Chapter 185: The Tribe Proposal And Vaelthorn’s Voice!

Neve got to the hut and saw Maren kneeling close to his mother, looking like the most loving and devoted son anyone had ever seen.

Neve wanted to laugh at how much Maren was trying to act like the real Maren, mimicking the son his mother would have known. But seeing his mother’s tears as she held her son’s hand, he held back his amusement. The moment was too precious. Too real despite the deception underneath.

She looked so happy that tears ran down her cheeks like a river.

"I can’t believe you’re alive," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I thought I would die without ever seeing you again."

"I also can’t believe you’re alive, mother," Maren said, his voice carrying genuine emotion even if his identity was false. "I’m happy that you survived. All these years without you, wondering if you were still alive... it was torture."

His mother’s shaky hand touched his chin softly, her fingers trailing down his face like she was trying to memorize every detail. She was still looking at Maren like she could not believe she was alive. Like this was a dream that could end at any moment.

She suddenly lifted her head and snapped her attention to Neve.

Neve froze as he blinked, surprised by the sudden focus.

"You must be the physician who worked your magic on me," she smiled warmly. "I must thank you for saving my life. For giving me this moment with my son."

"It’s just needles," Neve said, shrugging modestly. "Regular medical treatment. But you’re welcome ma’am. I’m glad you finally opened your eyes."

"Yeah, me too," Popi added, clapping her hands excitedly beside Neve. "Which means we could go home early. We could finally leave this place and return to our tribe."

Maren’s mother looked confused.

"Go home? Oh... we’re still at the outcast territory, right?" she asked, and Maren nodded in confirmation.

Her expression became more serious as understanding dawned on her.

"Maren. You, the snake chief and the Dhole chief. You’re all been the ones responsible for the consequences of the punishment the dragon king inflicted on us," she said, her voice becoming weaker but more determined. "If I ever have a chance, I’ll kneel and beg him for forgiveness. I’ll do whatever it takes to lift this curse from us."

Popi leaned closer to Neve and whispered urgently.

"They look so innocent. Can you talk to Lord Vaelthorn to forgive them?" she asked hopefully. "Since Zyreth and the Dhole tribe are gone and..." she looked at Maren. "Maren doesn’t seem like a bad person either. Maybe the dragon king would be willing to forgive them now."

Neve was watching the scene as he listened to Popi. He was also thinking about the same thing.

Sure, the Maren from before was no more. The Zyreth that had terrorized people and committed atrocities was gone, replaced by the earthling consciousness. And this one, this new Maren, seemed different. Seemed kinder. Seemed capable of change.

But would Vaelthorn believe him if he told the dragon king that? Would Vaelthorn accept Neve’s judgment about this situation?

Neve stared at his own palm and trailed his hand on his neck where Vaelthorn’s mark was.

’If I relieve them of their punishment as Vaelthorn’s mate, he wouldn’t take off my head, would he?’ Neve thought nervously, touching his neck. ’Would he be angry with me for forgiving his enemies?’

Then he heard a voice.

"Hmmm," it echoed in his head, deep and commanding.

Neve froze completely. He looked around, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. Was it Popi? Was it someone else in the hut? Was it coming from outside?

"My dear Neve," the voice continued, and Neve recognized it immediately.

"What? Vaelthorn?" Neve gasped, covering his mouth with his hand in shock.

Everyone in the hut turned to him, including Maren and his mother. Their faces showed confusion and concern.

"What happened?" Popi asked, holding his hand. "What’s wrong? Are you okay?"

"I think I just heard Vaelthorn’s voice," Neve said, still amazed that this was possible.

"What? He can communicate with you even though he’s hibernating?" Popi asked, her jaw dropping in shock. "How is that possible? Dragons are supposed to be completely unconscious during hibernation."

"What is this about?" Maren asked, stepping closer to Neve protectively.

