Silence.
An uncomfortable...
Suffocating silence.
The four students stood frozen.
Their eyes remained fixed on the figure standing beside Eva.
No.
Not the man.
The Tikbalang.
The creature that had chased them through the forest.
The monster that had thrown them around like ragdolls.
The terrifying boss monster...
Was calmly standing beside their instructor.
Jack was the first to find his voice.
"...Captain?"
Eva nodded.
"Captain Aldren."
Jack looked at the Tikbalang.
Then at Eva.
Then back at the Tikbalang.
"...You're serious?"
Eva answered with the same calm expression.
"I am."
Another long silence followed.
Finally...
The Tikbalang scratched the side of its horse head.
"...Can I transform first?"
The four students simply stared.
The fact that it could speak had somehow made everything even more unbelievable.
The Tikbalang looked toward Eva.
"...For dramatic effect?"
Eva slowly closed her eyes.
"...Captain."
Aldren sounded almost defensive.
"I haven't transformed yet."
"I noticed."
"...Wouldn't it be funnier if I stayed like this for another thirty minutes?"
Jack felt his brain stop working.
Thomas wasn't entirely convinced this wasn't another prank.
Mia simply stared.
Oliver slowly looked at Eva.
"...Does this happen often?"
Eva let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"I've only worked with Captain Aldren a few times."
"That was enough."
She folded her arms.
"I already know where every one of his 'good ideas' ends."
Aldren sounded offended.
"I prefer the term 'creative ideas.'"
Eva answered immediately.
"I prefer the term 'paperwork.'"
The students exchanged confused glances.
Eva looked directly at Aldren.
"You've had your fun."
Aldren tilted his horse head.
"...A little more?"
"No."
"...Ten minutes?"
"No."
"...Five?"
Eva didn't even blink.
"Transform."
Aldren let out what sounded remarkably like a disappointed snort.
"...You're no fun."
Eva replied flatly.
"Someone has to be responsible."
The towering creature sighed.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Then...
Its massive horse head slowly began to shrink.
The elongated muzzle shortened.
Its sharp fangs receded.
The coarse black mane gradually withdrew into the back of its neck.
Dark fur slowly disappeared beneath tanned skin.
Powerful claws shortened into human fingers.
Its digitigrade legs straightened.
The hooves gradually split apart...
Becoming human feet once more.
The towering beast steadily shrank...
Until only a tall human remained.
Even then...
He still stood a head taller than Jack.
Broad shoulders.
Long limbs.
The kind of physique that immediately told anyone watching this was someone who had spent decades surviving inside the Tower.
Dark brown hair, streaked with strands of gold, rested carelessly over his forehead.
Amber eyes still carried the same mischievous glint the Tikbalang had moments ago.
A neatly trimmed stubble framed a face that somehow looked both dependable...
And perpetually one bad idea away from causing trouble.
Captain Aldren rolled his shoulders.
Cracked his neck.
Then flexed his fingers.
"Ah..."
"Much better."
He rubbed his jaw.
"You have no idea how difficult it is trying to hold a conversation with a horse's head."
Jack blinked.
"...What?"
Aldren pointed toward his mouth.
"Those teeth aren't exactly built for speeches."
"I can neigh."
"I can snort."
"I can glare."
"But giving a proper introduction?"
He shook his head dramatically.
"Terrible experience."
Eva answered without even looking at him.
"You weren't planning on giving one."
"I considered it."
"You also considered staying transformed for another thirty minutes."
"...It would've been memorable."
"It would've delayed dinner."
Aldren nodded seriously.
"...Fair point."
Oliver slowly raised a hand.
"...Captain?"
Aldren smiled.
"Yes?"
"...So..."
"...We really tried to ride you?"
Aldren's grin widened.
"You certainly did."
Jack immediately covered his face.
"...Can we pretend that never happened?"
Aldren answered without hesitation.
"No."
Thomas sighed.
"I figured."
Mia quietly looked away.
She wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh...
Or disappear forever.
Aldren clapped his hands together.
"Well!"
"Now that the introductions are finally over—"
Eva interrupted him.
"They were over five minutes ago."
Aldren looked offended.
"They lacked presentation."
"They lacked efficiency."
"They lacked drama."
"They lacked common sense."
"I think you're being a little harsh."
"I think you're making my job harder."
Jack quietly leaned toward Thomas.
"...Do you think they always talk like this?"
Thomas whispered back.
"I honestly hope not..."
Oliver smiled.
"...I kind of hope they do."
The aroma of simmering stew drifted through the camp.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the large iron pot hanging over the fire.
The broth gently bubbled.
Pieces of freshly butchered boar floated alongside the vegetables and herbs Eva had prepared before the students returned.
