It has been a day since I woke up from my three week coma.

Three weeks since I got my ass handed to me by a bunch of griffons who barely reach up to my chest.

Three weeks on an infirmary bed while the griffons working here were poking and prodding my body, doing god knows what to it and I had no means of stopping them. I don't know what they were doing to me in my time of unconsciousness but for all I could hope for that they were just cleaning my wounds and keeping me from dying from my injuries.

As I laid there staring up at the ceiling I began to think of ways I can go about doing what my slave handler wants me to do about fucking with Fate's plans for the world and I am supposed to go about doing that.

'I could always just introduce human technology and methodology to the griffons to give them a dramatic boost over their rivals, but in the wrong hands or in the hands of those that are in the pockets of foreign leaders it will just come back to bite me in the ass...assassinating the other world leaders is out of the question because that is the fastest way to die and also have a mountain of shit brought down upon the griffons seeing how I am pretty much one of them now.'

'Now that I am stuck in this world for what will be the rest of my life, however long that is if it hasn't been shortened or extended by the god I am working for.'

Looking to my right I saw that I was the only person in the infirmary other than the two griffon guards standing by the doorway, both of them wearing a form of segmented plate-mail and wielding a halberd in their talons. The two weren't looking at me at the moment but I can tell that they are staring at me from their peripherals and were watching my every move.

'Okay, lets go over what I am capable of doing at the moment because presently I can't do shit.'

'I am apparently either highly resistant or straight up immune to magic.'
'I am stronger than normal because I normally wouldn't even be able to dropkick a diamond dog.'
'My body is tougher than normal, if it can endure through all that shit and still recover quickly. Only exception is that I had my throat slit by griffon talons and my face was chopped up by said talons.'
'Got my human persistence and determination to see shit through to the end, even though sometimes I wish I didn't have that quality because half the time the end result just wasn't worth it.'
'Also got my laptop, that baby is holding enough information and data on a bunch of games that hold plausible technology and methods that these griffons can use.'

'If I am going to be helping these griffons out then I got to figure just what they are capable of doing, what their military strength is, the map of the world, the layout of their realm, their sphere of influence, their imports and exports, who is their allies and who is their enemy...so much shit to sift through.'

Turning my attention to the ceiling I began to count the tiles out of boredom, I don't know how much longer I must lay here for my body to fully recover but I know that staying in one spot is going to suck ass.

As I was staring up at the ceiling, the door to the infirmary opened up and I lowered my gaze to see who it could be and to my amazement it was Gilda and Greta, the two griffon girls that I met on my first day in Griffonstone. The two of them seem to be alright even though they got a bit hurt when they fought with those bandits in the manor, I guess three weeks is long enough time for those injuries to heal up as if nothing happened.

Waving at the pair I watched as they padded over to me and when they got to the foot of my bed did they start to look over my body, noticing all of the cuts, scratches and stitches that went into fixing me up.

Gilda was the first to say anything by whistling at what she saw.

"Dang, looks like that flankhole of a griffon did a real number on you."

"Nah, not all of this was from him, some of this was from that asshole that I knocked out in the hallway before Tazul's office, the rest was from the brawl on the second floor of the manor." I said as I idly traced one of the scars that was on my chest.

Griffon claws are freaking sharp when they want to be.

As I was tracing one of the scars I saw Greta move around the bed and came to my side before leaning close to whisper into my ear.

"Hey, that favor you owe me? I'll be cashing that favor in a few weeks, you better be ready by the time I need you." The young hen whispered to me as I strained myself a bit to hear what she had to say.

When Greta was done she backed away from me and went back by Gilda's side before the normally disgruntled hen went back to talking to me.

"So big guy, how long till you are out of here?"

"Out of the infirmary? A few days tops at best. But out of the castle? Not very often."

This got a confused head-tilt from Gilda and Greta as they wondered why I wouldn't be leaving the castle all the time.

"Okay, what the flying fuck did you do to piss off the king?" Gilda asked me as I scratched the back of my head as I thought on whether or not I should tell these two the truth.

'On one hand if I tell them the truth than they will know that I lied to them about what my purpose was the other day, but if I lie to them then that will only dig the hole I am in a bit deeper...'

After a few seconds of internal debating and thinking it through I decided that I should tell them the truth. Hell, they nearly got themselves killed for helping me clear out the manor of those bandits and they did it for no reward or recognition for their actions, they deserve to hear the truth from me.

