Flying relentlessly, the Chief guided us to the river and dove to the opposite bank. The Village Chief showed no signs of stopping, continuing our journey deep into the unfamiliar terrain on the other side of the river.
Frustration and agitation consumed me, causing my body to twitch as I managed to position myself to scream, "What is happening? Where are we going?" With no response coming, my mounting frustration reached its peak, and I screamed once more, "CAN YOU FUCKING TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON?".
However, the only response that greeted me was a piercing screech that assaulted my ears, causing me to wince in discomfort and take several minutes to regain my composure.
Choosing to remain silent, as there seemed to be no current way to escape from the firm grip of the Village Chief's talon, I contemplated activating my gift to shock him into releasing his hold. Yet, as I glanced down from our current altitude, the idea of plummeting to the ground didn't appear favourable. Even with my enhanced body, landing safely on my feet seemed highly unlikely.
Regardless, we continued our aerial journey for what felt like through the sky for what felt like several minutes. The Village Chief, in his Green Horned Owl form, soared at such a height and speed that it seemed as though we had covered distances that would require hours to cross on foot. His flight was swift and unreachable, leaving no chance for anyone to catch even a fleeting glimpse.
Eventually, our flight came to an abrupt halt. The Village Chief circled a specific area before descending to the ground. As my feet touched the earth, and the firm grip of the Chief's talons released me from his waist, I quickly stepped away, putting distance between us. With a prudent gaze, I glanced back at the Village Chief, who shook his head wearily, a tired sigh escaping his lips.
With a deep breath, I opened my mouth to address the Village Chief directly. Locking my gaze with his, I questioned, "Chief, what is happening? And where exactly have you brought me?" The Village Chief, his eyes fixed upon me, started moving toward me deliberately. "I have brought you here to reveal the truth behind the options presented to you and why the Caretakers, including myself, selected them for you," he replied, his voice firm and unperturbed.
As the Village Chief continued to advance, unaffected by my concerns, I quickly decided to take action. Without hesitation, I activated my gift, causing brilliant waves of blue lightning to crackle and dance along the surface of my arms. The electric tendrils writhed like venomous snakes seeking their prey.
Unsurprisingly, the Village Chief came to an abrupt halt, his indifferent gaze now replaced with a look of approval as he observed my gift. With a nod of his head, he acknowledged my gift and remarked, "With a gift as dangerous as yours, added to your immense potential for inner strength, it's evident that Naka has blessed you beyond imagination."
His gaze locked onto mine once again as he pressed forward, in the face of the flickering arcs of lightning spreading across the ground.
"However, before we go into that, do you recall our discussion about the need to maintain control over the village's growing numbers, ensuring it never exceeds a thousand or falls below five hundred?" The Village Chief's hands rested clasped behind his back, a thoughtful stance that contrasted with his advancing steps towards me.
Aware of his own strength, I instinctively took a step back, recalling the effortless manner in which he had sent warrior Jean hurtling into a tree with a mere flick of his arm. Nevertheless, I nodded in acknowledgement of his question.
"Very well," he replied, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he nodded in return. "That is precisely why I have brought you here -to allow you to witness firsthand the tremendous effort and tireless commitment we pour into ensuring the safety, and prosperity of our village, shielding it from the merciless attack of the Vylkr vines."
As his words hung in the air, I suddenly found my left leg teetering over a gaping hole, prompting me to hastily withdraw it and regain my balance, narrowly avoiding a potentially dangerous fall.
Though I was uncertain about what awaited me, the realization that every crater or hole I encountered so far had been infested with a swarm of Vylkr vines, particularly the one star Vylkr vines variety, sent an involuntary gulp down my throat. The tension thickened in the air, mirroring the whirlwind of thoughts swirling inside my head as I desperately sought an escape from this precarious situation.
Unexpectedly, the Village Chief came to a sudden halt once again, commanding, "Turn around." His authoritative tone compelled me to glance sideways, checking if there was anything lurking behind me.
Yet, as if he had effortlessly perceived my doubts and penetrated the depths of my mind, the Village Chief shook his head and reassured me, "Don't worry. I have no intention of causing you harm. In fact, as the Village Chief, it is in my best interest to protect you." With those words, he proceeded forward, steadfastly walking until he stood beside me, his gaze fixed ahead. Meanwhile, I faced the opposite direction, my back turned to the path that he was staring at.
"You have asked me a question, and now I present to you your answer. Turn around, Orion," the Village Chief's commanding voice echoed through the stillness, infused with an uncharacteristic touch of constraint as if his emotions had momentarily retreated.
Swallowing hard, acutely aware of the gravity of the moment, I immediately deactivated my gift, after seeing that they merely caused the Village Chief to briefly flinch in discomfort.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I mustered the courage to turn around, ready to see....
My mind came to a screeching halt as my gaze fixated on the scene before me. Deep within the abysm of the crater into which I had almost fallen, a multitude of one star Vylkr vines slithered and writhed, their presence expected yet still unnerving. However, it was not the vines that seized my attention, as I had already prepared myself for their presence. What held my gaze captive were the countless small stone figures, eerily resembling infants.