Elara’s Perspective: A Few Days Earlier
"This endeavor is undertaken for the collective benefit of our community," said Fidel.
We were walking towards the fence leading into the female snatching ritual grounds and in front of us were two guards on either side of the gate. Outsiders weren’t permitted except with special permission. Mainly relatives of the females in question.
"Can’t you think past the good of the tribe and think of your family for once?"
"It is indeed true that my affection for you is profound; however, I find myself unable to grant you any special privileges in this matter. Should those in positions of authority begin to make exceptions for their personal connections, it would inevitably lead to the disintegration of the entire frawork we rely upon. Frankly, I do not perceive this as a negative outco. It is imperative to maintain a stringent vetting process, particularly when it cos to individuals known for violent tendencies; such individuals should not be permitted to partake in the gas. Rest assured, all males who are granted the opportunity to participate undergo thorough scrutiny."
"Honestly, who’s in charge of the screening process? It’s hard to believe that there are still villages out there that think it’s totally fine to be aggressive towards female. Like, what if they start believing it’s acceptable to just physically dominate a woman? That’s such a twisted way of thinking, and I’ve even heard that so tribes actually back that kind of ntality. It’s honestly infuriating to even consider! And you really have no clue where I ended up; that’s just plain irresponsible on your part."
"It appears to that you are rather inclined to seek justifications for your stance; however, I remain resolute in my convictions. It is imperative that we adhere to the established guidelines, and I am quite confident that you possess the potential to find a suitable partner, ultimately leading to your happiness."
A frown tugged at my lips as I shot back, "Honestly, I don’t think it’s who’s trying to reach out here; it’s definitely you."
Fidel said with a hint of exasperation, "Let us refrain from engaging in a dispute, for who can predict when we might have the opportunity to et again?"
"I can’t believe Zelig isn’t here with us right now, and honestly, our parents should be here too."
"It is quite evident that mother would have had a strong desire to attend; however, the mont they affixed that mana suppression collar upon you, she was overtaken by a fit of hysteria."
"Honestly, she’s the only one in my whole family who actually gets it. Can you even imagine how hard it is to breathe with this stupid collar on? It’s the exact sa kind they put on criminals, for crying out loud!"
"Certainly, one must be incredulous at the very notion. It is utterly implausible that they would impose upon our esteed females any form of discomfort-inducing attire."
I shot him a fierce look, my frustration bubbling up. "You know, one day I really hope you get to feel what it’s like yourself."
My hands were pinned behind my back, and this horrible suppression collar was clamped around my neck like so twisted joke. The mont I even thought about making a run for it, I’d get zapped, and to top it all off, I had absolutely no access to mana or any kind of magic. Not that it really mattered since my magic hadn’t even manifested yet, so I had no idea what it would even look like. My brother, the traitor, had a tight grip on my elbow, dragging toward what felt like my inevitable doom. The second my mother spotted the guards rolling up to our house with that collar and cuffs, she completely flipped her stance on cooperating. It was like a light switch went off; she was a total wreck, and my dad had to step in to calm her down, even giving her a sedative. anwhile, Zelig was locked up because he tried to take on the guards. A family mber was allowed to escort to the gate, and guess who decided to step up? Fidel. He’s always been more about cold logic than any kind of warmth, but I was really hoping he’d show a little more compassion this ti around.
We reached the fence, and those two guards standing there just stared right through , like I was nothing more than so kind of object waiting to be picked up or a toll for crossing a bridge. I wasn’t a beastkin anymore and I definitely wasn’t a beloved female of my tribe anymore.
"What’s your na?" one of them asked, his tone flat and uninterested.
"Her na is Elara," Fidel chid in.
The guard grabbed a list from a chair nearby and started scanning it. When he found my na and confird I matched the description, he nodded to his partner, who then ca over and grabbed my elbow. "No family mbers can go past this point, so you should probably say your goodbyes now."