"It wasn't what I said that pissed him off, it was what I withheld from him that angered him. You see, I-" and so I told them what transpired in Tazul's manor three weeks ago, what happened when my group got captured and the terms I agreed to just so I can get out and try to live a normal life.

I knew that I might be damaging my reputation with them for this but it is the right thing to do.

The two stared at me as I finished up my little story, neither of them were blinking and both seemed like that they might be pissed at me although I couldn't tell because I don't know griffon body language nor any of their silent ticks.

Eventually, however, the two shrugged their shoulders and accepted it as it was, apparently to them what I did was in the right either because they didn't like the princess or that they were just trying to make me feel better.

When I pressed them into telling me why they have a bit of hatred for Princess Eraclea I watched as Gilda shrugged her shoulders while Greta's fur bristled a bit. I don't know what got her panties in a bunch but whatever it is, it sure as hell isn't something good.

"Well Ian, word from the grapevine around Griffonstone is that Eraclea is a cold and calculating hen. During several royal gatherings and parties within the palace, Eraclea managed to persuade or tricked foreign dignitaries and House Lords into agreeing to a deal that would benefit Griffonstone more so than it would benefit those not from here."

I had to think on what was said for a bit cause I thought that is what nobles, royalty and dignitaries usually do when they are at those sort of things, using either underhanded tactics to get the upper hand in negotiations, some form of bribery or even special deals and bargains...so how is this a bad thing again?

"You know Greta, shit like that almost always happens at those types of events, so tell me how that is cold and calculating for a princess like her?" I bet there is something that either these two aren't telling me or if there is something that about the griffon princess that shouldn't be known.

"Oh, right, I forgot that you aren't from around these parts or know anything about griffon culture...gods above give me the strength to tell this simple cock what he needs to know." wait...did she just call me simple?

'Hey!'

Haha ha ha! Even that little chick knows that you are a simpleton!

'Oh eat a dick.'

I swear it is almost like this universe is out to shit on me at every chance it can get.

"Alright then, you see Ian, here in Griffonstone and in the other provinces and states of the griffon-held lands it is customary that the hen's of noble houses and that of royalty to stay quiet and only talk to the other hens while the you cocks go on and talk about the boring shite that normally happens at those sorts of meetings." Greta explained it a bit to me as I thought of something that would help me connect this to human society.

'Hmm, so it would be something like humanity's medieval era, human nobles and their decadent court...fuck me to tears...'

"I don't know what goes on at those parties but when I get hired by some lord to eavesdrop I hear all sorts of bits and pieces of intrigue that can go for a pretty bit or two."

Now this I took interest in, seems like my friend Greta does a bit of spy work on the side...I wonder what she has heard whenever she is on duty.

"So is there any chance of you to divulge that information to me?"

"Nope, rather not get my wings clipped and that is all I am willing to tell you." Well fuck.

With that out the window I laid back down from my sitting-up position and let my head hit the pillow with a loud *pomf*

"Anyways, the reason why Princess Eraclea is different from past princess is that she takes a proactive role in her father's rule and that she is doing everything within her power to make sure that it doesn't fall apart. Now, normally this would be done by the prince but since she is an only child she has to take on the duties that a prince would do along with her own duties." Ah, so she is actually just a cranky bitch cause she got double duty.

"Huh...maybe doing twice the workload and still be expected to remain quiet would probably get her feathers ruffled. She is expected to keep her beak shut and just listen but she also wants to make a difference and help her father in keeping the kingdom from falling apart. Hell, if I was in her place I would be pretty uptight, cranky and bitter if I was told that I must be silent and not voice my opinion and thoughts when it might be necessary."

The three of us talked liked this for a few more minutes and the only reason why it didn't go on any longer is that the princess showed up and Greta immediately clamped her beak shut as Gilda went silent and took a few steps away from the both of us.

Princess Eraclea stood before the three of us, no longer did she look dirty or dingy, her fur was immaculately clean, shining brightly as if it has been brushed over a thousand times and the feathers on her head and wings, those were preened and shined to a high mirror finish. I must say that this girl cleans up pretty good for someone who was in a decrepit prison cell for lord knows how long.

Bowing my head to the princess seeing how I was still bedridden while the other two bowed their heads down while doing some form of a curtsy, seeing how they are quadruped.

