Walking through Apelfaund, I decided to visit the church. The building was tiny. The ceiling and walls were adorned with frescoes that told a story I couldn’t fully understand. A recurring figure, a character wearing a sun-shaped mask, stood out. His stone-carved likeness was prominently displayed at the center of the room.

I dare to assume he is their god. Worshiping the sun doesn’t surprise me at all.

******

Amid apple trees, their fruit already littered the ground, stood a pagoda with mint-green and black walls. The roofs showed signs of age - moss in some places, missing tiles in others.

Nearby, a woman in a white blouse embroidered with green patterns on the chest and sleeves gently plucked fruit from the lower branches, placing them in a basket. A bit farther away, a young man in a straw hat wielded a long pole.

“What’s a pagoda doing here?” I muttered under my breath, craning my neck. “This structure doesn’t fit the village’s aesthetic at all.”

As I approached, a dull flute melody floated from within.

Visiting the temple wasn’t part of my plans, but the bard’s presence changed everything. I wouldn’t disturb them; I just wanted to listen to the melody until the end.

The moment I stepped over the threshold, the massive doors shut behind me. Inside, it seemed empty, yet not lifeless. Soft light streamed from above, accentuating the height of the room. Following the example of two other visitors, I removed my muddy boots before stepping onto the polished floor.

Next to the wandering musician sat a meditating monk in a gray robe adorned with feathers at the shoulders, cuffs, and hem. A large, sun-shaped amulet hung from his neck.

With his eyes closed, the man hummed loudly, ruining the melody.

Sitting at a distance from the pair, I noticed a massive statue of a five-tailed fox behind them. Its body was carved from wood veined with black streaks, and its eyes were made of smooth obsidian.

“Do we have a guest?” The elderly man noticed me as their little ritual ended.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“It’s fine. We’ve just finished,” he replied in a soft, calming voice.

The girl, however, didn’t share the monk’s sentiment, judging by her disgruntled glare.

“Do you need something?” the man inquired.

“The young lady’s music captivated my heart. I couldn’t pass by after hearing her play,” I said with deliberate pomp.

“I can’t disagree,” the monk smiled and nodded. “You don’t look like a local. Are you traveling too?”

Too? Is he referring to himself or the bard?

“Does aimless wandering count as traveling?” After a brief pause, I posed the question in return.

I hope he appreciates a philosophical quote as profound as the description of an air freshener.

“Of course. The essence lies in the journey itself and discovering new things. Tell me about your discoveries.”

Is he really interested? It's hard to tell from his expression, but ignoring it in this situation would be rude.

There’s just one problem left. I don’t want to bring up immortality in a conversation with a complete stranger. Without such an important detail, stories about a zombie village and escaping from a dragon’s stomach won’t sound very believable. So, what can I even talk about? Reincarnations? No, that’s an absolute taboo.

“I discovered that giant pinecones grow in the nearby forest.”

“Ha-ha-ha!” The old man laughed heartily, as if recalling something. “Last week, one of those fell right on my head. The bruise healed quickly, but the dent-” he rubbed his bald head enthusiastically, but the girl tugged his sleeve, cutting him off mid-sentence.

The monk whispered something to her, but the girl said not a word.

Is she mute?

She didn’t use sign language either, yet the old man seemed to have a meaningful dialogue with her, basing it on facial expressions.

“Are you pretending or do you genuinely understand her?”

“The first option would insult young Chao-Ri.”

“Then how do you do it?”

“I can hear the echoes of her soul.”

“And her soul told you her name?” I asked.

“Perhaps.”

Can’t he just give a straight answer?

“Sounds dubious,” I deliberately provoked him.

Is he speaking abstractly, or does such a concept truly exist in this world? Since fate has so swiftly brought me together with such an intriguing person, I want to seize the opportunity to test this boundary, so I don't end up looking like a fool later. But monks, according to traditional beliefs, are wise fellows, so it’s entirely possible he won't fall for a cheap trick.

“Belief or disbelief is your prerogative, young man. But isn’t your presence here proof enough?”

“And how exactly did you come to that conclusion?” I chuckled at his reasoning.

“After all, Chao-Ri's music must have touched the strings of your soul, didn't it?”

“Oh, come on, old man! Must you twist everything? The fact that I enjoy her playing and the fact that you might learn her name are two entirely different things,” I said, pointing at the girl.

