Ves POV:
Luca carried me inside a hut, his firm grip providing a strange sense of security despite the unease swirling in my chest.
There were two beastmen at the entrance as if they were standing on guard against intruders. This made me wonder if there were petty crimes over here too. Or if it was just for protection from 'ferals.'
We walked inside into a big hall that seemed larger than I expected. At the far end of the room, there was stone slab behind which was a beastman. His presence exuded an air of authority making me skeptically wonder if he was the tribe leader who summoned both, Luca and I.
"Tribe leader," Luca greeted with a slight bow of his head.
'He is the tribe leader?' I thought skeptically since he looked far younger than Luca. He had wolf ears on top of his head and looked pretty like all other beastmen in this world. But he carried himself with more pride than the rest, his eyes sharp even with his slightly boyish appearance.
He gave Luca a short nod before shifting his attention to me. His piercing gaze swept over me. It wasn't hostile, but it was strong and dominating. For a moment, I wondered if I should lower my gaze, but I quickly dismissed the thought. I wasn't one to back down, not even here, in a completely foreign world which barely knew a thing about.
After what seemed like forever, Luca finally turned me away, "You called for us... both?" he asked, his voice low but steady.
The tribe leader finally stood up. He was a tad bit shorter than Luca by a few centimeters but still imposing with his broad shoulders and well-built frame.
"Heard about a new little female..." His voice held some curiosity as he took a few steps forward, standing right in front of us. His eyes never seem to have left me and I was not going to let any weakness show.
I felt the need to say something, but before I could, Luca growled low in his throat. "She is mine," he said firmly, his words carrying a weight I didn't fully understand.
I glanced up at him in confusion. What did he mean by that? Was it forbidden to bring someone new into the village? Or was this about something else entirely? I really wanted to ask him but I had to wait to get back to his cave since I didn't want people to know I did not belong to this world just yet.
"Ah and who are you to decide that?" The tribe leader quirks a brow at Luca, his strong gaze once again settling on me, "Little female, I am Jeremy, the leader of this tribe." He introduces himself with a polite smile.
Sensing a bit of hostility towards him from Luca, I don't act too friendly and give him a simple and short reply with a slight nod so as to not seem rude, "I am Vespera."
"I am delighted to have you here and so is the tribe. I will start preparations for the ritual to be cone as soon as possible," Jeremy, the tribe leader, says smiling at me.
I feel Luca move beside me in a shielding manner at the mention of this ritual leading me to ask, "What ritual?" The thought of some tradition in this world gets me curious, but something about Luca's hesitation makes me feel nervous.
"Every new female who enters our tribe must participate in a rite. It is our way to ensure her safety and... choose her protector." Jeremy informs me. I can see a bit of surprise on his face upon my questioning- maybe because this is a common this here?
I feel Luca shift beside me once again, his demeanor carrying a subtle tension.
"What kind of rite?" I ask hesitantly, hoping he doesn't question my lack of knowledge. And also that this ritual is not a very big deal.
"Oh my, you seem to have been sheltered since birth, female. It's a competition, a ritual where males fight for the right to claim her. To show their worth." Jeremy answers and I notice Luca clench his fists.
"Fight? Claim?" Jeremy's words raise new questions in my mind and I look at Luca in confusion, not quite understanding what any of this meant and also wanting nothing to do with a stranger, a beastman I do not know. I was more than happy being with Luca.
Luca's gaze softens and he gently pats my head, his large form almost towering over me and shielding me from the tribe leader's eyes. "You don't have to worry. It's... part of how things work here," he assures me.
I trust him but also feel unsettled by this new revelation. Luca is but a stranger to me, a stranger I have grown to trust and rely on even though I have barely known him for a day. But he is the only person, well, beastman I know in this foreign world. I will just have to trust his judgement.
"The rite begins at sunset. Rest and prepare yourself, both of you." Jeremy's gaze lingers on me for a moment before he steps back, signaling the end of this discussion.
Luca scoops me into his arms once again, mindful of my injured leg. It is still surprising how he remembers my would at all times and takes such good care of me. His actions bring a smile to my face, temporarily relaxing me.
The wall back to his cave was silent, with no interruptions. Once the cave was in my line of sight, I couldnt hold back anymore, "Luca, what exactly is going to happen at this… ritual?"
"The males of the tribe—those without a mate—will challenge each other. It's their way of proving they can protect you better than the other male." He answers casually but the slight tension in his voice doesnt go unnoticed by me either.
"Challenge? What kind of challenge are we talking about?" I ask with a frown, remembering the tribe leader said they would fight.
Luca's jaw tightens, "Fights, mostly. It's a show of strength. But don't worry, Ves. I won't lose. I will not let anyone take you away."
I blink at him. He speaks as though I belong to him, as though I've already agreed to something I didn't even know about. Sure, I admire the gesture and am very grateful but I also do not wish for him to be hurt because of me. I am already causing him enough trouble.
"This is insane," I murmur. "I didn't agree to be fought over."
"I know," he says softly, setting me down on the hay bed, "But this isn't just about you. It's about the tribe's rules. And… it's about keeping you safe."
"When does it start?" I ask after several long minutes, my voice barely above a whisper.
"At sundown," he replies, his gaze steady. "I'll come for you then."