Two days later, under the dusky sky, in the middle of a dozen bonfires that crackled and cast dancing shadows across the gathered faces, Victor stood next to the girl whom he had desired, dressed in a white armour with golden highlights that her father had gifted to him.
As the Barbarians were a Warrior Race, even their weddings were Warrior-Like, where both the bride and the groom would get married in their Armours.
Elsa, who was nearly seven feet tall, slightly taller than Victor himself, was dressed in brilliant red armour with golden highlights.
And it was none other than the Nemeron Patriarch, who was officiating their Wedding Vows.
Those who had known Victor for years were trying their best to not giggle or laugh out loud at how serious he was pretending to be right now, standing next to his bride with his chest padded up in pride.
By the looks of the things, his seriousness, coupled with his handsomeness, especially since he looked like a Warrior, was working like a charm on the Nemeron ladies, who were all throwing him curious glances.
It was the same for Elsa as well, who was sneaking glances at him from time to time.
She had only taken a minute to reach the decision to marry Victor when her father came to talk to her. It was not out of infatuation or love, and truthfully, she had no such feelings towards Victor right now.
Her decision was solely based on the well-being of her family, and having lost all her children in the last few years, she wanted more.
By the looks of the things, poor Victor was going to be at her mercy when they consummate their marriage tonight. She was likely going to suck him dry and not let him breathe until he gets her pregnant.
Barbarians were quite free-willed people, and the women did not suppress their sexuality. They were aggressive, honest, and demanding to their mates, who were more than ever ready to give in to their demands because of their natural charm.
It was said that where every other Tribe had ten children every year, a Barbarian tribe of the same size would have five times their number of children in the same year.
The men were virile and the women were fertile like no other Ashaya race.
Unfortunately for Elsa, it was not going to be easy for her to have his children right now.
He was someone Divine, whereas she was just another Ashaya. There was less than a 0% chance that her eggs would survive his sperm and not get obliterated in the process of fertilisation.
For her to be able to have his children, she would, at least, have to pass her Second Desolation, or make use of some special treasure.
There were spells too, but the Barbarian Race were unlikely to know about those Magical Arts. These were things that were secret to the most Noble Wizarding Families of the Heavens, secrets to creating new Bloodlines.
As Keith watched them take their Vows, a smile crossed his face as a plan formed in his mind.
He glanced to his left, where Harud was nervously standing next to a girl, who was holding onto his arm.
Following his eyes, Kiara and Ingvild looked at the young Mir as well, and they could not hold back their giggles.
Harud blushed when he heard their voice and tried to free his arm from Reha's hold, but the Barbarian Princess did not let him go.
He was now regretting why he teased this girl in the morning when Victor's Wedding was being finalised.
She did not behave like a girl at all and was a little too bold. And now, she was sticking to his side like she was his Shadow.
Perhaps, if it was another girl, he would have continued teasing her, but Reha was way too blunt and straightforward.
She had already told him that since she had named him as her mate, she was his now. And that he should not hold back and give her a baby soon.
Harud knew that her words were not a joke even though she was being playful with him. Her words were deadly serious, and she really wanted what she was saying.
Barbarians were just this simple.
"The more he resists her, the more comfortable she will feel around him," Kashish commented, shaking her head as she smiled at her brother's foolishness.
Perhaps, at first, Reha had named him her mate out of impulse, but after seeing that Harud had not jumped on her offer, she genuinely became interested in him. It was a game for her now, a challenge, and the more he resisted her advances, the more her heart felt at ease.
He was not lecherous, lustful, and depraved like other men, and even though he was being flirtatious with her in the morning, he had not touched her.
Harud suddenly sighed at his predicament and sighed more when he sensed Reha smile at his expression.
The Young Mir felt that he needed to have a very serious talk with this girl but now was not the right time.
Up on the wooden platform, Victor and Elsa shared their kiss, and everyone started cheering for him, making him finally lose his fake seriousness and blush hard.
And just as he blushed, Elsa pulled him harder into a kiss, and only let go of him when she left him breathless.
"Now I am worried for him." Celine mischievously said, and the girls around her started laughing at the images that crossed their minds.
However, it was only the start of the evening, and things became even more joyous when everyone started drinking in celebration, the rich aroma of spiced ale filling the air.
