The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when the first rhythmic thumping of the drums began to vibrate through the stone floor of Lin Wan’s cottage. It wasn’t the steady, war-like beat of the North; this was a syncopated, restless Southern rhythm that felt like a heartbeat.

"Weiwei, tell me the truth," Lin Wan muttered, staring at herself in the small, polished bronze mirror she’d coaxed out of the system. "Do I look like I’m about to be sacrificed or celebrated?"

[Statistically, Host, you look like a high-value asset in a state of moderate repair,]Weiwei’s voice chirped, sounding refreshed after Lin’s "rice and spice" bribe from the night before.

[The inflammation is down 80%. With the hair crown and the mask, you look less like a plague victim and more like a mysterious noblewoman. Though, I must remind you, the baby’s nutritional demands are spiking. Don’t forget to eat.]

"As if my stomach would let me forget," Lin sighed. She adjusted the star-shaped blue flower at her temple. The complex, Game of Thrones-inspired braid felt heavy but regal, a literal crown made of her own hair. She took a final, steadying breath. "Backbone straight. Let’s go."

’Talking about dragons, I wonder if there’s dragons in here’

The moment Lin Wan stepped into the central square, the world died.

The roaring laughter of tribesmen vanished. The clatter of stone cups, the shouting of hunters, even the music itself seemed to trip over its own feet and fall into silence. A sea of eyes, amber, emerald, and predatory crimson, all swiveled toward the entrance of the plaza.

Lin Wan felt a cold, prickling sensation wash over her skin. The self-consciousness hit her like a physical blow. ’Is my hem torn? Is my hair lopsided? Am I wearing the mask upside down?’ She felt like a specimen under a microscope.

"Oh, look at that," a loud, sharp voice rang out, slicing through the silence. "The mud-bird actually has feathers."

Before Lin could find the source of the sneer, a tall woman with short, chocolate-brown hair marched through the crowd. She moved with a confident, rolling stride that made the males scramble out of her way. Behind her were three other females, each unique and striking.

"I’m Jia," the leader said, stopping in front of Lin Wan and planting her hands on her hips. She looked Lin up and down, a grin slowly spreading across her face. "And I have to say, I didn’t think anyone could pull off a veil with that much attitude. This is Lilly, Zhuzhu, and Ember. We heard Su Mei was planning to make your life a misery tonight, so we figured we’d get to you first. Want to be friends, or do you prefer standing here being stared at like a prize bison?"

Lin Wan blinked, her heart slowing down a fraction. "I’m Lin Wan. And honestly? Friends sound like a much better alternative to being bison."

"Good choice," Lilly said, her tawny braids swaying as she stepped forward. "Come on, we have the best seats near the fire. Let the males drool from a distance."

As they dragged Lin toward their seating area, she felt the weight of the collective gaze. She looked up, her eyes seeking the highest point in the square.

There, on a throne of dark timber, sat the Chief. He was watching her with a stillness that was terrifying. Remembering her internal vow to stay strong for the baby, Lin Wan didn’t look away. She lifted her chin and gave him a deliberate, firm nod of greeting.

The Chief’s silver ears twitched. A look of mild surprise crossed his face before he mirrored the nod, He raised a hand, and the music roared back to life.

"You’ve got guts," Ember whispered, her fiery-orange hair shimmering in the torchlight. "Nodding at the Chief like he’s just another male. Su Mei is going to be spitting fire when she hears about that."

"Speaking of Su Mei..." Lin Wan muttered, noticing the bunny-eared girl sitting just a few yards away, her face twisted in a sneer.

"Ignore her," Jia said, handing Lin a large rib. "The Southern tribes have evolved, you know. We don’t fear the fire like the nomads. We use it to celebrate. Try the meat; the Rhino tribe hunters brought it in this morning."

Lin took a bite, but her expression faltered. It was hot and juicy, but it was just... meat. A little bit of salt, a little bit of wild pepper, but no depth. Her tongue, pampered by the spices of her old world and the secret cooking from the night before, felt bored.

