Kaelan’s conviction was unwavering. His faith in me was absolute.
Watching him, I hesitated for a moment before making a decision.
It was time to tell him the truth.
i
“Kaelan,” I said softly, “it’s true. I’m not from this world. I don’t know how it happened–l was just hiking, and somehow, I ended up here. You found me and brought me back.”
Kaelan’s reaction was immediate.
“It must be the will of the beast god,” he declared firmly. “The beast god sent you to us.”
Before I could say anything, he added with absolute certainty, “Everything is part of the beast god’s plan. It was the beast god who brought you to me.”
I stared at him for a moment, then quickly nodded in agreement.
“You’re right,” I said, my voice steady. “It has to be the beast god’s will!”
If Kaelan wanted to believe this was all some divine intervention, who was I to argue?
I needed him to keep thinking this way. The last thing I wanted was to be labeled an outsider or, worse, a threat.
If they decided I was dangerous, I’d be burned at the stake before I could even explain myself.
No, it was better to lean into this narrative.
Whatever this mysterious beast god was, it had conveniently become my best shield.
