--
Meliss and I head toward the east-side entrance, where a crowd has gathered. Among them stands Lani, the chief, waiting to welcome their fellow tribesmen and tribeswomen.
Ten people from the northern tribe stand out immediately. Their attire and physique make them easy to recognize—they wear long, ice-blue wool coats, and they are significantly larger than the Lula tribe. Their towering height, easily around 240 cm, is imposing.
---
"Beeeee… Beeeee…"
A deep bleating sound echoes behind them. I glance over and see a herd of massive goats standing in formation. No—"massive" isn't the right word. These creatures are the size of small mammoths. It's easy to deduce that they rode these beasts to travel here. Impressive.
---
One of the northern women approaches Lani and embraces her in a strong hug. Like Lani, she wears numerous necklaces and pendants, but the strings are made of silver rather than leather. After greeting Lani, she turns to the others in her group, embracing each of them in turn.
With their introductions complete, they head toward the chief's house. Each carries a leather backpack, and as they move, they release the goats. The freed animals trot off toward the sacred mountain.
I frown. There are wolves in those mountains. If the goats are killed, their riders will lose their means of transportation. I can only hope they've accounted for that.
Suddenly, Dani approaches us. Her expression is serious.
"The chief wants Meliss to bring the puitu to the chief's house as soon as possible."
Her words are rough, but I understand enough—thanks to Meliss—to get the message. Without hesitation, we follow them.
---
When we arrive, the northern visitors are already seated on the porch, though I don't see their leader among them. That means she must be inside.
My guess is correct. Inside, Lani is speaking with a large northern woman. I take a moment to study her features. Her silver-white hair is intricately braided into a waterfall braid, and her presence alone radiates authority.
She notices my gaze, and her conversation with Lani halts as she turns to face me.
"So… is this the one? The puitu?"
"Yeah, he is," Lani replies without hesitation. "He even bears the sign of the deity itself."
The northern woman nods, intrigued. "Introduce me, Sister."
"Absolutely."
Lani gestures for me to sit beside her, then turns to the woman.
"This is Aalas, leader of the northern tribe," she says. "She is one of their fiercest warriors, a fighter whose brute strength rivals my own."
I introduce myself, but out of caution, I let Meliss translate. I don't want to risk insulting Aalas with my broken grasp of their language. She listens carefully, her expression unreadable, before finally nodding in approval.
For nearly an hour, we talk. She tells me about their plans, their traditions, and, finally, their purpose here.
"We'll be setting up camp atop Lungpui, as usual," she says. "I'd be grateful if you attended… to observe the candidates, to familiarize yourself with them. After all, they will bear your child."
Silence. The words settle like a weight on my chest.
I don't respond right away. Instead, I follow them toward Lungpui, my thoughts churning.
---
As they set up camp near the meeting tent, I remain on the outskirts, watching. It all still feels surreal.
Being kidnapped.
Surviving my first battle.
My failed escape attempt.
And now this.
They don't just expect me to participate in their rituals. They expect me to father the next generation of warriors. I think back to a quote from one of the games I used to play:
"Expectations can be a burden."
How fitting.
What if I fail?
What if they lose their battle?
What if they never let me return?
What if their deity can't send me back?
What then?
The flood of "what ifs" gnaws at my mind, anxiety creeping in like a shadow. Just as the spiral begins to tighten around me, a hand lands on my shoulder.
I turn. It's Meliss.
Her brows knit together in concern. "What are you thinking about? You look pale. Are you feeling unwell?"
I shake my head quickly. "I'm fine."
She isn't convinced. "If you're fine, then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
She doesn't wait for my answer. Instead, she turns to the chief, exchanges a few words, then grabs my wrist. Before I can protest, she's leading me back to my hut.
---
The moment we arrive, my guards snap to attention. They look uneasy, shifting in place as they see me enter.
They look… kind of cute like that.
I blink.
…What the hell is happening to me?
I let out a sigh. I've always had a wide range of tastes when it comes to women—from tomboys to elegant ladies, even those in their mid-thirties. But I'm not interested in distractions. Not now. I've stayed a virgin for a reason.
But giant, muscular warrior women? That's a first. Even if some of them are… well, undeniably handsome.
"Ugh." I groan, gripping my hair and pulling lightly to clear my thoughts.
Meliss frowns. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"I just… need to be alone."
She hesitates, but I don't give her a choice. Gently but firmly, I push everyone out of the hut. "I just need a little time to think. It won't take long."
They leave, albeit reluctantly.
Finally alone, I slump onto the floor near the window and stare toward the southeastern mountain range. My thoughts drift beyond the horizon, searching for answers.
Or maybe just peace.
---