Accident

"Chief, a word please!"

During the banquet, a man rushed in and whispered to Bernie urgently with a tense expression.

Bernie's brows furrowed slightly. He put down his cup and followed the man to a corner outside.

"What is it?" Bernie asked in a lowered voice.

"The eastern valley pasture was attacked by goblins. The shepherd ran back saying there's at least a dozen!" The brawny man said gravely. "We may need Mr. Joseph to step in!"

"What! Now of all times?" Bernie was shocked.

He pondered briefly, seeming to weigh pros and cons.

"With the goddess here, why not ask her to handle it? With her divine powers, she should easily drive back the goblins!" The man suggested tentatively.

"No!" Bernie refused firmly. "We can't trouble the goddess over such trifles!"

After thinking a moment, he quickly decided: "I'll fetch Joseph and lead the men there myself."

"Remember, absolutely don't let the goddess know. We have limited requests of her. Can't waste her patience on minor matters!"

"Yes sir!" The man hurried off on his task.

Bernie tidied his lapels and strode back acting as if nothing had happened.

"Goddess, I'll take some men to patrol the eastern pasture. Please continue your meal!" Bernie specifically came to David for permission, afraid he might insist on going too.

"Very well." David naturally nodded in agreement.

Bernie found Joseph who tacitly followed him out with just a look.

Then he discreetly instructed a server who immediately relayed the message to various people at the banquet.

In just moments, many of the banqueters gradually got up and left with Bernie.

The main table with David now had far more empty seats, much more spacious.

...

"Goddess, allow me to serve you from now on!" After they left, a tall, disheveled youth with messy long hair rose from the main table.

He wore grubby hemp clothes with a sickle at his waist, looking rebellious and unrestrained.

He stepped up to David and refilled his drink.

"Thank you." David nodded politely.

At this youth's appearance, the others looked his way, as if he were someone special.

"Go for it, Mark!" Mr. William called out encouragement with a smile.

David remembered him. This was Mark, the 20-year old genius William had introduced, at the ninth level of Initiation, one step from Awakening. He was quite admired in the village.

At the start of the banquet Mark had been silent, barely nodding when William introduced him, aloof.

The arrogance typical of youths was evident in him. He didn't fawn over David like the other villagers.

"Mark, don't!" Suddenly Emma spoke up sternly, giving him a forbidding look and slightly shaking her head, seeming to warn him about something.

"Emma, I heard you went out alone this afternoon?" Mark ignored her and instead suddenly brought up where she'd been.

"Ha, just to pick some wild berries. What, are you going to lecture me like the chief too?" Emma's expression shifted slightly before quickly composing herself and responding calmly.

"I'm just reminding you not to wander as a holy maiden so close to the ritual, especially down that path. You should know where it leads." Mark smiled meaningfully.

As soon as he finished, all eyes turned to Emma. Everyone halted their actions, varied expressions on their faces.

"Emma..." Next to her, Leah called out softly, disbelief all over her face.

Even Leah knew the path they spoke of referred to the path leading out.

In other words...Emma had actually tried to escape this afternoon. A holy maiden scheming to flee was serious.

Emma's gaze lowered, staring at Mark expressionlessly without explaining herself.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have spoken out of turn. Excuse me." She gave a curt apology before getting up to leave, no one stopping her.

But as she passed Mark, she suddenly bent down and whispered something in his ear, then walked off grinning smugly.

"Let's continue. Really sorry for disturbing the goddess' mood," Mark said casually, not at all aware of his own rudeness.

David's brows furrowed slightly. Something felt off about the atmosphere.

Since the chief left, the others seemed to gravitate around Mark, even Emma's words seemed ambiguous.

This village was less simple than it appeared!

"A toast to you!" Mark arrogantly raised his chin high, not a shred of humility, even a condescending air.

David paid it no mind and raised his cup in acknowledgement before downing it in one go.

Gulp gulp!

The cheap wine exploded on his tongue, exuding a stale, moldy odor, like expired trash wine laced with drugs - utterly revolting!

"Crack!"

Before everyone's eyes, David's throat suddenly made a crisp cracking sound.

"Hm?" He was puzzled by the odd sensation in his throat. Reaching into his mouth he fished out a thumb-sized sharp piece of glass.

David placed it on the table where it glinted brightly in the candlelight.

His gaze fell upon the cup before him. At the bottom were large shards of broken glass.

Clearly this was someone's malicious deed, deliberately mixing the wine with plenty of lethal glass splinters!

Everyone watched in shocked silence!

"How could this be...the goddess' cup was sabotaged..."

"That Mark, it must be him, he actually dared!"

All stared wide-eyed, transfixed by the scene, minds racing.

They could hardly believe the esteemed, sacred goddess was so viciously targeted. Every single one felt unprecedented panic and fear, dreading how this would incite the goddess' fury!

"It's over, we're done for, offended the goddess, no one can escape..."