Inside the central hut, a different atmosphere had settled while Aron was away. Freya, the mother of Freja and Ingrid had come to sit next to Claudia. Her calm and wise gaze fixated on Claudia as she smiled warmly.
Claudia looked up at the towering woman, her voice filled with admiration. "Your children are as beautiful as you," she complimented, offering a genuine smile. Freya gave a gentle nod and tilted her head, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
After a moment, Freya's voice, as direct as ever, broke the silence. "Do you desire Aron as your mate?" she asked, her tone filled with bluntness.
Claudia was taken aback by the straightforwardness of the question, her thoughts racing to find the right words. She finally lowered her head and spoke softly, "I... I admire him, but I don't understand why. I've made my feelings known to him, but he remains distant."
Freya's expression softened, and she gently placed a large hand on Claudia's shoulder. "You're not alone in your confusion," she reassured her. "Aron's age is a crucial time for Koliean males, focused solely on growing stronger and acquiring power."
Claudia looked up at Freya, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and longing. "Will he ever change?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.
Freya let out a sigh, her gaze filled with understanding. "It's unlikely," she admitted. "Aron takes after his mother, not just in appearance, but in mind as well. He likely sees having a partner as nothing more than a distraction from his goals and aspirations."
Disappointment washed over Claudia's face as she absorbed Freya's words. She glanced at Harald, who was engrossed in telling a story about a young Aron in the background, and then back at Freya. "How did you manage to win him over?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation.
Freya smiled warmly, her eyes filled with fond memories. "I was patient," she revealed. "I supported his desires and aspirations, and I remained by his side, offering my assistance whenever he needed it."
Claudia's eyes widened with realization, and she looked at Freya with renewed hope. "So, you're saying if I do the same, there's a chance?"
Freya's smile faded slightly, and she shook her head. "Like I said, Aron is different," she said gently. "You must understand that he may never develop deep emotional attachments or express himself in the way you desire."
Claudia's disappointment was palpable, and she searched Freya's eyes for any glimmer of hope. "Then how can I remain relevant to him then?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of purpose and yearning.
Freya's gaze shifted towards the entrance of the hut, where Rose had just arrived. Her eyes softened as she observed Rose's presence. "Be useful to him," Freya advised, her voice tinged with a touch of gloom. "I fear only by doing so, will you be seen as nothing more than burden or distraction."
As Freya trailed off, Claudia followed her gaze, she Rose and immediately understood what Freya was trying to say. Any who saw Rose and Aron interact would see they were close but not in an intimate or friendly sense, rather that they shared similar views and found each other useful.
ραΠdαsΝοvεl.cοm Claudia felt a pang of both understanding and uncertainty, realizing that gaining a place by Aron's side might require more than she had initially imagined.
Freya looked at Claudia with an understanding gaze, her eyes filled with a mix of compassion and wisdom. "You remind me of myself when I was younger," she said, her voice soft yet resolute. "I can train you to be stronger, help you harness your abilities. In return, I only ask that you share with me the knowledge you brought from Pesia, your homeland."
Claudia pondered the offer for a moment, her mind racing with thoughts of what this opportunity could mean for her. Finally, she looked up at Freya and replied, "I agree. Thank you for this chance."
As Claudia and Freya continued their conversation, Rose came to sit close to them, with Evanora not far behind. Evanora offered Rose a piece of meat, but Rose declined with an unamused expression. Harald greeted Rose warmly, but she responded with a nonchalant nod, clearly not interested in engaging in small talk.
Just then, Jagu appeared, looking a bit lost. Jin, in his drunken state, greeted Jagu with a mischievous smile, inviting him to join. However, Jagu declined, stating that he only wanted meat. Evanora quickly passed him a large piece, urging him to eat more and praising its quality.
As Rose contemplated leaving, the atmosphere shifted drastically as an angry Eira stormed into the hut, her face red with fury. "Mother, Aron threatened to kill me!" she exclaimed, her voice quivering with both fear and anger.
