Neve was busy checking out the phone in the kitchen. He pushed the power button and it came to life.
He waited for it to boot up completely, trying to see if somehow there was network signal or something. After all, this was another world. There was no way it could be possible.
Except the system or the damn host made it possible.
What if he was able to check his location on the map or something? What if he could contact someone back home?
He tapped his feet nervously as the phone finally turned on completely.
His eyes widened when he saw the signal bars at the top of the screen.
Five bars. Full signal.
“How the hell was this possible?” Neve whispered to himself.
If he told Maren about this, Maren might absolutely flip. This was a way to prove that there was a connection between this world and the original world. This was proof.
Neve was about to tap the search button to surf the internet and see what had happened during the months he was away, but he heard voices outside.
“Has anyone seen Neve?” It was Popi’s voice calling from somewhere in the cave.
Neve quickly hid the reward box in his system inventory. He slipped the phone into his pocket space, making it easily reachable but hidden from sight.
“I should check it later,” Neve muttered to himself as he stepped out of the kitchen. “After all, I have a lot of things to do today.”
He almost bumped directly into Popi, who was about to enter the kitchen to look for him.
Popi stumbled back and caught herself on the cave wall.
“There you are!” Popi said, folding her hands across her chest. “I thought you got abducted by another silly beastman or something.”
“There is no way something like that can happen,” Neve replied, walking toward her. “We are safe here.”
Popi smirked at him.
“I hope so,” she said and turned toward the cave entrance. “The villagers had gathered at the village square. Cael is waiting for you.”
“Oh! It is time already?” Neve mumbled, grabbing his Winnie the Pooh blanket that Popi had bought for him. He wrapped it around his body to keep warm against the cold as he stepped outside.
Ryker and Cael were standing at the entrance, both dressed warmly for the winter weather.
Neve had almost forgotten about Roan. But he was sure the lion beastman was going to be fine inside the cave with the others.
“Good morning,” Ryker said, adjusting the blanket to cover Neve’s body properly.
“Thank you,” Neve replied, looking between the two of them. “Shall we go?”
“Of course,” Cael muttered, extending his hand for Neve to take.
“Bye! I will stay here and look after everyone,” Popi called out from the cave entrance and Neve waved back at her.
The three of them made their way through the snowy village toward the center where a large crowd had already gathered. All the beastmen from all over the leopard tribe were standing around, waiting for something important to be announced.
“You can do everything yourself, can you not?” Neve asked Cael as they walked.
“Why? Are you scared?” Cael teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Was not it you who stood in front of all these people yesterday and made them kill Soren?”
Neve’s face flushed red. That was yesterday. This was today. Standing in front of this many people made him nervous, even after what he had done.
“Then stay with Ryker,” Cael said with a slight smile. “I will handle the announcements and give them the news about the next festival. You just stand there and look pretty.”
“Thank you,” Neve said quietly, trying not to blush and watched as Cael walked toward the small podium that had been set up.
The moment Cael appeared at the podium, everyone kept quiet almost immediately. The crowd hushed themselves, all eyes turning toward their new leader.
Neve smirked from where he stood next to Ryker. He knew they would be respectful and quiet when it came to Cael. Fear and respect for their new chief was clear on their faces.
Cael cleared his throat and began to speak, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Today, we gather to acknowledge the change of leadership,” Cael announced, his tone firm and commanding. “Our former chief, Soren, the tyrant who ruled us with cruelty and darkness, is no more. He is dead.”
The crowd murmured among themselves while looking relieved.
“I am now your new chief,” Cael continued. “As the rightful heir and the next in line of the leopard tribe leadership. I promise you that things will change. We will be stronger. We will be better.”
The entire crowd erupted in cheers. They were happy. Genuinely happy to have a new leader who was not Soren.
Even the older villagers were cheering and clapping. Some were wiping tears from their eyes. Relief was washing over the entire tribe.
Cael raised his hand and the crowd quieted down again.
“But first,” Cael said, his voice becoming more solemn. “We must honor those who came before us. Today, we will perform burial rites for the previous chief, Gideon and I’s father. A man who was good and kind to all of you.”
