Eight months had passed since I woke up beside that river.
Eight months since I opened my eyes to a sky I didn't recognize, surrounded by faces that spoke in sounds I couldn't understand.
Now, when I woke up to the cries of children running past my hut, I didn't panic anymore. I just groaned, rubbing my temples.
"Why do these little devils scream every morning…?" I muttered. "Can't they play quietly for once?"
Sham's voice came from outside.
"Floke! You're awake, lazy riverhead! The kids said you were dead again!"
I stepped outside, glaring. "Dead? I wish I was—then maybe I'd get some sleep."
He laughed louder, slapping my shoulder. "You always talk strange, my friend."
His grin was the same as the first day I met him — wide, shameless, and full of mischief.
We walked through the village together, past huts made of leaves and red stone.
I don't know why I always have the same Vision of my Past life — a stormy sky, a bow in my hands, lightning striking close — and then nothing.
I often wondered if that was my death.
Maybe it was.
And this new life… maybe this was my punishment, or my chance.
After breakfast, I went to old man Raku, the tribe's head.
He was sitting under the tree, teaching me words again. He was patient but terrifying when angry — his stick hit faster than a snake.
"Loru," he said, pointing to the sky.
"Loru," I repeated.
"Karn," he said, pointing to the bow in his lap.
"Karn," I repeated again.
"Good," he smiled. "You learn faster now. Maybe one day you talk like real man."
Sham chuckled from the side. "No chance. Floke talk funny forever."
I threw a pebble at him.
That afternoon, the calm broke.
I heard the horns first.
A deep, trembling sound that shook my chest.
Men ran past me, shouting, Horn Panther! Horn Panther!"
My heart thumped. The ground did too.
Then I saw it — a giant black beast with two curved horns, eyes glowing red, tail lashing the air. It burst through the trees, smashing fences like twigs.
The hunters ran to meet it, spears ready.
Raku shouted orders. Sham grabbed a stone blade and stood near me. "We must help protect the house! Kids are inside!"
I nodded and took my place near the women and children's hut.
The air smelled of sweat, fear, and dust.
Then — the panther roared.
A sound like thunder tearing through bones.
It charged. Two men went flying before they could even strike.
And then I saw it —
Sham.
He had tripped. The beast was turning toward him, lowering its horns.
He froze, eyes wide.
Something inside me snapped.
I saw a fallen bow near the injured hunters. My body moved before my mind.
The moment my fingers touched the wood —
⚡ Lightning.
It rushed through me like fire and light, filling my veins, burning and comforting at the same time. My heartbeat matched the rhythm of the world.
I didn't think. I pulled the string, nocked an arrow, and released.
I loaded and released 3 arrows really fast.
The arrows flew faster than sight — and pierced straight through the beast's head.
All the arrows hit on same point.
It staggered once, then collapsed, the ground trembling under its weight.
Silence.
The jungle stopped breathing.
I stared at my hands, still glowing faintly blue.
I Threw the Bow because I was tremering a lot.
Then I heard Sham's voice.
"Floke… you…" He couldn't finish.
The tribe gathered slowly. Some were whispering. Some cried. Then, someone shouted —
"How did you do it!"
The Kids screamed it.
"Are You a hero!"
Sham grabbed my shoulders.
"If you were'nt there I would have dealt with it but Thanks!"
I smiled back faintly.
But inside… something stirred.
The lightning, the bow, that feeling of power — it wasn't new.