The morning after the ritual, the air in the village was different. The usual chatter of the tribe seemed to carry a tone of cautious reverence, as if every person was quietly adjusting to the revelation of the night before. Daoyi, still feeling the weight of the Goddess’s words, walked through the village with Kenyai at his side, their steps slow and deliberate.
Villagers who had once avoided his gaze now nodded respectfully, bowing their heads and offering small smiles. Some even murmured words of greeting as they passed. Daoyi could feel the shift, though it felt surreal.
“They’re really seeing you now,” Kenyai said, his voice quiet but filled with warmth and pride. “Not just as the Carrier, but as a leader.”
Daoyi glanced at him, a small smile touching his lips. “I still don’t know if I’m ready for all of this.”
Kenyai stopped, turning to face him fully. “You don’t have to be perfect, Daoyi. No one is expecting that. They’re just starting to understand that you have something special. We all do. The Goddess saw it before anyone else.”
Daoyi’s gaze softened as he looked at Kenyai. “I couldn’t do this without you,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kenyai grinned, the warmth in his expression never fading. “Good thing you don’t have to.”
Just as Daoyi was about to respond, a figure approached from the path ahead. It was Abeta. Her face was drawn, her usual confidence absent. For a moment, Daoyi tensed, unsure of what to expect.
Abeta stopped a few paces away, her eyes flickering between Daoyi and Kenyai. She took a deep breath, then spoke, her voice surprisingly low.
“Daoyi... I...” She hesitated, clearly struggling to find the right words. “I want to apologize.”
Daoyi blinked, taken aback by the unexpected words. He exchanged a quick glance with Kenyai before stepping forward. “Apologize?” he repeated, his tone cautious.
Abeta nodded, her expression a mix of guilt and discomfort. “I’ve... I’ve been wrong about you. I let my jealousy blind me. I wanted your status, your position, but I see now that it wasn’t just about that. You have a role to play that I couldn’t understand, and the Goddess has made that clear to everyone.” She paused, her voice softening. “I was cruel to you, and it wasn’t right.”
Daoyi stood still, processing her words. He had imagined confronting Abeta many times over the years, but never like this.
“I never wanted to hurt you,” he finally said, his voice steady but calm. “I’ve always just wanted to belong. I never saw you as competition, Abeta.”
Abeta looked down, clearly ashamed. “I see that now. I thought if I could make you look weak, it would prove I was stronger, more deserving. But the truth is... I was the one who was weak.”
Kenyai, standing beside Daoyi, spoke up. “Recognizing that is the first step to being stronger, Abeta. You can still contribute a lot to the tribe. It doesn’t have to be a competition.”
Abeta met Daoyi’s gaze, her expression one of sincerity. “I know I can’t undo what I did, but I hope I can work toward something better for the tribe. Maybe... maybe even alongside you.”
Daoyi studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “We all have something to offer, Abeta. If we can move past this, I believe we can both contribute to the future of the tribe. The Goddess has a place for all of us.”
Abeta’s shoulders seemed to relax, the tension in her face easing slightly. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I won’t waste this chance.”
As Abeta turned and walked away, Kenyai looked at Daoyi with a mixture of surprise and admiration. “You handled that well,” he said with a grin.
Daoyi sighed, a small laugh escaping him. “I didn’t know what to expect. I thought she’d never change.”
Kenyai chuckled. “People surprise us when we least expect it.”
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Days passed, and with the tribe’s newfound respect for Daoyi, preparations for the formal marriage ceremony moved quickly. The ceremonial beads had been crafted, and the entire village worked together to ensure the event would honor both Daoyi and Kenyai, as well as the new path the Goddess had set for them.
On the day of the ceremony, Daoyi stood in front of his parents, his ceremonial robes flowing around him like waves of blue and silver. Amaela adjusted the beads in his hair, her touch gentle but firm.
“You’ve grown so much,” she said softly, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “It feels like just yesterday you were a child, running through the fields.”
Daoyi smiled, though his own emotions were raw. “I don’t think I could have made it this far without you and Father.”
Amaela paused, looking into his eyes. “You’ve always had the strength within you, Daoyi. We’ve just been here to remind you of it.”
High Chief Kennan stepped forward, his expression proud but serious. “The tribe will look to you now, not just as a Carrier, but as a leader. You’re ready for this.”
Daoyi took a deep breath, the weight of his father’s words sinking in. “I’ll do my best,” he said, his voice steady.
Kennan placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “That’s all anyone can ask.”
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As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the village, the engagement ceremony began. Daoyi and Kenyai stood side by side, facing the tribe as the Priestess spoke the sacred words that would bind their fates together.
“The Goddess has shown us a new path,” the Priestess declared, her voice carrying over the gathered crowd. “Daoyi and Kenyai, through their union, represent not just the future of our tribe, but the balance of strength and compassion that will guide us forward.”
Daoyi felt Kenyai’s hand slip into his, and he squeezed it gently, feeling the warmth and reassurance in the gesture.
“Do you, Daoyi, accept this bond, and the responsibilities that come with it?” the Priestess asked.
Daoyi looked at Kenyai, then out at his tribe. “I do,” he said, his voice strong.
“And do you, Kenyai, accept this bond, and the responsibilities that come with it?” the Priestess continued.
Kenyai nodded, his gaze never leaving Daoyi. “I do.”
With the words spoken, the Priestess tied a ceremonial cloth around their joined hands, sealing the bond between them. The crowd erupted in cheers, the sound echoing through the village.
As Daoyi and Kenyai turned to face their tribe, Daoyi felt a sense of peace settle over him. The weight of the tribe’s expectations was still there, but now it felt lighter, shared between him and Kenyai, and supported by the love of his family and the guidance of the Goddess.
Daoyi had found his place, not just as a Carrier, but as a leader. He was both man and potential mother, warrior and nurturer, and he was ready to guide his tribe into the new era the Goddess had shown them.
YOU ARE READING
Unique
RomanceIn a world in which he is one of kind, Daoyi must face all the challenges put before him to become what he was born to be.
