As I opened my eyes, I couldn't help but be dumbfounded at the view in front of me. And, it seemed like I wasn't the only one, as some of the children beside me also gasped at the breathtaking view before us. Others seemed less surprised, as if they had witnessed something like this before.
The giant sundial, once a mere stone structure, had been transformed into a breathtaking work of art. Intricate designs and flowery patterns adorned its surface, illuminated by a soft, moonlit glow that seemed to emanate from within. But then, something truly miraculous happened. The light at the top of the structure began to spread outwards like branches of a giant tree, while the base seemed to grow downwards like roots. And from those branches, leaves began to sprout, each one bearing fruit that glimmered like crystallized gems. These fruits were a dazzling display of colours, shifting rapidly from green to yellow to red and every hue in between. It was a sight that left someone like me who had never witnessed something so extraordinary awestruck and speechless.
"If you can see the fruits, stretch your hands forward and grab a piece." As the village chief's voice echoed through the air once more, we were jolted back to reality.
Reaching out with one hand, I grasped at the nearest fruit, wondering how it was possible to touch something that seemed to shimmer and dance in the air. But as soon as my fingers closed around it and plucked it, the fruit dissolved into a shower of tiny particles, each one glowing with a soft, ethereal light. To my surprise, the particles drifted towards me, passing through my skin as though it wasn't even there. And as they did, I felt a coolness spreading through my body, washing away the feverish heat that had been building inside me.
"Everyone, you can stop releasing your gifts!" declared the village chief, and without hesitation, the crowd obeyed. Gradually, the colossal crystal tree, adorned with beautiful fruits, began to vanish as suddenly as it had appeared. Initially, the crystal fruits dwindled in size before vanishing, followed by the leaves which twisted back into the branches. The branches, in turn, disappeared, along with the roots that had eerily extended outwards on the ground, passing through our legs like apparitions.
The process continued until the radiance faded, leaving behind the immense stony sundial structure.
My internal thoughts couldn't help but exclaim, 'That was incredible!' After all, it's not every day that I get the chance to witness such a breathtakingly detailed scene.
The village chief's voice boomed across the crowd, "As you all know, the awakening ceremony will span three days. You can choose to head back home for some well-deserved rest, or head to your respective workplaces." I turned my head to see Gina, Reena, and my mother walking away, waving their hands at me. Daman and Eeva acknowledged Gorg and me before departing as well, leaving behind just sixteen of us standing in the chief's compound.
The village chief beckoned to us, "All of you, follow me." We obeyed and within minutes, we found ourselves inside one of the huts, accompanied by the village chief and Thak.
Upon entering the room, I noticed several doors at the corner, indicating that it was just one of the many rooms in the hut. The room was filled with around twenty mats arranged neatly on the ground, all facing the same direction. In front of them stood five women and two men, all beaming at us as we walked in.
The village chief spoke up, "Fiona," calling out to a familiar woman who I recognized as Aunt Greta's neighbour.
"Yes, chief," Fiona replied promptly as she stepped forward.
"Make sure that the students awaken their gifts properly. And once you've recorded their points and the kind of gifts they've awakened, send me the information," the village chief instructed sternly, glancing at Fiona.
Fiona nodded, acknowledging the village chief's order. "Yes, chief. I'll make sure that everything is done as per your instructions," she replied in a respectful tone.
"Okay, see you all later," the village chief bid us farewell before turning around and leaving, with Thak trailing behind him.
Once again, I couldn't help but notice that Fiona was part of the few who stood out from the other women in the village. Unlike them, she didn't wear a piece of fabric around her waist or a midriff top. Instead, she donned a simple, short dress that tightly hugged her body, revealing her curvaceous figure. The dress only covered half of her wide protruding buttocks, leaving the other half of her butt cheeks for all to see, while her small cone-shaped breasts and pointy nipples were on full display on the front.
I stared at Fiona's partly covered cheeks as she turned around and walked towards our teachers. After a few minutes of discussion, they whispered among themselves, and eventually, one of the women and two men left the room, leaving only four women behind.
Fiona looked at us with a warm smile and instructed, "All of you, please take a seat." Since there were no chairs, I followed suit and sat on the mat before placing the extra tulga that I had been carrying on my lap.
Fiona then proceeded to explain, "Before we take you to the farm or anything else, I am here to teach you first and foremost on how to properly perform Kushi, and help the village population." She looked at us with a serious expression and continued, "And in case you weren't told, you will all start with five points. You will be awarded more points based on how well you are able to perform Kushi, how well you perform on the farm, and how well you remember everything you have been taught. On the other hand, points will be deducted if you choose to go against what you have been taught. But I am sure that everyone wants to earn more points and ask for something from the village chief, right?"
