?
I had no doubt that they would employ every means at their disposal to dissuade me from going. And in the event that their efforts failed to halt my resolve, I could envision them hastily packing their belongings, determined to accompany me on this journey.
The man in his sixties scrutinized me with a frown, his voice laced with doubt. "If this is the choice you've settled on, why didn't you choose the first option instead? It seems you have no objections to engaging in kushi with multiple women, as evidenced by your willingness to propose a plan for increasing the numbers of a new village."
His words struck a nerve, and a frown mirrored on my own face. Their options seemed suspiciously geared towards favouring me, contradicting the warnings and caution the Village Chief had shared with me. "Before I answer, Chief, there's something I need to understand," I interjected, my voice tinged with frustration. I locked eyes with the Village Chief, who narrowed his gaze in response. "Why did you present me with these options after all the warnings and revelations you shared with me?" Confusion clouded my expression, and frank bewilderment coloured my words.
To be honest, I had expected only the second option, but with a multitude of strict restrictions and limitations. Therefore, the mere fact that the Village Chief presented both choices raised my suspicions.
The Village Chief had already cautioned me about the potential dangers of having Kushi with my potent semen. Thus, being presented with these alternatives without additional clarification left my heart unsettled. I was aware that I wouldn't find peace until I uncovered the underlying truth behind it all.
"I will be taking my leave," a sudden sound caught my attention, and I turned my head to witness the old man rising from his wooden seat and making his way towards the exit. The deepening frown on my face matched the gravity of his words. "The child has presented us with an idea far beyond our imagination. Yet, if you all remain hesitant to give it a chance, then I willingly step down from my role as a Caretaker and allow a younger generation to take charge, just as Tor and Bram did."
His gaze shifted towards the woman in her thirties and then to the young woman in her mid-twenties, before retracting his gaze and closing his eyes. A tired sigh escaped his lips, and he wearily shook his head. "I've grown tired of the same old routine we've followed for countless years, Chief," Opening his eyes, he fixed his tired, worn smile upon the Village Chief, a smile that contrasted starkly with the radiant one he had worn before.
"Hrok....." the Village Chief began to utter, attempting to address the old man by his name. However, Hrok shook his head and interrupted, "I am tired, Chief. Very tired. I've been meaning to express this for quite some time, but I couldn't bear to burden someone else as those before us had been burdened."
He released another deep sigh, his worn face revealing the burden of age. "I am tired," he confessed, the weight of the world seems to weigh upon him. "And if you all still refuse to consider the plan the child has devised, then you might as well explain to him personally why you handpicked those two options for him."
"As for me, I have made my decision," the man declared with a firm tone, his voice echoing through the room. "I will be departing and stepping down from my position as a Caretaker. It has become evident to me that my health no longer allows me to tend to the farm as I once could." With those words, he turned away and proceeded towards the thick curtain that bathed his face in a gentle stream of sunlight. His countenance revealed a blend of serenity and relief as he exited through the door.
The other man in his sixties wore a deep frown, his face contorting even further. Meanwhile, a contemplative silence fell upon the room, and one by one, heads bowed in deep thought. Even the Village Chief, now wearing a scowl, appeared visibly displeased.
Observing the scene unfolding before me, I raised my voice once more, directing my words directly at the Village Chief, saying, "Chief," but before I could finish my sentence, he raised his hand and calmly interrupted, saying, "It's okay."
His sudden composure grabbed my attention, but he quickly redirected his focus towards the four remaining individuals in the room. Two of them clenched their fists tightly, expressing deep emotion, while the other two—the man in his sixties and the woman in her fifties—closed their eyes in deep contemplation.
"I will allow each of you time to consider the young man's proposed plan," the Village Chief declared as he rose from his seat. "I'll also send someone to speak with Hrok, to see if there's any chance of changing his mind or if his decision is final."
He then walked down the crimson carpet, stopping in front of me. "In the meantime, Orion, come with me. I want to show you something," he said, a sigh escaping his lips as he motioned for me to follow. Without counting the number of times he had sighed, I cast a final glance at the room before rising from my seat and trailing behind him, parting the heavy curtains.
However, confusion immediately furrowed my brow. "Huh! Where is he?" I muttered to myself, perplexed by the Chief's sudden disappearance. Yet, in an instant, a thought crossed my mind, causing me to gaze upward. There, I beheld a colossal Green Horned Owl, blocking the sun and casting a mighty shadow upon me. It swooped down swiftly, snatching me up with its massive talons. A deep, resounding scream escaped my mouth as I was carried into the sky, "WWWAAAAAIIIIITTT...."
As the Village Chief emitted a piercing screech, we soared over the farm, vanishing into the forest at a speed that defied detection. In mere seconds, we reached the forest's edge, descending into the decimated region consumed by the menacing Vylkr Vines.
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