Chapter 77: I’m Back
Lowell’s POV
I woke up because someone was pulling my foot to move me somewhere. I even hit my head on a small bump on the ground.
“Ouch!” I complained as I jolted due to pain.
I saw Dillon pulling me away with a devastated look on his face. He didn’t even see me awaken so I struggled to escape from his grasp. Then, I turned around to face the ground while pulling my foot forcefully.
I was suddenly stunned upon seeing Ari inside a transparent shell. I was terrified upon remembering what had happened last night. I trembled and tried to run towards Ari, but Dillon pulled my foot forcefully. He looked exasperated and distressed.
“Dillon! Let go!” I growled at him furiously.
He suddenly let go of me upon seeing Orson’s terrified face.
“ARI!!!” Orson roared in devastation.
His roar echoed around the village waking up all the fainted villagers. Dillon ran towards him so I followed. He was about to lose control. Orson cried and tried to struggle while we were restraining him.
Everyone woke up, confused about what was going on.
Nyala, Tora and Macan who were lying near Ari opened their eyes miraculously as if nothing happened to them despite the blood stains on their bodies. Jael and Aja ran towards Nyala and held her dearly.
“Wah! Such a relief! We thought we were going to lose you forever. Thank goodness!” Jael cried in relief.
Aja suddenly collapsed in horror upon realizing what was in front of them. Jael, Tora and Macan were equally petrified. Nyala seemed to be confused and asked what Ari was doing inside an egg.
Jael suddenly ordered every male to turn around and told us to bring Ari inside the central hall. After moving Ari, we held a meeting with Jael. He asked Tora to explain what had happened that night.
“Tora, explain why Macan kept chasing away everyone, preventing anyone from coming near the three of you. I believe that there is a reasonable explanation, isn’t it?” Jael asked carefully.
“S-Sorry… P-Poison… C-Can’t… Anyone… Near…” Macan stuttered, trying to communicate despite the stiffness of his tongue.
We were all equally surprised. Aja called for the healer to check Macan.
Tora was also surprised that she suddenly cried in relief. She was trembling due to mixed emotions and we couldn’t talk to her properly because she was utterly shocked by the situation. Orson hugged Tora to console her while the healer checked on Macan’s condition.
The healer said that Macan will begin to talk properly after a few days and that he was healed by a miracle. I told Jael to ask someone to call for Blake, who was currently pacifying the horrified hatchling.
Blake is well versed in poison since snake beastmen know many things related to poison. Even though he is an abandoned cub, their ancestors passed their knowledge through their blood. I’m sure he knows what poison Macan was talking about.
Blake arrived in the meeting room after a few minutes with Jael’s subordinate. He was carrying a crying hatchling in his tail and suddenly threw him towards Dillon.
“Wah! Daddy Diwon! I wanna shee mommy!” Gurion cried hysterically when Dillon caught him in his arms.
“This is so annoying! He’s so noisy!” Blake complained, looking exhausted and confused at the same time.
“Hush Gurion… Your mommy is sleeping. We need to wait for her to wake up. Would you like to read her writing with me while we are waiting for her?” Dillon mumbled as he silently asked permission to go.
Gurion nodded obediently as he tried to stop himself from crying.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.
Orson waved as he granted permission to Dillon and Gurion to leave the meeting room.
During the meeting, Blake explained that it was a poison reaction from two types of herbs; the Purple Flower and the Lune Leaves. Upon hearing Blake’s explanation, Jael ordered his people to investigate thoroughly about the incident.
Tora and Macan suggested that they will watch over Ari until she awakened. The two siblings were worried for Ari. They never left Ari alone despite the restriction being implemented at the central hall.
On the other hand, Dillon went over to Ari’s writings, mumbling that he had read a related incident written on it regarding the goddess Arie’s manifestation and awakening.
Everyone around us hailed to Ari like a goddess. However, our group was devastated and worried because of the uncertainty of her condition. No one knows why she turned like that and how we can help her out.
**********************
It’s been a month since Ari was trapped inside a transparent shell. Dillon explained about the manifestation he had read in Ari’s translation so we had no choice but to wait for her awakening.
It is said that not all gods and goddesses can pass through the trial causing them to disintegrate into thin air. All of us felt defeated, knowing we couldn’t do anything for her.
The investigation regarding the poisoning incident came out as a shock. It turned out that it was the doing of one of Aja’s spouses named Hroc and their daughter named Fala, who were both jealous because of the unfair treatment that Nyala was receiving. Also, the said daughter is an admirer of Centaurus, who was tailing Tora around.
I was so furious upon learning the truth, but I am baffled because Ari seemed to know what was going on. As far as I can remember, Ari is not well versed in poison.
It makes me think that Ari had already learned the situation beforehand, but she was suffering from her anxiety so she had no chance to tell us the truth.
“Ari, how long are you going to sleep inside that shell? Please go back to us. I won’t forgive myself for being too slow at that time. I’m sorry for letting you suffer alone like this because I was still lacking. I was too full of myself in believing that I was already strong enough to be by your side because I am the Alpha of my tribe. Now, I realize how useless I am… Please go back to us safely… Ari… I can give you my life and everything I own, just be back to us… Just let us see your bright and warm smile once again…” I whimpered in devastation while stroking the transparent shell between us.
Tora and Macan fell asleep on the floor due to exhaustion so I stayed for a while. Then suddenly, a blinding light emerged from Ari, waking up the two tiger siblings.
When the light dissipated, a beautiful lady with long and white hair appeared, floating in the air and softly landed on the floor. I suddenly pushed Macan’s head downward to prevent him from looking at her body. She was so beautiful that I couldn’t help myself from blushing due to embarrassment. I tried to look away and remained in my position to prevent any misunderstanding.
“It’s such a relief… Lowell… I’m back…” She cried with her alluring voice.