As they journeyed towards the village, Zion suddenly stopped and turned to the monster and said, "hey, we need to talk."
The monster looked at him curiously, its ears perked up.
"We can't have you walking around with me in the village," Zion said, trying to think of a solution. "People will be scared of you, and we don't need any trouble."
The monster nodded its great head, seeming to understand.
"Can you... hide your true form or something?" Zion asked it, not sure if the monster could understand him.
The monster nodded again, and Zion waited. After a few moments, its body began to glow with a soft, white light.
The light grew brighter and brighter, until Zion had to shield his eyes.
When he opened them again, he saw a little girl standing in front of him. She had innocent-looking eyes and curly brown hair, and she was dressed in a simple white tunic.
Zion's jaw dropped in amazement. "It's you?" he whispered, not sure if he was seeing things.
The little girl nodded, smiling up at him. "I'm your friend," she said, her voice high-pitched and sweet.
Zion stared at her, still trying to wrap his head around what he was seeing. He had never seen a monster transform into a human before, and he didn't know what to make of it.
But as he looked into the girl's innocent-looking eyes, he felt a sense of wonder and curiosity. Who was this creature, really? And what was its true nature?
As they entered the village, Zion couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Everywhere he looked, he saw reminders of his father's death and the destruction of their home.
The girl, sensing Zion's distress, stayed close to his side, her big brown eyes watching him with concern.
Zion knew he couldn't stay in the village anymore. The memories were too painful, and he couldn't bear the thought of living in a place where his father's death still lingered in the air.
"I've made up my mind," Zion said to her, his voice firm. "We're leaving the village. We'll start a new life somewhere else."
The girl nodded, her face serious. She seemed to understand Zion's decision, and she didn't argue.
Together, they walked through the village, gathering a few belongings and saying goodbye to the few people who knew them.
As they left the village, Zion felt pressed down by a heavy burden. He wondered what awaited him in the future, what achievements he would accomplish, the people he would meet along the way and what his life would look like. Him that has always stayed away from the world was now going into the world... It was ironic.
The girl walked beside him, her hand in his. She seemed to sense every of his emotions, and she stayed close, offering comfort and support.
As they walked, the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape. Zion felt a sense of hope rising up inside him. Maybe, just maybe, this new chapter in his life would bring him something different. He was going to avenge the death of his father — that was for sure but after that, what comes next?!
As they walked further and further away from the village, Zion couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. He glanced around, but saw nothing.
The girl, however, seemed to sense something. She looked up at Zion, her eyes serious, and then she looked around, her gaze scanning the horizon.
"What is it?" Zion whispered, his heart beating faster.
She didn't respond. Instead, she took Zion's hand and pulled him closer, her eyes fixed on something in the distance.
Zion followed her gaze, and that's when he saw it. A figure, tall and imposing, standing on the horizon, watching them.
The figure stood motionless, its presence seeming to fill the entire landscape. Zion felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at the figure, trying to make out its features.
The girl, sensing Zion's unease, tightened her grip on his hand. She seemed to be ready to defend him, her eyes fixed intently on the figure.
As they stood there, frozen in uncertainty, the figure began to move towards them.
As the figure drew closer, Zion saw that it was a man, tall and imposing, with piercing green eyes that seemed to bore into his very soul. The man's face was chiseled, with sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline.
He was dressed in a long, flowing cloak that billowed behind him like a dark cloud.
"Who are you?" Zion asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
The man didn't respond. Instead, he reached out a hand and grasped Zion's shoulder, his grip like a vice.
Zion tried to shake him off, but the man's grip was too strong. The girl, sensing Zion's distress, shouted and launched herself at the man.
But to Zion's surprise, the man didn't flinch. Instead, he looked at the girl with a curious expression, as if he were studying her.
And then, in a voice that was both commanding and gentle, he spoke. "You should stop. You don't need to defend him. I mean him no harm."
The girl hesitated, her eyes fixed on the man. And then, to Zion's surprise, she backed down, her eyes never leaving the man's face.
The man's eyes seemed to bore into Zion's very soul as he spoke. "I know what happened to your home and your father," he said, his voice low and gravelly.
Zion's eyes widened in shock. "How did you know?" he asked, not able to understand what the man's was saying.
The man's expression was somber. "I've been watching you, Zion. I've been watching you for some time now and I am safe to say that I know everything about you."
Zion felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn't know what to make of the man's words.
The man seemed to sense Zion's unease. He reached out and placed a hand on Zion's shoulder. "Don't worry, Zion. I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to help you."
Zion looked up at the man, searching for answers. "Why?" he whispered. "Why now?"
The man's expression softened. "Because I know what it's like to lose someone you love. I know what it's like to be alone."
Zion felt a pang of sadness. He sensed that the man had experienced a deep loss too, one that had left him scarred.
The man's eyes seemed to cloud over, as if memories were rising to the surface. "Come with me, Zion," he said, his voice low and gentle. "I'll take you in. I'll help you heal."
Zion hesitated, unsure of what to do. But as he looked into the man's eyes, he saw something there that gave him hope.
He nodded, making a decision. "Okay," he said, his voice firm. "I'll come with you."
The man smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Good," he said. "Let's go."
And with that, Zion followed the man, the girl by his side. They walked off into the unknown, leaving the ruins of Zion's home behind.
As they walked, Zion couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. Who was this man, really? And what did he want from him?
As they walked off into the sunset, Zion felt a sense of hope rising up inside him. Maybe, just maybe, he would find a new family, a new home, and a new purpose in life.