Chapter 782 Virgin Waterfalls
The developments in Eden would have inspired Erone, the pope of the Holy Church, had he been there.
His mission to spread the church"s influence would only intensify, guiding men to the unique happiness that came from giving their women to the Lord.
Steve"s transformation was a testament to his success. Steve"s bride, Constance, was taken by the Lord on their wedding day, in front of his parents, no less, and in the House of Hestia. The event had converted Steve into a fervent believer, despite the animosity the House of Hestia had against Kiba. He now regularly extolled the virtues of the Lord"s actions, much to the anger of his clansmen, who hated Kiba for putting Lord Harley into a coma.
Even Alan, the husband of Katherine and father of Sophia, would be pleased by these developments.
Ever since Alan had seen his wife transformed into a "Good Wife" in the Infinity Maze, he no longer felt excitement, anger, or any strong emotion.
Even the defeat of the anti-Kiba clone, The Defender, had not fazed him.
But the thought of Kiba"s arrival in Eden, a land of maidens with no men, and thus no new cuckolds, would stir something deep within him. After all, as the president of the Cuckold Union, Alan would be pleased, excited even, by the implications.
...
In the medical chamber, Kiba continued to clutch his head, muttering incoherently.
The women exchanged helpless glances. Forget dealing with a man – this was their first encounter with amnesia!
"Um, I"ll try to ease his mental strain," Circe declared, taking a seat beside Kiba and placing a hand on his head.
Vibrant, sparkling healing energy flowed from her fingertips, enveloping his head.
Martha, still rooted to the spot, eyed Kiba with a healthy dose of suspicion. She didn"t buy the whole "self-punishment" act, and this memory loss felt like a convenient plot twist.
"Lady Martha," Penelope interjected, catching the scowl on Martha"s face. "The Dyrad tribe is my home, and I a.s.sure you we can handle this situation. Please, don"t try to… corrupt us."
Martha stumbled back, brows shooting skyward.
Corrupt them?!
Me?!
The only one capable of corruption here was that lying, amnesia-faking… man!
Just like that, a day melted into the next.
Kiba, lulled back to sleep by Circe"s treatment, remained oblivious to the drama brewing around him.
The women ventured outside, deciding to let nature take its course. After all, the man was their guest, and they"d show him Edenian hospitality, begrudging as it might be for some.
Martha, ever the cynical, kept her distance, refusing to leave the tribe"s land but also avoiding any actions that might further inflame the situation.
"Her Highness was right when she said she underestimated that man!" she fumed silently, retreating to a secluded area for meditation. "But I won"t let him succeed in whatever twisted plan he"s hatching!"
Two days pa.s.sed in a blur...
As dawn painted the sky on the third day, Kiba stirred, blinking at the unfamiliar surroundings.
Tempest and Penelope, ever vigilant, materialized by his bedside.
"We"ve prepared tea for you," Tempest announced, offering him a steaming cup filled with Eden"s signature Emerald Bloom – a brew known for its invigorating aroma and taste that danced on the tongue, leaving a hint of cool mint and wildflowers in its wake.
Kiba, overwhelmed with grat.i.tude, accepted the cup with a shaky hand.
"Words cannot express how grateful I am," he bowed, wincing as a jolt of pain shot through his bandaged body.
"Don"t!" Tempest yelped, gently pus.h.i.+ng him back down onto the pillows.
Over the past two days, they"d filled him in on the bare bones of his situation – his name, his arrival on their sacred island… a s.h.i.+pwreck, they"d lied, unwilling to risk triggering him with the truth. After all, they knew precious little about him to begin with.
"How could I not be grateful?" Kiba continued, his voice low and sincere. "You"ve taken a complete stranger, a s.h.i.+pwreck victim, into your home and treated him with such…"
He trailed off, unable to find the right words.
Tempest and Penelope exchanged a hesitant glance. They"d lied about his injuries as well, fearing the truth would spark a violent reaction.
An hour later, Circe arrived, bearing a steaming concoction.
"Great doctor," Kiba greeted her with a respectful bow, "I feel a bath would greatly lift my spirits. Could you point me towards the… facilities?"
Circe froze, her cheeks flus.h.i.+ng a suspicious shade of pink.
True, under the bandages, his wounds appeared almost healed thanks to his impressive regenerative abilities.
The lingering pain and weakness must be due to internal damage. A bath wouldn"t hurt, necessarily.
But a bath where!?
Eden was an all-women island.
Bathing rituals here were an intimate affair – open-air plunges in crystal-clear lakes, refres.h.i.+ng dips under cascading waterfalls, or secluded soaks in hidden lagoons.
But a man?!
The very thought sent s.h.i.+vers down Circe"s spine, especially when she recalled his c.o.c.k... weapon!!
So taking a bath in the places visited by women was out of question!
She couldn"t allow other women to fall for that weapon!!
"We have a beautiful, untouched waterfall a few miles from here," Tempest offered, her eyes sparkling. "Perfect for a refres.h.i.+ng bath."
"We"ll take you there ourselves," Penelope added, her voice laced with an eagerness that made Circe very suspicious.
The "Virgin Waterfall," as it was called, was rarely used by the Dyrad or other tribes due to the surrounding flora and fauna – a veritable haven for giant, razor-sharp species.
But for seasoned warriors like Tempest and Penelope, a stroll through the danger zone was a walk in the park.
That is, if they were alone.
But with a half-naked man in tow…?
Wait a minute!
If those two c.o.c.k-obsessed… er, weapon-loving warriors took him there…
"But what can I do?!"
Circe, a knot of suspicion tightening in her gut, knew arguing would be futile.
As a healer, she had her responsibilities, and babysitting a wayward male patient wasn"t one of them.
Besides, challenging Penelope, the tribe leader with a physique that could fell a redwood and a gaze that could freeze a yeti in its tracks was a recipe for disaster.
Circe swallowed her unease.
"Relax, Circe," Tempest a.s.sured her, her voice a soothing melody despite the steely glint in her eyes. Her slender frame, clad in a sleek armour, radiated a warrior"s confidence.
Penelope, the wonderful epitome of Amazonian strength and beauty, offered a curt nod, her chiselled jawline softened by the warmth in her eyes.
Kiba, overwhelmed by their hospitality, bowed deeply.
"Thank you both again. You"ve gone above and beyond for a complete stranger."
...
An hour later, the unlikely trio embarked on their journey.
Kiba, still wobbly on his feet despite their insistence, found himself firmly supported by the two warriors, one on each arm. His protests were met with gentle yet unyielding smiles.
"That a.s.s Breaker... just what is he scheming now?!"
Martha watched them depart, a determined glint in her eyes. With practiced ease, she cloaked her aura, rendering herself invisible to the naked eye. She knew Penelope and Tempest were formidable opponents, so she kept a safe distance, weaving through the dense foliage like a wraith.
Sunlight filtered through the emerald canopy, dappling the forest floor in a mosaic of light and shadow. The air hummed with the symphony of unseen insects, and the sweet scent of exotic flowers hung heavy in the air.
Martha navigated the winding path, her every sense on high alert.
Finally, they emerged into a clearing dominated by a breath-taking spectacle.
The Virgin Waterfall cascaded down a moss-covered cliff face, its crystal-clear water thundering into a pool below.
The mist rising from the impact s.h.i.+mmered with a rainbow halo, and the air vibrated with the raw power of the falling water.
Unbeknownst to Kiba, Tempest and Penelope had spent the previous hour clearing the area of any potential hazards.
Now, all that remained was a picturesque scene of serenity, perfect for...