Straining my eyes to discern the details, it became clear that some of these miniature statues were infants who were several days or even a few months old. This realization halted my thoughts until the truth struck me with an unsettling force. "Chief," I uttered, my voice devoid of emotion, as I turned my head to the side, catching sight of the Village Chief struggling to part his lips, as if they were glued shut. Streams of tears poured down his face, his gaze transfixed upon the pit before us.
"To safeguard the village, we devised a strategy to divert the attention of the Vylkr vines towards the surrounding forest, all while diligently managing our numbers," the Village Chief finally spoke, his voice accompanied by yet another floodgate of tears streaming from his second set of eyes. "However, as lives continued to overflow within the forest and on the farm, we realized it was only a matter of time before history repeated itself. We witnessed a sudden surge in the assaults from the Vylkr vines, their continued attempts to breach the forest's defences and consume everything in their path, just as they had done before and would continue to do so. And so, we made a difficult decision..."
He paused, audibly swallowing a lump in his throat as he fought back the overwhelming emotions. "Chief Rovak, appointed for his merit, resolved not to fall into the same dire predicament as his predecessor. Alongside other key figures who had survived the previous onslaught, they reached a decision: to sacrifice a portion of the forest and alleviate the burden of the available warriors so that they could easily protect the remaining areas without stress. Yet, realizing this alone would not suffice, they needed a diversion, much like the forest served as a distraction for the village. And thus, beneath the unsuspecting eyes and ears of every villager..."
As the Village Chief's revelation unfolded, a wave of unsettling understanding washed over me, leading me to piece together the final fragments of the puzzle. "You all did the unthinkable decision to use newborn babies as a means to control the population growth and divert the attention of the Vylkr vines," I interjected, my voice carrying a tinge of disbelief in them.
"Yes," the Village Chief confirmed, his tears now streaming down his face, leaving a trail of anguish on the ground beneath him. "Though we tried to search for other alternative options, we knew we needed a viable solution. Thus, whenever a child is born, or a few days or months after their birth, a select few are administered a special herb that temporarily halts their heartbeat, rendering them seemingly lifeless. These infants, along with various plants, fruits, and herbs, are then placed in cages and discarded into this pit for the insatiable hunger of the Vylkr vines to satiate their endless cravings...."
"How many?" I demanded, my voice reverberating through the air with an intensity that matched the raging fire in my eyes. The seconds ticked by, each one amplifying my growing anger as the Village Chief remained silent. "HOW MANY?" I roared, unable to contain my fury any longer.
"When the situation becomes dire, and the Vylkr Vines pose a significant threat to the forest, we send twenty infants, accompanied by an abundance of freshly harvested fruits and plants. However, if the situation is not as urgent, we wait until the number reaches fifty or even a hundred," the Village Chief finally responded, his voice heavy with weariness as he let out a deep sigh, his tears no longer staining the ground below us.
With my mind racing, I opened my mouth to speak, my words heavy with the weight of my realization, "So, those options...".
However, the Village Chief quickly interjected, his voice filled with earnestness. "The options were not solely my suggestions. While I may have considered them during the time I left you at Mrs Shani's hut, I understood that burdening you with such a heavy responsibility at such a young age would only bring more harm than good to both you and the village."
"Yet, the choices were also thought upon and carefully selected by the Caretakers and reached through a collective agreement. As the weight they bear on their shoulders is also the weight I bear on mine, it would be hypocritical of me to oppose their decision now. However, to our surprise, you have gone beyond our expectations, envisioning a future that surpasses our fear of the Vylkr vines -a future that we can strive to achieve in the years to come once all the necessary conditions are met."
The Village Chief's weary expression softened into a small, appreciative smile. "The choices were ultimately yours, and as always, you have exceeded even our highest hopes."
However, as the Village Chief's words carried on, a realization struck me like a bolt of lightning -I was worried about becoming a breeder for the wrong reasons. And just thinking about what would have happened...
Was enough to prevent my brain from thinking any further!
"I had intended to wait a while longer before revealing this to you," the Village Chief continued, a hint of respect in his voice, "but considering your insatiable curiosity and the various feats that you have always managed to pull off, it wouldn't surprise me if you had already uncovered it before I was prepared to..."
"Chief," I uttered, my lightning surging forth from my arms. At that moment, I realised how effortlessly the Vylkr energy fused with the strange energy coursing through my body, with a newfound harmony between the two.
But before I could fully grasp the implications, the Village Chief shook his head and began to speak. "Orion... I know--".
My attention, however, veered away from his words as my hand clenched into a fist, hurtling toward his face. The crackle of lightning filled the air, and his eyes widened in surprise as my fist hurtled toward his mouth.
My fist collided with his mouth, sending a resounding "BAMMM!" that reverberated through the atmosphere.