Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 — The Dance

Chapter 74 — The Dance

As Victor and Moonlight entered the area where the festival was taking place, the sound of music immediately surrounded them.

Several musicians sat near one side of the gathering, playing instruments Victor didn’t recognize. The rhythm was slower than the pounding drums he had heard during the Festival of Mana.

Victor’s eyes moved toward the center of the celebration.

Then he stopped.

Men and women were dancing together.

Victor stared for a moment.

This wasn’t anything like the dancing he had witnessed during the Festival of Mana.

The couples moved slowly together beneath the soft light of the cavern, their movements following the gentle rhythm of the music. It was closer to the slow dances Victor remembered from his life on Earth than anything he had expected to find inside a hidden tribal village beneath the forest.

Victor slowly turned his head toward Moonlight.

Moonlight was already looking down.

A faint blush had appeared across her face.

For a brief moment, Moonlight glanced toward Victor.

Then she quickly looked away again.

Victor noticed.

And internally...

He was panicking.

Oh, no.

Victor looked back toward the dancers.

Then toward Moonlight.

Then back toward the dancers.

He had faced monsters.

He had fought for his life.

He had survived the Mana Lock Prison.

He had been strapped to a sacrificial altar while a shaman prepared to cut his heart from his chest.

And somehow...

This was making him more nervous than any of it.

Victor would have honestly preferred fighting a horde of monsters.

Dancing required something Victor had never managed to understand.

There was no turning back now, though.

The dance itself didn’t appear particularly difficult. There were no complicated movements or impossible steps. The couples simply moved slowly together, following the rhythm of the music.

A little footwork.

That was all.

And with Victor’s cultivation, surely he could manage something that simple.

Hopefully.

Victor looked toward Moonlight.

She was still standing beside him.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then he slowly raised his hand.

Victor looked directly into Moonlight’s eyes.

”Can I have this dance?”

Moonlight looked up.

And Victor froze.

For a brief moment, he had forgotten everything else.

The soft glow of the luminescent stones reflected across Moonlight’s face. It caught in her hair and shimmered faintly in her eyes, making them seem almost as though they were sparkling beneath the cavern’s gentle light.

Victor swallowed.

He had always known Moonlight was beautiful.

But tonight...

Something felt different.

Victor suddenly became very aware of the fact that his hand was still hanging in the air.

And that Moonlight was waiting for him.

Her face turned slightly redder.

Then she slowly placed her hand into his.

Victor felt another wave of panic.

But he didn’t let it show.

He gently led Moonlight toward the dance floor.

The closer they moved toward the center, the more nervous Victor became.

Fortunately, there were plenty of other couples dancing around them.

That was good.

Very good.

If he made a mistake, there would be plenty of people around to make it less obvious.

Victor stepped into the middle of the dancers.

Then—

Everything changed.

Someone noticed him.

Victor didn’t immediately realize what was happening.

But then one couple stopped dancing.

Another followed.

And suddenly, the entire dance floor began clearing.

Victor’s eyes widened.

One by one, the dancers stepped away.

Several lowered their heads.

Others gave small bows before moving toward the edge of the gathering.

Within seconds...

Victor and Moonlight were standing alone.

Victor stared at the empty dance floor.

Then slowly turned toward the crowd.

Everyone was watching.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

He had been grateful for the other dancers.

He had needed the other dancers.

Now, instead of having people around to hide behind if he made a mistake, the entire tribe was standing around the edge of the dance floor watching him.

Victor slowly looked toward Moonlight.

Moonlight looked equally surprised.

Then Victor let out a quiet breath.

There was nothing he could do about it.

So he began.

Victor watched the movements of the couples nearest to the edge of the floor, quickly memorizing the simple steps.

The dance wasn’t complicated.

He simply had to follow the rhythm.

Moonlight stepped closer.

Victor raised one hand.

Moonlight placed hers against his shoulder.

Victor’s other hand moved toward her waist.

Then stopped.

Victor’s eyes widened slightly.

Moonlight noticed.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

Victor looked at her.

”Don’t laugh.”

”I’m not.”

”You are.”

Moonlight’s smile widened.

Victor sighed.

Then he finally placed his hand gently against her waist.

Then they began moving.

Slowly at first.

Victor carefully followed the rhythm of the music.

Moonlight moved with him.

Before long, Victor realized the dance really wasn’t as difficult as he had expected.

His cultivation made controlling his body easier than it had ever been before. His movements gradually became more natural, and soon, he wasn’t thinking about every individual step.

The music continued.

The crowd remained around them.

But eventually...

Victor stopped paying attention.

He stopped worrying about whether he was embarrassing himself.

He stopped thinking about everyone watching.

Instead...

He simply looked at Moonlight.

The two continued moving slowly beneath the soft light of the cavern.

Moonlight looked up at him.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Moonlight was right in front of him.

After a moment, Moonlight slowly rested her head against his chest.

Victor froze.

Just for a second.

Then his body relaxed.

His hand remained gently against her waist as they continued moving together.

Victor looked down slightly.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

The music eventually began to slow.

Moonlight lifted her head.

The two looked at each other.

Then, without a word, they slowly stepped away from the center of the dance floor.

The surrounding villagers began moving again.

The celebration continued.

Victor and Moonlight walked toward the edge of the gathering.

For a few moments, they simply stood together, listening to the music and watching the celebration around them.

Then Moonlight turned toward him.

Her expression became slightly mysterious.

”There’s somewhere I want to show you.”

Victor raised an eyebrow.

”Somewhere?”

Moonlight nodded.

”I think you’ll enjoy it.”

Victor looked toward the village.

Then back at her.

He gave her a small nod.

”All right.”

Moonlight turned and began walking away from the celebration.

Victor followed beside her.

Behind them, the music continued playing.

And together, the two disappeared into the softly illuminated paths of the village.