacks I can do without over exerting myself and or my fire." Grillby voice had a slight
"Sir? What happened to you? Why aren't you a part of the guard with your strength and what you've done you should be protecting the King! He is your friend, isn't he?" For the younger crowd curiosity outweighs common sense respect for our commander. Asgore thought with a shake of the head, But the Werecats Jade who piped up had a point. And the murmuring around the young monster started and the look on Grillby face told me he did not want to talk about this but knew these kids were going to keep going like a greater dog in a game of fetch. He gave a huff and new resistance was futile and telling them the story might give them more perspective.
"Do you honestly want to hear this story? I can't be held accountable if all or any of you have your world view changed after I finish explaining. Though I want you to understand that things are vastly different now than they are then. Everyone remembers the war if they lived through it. Monsters fell that's not a shock to any of you. It happens to many of our family and friends but the humans had wizards on their side. And decide to go one step further instead of outright killing a strong monster they decide to cripple monster when they killed one of us it made us fight harder. The only went after those knew would cripple the hope in all the monsters fighting with the wizards power they could split a monster from the source of their most powerful magic for me my source of my magical was my voice. As most you know to have a vital part of you ripped away like this, is not only painful it will remain that way until it's returned. It can be incredibly disorienting regardless how long you live that way because the source of the magic is just as sentient as you are. Imagine having a part of you right here talking to a friend and another in Snowdin talking to a friend there. Both need your extreme concentration and focus and it can be consuming and very confusing. For me and many of the other veterans, the source of our magical was sealed away by the wizards for a time and with army crippled. We retreated underground only to be magically sealed no monster could come in or get out. So, it was unfortunate my voice was trapped above ground and when I finally freed myself of their prison and forced them to release us. They were soon realizing the humans didn't care much for wizards either. Magic was magic in their eyes and they wanted it gone. I threaten to roast them if they didn't disguise the rest of the monster prisoners and give us the key to our escape in exchange we will use our magic to get safe passage out of Ebbot and live their long lives elsewhere." Grillby voice held a monotone to its quality it might have a been a machine but it seems able to convey his unhappiness at having to talk about this.
"So, you telling us that your voice is above ground! What's it like up them? What are you doing up there right now, what have you could do? Do the humans notice? Do they remember us? Why are you so happy?" On and on the questions, went and everyone even the most respectable and composed of the guards wanted to know more about this. Most didn't even know the whole story with Grillby and they weren't going to waste the opportunity to get answers about the above ground world.
"Okay in the order asked yes, the above ground is nice its always changing and its lot more developed then when we were trapped, now sleeping its very early morning right now, disguised as human I've made a fair bit of money and I bought land outside of town for the monsters of the underground to live in once we are free, the deed is under my real name. The human doesn't notice because the enchantment works differently than a standard enchantment. I appear to humans like I'm growing older when that happens I go into seclusion when I look like I have fallen and then I say I'm the older man's long lost son. They don't remember us they see the war as a myth. Now they even celebrate monsters once a night as a holiday. As to why I'm happy well its bit private and personal. Plus, we need to get back on the task I'm here to teach you two spells you going to need."
They were confused but knew they got more information than they bargained for. The guards put their focus and attention on Grillby lesson though Undyne, Sans , and Alphys were hanging back watching the spell work Sans already knew these spells as well as Undyne.
"Sans?" Undyne looked him directly turning both eyes from the guards the learning the spells instead to look at the King s who was very relaxed giving cursory glances all the training groups.
"Do you know why Grillby is so happy?" Undyne asked Sans outright, she's known Grillby a long time but his best friend? She was not; that title belonged to Sans. So, he more than anyone would know why formal, quiet, but overall sad Grillby would be smiling and willing to share something so personal.
"Undyne it's his private business!" Alphys piped up she looked up from her notes about the measurement and the list of required materials
"Alphys, Sans knows Grillby better than anyone. He's got to tell me at least maybe whatever Grillby doing. Slade, Jerry's older brother might take the hint and be more positive."
"Doubt it apparently, the part of Slade that's above ground is being a douche, he's in trouble with the humans over what he did."
"What he's done?" Slade was almost no different than his little brother Jerry. Though unlike his brother he works as tech engineer primarily helping to create ghost suitable bodies.
"He was harassing a human woman. I asked Grillby not bail him out this time. He was jealous, Grillby has found his soulmate; while he can't find his."
"Do we know the lucky human's name?" Alphys put down her clipboard she was giving him her full attention
"Come on Sans tell us." Undyne had her razor teeth smile at full force which if Sans didn't know her better was antagonistically other than her just the way she smiles at times.
