Nonetheless, even though Fiona had decided to wait until they were done, the conversation that she had overheard echoed through the wooden hut and sent a surge of emotions coursing through her. The words spoken had a deep impact, stirring her feelings to another level. She couldn't deny the happiness she felt for Greta, who had found a deep connection with Orion. But at the same time, she couldn't ignore the intense emotions Orion had shown her as well.
Orion had demonstrated his seriousness when he came to rescue her, and their shared experience had forged a bond between them. However, their lives had still been saved by the Village Chief, who was still in the process of recovering.
"HAAAAA....." Fiona exhaled deeply, her mind consumed by thoughts of Orion's daring rescue attempt. He had ventured deep into the Vylkr vines-infested forest, fully aware of the slim chances of survival. Yet, that didn't deter him from sprinting towards her, confronting wave after wave of menacing Vylkr vines. It was a do-or-die situation for him, driven by his resolve to ensure she lived to see another day.
Even as his chances of survival at that point grew slimmer, Fiona couldn't help but see Orion's figure in her eyes grow larger.
For a warrior, having a companion like Orion was worth more than any weapon she could bring to the other side of the forest. His presence alone provided a sense of protection and courage that surpassed any tool.
And as for a partner, Fiona couldn't contain the intense pounding of her heart. It seemed ready to burst out of her chest, overwhelmed by the depth of her emotions. No amount of rational thinking or the influence of Vylkr energy coursing through her body could suppress the pure, natural feelings she was experiencing.
"This is too much," Fiona expressed, shaking her head vigorously. She promptly rose from the ground and made her way back to her hut. It was best to retreat and rest for a while before returning to check on them. There were many thoughts and emotions that needed to be sorted out in her mind before she could face Orion again.
Moreover, it seemed that Orion and the village healer, Greta were too engrossed in their kushi, that they were oblivious to the fact that dawn was approaching. Fiona, being the supposed missing well woman, couldn't afford to draw any attention to herself, especially when she still had a day of rest before returning to her duties.
As such, with no further reason to linger, Fiona decisively turned around and quietly left the hut.
Meanwhile, as Fiona left, two women entered the scene. One had long, shimmering red hair with several strands of silver, indicating her age. She wore a long, plain blue silk dress that elegantly concealed her curvaceous body and wide hips. The other woman had long silver hair mixed with several strands of black, also displaying her aged appearance. She was wearing a brown knee-length strapless gown that had risen slightly at her back because of her enormous buttocks, revealing her fleshy raw upper thighs, which offered an enticing view.
Nonetheless, the two women who would elicit a strong reaction from any ordinary villager due to their overall disgusting appearance stepped out from behind the wooden hut that stood opposite where Fiona, the well-woman, had been standing. They quietly made their way towards the hut.
"Pheeeeew!! I thought she would never leave," Grandma Derry said, resting her hands on her legs and bending down to catch her breath. They had just narrowly avoided being detected by a warrior, as they were well aware of how acute their senses could be. One small mistake could expose their presence, and that was a risk they couldn't afford to take.
"Haaa... Me too," Grandma Vivian sighed softly, taking a moment to catch her breath. It was fortunate that she had woken up at just the right time when Derry was about to open the creaking door and venture out of the hut. Instinctively, Grandma Vivian had stopped her, sensing that Derry's intentions were far from innocent.
Still, she couldn't believe how easily Derry had convinced her to accompany her, specifically after revealing her plan to visit Orion in his hut in hopes of getting pregnant.
Maybe, she could also...
'No,' Grandma Vivian thought to herself, her eyes focused on Derry's back. 'I came here to protect Orion from Derry's manipulations.' After all, it would be disastrous if Celeste discovered that Derry had taken advantage of or deceived Orion into impregnating her.
'Besides, Orion has already assured me multiple times that he will give me a chance. I don't need to remind him; he's simply been occupied with other matters.' Grandma Vivian thought once more.
So, instead of coming here solely to check on his well-being, she had also come here to observe and keep an eye on Derry,
"Hmmmm! Why was she hesitating outside the hut? Why didn't she enter?" Grandma Derry wondered, her brows furrowing in confusion. She leaned in, pressing her ears against the wooden door, ready to listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate they were intruding on an important matter.
However, after a while, all she heard was silence. No voices or sounds emanated from the other side of the door.
"What is it? What did you hear?" Grandma Vivian asked in a hushed tone, her eyes filled with inquisitiveness as she turned to Derry for an explanation.
"I don't know," Grandma Derry admitted, shaking her head in uncertainty. This was the same Fiona for whom Orion had risked his life, leading to the Village Chief's prolonged recovery from his severe injuries. While she had her suspicions about what might be happening between Fiona, the well-woman, and Orion, she knew better than to rely on mere speculation. If she wanted the truth, she would have to hear it directly from Orion's own lips.
"Maybe she must have heard something and decided to wait for a little while before, for some reason, giving up and leaving," Grandma Derry suggested, her voice filled with a sense of defeat. "You know how sharp a warrior's senses are, it's hard for us to hear anything from the inside unlike how easily she must have been able to eavesdrop on what was going on inside the hut."
