“Val, what's going on with our Sharu?” Lily stood on her tiptoes, lowered her voice, and leaned in without a hint of restraint right beside Valeria's ear. “Did I say something wrong about those wonderful breasts of hers?”
“I doubt it… though with you, one never knows,” Valeria answered uncertainly, still slightly dazed.
“Really?” Lily narrowed her pink eyes playfully.
Ever since she had blurted out that she couldn't write at all, Elizabeth's expression had transformed completely, and the blonde had drifted far away into her own thoughts.
“Why don't you ask her yourself if you're so talkative?” Valeria muttered, shooting her a mischievous smirk.
“Oho, don't tempt me, or I just might peek into what she's thinking about so intensely!” Lily retorted resolutely, not losing her stride in the slightest.
Valeria sighed heavily, shaking her head helplessly. She, Eliza, and Lily used to be an inseparable trio of friends. Back in the day, in the Old Tribal Camp, the three of them would fall asleep in the same tent, gossiping until dawn. However, ever since the hostile Green Snake Tribe attacked, that carefree life had crumbled beyond repair.
Seeing the girls whispering amongst themselves, Elizabeth snapped out of her reverie and spoke in a warm, confident tone:
“It is absolutely no problem if you don't know how to write. I will teach you everything myself.”
“What?” Valeria stared at her with wide eyes and cried out in disbelief: “Sharu… you truly know how to read and write?!”
“Of course I do,” Elizabeth smiled radiantly, revealing a row of snow-white teeth.
I knew it… Valeria cemented her assumption once again.
Our Sharu must hail from an unimaginably powerful clan. Only the elites of the great tribes possess their own knowledge and written language!
“What are you thinking about so intensely?” Elizabeth asked in amusement, noticing her shocked gaze.
“Uh… nothing at all! Absolutely nothing!” Valeria stammered hurriedly, recalling the strict order not to pry into their new leader's mysterious past.
“Alright, you don't have to say,” Elizabeth waved her hand dismissively. She turned directly to the rabbit girl with a gentle, yet assessing smile:
“Lily, would you like to become my Priestess? I am in dire need of a trusted and energetic assistant right now.”
“What? Me? Your Priestess?!” Lily blinked rapidly, her long ears shooting straight up in absolute astonishment. She was momentarily struck speechless.
“Yes, I am completely serious,” Elizabeth confirmed.
To Valeria's surprise, Lily's tone softened slightly for the first time. Although she lacked no shortage of nerve, a spark of genuine concern and modesty flickered in her eyes. She grasped the hem of her leather tunic and spoke with an uncharacteristic hesitation:
“But Sharu… I am just a hot-headed beast. I talk back, I constantly get into trouble, and I spout nonsense. I'm afraid I'll only bring you shame in front of the entire tribe…”
“Sharu, don't listen to her false modesty!” Valeria immediately took a step forward, standing right behind the rabbit girl and slapping her firmly on the shoulder. “She can be brazen and has a foul mouth, but no one in the entire camp has a bigger heart or cares for others as much as she does. Once you get used to her, you'll see you couldn't find a more devoted person!”
“Val, but…” Lily tried to interject, but Valeria unceremoniously clamped a hand over her mouth.
“No 'buts'! Shut up and accept the Sharu's offer immediately,” Valeria mumbled, resting her chin on the crown of the rabbit girl's head and adding in a much softer tone: “This was your greatest dream, wasn't it? You have the chance. Don't throw it away.”
Lily fell silent, a clear internal conflict warring in her eyes.
“If you have doubts, I won't force you into anything,” Elizabeth said with a laugh, watching the comical struggle.
“No, she wants to very much!” Valeria shouted in alarm, quickly pulling her hand away from her friend's mouth.
“Val… what about you?” Lily turned her head sharply, boundless concern filling her pink eyes. “You always wanted to be a Priestess too…”
Once upon a time, they had dreamed of exactly the same thing: all three of them wanted to serve by the Sharu's side and learn the mysteries of the world. Being a Priestess was one of the most coveted honors for women in the tribe - the only other path being to become a Totem Warrior.
“Lily, let's not talk about that.” Valeria placed her hand over her mouth again, her voice ringing with iron, unyielding determination: “My goals have changed. I intend to awaken the Totem and become the strongest warrior so no one can ever hurt us again. I'm leaving my dream… and Eliza's… in your hands.”
Hearing the name of their deceased friend, Lily's body went rigid. Her pink eyes instantly welled with tears, but instead of breaking down, she took a deep breath.
She nodded vigorously, trying to say something: “Mmph, mmph, mmm!”
“Valeria, you're still holding her mouth shut,” Elizabeth reminded her with amusement.
“Oh, sorry…” Valeria hastily withdrew her hand, looking embarrassed.
“So, have you made your decision? Will you become my Priestess?” the blonde repeated with a smile.
“I will be the best and most shameless Priestess this world has ever seen!” Lily blurted out proudly, energetically pumping her clenched fists and twitching her ears. “I will give you my whole heart… and my helpful little hands!”
“In that case, I have your first, absolutely critical task for you,” Elizabeth laughed musically, barely resisting the urge to ruffle the girl's fluffy ears.
“I'm all ears, my beautiful Sharu!”
“Your first task is… go and wash your face thoroughly. You look like a smudged, patchy kitten right now.” Elizabeth's blue eyes gleamed with amusement as she pointed to Lily's dusty cheeks, particularly the clear, dirty handprint Valeria had just left on her face.
Lily froze with her mouth agape. Valeria stiffened as well.
“What's the matter? Is the task too complicated?” Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow in genuine surprise at their sudden silence.
“Sharu… water is the tribe's most precious treasure,” Lily explained, this time with absolute seriousness. “None of us would dare waste even a single drop of drinkable water just to wash our faces. That would be pure madness.”
“Excuse me?” Elizabeth furrowed her brow. Until now, she had no idea just how dire the camp's water logistics were. “Where exactly do you get your water from?”
“There is a small lake in the mountain forest to the west, but its shores are constantly patrolled by packs of massive, bloodthirsty Beasts,” Valeria explained grimly, pointing toward the distant peaks. “Only the strongest Totem Warriors risk expeditions for supplies. They bring back so little water that it barely suffices to quench our thirst.”
“Are you telling me… that no one in this camp has taken a bath in over a dozen days?!” Elizabeth's expression underwent a diametric shift. Pure horror dawned in her eyes.
She involuntarily scanned the girls standing before her from top to bottom. Then, discreetly, step by step, she backed away two meters, lightly covering her nose.
Lily and Valeria stared at her in utter stupefaction.
She actually cares about taking a bath?!
In the face of Beasts and a desperate lack of drinking water, her biggest concern is clean skin?!
Seeing Elizabeth's disgusted look and ostentatious retreat, Lily practically ground her teeth in anger. Her rabbit ears flattened against her head in a combative stance.
“Hey! I might be dirty, but I smell like the freshest forest flowers, alright?!”
Valeria snorted coldly, crossing her arms to manifest her deep indignation.
“Ahem…” Elizabeth coughed awkwardly, trying to salvage the situation and regain her authority. “Take me near this lake immediately. I need to see this place personally and devise a way to bring a steady supply of water to the camp.”
Water is the foundation of civilization.
Without it, no development will ever take off! And besides…
I need to build some proper, hot bathhouses here at all costs!