Aldren inhaled deeply.
"Mmm."
"Smells good."
Eva folded her arms.
"It should."
"I prepared everything before you got back."
Aldren nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"Because I'm starving."
Eva looked at the students.
"The stew still needs a little longer."
"In the meantime..."
She gestured toward the logs surrounding the fire.
"Sit down."
"You've all earned a rest."
The four injured students quietly obeyed.
None of them had quite accepted the fact that...
The legendary Tikbalang they had spent the entire afternoon fearing...
Was now sitting beside them...
Waiting for dinner to finish cooking.
For several minutes...
Nobody spoke.
The four students kept stealing glances at Aldren.
It still didn't feel real.
The legendary Tikbalang...
Was sitting across from them with one leg crossed over the other, patiently waiting for dinner.
As if chasing students through a forest was just another afternoon.
Aldren finally broke the silence.
"...You're all thinking the same thing."
Jack instinctively answered.
"...No, we're not."
"You are."
"...We're really not."
Aldren smiled.
"You're wondering if I was laughing at you."
The four students looked at one another.
...
"...A little."
Aldren laughed.
"Relax."
"I wasn't laughing at all of you."
Oliver let out a sigh of relief.
"...That's good."
"I was mostly laughing at you."
Oliver froze.
"...Captain."
Eva sighed.
"I knew we'd end up here."
Aldren leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Before we get to that..."
He looked around the group.
"I suppose introductions are in order."
He smiled.
"I'm Captain Aldren."
"Northwest Explorer's Guild."
"I climbed the Tower for a little over seventy years."
Jack's eyes widened.
"Seventy..."
Aldren nodded casually.
"Long enough to know two things."
He held up one finger.
"Never underestimate a monster."
Then a second.
"And never underestimate hungry explorers."
Oliver nodded seriously.
"I agree with the second one."
Eva immediately replied.
"That's because you're hungry."
"I am."
The camp chuckled.
Aldren looked around the group once more.
"You four did well."
Jack blinked.
"...Really?"
"I don't hand out compliments often."
Eva quietly coughed.
Aldren glanced sideways.
"...What?"
Eva looked at him with a completely straight face.
"You complimented the boar."
"You complimented the stew."
"You complimented the trees."
"You complimented yourself."
Jack immediately looked down, trying not to laugh.
Thomas pressed his lips together.
Oliver failed instantly.
Aldren looked genuinely confused.
"They deserved it."
Eva sighed.
"You also complimented your reflection once."
"...I was having a good hair day."
The students burst into laughter.
Eva pinched the bridge of her nose.
"This..."
She pointed at Aldren.
"This is what I've had to deal with."
Aldren smiled proudly.
"See?"
"We work well together."
"I tolerate you."
"I'll take it."
The laughter slowly settled.
Aldren's smile remained.
But his voice became noticeably calmer.
"Jokes aside..."
The four students instinctively straightened.
Aldren looked at each of them.
"I wasn't chasing you to see who was strongest."
"I wasn't looking for the fastest."
"I wasn't even looking for the best swordsman."
Thomas frowned.
"...Then what were you looking for?"
Aldren answered without hesitation.
"The qualities that keep climbers alive."
Silence returned.
He pointed toward Jack.
"You."
Then toward Thomas.
"You."
Toward Mia.
"You."
Finally...
Toward Oliver.
"...Especially you."
Oliver blinked.
"...Should I be worried?"
"Probably."
Eva answered before Aldren could.
Oliver sighed.
"I was hoping you'd say no."
Aldren laughed.
"I'll explain."
He leaned back against the log.
"Every expedition eventually reaches a point..."
"...where strength stops mattering."
Jack quietly listened.
"You'll be tired."
"You'll be injured."
"You'll make mistakes."
"You'll lose equipment."
"You'll lose friends."
The cheerful atmosphere gradually disappeared.
Aldren looked into the dancing flames.
"And in those moments..."
He looked back at the four students.
"The only thing that matters..."
"...is the kind of person standing beside you."
Nobody spoke.
The fire continued to crackle.
Aldren smiled again.
"So."
He clapped his hands once.
"Let's talk about what I saw today."
Jack instinctively swallowed.
Thomas sat a little straighter.
Mia quietly placed her uninjured hand on her lap.
Oliver whispered,
"...We're getting graded."
Eva looked at him.
"You are."
Oliver let out a defeated sigh.
"I knew dinner was too peaceful."
Aldren chuckled.
"Relax."
"If I thought any of you were hopeless..."
He pointed toward the forest.
"I would've left you there."
Oliver nodded thoughtfully.
"...Somehow..."
"...that's reassuring."
Aldren grinned.
"Good."
He looked toward Jack.
"Let's start with you."