Fidel presented with a rather contrived smile, one that lacked genuine warmth. "Rest assured, this is ultimately for your own good, and you shall co to realize it in due course. You are about to embark on a delightful little sojourn, where you will be indulged and cared for. By the conclusion of this week, you will encounter a remarkable gentleman, and the prospect of establishing your own familial unit will be within your grasp. In ti, you will undoubtedly express your gratitude towards ."
The guard clutching the clipboard let out a derisive snort, followed by a sudden cough.
Fidel cast a sidelong look, his brow knitted in perplexity, before redirecting his focus to the other guard, whose countenance bore an unusual flicker of emotion. "Might I inquire if there exists any possibility for to accompany you both? I wish to assist my sister in acclimating to her new surroundings, as she appears to be quite unsettled at the mont."
"Sorry, but that’s a no-go," the clipboard guy replied, his tone all business and no warmth. "We can’t bend the rules, or else everyone will want to do the sa thing. We’ve learned that it’s actually easier for families to say their goodbyes here. You can trust that the won are well taken care of, with all their needs t and treated like royalty to prepare them for eting their mates at the end of the week. If we started letting everyone in, we’d end up losing too many of our females."
Fidel, with a gentle pat on her arm, expressed his sentints, "In that case, I find myself quite reassured. Do take care and indulge in the pleasures of your adventures. I eagerly anticipate hearing every delightful detail of your whirlwind romance once you have acclimated to your new family."
I was struggling to break free from the guard’s grip, but he just tightened his hold on .
I was on the verge of shouting that he was hurting , but then this weird, calming energy washed over . Was it obedience? Acceptance? My thoughts got all jumbled, and suddenly, I didn’t even want to fight back anymore.
It was like my legs were moving on their own, without even thinking about it. Then, just like that, my mind cleared up, and I tried to pull away, but I had lost all control over my body and my ability to resist.
The guard leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear as he murmured, "Now, be a good little female and flash a smile at your brother. Tell him everything’s peachy, that you’re just a bit jittery about eting your future mate, and he shouldn’t fret over you. Then, give him a cheerful wave and stroll through that gate all on your own, no one guiding you."
I blinked, my mind racing with a million things I wanted to shout back at him, but my body had other plans. It was like I was a puppet on strings, every muscle in my body tensing up and moving against my will, forcing to play along with his ridiculous ga. It was painful, like my muscles were being ripped apart, yet sohow, I found myself doing exactly what he commanded, even spitting out the words he wanted to say.
"It brings a sense of relief to know that you have co to a rational conclusion. I shall take it upon myself to communicate this developnt to the rest of our family, alleviating any concerns they may have regarding your well-being. Additionally, I will ensure that Perla is apprised of the situation as well."
As I stood there, the thought of Perla being duped by that vile guard, who had the audacity to make her believe I was okay with this whole ss, made my heart plumt. She was my last glimr of hope for getting out of this nightmare, and here he was, casually discussing how he’d cut off my final chance to escape. I felt two hot tears slide down my cheeks, a mix of frustration and helplessness, but sohow, a smile still lingered on my lips. Isn’t it supposed to be against the rules to wield this kind of power over tribe mbers? But I guess they’ve decided I’m not one of them anymore.
Fidel’s face twisted into a frown when he noticed the tears streaming down my cheeks, but he just stood there, doing nothing to stop as I pushed through the gate. Right before I stepped over the threshold, I caught sight of him shrugging his shoulders in that helpless way, like he was trying to erase the whole scene from his mind, not wanting to deal with the reality of what he had just witnessed.
That shrug, combined with him turning his back on , ignited a spark of hatred within —not just for him, but for this entire village that had so easily decided to cast aside like I was nothing. Little did I know back then that things were about to spiral into sothing far worse than I could have ever imagined.
Coming Next Ti: anwhile in Duarte Village: Horror of the Snatching Grounds
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