At this rate, I wouldn’t learn anything new. Come on, give me at least a crumb of useful information!

“Let’s get back to you, traveler. Surely you’ve seen more than just pinecones?” the man asked.

“I don’t have the most exciting life.”

“Sounds dubious,” the old rascal used my own trick against me.

“Belief or disbelief is your prerogative, old man,” I retorted.

“Exactly,” he nodded.

We are nobody to each other, so having a proper conversation is impossible. Since the bard finishes playing, it is time for me to leave.

Just then, the temple doors opened, and a panting young man burst in.

“Master Baan, there’s trouble!”

“Calm down and catch your breath,” the monk approached the young man, handing him a pumpkin flask. “Here, take this.”

After wetting his throat, the boy managed to speak. “Mutslav and Misha returned to the village, and… and…” his breath failed him again.

“Easy, easy. No rush. Are they your hunters?” the old man clarified.

Your hunters? Now I am certain the monk isn’t a local either.

“Y-yes… Anyway… ha… in the forest… they stumbled upon a massive anomaly. From their description, it’s about half the size of Apelfaund,” the boy nervously swallowed, spreading his arms wide before continuing. “Maybe the rumbling yesterday wasn’t an earthquake, but it falling from the sky?”

An anomaly?

“Did this anomaly have wings by any chance?”

“Did I forget to mention that? Yes, big ones… really big wings.”

“Is the creature dead?”

“That’s why the elder sent me to find you. Mutslav and Misha aren’t sure about such things. They said it looked dead. But they can’t say for sure.”

“Will they escort me there?”

“N-no, I don’t think so,” the boy replied uncertainly. “They looked scared out of their wits. Misha even screamed she’d never set foot in that forest again.”

“And you?”

“Me?” The young man’s knees visibly trembled. “Master Baan, I think you can find the way yourself! I’ll explain everything in detail. To the north, past the poppy field, there’s a trail...” The boy eagerly started describing the route, and the old man listened intently.

******

Kicking damp branches along the forest path, I found myself mesmerized by the slow fall of autumn leaves.

But a gentle nudge from Chao-Ri snapped me out of it.

“What is it?” Not receiving an answer, I turned my gaze to the monk walking ahead. “Hey, Baan, what does she mean with her cute little ear wiggles?”

“What’s your interpretation?” he responded without looking back.

“Are you curious why I came along despite everyone else in the village pissing themselves at the mere mention of the anomaly?” I directed my question to her.

The bard rolled her eyes thoughtfully, pursed her lips, and gave a hesitant nod. It seemed I’d guessed correctly - at least partially.

“Today I learned that the essence of travel lies in discovering the new. Believe it or not, I’ve never encountered an anomaly like this before.”

I deliberately frame it this way to avoid seeming suspicious. After all, I don’t know - these creatures might be common knowledge here, taught to kids from childhood. My ignorance on the matter is unacceptable. Yet, my curiosity is genuine - I want to see what the creature truly looks like and why it is called an anomaly. Perhaps it warps space around itself? Either way, I am glad they don’t mind my company.

“We’re close,” the old man noted, observing a strange change in the landscape. “It seems the creature really fell from the sky.”

We arrived at an area where the ground was torn apart. Deep cracks slashed through the earth as if giant claws had ripped it to shreds. Uprooted trees lay scattered, their roots jutting out at odd angles. The air was thick with the scent of fresh soil, tree sap, and faint hints of decay.

When we saw the cause of the chaos, I froze in shock. Black as coal, its scales gleamed faintly in the light. Twisted horns, a sharp tail ending in a pike-like tip, and, of course, massive wings. It was the same dragon that had swallowed me.

While the girl tried to climb onto its body, I approached the old man standing by its head. He ran his fingers over the dried bloodstains on its jaw and sniffed them. Meanwhile, I examined a massive fang broken from its mouth during the fall. By size and weight, it resembled a sack of potatoes.

And the dragon had at least a hundred of these monstrous teeth? For some reason, I immediately pictured it chewing me to pieces.

“Strange,” Baan broke the silence.

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

“What’s strange?”

“Despite its size, there’s almost no blood around. And the little that’s here has an odd smell.”

That’s just dragon vomit, old man.

“Could it be that its ‘red substance’ is simply different from ours?”

I nearly call the creature a dragon. That would raise unnecessary questions. Not even in the darkest corners of my mind can I find a suitable translation for the word. I assume their language doesn’t have it, and these mythical beasts are simply called anomalies.

