(AUTHOR NOTE: I WILL REFER TO THE VILLAGE HEAD'S WIFE AS ELDER.)
**
Someone else huffed. "Well, I've already prayed to the gods. If luck's on my side, I'll be the one to bear his seed tonight."
The elder raised both her hands slowly, silencing the ongoing chatter. The murmurs faded almost instantly, leaving only the crackle of the fire and the soft rustle of shifting cloth.
"The third boy we had," she began, her voice steady but tinged with concern, "is currently unwell. As you all know, it's because of the curse."
A collective sigh swept through the gathering, heavy and heartfelt. Heads lowered. Some women exchanged looks of sympathy; others simply clenched their hands in their laps, frustration etched in their faces.
"I saw him yesterday," one woman whispered. "His skin was pale as snow. He could barely lift his head."
"Poor child," another added. "He was always so lively."
The village head's wife gave them a moment before continuing.
"And finally…" she said, her tone amused, "we have Rael."
The moment his name left her lips, the room shifted, all eyes turning to him. Within seconds, the murmurs began—soft at first, then rising like a wildfire.
"That's him…" one woman whispered, eyes wide. "Annie's boy. Kain's blood."
"Gods, of course it is," another breathed. "Just look at him… That face, those eyes—he's the best of both. No wonder the air feels hotter."
"He has grown into a man," someone near the front said. "Tall. And that mouth… imagine what it could do between your legs."
Low, wicked laughter followed.
"Kain was always a beast," an older woman said, licking her lips. "And Annie... mmm, she always seemed satisfied."
Several older women exchanged guilty glances, their cheeks flushed pink. One licked her lips, pretending to adjust her scarf. "You think he fucks like Kain?"
"No," her friend murmured darkly, "I think he fucks better. That kind of blood doesn't lie. He has got that confidence."
Some women glanced down, squirming in their seats. A few crossed their legs tightly while pretending to fan themselves from the heat of the fire.
"If I get even a single night with him," a younger voice whispered, barely containing her excitement, "I'll make sure he leaves me dripping with his seed. I want to feel him for days."
"One night?" another laughed. "I would keep him tied to my bed until the next moon. Milk him like a beast."
The elder said nothing—only watching the growing chaos with a faint, knowing smile. She had expected this. The moment Rael's name was spoken, the room was never going to be the same.
And in the center of it all, Julian stood calm, but his eyes flicked through the crowd, catching every scorching glance.
Well, thank god I cultivated before coming here, he thought inwardly, his gaze sweeping over the room filled with eager and curious eyes.
If he had come here with just the original Rael's body, he would've been eaten alive—no doubt about it.
Kain and Alen, though still part of the selection, were already known males of the village. They were like an old furniture in a household—useful, dependable, but no longer exciting. The women had seen them and grown used to their ways, hence, the mystery was long gone. But Rael? He was a fresh source of desire.
A stranger yet one with promising roots—Annie's beauty, Kain's strength. What could be more tantalizing than that?
And most of all, he was young. His skin still held that smoothness, his muscles filled with youthful vitality, and his scent—yes, his scent—felt powerful. Not to mention, the prophecy had whispered of a seed strong enough to restore the village's dying lineage. It was only natural they would be drawn towards the youngest flame.
Meanwhile, Annie was on a roller coaster of emotions. Behind her calm and composed exterior, a storm was raging inside her. She stood still, her face showing nothing, but her chest rose and fell faster than usual, her hands fisting at her sides without realizing it.
Even earlier, when the elder had called for her husband—when it was Kain who had been the target of these women's desire—she hadn't felt like this. Not even close. Back then, there had been irritation, maybe a flicker of possessiveness, but it had quickly passed. But now?
Now it was different. It wasn't just discomfort. It was jealousy, fear, anger, and desire. All bundled up together. It didn't make sense, not even to her.
Why him? Why did it have to be him?
Was it because she had been the one who brought him in? Or was it because, deep down, she knew he was no longer the boy she once knew?
*
Without pausing for her emotions, the ceremony moved forward. The elder's voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
"These three are the ones who will be participating in the test," she announced, her hand gesturing toward Rael, Kain, and Alen, who were now standing at the front.
All murmurs died instantly, the hall's focus snapping to the chosen candidates.
She turned slightly and gestured toward a hallway that led deeper into the hall. "At the end of this path, there are three rooms," she explained. "In each room, two women are stationed."
She paused for a moment, letting her words settle.
"These women," the elder continued, "will extract your seed and examine it carefully. They will assess your health, your vitality, and your potential as a man. Once the evaluations are done, the results will be revealed to everyone present."
Some women bit their lips; a few let out quiet sighs, imagining what it would be like to be one of the chosen testers.
The elder then stepped aside, allowing the passageway to be fully visible.
"Now, step forward. Let the trial begin."
Julian was the first to step forward, the silence in the hall turning almost suffocating. Behind him, at a slower pace, Kain and Allen followed.
As he reached the threshold of the passageway, he stopped briefly and for a heartbeat, simply stood there.