Mock's Wedding

Chaos Era, 1822.

The Savage Plains.

"Congratulations, Moke! Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, Moke! Congratulations, Moke! Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, Moke..."

Liyana sang a rather bizarre melody.

The tune was so strange it made one's scalp crawl. Moke's mouth twitched uncontrollably, and the hand resting at his side quietly clenched into a fist.

But since she was offering him her blessings after all, Moke endured it and didn't punch her.

"So? How is it? I learned this from a bard at the tavern." Liyana winked at Moke, looking positively smug. "Sounds good, right?"

Moke took a deep breath and said nothing. The look on his face said it all.

For the first time in his life, he thought a bard could sing even worse than he did.

Beside him, Shila, dressed in a white wedding gown, covered her mouth with her hand, her laughter shaking her frame. Her pale pink rabbit ears trembled merrily as well. "Thank you, Liyana."

Today was the wedding of Moke and Shila.

The wedding was held on the Savage Plains.

The venue was set up in the central square of the town, a rugged stone platform surrounded by colorful banners flying on all sides.

This wasteland, once shrouded in perpetual desolation, had now grown into a thriving town. The low, crude houses made of packed yellow earth had been replaced with beautiful, sturdy brick-and-stone buildings. A sizable oasis had also formed nearby. These were all the results of Moke's efforts over the years.

The weather was lovely today—sunny and bright, but not uncomfortably hot, with no sandstorms blowing through... If it had been like usual with dust storming everywhere, they would have had to ask Aina to set up a massive barrier to block the dust.

After all these years, the members of the Dawn Wings had finally come together again, a rare reunion.

Originally, Moke had planned to hold his wedding right after Xia Lun's, but due to matters on the beastkin side, it had been delayed until now.

"Alright, Liyana, you may step down... Next, Xia Lun and his wife will offer their blessings to the bride and groom." Musen, serving as the master of ceremonies, announced. Today he wore a solemn gray-white robe, and a pastor's hat covered his bald head.

Before Liyana could start another round of antics, Musen tactfully ushered her off the stage.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Xia Lun walked up slowly, arm in arm with Aina.

Aina wore a dark crimson velvet gown, the simple cut perfectly accentuating her slender waist, with a delicate silver chain around her neck. Xia Lun was dressed in a dark brown suit, a fine blue brooch pinned to his lapel, a gentle smile on his lips.

"Captain Xia Lun..."

Moke instinctively straightened his back. Even though he had left the team years ago, facing his former captain still made him feel a hint of nervousness.

Xia Lun looked at Moke before him. His former teammate had been living on the Savage Plains for several years now. The wind, sand, and scorching sun had roughened his skin, but his eyes had grown steadier and more resolute. His once messy long hair had also been cut short, making him look clean and sharp.

"Congratulations."

Xia Lun simply reached out and patted Moke's shoulder. Just those two words, yet they carried years of camaraderie and recognition.

Of course, Xia Lun wouldn't pull any silly stunts like Liyana.

"Thank you, Xia Lun." A genuine smile finally broke through Moke's tense face—a rare sight indeed.

Meanwhile, Aina brought out the gift the two had prepared together: a crystal of vivid green, inside which was etched a wind barrier that Aina had carved herself.

"Lady Ankula recently became the mayor of Olcity and is too busy to come in person, but she has also sent her blessings and gifts for the bride and groom..." Musen continued in his measured, sonorous tone.

Ankula's gift was a full chest of carefully refined potions, with detailed instructions labeled on each one—specially developed to improve the soil of the Savage Plains and promote plant growth in barren land. A truly thoughtful gift.

Once Moke's side was done, the bride Shila's people were already rolling up their sleeves.

"Boy, you ready?"

Vic grinned a ferocious grin, cracking his knuckles. The members of the Savage Fang gathered around him, chuckling darkly, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense and charged.

The beastkin were mostly tall, most standing close to two meters, looming over Moke like a wall of flesh, casting a shadow over him.

Moke felt a chill run down his spine and swallowed nervously.

This was a beastkin wedding tradition—for Moke to take Shila away, he had to prove his strength and courage.

In short: a fight.

"All of you, watch it!" Shila's red eyes shot a ferocious glare at her teammates and friends. "Don't actually get hurt."

The lions, tigers, and leopards of the beastkin tribes suddenly became much more subdued under the little rabbit's fierce gaze, their faces breaking into shy, honest grins.

It wasn't a real fight, of course—just for show, a performance.

The moment they clashed with Moke, the beastkin would all cooperate and fling themselves backward... Generally, the farther they flew, the more exaggerated their acting, the more it showcased the groom's strength, and the more sincere their blessings for the newlyweds.

"Wow, so strong, Moke!" Liyana even joined in to stir up the atmosphere.

In fact, given this tradition, there had been cases in beastkin society where someone unsatisfied with a marriage resorted to real fighting and stealing the bride...

But that wouldn't happen to Moke.

Vic, the ringleader, went through the motions of trading a few blows with Moke before clutching his chest, staggering backward a few steps, and collapsing to the ground.

Vic was extremely strong—if they truly fought, Moke wouldn't stand a chance.

At last, Moke passed through the sprawled beastkin warriors and made his way to Shila's side.

"Shila, do you..."

Moke took a deep breath, about to recite the vows he had rehearsed for so long, but Shila cut him off with a sudden move.

The little rabbit lunged forward, landing precisely in Moke's arms, throwing her arms around his neck and standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips. The kiss came suddenly and passionately. Moke froze on the spot, his ears turning visibly red.

"Marry me!" Shila pulled back her lips but still clung tightly to his neck, her crimson eyes fixed on him, her tone commanding and absolute. "If you say no, I'll punch you!"

Moke nodded, slightly stunned.

Around them, the beastkin warriors of the Savage Fang slowly rose to their feet, brushing the dust off their clothes.

Aina raised a finger, and a swirl of green wind arced toward the distant bell tower, where a deep, resonant chime rang out.

Then a thunderous wave of cheers and applause followed.