Dawn broke later in Veridian than in Jakarta. Kiran noticed this as she opened her bedroom window, watching the orange and red hues split the sky in a gradation of colors she had never seen in the real world. In the distance, the mountains towered with their peaks covered in thin mist, providing a majestic backdrop for the still-sleeping city.
The traces of last night's storm were still there—puddles of water on the cobblestone streets, wet leaves glistening in the dawn light, and the refreshing scent of wet earth. But what caught her attention more was a sight she could never quite describe even after reading the novel "Demon Tamer" countless times: the Beasts that began to appear with their owners on the city streets.
"Amazing," she whispered, her eyes widening as a young merchant walked with a small fire fox floating beside him, its glowing tail leaving a reddish trail in the air.
Kiran took a deep breath of the morning air, trying to calm her still-chaotic mind. He could barely sleep that night, haunted by shadows that seemed to move of their own accord and dreams of red eyes watching him from the darkness.
"Today I must find out more," he muttered, closing the window and preparing for his first real day in this fictional world.
"You look like a living corpse," Mrs. Meira commented as Kiran entered the inn's kitchen. The middle-aged woman was busy stirring a large cauldron of oatmeal that smelled of cinnamon and honey. "Didn't sleep well?"
"I see," Kiran replied shortly, helping carry the stack of plates into the main dining room.
Mrs. Meira snorted. "The storm last night was extraordinary. My beast was restless all night."
Kiran frowned. "Mother's beast... Avira, right?" The name just came out of her memory—or rather, from Kiran's original memory.
"Of course. Who else?" Mrs. Meira laughed, then whistled softly.
From the open kitchen window, a bird with silver feathers darted in, its wide wings almost touching the ceiling. Its blue eyes shone with an intelligence that was clearly not that of an ordinary animal. The wind beast—Avira, Mrs. Meira's spiritual companion.
"She felt something last night," Mrs. Meira said, patting the bird's head affectionately. "So restless, even though storms usually never bother her."
Kiran swallowed, wondering if it was her presence in this world that had made the Beast uneasy. "Maybe it's our new guest?" she tried to distract herself.
"Ah, that blond young man with the golden lion?" Mrs. Meira nodded. "High-ranking Beasts always attract attention. It's not every day we see a Gold-ranked Beast in a humble inn like this."
Gold-ranked. Kiran noted the detail in her mind. In the novel, the Beast classification system was explained in stages, and she needed to confirm that everything was exactly the same.
"Mother, can you explain the Beast rankings again?" she asked carefully, pretending to tidy up the soup bowls. "My cousins in the village always ask, but I'm not sure I explained it well enough."
Mrs. Meira chuckled. "You're so forgetful. Okay, listen carefully," she picked up a wooden spoon and began counting on her chubby fingers.
"Beasts are classified by their strength and potential. The lowest rank is the Iron Beast—which is owned by commoners, farmers, manual laborers. Then the Bronze Beasts are for merchants, skilled craftsmen, or ordinary soldiers." Mrs. Meira pointed at Avira, "My beast is Silver rank, strong enough to protect the inn and its customers."Kiran nodded, remembering the same detail in the novel.
"And above that?"
"Golden Beasts, like our guest's, are extremely rare. Usually owned by high nobles, war generals, or legendary adventurers. That golden lion..." Mrs. Meira shook her head in amazement, "I haven't seen such a powerful beast in a long time."
"There are still higher ones?"
"Of course," Mrs. Meira lowered her voice, as if speaking of something sacred. "Platinum Beasts are only possessed by the royal family and the most powerful wizards. And on top of that, Diamond Beasts—which are said to only appear once every few generations. Our current king has a Platinum Beast, an ice dragon that is said to be able to freeze an entire lake with a single breath."
It was just as written in the novel. Kiran felt a little relieved to know that at least the basic aspects of this world had not changed.
"And how can someone not have a Beast?" Kiran asked carefully, trying to find an answer to his own condition.
Mrs. Meira's face suddenly became serious. "You know the answer, Kiran. Only those who have lost their souls do not have Beasts—criminals sentenced to Emptying, or…" she lowered her voice to a whisper, "Empty ones, born without Beasts, souls rejected by the Universe. They usually do not last long in this world."
Kiran felt a chill run down his spine. He did not have a Beast. Did that mean he was an Empty? Or was it because he was actually from another world?
"That's enough lessons," Mrs. Meira patted his shoulder. "Now take this breakfast to the dining room. The guests are starting to wake up."