Staring at me with eyes that just scream 'filthy peasant' and that stare was more akin to a glare but eh, she can go fuck herself if she even thinks that I will tell her anything.

"So I see that our hero is finally awake from his slumber."

"Aye, although the sleep was nice I would rather be doing something productive than wasting away in a bed."

"Hmm, I see...well than, I heard from father that you are to be working for me as my newest retainer."

"What happened to the old one?"

"That harpy was in Tazul's pocket and was the reason why my entourage and I were captured in the first place. I should have known that she wasn't loyal to the crown, she was spending far in excess of what she was earning and I traced gold trail all the way to one of Tazul's holdings."

"I take it you had her stripped of lands, titles, possessions, whatever gold she still had and thrown her in the dungeon?"

"Naturally, anygriffon that isn't loyal to the kingdom is a threat to its very existence as we have seen what Tazul was doing along with the cronies that work for him and those that are willing to work with him. I don't know who else is working with him nor do I know if they are still planning a coup to usurp the throne and cast our kingdom into total anarchy."

That makes a little sense, but that is sort of sounding like a tyrant to me. You are either completely loyal to your nation and if you are not loyal than you are not necessary to have the right to being alive.

"Now right there, that sounds like something a tyrant would say. The people of a nation is allowed their own opinions and thoughts even though that is exactly that, their opinions. You see Eraclea, a kingdom's subjects only follow you because they are kept safe from harm, they are fed, housed and are employed, and if you can manage to keep them happy and occupied then you don't have to worry about anything with the exception of the nobles who always want more land, more gold and more power and they seemed to be willing to go to extreme lengths to get it."

"To properly understand your people you have to know about them. Looking at Griffonstone I can tell that a lot of the griffons here are in impoverished conditions due to the Idol of Boreas being missing and that the attack left many homes destroyed and damaged. From what I understand so far, you griffons hold honor, pride, independency and family above all else, but with the lose of your idol and the destruction wrought by the cyclops, it made almost every single griffon here a penny-pinching whores. I overheard and actually saw quite a few griffons saying that they are willing to do anything for bits or gold and that is rock bottom for everyone."

"What needs to be done right now to help the griffons out there and in the outlaying landscape across your kingdom is to fix the problems they are facing, keep them occupied with jobs, rebuild your military if it has been dismantled because having bandits roaming the countryside is a sign of lawlessness that needs to be stamped out, and most importantly a distribution of wealth and food so the populace don't think that you are ignoring their plight."

The griffons in the room were speechless, their beaks were open and they were staring at me as if I just preached to them from some sort of holy scripture.

Silence reigned in the infirmary to the point that I had to snap my fingers in the princess's face to get her to break out of her stupor along with the rest of the griffons in the room as well.

"How do you know what it takes to run a kingdom? That is something that my father and his retainers have been trying to teach me and even I am still trying to get a firm grasp on it!"

I simply shrugged my shoulders and relaxed in my bed as the griffon princess continued to stare at me flabbergasted.

"I spent a lot of my spare time playing simulation games." Ahh Sid Meier's Civilization five and six, oh how I detest you, especially you Gandhi...nuke happy prick. Also can't forget Age of Empires, the Endless series, Galactic Civ III, and my guilty pleasure of a game, Long Live the Queen.

Apparently they didn't quite understand what I said and meant because they just tilted their heads at me in utter confusion. Well, Eraclea wasn't as confused by what I said but she is giving me that look that I am still holding out something and that she was going to do everything within her power to get me to spill the beans.

"So you, a mercenary from some far-off land, not only knows how to fight, read, possibly knows how to write, first-aid, but you also know how to rule?" Just the way the griffon princess is saying this makes me feel like I should be dumber than I actually am.

I gave a nod and that only made her say this in response.

"Are you sure you are not some lost prince or something?" Pfft fat fucking chance. I was born in America, royalty doesn't exist here unless its in the form of a video game or a tv series.

"Princess, if I was some prince then I have been fucked over in the royalty department so far because living on the road and eating hand to mouth sucks balls." I said as I recalled my time playing MMO's when my character was dirt fucking poor and that I had to play smart cause potions and food was either expensive or hard to craft and the only to way to make money in those was to either grind it out for days/weeks or drop real cash into it and sell cosmetics for gold.

"I don't know, are you sure you didn't just run away from the royal life and wandered the land for years until you got here?" Eraclea said but this time with the faintest of smirks forming on her beak that I missed because I wasn't paying any attention to her at the moment.

