The Roaring Encounter?

"What!?" Sumit exclaimed; his face contorted into an awkward expression of surprise.

"It's your name, isn't it?" the goat-man asked, his sharp gaze lingering on Sumit as though trying to peel away a layer of deception.

"Y-Yeah… that's my name! Kaala Billa, ha ha ha," Sumit replied, forcing a laugh that sounded more like a hiccup.

The goat-man's brows furrowed. "You mean Kaali Billi?"

"Oh, yes, of course! Kaali Billi… that's my name. Definitely." Sumit's voice cracked slightly as he nodded vigorously, hoping the conversation would continue.

"You're acting suspiciously," the goat-man said, stepping closer, his hand now resting on the hilt of his sword. "Where are you from?"

"Uh… north," Sumit replied hastily.

"But you came from the south," the other goat-man interjected, circling behind him like a predator closing in on its prey.

"That's… because I went south first!" Sumit blurted out, sweat beginning to form on his brow.

The goat-men exchanged glances, their expressions shifting to one of mild amusement mixed with skepticism. "Oh really? Why don't you come with us? We can talk all about your fascinating journey from north to south over a couple of drinks," the first goat-man suggested, his voice dripping with mock hospitality.

"But… I'm not thirsty," Sumit protested weakly.

His mind raced. What should I do now? If this keeps up, they're either going to imprison me or, worse, kill me for lying. Should I run?

Before Sumit could decide, a commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade. "What's going on here?"

Both goat-men straightened immediately, their demeanor changing from suspicion to deference. "Vice-Captain! Greetings!" they said in unison, stepping aside to make way for the newcomer.

Sumit turned toward the voice and saw a towering figure approaching. The man's body was powerfully built, with rippling muscles beneath armor adorned with intricate designs. His tiger-like face was a blend of regal authority and raw ferocity, with sharp amber eyes that seemed to see straight through Sumit.

Sumit's heart sank as a single thought echoed in his mind: He's strong.

"What's the matter here?" the tiger-headed man asked, his deep voice carrying a weight of authority that made Sumit's knees feel weak.

"This boy is acting strange," one of the goat-men replied, pointing toward Sumit.

The Vice-Captain, introduced by the guards as Leo, turned his piercing gaze on Sumit, studying him from head to toe. He let out a low hum of curiosity. "A boy with no tail, no horns, no claws…Tell me, boy, are you familiar with an idiot wolf-man?"

Sumit blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. "You mean Jack?"

Leo's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "So, you are the one, jack told me about"

Sumit hesitated, unsure whether this recognition was a blessing or a curse. "Y-Yeah…maybe?"

Leo crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "Interesting. Jack doesn't usually associate with anyone but fools and troublemakers. Which one are you, boy?"

Sumit opened his mouth to respond but quickly realized there was no good answer to that question. Instead, he let out a nervous chuckle. "Uh… both?"

To his surprise, Leo laughed a deep, rumbling sound that echoed off the towering walls. The goat-men exchanged puzzled looks, clearly unsure of what to make of their vice-captain's reaction.

"Well then," Leo said, his smile fading as quickly as it had appeared, "let's go and meet that idiot. Follow me."

Sumit followed Leo through the massive gates of the capital, his eyes wide with awe. As he stepped into the city, he was struck speechless by the sight before him. The sprawling metropolis lay before him like something out of a dream—a vast city made of towering stone buildings and intricate metalwork, with wide streets crisscrossed by bustling crowds. At the very center, dominating the landscape, was a massive tree, its trunk thick and gnarled, its canopy stretching high above the city, providing shade to the people below. The tree's presence was so grand that it seemed as though the entire city had grown around it as if it were the beating heart of this place.

"Amazing, right?" Leo said, noticing Sumit's wide-eyed expression. "Everyone who comes to the capital for the first time has the same reaction. You can gawk at the beauty later. First, let me take you to the captain."

Sumit snapped out of his trance, still processing the city's grandeur. "Okay, we should meet with the captain… wait, who?"

Leo's expression barely shifted, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "I know it's hard to believe, but that idiot is the captain."

Sumit stared at Leo, blinking in disbelief. The idea of Jack being a captain didn't sit well with him, but he didn't have time to protest. Leo was already leading him through the streets, and Sumit had no choice but to follow.

As they walked deeper into the capital, Sumit took in everything around him. The streets were lined with bustling shops, their signs hanging out over the sidewalks, enticing passersby to come inside. Market stalls were set up on the side of the road, with vendors shouting to sell their wares. But more than anything, it was the people—beast-people—that caught his attention. Everywhere he looked, there were people with animal traits: fur, claws, horns, and tails. There were all kinds—wolf-men, goat-men, cat-men, even more exotic creatures that Sumit couldn't identify. It was a world of diversity and raw power, a world where strength seemed to matter more than anything else.

They continued walking, with Leo moving at a steady pace. Sumit tried to take it all in, but after twenty minutes, he realized they had walked a fair distance. The buildings had started to feel more cramped together, and the streets had grown narrower, and more winding, as they headed deeper into the heart of the city.

Finally, they arrived at a building that didn't quite fit in with the rest of the capital's grandeur. It was a pub, worn and lived-in, with a large sign hanging above the door that read "The Roaring Bull." Sumit stopped in his tracks.

"Here?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

Leo glanced at him with a knowing smile. "Yes."

They were about to enter when a loud commotion erupted from within. A deep voice shouted angrily, "I told you I'll return your money, just wait for a couple more days!"

A second voice, high-pitched with frustration, shouted back, "You bastard, it's been a year now!"

Before Sumit could ask what was happening, the door to the pub was suddenly flung open, and a figure came crashing through, soaring toward them. Leo and Sumit instinctively dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding the impact.

The figure slammed into the cobblestones with a loud crash, rolling to a stop just a few feet away. Leo and Sumit froze for a moment before they both slowly turned to look at the fallen figure.

Sumit's eyes widened as he recognized the face. It was Jack.

"What the hell?" Sumit muttered under his breath.