Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 55: Chapter 55 — Moonlight Part 1

Chapter 55 — Moonlight Part 1

In another part of the village, a young girl could be seen moving quietly between the wooden huts. She eventually stopped near one of the larger buildings and glanced toward its entrance, where several carved wooden totems stood outside. The totems were old and beautifully crafted, their surfaces covered in symbols and images of strange creatures. Moonlight approached them casually, as though she had come there for no reason other than to perform one of the many ordinary tasks expected within the village.

She looked to be roughly fifteen years old, with fair features and completely white hair that fell around her shoulders. She was naturally beautiful, but her eyes were perhaps the most striking thing about her. There was something captivating about them, something almost mesmerizing when someone looked directly into them. At the moment, though, those eyes were focused with unusual concentration as she lowered herself beside one of the totems.

A small rag rested in her hand.

Moonlight began cleaning the carved wood.

The only problem was that the totem was already perfectly clean.

That didn’t stop her from carefully wiping it anyway.

Her hand moved slowly across the polished surface while her attention remained focused on the hut beside her. She had positioned herself close enough to hear the conversation happening inside without making it obvious that she was listening. Several voices drifted through the wooden walls, all of them old enough to belong to members of the village council.

Moonlight continued wiping the same section of the totem.

Then she heard Oheema’s voice.

”So this outsider drained at least five years of the holy energy from Samal. What are we going to do?”

Moonlight’s hand stopped for the briefest moment.

An outsider?

Inside the hut, Gregal answered in a heavy voice.

”Yes. It is truly unfortunate, Oheema. Samal will be angry with us for some time. We may need to make additional sacrifices this year.”

Moonlight quickly continued cleaning the totem, although her attention was now entirely focused on the conversation.

Oheema responded after a moment of silence.

”The sacrifices we already make place enough pressure upon the tribe. But we must show Samal our worship through sacrifice. It is what we have done since the beginning.”

Another voice joined the conversation. It was old and creaky, and Moonlight couldn’t immediately recognize who it belonged to.

”Then we should use the outsiders as part of the sacrifice. I believe Samal would gladly receive the heretics who absorbed so much of his holy energy.”

Moonlight’s eyes widened slightly.

They are planning to sacrifice the outsiders?

She remained beside the totem, her expression calm as she continued pretending to clean it, but inside her mind, curiosity had already begun growing.

Oheema spoke again.

”The Festival of Mana is still another month away. But I agree. The outsiders will be used as part of this year’s sacrificial rite. They will remain inside the Mana Lock Prison until then, and they are to remain alive and unharmed. They will be sacrifices during the festival.”

For a moment, the voices inside the hut became quiet.

Then Oheema suddenly called out.

”Leila! Get in here!”

Moonlight immediately lowered her eyes and returned her attention to the totem.

A young voice answered from somewhere nearby.

”Yes, Oheema!”

Moonlight heard footsteps approaching before the door to the hut opened. A young girl entered, and the conversation continued inside.

”Let the cooks know that food will be prepared for the outsider until the sacrificial day,” Oheema ordered. ”You will take responsibility for this matter and personally bring the meals to the prisoner.”

”Yes, Oheema. Understood.”

Moonlight slowly looked up.

Someone from outside the village.

The thought repeated itself in her mind.

Moonlight had spent her entire life within the village.

As far back as she could remember, the enormous forest and the cavern surrounding it had been her entire world. The village was all she had ever known. The ancient trees, the Sacred Pond, the wooden huts, and the old traditions of her people had always been there.

But Moonlight had never believed that was all there was.

The tribe’s oldest history spoke of a time before the village became isolated within the cavern. Their ancestors had come from somewhere else. Somewhere beyond the forest.

All that remained were fragments of their history and the knowledge that somewhere beyond the boundaries of the cavern, another world existed.

She knew leaving the forest was against Samal’s wishes.

But she had always wondered about it.

What was out there?

What kind of people lived beyond the forest?

Were there villages like hers?

Or was everything completely different?

She had never expected to find out.

Not until she heard a single word from outside Oheema’s hut.

Outsider.

Moonlight’s hand slowly stopped moving.

For the first time in her life, someone who had actually come from beyond the world she knew was inside the village.

And now...

She desperately wanted to meet him.

Moonlight’s curiosity immediately became impossible to ignore.

She stood up.

The rag remained in her hand as she watched Leila leave the hut and begin moving quickly through the village. Moonlight waited only a few seconds before following her.

Leila hurried between the wooden homes, passing villagers going about their daily routines and smoke rising from several fires throughout the settlement. Moonlight increased her pace and quickly caught up with her.

”Leila, wait one second.”

Leila stopped and turned around.

When she saw Moonlight approaching, her expression immediately became respectful.

”Good afternoon, Moonlight.”

Moonlight nodded.

”Leila, I’ve been given new orders. I will take care of the food for the outsider. You are to return to your duties.”

Leila blinked.

”But... Oheema?”

Moonlight stepped closer, keeping her expression completely calm.

”Do not worry. I’ve been given the orders. You are free to return to what you were previously told to do.”

Leila hesitated.

Moonlight looked directly at her.

”This is an order. Oheema’s order.”

Leila remained uncertain for another moment, but eventually nodded her head.

”Yes. I understand.”

Moonlight watched as Leila turned and headed back toward the village.

She waited until the other girl had disappeared between the wooden huts.

She used her hand to move the hair out of her face and push it back behind her ears.

Then a small smile appeared on Moonlight’s face.

With the rag still in her hand, she turned toward the food hall.

Finally.

She was going to meet someone from outside the village.