WORLD OF BEASTS: A Girl For The Beasts

Going Home

Chapter 019: Going Home

Halvir led Anindira away from Hans's house, following a narrow path that cut through the forest toward his home.

His steps were steady and light, as though the massive roots stretching across the ground were nothing more than faint lines beneath his feet. In contrast, Anindira clung to his arm. Her body felt sticky, her skin dry and uncomfortably tight.

"Kak, there's got to be a river nearby, right?" Anindira suddenly asked, her voice full of hope. "I want to take a bath."

She looked completely disheveled. Her hair was tangled, clumped together, and so matted it was nearly turning into dreadlocks. Sweat mixed with dust had left her skin rough, while patches of dirt clung stubbornly to her arms and calves.

Throughout her journey in the forest, Anindira had survived using whatever was available. Every night, she rubbed eucalyptus leaves and, whenever she could find them, orange peels onto her skin to keep mosquitoes away. Without realizing it, that habit had helped maintain her condition. The eucalyptus kept her skin moisturized and helped prevent parasites, while the orange peels cleansed her pores and provided vitamin C. Sometimes she even used leftovers from other fruits she had eaten—anything that could be useful, she used, whether for simple survival or a form of natural skincare.

Even so, summer was merciless.

When Anindira first arrived in this region, summer had only just begun. During her long journey through the forest, rain had been almost nonexistent. Water was scarce and only sufficient for drinking. The routes she traveled were also far from any river.

"There is," Halvir replied briefly.

"Yay!" Anindira exclaimed spontaneously, throwing both hands into the air. "Take me there!"

"Alright, we'll go to the river," Halvir answered with a smile, warmth evident in his eyes. Anindira's childlike behavior reminded him of another girl around her age who was close to him.

"Yay, I can finally take a bath!" Anindira cheered, completely oblivious to the amused smile that had yet to leave Halvir's face.

"Are you really that happy about it?" Halvir chuckled and playfully pinched her nose.

"Mhm." Anindira nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "Of course!"

Her face practically glowed with genuine excitement.

"But we'll go home first," Halvir said afterward.

"Huh?!" Anindira stared at him in shock. "Why?" Her voice immediately dropped, her disappointment impossible to hide.

"We need to get a change of clothes first. You haven't changed your clothes in three months," Halvir said calmly, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry. It won't take long. My house isn't far from the river."

"Really?!" Anindira squealed again. Her smile instantly returned. "Alright," she said before humming a strange tune under her breath.

Some time later, they reached their destination.

Like the other houses in this region, Halvir's home stood high above the ground—perched atop the branches of a giant tree. Carrying Anindira, Halvir climbed effortlessly, his movements swift and confident, as though his body had become one with the vertical path.

They entered the house.

Dust greeted them first.

"Kak, how long has it been since you came home?" Anindira asked as she examined the thick layer of dust covering the floor, chests, and walls.

"Five months."

"Uwah!!... That's a long time! Do you leave home often?"

"Not really," Halvir replied. "I had just come out of the Forbidden Forest when I met you. Usually, I only spend about three months there. It takes one month to reach the Forbidden Forest from here."

"Hah?! Then why did it take three months when you were with me?" Anindira frowned in confusion.

"I had to slow down," Halvir explained briefly. "Your body wouldn't have been able to keep up with me."

"Ah! Right..." Anindira smacked her own forehead. "Hehehe..." Her peculiar laugh rang out again.

Halvir fell silent for a moment.

Throughout their journey, he had been giving Gold *Amber to Anindira whenever she was asleep—once every few days. That was the reason her stamina had remained stable despite the extreme environment they had traveled through. By now, Halvir had used more than thirty *Amber solely to maintain Anindira's physical endurance.

"Ah!" Anindira suddenly jolted as though she had just realized something. "I'm sorry... I've really been causing you trouble this whole time..." Her head lowered, and regret filled her voice.

"I didn't say that to make you feel down," Halvir said quickly. "Did I make you upset?"

"Eh! No!" Anindira immediately shook her head. "How could I be? You've been so kind to me..."

Halvir looked at her for a moment before quietly asking, "Did you enjoy the journey we shared?"

"Of course! I was sooo happy... It was an amazing experience..."

Anindira smiled broadly, her expression completely sincere.

"That's enough," Halvir said gently as he patted her head. "As long as you're happy, I'm already very happy. Anindira, I'm glad I met you. Our journey was a beautiful one for me. I'm happy I was able to bring you along with me..."

He then opened a wooden chest and pulled out a piece of clothing.

"Here," he said, handing it to her. "I found this. It might be too big for you, but we can use a belt. Hold on a little longer. I'll go to the Kingdom, find a tailor, and have clothes made that are truly comfortable for you."

Anindira accepted the clothing carefully.

It was a garment made from animal hide—a short-sleeved shirt with a round collar. So there were upper garments here after all. She had briefly assumed that people in this place only wore lower garments resembling skirts, like the ones she often saw.

She examined the long lower garment decorated with ornaments and accessories around the waist. The clothing style of the guards at the gate—and Hans as well—crossed her mind. They had developed their own fashion, creative and refined, as though designed by famous fashion designers. Some garments were short, some long, some wrapped, some tied, all paired with unique yet beautiful accessories.

Right... I never really thought about it before, Anindira reflected.

But Kak Halvir, Kak Hans... even those guards earlier... they're all incredibly pleasing to look at.

Images of those tall, handsome young men crossed her mind. It was a perfectly normal thought for a girl her age.

Summer made the men of this world rarely wear upper garments. The body temperature of Beasts was naturally higher than that of humans from Anindira's original world—around 37 to 39 degrees Celsius. Thick animal-hide clothing that did not absorb sweat would obviously be extremely uncomfortable during summer.

"Kak Halvir, thank you," Anindira finally said. There were no other words she could offer. She couldn't refuse it—and she genuinely needed it. "Sorry for troubling you."

"I already told you, don't think about that!" Halvir exclaimed. "Come on. I'll take you to the river. We'll clean ourselves up. I can't leave you alone while I go hunting—it's going to be dark soon. I'll only catch some fish from the river for us to eat. Do you mind?"

"Mind?!... Of course not," Anindira replied without hesitation.

Halvir gave a small nod, as though he had expected that answer from the beginning. He picked Anindira up once more. Her body felt far lighter than the burden he had quietly carried in his thoughts throughout their journey.

They climbed down from the tree house as the sunlight began to tilt toward the horizon. Golden rays filtered through the leaves, reflecting off tree trunks and casting long shadows across the forest floor. The air gradually cooled, though traces of summer's heat still lingered against their skin.

Anindira rested her head on Halvir's shoulder. She could faintly smell wood, earth, and damp leaves—a scent that somehow felt comforting. For the first time in a long while, her chest felt light.

Home...

The word echoed softly in her mind.

She did not know what the river would be like. She did not know how her life would unfold after today. But for now, this was enough. Water was waiting for her. There would be food. There was someone who did not leave her alone when darkness came.

Halvir's footsteps continued in a steady rhythm, firm and certain, carrying them through a forest slowly sinking into dusk.

And behind the sounds of rustling leaves and awakening insects, Anindira closed her eyes—allowing herself to believe, at least for tonight.