The Outcast's Rebirth

CHAPTER 6: The Uninvited Guest

Under the cover of night, Kyzzu moved silently through the dense forest, the only sounds the occasional rustle of leaves beneath his feet and the distant call of nocturnal animals.

His heart still raced from the encounter at the lake, but he forced himself to focus on the present, his eyes narrowing as he neared the edge of the village. Something was off-he could sense it in the air, a tension that hadn't been there before.

When he finally emerged from the trees and saw the village, his suspicions were confirmed. The usually peaceful settlement was alive with activity, and Kyzzu's sharp gaze quickly caught sight of a group of strangers standing in the open area near the chief's hut.

They were Caucasian, like the man from the lake, their strange clothing... Probably from the 1700s, and upright posture setting them apart from the villagers who surrounded them.

Kyzzu's heart sank further as he scanned the crowd, spotting his mother, Nlanweh, moving through the throng, her eyes wide with worry. She was searching for him, and the sight made the guilt knot in his stomach.

He should have returned sooner, but now there were bigger problems. He could feel the unease in the air, the way the villagers kept a wary distance from the newcomers, whispering among themselves.

He slipped through the shadows, avoiding the light of the torches, until he was close enough to hear the conversation. An interpreter stood between the chief and the pale men, his voice carrying across the gathering as he translated their words.

"We come in peace, Chief Khassuo," the interpreter said in a stilted accent in the tribal language, his tone formal. "We are here on behalf of our leader, bringing gifts and offering trade. We seek a partnership between our people."

Kyzzu's eyes narrowed as he observed the scene. The man in the center of the pale group stood tall, his expression calm, almost indifferent, as if this were a routine meeting.

But Kyzzu's blood ran cold when he saw him-the same man from the lake, now dressed in fine clothes, his dark obsidian hair still slightly damp. He hadn't even had time to dry off before joining this gathering. And now, standing here, he was completely unruffled, as though he hadn't just been caught breaking a sacred taboo.

It was then that Kyzzu noticed the chief's eyes flicker in his direction. Chief Khassuo's gaze was sharp, his brow furrowed as if trying to make sense of something that didn't quite add up.

Kyzzu had always felt the chief's eyes on him, weighing his every move, and now was no different. The chief's gaze shifted back to the strangers, his expression carefully neutral as he spoke through the interpreter.

"We appreciate your offerings," Chief Khassuo said, his voice deep and measured. "But our people are wary of outsiders. You must understand, trust is not easily given."

The man from the lake-Winston, as the interpreter called him-smiled faintly, inclining his head in a gesture of respect. "Of course, Chief. We understand your caution. That is why we have come in person, to show our good intentions. We believe there is much we can learn from each other."

Kyzzu's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white as he fought to keep his anger in check. Every word out of Winston's mouth grated on him, not just because of what had happened at the lake, but because of the way he seemed so at ease, so sure of himself, as if he had already won over the chief.

Nlanweh, still scanning the crowd, finally spotted Kyzzu, her face lighting up with a mix of relief and anxiety. She made her way over to him quickly, grabbing his arm with a firm but gentle grip.

"Where have you been? Renzi and Asha are already in their huts." she whispered urgently, her eyes flicking nervously between him and the scene unfolding before them. "These men... something about them doesn't feel right."