"Trust me on this one princess but I am as common as commoners get."

"And yet you know how to read and write, that is something that most griffons don't know how to do unless they can afford the lessons or are high born."

"Well back home reading and writing is a requirement in daily life and that we are also taught how to read and write at an early age...I think it was when we are four or five?"

"Hmm...interesting, an educated population...that is something only the Equestrians and Saddle Arabians have." Wait, what? Saddle Arabians? There are middle eastern ponies in this world? Are they just ponies with the whole Aladdin-style clothing and whatnot, or are they something else entirely?

A few questions for another time perhaps, or maybe I will travel their myself one of these days.

With a brief lull of silence in the room as the griffon princess thought quietly to herself, Gilda and Greta were on my right side poking my body, watching in slight amusement as I absentmindedly swatted their talons off of me only for them to poke my legs again.

Breaking out from her silence the griffon princess made her way to my side and before I could try and squirm away she stopped and placed a talon on my shoulder and gave me a look that made me worried for my safety as I silently prayed for an adult.

But Ian, I am an adult!

'Not the one I am looking for though! You brought me into this world and wait...if you brought me into this world alive does this make you my parent?'

The resulting deafening silence was amazing.

I just made a god question itself whether or not if it was my parent or not since it did 'transferred/re-created' me from one dimension/reality to another one. Now I hope they don't say yes because then I fear for my safety even more because I know that parent's make it their life's goal to embarrass and humiliate their offspring at every chance they get.

Back to the griffon resting a talon on my shoulder I shuddered as I braced myself for what might be royalty about to lay claim to me but instead it was something unexpected.

"Get some rest Ian, in a few days father will be holding a ceremony in your honor. Don't be late and don't try to embarrass us in front of the kingdom." Eraclea said that as she took a step away from me before leaving the infirmary with her guards, leaving me alone with the two stooges by the door, Greta and Gilda.

Sighing to myself I started to wonder how I am going to be doing my job that an anonymous god gave me all the while still adhering to what the king told me to do.

'Just fucking perfect, I can't leave Griffonstone or risk imprisonment, I am now forced to work for that cunt of a hen, and now I got a quest from a god to do...why can't my life be simple for once?'

Sadly, a certain god was listening to my thoughts and offered a response that I didn't really want to hear.

Because little lamb, you never liked boring and simple, you always went out of your way to find something exciting or entertaining to do. You wanted a new and exciting life, now you are regretting it? So picky you are mortal, but don't worry I know that soon enough something fun and exciting will be coming your way soon! Just try not to get an early meeting with the gallows!

I wonder if I can kill myself with my own pillow? Will this get me out of god's plan and also out from the king's order?

Contemplating suicide isn't the answer, and if you try it again than I will give you something to occupy your time.

I do not like the sound of that...maybe I'll just take a nap, deal with this shit some other time.

Good boy.

Looking at Gilda and Greta I told them that I'll be sleeping now and that we can talk later, the two looked at each other before shrugging and told me that they'll be back sometime later but they will be seeing me at the ceremony. Most likely the pair will be by the food and drinks if its a party after the ceremony otherwise I will see them somewhere in the crowd.

Now that I am alone with nothing but my thoughts for company, I began to think and plan out what I am going to do to survive the coming months that I am stuck here. If I am going to be stuck in this world for what might be the rest of my life than I might as well make it easier on me by giving these griffons some upgrades, but what I give them will have consequences for both myself and the griffon people as a whole.

Just imagine this, an alien from some far off land/planet/dimension is living in a country with several different nations also populate the planet of varying species. Now imagine that this alien gives to the country it is staying in the means to manufacture a new metal alloy, better armor designs, a new/better means of transportation, uniting the people together under a new leader, or giving them a new weapon. With that in mind now try to imagine the reactions that the other nations will have when they find out that an unknown being is giving and supplying their neighbor with far superior gifts of technology, they would either demand that they surrender everything that they were given along with the individual who gave said gifts to them or if they were stupid, declare war on them out of fear.

I don't know enough of the world I am now stuck in along with who lives here, what the nations are, and as much information about them to make an educated analysis on what I can give to the griffons without tipping of the rest of the governments around the world.

'Well...shit, I got my work cut out for me it seems.'

I don't get paid enough to deal with this shit.

Next Chapter: Some therapy with a side of surprise Estimated time remaining: 12 Hours, 9 Minutes