"Now that we're done, let's head to the Village to begin the festival," the Village Chief announced with a smile.
"We'll be taking our leave then, Chief. We'll bring our gifts to visit after the festival ends," High King Kael responded.
High King Kael and High Queen Celeria bowed respectfully to the Village Chief and the others before flying away toward the Garden.
"I'll be taking my leave as well. I'll make sure to deliver my gift in person after the festival," Queen Selene said, nodding at the Village Chief and the others before rising into the air and flying back toward the third border city.
The festival was part of the Village culture, not hers, so Queen Selene saw no reason to force herself to attend. However, many of their own festivals have been cancelled due to the current situation. She needed to ensure they would begin celebrating their traditions again in the future.
After Queen Selene left, only Orion, Reena, the Village Chief, the Village Chieftess, the Stronghold Leaders, and the Caretakers remained.
"Why don't I take everybody there?" Orion suggested, observing them as they prepared to leap into the air or rely on the help of some warriors. His offer caused them to halt and turn around, looking at him in surprise.
"Are you able to do that?" Caretaker Ivor asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Yes, I can. I discovered it while I was uncovering more of my abilities. All you need to do is gather near me and ensure we are all connected by touching each other," Orion responded, nodding confidently.
Although they were all sceptical about how Orion would transport them to the Village on time and all at the same time, they didn't see any reason to doubt him. They walked towards his position, curious to witness his newfound ability in action.
Caretaker Shani joined him before the Village Chief and the others gathered around. They all placed their hands on him and one another, forming a linked chain of connection.
After confirming everyone was holding onto him, Orion took Reena in a princess carry and immediately activated his gift. A thick wave of lightning exploded out of him, and in an instant, he and the others vanished from their position, leaving behind a scorched ground in their wake.
In the wide-open space of the market square, fewer than 1,500 villagers had gathered, creating a bustling and cheerful atmosphere. Some had travelled from the Border Cities to the Village for the yearly festival celebration, which had been delayed due to recent events, prompting them to extend their stay. This delay allowed them to reconnect with those they hadn't seen.
A broad wooden stage stood before the crowd, where all the key leaders were positioned. They overlooked the entire gathering with all eyes fixed on them.
"Ahem! Everyone, please be silent! The ordination is about to commence," the Village Chief announced, his voice carrying across the surroundings.
The crowds immediately hushed, creating a profound silence that one could hear a pin drop.
The Village Chief nodded in acknowledgement and continued, "Today, we gather not only to celebrate our annual festival, marking another year of resilience against the challenges posed by the Vylkr vines and other unknown adversaries that have threatened us but also to honour our past and embrace the future—a future shaped by the strength and wisdom of our future leaders."
Suddenly, the Village Chieftess stepped forward, clutching a black crystal orb and a beautifully crafted staff about one meter tall adorned with vibrant colours—red, orange, black, white, purple, and green. She turned to face Orion and Reena, her expression filled with complex emotion before a sigh passed her lips, and her face gradually brightened with a smile.
She vividly recalled the moments of doubt when she discovered how his influence rendered her gift useless, prompting her to entertain various dark thoughts to ensure she could still predict the Village's future and ready it against impending dangers.
She remembered the foolish bet she made with him, the times her resentment towards him surged. Still, after witnessing the emergence of the Prismerions leading to the creation of Orion's Cities, the rise of the four-star Vylkr vine, the manifestation of the Vylkr phenomenon, the appearance of the Vylkr spawns, and their territory ascending into the sky as a floating island, a literal paradise, she couldn't help but want to bang her head against her past self's, berating her foolishness.
What good was her foresight without Orion? Without him, they would have been doomed from the start.
A god had also recognized his worthiness and granted him respect; making her personal judgement was essentially laughable and unacceptable.
The young woman, who was Orion's sister and partner, initially learned that she once competed for a coveted position on the farm and had a unique gift for communicating with plant life. However, she had to withdraw due to Orion's growing influence and the various significant events unfolding around him.
Understanding this, Village Chieftess Zara recognized her leadership experience, intelligence, and strength, dispellinganydoubts about her suitability as the next Village Chieftess.
In fact, she felt pleased that Orion chose Reena as his partner for the role, seeing it as his respect for the Village's traditions. While she harboured no ill feelings towards Orion's other partners and considered them friends, she understood that tradition upheld Reena as the most suitable candidate, given her beauty and qualities.
Village Chieftess Zara's smile brightened even more, her happiness discernible as she stood before the Village Chief and handed him the black crystal orb.
The Village Chief then signalled for Orion to step forward. Within moments, Orion stood before them, facing the assembled crowd.
"Orion, you have shielded us with your strength and guided us with your wisdom. You've confronted unimaginable challenges for the sake of our Village and emerged victorious. Do you pledge to continue serving this community, to lead with honour and integrity, and to safeguard our people and territory?" the Village Chief asked, his voice carrying across the square.