"I hope, for your sake, that you're not playing games with me because the consequences for a warrior engaging in such deceit are far graver than for a regular villager," he remarked, his gaze shifting towards Grandma Celia at the corner of his eyes, while we continued to trail closely behind him. Suddenly, he shook his head, wearing a wearied smile that held a hint of self-doubt. "But, for your own good, I truly hope this isn't some sort of joke," he added, glancing briefly at me from the corner of his eye before redirecting his focus ahead as we approached the hut where the village chief conducted his daily affairs.
Left with no other choice but to acknowledge the situation, I nodded in understanding and silently trailed behind Mr Thak, joined by the others. Together, we entered the hut and stood before the wooden door that led directly to the village chief's workspace. "Wait here," Mr Thak instructed us, pushing the door open and disappearing inside. With the door shutting behind him, we patiently waited for his return, the tension thick in the air. Fortunately, it didn't take long before the door swung open once more. "Come in," he beckoned, his gaze fixed firmly on me with a grave expression, before widening the door to include the women behind me.
Nodding again, I stepped forward, closely followed by Grandma Celia, my mother, and Reena. We entered the room, anticipation and uncertainty guiding our every step.
As we stepped into the room, my gaze immediately gravitated towards the village chief, who met us with narrowed eyes and a tightly scrunched face, as if engrossed in deep contemplation. Mr Thak motioned for us to take our seats, and as we settled down, we barely had a chance to utter a word before the village chief spoke up. "Is what I'm hearing true, Orion?"
His eyes darted towards Grandma Celia's seat before locking onto me. Without uttering a word, I simply nodded in agreement. The village chief took a deep breath, his silence hanging in the air, before he closed his eyes and let out another deep exhale, his expression growing even more pensive.
"Even though you possess the potential of a six-star warrior, I trust you understand the severe consequences of deceiving the Village Chief and wasting his precious time on a foolish game," the village chief sternly remarked, his gaze piercing into mine. It was at that moment that I struggled to recognize the old man who had always greeted me with a warm smile in his hut. However, knowing that this was not a fabricated tale, I shook my head in affirmation. His eyes narrowed even further, his voice laced with scepticism, "So, are you trying to tell me that what you're saying is true?"
I maintained my serious expression as I nodded firmly, confirming, "Yes."
The village chief reciprocated the nod, his gaze softening as he shifted his attention to Grandma Celia. With an intense stare, he questioned, "And what about you? Is it true that you are pregnant?" His eyes seemed to challenge her, daring her to utter a lie.
In response, Grandma Celia's voice rang out with unwavering confidence, her tone firm and resolute. "Yes, Chief. I assure you that everything Orion has revealed is true, and I am indeed carrying a child."
The village chief's eyes shifted between me and the two women behind me, his expression a mix of curiosity and disbelief. He posed his next question with a calmer tone, concealing his emotions. "And what about them? Are they also pregnant?"
Without uttering a word, I nodded, confirming their pregnancies. I observed as his eyebrows shot up in surprise and doubt, his curiosity growing. "So, you are the father of these children, the one responsible for impregnating these women, as you are here with them," he concluded.
Once again, I nodded in agreement, this time accompanying my affirmation with a vocal "Yes."
"I see," the village chief straightened his posture, his eyes scanning all of us before shifting towards Mr Thak, who stood beside him. "Fetch one or two healers and inform them of the urgent need for their presence," he instructed. Mr Thak cleared his throat, acknowledging the chief's command without hesitation "I have already dispatched a guard to bring the healers, chief. I believe they will arrive within a few minutes."
The village chief nodded slowly, his gaze fixated on me. He let out a deep sigh of defeat, his weariness evident. With a defeated expression, he turned his attention back to the scattered patches of paper strewn across the floor. His eyes traced the imprints on the pages before flicking back to meet mine briefly, as if searching for answers. Shaking his head once more, he sighed again and resumed his work, lost in his thoughts.
…..........
The tense atmosphere hung heavy in the air, making the wait feel awkward and interminable. Just when the silence was becoming unbearable, a guard finally broke the stillness, rushing in to inform us that the healers had arrived. With a grateful nod, the village chief took charge and led us through a labyrinth of corridors within the hut, finally arriving at a secluded room where the healers patiently awaited.
Without wasting a moment, the village chief relayed his instructions to the bewildered healers. Initially taken aback by the unusual request, the healers quickly composed themselves, their professional demeanour shining through as they nodded in understanding. They showed no hesitation, ready to carry out their duties without a hint of doubt.
"The results are undeniable, chief." The healer's words hung in the air, shattering the silence that had enveloped the room. "They are pregnant," she announced boldly, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and certainty. Before the village chief could respond, she continued, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Every single one of them."
The village chief, caught off guard by this revelation, momentarily froze in disbelief. His eyes darted towards me, searching for confirmation in my expression. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind as he struggled to process the implications of this newfound knowledge. With a flicker of hope, he turned his gaze to the other healer, silently pleading for confirmation. However, the healer's nod served as a resolute agreement, solidifying the truth of their words.
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