The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the village in hues of crimson and gold. The air buzzed with anticipation, a hum that seemed to resonate from the earth itself.
In a large ground, there was a stage which is huge. and at one end was a short stage, even higher than the first, but comparatively small, with a stone. Beastmen of all shapes and sizes had gathered, forming a wide circle around the ceremonial arena.
When Luca brought Ves, all of them immediately quietened down. They looked at Ves in surprise and shock, unable to believe that such a beauty exists. Slow murmurs broke in the crowd, complimenting the female they had come to fight over. This further fueled all beasts to fight harder for a chance to be with such a beauty.
Ves was shocked by the number of beastmen around the arena, 'They all must be here to witness the... well, ritual.' She thought to herself, her hold on Luca's shoulder tightened.
Since her leg injury was pretty deep, it had not healed yet and she was still unable to walk freely. Hence, even today, in such circumstances, Luca did not let her walk on her own and carried her to ceremonial grounds.
The tribe leader, Jeremy, was already on top of the stage and beckoned Luca to bring Ves to the center of the stage, where he stood.
Ves bit her lip, a bit unwilling for things to proceed. She knew something was amiss, and Luca was not saying anything to not let her worry but she couldnt help but tremble a little in his arms.
All her life, she had been strong and independent. She worked hard and became one of the best in her field. She would fight the world for what she believed.
But in the world, where everything was just so different, and her strength was no batch to any of these 'beings' she was troubled and could only rely on Luca.
Luca held her closer to himself to provide Ves with some comfort and strode to where Jeremy stood.
Some beastmen encircling the arena took notice of the carefully wrapped wound on the beautiful female, their hearts stirring with unspoken resolve. They silently vowed to ensure such harm would never befall her again, swearing their protection as though it were a sacred duty.
Once they arrived at the center, Jeremy smiled at Ves and then addressed the crowd, "We have gathered here today to welcome this female into our tribe. Until now she has been under the care of Luca, who was also the one who found her. This means that he has first mating rights, but of course, all that is to be dealt with after this ceremony."
The crowd erupted into cheers on his words. Jeremy then led Luca to bring Ves onto the second stage where Luca placed her on the stone to sit. This was requested by Luca since he knew how much pain Ves had been the last time she had to stand up.
Once she was settled, Luca was meant to go down and stand in the crowd and sensing his movement, Ves immediately grabbed hold of his hand in her small ones, looking at him with unwillingness written all over her face.
"Its gonna be okay." Luca patted her head. Jeremy silently watched their exchange and couldn't believe that this female, who still looked clueless, did not wish to let Luca go. Luca gave Jeremy a nod and slowly slipped into the crowd once Ves very reluctantly and slowly let go off his hand.
Jeremy once again turned to the crowd, addressing them. He raised his hands, commanding silence with a single gesture. The crowd stilled, their attention sharp and focused.
"Tonight, we honor tradition," Jeremy announced, his voice carrying effortlessly across the gathering. "A new female has joined our tribe, and with her arrival, a choice must be made. Her safety, her protector—these must be earned."
Ves swallowed hard, her eyes searching for Luca in the huge crowd. She only relaxed a bit once she found him.H e stood tall and calm, but she could feel the tension radiating off him.
"Let the rite begin," Jeremy declared, and the crowd erupted in a thunderous roar.
Ves scanned the sea of beastmen around her. Their faces were a mixture of awe, determination, and raw anticipation.
Jeremy stepped forward, his commanding presence silencing the cheers once more. "As is tradition, each male who desires the right to stand by this female's side will step into the arena and prove their strength, their worthiness, and their loyalty to her." His gaze swept over the crowd. "This is not merely a fight for a mate. It is a declaration of one's capability to protect and honor."
Ves felt a cold knot forming in her stomach. The implications of what Jeremy said pressed down on her like a heavy weight. She finally seemed to understand bits of what all this was about. She wanted to protest against this.
Jeremy turned toward Luca in the crowd. "As her finder, you may choose whether to participate first or stand back until you are challenged."
Luca's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable edge. "I will enter the arena when necessary."
A horn blared, signaling the start of the ritual. The first challenger—a tall, muscular lion beastman—stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Ves.
The lion beastman bared his teeth in a confident grin before entering the circle. Another beastman, a lithe wolf, stepped forward to challenge him.
The clash began with a ferocious roar from the lion beastman as he lunged at his wolf opponent, claws bared. The wolf darted nimbly to the side, narrowly evading the attack, and countered with a swift swipe aimed at the lion's flank.
Ves had never seen such raw, animalistic combat before. The brutality of it was jarring, but what struck her more was the intensity in each fighter's eyes—a primal need not just to win but to prove something far deeper.
She gulped, taking in the scene before her. Luca's words before he brought her here, echoed in her mind once again, "The beastmen will fight to be by your side, little female, but who you choose to accept depends solely on your choice."
He has said those words to comfort Ves, but at that time, they only added to the confusion swirling in her mind. But these words did less to comfort her even at the moment. Her eyes kept darting between the fight on the arena and Luca.