Koman observed the young boy standing before him, his expression shadowed by a gravity far too deep for his youthful face. The boy's brow furrowed, eyes wide yet distant, as though lost in the labyrinth of thoughts only he could traverse. Curiosity and apprehension tangled in his gaze, a silent battle Koman could sense but not comprehend. Intrigued, Koman stepped forward, his voice carrying the warmth of familiarity and the lure of a challenge.
"Greetings, brother," Koman said, his tone a careful mix of camaraderie and invitation. "What leads you to wander the wilderness alone? Though no threat lingers here for warriors like us, why not share a drink and exchange stories? A road traveled together is far lighter than one walked alone."
The words hovered between them, a bridge untraveled, but the boy did not respond. His gaze fell to the ground, as if the very earth beneath his feet might provide answers to the questions he could not articulate. Koman, sensing the weight of the silence, did not press, waiting with the patience of one accustomed to untangling the complexities of those around him. He repeated the question, this time with a quiet firmness that brooked no avoidance. "Can you hear me? If you choose not to speak, I will accept that. But at least let me know."
It wasn't that John didn't understand. The words registered, but they failed to break through the haze of his disorientation. The world around him felt foreign—an alien landscape filled with shadows he could neither name nor trust. His mind grasped for the only clarity he had, an image seared into his memory: the couple he had met earlier, their faces the only anchor in this strange and shifting world. Without thinking, he turned and sprinted towards the place where he had first awoken, compelled by an instinct he couldn't explain.
His abrupt departure left Koman speechless. The boy's speed, his sudden burst of strength, defied his age and appearance. In that fleeting moment, Koman saw not just a child, but a quiet power that intrigued him. It was as though the boy carried the weight of battles long fought, scars unseen. Determined, Koman resolved to uncover more about this mysterious youth, his curiosity now laced with fascination.
John's heart raced as he approached the house, his gaze scanning every inch of it—the weathered wood, the wild overgrowth reclaiming the garden, the faint wisp of smoke curling from the chimney like a signal from a forgotten past. The structure felt familiar, almost hauntingly so, yet he hesitated at the threshold, a deep unease settling over him. Something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Kevin, watching the young stranger from the doorway, felt a surge of fear rise within him, though he masked it with a calm he didn't truly feel. His eyes flicked toward his partner, their shared glance heavy with unspoken dread. Kevin tried to call out to his father, his voice trapped somewhere in the tangled web of his thoughts, but the words never came.