"But remember," the Elder's voice rose again, "this also means we still have chances for some of you to bear sons."
At that, the tension in the room faded slightly. A new flicker of hope lit in the women's eyes.
"So," she went on, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth, "everyone will have their chances—with Kain, Allen, and Rael."
That single sentence was like tossing meat into a den of hungry wolves. The air became charged again, and the murmurs rose immediately:
"I'll wait for Kain… I know his seed is strong.""Allen isn't bad either… steady hands.""Rael… weakest or not, I still wouldn't mind trying…" followed by a low, teasing laugh.
The Elder's gaze sharpened again. "I know many of you are hungry," she said firmly, "but remember—stay in a queue. Do not overwhelm them."
A brief pause and she continued.
"You all will be picked randomly. The list will be posted in the early morning—just before the sun rises over the horizon."
A wave of murmurs swelled instantly. The thought of having to wait, of maybe being denied for days or weeks, only seemed to stoke the hunger burning behind their gazes.
"Only those whose names appear will have their chances with them. If your name is not on the list…" She paused, almost teasingly.
"…you will have to wait. Patiently. Until your turn comes."
Some women bit their lips, eyes wandering brazenly to the three men.
One, bolder than the rest, whispered just loud enough for the nearby group to hear, "I pray I'm picked for Kain… I'd let him keep me in bed until I can't walk."
That earned a round of hushed laughter and flushed cheeks.
Another, eyes fixed boldly on Rael, smirked knowingly. "Weak seed or not… I'll drain everything he has out of him before I'm done."
The Elder pretended not to hear the rising tide of lust-soaked whispers. The crowd now looked less like villagers and more like a thirsty souls staring at a well.
With that, the gathering was formally dismissed.
The moment the Elder stepped away from the hall, the air exploded with chatter. Women clustered in tight circles, whispering excitedly about the draw for tomorrow morning. Wagers were being quietly placed—who would be first, who would get Kain, who would dare take Rael despite the results.
The entire village seemed caught in a fever. Even the old widows were seen leaning on one another, whispering about how long it had been since they'd had a strong man between their legs.
In the middle of this, Julian spotted Annie and Kain standing near one of the hall's wooden pillars.
As he approached, Annie's posture shifted almost instantly, and she kept her eyes fixed anywhere but on him. Her smile was polite, almost too quick, and her hands were joined in front of her as though holding herself still.
Kain glanced between the two of them, raising his brow but said nothing. Instead, he clapped Julian lightly on the back and suggested they head home.
The three walked side by side through the lantern-lit path, the distant hum of women's voices still enthusiastic as ever. Every few steps, they passed groups of villagers who shot them curious or lingering looks.
Annie kept just slightly behind Julian, answering any question from Kain but never volunteering a word toward him directly.
By the time they reached their home, the village around them still buzzed with life.
Once inside, Julian took off his shoes without a thought and made his way for his room. The door clicked shut behind him, and he fell backward onto the bed.
"Geez… what a day."
His mind wandered almost immediately, images of Lira and Mara flashing alluringly. The memory was so vivid that he could almost still feel the warmth of them clinging to him.
"I've never been so… out of control," he admitted, a soft chuckle slipping past his lips.
But as the chuckle faded, his smile shifted—turning into a knowing smirk. His gaze drifted toward the ceiling, his thoughts circling not on the women who had drained him, but on someone far closer to home.
"So… mother," he murmured. "Seems you've got something on your mind."
He turned to his side, replaying the little details he had noticed earlier.
"It seems it's time to play a game," he whispered to himself, the smirk still lingering. "But that will be for later… tonight, I just want to sleep."
The day's exhaustion finally claimed him, dragging him deeper until the world faded completely.
The night passed quietly, giving way to a cool morning breeze that drifted gently through the village. But unlike the usual lazy start of the day, today was different.
It was special.
Women were up before the sun, bathing in water, scrubbing themselves clean until their skin glowed. They wore fresh dresses, sprinkling fragrant perfumes, with all one wish in their heart—
That when the names were called… theirs would be among them.
Meanwhile, Julian was awake as well. He wanted to sleep longer but the village's unusual bustle made sure his rest was cut short. With a lazy sigh, he sat up, rubbing his eyes until they adjusted to the morning light.
He stretched lazily, letting a small smile play on his lips. "Might as well do something now that I'm awake…"
Dragging his feet, he left his room and moved down the hallway. He stopped outside his grandmother's door and knocked softly.
"Grandma, it's me."
There was no answer at first, only silence. He was about to knock again when, at last, a voice came from within.
"Come, Rael…"
Julian hesitated only for a few seconds before he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
His grandmother lay silently on the bed, her body glowing with a vitality that hadn't been there before. Her face looked younger now, her hair regaining its shine and luster.
But his gaze didn't linger there for long. It dropped to her swollen belly.
"Like what you see?" she murmured, a slow, knowing smile tugging at her lips.
Julian's own smirk answered her. "It seems grandma is already carrying the proof of my… service." His tone dripped with cocky amusement. "A symbol the entire village might envy."