The Redmane village pulsed with life. Torches lined the central square, their light dancing off furs, stone idols, and painted hides. The Fangmaw's carcass had been dragged in triumphantly and now lay mounted as a grim trophy, its serpent head gaping toward the night sky.
For the goblins, this was more than victory — it was a declaration. No longer were they outsiders skulking in shadows. Tonight, they were part of something greater.
---
The fires burned high, and the scent of roasting meat and sweetroot brew filled the air. Goblins and beastmen sat shoulder to shoulder around long wooden tables. Redmanes sang guttural songs of battle, their voices rumbling like drums. Goblins, shy at first, slowly joined in, their high-pitched voices weaving awkwardly with the booming chants.
Mira sat beside Kaelen, the Redmane chief, trading stories of old battles. Rugo gnawed noisily on a massive bone, his wolfish grin unbothered by the disapproving stares of some nearby lions. Elira sipped carefully from a carved horn, muttering about the "toxicity of fermented root" but blushing when teased.
And Luminus — at the head of the table beside Kaelen — observed it all. His body shimmered faintly in the firelight, tendrils resting calmly on the table's edge. He had expected hostility, suspicion. Instead, he saw goblins laughing with foxfolk, a wolf-rider arm wrestling a Redmane warrior, children sneaking scraps to the wolves.
Yet, beneath the joy, Luminus felt the unease lingering in the air — like smoke hidden beneath a feast's sweetness. The Fangmaw's trial had proven their worth, but not all hearts were swayed.
---
As the feast reached its height, a horn blew from the edge of the village. Conversations hushed. The Redmane guards shifted uneasily.
Out of the shadows strode figures draped in fur and bone. Not lions this time, but **other beastmen tribes.**
A towering bear-man led them, his fur silvered with age but his shoulders broad as a tree trunk. At his side padded a sleek tigress with stripes that seemed to ripple with every movement. Behind them came jackals, boars, and even a pair of hawk-headed warriors whose wings bristled with tension.
Kaelen rose immediately, his mane bristling. "Highclaw. Stormstripe. You come unbidden."
The bear-chief's deep growl carried across the square. "Word spreads fast, Kaelen. You let goblins share your fire. You call them kin. We came to see if the whispers are true — or if you have lost your mind."
A ripple of murmurs surged through the Redmanes. The tigress stepped forward, her amber eyes sharp. "We smelled the Fangmaw's blood before we reached your borders. Did these… creatures truly fight beside you to slay it?" She pointed a claw toward the goblins, her voice laced with disdain.
Mira's hand went to her blade. Rugo stood, lips curled into a snarl. The tension was thick, ready to snap.
But Kaelen lifted his claw, silencing them. His golden eyes locked with the gathered chiefs. "They fought. They bled. They proved themselves. By our law, none may doubt their place here."
The bear-chief rumbled low. "Then let them prove it before more than your Redmanes." His gaze swept the firelit square. "Let them take the **Oath Before the Flame.**"
---
A hush fell over the village. Even the Redmanes grew tense at the words.
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "That rite has not been called in a generation."
"Then call it now," the tigress pressed. "If this slime-lord and his kin truly seek unity, let them swear it before the sacred flame, where lies cannot stand. If their words are false, the fire will burn them away."
All eyes turned to Luminus.
The slime lord considered the roaring bonfire in the center of the square. He could feel its heat even from here, ancient, pulsing with more than just flame. There was power in it — old magic, older than the beastmen themselves.
Mira leaned close, whispering urgently. "This could be a trap. If the flame burns liars, what if they simply call us false no matter what?"
Rugo cracked his knuckles. "Then we fight our way out. Simple."
But Luminus remained calm, his tendrils coiling thoughtfully. "No. We came seeking trust. If this is their law, we meet it head on."
He turned his gaze to Kaelen. "I will swear it."
A murmur swept through the crowd. Some beastmen sneered, others whispered with unease. Kaelen gave a slow nod, respect flickering in his eyes.
---
The tribe gathered around the sacred fire. A ring of stones encircled the bonfire, carved with ancient runes glowing faintly in the flames' light. The other chiefs stood as witnesses, their warriors watching intently.
Kaelen stepped forward first, claws raised. "I, Kaelen of the Redmane, swear before the Flame of Ancestors that I recognize the bond between my people and the goblins. Should I betray this oath, let the fire consume me."
The flames flared, burning gold for a moment, then settled. No harm came to him.
Now it was Luminus's turn. He slid forward, his core pulsing with steady light. His voice echoed with calm resolve.
"I, Luminus, lord of the goblins, swear before the Flame of Ancestors that my kin will not prey upon beastmen flesh, nor betray the bonds forged in blood and trial. Should I betray this oath, let the fire consume me."
For a heartbeat, the flames roared high, licking hungrily toward him. Goblins gasped. Beastmen leaned forward, eager to see slime burn.
But then — the fire calmed, glowing a deep emerald. The runes shone brighter, and a ripple of warmth spread outward through the circle.
The oath had been accepted.
The bear-chief grunted, folding his arms. "So the fire speaks. Hmph. Then perhaps you are more than filth in the mud."
The tigress's frown remained, but even she bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. Around the square, beastmen let out roars, howls, and growls of approval.
For the first time, goblins stood under the sacred flame, not as trespassers or enemies — but as allies.
---
As the celebration roared back to life, Luminus stood quietly at the fire's edge, feeling its warmth seep into his core. Mira joined him, her eyes wary.
"You realize what this means, don't you? You've tied us to their fate. If war comes for them, it comes for us too."
Luminus's form shimmered faintly, his voice calm but firm. "War was always coming. Better to meet it with allies than alone."
From the treeline, unseen by most, a pair of hawk-headed scouts whispered to one another before taking flight into the night. Their wings carried news far beyond the forest.
And somewhere in the darkness, beyond beastmen lands, other powers stirred — men, demons, and forces yet unnamed. The fire of alliance had been lit… and many eyes now turned toward its flame.