Village Head's Debauchery

Meanwhile, Orion, whose doubts had just been confirmed, couldn't help but raise a brow at the Princess of the Garden's words. 

After spending some time with Anara and witnessing her refill the lake with her ancestral essence, he had a good idea of the Divine lake's origin. He suspected that some others might also be aware of this information.

Although he knew that the Divine Lake Essence couldn't be contaminated, he found it a bit unusual. 

However, unlike Orion, whose thoughts were focused on the origin of the Divine Lake, the other participants clenched their teeth with determination as they heeded the Princess of the Garden's warning after she revealed that the trial would occur within the Divine Lake.

As elite warriors of the Crystalforge Clan, many of them had already experienced the daunting effects of entering the Divine Lake. They had used it to fortify their bodies and increase the density of their magical energy under the lake's unnatural, crushing force. 

Thus, they took the Princess of the Garden's warning seriously. 

In fact, some of them had begun to reconsider their participation in the trial upon learning that it would be held within the Divine Lake.

But, despite these doubts and valid concerns, none of them decided to stand by their initial decision. 

As the elite of the elites, representing the very best the Crystalforge Clan had to offer, they knew that retreating now would invite ridicule and shame.

Where could they possibly hide their faces after such a withdrawal?

Meanwhile, the royal family and the elders encircling them found themselves embroiled in a discussion.

Elder Auli pondered aloud, "Do you suppose they might resent us for not disclosing the truth to them earlier?" She gestured toward the eerily composed elite warriors of the Crystalforge Clan in the distance. Despite their apparent composure, she sensed that things were not as they seemed. 

Their unusual calmness only served to emphasise their true nervousness, and given their standing, it was an indicative sign that they took the Princess of the Garden's words seriously.

Elder Caz let out a derisive snort in response to Elder Auli's concern. He retorted, "What difference would it have made if we had disclosed it earlier?" With a keen eye, he observed the elite warriors encircling the Divine Lake, and he understood the underlying sentiment in Elder Auli's question. 

"In fact, divulging that information prematurely might have needlessly burdened them, adding to their stress, which could have been counterproductive to their preparations for the trial."

Elder Cailan chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, Elder Caz is correct. Sharing such details would have only intensified the pressure on them before the trial. Let us hope they succeed in overcoming the trial and gain the extraordinary power necessary to confront the White Flame."

Elder Hale scoffed at his fellow elders, his gaze momentarily shifting to Princess Crystalia and her personal guard, Flintor. He continued, "You all seem to forget that surviving within the Divine Lake is not a matter of physical strength but of one's soul and will. If it were solely about physical strength, the Princess and her personal guard would not have endured within its depths for so long."

Flintor couldn't help but tense under the intense scrutiny from the council of elders. On the other hand, Princess Crystalia remained composed, her demeanour unfazed by their collective gaze.

The surrounding elders nodded appreciatively, recognizing the Princess's exceptional composure, which matched that of the elite warriors. 

However, when their attention shifted to Flintor, who visibly trembled, they couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment, questioning how he had managed to survive in the Divine Lake and acquire even a fraction of the strange power that could aid in defeating the White Flame.

"Elder Hale has a point," chimed in Elder Amal. "We mustn't forget that sheer physical strength is not the sole factor in this trial. Moreover, there's a possibility that the foreigner may not withstand the lake's challenges, despite his apparent strength."

Elder Amal had been one of the few who had initially opposed Queen Selene's decision to seek the Princess of the Garden's help. However, her reservations weren't rooted in any intention to undermine the Queen or hinder her recovery; rather, her scepticism was based on the origins of the Princess of the Garden. She couldn't fathom why the Princess of the Garden had confined herself within the Garden, avoiding the world outside its confines.

Given these uncertainties, it was only natural for Elder Amal to question the true motives of the Princess of the Garden. In her view, the Princess of the Garden might pose a threat on par with, if not greater than, the other four major clans.

Queen Selene took a deep breath and shook her head with confidence. "While there is a possibility that he might struggle with the challenges of the Divine Lake, I firmly believe he has what it takes to survive." She cast a brief glance at Orion, who stood beside Madam Seraphina on the opposite side of the lake.

Then, she redirected her gaze to the Princess of the Garden, who was preparing to continue her address, waiting for the murmurs in the crowd to subside.

"Regardless of the outcome, let us observe and discover who succeeds in completing this trial, obtaining the power that not only promises victory against the White Flame but also, hopefully, offers a way to escape this mountain," she concluded. 

Her words resonated with the elders who encircled them, prompting unanimous nods of agreement. In the current circumstances, that was the extent of their focus.

"Now that you've understood the situation, all the participants can come forward" The Princess of the Garden continued, stretching her left hand toward the vacant area beside her, inviting the participants to step forward.

One by one, individuals from the crowd began to make their way to this designated space, filling it up gradually as their numbers swelled. Onlookers accommodated the expanding group by shifting aside.

Orion, standing on the opposite side and not yet among the participants, observed as some of those who joined the group wore beautifully strange masks that clung to their faces, lending an air of mystery. Others chose not to don masks and instead gazed intently, their attention fixed primarily on the Divine Lake below.