“Father!” Civ scrambled to check on his Father.

  “Don’t Civ.” Shaman Mashu calmly replied to Civ.

  Civ looked at Shaman Mashu. Her face had a stillness of water.

  Civ looked helplessly to his Father and wanted to say something to the Shaman.

  “I-i-i-its o–o-o-okay S-S-S-on!” Kivrah tried to compose himself. His body and hands are still shaking.

  Seeing the condition of his Father, Civ looked sharply at Shaman. “What is happening Shaman?!”

  Even though Civ looked angry right now, Shaman did not react.

  Instead, she calmly explained it to Civ. “This is the reason why, as a Shaman of the tribe. We are not allowed to teach the prayers to the Sun Goddess.”

  Civ still looked straight at the Shaman. “Explain.”

  Shaman respectfully bowed to Civ. “Yes, Oh Chosen One.”

  “There is one of the characteristics a Shaman should possess since childhood. That is the calmness in mind. A never-waving calmness and trust in the Sun Goddess.” Shaman Mashu puts away the powdered bark.

  “If the calmness or trust is not strong, it will result in a tainted heart. A tainted heart can’t be accepted by the Sun Goddess, and She will reject it.” Shaman Mashu finally revealed.

  “And if the Sun Goddess rejects the prayer? The Goddess will punish a tainted heart?” Civ looked at Shaman with confusion.

  “Yes. We are also not allowed to lead a tribe. Because it will taint our hearts. We only dedicate our lives to praising the Sun Goddess.” Shaman confirmed.

  ‘So that's how it is.’ Civ nodded.

  From what Civ understands, the Tribe leader's task is to manage and guide the tribe. That will give him stress and other emotions to taint his heart. While Shamans need a resolute mind to focus their attention on the Sun Goddess.

  A separation of command and faith.

  Additionally, Shamans need to have certain characteristics to be allowed to praise the Sun Goddess using the language.

  After the exchange with Shaman Mashu. Kivrah, who was listening to the conversation, was calmed down. He was sweating beads and started wiping the blood from his nose and sweat. Civ wants again to check his Father, but Kivrah stopped him.

  “I’m fine right now Son. No need to worry.” Kivrah gives his Son an assured smile. To make sure his Son’s worry is for nothing.

  Looking at his Father, Civ wants to stop. But Shaman asked. “Would you like to try?”

  Civ looked at the still eyes of the Shaman.

  ‘I guess it's worth trying. The worst thing that will happen to me is to have the same fate as my Father.’

  He nodded, closed his eyes, and recited the sentence.

  ~Hehem sadushu Io~

  After he recites it, he feels nothing. But suddenly-

  VVVVVOOUPP

  He feels that he was sucked into a vacuum. The darkness was instantly replaced by a blinding light. Then he also instantly came back from reality.

  HUUUHHHK

  He deeply gasped for air.

  “Civ! Are you fine?” Kivrah did not touch him but helplessly looked at him.

  Still catching his breath, Civ replied. “Yes Father, I’m fine.”

  He just noticed that he was sweating all over his body.

  Kivrah relaxed. “Praised the Sun Goddess. Civ, you closed your eyes longer than we expected.”

  ‘Long time?!’ Based on his experience, it was only a few seconds.

  “How long?” Civ curiously asked.

  “About holding your breath until you almost faint.” Shaman Mashu explained.

  ‘Almost 3 - 4 minutes?’ Civ was confused. He was pretty sure that it was not long.

  But he did not want to pry on this yet. He needs to remember what happened.

  Before he lost in thought, Shaman Mashu called his attention. “Oh Chosen one. I believe the Sun Goddess allowed you to communicate with Her beside me.”

  Kivrah's eyes widened, while Shaman Mashu smiled. “Very well. I’ll start teaching you the prayers for the Sun Goddess starting tomorrow.”

  Civ was delighted. “Thank you Shaman Mashu.”

  Since Civ has already gotten the permission. They agreed to start the teaching every afternoon. Then they politely left the Shaman’s hut.

  Looking back, Civ felt something was amiss. He feels that something was consumed or removed. But he brushes it off.

  ‘If I can’t comprehend it yet. I’ll take my time to understand it.’ Civ believes he will have more opportunities in the future to try it. He will try his best to understand what this amiss feeling that he has right now.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  While walking back, Civ gives Kivrah a heads-up.

  “Father, we can’t stay in that hut yet.”

  “Why?” Kivrah sadly looked at his Son. He was actually looking forward to sleeping there.

  “Well, the strings we created today that needs not need to be exposed to heat.” Civ appologetically explained.

  Due to the strings being made of tendon. If it is exposed to heat or sunlight, that will make the strings brittle, and they will break easily.

  “I understand. I guess we stay in the middle of the camp?” Kivrah suggests.

  Civ wants to create a campfire a bit far away from the hut.

  ‘I guess not a bad idea.’ Spending time with their tribesmen will make him more accustomed and get to know them more.

  “That will do Father.” They went to the middle of the camp and talked to their tribe.

  The whole hunting group was also there. They spend the rest of the night talking about their experiences and adventures.

  Looking at the enthusiastic nature of his tribemen, he cannot help but feel emotional. There is a sense of attachment to the tribe that is starting to grow in him.

  The night went by, and all of them slept in front of the campfire.

  Morning came, and Civ woke up early together with Arsh. Doing some stretches, he and Arsh start waking up the hunting group.

  Horm was miraculously woken up right away. Civ looked at Horm, and he laughed in his mind.

  ‘Looks like Horm does not want to be beaten by Arsh today.’