Astrid's expression darkened, and she shot Harald an unimpressed glance before turning her attention back to Eira. "I won't allow any threats to my child to pass," she declared firmly.
Before Harald could respond, Aron walked into the hut, his face unreadable. He directed his words to Astrid with an air of indifference, "Then perhaps you should have raised her not to be such a fool."
Astrid's eyes blazed with anger, and she stood her ground, ready to defend her daughter. The tension in the hut was palpable as everyone held their breath, unsure of what would happen next.
Sigrid, who had been quietly observing the scene, spoke up with a calm voice, "Let's not argue amongst ourselves. We are all family here, and we must find a way to resolve our conflicts peacefully."
Harald stood up, his voice filled with a sense of reason. "Sigrid is right," he said, casting a gentle glance at Astrid and Eira. "We shouldn't argue amongst ourselves. Aron didn't mean it in a literal sense, Astrid. You know how Eira can be."
Despite Harald's words carrying a sense of truth, Astrid's fiery temperament remained stubborn. "Then I'll give him a simple warning," she declared, her eyes ablaze with anger. In a burst of speed, she flashed past Harald, her sights set on Aron.
But as soon as Astrid reached him, Aron swiftly grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the table, shattering it and sending its contents flying. His voice, cold and menacing, cut through the air, "Don't think I won't kill you just because you gave my father a child, a defective one at that."
Harald quickly intervened, gripping Aron's wrist firmly. "That's enough, Aron!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of concern and authority.
Aron glanced at Astrid, who struggled helplessly in his hold, one final time before releasing her. She immediately retreated, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and defiance. Astrid turned to Harald and demanded, "Will you allow him to do this to me, your partner?"
Before Harald could explain, Astrid continued, her voice laced with frustration, "My child and I will not live in the same settlement as him, Harald. He may be your son, but he lacks respect and thinks everyone is below him."
Aron scoffed and shook his head, his gaze shifting to Rose, Evanora, Jagu, and Jin. "I think it's time we left. We've overstayed our welcome here," he declared, his voice tinged with disdain.
Harald stepped forward, trying to reason with his son. "Wait, Aron, this isn't worth arguing over. We can find a way to resolve our differences."
Aron nodded, his expression hardened. "I know, which is why I'm leaving," he replied, his voice firm. The room fell into a heavy silence as the gravity of the situation settled upon everyone present.
Harald sighed helplessly and shook his head at the ongoing conflict. "Fine, but do so after your companions get some rest," he said to Aron, "Besides, I have something to give you before you leave once again."
Aron glanced at his companions, who looked worn out from the day's events, before giving a subtle nod in agreement.
But Eira couldn't hold back her frustration. "I want him gone now!" she protested, her voice trembling with anger.
Harald shot her a stern look, his anger now apparent. "I've just agreed to let my only son leave to dissolve this foolish situation," he snapped, "Either accept it or keep silent."
His words carried such immense anger that even Astrid, usually not one to back down, fell silent. Harald quickly turned away from them, gesturing for Aron to follow him. He addressed the others, "Let's end the meal here; everyone should go rest."
The father and son duo left the hut and made their way down to the settlement, where the festivities were in full swing. As they approached, all the Kolieans gave way for Harald, showing him deep respect. Aron, curious about the gift his father had mentioned, asked, "So, what is it that you want to give me?"
Harald simply smiled and replied, "Just be patient."
At the center of the celebrations, Harald raised his voice to catch the attention of everyone present. "Attention, all females!" he announced, commanding the crowd's focus. "My son's body is riddled with the mana of female beasts, which he cannot use himself. So, I ask if any of you are interested in taking it away."
A brief silence followed, and then an eruption of cheers and excited chatter filled the air. Many women rushed towards Aron, eager to be closer to him and take advantage of the mana he carried.
Aron understood the usefulness of this offer, so he didn't object, but he couldn't help but wonder why his father had gone about it in such a chaotic manner.
Harald watched the swarm of females approach Aron with a smile. He turned to his son and advised, "Try not to get too tired, Aron. It seems you'll be quite busy while your companions rest."
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