Chapter Nine – Back to the Town.

Rylan’s steps faltered slightly as he processed Kaidon’s words.

Soulmate? He had never heard his master speak of such things before.

“Master.” Rylan hesitated, his brows pulling together, “are you certain?”

Kaidon’s glowing red eyes snapped to him, sharp and unwavering.

“Do you doubt me, Rylan?” His voice was low, dangerous.

Rylan immediately bowed his head. “Never, Master. I only ask because… this is unlike you.”

Kaidon let out a slow exhale, his expression unreadable. He resumed walking up the stone staircase, his boots echoing against the dungeon walls. Rylan followed closely behind, though his mind raced with questions.

“If she is truly your soulmate, Master… why was she in the territory yesterday? How did she escape?”

At that, Kaidon came to a halt at the top of the stairs. His jaw clenched, eyes dark with something unreadable. “She was afraid.” he muttered. “She ran from me.”

Rylan stiffened, choosing his next words carefully. “Then… do you believe she will accept you once you find her?”

A slow, eerie smile curled on Kaidon’s lips as he stepped forward. “She doesn’t have a choice.”

Rylan stiffened, his grip tightening behind his back.

He took a cautious step forward, lowering his voice as if the very walls of the castle might betray him.

"But you can't go to town, Master." he said, his tone edged with unease. "The people there fear you. If they see you, it will be chaos."

Kaidon’s jaw tightened. His crimson eyes glowed beneath the dim torchlight, his expression unreadable, yet the air around him grew heavier, more suffocating.

"Fear is irrelevant." Kaidon said, his voice calm but absolute. "I need to find her."

Rylan swallowed hard, knowing that reasoning with Kaidon was nearly impossible once he had made a decision. But he had to try.

"Master, if you set foot in that town, people will run. The guards will try to stop you. The King himself might—"

"The King is a fool." Kaidon cut him off, his voice dripping with disdain.

"He fears what he cannot control. And so do they." He stepped forward, towering over Rylan.

"But I do not seek their approval. I do not seek their acceptance. I seek her."

Rylan clenched his jaw.

He knew what Kaidon was—what he could be when provoked. The town wasn’t prepared for him. Hell, no one was prepared for him.

why is he been so stubborn? Rylan thought

"But Master, what if she fears you too?" Rylan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

For the first time, Kaidon hesitated.

It was brief, almost unnoticeable, but Rylan caught it—the slight shift in his expression, the flicker of something… unsettling in his eyes.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

"She will not." Kaidon stated, as if it were a fact. "She is mine."

And with that, he turned on his heel, heading toward the castle gates.

Rylan exhaled sharply, dread curling in his stomach.

♠︎♠︎♠︎

“Ahhh... I’m so bored.” Taliya groaned, flopping onto the small bed with a huff as her eyes drifted toward the wooden-framed window.

Her fingers tapped restlessly on the edge of the blanket, and after a moment, she pushed herself up with a sigh.

“This house is too quiet. And I can’t stay cooped up forever.” she mumbled, stretching lazily before moving toward the window. She peeked outside, curiosity tugging at her like a string.

“Maybe I should explore a little. At least figure out where the hell I even am.”

With a decisive nod, she walked to the door, twisted the iron latch, and opened it.

A rush of crisp air brushed against her face, and for the first time since arriving in this strange world, she smiled.

It smelled like earth and pine, like morning dew clinging to old stones.

She stepped out, the wooden door creaking closed behind her, and paused to take in the scene.

Ahead of her were clusters of simple houses built from stone and thick timber. Thatched roofs. Smoke trailing lazily from chimneys.

People were already hard at work—hauling sacks of grain, washing clothes in wooden tubs, repairing carts.

Men, women, even children moved with purpose. Yet there was a peace to it, an old-world rhythm that felt oddly comforting.

“Wow…” she whispered, awestruck. “It’s like I walked into a historical movie set.”

Her sandals crunched softly on the dirt path as she walked, soaking it all in—the sound of children laughing as they played tag near a water trough, the clang of metal from a blacksmith’s forge in the distance, the faint bleating of goats somewhere nearby.

“No cellphones, no cars, no annoying notifications... it’s like being dragged back in time.” she muttered, a crooked smile tugging at her lips.

But as she walked deeper into town, she started to feel it—that strange, prickling sensation on her skin.

The stares.

At first, she ignored it. Maybe they were just surprised to see someone new. But then came the whispers.

“She looks like a goddess.” a small boy whispered to his friend, both of them blinking up at her with wide eyes.

Taliya blinked and gave them a small wave. The boys froze, then blushed bright red and waved back, clearly flustered.

She couldn’t help but giggle. “Okay… that was cute.”

But the further she walked, especially as she neared the market square, the more intense the stares became.

People stopped mid-conversation. Some gawked openly. Women narrowed their eyes, casting icy glances. Men turned their heads, some even muttering under their breath.

Taliya’s smile began to fade.

“Okay, seriously… is there something on my face?” she whispered, brushing her hand along her cheek, then down her clothes.

“Did I spill something? Why is everyone looking at me like I’m a damn unicorn?”

A group of older women near a stall whispered behind their shawls. A tall man standing by a cart of fruits practically leered at her, his eyes trailing slowly down her body.

Taliya’s skin prickled in discomfort.

“This is weird. So weird.” she mumbled, trying to keep walking, to focus on the colorful fabrics fluttering from the stalls, the smell of baked bread and spiced meats, the clamor of coins and bartering.

Still, the attention clung to her like a second skin, heavy and unwanted.

She tried to act natural, but inside her chest, a strange unease was slowly creeping in.

What exactly about her was making people stare like that?

Was it just her appearance—or something more?

She had no idea that her presence in the town had already stirred whispers that would soon reach the wrong ears.

Or perhaps... the right one.