Meanwhile, Tala initially attempted to squirm away due to the unexpected hug.
However, realizing that Orion's intentions were harmless and that his grip was indirectly easing the soreness in her buttocks—which she had accidentally fallen on and injured during her practice sessions with her gift—she relented, allowing him to continue.
"Ahem!!" A firm voice suddenly broke the moment, causing Orion to quickly withdraw his hands from Tala and turn to see who had spoken.
Observing Warrior Jean's stern yet amused expression, Orion heard him remark, "It seems like you've finally decided to join us." The smirk on the warrior's face hinted that he too might have missed him, even if just a little.
"Come on, let's go, we don't want to be late for today's training," Warrior Jean urged, his tone shifting to a more focused and serious demeanour.
…....…..
"Alright, you can all begin," Warrior Jean announced. Orion's eyes followed Grim as he quickly shifted into one of his forms, charging forward with a cutlass clutched in his powerful claws. Tala, on the other hand, ignited her green flames beneath her feet, propelling herself forward, while Ursa ascended to the skies before initiating a dive to strike at the Vylkr vines from above.
Observing the group, Orion noted that they had yet to uncover the full extent of their gifts' capabilities. However, he recognized their progress in effectively using their gifts against the Vylkr vines, knowing when to activate them and when to conserve energy.
When Gorg stepped into the action and activated his gift, Orion's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Gorg's display was nothing short of incredible as he effortlessly tore through the Vylkr vines. With each swing of his cutlass, the Vylkr vines split apart, releasing numerous threads of miniature vines that seemed to desperately attempt to detach themselves from the main body, yet remained tethered.
Although Orion was taken aback by the unexpected effectiveness of Gorg's gift against the Vylkr vines, he quickly pushed his surprise aside. Following the lead of his mates, he charged into the fray.
Activating his gift, Orion gripped his cutlass tightly in his right hand, while his left hand wielded a lightning-blade cutlass of similar dimensions. With a fast and practised motion, he swung the blades, slicing through the Vylkr vines and obliterating everything in his path.
The astonishment in the eyes of his training mates was noticeable. The fact that he could manipulate his gift to materialize various weapons, provided he could recall their details accurately, was a revelation that left them all taken aback.
Nonetheless, Tala tried to do the same with her flames and see if she could manipulate them, yet her efforts were met with little success.
While the prospect of her eventually mastering the manipulation of her flames remained uncertain, her current display was limited to emitting torrents of scorching green flames from her limbs.
In the midst of the training, a resounding crackle echoed through the air as Orion's lightning blade hummed with energy.
"Crackle!!!"
Pausing briefly to observe his mates, he noted their coordinated efforts, ensuring they fought in harmony, avoiding unnecessary interference.
"Impressive," he muttered, before charging in once more.
…..........
After the fight, Warrior Jean called all of them back an hour later and proceeded to destroy the remaining Vylkr vines by himself, as he always does.
As soon as the task was complete, Gorg approached Orion, curiosity clear in his eyes, "Orion, how did you do that?"
Grim joined in, casting a sceptical glance, "Yeah, you're not going to tell us you trained on your own while you were away, right?"
Internally sighing, Orion prepared to answer their questions, but before he could speak, a looming shadow suddenly cast itself over the group from above.
A sense of foreboding gripped Orion's heart as he gazed upwards, confirming his suspicion.
A massive green owl was swooping down toward them, and as it closed in on the ground, it transformed into the Village Chief.
"Chief….."
"Chief.…."
The collective voices of Warrior Jean and the group echoed as they acknowledged the Village Chief's arrival.
But the Village Chief simply nodded somberly in response, his serious expression intensifying as he drew closer, deepening the uneasiness in Orion's heart.
Coming to a halt before him, the Village Chief's gaze fixed on Warrior Jean first. "I realize this is unexpected, especially on his first day back, but a matter requires his immediate attention. I'll be taking him with me," the Village Chief expressed, his words directed at Warrior Jean.
Then, his attention shifted to Orion. "Orion, let's go." Without giving Orion the opportunity to reply, the Village Chief transformed, and his talons closed around him, lifting him off the ground in a swift and unexpected motion.
In an instant, they were soaring into the sky, leaving the others below.
Meanwhile below, Warrior Jean was about to offer a response when Tala's lips twisted into a frown, her muttering barely audible: "I knew it."
Gorg and Grim, on the other hand, remained baffled, struggling to process the sudden turn of events.
"Orion," Ursa murmured, concern tingeing her voice, her eyes fixed on the sky where Orion had vanished from her sight.
Meanwhile, above them, Orion's voice carried frustration and confusion as he shouted, "Chief, what's happening?" This was a rare sight – the usually composed Village Chief showing signs of anxiety.
Still, if he was going to be pulled away from training so suddenly the moment he returned, then what was the point of returning to it?
A sense of unease began to grow within him. Frustration mounting with the lack of response, Orion raised his voice again, "CHIEF!"
However, this time, the Village Chief's speed increased as they soared over the farm, heading toward its far end.
Descending into Anara's section of the farm, Orion opened his mouth to address the village chief, but it promptly hung agape at the sight before him. Numerous tree nymphs were seated in a circle around an enormous tree, undoubtedly Anara's tree.
"....Chieft, what is going on?" Orion's voice carried a hint of confusion as he struggled to understand the scene before him.
This was the first time he had witnessed so many tree nymphs gathered together, and he wanted to make sense of the unusual sight.
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