I am Just an Average Tamer

'I'm actually taking a Witch to my town.'

'...'

'WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME!?'

Kai screamed hard inwardly, while escaping from the forest, grabbing hand of the little girl.

As they reached the forest's exit, Kai glanced back, seeing no beast chasing them after the commotion.

'Thanks, Zer. You're the best,' he said in his mind with a genuine smile.

{Haha! Told ya, I'm the strongest.}

-----------------------

After exiting the forest, Kai didn't head toward the main town gate like any normal person would.

Instead, he tugged the girl's hand and ran off to the east, where the shadows of the town's outer wall stretched long and uneven over the wild grass.

After weaving through a patch of overgrown shrubs and ducking under a low-hanging tree branch, they arrived at a section of the town's wall that looked old and neglected.

Vines crept up the crumbling stones, and a small, weathered gap lay hidden behind a tangle of thorns.

Kai crouched down, using his hand to part the thorns carefully, revealing a small wooden hatch.

"Here," he said, his voice low. "This way."

"It's a maintenance tunnel. The townsfolk don't even know it's here, but I use it sometimes...when I need to avoid people."

He pulled the hatch open with a creak, revealing a narrow tunnel that sloped downward into darkness.

The faint scent of damp earth filled the air.

"Get in," he urged, gesturing her to go first. The girl hesitated; her green eyes wide but the distant howls of the Hollowsky Wolf were enough to make her step forward.

"It's better than the front gate," Kai said sharply. "Guards will ask too many questions. Now, hurry before someone spots us."

She crawled in, trembling, while Kai followed, pulling the hatch closed behind them.

Darkness enveloped them but faint glow of moss clinging to the tunnel walls gave them enough light to navigate.

Kai led the way, his hand brushing the wall for guidance.

"It's not far," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps echoing in the cramped space.

Eventually, they reached the end of the tunnel, where a wooden ladder led up to a trapdoor. Kai climbed first, pushing it open cautiously.

Sunlight spilled in, revealing an empty alleyway tucked behind an old bakery on the quieter side of town. Kai climbed out, helping the girl up after him.

"We're inside now," he said quietly, glancing around.

"Stick close to me and keep your head down don't let anyone see your face. No one comes around here much, but it's better to be safe."

The girl nodded silently, her platinum hair falling over her eyes. Kai exhaled heavily, scanning the alley for any prying eyes before stepping forward.

He gripped her arm tightly, guiding her through the alley.

Kai's mind buzzed with unease. Bringing her into the town was probably the worst idea he'd ever had. Yet, for some reason, he couldn't leave her behind.

'What's done is done; there's no going back now,' he thought, leading her out of the alley.

As Kai walked, a group of people were coming toward his direction, clad in leather armor with spears tucked behind them, they appeared to be town guards.

"I swear, this is the beast wave this week. I think it's that forest Witch stirring up trouble again?" a guard said, chewing on jerky.

Hearing the word 'Witch' from them, Kai's eyes widened, and he crouched behind a barrel, the girl trailing silently behind him.

He glanced nervously at the guards, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

'Why now of all times? Keep walking, keep talking, just don't look over here.' He prayed in his mind.

"Forest witch? Ha! That's just a bedtime story for kids. Wolves just get hungry this time of year. Nothing magical about it." other guard, who had a square shaped head, replied in his half-awake state.

"Didn't Old Marlen's boy vanish last week? That was near the forest. He's the fifth one this month!" third guard, who was bald, said with a serious look in his eyes.

"...Wait. Fifth? You're saying there is a witch?!" square head guard added, snapping awake.

"Don't be an idiot. If witches were real, she'd have hexed your lazy bum long ago." first guard who had a long beard, said smirking.

Hearing the guards mention the missing people only made Kai's stomach twist.

'The fifth one?' He squeezed his eyes shut. This was worse than he thought.

'What the hell am I doing?' Kai's mind raced, breaths growing faster, a cold sweat breaking out as he stole a quick glance at the little girl, only to quickly look away.

'I'm totally screwed,' he thought, clutching his head.

"You hear something?" Baldy guard said, narrowing his brows, while looking around.

"What? The witch whispering your name in the wind?" guard with big beard replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm, which made them burst into laughter.

As the guards laugh, one tosses a pebble absentmindedly. It narrowly misses Kai's foot, making him freeze.

"Careful, throw too hard, and you might anger the witch!" square head guard said with a grin.

Bowh! Bowh!

Meanwhile, a stray dog sniffing around starts barking near Kai's hiding spot.

"See? Even the dog's acting weird. I'm telling you, something's off tonight." bald guard pointed at the dog.

'Shoo! Shoo! go away you little...'Kai waved his hand to shoo the dog away, but it only barks louder.

"That mutt's just mad we didn't share our jerky. Here, take it." Guard with long beard grumbled, tossing a piece of jerky toward the dog, which hits Kai's head instead.

'Really?! Jerky? Now?!' Kai thought, panicked.

The dog, now satisfied with its prize, trots off happily, and the guards passed Kai.

Kai lets out a shaky breath and moved from there.

As Kai led the girl, he kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might notice them.

The girl followed silently, her steps faltering now and then, but she clung to his arm like it was her only anchor.

Suddenly, the sound of an argument drifted from an open window above.

"I told you, Marvin, it's not a real ghost! It's just the laundry flapping in the wind!" a woman's exasperated voice echoed.

"I know a ghost when I see one, Doris! It had glowing eyes and—"

"Those were fireflies, you idiot!" Doris snapped.

Kai glanced up, stifling a snicker. But quickly picked up the pace, tugging the girl along before Marvin could escalate the debate.

While walking for few minutes they reached slums, 'Haa! No one is here,' Kai exhaled, curling up his lips as he was surprised and happy because no one will question him about the witc—ahem little girl with him.

He snuck in one of the shackles at the end of the row, the girl following behind him.

Before he could ask or think of anything, the girl beside him lost her balance.

"Careful," Kai said quickly, catching her just in time. She looked drained, her body finally giving in after the chaos of the day.

Kai lowered her gently onto the ragged blanket, covering her with another to keep her warm.

She barely reacted, without a word, she closed her eyes, succumbing to the exhaustion and quickly falling asleep.

Kai watched over her, his thumb brushed against her tear-streaked cheek before he quickly looked away.

He then spread another blanket on the ground and lay down on it, curling up to conserve warmth, as he had nothing else to keep him warm.

Without a second thought, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, too tired to stay awake any longer.