The monk said nothing, but his face betrayed unease.

All right, so be it, I’ll give him a hint.

“Or maybe its blood mixed with something? It looks like the creature threw up.”

“I’ve considered that. It’s the simplest explanation for its miserable condition. But I can’t figure out why it vomited in the first place.”

“Maybe it ate something it shouldn’t have?”

Like an immortal, desperate guy, perhaps?

“That’s possible,” he nodded without much conviction. “But it doesn’t matter right now.”

He’s right. The elder only asked him to confirm the absence of danger.

“And how do you determine whether such a massive creature is truly dead?” I asked, lightly kicking its scales to test their hardness. “Wait, I know - check if it’s breathing. Look at those huge nostrils!”

But Baan didn’t answer. Instead, he took action. Assuming a battle stance, he stomped the ground. A sharp, stone spike erupted beneath the dragon’s head, lifting it slightly and scattering the crows perched on it. The scales proved too tough, so he repeated the process several times until he pierced the skull completely.

“Now it’s definitely dead,” Baan clapped his hands. “Now we just have to figure out how to dispose of the body.”

This guy isn’t as simple as he seems, is he? While I still don’t think he is a bad person, he isn’t exactly a saint either. Even now, I can sense a faint bloodlust emanating from him.

“Burning it won’t work. To affect those scales, you’d need a massive pyre. And there’s barely any dry wood left in the forest,” I pointed out.

“I know. But burying it isn’t an option either.”

“Why not?”

“Who knows what it brought with it from another world? About forty years ago, an anomaly the size of a walnut appeared in my homeland. The disease that tiny thing brought wiped out tens of thousands of people and animals,” Baan wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. “If we leave it as is or bury it, the worms feeding on it could become a serious problem for the locals.”

From another world? An anomaly? Does that mean I am one of them? Now I have even more reason to choose my words carefully. What if they have inquisitors who hunt down those who don't belong? If such people find out about my immortality, the events in the zombie village would seem like a blessing in comparison. And it's not just paranoia. If I've learned anything from my reincarnations, it's that humans are the most cruel and greedy creatures in any world, no matter how cliché that sounds. They will stop at nothing to expose the nature of my powers.

“Any other ideas?” I asked, returning to the topic.

“We need to return to the temple and try again to contact the spirit of the forest. Only the guardian of this land can cleanse it of this corruption.”

So that’s what they were doing earlier. I suppose he really can communicate with spirits. But what was his reason for reaching out to the fox last time?

Just then, a whistle echoed from above. The bard, standing on the anomaly’s back, was waving her hand to call us over.

Baan, conjuring a stone platform beneath his feet, rose up to meet her.

“What is it?!” I called out, raising my voice slightly.

“Saddle and reins!” he replied.

So, the dragon isn’t wild? Then where is its rider?

Baan and I locked eyes.

“We’d better get back to the village quickly,” the monk said as he leapt down.

Without another word, he took off running. Impressively fast for his age. Chao-Ri followed close behind. To avoid being left behind, I too sprinted with all my might.

Fortunately, sore legs and ragged breathing pose no real threat to me.

******

As we approached the village, we stumbled upon corpses. The worst-case scenario had come true. I couldn’t see the old man’s face, but I could feel his anger. Each scream from the village seemed to fuel his resolve, making him run even faster.

How could this happen? Why today of all days, when I happened to be here? The thought gnawed at me.

Near the church, we finally caught sight of the perpetrator. The creature loomed in the middle of the street, both elegant and terrifying. Crimson patterns glowed on its gray body. A crown of horns and spikes adorned its head, and long, almost golden hair cascaded over its shoulders.

In its right hand, it gripped a blood-soaked spear, as if forged from nightmares. It swung the weapon with terrifying ease, splitting a woman clutching a child in two. Blood sprayed across the ground, and the creature didn’t even falter. Another swing, and a fleeing man fell with a horrifying scream, both his legs severed.

Abruptly, Baan launched a massive boulder at the monster. It reacted quickly, deflecting the projectile. Dust filled the air as the boulder crashed into one of the houses, reducing it to rubble.

The creature charged forward, its weapon flashing. Baan raised his hands, and a massive granite wall erupted from the earth before him. But the spear pierced through it effortlessly, forcing the monk to leap aside.