The dining room of the Silver Wind Inn was already half full when Kiran entered with a tray of steaming porridge. Merchants, adventurers, and a few locals sat in groups, enjoying breakfast and chatting. Their beasts came in various forms—mostly small and suited to indoor environments: fire squirrels, wind cats, small earth snakes, and a variety of exotically colored birds.
Kiran had just set down the last bowl when she noticed a sudden silence sweep over the room. The sounds of conversation had died down, replaced by whispers of admiration.
Leon had just entered the room.
The novel's protagonist was far more intimidating in reality—an aura of natural power emanated from him, making his every move seem confident without being arrogant. Solarion, the golden lion, followed with graceful strides, his massive body gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Good morning," Leon greeted Mrs. Meira, his voice deep and clear. "Thank you for the comfortable room last night."
"It was our honor," Mrs. Meira replied with a broad smile. "Please sit down. Breakfast will be ready shortly."
Kiran tried not to stare too long, but failed. In the novel, Leon was portrayed as the perfect hero—strong, wise, and humble. Seeing him in person, Kiran could see why the world had chosen him as its protagonist.
"You," Leon called suddenly, his eyes fixed on Kiran.
Kiran's heart stopped. This was too soon. In the novel, their first conversation was supposed to happen later, when Leon would ask about the Whispering Forest.
"Yes, sir?" she answered, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Can I get a map of the city? And maybe some information about the area around Veridian?" Leon asked in a friendly tone. There was no suspicion, no inkling that she was speaking to someone who knew her entire life's journey.
"Sure," Kiran nodded. "I can provide it after you have breakfast."
Leon smiled, then his attention was diverted when Mrs. Meira came in with a large bowl of porridge and a plate of roast beef for Solarion. The lion beast purred softly, its golden eyes never leaving Kiran.
As she turned to go back to the kitchen, Kiran felt a piercing gaze from the corner of the room. The white-haired woman who had been seen in the rain last night now sat alone at the farthest table, a steaming cup of tea in front of her. There was no Beast in sight—another oddity that made Kiran even more curious.
Their eyes met for a moment. The woman smiled thinly, the kind of smile that held unspeakable secrets, then with a subtle movement moved her finger, as if inviting Kiran to come closer.
She wasn't in the novel, Kiran thought. Who was she really?
"You should be careful of the Whispering Forest," Kiran handed Leon a worn map as they stood on the inn's veranda a few hours later. Around them, the town was business as usual—merchants selling their wares, children playing with their little Beasts, and the town guard patrolling with iron wolves at their sides.
"Why is that?" Leon asked, examining the map carefully. Solarion lay relaxed at his master's feet, but his watchful eyes were constantly watching his surroundings.
Kiran swallowed. This was a crucial moment in the novel—the information he was giving him would lead Leon to the Whispering Forest, where the protagonist would meet the heroine. And on his way back, Kiran would be killed by bandits, creating a motivation for Leon to seek revenge.
But I wasn't going to let that happen.
"That forest… isn't like a normal forest. The trees move, and… there are strange whispers that lead people astray," Kiran gave the same information as in the novel, but then added a new detail. "But the northern route is more dangerous now. Bandits from the Black Silver Clan have taken control of that route. They're not above killing for loot."
Leon frowned. "Black Silver Clan? Never heard of it."
Of course, Kiran thought. Because I just created them.
"A new group, but very dangerous. They have Beasts that have been modified in... unnatural ways."
Leon looked interested. "Beast modification? How is that possible?"
"I don't know, just rumors," Kiran shrugged, playing his part carefully. "But if you're going to the Whispering Forest, I suggest going the eastern route. It's longer, but safer."
In the novel, Leon took the northern route and encountered regular bandits on the way back—an encounter that ended in Kiran's death. By changing routes, perhaps he could change his own fate.
"Hmm, good advice," Leon folded the map and smiled. "Thank you, Kiran."
"How do you know my name?" Kiran asked instinctively, then immediately regretted it. In the novel, Leon did know her name, but for reasons that had yet to be revealed.
Leon looked confused for a moment. "Mrs. Meira called you this morning," he replied, then smiled broadly. "Why? You seemed surprised."
"No, it's just... unusual for a guest to remember a servant's name," Kiran tried to cover up her nervousness.
"I always remember the people who help me," Leon said, patting Kiran on the shoulder. "Maybe we'll meet again someday."
Kiran smiled thinly, knowing for sure that in the original plot, they would indeed meet again—right before he died at the hands of bandits.
