Orion soon turned around and began to walk forward, with all the women following behind him.
Curiosity hung in the air as the women wondered who Orion intended to introduce them to.
Aunt Greta and Ayla, however, noticed the direction Orion was heading, and a sense of suspicion started to linger in their hearts. Regardless of their growing unease, they steadied themselves and continued walking forward.
….…
"Umm, Orion, aren't we on Anara's side of the Farm? Is she the person you want to introduce us to?" Reena asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.
Having spent considerable time on the Farm, they were well aware of the distinct areas. Gina and Sura had also once mistakenly ventured into Anara's section, which they had been informed by helpful tree nymphs when trying to find their way back.
Anara held a position equivalent to the village chief among the tree nymphs and was even considered one of the key figures.
The only reason she wasn't fully recognized as such was her reluctance to involve herself in the affairs of the Village unless it concerned the tree nymphs.
The other women, too, were puzzled about why Orion had brought them to meet Anara.
Is Anara the person he wants to introduce them to? And if so, why the secrecy?
At this point, Ayla had also tensed up, glancing at Aunt Greta and contemplating whether to speak up.
Yet, she refrained from disrupting the atmosphere.
Upon reaching one of the huts, they noticed four tree nymphs standing before it. Two were familiar faces, while the other two were strangers. Regardless, it was evident that one of the other tree nymphs was Anara, the Tree Nymphs' Overseer.
Each of them conducted herself with the utmost propriety, wary of making any missteps in Anara's presence that might get Orion into trouble.
Orion nodded at Anara and gestured for her to lead the way to see Grace.
Anara nodded warmly, then turned around to lead the way, with Saria, Dariya, and Malaia following closely.
Gesturing for the women to follow, Orion led them forward until they reached Anara's tree.
The women grew increasingly curious, eager to discover the reason behind the introduction. Holding their breath, they watched Anara's hands become transparent upon touching the large tree before them.
Seconds later, she withdrew her hands, revealing a baby with radiant golden skin.
The revelation left Celeste and the rest of the women utterly stunned.
What on earth was happening?
The sight of a seemingly newborn baby emerging from Anara's tree left the women bewildered. While they knew that tree nymphs typically appeared young when sprouting from the ground for the first time, it was unheard of for them to resemble actual newborns.
Usually, they took on the appearance of four to five, or sometimes seven, years old.
Nonetheless, being still young and unable to wield most of their tree nymph abilities, they could only possess and control their own tree. Attempting to control other trees, especially those belonging to another tree nymph, remained beyond their capabilities. So, they couldn't fathom how a baby, seemingly belonging to a tree nymph, had emerged from Anara's tree.
Something else that captured their attention was the unusual monochromatic colour covering the entire skin of the supposed tree nymph, unlike the usual dual tones on the upper and lower body. This oddity made them question whether they were genuinely looking at a tree nymph or something entirely different.
'It can't be a tree nymph,' they all silently concluded, dismissing the possibility. However, their contemplation ceased abruptly as they witnessed Anara passing the baby to Orion.
The women collectively froze in their positions as Orion cradled the infant in his arms, his gaze filled with warmth as he shifted his attention between Anara to the baby.
As he began to walk toward the women with Anara by his side, an unsettling feeling began to grow within the hearts of the women.
Orion stood before them, his gaze sweeping across each face, and cleared his throat.
"Ahem! I've been pondering the best way to make this introduction to you all, and this is the grand plan I've devised. So, Mom, Reena, Gina, Aunt Greta, Grandma Celia, Lyra, Grandma Vivian, Sura, Ursa, Grandma Ingrid, Grandma Derry, Fiona, and Ayla," he said, taking a deep breath for emphasis.
"Allow me to present Grace, the firstborn of our family, and her mother, who also happens to be your junior sister, Anara, the Tree Nymphs' Overseer," he concluded.
Booom!! Booom!!
It didn't feel as though their brains had exploded, but it felt as if a hammer had smashed into their brains, shattering them into bits. Trying to process Orion's words, they attempted to repeat the sentences in their heads. However, their thoughts disintegrated when they reached the part where Orion introduced the baby tree nymph in his arms as his first child and Anara, the Tree Nymphs' Overseer, as her mother and their junior sister.
"Orion… is… she your child?" Celeste finally asked, her trembling lips unable to withstand the mental pressure.
Every woman, especially Reena, Grandma Celia, and Ingrid, kept their ears peeled open, waiting for Orion's response. Doubts lingered within their minds, and they wondered if they had misheard what Orion had uttered.
Orion nodded.
Celeste, Reena, Grandma Celia, and Ingrid felt their heads spin, their vision growing hazy. Soon, they lost their footing and tumbled toward the ground.
They fainted.
Fortunately, the other women quickly noticed their movements and caught them before they hit the ground.
"Celeste!!"
"Reena!!"
"Celia!!"
"Ingrid!!"
Their names were called out simultaneously to ensure they were okay, but the women remained motionless.
Observing this scene, Orion's eyes shrunk to the size of needles as he swiftly handed Grace over to Anara and dashed toward their position.
Anara, however, trailed behind him with a concerned expression that mirrored Orion's own, her face reflecting her worry about the sudden and dramatic turn of events.
Orion bent down, checking Reena's pulse first, then moved on to his mother's, Grandma Celia's and Grandma Ingrid's pulses before exhaling a deep sigh.
