Ayla, too, raised her voice, urging the Village Chief to share any useful information. Sura joined in, asking how she could assist the Village in finding a safe way to bring Orion back.
Meanwhile, Grandma Meldra, who had remained silent throughout, shook her head, contemplating the potential consequences if news of Orion's whereabouts and death were to spread through the village.
No doubt, Meldra couldn't help but feel that the women around her would bear the brunt of the pain, and strangely, she sensed that she, too, would be in the same condition as them if such a tragedy were to unfold.
A sigh escaped Grandma Derry's lips as she thought, 'Who am I kidding?' Even though she had wished to be Orion's partner, she believed his circle of partners was already too large for him to suddenly start focusing his attention on her.
She had also yearned for some of the care and attention her hutmates had received in the beginning; however, she still hesitated to approach him and discuss it. She feared it would be embarrassing and shameful as if she were taking advantage of Orion's circumstances to get herself pregnant.
In hindsight, she felt she might have made a foolish decision. Instead of waiting and caring for the other women until they were ready to give birth, she should have asked Orion for his thoughts on the matter. But it seemed Naka had other plans.
The painful anguish in her heart was overwhelming. She couldn't tell whether it was due to the threat to Orion's life, the growing possibility of losing him with each passing moment, or the fact that she might never have his child again.
She would never know until he returned safely.
Meanwhile, the noise in the room continued to escalate, growing louder and more chaotic, until suddenly the door was forcefully flung open with a resounding "Bam!"
This abrupt entrance brought an immediate hush over the room, as all eyes turned to see who had arrived.
The Village Chieftess walked into the meeting room, her presence instantly calming the atmosphere. The Village Chief heaved a sigh of relief and rose from his elevated wooden platform. He immediately approached her, and as he reached her, he pulled her into a tight embrace, wrapping his arms around her.
Leaning in, he whispered softly into her ear, "I entrust this to you," followed by a gentle kiss on her right cheek. Then, he stepped away and made his way to the wooden door, closing it firmly behind him.
Beforehand, her husband had informed her that he would need her assistance to address this matter, but as she watched him leave the room after that kiss, a feeling of betrayal washed over her.
Nevertheless, with all the women in the room now staring at her, the Village Chieftess composed herself and walked over to where her husband had been seated on the ground near his wooden raised platform.
She cleared her throat, preparing to speak. However, before she could utter a word, Celeste's voice rang out, addressing the Village Chieftess directly. "Chieftess, do you have any information about Orion? Is that why you're here? Where did the Chief go, and will he return? Chieftess, please, I need to know where my son is."
Just as before, Celeste's emotional plea stirred the other women in the room, causing them to raise their voices and express their anxieties.
Observing the reactions of the women, the Village Chieftess finally understood why her husband had quickly exited, sensing a burgeoning headache at the back of her mind.
"Enough," she exclaimed, raising her palm and directing it toward them. As a hush fell over the room, she heaved in relief before casting a warm smile upon all the women gathered.
"I understand that each of you is seeking answers and explanations regarding the current situation. However, before we delve further, I propose that I reveal your futures to you," she announced, prompting stunned expressions from the women.
"And, you will have the opportunity to see it for yourselves. Instead of merely hearing about our current circumstances, why not allow me to show you how everything unfolds?" The Village Chieftess suggested, observing their contemplative expressions. It was Orion's mother, she presumed, who extended her hand and said, "I'm willing to give it a try."
Observing the fiery rage burning in Celeste's eyes, the Village Chieftess acknowledged that her actions were risky. There was no fixed point in time she could force her gift to reveal, as it showed events from any moment in the future. Moreover, the mysterious presence of Orion seemed to block the future of anyone related to him.
Nevertheless, the Village Chieftess took Celeste's hand, as she had already planned to leverage these factors to her advantage.
Indeed, even if they wanted to reveal the real story behind Orion's previous task and his abduction, their tongues were bound by secrecy. As such, there should be a compelling reason to conceal such information in this delicate situation, which could either harm or further imperil the village's stability.
With this in mind, the Village Chieftess activated her gift, causing a brilliant white haze to envelop both her hand and Celeste's.
…..........….
Within the mountains
The Prismerian kingdom
The palace
"Is this it?" Orion asked, his eyes fixed on the enormous crystal door that mirrored his image, much like the countless other crystal-forged objects that adorned the palace.
Madam Seraphina nodded in confirmation. "Yes, the Queen is inside, patiently waiting for you. You can go in."
Orion took a deep breath before he reached out for the door handle. He pulled it open, revealing a billowing cloud of mist beyond. Nonetheless, he stepped inside and gently closed the door behind him.
As he adjusted to the thick mist surrounding him, Orion noticed that its density began to wane, allowing him to see a bit further ahead.
There was nothing else in front of him except one path ahead and two rows of maids, both men and women, their heads bowed in deference, flanking the crystal walls. Orion chose to move forward. After taking about twenty brisk steps, he was confronted by a sight—a grand circular crystal pool that resembled a bathing area.
A woman, slightly taller than him, extended her hand to obstruct his progress, barring his entry into the room.
