?657 An Unsettling Discovery In The Vylkr vines
The Village Chief smiled broadly as soon as he heard Orion's words.
He nodded approvingly, "That's good. In the meantime, just continue what you are doing. I and the rest of the key figures will ensure that your appointment as the next Village Chief takes place before the end of the year."
As Orion nodded seriously in response, the Village Chief leapt over the wall before him. He dived downwards before transforming into his massive green-horned owl, disappearing towards the direction of the village.
Orion was glad that this information had come early, allowing him to focus on various other things without worries, as within a few weeks, his authority with the Village and the Orion's Cities as a whole would be undisputed.
"Alright, everyone, that's enough!" Orion said as he stared at the warriors before him, "Before we close, I'll remind everyone this again: to sense the Celestial energy, you need to feel the warmth of the sun entering your body with each breath. Feel it flowing through your lungs, circulating through your bloodstream, and reaching every part of your body. Then, picture your body becoming translucent, with the same warmth as the sun radiating from you and spreading towards everything around you."
"If you can do that, you will feel the Celestial energy flowing through your veins like the Vylkr energy. After that, it would be much easier to sense the moon's breath through its warmth. Following that, I'll teach you all a technique that you can use to manifest the Celestial energy in you. You are dismissed."
The warriors stood tiredly and bowed their heads towards Orion in respect and gratitude before they all turned and left the training area individually.
Orion also left the training home and returned home since it would be almost dark. However--
"ORIONN!" a resounding voice called his name from the sky.
Orion immediately shifted his attention upwards and saw Grim falling from the sky, seemingly shapeshifting back to his human form.
Orion reacted swiftly, jumping into the air and catching Grim before stabilizing him safely as he landed on his feet.
Grim sat on the ground before laying his back firmly to catch his breath, "Orion, I need your help," Grim said with a desperate expression.
"Calm down, and then tell me what happened?" Orion asked with a solemn expression.
He had never seen Grim with such a frightened expression, so he immediately understood that something terrible had happened.
"It's the Vylkr vines," Grim said, a frightened look in his eyes.
Orion immediately felt his heart race.
Throughout these past months, he had also taken several missions with Gorg, Tala, Grim, and sometimes with their warrior groups to clear away some nearby Vylkr vines to stop them from accumulating outside of Aegis of the Arctic Deity's divine pressure, so he was very much worried when he heard Grim's words and was afraid that something had happened to them.
"Gorg, Tala, and I all went to clear away some of the accumulating one-star Vylkr vines as usual. However, something happened... When we were about to return, they ambushed us just after we had completely destroyed the Vylkr vines."
Orion was astounded. His eyes widened as he processed Grim's story.
"…With three of us, even if we were tired, we could still handle them, so we didn't think anything was wrong and merely thought that the Vylkr vines were relentless as always."
"However, it was already too late when we began to notice something due to their coordinated attacks and attempts to separate us from each other. Tala had entered exhaustion from using her gift and had become immobile, alongside Gorg too," Grim said, his voice trembling as he revealed the unbelievable revelation of the scene they had seen.
He would find it difficult to believe someone had told him about it unless he witnessed it himself. He could only hope that Orion would believe him and offer his help; after all, Orion already possessed an undeniable influence in the Village and the Orion's Cities despite being the same age as them.
Orion's eyes then shrunk to the size of a needle, "Where… are they?" Orion asked.
He was aware that being a warrior was dangerous work, where many unlucky individuals died, and those who survived could never return to their ordinary lives as the villagers they were before.
That was why the details of what being a warrior entailed were kept hidden from the public and why his mother had initially stopped him from becoming one in the first place. However, even if it sounded selfish, Orion didn't want anybody he knew personally to go through such an experience.
Grim looked at Orion worriedly and shook his head in response, "They are okay. I managed to shapeshift into my strongest shapeshifting form and take them as far away as possible. They are currently at the Prismerions' healers' healthcare, receiving treatment."
"I tried to inform the ranking warrior groups about my story; however, they didn't take it seriously and only said we were reckless because we were still one-star warriors. So, I didn't waste any time and immediately got your location and came to see you because I am sure that you will believe," Grim said, his pleading gaze fixed on Orion, "If you don't believe that I'm telling the truth, then it doesn't matter, because none of the Strongholds or the Village Chief either."
"It's okay, I believe you. I know that you would never use such a situation to tell a lie, so there is no need for you to worry," Orion replied.
He felt slightly relieved after hearing that Tala and Gorg were okay. However, he couldn't help but worry about the rest of Gorg's words.
Vylkr vines that can formulate a plan! How incredibly ridiculous does such a thing sound?
"How long has this been happening?" Orion asked with a solemn expression.
"Two and a half hours ago."
Orion nodded in response, "Don't worry, I will handle it from here," Orion said as he proceeded to help Gorg back to his feet, "Let's get you to a healer first. And also, forget the payment; I will take care of it for Gorg and Tala," Orion added.