Chapter 290: Tribal Divisions
With Cecilia West’s pledge of allegiance, the beastmen of the Grymdale Tribe quickly sprang into action.
Elias Moretti’s word was law in the Grymdale Tribe. He was a formidable leader. Ever since he took charge, the tribe had endured numerous disasters, both natural and man-made. Yet, whether it was hunting or food distribution, the tribespeople accepted his decisions without question.
The Grymdale Tribe had only managed to survive from the rainy season until now entirely because of their leader, Elias Moretti.
Gable trembled with rage as he watched most of the people follow Elias Moretti, choosing to head for the Triangle Sea. The only ones willing to stay in Norfell were the old and weak beastmen, who refused to leave their homeland. They would probably die on the road even if they tried to make the journey.
Lana sobbed softly beside him, making Gable’s heart ache. He took a few deep breaths, his voice practically squeezed from between his teeth. "Fine, I’ll go with you! I want to see for myself what comes of this choice of yours!"
Hearing the rage in his voice, Elias Moretti simply raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. He showed no sign of pleasant surprise at Gable’s offer to join them. Instead, his voice was grave. "Since you’ve decided to follow me, don’t cause any trouble along the way. You know what I’m like. If it comes to it, I will abandon you without a second thought."
As he spoke, his expression was cold, his gaze piercing.
Gable’s brow furrowed. He stared at Elias Moretti and his cruel words, clenched his fists, and said nothing more.
Melora Moretti hugged Lana and said softly, "Don’t be afraid, Mother. Brother will protect us."
*
"Mom, Dad is over there, right?" On the ship, Bunny was curled up in Evangeline’s arms, pointing at the horizon where the sea and sky met. Her childish voice was full of anticipation, and her amber eyes shone with joy.
She was finally going to find her dad!
Evangeline gently ruffled the soft tufts of her silver hair. "That’s right," she said softly. "We’re going to see him very soon."
Bunny grinned and hugged Evangeline tightly, practically buzzing with excitement.
The Everwake sat on the side of the ship with Genesis in his arms, watching the churning sea with curiosity in his rainbow-hued eyes.
’The Triangle Sea is a forbidden zone in Norfell. Nothing can stay afloat on its surface; anything would be dragged into a deep-sea vortex by the vicious gales. It’s a path to certain death. But this colossal beast... no, this ship... it can actually cross the ocean. Truly incredible.’
"Dad! Dad! We’re going to see Dad Caden and Dad Lachlan soon!" Genesis kicked his little legs, arms spread wide to catch the wind. He wasn’t at all afraid The Everwake would let go, showing complete trust in the father who had just returned to him.
The Everwake raised an eyebrow. "You like them a lot?"
’He couldn’t say he liked Evangeline’s other partners, his "colleagues." After all, no male enjoyed sharing his mate. What’s more, he prided himself on being exceptional, yet he hardly held a clear advantage among them.’
’For a male beastman, that was hardly something to be happy about.’
’Of course, while he might not like them, he accepted the arrangement.’
Genesis turned to look at him, blinking his beautiful, rainbow-hued eyes and nodding seriously. He began to count on his little fingers. "Dad Danton raised me, Dad Lachlan makes me yummy food every day, and when Dad Caden taught Sister how to hunt, he would teach me too... Every one of my dads is really good to Genesis. Genesis likes them all a lot."
A pang of pain shot through The Everwake’s heart as he listened to Genesis. He had to admit that even without him, his biological father, Genesis had clearly grown up as a doted-upon, cherished child.
After Genesis finished, his little face fell. He scratched his black hair and turned to The Everwake. "It’s just a shame Dad Drake was away for so long. If he were here, he could’ve taught Genesis how to fly. Genesis isn’t very good at flying..."
The little one’s shoulders slumped as he spoke.
The Everwake suddenly tightened his grip, lifting Genesis from the ship’s railing and pulling him into a tight hug. "It’s okay," he murmured. "From now on, Dad is here. I’ll teach you to fly, I’ll teach you to hunt, and I’ll roast meat for you, alright?"
Genesis looked at his dad, then grinned and threw himself into his arms, nodding emphatically. "Okay!"
Nearby, the intimate scene between father and son made Thorne let out a soft snort. He leaned against the side of the ship with his arms crossed, his dark green, slitted pupils filled with displeasure. ’I knew it. Now that his real dad is back, I’m just the old dad, completely forgotten.’
"Thorne! Catch!" Loras’s voice called out from below.
Thorne reacted on instinct, catching the bundle of beast skins Loras had tossed up. He rolled his eyes and threw them into the cabin.
Danton was directing the members of the Mer Clan as they boarded the airship in an orderly fashion.
Elias Moretti and the beastmen of the Grymdale Tribe were also packing their belongings. Though a lingering fear remained in everyone’s hearts, they were ultimately filled with hope for the New Continent. ’Maybe there,’ they thought, ’we won’t have to worry about food, or water... or a lack of females?’
At that thought, the group’s spirits lifted, and they worked with renewed vigor.
The Fallen Beastmen, however, were completely silent. This was not only due to the strict control of The Ravening Wolves and Kat, but more importantly, because of that one contract.
It wasn’t that no Fallen Beastman had thought about leaving and returning to Norfell alone during this time. But they had all witnessed the power of the contract with their own eyes. It was a bond even more potent than a mate contract. If they violated the agreement and refused to follow Evangeline to the Triangle Sea, they would melt into a puddle of blood. No one dared to challenge such a severe punishment.
Goldeagle Tribe.
Conflict had also broken out within their ranks.
With Loras’s help, Julian carefully carried the still-unconscious Drake aboard the ship and settled him in one of the cabins.
But when he returned to the Goldeagle Tribe, he found that no one was packing.
"You don’t want to travel beyond the Triangle Sea?" Julian’s molten-gold eyes stared at his tribespeople, his voice calm.
A female of the Goldeagle Clan was the first to speak up. "Leader! We only came to the Triangle Abyss to get through the Cold Season. Now the snow has stopped and the sun is out. We can go back home soon, so why should we risk going to the Triangle Sea?"
The fate of the Mysticeti and Sky-Rend Tribes weighed heavily on them, casting a dark shadow over their hearts.
They had only migrated here to survive the Cold Season; they had no desire to go to some vaster continent.
After the female spoke, a growing number of voices chimed in with agreement.
Julian looked at his loudly protesting tribespeople and nodded. "Fine. We won’t go."
The members of the Goldeagle Tribe breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the other tribes preparing their things and loading them onto the airship, someone suddenly lowered their voice and said, "Leader, Drake is the witch’s mate, and he’s going with her beyond the Triangle Sea. Shouldn’t you ask My Lady Priestess for some food, enough for us to make it back to Norfell safely?"
Hearing this, Julian’s molten-gold eyes suddenly grew sharp as they swept over the young beastman who had spoken.
The beastman flinched under Julian’s piercing gaze, instinctively shrinking back. But then he gritted his teeth and pressed on. "The Goldeagle Tribe is just like the Mer Clan! My Lady Priestess shouldn’t treat us any differently! Why should the Mer Clan get things that we don’t? The journey back is long. Who knows if we’ll have enough food?"
