CHAPTER 138 ATMEREDITH’S HIDEOUT

Dominic Meredith's hideout was an old cabin nestled deep within the forest, a relic of another era. Despite its weathered wood and slightly sagging roof, Meredith's hideout remained a haven of refuge and secrecy. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of herbs and candles, their flickering light casting long shadows on the walls. I had decided to call it home, at least for now. In the dim light, I looked down at my hands—gnarled, weathered, not my own. Trapped in this older man's body was a strange feeling. I was Dominic, but to the outside world, I was someone else entirely. Hunched over her books and scrolls, Meredith mumbled incantations under her breath. She was relentless in her quest to find a solution to my predicament. Her hair fell in loose waves around her face, her eyes sharp and focused. The weight of our situation bore heavily on her shoulders, but she never let it show. "Anything yet?" I inquired, my voice gravelly and foreign to my ears. She looked up, her green