The journey back continued.
The students remained quiet.
Not because they had nothing to say.
Because there were too many questions and no answers.
The Tikbalang walked ahead of them, moving through the forest as if it had traveled the path countless times before.
Every step was controlled.
Every turn was deliberate.
It never hesitated.
Jack kept watching it.
The more he observed, the stranger it became.
When they first encountered the creature, all he saw was a monster.
Something dangerous.
Something powerful.
Something that had chased them through the forest.
But now...
It was different.
It wasn't acting like a beast.
It wasn't even acting like something that needed them.
It was simply guiding them.
And somehow, that bothered him more.
Thomas noticed Jack's expression.
"What?"
Jack looked away.
"I'm trying to understand what exactly is happening."
Thomas nodded.
"Good luck."
Jack frowned.
"That isn't helpful."
Thomas shrugged.
"Because I don't understand it either."
Mia walked between them.
Her shoulder was still hurting.
Every step reminded her of the impact.
But she refused to complain.
She had already been the one who slowed them down.
She didn't want to become a burden now.
Oliver noticed.
"You should rest when we reach the transport."
Mia glanced at him.
"You sound like Miss Eva."
Oliver looked confused.
"Is that bad?"
Mia smiled.
"No."
A pause.
"Just surprising."
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The forest gradually became less unfamiliar.
The deeper darkness gave way to clearer paths.
The markings they had left behind continued appearing along the route.
The expedition trail.
Proof that they had been here before.
Proof that they were finally leaving.
Then the Tikbalang stopped.
Immediately, everyone froze.
Their swords rose.
Their bodies tensed.
The creature stood completely still.
Listening.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then it sprinted.
Not toward them.
Away from them.
Into the trees.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
"Where is it going?"
Oliver watched carefully.
"I don't know."
Thomas tightened his grip.
"Should we follow?"
Before anyone answered, a loud crash echoed through the forest.
The students immediately prepared themselves.
Jack raised his sword.
Thomas stepped forward.
Oliver prepared to move.
The next...
The Tikbalang came back with a lifeless wild boar over its shoulder.
The students stood frozen.
The Tikbalang looked at the boar.
Then back at the students.
It did not explain.
It did not wait for praise.
It simply carried it back toward the trail.
Jack looked at the boar.
Then at the Tikbalang.
Then back at the boar.
"This day keeps getting stranger."
They continued following.
This time, with the Tikbalang carrying their unexpected supply.
Nobody knew what to think anymore.
The creature that had defeated them.
The creature they feared.
Was now leading them home...
with dinner.
The expedition transport finally came into view.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
After everything that happened in the forest, seeing the vehicle felt almost unreal.
They had entered the woods chasing a creature.
They were returning injured.
And behind them...
that same creature was carrying a wild boar.
Eva was already waiting outside.
The moment she saw them, her expression changed.
Not fear.
Not surprise.
Assessment.
Her eyes moved across the group.
Mia's shoulder.
Jack's injuries.
Thomas' condition.
Oliver doing fine.
She immediately understood what had happened.
But before she asked questions, she noticed what the Tikbalang was carrying.
The boar.
Behind Eva, the expedition camp was already prepared.
A large cooking pot hung above a fire.
Cooking materials were arranged nearby.
Containers and utensils were ready.
First-aid supplies were already laid out.
Everything was prepared.
The students stared.
After the chaos they had just survived...
the camp looked strangely normal.
"Put the injured down first," Eva said.
Oliver helped guide Mia toward the supplies.
Jack and Thomas followed.
None of them relaxed.
Not even now.
The Tikbalang remained nearby.
Silent.
Watching.
Eva quickly began treating their injuries.
Bandages.
Medicine.
Support wraps.
Then she reached for a sling.
"Mia, hold still."
Mia nodded.
Her shoulder was carefully stabilized.
The pain did not disappear.
But at least it was supported.
While Eva worked, the Tikbalang carried the boar toward the cooking area.
Everyone noticed.
And everyone became confused.
Jack stared.
"...Is it staying?"
Thomas looked at the creature.
"I think so."
Jack looked at the cooking supplies.
"Why?"
Nobody answered.
The Tikbalang placed the boar beside the preparation area.
Then it began working.
Using its claws, it carefully prepared the animal.
The students immediately tensed.
Those were the same claws that had sent them flying.
The same claws that had held them helpless.
And now...
they were preparing dinner.
The Tikbalang worked with surprising precision.
It cut the boar into portions, separated the usable meat, and prepared the ingredients with the efficiency of someone who had done this many time before.
Not like a beast.
Like a hunter.
Like someone experienced with survival.
Jack watched silently.
Then:
"I don't know what is happening anymore."
Thomas glanced at him.
"What part?"
Jack pointed toward the Tikbalang.
"All of it."
A pause.
"The forest monster is cooking."
Mia looked at the creature carefully.
"It doesn't act like a monster."
Oliver remained silent.
Because he had been thinking the same thing since the forest.
The Tikbalang finished preparing the ingredients.
One by one, the pieces were placed into the large cooking pot.
The fire crackled beneath it.
The meal had only just begun cooking.
Then the Tikbalang turned.
And walked toward them.
Every student immediately became alert.
Jack raised his sword.
Thomas shifted his stance.
Mia held her injured shoulder.
Oliver stepped forward.
The creature stopped in front of them.
Silent.
Watching.
The tension returned.
Because no matter what it had done...
they still did not know what it wanted.
Then Eva stepped forward.
"Relax."
Everyone looked at her.
Eva looked at the Tikbalang.
Then back at the students.
"I suppose introductions are overdue."
The students froze.
Eva continued.
"This is our captain for operation nightfall, Captain Aldren."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Nobody moved.
Because their minds refused to accept the words.
The Tikbalang.
The creature from the forest.
The monster they had fought.
The creature they had ridden.
Was their captain.
Jack was the first to speak.
"...Captain?"
Eva nodded.
"Captain Aldren."
Oliver stared.
The dark mane.
The golden strands.
The eyes.
The movements.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The creature was never pretending to understand humans.
It was a human pretending to be a monster.