Two hours later, Sebastian and Harud picked up Victor and threw him inside the Cabin that had been specially created for him and his bride. And the Barbarian ladies of the Nemeron Family did the same with Elsa.
Sadly for some of them, the Cabin was shrouded in barriers that prevented them from hearing Victor's cries, but they soon continued the celebrations and shared some more drinks.
Little Gigi, together with Sebastian's son, Michael, and the other Barbarian Kids, danced around a small bonfire, and they had the attention of the crowd, who were cheering on them.
"It's a strange world." Qingyue, who was sitting next to Keith and Amelia, suddenly said, and her words made both of them curiously look at her.
"Why do you say that?" Her sister-wife asked.
"They lost most of their family, their home, have only three living men, and everyone is either an orphan or a widow. Yet, they are happy, enjoying themselves to the fullest at a wedding."
"Is that a bad thing or a good thing?" Keith smiled.
"I don't know. I feel that for these kids, a happy moment like this was needed, but for the adults, it seems rather..." She hesitated.
"Disrespectful to the memory of their fallen?" Amelia finished her words, and Qingyue frowned before nodding her head.
"I was not expecting Elsa to agree to hold the wedding right away. She lost her husband and her kids..."
"You feel this way because you can not imagine yourself in her shoes."
Even his mere reminder of this thing ached her heart and she felt suffocated.
"But that's the difference between Mortals and the Divine." He said, smiling a little. "It does not mean that they are ungrateful or disrespectful, but that they have their own values, based on their lives which are vastly different from ours. Elsa has not married Victor because she loves him or desires him. She is just doing her duty to her family. She made her choice and she wants to be sincere in her choice. Besides, she wants to have children again."
"Barbarians consider it a wasted life if you die without leaving your legacy behind." Amelia quickly reminded her. "And there's nothing wrong in being happy on a happy occasion. However, if you pay closer attention, you will find that the eyes of these adults drift to their youngsters now and then, and their smiles become brighter at seeing their smiles."
When she said these words, Qingyue observed things in a new light and felt a little embarrassed in her heart for having judged the Zurks.
They were only happy because their children were happy, and it was clear on the faces of the ladies that they were missing their men, whom they had lost.
"When are you going to wed Emra to Victor?"
"Not anytime soon." The grey-eyed Eldeilyon informed her sister-wife. "Maybe a few months later, when we are at the Academy. Victor is happy right now, and his bride deserves his complete attention, at least, for a while."
"I agree." Amelia smiled at her. "And what gift are we giving them?"
"Minami has prepared the gifts on behalf of our family," Keith informed them, and they both surprisedly looked at him.
"What?" Qingyue asked.
"Two Yellow Lightning Tigers. A pair. Both are Six-Star Martial Beasts, and the Tigress is pregnant with three cubs."
"Where did she find them?" Amelia was very surprised, and even the grey-eyed Eldeilyon was shocked at the news.
"In the Forest. She and Kashish have been going out and collecting Beasts if they come across anything good."
"So that's where they disappear every night." Qingyue laughed and then glanced at her sisters, who were sitting around a bonfire with the rest of the family, pulling Harud's leg and teasing the girl who was sticking around him like his Shadow. "Usually he behaves so confident around other girls, but he does not even dare to look at Reha now."
"He is not used to dealing with girls who are blunt." Keith chuckled. "He will be fine. And he likes her."
"Well, she is beautiful." Amelia nodded her head.
"He likes her?"
"Yes." He nodded. "He is not really trying to get rid of her."
"I suppose you are right." Qingyue smiled as she looked at the boy again, who was like her brother, but then frowned a little.
They were going to leave this place in a couple of days, and Harud planned on staying in Westesia.
"She can't stay here. I don't think it would be safe for a Zurk to be present in their Guild."
"Don't worry about it." Keith comforted her. "If Reha wants to stay with him, she can. She can easily pass as a Nemerus of the Crystal City."
"But wouldn't that attract the Nemerus Family's attention?"
"That's what I want." He nodded to her, and then teasingly smiled. "Maybe Harud should consider taking Reha as his Shadow."
He deliberately conveyed his words to the group where the boy was sitting, and as soon as he heard these words, he froze.
And sure enough, the girls started entertaining the idea and began trying to convince him that it was not a bad idea.