202 The Unexpected Visit
As the giant owl dived, Orion found himself caught by surprise as he felt a firm grip around his waist, lifting him swiftly into the air before he could react. Suspended high above the ground, held securely within the village chief’s powerful talons, Orion couldn’t help but glance down, taking in the breathtaking view below.
The rush of wind created by the owl’s majestic wings was the only sound that echoed in his ears, amplifying the exhilaration and the sense of weightlessness as they soared through the sky.
Gazing down upon the desolate forests, overrun by both hidden and exposed Vylkr vines, Orion couldn’t help but wear a weary expression as he shook his head in dismay. His attention shifted towards the path the Village Chief was taking him, and as they approached the farm, he could finally make out the full size of the farm within the colossal wooden walls that encircled it, stretching wide as far as his eyes could see.
At the farthest edge of the farm, a towering tree stood, surpassing the majority of the surrounding forest in sheer size and magnificence. Unfortunately, Orion’s glimpse was brief as the village chief suddenly dove downward, prompting him to tightly shut his eyes against the gust of wind, shielding them from its force.
Sensing the talons around his waist suddenly releasing their grip, Orion instinctively prepared himself for a hard landing. To his surprise, however, he was gently dropped onto his feet, the enormous owl continuing to flap its wings before transforming back into the form of the Village Chief.
With a curious gaze, Orion surveyed his surroundings, hoping to recognize the area where they had landed. His eyes fell upon the familiar sight of Mrs Shani’s wooden hut, the very woman who had always welcomed and supervised them during their visits to the farm for the awakening ceremony.
“I would have entrusted you to someone I know,” the Village Chief’s voice broke the silence, his steps leading him towards the front door of the sturdy wooden structure. “But since you are acquainted with Mrs Shani, I’ll leave you in her capable hands to find a place for you to rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, we can address the remaining matters.”
He rapped on the door a few times, the sound echoing through the silence of the night. After a momentary pause, the door creaked open, revealing a face he recognized. “Chief!” Mrs Shani exclaimed, her eyes widening in confusion at the unexpected presence of the Village Chief on her doorstep at such a late hour. She opened her mouth to speak, but as her gaze shifted to the young man standing behind him, her words became lodged in her throat, her eyes widening with recognition.
“I’ll need you to accompany this young man to where the other women who arrived today are staying,” the Village Chief instructed. Mrs Shani’s thoughts were confirmed by his words, as she had already been briefed on the situation earlier today.
Snapping out of her daze, she responded, “Alright, I understand. However, I’m currently in a meeting, and it will take several minutes before I can join you.” Upon hearing her response, the Village Chief nodded in understanding and tried to catch a glimpse inside her hut to see who she was meeting with.
Sensing his curiosity, Mrs Shani gently pushed the door open, allowing him to see the familiar brightly coloured figure seated on the ground. The Village Chief nodded in recognition and turned his attention to Orion, asking, “Can you wait for a while until Mrs Shani finishes her meeting? She will then be able to show you where the others who arrived this evening are staying.”
‘I don’t seem to have much of a choice, do I?’ Orion thought to himself, realizing that the Village Chief was unaware of their exact location and might leave him with someone unfamiliar, which was not ideal considering his desperate need for some rest. Despite his reservations, he nodded and replied, “No worries, I can wait until she’s done.”
Upon hearing Orion’s response, the Village Chief nodded and turned his attention back to Mrs Shani, stating, “I’m entrusting him to your care, Mrs Shani.” Without further delay, he swiftly transformed into his giant owl form and took off into the sky, leaving Orion with the lingering feeling that the Village Chief was eager to distance himself. Nevertheless, there was one silver lining for Orion this time -he was under the care of an attractive and mature woman.
As Mrs Shani shifted her gaze from the departing Village Chief to Orion, she quipped, “What are you waiting for? Come inside.” Orion nodded with a smile on his face and calmly entered the hut. However, he was taken aback when he discovered that the person Mrs Shani was meeting with was none other than the Tree Nymph, Dariya.
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With a friendly smile, Orion greeted her, “Well, I didn’t expect to see you again, Dariya. How have you been?” He understood from Mrs Shani’s words that Dariya held an important position, so he saw no reason not to be polite. Not that he would ever be impolite in any case.
As Mrs Shani listened to Orion’s words, her eyes widened in surprise. Her head swiftly turned towards Dariya, seeking confirmation. “You know him?” she said, her gaze then returning to Orion as she pointed at him with her eyes. Dariya nodded slowly, “Yes,” a sweet smile graced her lips. “In fact, I met him and the others, especially that little girl I mentioned, all at the same time.”
Mrs Shani’s surprise lingered, her eyes still wide open as she couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t tell me you also revealed your name to him?” It was an important question since the tree nymphs rarely disclosed their names unless on rare occasions or under special circumstances. For a villager from the farm to know the names of the tree nymphs, someone must have shared that information with them.