As soon as they reached the outskirts of the village, heads turned. Tools dropped. Children were yanked behind doors. A pot clattered to the ground somewhere. Eyes locked onto the massive, sinuous tail curling protectively around Thalina.
A four-striped beastman.
Not just any beastman—a casted one.
Murmurs erupted like wildfire.
"Is that a casted?!"
"Why is it here?!"
"What if it kills us?!"
Thalina felt the tension like knives in the air. She quickly straightened up, planting her hands on Eyrx's tail for balance as she stood, shouting, "He means no harm!"
Silence.
Every single villager froze, squinting up at the tiny figure perched on the beast's tail like some dainty ornament. Then—collective gasps. A few women nearly fainted. A man tripped over his own feet.
"She's… beautiful," someone whispered, starstruck.
"Is that a goddess?"
"maybe… too pretty."
Thalina blinked. What's going on?
