Chapter 480: A Switch
"My name is Khüch Khan... Let me not beat around the bush," he looked at Benjamin in the eyes, his red ones fierce and intense, burning with a fire that spoke of decades of leadership and countless battles. "I only wish to favor the woman for what her kin did for my tribe long ago. But I also knew you will come one day... I need something different from you."
"..."
Benjamin knew he could handle most things anyone could throw at him.
He had faced down monsters that would make normal beings weep, survived encounters that should have killed him, and stared into the abyss without trembling many times.
His power was vast, his abilities formidable, his confidence unshakeable in most circumstances. But he was still nervous.
There was something about this situation that felt off, something that his instincts were screaming at him to pay attention to. The chief’s red eyes had held a desperation that belied his commanding presence, a need that went beyond simple pride or ambition.
"I want you to fight me, so I can prove to my people that I am worthy of being their leader."
RAHHH!! came the loud but disciplined noise from the tribesmen around.
The sound was deafening, a thunderous roar of approval that shook the very walls of the hall. Fists pounded against chests, weapons were raised in salute, and the assembled warriors chanted their chief’s name with fervent devotion.
The energy in the room was electric, charged with anticipation and excitement.
Benjamin wasn’t allowed to speak much and he was immediately taken outside to be prepared for the chief to come. Strong hands gripped his arms, guiding him through the crowd with firm insistence.
He could have resisted, could have broken free with a thought, but he allowed himself to be led. He was curious, intrigued by the strange turn of events, and he wanted to see where this would lead.
Meanwhile, the chief asked to be alone with Heka and Lei.
The request was made with a knowing smile, his red eyes glinting with something that might have been mischief.
The elders and officials exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from curiosity to understanding.
Smiling knowingly, the elders left the hall, their robes swishing against the stone floor as they filed out.
The young men blushing at the implied notion, their cheeks reddening as they imagined what might transpire behind closed doors.
The heavy wooden doors closed behind them with a resounding thud, sealing the three figures inside.
When they were absolutely sure no one was around, the chief did some sorcery that magically veiled the central palace area, so no one can barge in.
The air shimmered, and a translucent barrier rose around the hall, its surface rippling with arcane energy. The sounds of the outside world faded, replaced by an almost unnatural silence.
The three of them were completely alone, completely cut off from the rest of the tribe.
"I admire you, Khüch Khan..." Heka said quietly, her eyes closed and her fists clenched at her sides. Her voice was steady, controlled, but there was an undercurrent of tension beneath the calm surface. "But I am afraid I cannot let you go through with what you want from me today. I have my duties and responsibilities, and my loyalty to Benjamin. I will not betray his trust, no matter what you offer."
"Eh?! I have not even asked?!" Lei yelped, walking towards the glorified stool that was the throne. Her footsteps were quick, her expression one of alarm and confusion. "Please, reconsider! You do not even know what we were going to request!"
As Khüch Khan stood up from the throne, his massive frame unfolding with surprising grace, Lei sat on it confidently.
The contrast was jarring, the slender red-haired woman perched on the seat of power that had just been vacated by the formidable chief.
Her posture was relaxed, almost casual, as if she had every right to be there. But her beautiful face held a concerned streak, her red eyes darting between Heka and the silver-haired man beside the throne.
"I cannot agree. You yourself said I was the wife of Benjamin," Heka looked at Lei, her voice getting a little pissed. She was confused, frustrated, and more than a little annoyed at the strange turn of events. "Why then must you... Hm? Why are you sitting there? That is the chief’s seat. You should not be occupying it in his presence."
"Hm...? Oh! Of course, Neelei, explain!" Lei turned towards the large silver-haired man beside her, her voice carrying a note of command that seemed wholly inappropriate for a simple village girl addressing her chief.
He immediately dropped to one knee, fist to his chest: "At your command, chief!"
His voice was deep, resonant, but there was something deferential in it that did not match his imposing appearance.
Heka was starting to feel awkward, looking around if it was a sort of prank. Her eyes darted between the kneeling silver-haired giant and the red-haired woman on the throne, trying to make sense of the bizarre tableau before her.
She felt a bead of sweat trickle down her temple, and her heart was beginning to race with confusion.
"Allow me to explain, Lady Heka," Khüch began seriously, still on his knee. His red eyes were earnest, his voice sincere. "I am Neelei, the daughter of Galt. And my uncle there is Khüch Khan."
He gestured toward the woman on the throne, his face a mask of resigned embarrassment.
Heka fanned her face with her hand a little, feeling unusually sweaty.
Her mind was spinning, trying to process the information that had just been presented to her. "So... what is happening? Is this because I refused to enter a sexual relationship with you? I’m confused. I do not understand what any of this means."
"Sexual relationship?" The woman raised a brow. "Just allow her to finish speaking, please. You are jumping to conclusions that have no basis."
As the story went, Lei was practicing a particularly dangerous magic spell in the forest when her uncle, the Chief, was walking alone to get himself some peace and quiet.
He spotted her and approached, intending to check on his niece’s progress.
But that was the moment her spell went out of control, the arcane energy surging wildly, and they were both cursed immediately.
The magic had swapped their bodies, trapping each of them in the other’s form. Now Lei is Khüch, and Khüch is Lei, living each other’s lives in each other’s bodies.
"We have been living like this for nearly sixty moons (5 years) without any way to reverse it," The man spoke, but he was actually Neelei, his voice carrying the weariness of someone who had been trapped in a lie for too long. "We have travelled far and near, visited the closest shamans and priestesses... But the spell is particularly aggressive, resistant to all forms of counter-magic we have attempted. My uncle has made me not to reveal this secret to anyone else. He is too proud and concerned with his reputation."
"Wh-What did you expect?!" The woman, actually Khüch Khan, folded her arms, blushing adorably as she avoided Heka’s gaze. Her voice was gruff, defensive, utterly at odds with her delicate features. "It will tarnish my image as the capable leader of our tribe. And... my wives had been asking you to sleep with them for so long, you had to do it eventually. How do I tell them it wasn’t me doing the deed?! That said, I believe you understand the situation now, Heka."