With a stomp, the ground beneath the creature fractured. Sharp, jagged spires of rock shot upward, impaling its side. The beast roared, but even wounded, it pressed on. A swing of its spear shattered the spire into shards, showering Baan with debris.

The old man shielded himself with an arm, but the distraction gave the monster a chance to close in. Its crown glowed ominously, pulsating with its seething fury. Driving its weapon into the ground with immense force, it created a shockwave that sent Baan flying.

Am I really powerless to do anything in this situation? Despite my immortality, this body is pitifully weak. My interference wouldn’t make a difference.

Perhaps I can help the villagers? Some are still alive, writhing, reaching out with bloodied stumps. No… Their wounds are too severe. All I can do is watch as the light fades from their eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. My body reverted to its baseline state, cutting off any threads of rising sorrow.

The dead can’t be brought back, and grieving… Well, they’re strangers to me.

And yet… I can’t keep tolerating this horror. I don’t want to accept death as an inevitability anymore.

Furthermore, I know for sure that Death will always be at my heels. If I don’t die, then it’s others - innocent people - who will suffer. To turn a blind eye to that? After everything I’ve endured, I’ll never accept such an outcome!

Shifting my gaze from old Petar’s lifeless body, I broke into a run. It felt as if my legs had made the decision for me, moving faster than ever.

Dodging through the chaos of the battle, I sprinted toward the woman who’d been cleaved in two.

I didn’t see what had happened to her child. Considering where he’d been at that moment, the chances of him meeting the same fate as his mother are nearly certain.

But if there is even the faintest hope that he is alive, I have to try to save him.

As it turned out, my efforts weren’t in vain. A boy, around five years old, lay on the ground with a gash running across his body. Tearing off a sleeve from my shirt, I pressed it against the wound, but it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.

What should I do? What should I do?! Panic threatened to consume me.

“Baan! We can still save the boy!” I shouted, holding him in my arms.

If I can’t do anything myself, I have to rely on others.

The monk glanced at me and quickly grasped the situation. This time, instead of ripping a boulder from the earth, he conjured one from thin air. The projectile was far faster, and it was no surprise that the creature failed to react. The stone struck its head, shattering one of its horns.

Blood gushed out in torrents, and the beast staggered. Its scream resembled the dying wail of a wounded animal.

The anomaly seemed to be torn between attacking or stopping the bleeding. But neither choice mattered - it was already too late.

Dropping its spear, the gray-skinned creature collapsed to one knee, clutching its wound.

With one final blow, Baan crushed it with stone walls, smashing it like an insect.

******

Out of Apelfaund’s 102 residents, 18 perished. The slaughter claimed the lives of several visitors too - a merchant and two travelers. Thankfully, the young boy survived, though he teetered on the edge of death.

When things finally calmed down, Baan and I helped the surviving men dig graves.

“Many died, and that’s tragic… But think instead of those you managed to save,” I tried to comfort him, noticing the sorrow on his face.

“Thank you for your concern, but my thoughts aren’t on the dead right now,” he replied, thrusting his shovel into the damp earth.

“Then what are they on?”

He remained silent. Well, fine.

“My grandson,” Baan finally spoke, his voice quiet and strained. “Since childhood, he dreamed of grand adventures, just like the heroes in stories. I always tried to warn him, to tell him about the horrors lurking in the world beyond… but the boy didn’t listen. He followed his heart and ran away.”

“And he-”

Baan cut me off before I could finish.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been searching for him for two years now, with no luck. Every day, I pray that he’s alive… at least alive,” he whispered, his gaze rising to the heavens. “And you know, I’ve even made my peace with the worst - if he’s a prisoner, a slave… That’s a nightmare, yes, but it means he still has a chance. It means I can find him, protect him. But if he’s like these poor souls here, buried in the cold earth…”

Looking at the cold, lifeless bodies, he feels like he's burying his own grandson, the one he failed to protect. Bann knows all too well that the world isn’t all butterflies and rainbows, so he’s been bracing himself for the worst since day one. Yet, despite it all, he keeps moving forward, lending a hand to others along the way.

He's a Worthy Man.

“Sorry if I touched a nerve,” I said quietly.

“It’s fine,” Bann replied, quickly wiping his face with his hand. “Sometimes, you just need to get it out.”

Such are the realities of a medieval world - lawlessness and danger around every corner. Setting out on an exciting adventure? If you’re weak, the odds aren’t in your favor.