"You know I can keep secret Sans. " Alphys gave a hopeful look and that did it, Sans , resolve crumbled. Maybe it will make my friend's more willing interact more with each other and less isolated and isolated island of friendship.
"Stephanie that's the name Grillby told me. Now don't spread it around especially you Alphys. I've seen your Undernet account at three in the morning you know." Sans gave a decidedly pointed look at the dinosaur monster who nodded. Knowing that if she did spread this fact it would cause a bit of an uproar among the monsters. Not the person was human by this point humans were just regarded as an almost far off thought. They were angry at their imprisonment sure and what caused the war but it's not like the humans above had anything to do with it. No, it has to be kept a secret for one simple reason Grillby himself was off the market. Making a lot of monsters start a slight riot over the news. The only person who causes a bigger riot over not being single anymore would be Mettaton with the way he is I doubt he could settle down even with a soulmate.
They just watched everyone learn this spell while it had a simple hand gesture it's that the emotion you have to put into it has very specific to protect the innocent but specify what the threat in question like its intent. Sans had a smile on his face since he knows fire magic and he can conjure it just as easily as bones or his Gaster blasters. But Papyrus was as adept with fire magic, so it was nice to see him learning it. He doesn't use his magic as much as he's supposed to regardless of being second in command. Though his thoughts are very far away very spacey and dreamy smile. And Alphys and Undyne noticed him while watching the guard was day dreaming just let his sockets glaze over. That's not typical of Sans as he is on his own when he was with us he let his guard down this much, not in front of the guard. The amount of protocol and training both in typical and in battle he was given wouldn't allow him to be anything less than the beacon of freedom and good will to the population of the underground. Most of the time you could even tell what he was thinking or his emotional state he never gave you an inch to use against him the epitome of emotional control. Not to say he can't show a soft side or any passion. It's the reason the underground thoroughly believes they will be able to leave and live on the surface once again. It was weird see him lower his guard so randomly in front of the royal guard training session it was unlike him. At this point both of them were wondering if he was sick or something.
"Sans, are you with us?"
"Yeah, nerd what are you think about so hard? At least act like you care about your brother learning fire magic."
"What? Oh yeah, I'm trying to think of how to go about explaining the spell me and Alphys came up with and the measures that were taking to catch who stole the kids. It may be tomorrow but I still have to prepare how I'm going to say and address them about it. Considering I have no idea how they will feel about monsters being hired to watch all of the underground on security cameras basically as a security guard. They're going to lighten your load of things to do. Doesn't mean everyone will be thrilled at first for the change you know? Not everyone will be rational about the whole thing like you've been Undyne. For some of them will feel like their being replaced."
Who will act as the warning call for the guard so they don't have dedicated so much time to patrolling and getting hurt and more towards dealing with the problems directly? And doing their duty towards the kid and escorting them to school. Its better the watch tower we have been using the thing is ricketier than the original bridge in Snowdin or heated heights. It's not like I can tell them what actually has me so spacey and almost outwardly giddy. I really don't want Undyne to take action and capture much less accidentally murder frisk. By letting her know the final human has fallen into the underground. It's not like I can stop them from finding out the camera were operational and were watching every inch of the underground. While it would be easy to have frisk captured. At the same time, I can't exactly guarantee her safety even in my own palace. To some monsters, the war is ever present in their minds. A lot of them were their or lost family to it I included. Some moved on some have not like a lot of the staff. Even if I mandate they can't hurt her doesn't mean they won't try other means to hurt her. It the reason only I and Alphys knows where the humans are and for their own safety they have been placed in a magical coma no need for them to get anxious or worse alert the underground to their presence among them. I remember the close call with the first human fell one of the guards killed them before I was even alerted it was Asgore that saved them from a cruel and swift death that day.
"Don't worry I let them know there not being replaced but their job is being lightened they still have to be on the lookout for suspicious activity and eye out for problems issues that arise."
"Thanks, Undyne I was hoping you'd say that considering I picked who's watch the camera feed and I honestly don't want the guard turning on me it will make the suits or armor harder to make if them at me for helping them out," Alphys said they started a conversation but I started tuning them out doesn't matter the reality or universe those will always find and want to be with each other but we always have to live with the tension of waiting for them to finally act on it. It would be cute if this wasn't a universal constant in any reset and especially this one since Alphys isn't a nervous wreck Undyne was attracted to her since they first met but that was a long time ago. Right now I rather think about what to do about Frisk and how to explain to her what was going on without her running head first out of the barrier.