"Chief, if that's what's running through your mind right now, then I'm afraid you're underestimating the significance of this situation for all of us," Grandma Ingrid said, positioned on the ground behind Celeste and Greta, who occupied the forefront. She continued, "Even if it means throwing the village into chaos, even if it results in casualties, even if we..."
Grandma Ingrid paused, closing her eyes briefly, only to reopen them with an intensified glare, "...even if we're unable to bear children henceforth, we'll never find rest or peace until our Orion is safely back in our arms, asleep in our huts."
As soon as Grandma Ingrid concluded her remarks, Grandma Vivian chimed in, her voice steady but resolute, "And if a Stronghold Leader is capable of such an act, who's to say that it hasn't happened before among our warriors?"
"How can we be certain that there aren't other warriors who have exploited their power to harm fellow villagers? The only reason we've learned about something like this is because it happened to someone as special as Orion, at the hands of someone as powerful as the Rightward Stronghold Leader, Chief." Vivian's words took many of the women present by surprise, as they hadn't expected her, given her character, to address the Village Chief in such a manner.
However, witnessing the intensity in her gaze as she locked eyes with the Village Chief, the other women were emboldened to voice their own concerns about the situation.
Meanwhile, the Village Chief couldn't help but furrow his brows in response to Vivian's words. She was, in fact, correct.
They had taken precautions by stationing the warriors in the forest within their respective strongholds, ostensibly to be ready to defend against the Vylkr vines at any given time.
This also served as an excuse to keep them separated from the average villagers. Although this excuse had some legitimacy, as the warriors were indeed needed to protect the farms and the forest, Vivian's words, coupled with Stronghold Leader Drakar's actions, had made it abundantly clear that he needed to investigate further and determine if any other warriors had taken advantage of their strength to mistreat ordinary villagers.
'This is getting too complicated,' the Village Chief thought once more, using his fingers to massage his forehead as the growing headache spread throughout his mind. It seemed that he would need to find a way to reinforce the rules for warriors even more firmly in their hearts to prevent something like this from happening again.
He also decided to instruct Thak to conduct an investigation to see if similar incidents had occurred before.
"She is right, Chief," Dariya spoke, with the four other Overseers seated beside her nodding in agreement. "This is a matter that needs to be thoroughly investigated."
She had been wanting to meet Orion for some time, but she had felt embarrassed and shy, causing her to postpone their meetings. Little did she know that the next moment would see Orion captured and forcibly taken away by Drakar.
Saria, although not a close friend and rarely interacting due to her work and location, was still a tree nymph. An attack on a tree nymph, followed by her disappearance without a clear reason, and no one taking responsibility for such actions; Rightward Stronghold Leader should have just razed the village before he left, rather than pulling off such an act and leaving.
"Although I would have preferred not to escalate matters, this is not an issue that the tree nymphs will simply ignore," Iselda, the second overseer after Anara and the presumed successor given the current circumstances, spoke firmly. She continued, "And now that Anara..."
"I know!" The Village Chief suddenly shouted, his voice strained as he gazed at all the women gathered before him. He couldn't afford to send Orion's partners away, especially with his sister Reena among them. Reena had a chance to become a Caretaker in the future due to her remarkable skills and unyielding dedication to the farm and the village.
However, he was aware that his reaction might trigger something in the young woman's mind, along with Fifi and Greta, who had remained silent until now.
In fact, he hoped Greta would remain that way until the meeting concluded. If Greta decided to stop using her gift on the warriors until they found Orion, it could seriously deplete their available fighting force.
What's more, Orion had formed strong bonds with some of the tree nymphs, despite his busy schedule. This meant that no matter how he addressed one group, it would impact the other group as well.
He couldn't simply dismiss the tree nymphs either. Without their assistance on the farm, especially since the ancestral lake pool had been drying up due to Anara's inability to replenish it, they would have even more reason to engage in their mischievous activities.
This would be far more damaging than their previous irritating tricks, as he was certain that some of them might seize this opportunity for revenge over Saria's disappearance and their inability to punish the person responsible for such a thing.
"Drakar…" The Village Chief muttered under his breath, his words laden with quiet rage. "…I will kill you."
Meanwhile, the sight of the Village Chief remaining silent while muttering under his breath prompted the rest of the women to express their emotions.
"Chief, I don't think any of us are ready to leave here until we find Orion," Grandma Derry said firmly, making her voice heard.
"Yes, Derry is absolutely right. We cannot and will not leave until Orion is found, Chief," Grandma Celia chimed in with equal determination.
"Chief, I want to see my brother. Where is Orion?" Reena demanded, her tone filled with concern.
"Chief, why haven't you said anything yet? Are you withholding information from us? Please tell us how we can bring Orion back," Fiona's voice trembled slightly as she stared at the Village Chief with a mix of anxiety and fear in her eyes.
"Chief, please, I need my brother to come back home," Gina's voice rang out, although it sounded a bit meek and softer than the rest of the women's.
"Chief, where is Orion? Please, tell us where he is," Ursa's voice followed, her face buried in her mother's large breasts, seeking comfort in the midst of uncertainty. Meanwhile, Lyra observed her daughter silently, her face etched with a stiff frown, her mind swirling with various thoughts about Orion's disappearance and the current situation in the room.