“I can help,” I said confidently, continuing to dig.

“With what?”

“With your search.”

“Ha!” Bann chuckled softly, rubbing the handle of his shovel thoughtfully. “Don’t joke about that. I might just take you up on it.”

“Believe it or not, I only recently escaped slavery. I was in chains so long I nearly lost myself completely. My parents’ faces, my hobbies, my first love… even my own name faded away. Everything that once meant so much to me - lost its meaning entirely,” I confessed, pouring my heart out.

Bann said nothing, unsure how to respond to my sudden candor.

“I’ve got nothing left. Just an empty vessel wandering aimlessly through the world. But today, that changed. The way you protected those people - it left an indelible mark on me. I think that by staying near you, I might become a better version of myself,” I concluded.

I may have exaggerated his role a bit to butter him up.

The old man broke into a smile. “Alright. But I have one condition.”

Surprisingly, he agreed rather quickly. Maybe the fact that I ran to save that child impressed him?

“Name it.”

“In the capital, we part ways.”

“Why?”

And how far is the capital, anyway?

“My next stop after Kamigrad is the Giant’s Palm. The lands beneath the dome are far too dangerous, and frankly, I doubt you and Chao-Ri could handle the journey,” Bann said, clapping me on the shoulder.

Well, it’s better than nothing.

“Deal,” I said, and we shook hands.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t joining their group for selfish reasons. From now on, exploring the world would become much easier. To the monk, I’m just a clueless ex-slave, so asking naive questions about basic things shouldn’t raise suspicion. Lucky for me, I stumbled upon an experienced traveler so quickly; it’ll accelerate my progress immensely.

What’s my goal?

I want to fight Death. In other words, I want to be a superhero who helps those in need. That bitch has screwed me over for millions of years, so it’s high time I stood up to it. But to pull those in need from its cold, dead grip, I need to grow stronger. Kind words alone won’t get me far.

“There are two problems left,” Bann said, still gripping my hand. “First, your name.”

“I really have forgotten it. But you could always ask my soul.”

“Ha-ha-ha! I can communicate with spirits, but human souls… That’s forbidden territory.”

Is it just me, or is he more relaxed now than he’s been this whole time?

“Then how did you know the bard’s name?”

“And that’s the second issue. The truth is, Chao-Ri is actually quite talkative,” the monk whispered, glancing around suspiciously.

“She is?” I raised an eyebrow.

“The young lady has a speech impediment and feels self-conscious talking around strangers. But keep that between us,” he added, still scanning the area.

I knew it. That entire “echoes of her soul” thing was just poetic nonsense.

“No big deal. She’ll get used to it sooner or later.”

“It’s different with me - I’m an old man. Talking to me doesn’t make her uncomfortable. But you two are about the same age. I’m worried that kind of barrier might be harder for her to overcome,” he kept whispering.

Does he mean she might develop feelings or something? Ha! The monk can relax. I’m incapable of that. When I first met Chao-Ri, one glance was enough to make my heart race. And how long did it last? Thirteen seconds. That’s the maximum lifespan of my infatuation. With other emotions, it’s even worse.

And anyway, we’re not the same age. I’m older than she by what… five million years?

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best to make sure she feels at ease,” I assured him.

Making a girl lose interest is easy: just act like a complete idiot. Smart? Smart.

“I’ll take your word for it. Now, as for your name-”

“Could you give me one?” I cut him off.

The monk set his shovel aside.

“Are you sure?” He seemed to have been thinking about it already.

“A person can give themselves a nickname, but not a name.”

Bann nodded and, after a few moments of thought, finally said it: “How about Ekki?”

“Ekki,” I repeated with a smile. “Cool. What does it mean?”

“Don’t know. It was the name of a dog I had as a kid.”

“A dog?!”

The monk scratched the dent on his bald head awkwardly.

“Big or small?” I asked, pouting.

“Uh… medium?”

“Alright. A dog… So that’s how you see me, huh? A mutt that’s latched on and won’t let go?” I stuck out my tongue and started panting loudly, dripping with sarcasm.

Bann tried to explain himself but quickly realized I was joking and joined in the humor. The other men digging graves weren’t too amused.

As for the name… I like it.

******

And so, my fate intertwined with these two. At the time, I couldn’t have imagined where such a simple alliance would lead. But it was the start of a chain of events that would change my life forever.

******