Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 73: Chapter 73 — The Celebration

Chapter 73 — The Celebration

The next day, Victor spent most of his time with Moonlight.

True to her word, she had taken it upon herself to show him around the village.

As Victor walked beside Moonlight through the settlement, he finally saw the village as a whole.

Wooden huts stretched between the enormous trees, each built with its own subtle differences. Totems stood outside many of the larger homes, their carved faces watching silently over the paths. Smoke drifted lazily from cooking fires, carrying the scent of unfamiliar food through the air.

Victor saw craftsmen working with wood and stone. He watched children running between the huts. He passed groups of villagers speaking quietly among themselves.

And every few minutes—

Someone bowed to him.

Victor was never going to get used to that.

The first few times, he had awkwardly nodded back.

After that, he tried pretending he hadn’t noticed.

Neither strategy seemed particularly effective.

Whenever someone spotted him walking beside Moonlight, they immediately lowered their heads.

Victor eventually glanced toward her.

”Do they have to keep doing that?”

Moonlight looked at him.

Her lips twitched slightly.

”You’ll probably have to get used to it.”

Victor sighed.

That was almost exactly what Oheema had told him.

Apparently, everyone in the village had collectively decided that bowing was going to become a permanent part of his life.

Moonlight continued showing him the different parts of the village throughout the day. She explained which areas belonged to the craftsmen, where the hunters prepared their catches, and where the tribe gathered for important meetings.

Eventually, she led him toward a collection of food stalls.

Victor immediately noticed the smell.

Smoke rose from several open fires, where strips of meat cooked over carefully arranged wooden racks.

Moonlight’s attention settled on one particular stall.

She headed toward it.

The man behind the stall greeted her before reaching for a large piece of roasted meat.

Moonlight turned toward Victor.

”This is one of my favorites.”

Victor looked at it cautiously.

”What is it?”

Moonlight answered without hesitation.

”Gorgon.”

Victor slowly looked at her.

”A what?”

”Gorgon.”

Victor stared at the meat.

He had never heard of a creature called a gorgon before arriving in this world, and judging by the name alone, he wasn’t entirely convinced eating one was a good idea.

Moonlight, however, seemed to have absolutely no such concerns.

The expression on her face made it obvious that she genuinely wanted him to try it.

Victor sighed.

”Don’t do that.”

”Do what?”

Moonlight blinked innocently.

Victor looked at her again.

She was practically pleading with him.

He had absolutely no idea how she was managing to make trying an unfamiliar piece of monster meat feel like such an important decision.

Victor finally gave in.

”Fine.”

Moonlight immediately smiled.

Victor accepted the meat.

He stared at it for another moment before taking a bite.

Moonlight watched him carefully.

Victor chewed.

His expression slowly changed.

Moonlight leaned slightly closer.

”Well?”

Victor looked at her.

Then took another bite.

”I hate that you’re right.”

Moonlight smiled brightly.

Victor shook his head.

But honestly...

It was good.

Really good.

The flavor was rich and smoky, with a strange taste Victor couldn’t quite compare to anything he had eaten on Earth. He had to admit it was every bit as enjoyable as the Cavalier meat he had eaten before.

Maybe even better.

The rest of the day passed in much the same way.

Moonlight showed him everything she wanted him to see, occasionally explaining something about the tribe or stopping whenever Victor noticed something unfamiliar.

By the time the day began to come to an end, the strange luminescent light throughout the cavern had begun to change.

That was when Moonlight mentioned the dance.

”There will be a celebration tonight.”

Victor looked at her.

”A celebration?”

Moonlight nodded.

”A dance.”

Victor stopped walking.

Moonlight continued for another step before noticing.

She turned around.

Victor was staring at her.

”A dance?”

Moonlight’s expression became slightly amused.

”Yes.”

Victor slowly shook his head.

”That’s unfortunate.”

Moonlight raised an eyebrow.

”Why?”

Victor began walking again.

”Because I don’t know how to dance.”

Moonlight laughed.

Unfortunately for Victor, she seemed to find his situation incredibly amusing.

Eventually, they went their separate ways.

Victor returned to his hut.

By the time evening arrived, someone had already delivered a set of clothing from Oheema.

Victor stood in front of a polished reflective surface near one side of the hut.

For a moment, he simply looked at himself.

The clothing was unlike anything he had worn before.

The outfit consisted of dark, carefully fitted layers made from a mixture of soft hide and finely woven material. The upper portion wrapped closely around his torso, allowing him freedom of movement while still giving the outfit a sharp appearance. Subtle patterns had been stitched into the fabric, forming designs that resembled flames and wings.

A darker outer layer rested over his shoulders.

Simple bands decorated with small carved markings circled his wrists, while a belt of dark leather wrapped around his waist.

The entire outfit had clearly been made for an important occasion.

Victor’s black hair had been left untouched, falling naturally around his face.

There was something different about the reflection staring back at him.

Not because Victor himself had suddenly changed.

But because so much had happened since arriving in this world.

Victor looked at himself for another moment.

Then his expression became slightly uncomfortable.

The clothes weren’t the problem.

The dance was.

He had never figured out how to dance back on Earth.

And somehow, despite being transported to another world filled with cultivation, monsters, ancient bloodlines, and Guardian Spirits...

That problem had followed him here.

Victor let out a quiet breath.

”Maybe I can just stand in the corner.”

A knock sounded against the door.

Victor immediately looked toward it.

He crossed the hut and pulled open the heavy wooden doors.

Moonlight stood outside.

She was dressed differently than usual.

The clothing she normally wore around the village had been replaced by something clearly meant for the celebration, decorated with small details Victor hadn’t seen before.

For a moment, he simply looked at her.

Moonlight raised an eyebrow.

”What?”

Victor smiled faintly.

”Nothing.”

Then he stepped outside.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Moonlight eventually turned toward the village.

”Come on.”

Victor followed beside her.

Together, they walked through the paths between the wooden huts.

In the distance, Victor could already hear the faint sound of drums.

The celebration had begun.

And somewhere ahead of him...

Apparently...

He was going to have to dance.