The next morning, Kyra found herself in a state of grogginess. The sun shone brightly, preventing her from getting the rest she needed.
As she rose from her bed, she couldn't help but feel the heat and sweat clinging to her body, exacerbated by her worn-out and dirty clothes.
She rubbed her eyes and made her way towards the window, gazing outside in an attempt to understand what was happening to her. A mild ache had been present in her body the previous day, but she had dismissed it. Now, fully awake, she felt a mild throbbing pain coursing through her entire being.
"Is this because I'm going to transform into a beast soon?" she wondered, returning to her bed and rubbing her hands together as she closed her eyes. Uncertainty filled her mind as she contemplated the nature of her own beast form. The frostlyn remained a mystery even to the scientists. Would she appear dangerous, beautiful, or perhaps cute like Lucas? She had no clue.
Suddenly, there came a knock at the door, interrupting her thoughts. Kyra opened her eyes and hastily ran her fingers through her hair, trying to present herself in a more presentable manner.
She then opened the door to find a handsome man with long black hair standing before her. His yellowish eyes met hers, and he smiled warmly as he held up a bag of clothes.
"These are your new clothes for you, female" he said, his voice filled with charm.
Kyra accepted the bag from his cold hands, her eyes fixed on him as she returned his smile. "Thank you, um..."
"Derek," he interrupted, flashing another charming smile. He seemed pleasantly surprised by Kyra's gratitude, as females rarely thanked males.
"Thank you, Derek," Kyra repeated, realizing that she hadn't introduced herself yet.
"I'm Kyra," she added, and Derek's smile widened.
Kyra bit her lip, feeling a tinge of unease under Derek's continuous gaze.
"You must have many things to do. I won't waste any more of your time," she politely excused herself, closing the door.
Left outside, Derek was left in a state of confusion. Vincent had instructed him to bring clothes for the female, but he hadn't seen her when she arrived at the castle since he had been outside. Now he understood that his friends hadn't been exaggerating about her beauty.
Her fiery red locks cascaded down, and her eyes resembled the ocean beneath a hazy sky, accentuated by a ring of hazel within her blue irises. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. .It was clear that his boss had fallen in love at first sight.
However, Derek failed to notice the presence of someone else, standing nearby and clenching his fist.
**
Kyra examined the dress she had received. It was different from the ones Lucas and his mother had given her. The material felt silky and smooth, with thin straps resting on her shoulders. It seemed more like a revealing mini dress than something suitable for home or everyday wear. Nevertheless, with no other options available, she took the clothes with her to the bathroom.
The castle had basic bathroom facilities, consisting of a large bucket filled with water and a jug for pouring. There was also a mirror. Kyra glanced at her reflection and noticed the absence of a toothbrush, but she did find a tube of toothpaste. She squeezed a bit onto her finger and began brushing her teeth.
Removing the bandages from her hands and head, she placed them nearby before undressing. As she revealed her enchanting body, she used a bar of soap to wash herself, pouring water from the jug over her head. Her red hair clung to her fair back as she rinsed away the dirt and grime.
Because there was no shampoo, she had no choice but to wash her hair with soap, as her hair was also very dirty, causing her to feel itching on her head.
Unbeknownst to her, someone had been silently watching her the whole time.
**
Today, the male members of the feral Snake group were going to see the land they had found for building their tribes. While the blueprint was still being worked on, it was essential to inspect the land beforehand.
They all liked that land because it was situated near a river, providing relief from the scorching heat.
"Where's the boss? Is he still asleep?" one of them inquired.
"I'm so excited to see the land," another added eagerly.
"When Kyle finishes the blueprint, I can't wait to start building our houses," a third one exclaimed.
"Yeah, I've always been envious of those beastmen who have homes among their own kind. Now, we're finally going to become part of Valoria's civilization," another added enthusiastically.
Valoria was one of the largest countries in the Arcadia Continent, boasting a diverse population of different kinds of beasts living together.
It was located across the Sapphire Sea, where seven rivers converged. The Sapphire Sea was breathtakingly beautiful with its shimmering blue waters, but it was also known for its treacherous nature, as it had deep water and even a large sinkhole.
However, in recent years, the Beastworld had been rapidly developing, and the number of beastmen killings had decreased due to regulations. To establish a tribe or city, they needed to obtain civilization rights.
Tigers, wolves, panthers, foxes, and lions were among the most famous beasts that had already obtained their civilization rights early on.
However, snakes were known for their brutality, even without any power rankings, and had caused fear and chaos among other beastmen due to their poisons.
Thanks to Vincent's determination to secure civilization rights for them, they had finally achieved results. While they could have built their own tribe, obtaining civilization rights allowed them to purchase materials for house construction and other necessities from Beastcity, the capital of Valoria.
After obtaining civilization rights, their boss and the rest of the group had pooled their resources to acquire the castle for five thousand coins. They didn't know much about the previous owner, except that he had been a powerful beast from a foreign county.
In the Beastworld, there were five major continents, with Arcadia being the most renowned for its large population. The next one was Eldoria, known for its flying beasts who possessed great power. However, the most famous continent was Celestia, although its population was relatively small. Beasts living in Celestia were known for their spirituality, and nights were longer there with frequent snowfall.
As snakes, they also desired to visit Celestia, especially to escape the unbearable summer heat. However, one couldn't simply go there without guidance. To reach Celestia, they would need to pass through Emeralds Bay.