  They continue to wake up everyone and start their exercise for the morning.

  After exhausting his team for the second day, they rest in the hut.

  While they are resting, Civ inspects the strings that are hanging in the roof.

  The strings start showing a light yellowish color. He tried to touch it, but the string was not yet hard.

  ‘Need to check for another day.’ Civ left the hut and picked up some of the unprocessed tendons. For the rest of the morning, he split these tendons.

  By noon, there a sightings of boar again on the north side. Right now, it is only one mohawk boar.

  Based on the boar sightings, the group confirmed that it is safe to go outside the wall.

  With the help of the firewood team and hunting group, they quickly made some pitfalls for the rest of the wall. They successfully finished the remaining pitfalls for each wall without any issues. They finished it within two hours.

  Next is Civ spent his time teaching Vel pottery and requested him to make two or more mud basins. Even though Vel was already cramped with the tools requested of him. He happily wanted to prioritize them. Since he wants to make these also.

  There was a sighting of the boar again, but it is still one boar. Aside from that report, nothing unusual happened.

  Civ decides to spend the rest of his afternoon with Shaman.

  “Shaman, I’m hear. I’m ready to learn the praises for the Sun Goddess.” Civ respectfully bowed.

  “Very well, our Chosen one. Let’s begin.” The shaman placed a rock on top of the stockpile.

  Civ noticed that it was a pile of two towers with 9 layers of stone stacked above each other. From biggest to smallest. Like a triangle.

  Before they start, Civ can’t help but ask. “Shaman Mashu, what is that pile of stones for?”

  “When all of the spaces in front of the altar are filled, it means that the Tuanir is coming,” the Shaman explained.

  Looking at the space in the altar, there are two 3 remaining 9-stack towers.

  Based also on the context, it looks like this was a date monitoring system!

  ‘Interesting.’ If his assumption is right, the stone represents a day. 9 stacks of 5?

  ‘With this, it was a total of 45 days. Same days as what I originally calculated!’ Civ could not believe it.

  The good news is that it proves his assumption. But it means they only have a few days before Tuanir.

  Aside from being on the lookout for the boars. He needs to start preparing the initial plans for defending the Giants.

  Shaman Mashu noticed Civ's thoughts were wandering again, so she called his attention. “Civ, are you ready?”

  Civ’s alerted when he heard Shaman Mashu’s voice. “Y-yes. Let’s begin.”

  Shaman Mashu nodded and started teaching Civ.

  “One thing for you to remember, you need to pray with calmness and without worry.” Shaman Mashu continued.

  “Praises should be chanted once. Please listen carefully.”

  “I understand Shaman Mashu.” Civ nodded.

  Shaman Mashu taught the praises sentence by sentence. Civ carefully listens and makes sure he did not make any mistakes.

  Civ was prepared for any possible event that might happen. But when he spoke the first sentence, he felt something. A tingling sensation in his forehead.

  However, nothing happened after. It made him more confused. Getting used to the sentences he was provided, he was able to speak fluently in a short amount of time.

  Right now, Shaman was not surprised but happy that the Chosen One had decided to learn the language. It is an important part of being the Goddess's blessed. Learning the language will help him in the future.

  Ending the learning today, Civ was able to say four sentences fluently. However, he cannot understand it.

  “Shaman Mashu, thank you for teaching me today. But what is the use or meaning of those sentences?” Civ politely asked as he straightened his sitting posture.

  Shaman Mashu paused for a second. “That is something your heart can answer.”

  ‘The heart?’ Civ contemplate for a bit. Shaman is slightly right. He understands the context of the sentence but not the meaning of the word.

  Civ felt he would have a hard time learning this.

  But Shaman Mashu assured him. “That is also the same reaction I had learning with the past Shaman. She said to me. Keep listening using your heart, and you will learn the true language of the Goddess.”

  Civ’s both eyebrows raised. ‘Language of Goddess’. Civ nodded. “Yes Shaman, please patiently teach me.”

  When he left the hut, his knees softened. He felt that his energy was drained. Civ looked baffled as he tried to find his balance. But he quickly recovered.

  “Whew! I must be exhausted for today’s work.” From exercise to making traps and other stuff he did today, his body will surely ask for a timeout.

  He decided to freshen up by washing in the river. He rested in the new hut, but feeling exhausted, he did not notice that he slept on the bench. The hunting group saw Civ soundly sleeping on the bench. They left and let their saviour have a good night's sleep.

  In Civ’s dream, he feels like drifting in the river. A relaxing sensation. But suddenly, he heard a whisper in his ear.

  After he heard it, he woke up. When his vision returned, he saw that it was already early in the morning.

  He holds his head. Civ recalls the whisper he heard. “Guide?”. That's what he concluded when he tried to translate it.

  However, right now is not the time to contemplate. It is already morning, and Arsh has started waking up the hunting group to exercise.

  Finishing their morning exercise, Civ inspect the tendon strings. Out of the 10 strings, 3 of them were already hard.

  He cannot hide his excitement. Civ cheerfully woke up Vel, who was still soundly sleeping in the middle of the camp next to the campfire. Vel tried his best to stand up, even though his eyes were closed.

  “Mmmmmm Civ, it's too early.” Vel drags his feet while waking.

  “Come on Vel, I’ll teach you something new today!” Civ excitedly replied.

  Vel instantly straightened his posture and walked side by side with Civ. “Lead the way Oh Chosen One!”

  The walk back to the hut.

  “So what are we going to do here?” Vel looked around.

  Civ holds one of the hanging tendon strings. “This!”

  “A rope?!” Vel's mouth was wide open.