"What’s the matter?" Lilly asked, tilting her head. "Not to your liking?"

"It’s good," Lin Wan started carefully, "but I have something in my cottage... something cool. It’s a combination of dried plants and minerals. If we added it to the fire, it would make the meat taste like a dream."

A sharp, mocking laugh erupted from the next table. Su Mei stood up, her white ears pinned back. "Did you hear that, everyone? The new female thinks our hunters’ meat isn’t good enough! She wants to add her ’secret plants’ to it. Maybe she wants to make us all look as ’pretty’ as she does under that mask!" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Mei-Ling and Sia, Su Mei’s followers, erupted into giggles.

Lin Wan felt the irritation flare in her chest. She looked at Su Mei, who was preening under the attention of the surrounding males. Lin let out a soft, sharp ’tsk!’ and stood up.

"Another Mei Xiu," she muttered under her breath.

"Who?" Zhuzhu asked, confused.

"Nobody," Lin said, her eyes flashing. "Just a ghost from my past. I’m going to get my things. Jia, do you want to see how real food is made?"

"I’ll go with you!" Lilly jumped up, eager to get away from Su Mei’s shrieking.

When they returned fifteen minutes later, the rumors had already spread like wildfire through the plaza. Su Mei had told everyone, exaggerating every word, that Lin Wan claimed she could "touch" the meat and make it magical. The hunters looked offended, the elders looked curious, and the crowd was buzzing.

Lin Wan ignored them. She walked straight to a side table where raw, unroasted haunches of bison and deer were piled high. She pulled four small pouches from her sleeves.

"What are those?" a male hunter asked, leaning in close.

"Cumin, curry, garlic, and sea salt," Lin Wan replied, her voice ringing out across the quiet square. She began to rub the mixture into the raw meat. The scent was already starting to rise, even before it touched the heat.

"She’s ruining perfectly good meat," Su Mei called out, her voice loud and desperate.

"Chief! Are you really going to let an ugly stranger ruin the feast?"

The Chief didn’t answer. He was leaning forward, his nose twitching.

The moment the seasoned meat hit the roaring central fire, a transformation occurred. A thick, rich, savory aroma exploded into the air. It wasn’t just the smell of fat; it was the scent of civilization. The nutty, earthy smell of the cumin mixed with the sharp bite of the garlic and the warm glow of the curry.

Every head in the square turned. Males who had been halfway through a meal stopped chewing. The "wolf-whistles" and whispers died, replaced by a collective, loud stomach-growl that seemed to vibrate through the earth.

Lin Wan sliced the first charred pieces and handed them to her new friends. "Be careful, it’s hot."

Ember took a bite and her eyes practically rolled back in her head. "Oh... my... gods. Lin Wan! I thought I knew what good food was, but I’ve been living a lie!"

"Give me some!" Jia demanded, snatching a piece. Her eyes widened. "Lin! If you opened a stall in the market with this, you’d be the richest person in the Sanctuary in three days!"

Lin Wan smiled behind her mask, but she didn’t stop. She roasted a larger portion, her movements fluid and confident. "Lilly," she whispered. "Can you get your husband to take this platter to the Chief and the elders table, please."

She knew the rules of the game. If you have a gift, you give it to the leader first.

As Lilly’s husband, a sturdy Rabbit-beastman, scurried up the steps to the dais, the elders were already salivating. They watched the girls and their husbands "wolfing" down the meat with a hunger that had nothing to do with empty stomachs.

When the Chief took his first bite, his entire body went still. He chewed slowly, his silver eyes narrowing as he processed the explosion of flavor. He looked at the elders, who were nodding frantically, their beards covered in juice.

The Chief looked back down at Lin Wan. He didn’t just see a female survivor anymore. He saw a revolutionary. He saw crystals, he saw trade, and he saw a way to make the Orycto tribe the center of the Southern world. He gestured for his guards to bring him more, his mind already spinning with ways to make sure this "ugly" female never left his sight.