"Greta..." Fiona's voice broke the tension as it reverberated through the room, her expression filled with genuine concern. She extended her hand, gently gripping Aunt Greta's hand and soothingly rubbing the back of it with her fingers. It seemed she was attempting to placate Aunt Greta, who was now breathing rapidly as if her emotions had taken over.
However, Aunt Greta swiftly withdrew her hand, apologizing, "I'm sorry for losing control." Her gaze fixed on me, her eyes narrowing as she asked, "But I still want to know what he has planned. You do have a plan, don't you?"
I responded to her question with a firm nod, gathering my thoughts before taking a deep breath and articulating, "I want all of you to come with me," making my intention clear.
This time, not a single furrowed brow or look of shock graced their faces. Instead, they gazed at me with blank expressions, clearly taken aback. "Once the foundation has been laid," I elaborated, "I want each of you to join me in building this new village. By that time, I'll have grown strong enough to protect us all, ensuring that you won't need to worry about danger or harm."
"PPFFTTTT!" A burst of muffled stifled laughter abruptly filled the air, interrupting me and catching everyone's attention. We all turned towards the source and found Miss Lyra with her lips contorted into a smile, trying to hide her amusement behind her hand.
"Mom, what's so funny?" Ursa's brow furrowed deeply as she echoed the question that hung on everyone's lips.
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," Lyra said, apologizing with a smile as she playfully pinched her daughter's cheek, only to have Ursa slap her hand away, rubbing her reddened skin.
Then, Lyra shifted her gaze towards me, her eyes twinkling, and said, "Well, for me at least, this plan seems like a chance to start life afresh. And that's saying something considering I'm not exactly growing younger. So, it's either this or returning home to share the same hut with my lovely daughter."
While I couldn't be certain whether Lyra's tone carried a hint of sarcasm when she referred to Ursa as her 'lovely daughter,' the transformation of Ursa's expression into a stern one and her subsequent playful pinch to her mother's leg gave me a hint. I couldn't help but suppress a chuckle, all while absorbing the rest of Lyra's words.
"Moreover," Lyra continued, "since I'll soon be expecting a child as well, I fail to see a reason why I should stay behind when the father of my child is working towards securing our safety by creating a new village. Why not be with him, especially when he assures us he can protect us?" Lyra's gaze dropped to her stomach, her hand tenderly caressing it momentarily before her eyes lifted to meet mine.
"And from what I have heard, Orion is not one to break his promises, is he?" Her eyes twinkled with a fierce glint as she looked at me.
Following the subtle smile that tugged at the corners of her lips and hearing her final words, I nodded in agreement. "Yes," I confirmed, "By that time, I'll have gained the strength to protect you all, making sure that none of you or even our children need to fear the Vylkr vines. I promise." I grasped Lyra's underlying intentions.
Lyra's smile then broadened as she continued, "With that being the case, I don't see any valid reason to stay behind." She extended her arms upward, adding, "I can't speak for everyone else, but I'm definitely on board. When the time comes, I'll be joining Orion in settling the new village."
Her gaze shifted to me as she elaborated, "Considering Orion will be leading the development of this village and, hence, will become its new chief, it follows that I'd have the opportunity to potentially become the Village Chieftess. So, I can't find a single reason not to follow him, even if it's just in my dreams."
After her last words hung in the air, every woman's eyes in the room popped wide open. Whether they were moved by Lyra's words, my own words, or the enticing prospect of securing the position of Village Chieftess in the new village, I couldn't be sure.
Nonetheless, their expressions shifted into deep contemplation, indicating that Lyra had managed to shift the entire mood and focus of the conversation.
'She's quite something,' I mused internally, my gaze fixed on Ursa, whose mouth was hanging open in astonishment. "YOU!!" Ursa exclaimed, jabbing an accusatory finger at her mother. "So this was your plan all along? To become the village chieftess..... YOU!!"
Lyra couldn't hold back a snort at her daughter's reaction, retorting, "Well, it seems I'm currently the only one raising my hand, so I don't see any other candidates capable enough to take up the mantle of the new Village Chieftess."
Hardly a moment after her statement concluded, a throat-clearing voice chimed in beside me. I turned toward the source, discovering Grandma Ingrid also raising her hand. "I can't speak for others, but I'm also of the opinion that I'll be accompanying Orion to this new settlement when the time comes," Grandma Ingrid expressed. Her eyes met mine briefly before she averted her gaze, almost as if she was directing it at something else.
Although I failed to return home on time to talk with her, I decided to sort things out this night before I leave for training tomorrow.
"In that case, count me in too," Grandma Derry chimed in, her hand swiftly following Grandma Ingrid's gesture and raised into the air. Her gaze locked with mine, a warm smile playing on her lips. "I'll be right there with Orion when the time comes for us to head to this new settlement," she added, her confidence apparent. "I won't need to worry about those Vylkr vines, not when I know my Orion will have the ability to protect me."
"Ahem!" The next voice echoed through the room, considerably firmer and louder. "Considering that I'm the only capable warrior here, I believe it's wise for Orion and me to scout the settlement first and ensure its safety before the rest arrive," Fifi said, her expression stern as she locked eyes with each person present.
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