By the time Mira arrived at the Dragon Tribe territory, she was already panting so hard her lungs felt like they were on fire.
Fuck… how unlucky was she?!
The beast wolf her parents instructed to bring her to the ceremony had taken off at the assigned time — the exact time Mira missed because she was peacefully sleeping like a log.
She had brushed it off at first, thinking she could simply find another transport beast. But she was wrong. Completely, terribly wrong. It looked like every single beast in existence had been invited to this ceremony. She searched, asked around, circled the area, but there wasn't a single free transport beast left.
At some point she genuinely considered turning back home to continue her sleep. It was tempting — painfully tempting — but her father's warning echoed harshly in her mind.
Urgh. It pained her soul that she couldn't defy this particular order.
Left with no other choice, she asked Stella about the distance to the Dragon Tribe.
Stella responded in her flat but brutally honest tone:
[Host, although the distance is not far because both clans share the closest border… if what I think you intend to do is truly what you intend to do, then you have a very long walk ahead of you.]
Mira bit her lip so hard she almost tasted blood. Stella's words alone were discouraging, but she knew the system was right. Still, she had no other option…
And now here she was — standing in front of the Dragon Tribe's gates, panting hard not only from exhaustion but from the overwhelming wave of relief flooding her body. She needed a moment — just a moment — to catch her breath.
Only after steadying herself did she step inside.
Instantly, she noticed how different the structures were compared to her Fox Clan. The buildings here looked almost grown, not built — tall wooden frames curved like rising serpents, walls woven from tightly braided vines that shimmered with dark green patterns resembling scales. Some houses rested high above the ground on thick, coiling trunks shaped like giant dragon tails, giving them a raised, watchful presence. Smooth stones formed winding paths like slithering trails, and long banners made of shed Dragon skins fluttered from posts.
Beautiful in a quiet, eerie way.
And definitely fitting for Dragons.
She continued walking until she reached the leader's household — the residence of Beast King Kade and his family — where the ceremony was being held.
From afar she saw the gathering: a mix of beastfolk chatting, laughing, adjusting clothes, stretching limbs. Decorations were simple — bowls of burning herbs placed at corners, wooden torches coiled with vines, and a wide open clearing where the ceremony would take place. It wasn't a grand royal event. More like a traditional tribe rite meant for community bonding, not luxury. Casual, natural, very Beastworld type.
Mira slipped inside the gathering area. People were still arriving, chattering, and preparing. It looked like she was early. Good. That meant she could find her parents — or at least her father — and let him know she arrived on time.
She took one step forward.
Then a loud voice echoed:
"Beast King Kade has arrived!"
Everyone immediately straightened, bowing slightly or placing their fists over their chests in respect.
Mira froze.
Then she saw him.
Beast King Kade stepped into view in his human form — tall, broad-shouldered, with deep green eyes that glowed faintly. His shoulder length hair was green, falling loosely around his shoulders in a way that gave him a cold, sharp, almost seductive presence. His clothes were simple but carried authority — a black robe with scaled patterns on the sleeves, and an aura that wrapped around him like a silent demand for obedience. Every step he took made the air tighten.
Mira's eyes widened.
Even though the original Mira had known him, she herself had no visual memory of his face. She had not expected him to be young. Handsome. Hot.
How was no one screaming about how hot this man was?!
She mentally slapped herself.
Focus, Mira! Focus. This is not the time to be thirsting over a fire breathing dragon king!
Still… the thought that such a young, intimidatingly attractive man made her father tremble like a frightened rabbit?
That was unexpectedly pleasing.
Her internal distraction snapped when Kade finally spoke, his voice cold but smooth:
"Welcome. Thank you for honoring the Dragon Tribe. May the shifting ceremony begin."
Before she could even register those words… it happened.
All around her, beastfolk roared, growled, hissed, yipped — every sound imaginable — as they shifted into their beast forms. Massive creatures burst forth, some tearing through their clothes as their bodies expanded or morphed.
Just when she thought she had seen everything, bones cracked again — and suddenly they all shifted back to human form.
Naked.
Stark. Naked.
And they didn't even care.
Mira could see things — all sizes. Small. Big. Tiny. Huge. Large.
Fuck, Mira stop looking—
What on earth was this ceremony supposed to be?! She could guess from the name, sure, but it definitely didn't explain everything that was going on here.
Most importantly…
WHY THE HELL WAS SHE INVITED TO THIS KIND OF PARTY WHEN SHE COULDN'T EVEN SHIFT?!
Honestly, if she didn't know better, she'd think Kade did this just to mock her. But she doubted someone like him even remembered she existed — and if he did, it was because of their embarrassing first encounter.
As she tried to figure out what she was witnessing, drums suddenly began. Beastfolk beat on wooden bowls, carved stumps, bones — creating a lively rhythm. Everyone started dancing, shifting in and out of beast form to the beat.
Her eyes scanned the crowd until she spotted her parents and sister — happily shifting and dancing like the rest.
Wow.
This was actually funny.
Especially because the Beast King who organized this whole madness wasn't even participating. He sat on a high coiled-wood platform, his green eyes half-lidded as he watched the crowd with a faint grin.
Mira felt rage crawl up her spine.
She was furious. Extremely furious.
She had walked over a hundred miles for a ceremony she couldn't even partake in.
A stupid ceremony.
A naked one.
With dancing beasts.
Mira felt furious. Extremely furious.
And now — as if the universe wasn't done torturing her — her bladder suddenly felt like it was about to explode.
All the water she drank during her journey had finally become her enemy. She couldn't ignore it anymore. She needed to pee. Badly.
So she slipped outside, searching for a secluded area. She found what looked like bushes, but upon closer look, it was actually a small farm — a mini plantation.
She knew she wasn't supposed to pee there.
But at this point? Too late.
The moment she crouched, it all came pouring out — on fruits, on vegetables, on whatever plants were unfortunate enough to be beneath her.
Right now she didn't care. Relief was everything.
Until—
Footsteps.
Approaching.
Fast.
Fuck.
Mira froze.
Someone was coming into the mini farm?
Why?!
Why here?! Why now?! Why weren't they inside doing the stupid shifting ritual?!
What was she supposed to do?
She wasn't done.
She couldn't stop mid-stream.
And she also could NOT be caught urinating on a mini farm — worst of all, a Beast King's mini farm.
As her panic rose, a ding echoed in her head.
[New mission: Save Beast King Kade's life]
[Mission failure consequence: Going blind for 160 hours]
Wait.
WHAT?!
Why was the system suddenly talking about that man when she was in a this big of a crisis?!
WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON?!
Her chaotic thoughts screeched to a stop when she heard the same footsteps suddenly appear right behind her.
Before she could even move, a cold voice spoke:
"What the hell are you doing here?"