Chapter 8: Back to Irene

Joshua opened his eyes, still naked by the riverbank. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh water. His body still tingled with residual energy, the aftereffects of his transformation lingering beneath his skin. He flexed his fingers, marveling at how light his body felt.

"How the hell do I get back when I don't even have clothes?" he muttered to himself.

Before he could come up with a solution, a sharp presence prickled at the edges of his senses. His body tensed. Someone was behind him.

Joshua spun around, instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. His mind raced through worst-case scenarios—a monster, a hostile villager, or something worse.

Instead, he found himself face-to-face with the same warrior who had led him to the village chief.

The man stood with arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he tossed a fresh set of clothes at Joshua's feet.

"Hurry up," the warrior said. "Maydee is waiting."

Joshua exhaled and picked up the clothes. As he slipped them on, he glanced at the warrior.

"Were you waiting there all this time?"

The warrior snorted. "No. I just got here. Maydee was worried you'd get eaten by some random monster roaming around these parts."

Joshua felt beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He had assumed he was safe, but apparently, he had been mistaken.

"I thought there were no monsters here," Joshua said, trying to sound casual.

The warrior scoffed. "Idiot. Only inside Irene are there no monsters."

Joshua gulped. He had been wandering around, completely exposed, thinking he was in a protected area. A shiver ran down his spine. If something had attacked him while he was scrubbing that black sludge off his body…

Trying to change the subject, he asked, "What's your name, anyway?"

The warrior didn't hesitate. "Bran. I will be your shadow from now on."

Joshua nodded. "Alright, Bran. Nice to meet you. What's a 'shadow'?"

Bran's expression didn't change. "Shadows don't speak."

Then, without another word, Bran turned around and began walking back toward the village.

Joshua blinked. "Hey! Wait for me!" he called, scrambling to catch up.

Bran didn't respond.

As they walked, Joshua kept trying to restart the conversation. Every attempt was met with silence. Bran's presence was unnervingly quiet—his footsteps barely made a sound, and his breathing was controlled.

Joshua narrowed his eyes. If Bran was his shadow, that meant he was more than just a guard. He was likely an elite warrior tasked with keeping an eye on him.

"Why?" Joshua thought. "What's so special about me that I need a personal guard?"

They neared the village gates. The familiar wooden palisade loomed ahead, and beyond it, Joshua could see villagers going about their morning routines.

Just before they entered, Bran finally spoke. "Go to the chief's house. Maydee is waiting. Do not be disrespectful. I can snap your body in half in less than a second."

Joshua gulped for the second time that morning. "Understood."

He headed toward the center of the village.

As he walked, he felt the weight of dozens of eyes on him. The villagers had noticed him.

Unlike before, when their gazes were filled with disdain or indifference, their expressions had shifted. Some looked at him in awe, others with amusement. Some even nodded in approval.

Joshua furrowed his brows.

"What changed?"

Was it the transformation? Did they sense something different about him? Or was it because he had survived whatever process Maydee had put him through?

Before he could dwell on it, he arrived at the chief's house.

Maydee stood outside, her arms crossed.

"You sure took your time," she said, her voice carrying a hint of impatience.

Joshua scratched his head. "That black stuff was really hard to get rid of. Also… I might've poisoned the river."

Maydee's eyes narrowed.

"Call me 'Master' when you speak to me."

Joshua blinked. "What?"

Her expression didn't waver.

"You heard me."

Joshua sighed, realizing she was dead serious.

"Right… I apologize for taking so long, Master."

Maydee's lips curled into a small smile. "Good. At least you're not an idiot. Let's go inside. The answers will come in time."

Joshua shrugged. He had more questions than ever, but he knew pushing too hard wouldn't get him anywhere.

Without another word, he followed her into the house.