Neve watched as they brought out a wooden platform with the body of Cael’s father wrapped in cloth. The old leopard beastman had died because of what Soren had done. Because Soren had forced him to give the dark magic chant.
“In the old ways,” Cael said, “we would simply burn the bodies and let the ashes scatter to the wind. But this man deserves more respect than that.”
Neve had told them about burial rites the day before. About how in his original world, they buried their dead and gave them proper ceremonies. The concept was foreign to beastmen, but Cael and the others understood the importance.
The tribe members all bowed their heads in respect. They followed the simple rites that Neve had described to them. Some placed flowers on the platform. Others spoke quietly about memories of the old chief.
Neve felt Ryker’s hand gently touch his shoulder in support.
When it was over, Cael and Gideon stepped forward together and lit the funeral pyre that had been prepared. The flames rose high into the cold winter air, carrying the old chief’s spirit away.
After several minutes, Cael stepped back to the podium. His expression shifted from solemn to lighter, more playful.
“Now that we have honored the past,” Cael said with a slight smile in his voice, “let us celebrate the future. In a few weeks’ time, I will be expecting my cubs. My beautiful mate, Neve, will be giving birth to the next generation of leopard beastmen.”
The crowd cheered again, excited about the news of new cubs coming to the tribe.
“Many of you remember when Neve first arrived in our village,” Cael continued, a hint of humor in his tone. “You all called him a red fruit because of his appearance. Some of you were quite rude about it, actually. Well, me included.”
The crowd laughed at the memory, embarrassed but amused.
“Well, that red fruit has turned into the strongest mate this tribe has ever seen,” Cael said proudly. “He killed our tyrant chief. He saved all of you. Show him some respect.”
Everyone clapped and cheered for Neve. Neve’s face turned bright red with embarrassment, but he could not help but smile at their acceptance.
Cael then his expression became serious again.
“Now, I have important news,” he announced. “The Spring Festival will be held this year in the outcast territory. All tribes are invited to attend. The dragon king and his mate have decreed it.”
The crowd gasped. People began murmuring nervously among themselves. The outcast territory was dangerous. The outcasts were criminals and outcasts from all tribes.
“If any tribe refuses to attend or disobeys this order,” Cael said coldly, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone, “they will be burnt down by the dragon king himself. The dragon does not take refusals well.”
The crowd immediately quieted. Fear replaced their nervousness. Dragons were powerful and terrifying. No one wanted to face the wrath of a dragon king.
Neve smirked from where he stood. Neither he nor Vaelthorn had said anything about burning down tribes, but Cael was using the threat effectively. Fear was a powerful tool, and it would ensure that everyone attended the festival.
“The tyrant chief of the outcast territory, Soren, is dead,” Cael explained. “Neve killed him with his own hands. The outcasts are no longer a threat to us. They are under the protection of the dragon king now, just as we are.”
The tribe members still looked nervous, but they seemed to accept this explanation.
“Stay safe during the winter,” Cael instructed. “Hunt well. Prepare your families. In spring, we will go to the festival and show all the other tribes how strong the leopard tribe truly is.”
He made several other announcements about preparations and resources before finally stepping down from the podium.
The crowd dispersed slowly, still talking and murmuring among themselves about the festival and the new chief.
Cael walked toward Neve, his expression softening from the authoritative chief back to the mate who loved his pregnant partner.
When he reached Neve, he pulled him into a warm hug.
“Good work out there,” Neve whispered, patting Cael’s back.
Cael smiled and as he held Neve’s hand, his body suddenly went rigid.
His eyes widened as he stared at Neve’s pinky finger.
“What is this?” Cael asked, reaching out to touch the silver ring with the faint glow.
Neve’s heart skipped. The ring. The Luminos Blade ring. He had completely forgotten about it.
“I…” Neve started to explain, but Cael’s hand closed gently around his pinky, holding the ring up to the light.
Cael’s entire body trembled slightly.
“Why…” he whispered, his voice filled with awe and confusion. “Why do I sense some magnificent power from this?”