The Beast’s perspective:

With a plan set, I opened the door to the apartment. It was the afternoon and the city was bathed in an orange glow as the sun started to set.

The sounds of distant heavy machinery could be heard in the distance as usual. I poked my head outside slowly and carefully only to notice a surprising lack of foot traffic

“That's weird, isn’t this the apartment area?” I thought to myself. But I didn’t have time to ask Chuma about it. Viola and her sister needed me and I don’t want to let the only ones who believe in me die. I need them.

Resolute, I tripled the durability and power of my legs through empowerment and shot out the door like a kanuni ball with a single step. Just before I slammed into the opposing building I panicked and slammed my left foot down causing my impromptu dash to turn into a grand leap. As I stumbled through the air I discovered a deep appreciation for single-story housing as my tumbling body just barely cleared the conical roof of what appeared to be a barber’s hut.

I landed back first in an alleyway in full view of said barber and his current customer.

Beast: “Ow… ah, that…that was too much force” And far more than I was expecting.

I mentally reduced durability and power down to only double and deeply desired the gods above had made it possible to empower healing.

“Hey, are you okay over there” I heard the hut’s barber shout out, a bit of a laugh in his voice

I rolled to my side to look at him, a petite lady was getting her afro styled to sweep to her left. She had also turned to look at me, more so to see why the barber stopped working on her hair than any concern for my well-being.

“If you're worried about being late to see the garrison leave, don’t be” the man called out. “They changed the time to ‘as soon as the sun has dipped past the horizon’, so stop with the stunts before you get hurt.”

I picked myself up, unfamiliar with this kind of reaction. I always thought my freedom would be met with instant aggression, fear, or something similar but even as I stood to my full height the most I got from the man was a surprised “Eh,” and a comment about how he didn’t know Fisidamu could grow as tall as me.

This…was embarrassing, but kinda nice; not being met with hostility or fear. Just…normalcy

The man turned back to work on the woman’s hair as I slowly approached

Beast:” You're…not afraid”

Barber:” Why would I be, granted your kind are fairly rare, and I DO fear day I get a Fisidamu customer”

The woman turned to look at the barber “Atie, why?”

The barber raised his hands defensively “I just. I mean what if they ask for a full cut? Would that mean the whole body or their face, and if their face were”

Remembering conversations Winda ignored about haircut-related complaints I reflexively responded “Top of the head like everyone else, if they need help with their beard, they’ll tell you, and full body cuts are rather intimate. Only Parents, close family, or lovers do that.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I refocused on the two and realised they were both looking at me with… intrigue? They found me interesting!

The woman nudged the Barber ”Well there you go Chege, the mere Idea of ‘cutting hair below the ears’ will no longer keep you up at night” she teased.

Chege simply playfully clicked his tongue and lightly tapped her head with the bottom of his scissors “Quiet bellow, anyway Thanks for the tips miss. Just for that, I’ll give you a discount on your next cut”

The woman quickly turned to glare at Chege “Why does she get a discount? We’ve been friends for years and I’ve been your loyal customer during that time”

Chege: “Because I know it will annoy you, Garuka”

I just got a bit lost. the fact I could, for once, socialise with people.

Chege: “Hey!”

I snapped out of my momentary joy.

Chege: “I know I said you have time, but not endlessly”

Beast:” Oh, a thank you Chege”

Chege nodded “Same to you, miss…”

He waited patiently for my name but… I don’t really have one, and I don’t want to just tell him that I’m the dreaded Beast lest someone tell him what that name truly means. I also hate that name. So I just stood there nervously until Garuka picked up on my nervousness and playfully slapped Chege on his shoulder. “Didn’t you just say she had somewhere to be?”

Chege flinched at the sudden assault “Aie! Ok, ok!”

Garuka looked back to me after she had cowed Chege “Sorry for wasting your time, you can tell us your name next time we meet.”

Chege: “Just be more careful with your leaps, there are construction sites everywhere and we’d prefer you didn’t return in a splint”

Beast: “Thank you, I’ll be more careful”

I then continued on my mission, empowering my body much more appropriately and climbing up a building opposite Chege’s barber house.

I then made my way to the storage district.

I quickly got the hang of my body’s new strength as I travelled roof to roof towards a warehouse I spotted in the distance. I would have to check my Takardar Hali sometime, but I’d spent enough time with Chege and Garuka. Viola and her sister were in pain need me. I need to save my new family, my Goddesses.

I arrived at what seemed to be a steel depot where all the workers had already closed up for the day.

I Climbed down approached the wooden gates to the facility and looked through the gap. It didn’t seem like anyone was even inside.

Chege did mention something about the Garrison leaving, they must have gone to see their clanmates off or something.

I sliced the lock open with an ease that surprised even me,

Beast:” Huh, did my claws get sharper too?”

I proceeded into the compound. To the left of me was the warehouse which likely contained more ‘carriable’ metal items while to my right was a massive pile of steel beams, bricks, and bags of Iron clay, despite the name I knew it probably wouldn’t help.

The beams on the other hand. Just one should be able to heal both of them completely.

The problem was: how would I be able to drag a beam to them, let alone stealthily?

No, for now, a crate of materials should do. I should be strong enough to do that…but, I did launch myself with a single step before when I empowered myself by 3.

Hmmm…. This might be stupid, but I could instantly heal them if this works.