Nonetheless, Orion recognized that this might be his opportunity to deepen his connection with Fiona and learn more about her. He opened his mouth to ask another question but was interrupted by Fiona's playful tone. "Are you here to fetch water or to ask me questions?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips and flashing a dazzling smile at Orion. "If it's the latter, I might have to charge you another Kalna fruit for your questions if they are personal."
Orion's mind was suddenly struck by a brilliant idea, and without a moment's hesitation, he blurted out, "Okay, but on one condition - you have to answer every question I ask truthfully."
Fiona was taken aback by Orion's proposal. Her smile faltered as she gazed at him in disbelief. "You are...?" she said slowly, trying to process what he had just said. "You're offering me a kalna fruit just to answer your questions about myself?".
While it was not uncommon for people to trade information, but as a warrior, she was easily one of the most prominent figures of her generation, making it effortless for anyone to gather information about her simply by asking around amongst her peers.
Meanwhile, Orion gave a firm nod of his head and replied, "But, I'm afraid I don't have any kalna fruits to offer." He paused briefly, clearing his throat as if he were hesitant or unsure of what to say next. After a moment, he continued, "But...I do have something else I could offer in exchange."
Despite pretending, Orion was fully aware of the true worth of kalna fruits, as they were the lifeblood of his daily routine. One fruit could sustain him during the day, and another could suffice for the night, making them an indispensable resource. This understanding further solidified why kalna fruits were held in such high regard.
However, Orion had his sights set on something even more valuable and satisfying than a mere kalna fruit, something worth trading for from his perspective.
Fiona couldn't help but inwardly sigh with relief at Orion's response. She was glad that he wasn't so naive as to offer just one kalna fruit in exchange for several questions about her life, despite his apparent maturity. It would have left her questioning his common sense. After all, one kalna fruit was hardly worth several questions about her life. Curiosity getting the best of her, she prodded, "So what is it that you want to barter with?" eager to learn what he was thinking.
Orion replied with a straight face and a knowing look that suggested he had something more in mind. "I'll stay here with you for half a day and help collect payment from the other villagers who come to fetch water," he said, his voice filled with a strange wave of determination.
As Orion's proposal sank in, Fiona's expression turned thoughtful. She had never considered such an arrangement, but as she mulled it over, she realized it was a good deal. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, still feeling a bit uneasy about the idea of someone bartering with her for information about herself. Nonetheless, she couldn't deny the appeal of having an extra hand to help with collecting her payments.
Without hesitation, Orion responded, "Yes, I am."
Fiona let out a resigned sigh and nodded in agreement. "Okay, go ahead and ask me anything you like," she said, but quickly added a warning. "Just keep in mind that questions related to the Vylkr vines or anything on the other side of the river are banned." She wanted to be upfront with Orion and set clear boundaries to avoid any misunderstandings.
Orion, with his sights set on becoming a warrior soon, didn't seem to have any qualms about Fiona's response. As such, he asked, "How did you become so tall and muscular?" Reaching out his arm towards Fiona, he couldn't resist giving her feminine bicep a gentle squeeze before tracing the chiselled contours of her sculpted abs with his fingertips. A sly grin tugged at the corners of Orion's lips as he lowered his hand down to Fiona's stunning waistline, admiring the curves before trailing down to her toned, powerful thighs.
"Well, my height is natural, but my physique is a result of rigorous warrior training," Fiona replied with a hint of confidence in her voice. "Of course, not all warriors look , but I took my training very seriously."
Orion nodded, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "I can see the results of your hard work," he said, impressed. "Speaking of training, can you share with me your evaluation of inner strength?" Cutting straight to the chase, he posed his next question with a sense of curiosity.
Fiona furrowed her brows, wracking her brain to recall the details of her inner strength potential. "As far as I can remember, my potential rating was three stars," she replied, although it had been a while since she had given it much thought. However, the significance of one's potential rating in determining their progress as a warrior was not something she could easily forget.
Orion nodded his head in understanding once again before posing his next question. "How old are you?" he inquired, having made several guesses about Fiona's age since they first met. However, he wanted to hear the answer from her lips to confirm his suspicions.
Fiona's hesitant smile didn't quite hide the fact that she was avoiding Orion's gaze. He sensed her reluctance but couldn't resist waiting patiently for her answer. "I'm thirty-five," she finally relented, confirming his earlier guesses. Despite being in her mid-thirties, Fiona's toned physique and voluptuous curves gave her an irresistible allure that Orion had always found hard to resist. As such, he felt a sudden urge to learn more about her and unravel the mystery that surrounded her.
From there, Orion began asking Fiona a flurry of questions, some were personal and others trivial. At first, Fiona was hesitant and wanted to set a limit on the number of questions he could ask. But as time passed, she found herself eagerly anticipating Orion's inquiries. She relished the opportunity to thoughtfully craft her responses, and enjoyed the process of delving deeper into her own thoughts and feelings.