Chapter 5

Because of the scene Alkan caused at the Mayor's mansion, many rumors spread throughout San Roque. People said there was a madman who opened a business in the plaza. They warned not to buy from there, or else they might be cursed like the person who established that business.

So when Alkan's business opened, only Manuel and a few of his workers attended the opening. He didn’t care.

In the past days, he had been restless. He could hardly sleep, worried about Valeria’s condition. It was Gio who reminded him today about his business opening, but instead of feeling happy, Alkan sank deeper into sadness.

They were supposed to face customers together, but now he was standing alone at the entrance of the restaurant. The sadness was evident on his face, so people passing by could see it. Many whispered after noticing his expression. Some even laughed, joking among themselves.

“Don’t let them see you’re sad in front of people. Otherwise, no one will want to eat here,” a voice said from behind him.

He turned around and saw Manuel. His face was serious, with his brow slightly furrowed. Alkan snapped back to reality. He forced a smile at the man. “Sorry. I’ll just check the storage room,” he said before heading to the back of the restaurant.

Manuel watched him, and Alkan didn’t notice how Manuel gestured to Gio, who was standing in the corner. Gio nodded and followed Alkan. Manuel furrowed his brow and shook his head.

Meanwhile, when Alkan reached the storage room, he sat down, growing more anxious. His face showed signs of worry, occasionally furrowing his brow as if deep in thought.

“Alkan,” Gio called, sitting in the chair across from him. The sawikin tried to catch his gaze but failed. Gio sighed. “Don’t sink too low. Nothing will happen to Valeria.”

He looked at the sawikin. “It’s been days, but the black sawikin hasn’t shown any signs. Are you sure Valeria’s still alive?”

Gio’s lips formed a thin line, his brow furrowed. “Believe that nothing will happen to her.”

Alkan cursed and slammed his fist on the table. “Nothing? Those monsters have no conscience. You’re not even doing anything to find her. You’re useless!” he said, standing up and storming out of the storage room.

But when he stepped out, he saw Manuel. He stopped for a moment before silently walking past the man. He didn’t know what to do. The sawikin wouldn’t help look for Valeria, and no one knew where the lair of the black sawikin was unless they were from the same tribe.

Alkan clenched his fist and made a decision. He would go to the forest tonight. He wasn’t relying on the sawikin anymore—he would find Valeria himself.

He spent the entire day counting the hours. Manuel noticed but didn’t ask questions. By the afternoon, Alkan quickly closed the restaurant and drove home. He didn’t see Gio, but he knew Gio knew how to get back to his house, so he didn’t think about the sawikin anymore.

When he got home, he quickly took a shower and changed. After having dinner, he got dressed and left the house. He drove his car toward the forest, the place he had once promised never to step foot in again.

But tonight was different. He needed to overcome his fear of the forest to reach the portal to the Tribal. He got out of the car and gazed at the vast forest ahead. He swallowed and grabbed the flashlight from the car. He closed the car door and took a step into the woods.

The black clouds covered the moon, plunging the surroundings into darkness. Alkan took a deep breath and continued walking into the forest.

The only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves as the cold wind blew through the trees. Alkan’s hairs stood on end at the eerie silence of the forest. He had once searched for Estong’s body with someone, but now he was alone, walking deeper into the woods by himself.

He sighed but steadied his resolve. This wasn’t the time to be scared.

So, he quickened his pace toward the heart of the forest. He walked for hours before reaching the center, where they had found Estong’s body.

The surroundings were eerily quiet. The wind didn’t blow, and there were no crickets. He gazed at the path leading deeper into the forest. Without hesitation, he walked down the path that no one had ventured before.

Hours passed as he trudged through the path, the grass as tall as a person. At one point, he nearly scratched himself on the thorns of wild grass. Luckily, he was wearing thick pants and boots.

Before long, he reached the heart of the forest. He saw the portal and the wide clearing around it.

He exhaled deeply. He had finally reached the portal. The corner of his lips twitched as he quickly approached it.

But just as he stepped onto the portal, the round moon emerged from the dark clouds. However, the moon that had been yellow changed color. In the blink of an eye, it turned red, as red as blood. No one noticed this strange occurrence, except for the wandering sawikin in the town of San Roque.

Gio stood up straight, his eyes wide, staring at the red moon. In the blink of an eye, its color returned to yellow. But that didn’t ease the chill running down his spine.

Someone had entered the portal!

“Alkan,” a voice suddenly spoke from behind him.

Gio turned around and faced the speaker. It was Manuel, his brow furrowed as he looked up at the moon.

“He went into the forest and crossed the portal. You need to find Alkan in the Tribal. We don’t know where that portal took him. He’s not ready to face the Black Wing Tribe.”

Gio’s expression grew serious, and he nodded. “I’ll do it, Chief.”

Then, his wings spread, and he soared upward into the vast sky.

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