Leon said his goodbyes and walked toward the stables to retrieve his horse. Solarion followed with graceful strides, but before he left, the lion Beast turned once more toward Kiran, his golden eyes staring at her with a strange intensity.
"He sensed it," a feminine voice whispered in Kiran's ear.
Kiran flinched and turned quickly. The white-haired woman was standing right behind her, appearing as silently as a ghost. Up close, Kiran could see her unusual eyes—a pale purple, almost glowing in the shadows of the veranda.
"Who are you?" Kiran asked, taking an instinctive step back.
The woman smiled. She was indecipherable—she could be in her twenties or her forties, with a flawless face that had the cold beauty of an ice sculpture.
"My name is Selena," she answered, her voice melodic with an accent Kiran couldn't quite identify. "And I know who you really are... Rayhan."
Kiran's blood ran cold at the mention of his real name. "How did you—"
"How should I know?" Selena stepped closer, her smile widening. "Because I'm not from this world either. And like you, I'm trapped in a narrative that should only exist on paper."
Kiran was at a loss for words, his brain trying to process this shocking information. Selena took the opportunity to touch his wrist with cold fingers.
"We need to talk. Not here, not now. Meet me behind the inn at sunset," she whispered. "There are many things you need to know about this world and… about the shadow that follows you."
Before Kiran could answer, Selena was gone, her figure quickly disappearing into the bustling morning market crowd. Leaving Kiran with a million questions and one new certainty: he was not the only anomaly in this story.
The rest of the day passed like a slow-motion nightmare. Kiran went about his duties mechanically—serving customers, clearing tables, helping in the kitchen—while his thoughts kept returning to his encounter with Selena and the small changes he had made to Leon's storyline.
When his shift was over and the sun began to tilt westward, Kiran decided to take a walk through the city of Veridian. He needed to see this world up close, to understand its details, if he was going to survive.
Veridian was a small but bustling city, a trading hub connecting the kingdom's capital to the villages on the border. The cobblestone streets were neatly lined with two- to three-story buildings with architecture that reminded her of a mix of medieval Europe and a touch of oriental fantasy—arched roofs, intricate wood carvings, and Beast symbols proudly displayed on every house and shop.
What caught her attention most was the interaction between humans and their Beasts. A fruit vendor was assisted by a small monkey Beast who nimbly arranged apples and pears. A blacksmith worked side by side with a salamander Beast who helped heat the furnace. Children played with tiny Beasts that looked like pets but clearly possessed intelligence and magical abilities.
"Isn't it beautiful?" asked a voice next to her.
Kiran turned to find a thin old man with a long white beard standing beside her, leaning on a carved wooden staff. On his shoulder, a small owl with silver feathers stared at Kiran with its large eyes.
"The sacred bond between humans and Beasts," the old man continued, pointing to a pair of twins playing with their butterfly Beasts. "Born with us, grow with us, and in the end, die with us."
"How does it work?" Kiran asked, taking the opportunity to learn more. "I heard that everyone has a Beast that reflects their soul?"
The old man chuckled. "Something like that. Beasts appear when we are seven—when self-awareness begins to form. They are the spiritual manifestation of our deepest essence."
"And if one does not have a Beast?"
The old man's smile faded. "Ah, you speak of the Empties." He sighed. "Tragedies are rare, but they do happen. Souls that are not strong enough to manifest a Beast, or..." he lowered his voice, "souls that are not of this world."
Kiran felt his heart pound. "What do you mean?"
"Ancient legends say that sometimes, souls from other worlds stray into our world," the old man looked Kiran straight in the eye, his gaze too sharp and knowing. "Those souls do not have Beasts because they are not bound by the spiritual laws of this world. They are... anomalies."
Like me, Kiran thought.
"And what happens to those souls?" Kiran asked cautiously.
The old man turned his gaze toward the setting sun. "Some disappeared back to their original world. Some went mad, unable to accept the new reality. And some…" he smiled mysteriously, "some found a way to create new bonds, Beasts that should not exist."
The owl on the old man's shoulder blinked once, its eyes seeming to glow with an unnatural light for a moment. The man tapped his cane on the ground three times.
"Watch your shadow, young man," he said, turning to leave. "For in a world where everyone has a Beast, even darkness can be an ally."
Kiran stood there, stunned, processing the mysterious words. Instinctively, he glanced down at his own shadow stretching across the cobblestone path.
For a moment—so brief that he was almost certain it was his imagination—his shadow seemed to move against the sun, forming a clawed pattern that could not possibly belong to his human body.
