---
After Alan returned to his mind and quickly stood on his feet, his face showed determination as if he were planning to accomplish some task. But the truth was that he was suffering from severe dizziness, and his body was still filled with an uncomfortable stickiness.
---
Alan (in a decisive tone as he stands up suddenly): "Alright, alright, everyone, hold on! Kira, give me the bag. Thanks... wait, no no no, what is this? Okay, okay, clothes, yes, I'll need those."
---
Alan suddenly turned, looking at his companions with his bright eyes, as if he were a military leader leading his army into a decisive battle.
---
Alan (with certainty as if the matter was unquestionable): "Alright, I'll go bathe in the river for 10 minutes, and then I'll be back. Don't move, this is an order! I am... uh... the leader, so follow orders."
---
While Alan tried to walk confidently, Kira and Gargoth exchanged strange looks as if they couldn't believe what they had just heard.
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Kira (with a sarcastic smile): "Did he just give us an order to... stand still?"
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Gargoth (puzzled): "Well, he is the 'leader', so I guess we have to obey... even if it's ridiculous."
---
Alan, despite his body looking in a pitiable state, walked toward the river with determination, trying to appear as the leader deciding the team's fate. Deep inside, he knew he was facing a great challenge – but bathing was the priority now.
---
Alan (walking toward the river with slight hesitation): "Don't move, remember, I'm the one in charge here!"
---
At that moment, Alan was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts as he walked toward the river, unaware that the journey to the river would be even more chaotic than the one before.
---
In the cold river, Alan started singing loudly, but it wasn't a voice that could even be classified as tolerable. He was singing in the most inappropriate way, completely forgetting that anyone could hear him.
---
Alan (singing exaggeratedly): "🎶 I'm the leader, yes I am! Oh yeah! Gonna lead them all, no stopping me now! 🎶"
---
At that moment, Alan was singing with enthusiasm, but suddenly, he felt something strange and very painful under the water. Something touched his body oddly, followed by a sharp pain in a very sensitive spot.
---
Alan (immediately screaming unexpectedly): "AHHHH! What the hell was that?! Oh no! No! Not now!"
---
The fish that had gotten caught in that sensitive area thought Alan was a "small worm" and dragged him with it in an attempt to eat. Of course, what happened made Alan scream so loudly that the river seemed to be in a state of war.
---
Kira (laughing from afar): "Did I just hear Alan screaming? What happened?"
---
Gargoth (puzzled): "I hope it's not as bad as it sounds..."
---
Alan, at this moment, was writhing in the river, suffering from great pain, lost in confusion and chaos due to the comical situation. There was no time to rest, as he was fighting to free himself from the embarrassing position as quickly as possible.
---
Alan (breathing heavily, trying to get out): "Okay, okay, this is bad, really bad! GET IT OFF ME, NOW!"
---
After a few moments, Alan finally made it back to the riverbank, running while feeling himself to make sure that what had happened was over. Little did he know that this was just the beginning of the troubles that would follow him during the journey.
---
Alan (stumbling tiredly): "Never. Again. Never. Again."
---
At that moment, Gargoth and Kira looked at him in shock, as if they were seeing this type of chaos for the first time.
---
Kira (laughing cautiously): "Well, I guess we all have our moments, huh?"
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Gargoth (in a calm yet angry tone): "I don't want to know what just happened. Let's just keep moving."
---
Then they continued walking, with the next phase of their journey still miles away.
---
After Alan finished his bizarre bath, he took the clothes Kira had prepared for him and tried to put them on, but his movements were a bit strange, as if his entire body was refusing to move normally. He still remembered that painful bite from the fish in the sensitive area, which made him walk in a very odd manner.
---
Alan (walking awkwardly): "Ugh, why do I feel like I'm walking like a penguin...?"
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Kira (laughing softly): "Did the fish bite you in a place it shouldn't have?"
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Alan (angry and embarrassed): "I don't want to talk about it! Just... let's keep moving!"
---
His steps seemed like he was trying to avoid any sudden movements, as every step reminded him of that horrible moment. But as time passed, he started to get used to his new condition and continued walking, muttering to himself in silence, emphasizing the need to avoid any harm in the future.
---
Alan (whispering to himself): "Never again… Never again..."
---
Kira and Gargoth, however, watched this scene with some indifference, without showing any sympathy or indicating that they had processed what had happened. It seemed like these types of incidents had become routine for them.
---
Kira (with a sarcastic smile): "You're walking like a robot, Alan."
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Gargoth (in a calm but blunt tone): "If you ever get bitten again, I'm leaving you behind."
---
But despite everything that had happened, Alan was determined to continue the journey, even if it meant walking in a somewhat strange manner.
To be continued...