Just Another Beastmen Story

Part 33

Everything was pitch black. For some reason, Iliana's night vision wasn't working. She could see nothing at all, as if her senses had been muted. She stood alone in what felt like an endless void. Every step she took echoed softly, the floor beneath her smooth like polished wood. Where am I? she wondered, her pulse quickening.

Suddenly, a light flickered on—moonlight beamed down in a single, concentrated circle, like a spotlight illuminating the center of a stage in a dark theater. Beyond the edges of the light, everything was swallowed by darkness. Iliana hesitated at the edge of the light, cautiously extending her hand into the glow. She felt nothing unusual, no danger—just a strange stillness. Is this a dream? she thought.

Faint music began to play, distant and soft at first, then growing louder. The notes were delicate, familiar—a piano. Iliana's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't heard that sound in what felt like a lifetime. The melody was beautiful, weaving through the silence with a comforting, nostalgic pull. She closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her. It made her want to dance.

A soft voice broke through the darkness. "What a lovely sound," it said, gentle yet clear.

Iliana's eyes snapped open, and she scanned the void around her, suddenly alert. She wasn't alone. But she couldn't see anyone. Her heart raced. "Who are you?" she asked sharply, her voice steady despite the eerie atmosphere.

From the darkness, a figure began to emerge, slowly stepping into the moonlight. The pale skin glistened in the silvery glow, and soon a familiar silhouette materialized before her—an animal skull, one she never thought she'd see again. Her breath hitched.

"An!" she cried, rushing forward to embrace him, her heart flooding with a mix of joy and disbelief.

"I am so happy to see you," An whispered, his arms wrapping around her tightly, as if he couldn't bear to let go. His voice was soft and whimsical, just as she remembered it. Iliana smiled against him, a wave of comfort settling over her. But something felt... off.

Pulling away, Iliana examined him more closely. "I'm happy to see you too, but... you haven't aged. You look exactly the same as the day you left." She stepped back, suspicion creeping into her mind. An was still a child—skinny, malnourished, barely reaching her height now.

An chuckled softly, the sound both warm and distant. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice laced with something wistful. "This is the only form I can muster up right now."

He extended his hands toward her, and despite the unease twisting in her stomach, Iliana took them. "I wanted to see you," he continued, his voice gentle. "I want to dance with you."

Without waiting for a reply, he led her into a slow dance beneath the moonlight. The piano's melody played on, soft and dreamlike, echoing in the vast darkness around them. As they danced, Iliana couldn't shake the strange feeling lingering in the back of her mind—only form? she thought, her heart aching with confusion and nostalgia

Iliana's mind was reeling. I have to be dreaming, she thought, how is this possible? As they danced, Iliana's gaze fell on An's familiar skull, still placed exactly as she remembered, his features unchanged. The sight triggered a storm of emotions that had been buried for years.

"If you're really here... why didn't you come back?" Her voice quivered, thick with the weight of longing and betrayal. "Didn't we make a promise?" She stepped away, but An, ever gentle, spun her back into his arms.

An sighed, spinning her slowly, "It wasn't the right time. I couldn't." His voice was filled with regret. "I just wanted to take a moment to be selfish with this time and see you. Just give me a minute longer."