"Yes, I assure you, Stronghold Leader Zogar, that everything I've recounted is real and true," Orion replied, nodding his head at Stronghold Leader Zogar.
After sharing his account with everyone present, omitting certain private details, Orion realized that had he not witnessed it himself, he would have been as sceptical as Stronghold Leader Zogar.
Nevertheless, considering the reputation he had diligently built within the village, Orion knew that whether they found his words sceptical or not, they would undoubtedly still trust him.
Proving it to them by allowing them to witness it for themselves and confirm it wasn't a challenge Orion couldn't handle.
Right now, his primary concern was finding a way back to the mountain as quickly as possible, with as many warriors as he could gather in case the situation had taken a turn for the worst.
Of course, it wasn't that Orion doubted his ability to handle the situation in the Prismerian Kingdom alone.
However, no matter how strong he was, he couldn't be in multiple places simultaneously. Therefore, having capable hands to assist him in managing the situation all at once would be more effective.
Stronghold Leader Zogar shook his head in response to Orion's words, observing his sincere expression.
"Don't misunderstand, it's not that I don't trust you or believe you're lying. But believing such a thing is genuinely difficult for me unless I've seen it with my own eyes," he explained, exhaling deeply.
"Stronghold Leader Zogar is absolutely right. If any other warrior had brought us this story, we might have assumed they'd lost their mind and were merely fabricating stories," Village Chieftess Zara said, nodding in agreement with Orion's words.
"Furthermore, considering that this race faced punishment from Naka as retaliation, wouldn't it be a potentially disastrous idea for us to meddle in this situation and risk angering Naka by assisting a race that had betrayed him?"
Orion furrowed his brows at the Village Chieftess's question, then shook his head and responded, "Naka is a benevolent god, so I don't believe he would punish us for wanting to help a race that was once his children. Besides, after completing the trial, they have earned their right to salvation. I think Naka would be more furious if we refused to assist them in their time of need and might even curse us if we turned a blind eye."
Orion chose to keep the details of the trial a secret for now, much like he had done with the story of the Prismerions' betrayal. Delving into it was a separate topic that Orion believed they weren't yet ready to handle. He decided to take things one step at a time.
The Village Chieftess carefully considered Orion's words, her expression serious.
After a few seconds of contemplation, she redirected her attention to Orion and nodded, exhaling deeply. "I suppose you're right," she said. "Given that they have already attained their salvation and are Naka's children, it would be only reasonable for us to lend a helping hand in their time of need."
After she finished speaking, she turned to the Village Chief, who appeared lost in his thoughts.
"Ahem!" Village Chieftess Zara called out to him, snapping him out of his daze. "What's your opinion, Chief?"
Village Chief Brane released a deep sigh, mirroring the sentiments of the others. It wasn't just the Prismerion race trapped in a mountain that he found hard to believe, but also the fact that Orion had faced a god himself.
A being on par with Naka, a being who likely had the opportunity to witness Naka's power, given the account of his failed rebellion and subsequent punishment, was the entity that Orion had confronted and survived.
How could he not find it utterly ridiculous?
Like the others, the only reason he even began to take it seriously and not dismiss it as a fabrication was because it was Orion who relayed the story. Moreover, considering how his son had described finding Orion unconscious near the mountains, they had brought him back to the Village in his Vylkr warrior mode, despite not having reached his full potential.
This indicated that something extraordinary had happened to put him in that condition. Brane, therefore, was inclined to believe Orion's words, and he quickly made his decision.
"As long as Saria is still alive, both Leftward Stronghold Leader Zogar and I would be more than willing to dispatch a group of warriors to assist you in retrieving her. However, ever since Rightward Stronghold Leader Drakar's disappearance, our warriors have been under immense strain, dealing with the Vylkr vines encroaching on our borders and protecting the village."
"The burden has been so great that we've had to increase their compensation, even offering considerable rewards to those who risked their lives to bring you back to the village," the Village Chief's tone briefly turned icy when he mentioned Stronghold Leader Drakar, but he quickly regained composure and continued, "Therefore, I must convene with other key figures to discuss the current situation and determine how to address this issue before reaching a final decision."
"In the meantime, you can leave the matter in our hands and visit your family. They are undoubtedly anxious to hear about your condition and would be overjoyed to learn of your recovery."
Orion nodded in response, saying, "Alright, Chief, I understand."
He observed the group as they exchanged silent glances, almost like they were engaged in a nonverbal conversation.
Their collective gaze then settled on Overseer Anara, who had been sitting quietly throughout the meeting.
Village Chieftess Zara cleared her throat and addressed Overseer Anara, breaking the silence, "Overseer Anara, do you have any information you would like to share now that Orion is here?"
Anara shifted her attention away from Orion, her face adorned with a warm smile. "If it's okay, Village Chieftess, I would prefer to speak privately with Orion first," she replied, briefly glancing at the others.
With a collective sigh of disappointment, Village Chieftess Zara and the others nodded in understanding. They rose from their seats, one by one, and began to exit the wooden hut.