Observing their expectant expressions, Celia's head nodded in affirmation, her response resonating through the stillness of the night. "Yes," she uttered, the sound of her own voice lingering in the air. "I am."
Meanwhile, Ingrid, despite recognizing the seriousness of what she had heard, struggled to fully grasp its reality. However, a determined resolve set in. "Let's go inside; We are going to discuss this," she turned around and declared, her gaze locking with Meldra, whose eyes and mouth remained agape in astonishment. While disbelief still lingered within Ingrid, Meldra, finding the situation utterly absurd, suppressed her inquiries, calming her racing heart as they turned and proceeded toward their hut.
…...........
"Calm down," reassured Reena, her eyes fixed on her mother's restless pacing within the hut. She shared her mother's unease, feeling a sense of uneasiness herself that prevented her from sleeping earlier.
"I had warned him... I had warned him that being a warrior was too dangerous," anxiously exclaimed Celeste. "And now, on his very first day, he chooses to get injured, or even worse..." Just as she was about to conclude her statement, the door swung open dramatically, revealing Orion on the other side. The hut, previously filled with worried sighs and concerned murmurs, fell abruptly silent as Celeste sprinted and flung herself into her son's arms. With a resounding thud, their collision sent them both sprawling to the ground, causing them to wince in pain.
Orion winced, clutching his throbbing head as he struggled to sit upright. His gaze fell upon his mother, her hands tightly encircling his waist, relief mingled with exhaustion evident on her face. "Somehow, I had a feeling none of you would sleep until I returned home," Orion remarked, his intuition having prepared him for such a scenario. With that foresight, he had hastened his pace, running all the way back.
"Come on, I think that's enough for now," Orion said, making a determined effort to pry his mother's hands away from his waist using both of his own. However, just as he was on the verge of succeeding, she suddenly seized his arm, twisting and turning it at various angles as if searching for something. The process repeated with his other arm, followed by a meticulous scan of his entire body. Recognizing her intent, he swiftly rose and distanced himself by stepping into the hut. Though he understood her concerns, he couldn't help but remark, "You don't have to search me like that, you know," Orion said, while adding, "I'm perfectly fine," as he nodded reassuringly at Reena. She responded with a weary sigh, and then he extended his arms wide, catching sight of Gina as she sprinted towards him.
"As you can see, I'm unharmed. So next time, you guys should have a little more faith in me," Orion stated, affectionately ruffling her hair before his sister released her firm grip on him. Curiosity sparked, Gina sniffed the air around him, her nose detecting a peculiar scent. "What's that smell?" she inquired, likely detecting the lingering aroma of Ayla's potent pussy juices. In response, he simply replied, "Oh, nothing," while making his way towards the backyard for a quick bath and some well-deserved rest. Or better yet, to wash off the smell before his mother caught wind of it.
Meanwhile, as Orion made his way to the backyard for a refreshing bath, he hurriedly dashed to the room to retrieve an extra tulga. Catching a glimpse of her mother's exhausted expression, Reena turned to her and confidently declared, "See, I told you he'd be alright." With decisiveness, she rose from her seat and walked towards the centre of the room. "Now that you've calmed down, I need to get some sleep and prepare for tomorrow," she announced, arranging the mat to settle in and gear up for her work at the farm.
Following her elder sister's lead, Gina chimed in, joining the conversation. "Weren't it me who reassured both of you that he would be fine?" she teased, lying down on the mat beside her sister.
Celeste playfully snorted at her daughter's remark, appreciating their optimism. She headed to the kitchen to fetch some wooden plates, intending to serve Orion some fresh fruits. After all, she knew that his first day of warrior training, and the challenging days that lay ahead, would be demanding and exhausting. He would undoubtedly need all the support he could get.
After a few minutes had elapsed, Orion emerged from the backyard, his body settling onto the ground as he sought some well-deserved rest. Celeste, brimming with curiosity about his day, couldn't resist asking, "So, how was it?" Seizing a Lipry fruit, she picked it and extended her hand toward his mouth, offering a tempting bite. Orion, appreciating the gesture, calmly took a mouthful of the fruit, relishing the flavours as he chewed and eventually swallowed. With a hint of exhaustion in his voice, he replied, "It was somewhat enjoyable, yet really exhausting." He went on to recount the day's events, skillfully omitting certain vital details such as his consumption of the Vlkyr vine and the alluring encounters he had experienced along the way. However, he did highlight how he utilized his gift to deftly eradicate the Vlkyr vines, something that Celeste was already aware of since she had witnessed him demonstrating it to Reena earlier.
As Celeste listened intently to her son's detailed account of his training, a whirlwind of emotions coursed through her body. Among the array of feelings, the most potent was a tidal wave of relief that washed over her, soothing her restless mind and body. At least now, she could find solace in the knowledge that her son possessed the ability to fend for himself as a warrior. However, that sense of assurance came with a caveat—it did not extend to him venturing across the other side of the river.
"Oh, and there's something else I want to discuss," Orion announced, his stomach satiated and energy revitalized, leaving him with only one task left before he could finally rest. Intrigued, Celeste inquired, "What is it?" Her curiosity was piqued as she observed the intensity that swiftly settled upon Orion's face. She recognized that whenever he adopted such a solemn demeanour, it signified the gravity of the forthcoming conversation.
