Village Head's Debauchery

Patriarch Rylan's eyes shrunk to a needle size as the spectacle unfolded before him. He quickly extended his hand and activated his summoning glyph in a desperate attempt to resummon Stoneback. The glyph reappeared in the air as though drawn by an invisible force, pulsating with an otherworldly hue as it expanded before him.

Stoneback's whole essence was being tugged from both sides.

Isadora and the others watched in growing panic, becoming fully aware of the situation but utterly clueless about how to stop it.

Without wasting a moment, Orion swiftly scooped Crystalia into his arms, carrying her in a princess hold. He activated the One-Winged Sky Art and soared at breakneck speed, leaving a turbulent gust of wind that swept through the entire compound. Despite his anxiety, he carefully controlled his strength to avoid causing any damage to his surroundings.

As the distance between them and Stoneback increased, Patriarch Rylan felt the connection with Stoneback slowly returning. A sigh of relief escaped his lips.

Stoneback snapped out of his daze, clarity returning to his eyes as he looked around in horror, his gaze locking onto the spot where Orion and Crystalia had been standing. Seeing no one there, he immediately turned to Patriarch Rylan with a fearful expression.

Patriarch Rylan, Isadora, Lyndon, and Leif felt their hearts tremble at the sight. Stoneback was a powerful Earl-ranked noble spirit beast, a creature Patriarch Rylan had worked tirelessly to forge a contract with after decades of repeated failures. Despite his strength being held down by Patriarch Rylan's abilities, Stoneback had never backed down or shown fear in the face of an unfathomable opponent.

This was the first time they had ever seen him terrified.

An inexplicable chill ran down their spines as they realized that Stoneback, a being of such immense power, was afraid of the woman beside the Supreme Leader of Paradise. The thought that the original inhabitants of Paradise might be far more monstrous than they had imagined sent shivers through them. What kind of opponent could possibly stand against such a terrifying force?

"We'll talk later, old friend," Patriarch Rylan said before resummoned Stoneback and quickly deactivating the summoning glyph.

He exhaled heavily as he tried to regain his strength. He briefly glanced in the direction where the Supreme Leader had left with the woman. Shaking his head, he turned toward the building and continued, "Let's go and rest for a bit. I believe the Supreme Leader will stop by soon to help us understand what happened." His tone was firm, concealed by a calm exterior, as he turned and led the way forward.

Meanwhile, Orion had exited the Primordial Barrier, soaring away from Paradise until it was nothing more than a tiny speck in the sky. He finally halted, watching as the runes on Crystalia's neck transformed back into the one-winged crest and receded beneath her skin. Orion exhaled in relief, his attention shifting to carefully check her condition. A worried look crossed his face before swiftly turning and flying back toward Paradise.

....

Third Border City

Queen's Palace

It had been a long time since she had felt this happy.

From the moment their race had broken free of the curse placed on them by a mad god- thanks to a young man who had literally executed a god-to the time they left the mountains and shook the dust from their heels, her joy had been fleeting. The death of her partner had shattered it, leaving her alone and burdened with the task of settling their entire race into an unfamiliar land filled with terrors beyond comprehension.

No matter what she, her daughter, or anyone else did to offer comfort, it was only temporary. But there was something about her daughter's husband, a warmth he brought with him whenever he came to visit, that lingered long after he had gone.

"Queens don't cry. They're always ready to smile with grace, even when the weight of the world presses on their shoulders. So, why don't you let me carry that burden for a minute and show you how to regally shed a tear?"

Those were the exact words Orion had said to her. Selene had always wondered how he managed to have so many wives; in that moment, she understood. She laughed to the extent that she forgot her burdens.

How could anyone resist such a man?

Selene found herself lost in thought, a smile playing on her lips as she sifted through the numerous files on her desk.

"I've received information from Miss Isadora that the Pixies' attires should only be sold through their stores in the Orion's Cities to encourage more interaction with the other races. We should watch for anyone else attempting to sell them and take immediate action," Elara said, pointing at a particular document on the desk.

She noticed Selene's distant expression and sighed.

"Your Highness, if you keep drifting off like that, you won't make it home to see them before the day ends," Elara said firmly.

Selene quickly snapped out of her thoughts and nodded. But a fierce knock echoed through the room just as she was about to return to work.

"I'll get it," Elara said, turning to the door.

As she opened it, Merida rushed in, leaving Elara and Selene stunned by her sudden entrance. In an instant, she was standing before Selene's desk.

"What is it? Why did you rush here all of a sudden? Did something happen?" Selene asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern as she looked at the young woman before her. Merida nodded in response. "It's about Crystalia. Orion asked me to explain her current condition to you," she replied, her expression filled with worry.

As soon as Merida finished speaking, Selene immediately shot up from her seat. "What happened?" she asked, her voice filled with authority and a hint of worry.

As Merida relayed the information, Selene felt her face pale, her hands trembling in disbelief and fear.

Meanwhile, Elara stood frozen in place, her hand covering her mouth in shock as she listened to everything that had transpired.

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