"Did you... you just mentioned Vaelthorn? As in the Dragon king?" Maren’s mother asked, her voice shaky as she tried to move. She wanted to stand, wanted to bow in respect, but her body was too weak. Maren just held her hand firmly, shaking his head at the idea of her trying to stand yet.

"How are you able to speak to him?" she continued, her voice filled with awe and fear.

"Oh. Vaelthorn is his first mate," Popi said with a shrug, as if this was common knowledge.

Maren and his mother’s jaws dropped simultaneously.

"Neve, is that true?" Maren asked, clearly shocked by this revelation.

Neve laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"I didn’t mean to hide it," he said. "I thought everyone would recognize the dragon bond mark."

He pointed at his neck where Vaelthorn’s mark was clearly visible. The last time, the former leopard chief, Cael’s father had recognised it before anyone else. He thought it would be the same everywhere, but he thought wrong.

Since the dragon king was someone who didn’t appear everywhere and was also old, surely, a lot of beastmen didn’t know much about dragons.

"Ha. I knew it. I recognized it earlier, but I thought it was just for fun or decoration," the woman said and smiled. "Please Neve, help us beg the dragon king to forgive us. We don’t want to be in the outcast territory anymore. We want to leave this cursed place."

"Ah sure," Neve said, and he squinted his eyes like it would somehow help his communication with Vaelthorn. It was a silly gesture but it helped him focus.

"Don’t do that Neve," Vaelthorn’s voice came again, sounding amused. "I see you’re pregnant. Ha. I knew it. That damn leopard beat me to it. He managed to put his cubs you before I could. I’m irritated by that."

Neve could hear the jealousy in the dragon’s tone.

"Just leave Cael alone and answer the question," Neve said aloud, making everyone stare at him like he was crazy. "Do you forgive them? Will you lift the curse or punishment?"

There was a pause before Vaelthorn answered.

"What should I do, Neve? I wanted them to suffer for more years as punishment," Vaelthorn said. "But it seems all the causes of the problem are dead now, except Maren. If I’m able to kill him, I would forgive them all."

"No!" Neve yelled out loud, his voice sharp and commanding.

"No?" Vaelthorn asked, sounding surprised. "You’re refusing my terms?"

"I can’t let you lay a hand on Maren," Neve said firmly. "Why do you think killing him would relieve you? He’s not the same person who hurt you. He’s not the one who deserves to die."

Maren gasped when he heard that Neve had just defended him. His mother’s grip tightened weakly around Maren’s wrist, her emotions overwhelming her.

"I wonder," Vaelthorn said, and Neve could hear him yawn. "Just handle it as you see fit, my dear Neve. After all, you’re my mate. I trust your judgment. I’ll see you by Spring Festival. Make sure you surprise me with something good."

And then Neve felt something like a disconnection from the dragon. The presence that had been touching his mind withdrew gently.

His cheeks flushed red as he felt something like pride rise in his chest. Vaelthorn had just called him his mate. He had just said that he trusted Neve’s judgment. He had just agreed to let Neve handle the situation however he saw fit.

Neve wished everyone had heard that. He wished everyone had heard the dragon king declare that Neve was his mate.

"Why are you red?" Popi asked, staring at Neve’s flushed face.

"Ah," Neve snapped out of his thoughts and turned to Maren and his mother. "Vaelthorn said I could do what I want. He said to handle it as I see fit."

"So, you’re going to let us leave the outcast territory?" Maren asked hopefully. "You’re going to let us go free?"

"Yes and no!" Neve said suddenly, an idea forming in his mind.

Maren suddenly frowned, confusion clear on his face.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"Hear me out," Neve said, his voice becoming more confident and assured. "I’m going to build my own tribe. A new tribe where different beastmen are welcomed. Everyone can live in harmony. Everyone can coexist peacefully without oppression or fear."

He paused, looking at each of them.

"So, I’d like you to leave the outcast territory and join me instead," he said. "Help me build this new tribe. Help me create a place where the outcasts can finally be accepted."

Everyone stood there frozen like Neve had just dropped a bomb, because he just did.