The sun had almost completely set when Kiran arrived behind the inn. The area was deserted, except for piles of firewood and a few barrels of rainwater. The shadows of the buildings cast a thick darkness in the corners of the walls.
"You came," Selena stepped out from one of the dark corners. Her white hair shone silver in the last light of dusk.
"You said you knew who I was," Kiran got straight to the point. "And you are like me?"
Selena nodded. "Yes and no. We are both not from this world, but our situations are different." She pointed to a worn wooden bench near the water barrel. "Sit down. This is going to be a long conversation."
Kiran sat down carefully, watching the mysterious woman. There was no sign of the Beast around Selena, just like him.
"You are Rayhan, a book editor from Jakarta, year 2023," Selena began, her eyes not leaving Kiran. "You just finished reading your favorite fantasy novel, 'Demon Tamer', and then woke up as Kiran, a side character in the novel. A character who was supposed to die in chapter 8 to motivate the protagonist, Leon."
Kiran was flabbergasted. "How do you know all that in such detail?"
"Because," Selena took a deep breath, as if preparing herself for a big confession, "I am from the future of this novel's world. And in the original timeline, after your death, the novel continued until chapter 327, where the world ended in utter destruction."
"What?" Kiran almost choked. The novel she had read had only 35 chapters, ending with Leon's victory over the Demon King and peace in the kingdom.
Selena smiled sadly. "The version of the novel you read was only a small part of the real story. After Leon's first victory, a greater, darker threat emerged. And in the end..." she shook her head, "in the end, everything you saw in this city, all the people and the Beasts, were destroyed."
Kiran struggled to digest this shocking information. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because I know about your shadow," Selena replied, her eyes fixed on Kiran's shadow on the ground. "A shadow that has come to life, showing signs of a Beast that shouldn't exist."
Kiran gasped. "What do you mean?"
"In a world where every soul has a Beast, your emptiness creates a spiritual vacuum," Selena explained, her voice lowering. "And darkness is always drawn to emptiness. What you felt—the whispers, the movement of the shadow, the chills running down your spine—was a Shadow Beast taking shape. A very rare and very dangerous phenomenon."
"A Shadow… Beast?"
"A Beast that shouldn't exist," Selena nodded solemnly. "A Beast that is formed not from natural birth, but from a spiritual anomaly. And in the history of this world, almost all Shadow Beast owners have ended tragically—going mad, possessed by darkness, or worse."
Kiran recalled the strange movements in her shadow, the whispers she heard at night, and the chills that had followed her. "But why me? And why are you telling me all this?"
Selena stared up at the sky, now filled with stars. "Because your presence is an anomaly that has never happened before. And this anomaly creates an opportunity."
"An opportunity for what?"
"To change the ending," Selena answered, her eyes gleaming in the darkness. "To save this world from the destruction I have seen. Because unlike normal Beasts who are bound by the rules of this world, Shadow Beasts have powers that come from outside the narrative—powers that can change destiny."
Kiran fell silent, lost in thought. If what Selena said was true, then not only would he have to avoid his own death, but he might also have a role in saving the entire world.
"So what should I do?" he asked finally.
Selena smiled, more sincerely this time. "First, you must accept and learn to control your Shadow Beast before it controls you. And second," she pulled a small dagger from beneath her robes, "we must prepare ourselves for the plot changes that will occur because of your presence."
She handed the dagger to Kiran. Its surface was pitch black, as if absorbing the light around it.
"Shadow Iron," Selena explained. "The only metal that can harm a high-level Beast. Keep this with you at all times, especially when Leon returns."
"Do you think he's dangerous?"
Selena stared at Kiran with an unreadable expression. "Every protagonist has a storyline they must follow. And anything that threatens that storyline—like us—is considered an anomaly that must be eliminated."
The night was growing deeper, and in the distance, the howl of a wolf could be heard—a sound too long, too high-pitched to be that of a normal wolf. Selena straightened up.
"Tomorrow night, meet me at the old temple on the western edge of town. We will begin your training with the Shadow Beasts," she said, adding gravely, "And Kiran… do not trust anyone in this world completely. Not even me."
With those words, Selena stepped back into the darkness and disappeared as if swallowed by the night.
Kiran stood alone, the Shadow Iron dagger cold in his hand. He stared at his shadow spread out on the ground.
"Are you really there?" he whispered.
In response, his shadow moved slightly, forming a gentle wave that did not match his posture, like water disturbed by an invisible wind.
A new game had begun, and its rules were far more complicated than Kiran had imagined.