Primitive Man

Chapter 173: Signs

In the tranquil village of the hotspring hub, where the soothing waters flowed freely, an unexpected turbulence had stirred the once-peaceful atmosphere. The villagers, wrapped in cosy winter clothes since it was still a little bit cold for them, but couldn't help but feel the palpable change in the air after the recent disturbance in the hot spring caves.

Yenya still being the village head appointed by Garnt, gathered the concerned inhabitants outside the caves. Her eyes reflected the gravity of the situation as she addressed the worried crowd.

"This is odd," Yenya began, her voice echoing in the meeting hall, "Something's amiss in our beloved hot spring village. The very essence of our peaceful lives has shifted, and that is not for the better."

A murmur of concern swept through the gathered villagers, their brows furrowed with unease. Yenya continued, "Animals are fleeing our surroundings, sensing a disturbance we can't ignore. Our connection with nature is faltering, and we must act swiftly."

An elderly villager raised a trembling hand, "Yenya, what should we do? Is it a sign from the forest spirits?"

Yenya sighed, her eyes scanning the worried faces. "I fear it's more than that. The hot springs, our lifeblood, have become too hot to use. The very heart of our village is in jeopardy. We must inform Garnt, the patriarch of our main village. He needs to know of this upheaval. He might have some answers to what is happening here."

A young villager voiced the concern lingering in everyone's mind. "But Leader, what if Garnt can't help? What if this is a fate we cannot escape? After all, this is the hot springs that we are talking about. They are like our children."

Yenya met the villagers's gaze, her expression firm. "We cannot succumb to despair. Garnt has guided our village through many trials. We must trust in his wisdom. Together, we will find a way to restore balance to the village"

And so, the villagers, their hearts heavy with uncertainty, decided to send a few messengers so they could contact their leader, whom they had their faith placed in but as soon as Yenya ended her speech, an explosion happened in the mountain which caused all of them to be shocked and fearful.

"What was that?" Yenya questioned as she saw black smoke billowing from the mountain area of the village.

"The mountains are angry!" The people in the village started to panic, and some of them attempted to run into the cave. However, Yenya quickly instructed guards to prevent people from doing so, knowing that if the cave closed while they were inside, it would be an even bigger disaster.

"What caused that explosion? And what is this black smoke? What is happening here?"

She felt that this was truly a threat to her people as she pointed her finger, and a piece of black soot landed on it, indicating that it was indeed the result of a fire—the only source capable of creating these black substances.

"No one is allowed to enter into the caves until I order you, also make sure you are ready to escape if something happens. This is not looking too good for us,"

She ordered and sent a few messengers to let Garnt know about the situation. On the other side of the same land, Baktou was looking at the ocean, which had some strange movements compared to before, worrying him.

Kalina was standing next to him, and she was rather pale, looking at the ocean because she knew what this could mean. After all, it had been only a few hours since they experienced an earthquake that almost broke some of the weakly built buildings to the ground, showing it wasn't an earthquake of small magnitude.

Kara smirked, "Impressive, Guni. You've got heart, I'll give you that."

Guni panted, a mix of exhaustion and excitement on her face. "One day, I'll be as strong as you, Kara! Just you wait!"

Kara ruffled Guni's hair affectionately. "I look forward to it, little sis. Keep training, and who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one impressing Dad."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sisters laughed together, sharing a bond that went beyond the practice battleground. As the meal time arrived both of them went back to the patriarch square and couldn't help but appreciate the current mood of this special place.

"It was like a private place for Garnt, as most of the people in that place were women. There were only a few kids running in and out of the square as they delivered some messages or small things, and that was the only part where they saw a male, except for Garnt in that place.

"Hmm~ that cocky brother is not coming to eat with us. I'm pretty sure he is with his girlfriend. I can't believe he found a girl that suits him," Kara muttered while walking with Guni, and she looked at Kara with a confused look.

"Sister! Why does a brother need a girl? I don't understand why a father needs a woman like a mother too," It was a question that came out of a kid who was curious about everything, and Kara decided to explain things in a way suitable for her age so she wouldn't be misguided in the future.

She crouched down, meeting Guni's eyes with a gentle smile.

"Ah, little sis, love is a complicated thing. You see, when two people care deeply for each other, they become partners, like Mom and Dad. It's not just about finding someone who suits you; it's about sharing your life with someone special. A girlfriend or a wife is like a companion, someone to support you, understand you, and share both happiness and challenges."

Guni tilted her head, absorbing Kara's words with wide-eyed wonder. "So, is it like sparring? Like when we practice together?"

Kara chuckled again, appreciating Guni's attempt to relate the concept to their training. "Well, in a way, yes. Just like how we support each other in training, partners in love support and care for each other in life. It's a different kind of bond, but equally important."

As they reached the patriarch square, Kara gestured to the lively atmosphere. "You see, even in this square, it's not just about training and fighting. These women are like a big family, supporting each other and sharing their lives. And one day, you might find someone special too, someone who makes your heart flutter."

Guni pondered Kara's words, her gaze wandering across the square. "Like brother and his girlfriend?"

Kara nodded, "Exactly. Now, let's go enjoy our meal and celebrate the bond we share as sisters. And who knows, maybe one day you'll find a special someone who appreciates your determination and spirit, just like I do with your father."

"Sister, like my father? So are you going to be like my mother then?" Guni asked a little confused about how that would be possible and with a grin on her face, Kara nodded her face, as if she was enjoying the moment.

"Yes, yes I am. I will be your mother, just wait and see,"