We arrived at Clare House village, a collection of huts made from dried grass, wood, and bamboo. Though not as well-built as our village, the air felt refreshing, and I was impressed with the creativity evident in their use of debris from fallen buildings to make walkways and roads. Our focus on innovation had perhaps led us to overlook the value of creativity.

"Wow, I haven't seen anything this beautiful in almost a year." Sarah remarked.

As we walked, we heard the sound of drums and cymbals. I was surprised but not entirely shocked, as we had ourselves made machetes and other tools.

"Are they having a party of celebration??" I asked.

"Yes we are." Replied Mr. Swayden.

We were directed to an office, the most attractive hut in the village, adorned with dark reddish patterns and paintings. I wondered where they had obtained the paint and was eager to ask.

Upon entering, a tall, brown-skinned man with curly hair, Mr. Raymond, emerged and seemed shocked to see Sarah, bursting into tears.

"Sarah...is-i-is that you????" Asked Mr. Raymond.

Sarah ran past me, leaping into his arms with tears of joy, exclaiming, "Uncle Raymond!!!" It was a beautiful sight to see her reunited with her family.

"I thought you were dead...how did you get here??" They bombarded each other with questions, voices overlapping in their urgency.

After introductions, Mr. Raymond thanked us for protecting Sarah and asked about her father. Sarah's response that he had not survived cast a pall over the group, and Mr. Raymond's shoulders slumped in sorrow. But he quickly composed himself, asking if Sarah wanted to see her cousins.

He quickly adjusted to a leader persona from his emotional state a few seconds ago.

She eagerly agreed, and we set off, with Mr. Swayden directing us to a dance, where we would be welcomed as family.

As we began to walk away, I overheard Mr. Swayden and Mr. Raymond discussing our arrival from the east and how I had stopped Bobbo's attack with one hand, and John had created an ice wall. It was clear they were impressed with our abilities.

Sarah had asked her uncle to continue tending to Kero's injuries while we pressed on. Once her uncle had finished speaking with Mr. Swayden, he took Kero to a nearby healer, and we proceeded to the dance area.

As we approached, we were greeted by a breathtaking sight. In the center of the area stood a majestic tree adorned with broad red leaves and clusters of yellow fruits resembling grapes. Long, slender leaves in various shades of purple, green, and blue were meticulously tied into bows and hung as decorations. From the tree, six lines extended out to six towering poles, each one also adorned with colorful decorations. The scene was a stunning display of nature and artistry, leaving us in awe.

"I need to meet the person responsible for this." Said Sarah.

She was the most excited about all this because she was an artist, but we were all speechless.

As we looked ahead, two young women were running towards us, no more than 18 years old. "Analu!" Sarah shouted. The name apparently meant "famous and graceful warrior," and it belonged to Sarah's cousin. I couldn't help but take notice of her striking appearance.

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Standing at around 5 feet tall with a beautiful brown complexion, she had long dark brown hair that cascaded down her back. Her waist was small, and her figure was what some might describe as "slim thick," with shapely curves that accentuated her perfectly proportioned breasts.

However, what truly captivated me were her hazel eyes, with a golden hue near the pupils that faded into a blue-gray around the edges. Her dark, lush eyebrows only added to the allure of her gaze.

Her cousin Maria, who joined us shortly after, was also stunning. Likewise, her figure was similarly "slim thick," but with slightly more pronounced thighs. She had a lovely brown complexion, pretty brown eyes that complemented her skin tone, and long, dark hair.

I couldn't help but wonder about Sarah's heritage. She had mentioned that some of her family members were from Brazil, and I couldn't help but think that their influence was evident in the striking beauty of her cousins. Regardless of their ancestry, I couldn't deny that Sarah and her family members were gifted in all areas of their bodies, with beauty that was truly remarkable.

Sarah introduced us to her cousins, and as I reached out to shake Anula's hand, I found myself transfixed by her stunning gaze. Her hair danced in the wind as the sun cast a warm glow over her body. My heart raced, and my face began to sweat as I tried to make sense of this sudden rush of emotion.

"Hi, I'm Rommie, but most people call me Rome," I said, trying to steady my voice. "Hey, I'm Anula. Nice to meet you," she replied, giving me a curious look. It was then that I realized I was still holding her hand and quickly pulled away, feeling embarrassed.

"Weird," Maria muttered, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed. This was my first encounter in years with someone who had made my heart race, and my first impression was that of a bumbling fool.

As Kero rejoined us, we found a table and settled in to enjoy the lively atmosphere. The drums beat a steady rhythm as people drank, danced, and celebrated. It was clear that this village had fully embraced the new way of life, unlike my own village, which was much quieter and more reserved.

I watched as Sarah and John got up to dance, their carefree movements making them seem almost weightless. "Hey Rome, if you don't ask her to dance, I will," Kero joked, gesturing towards Analu. I felt a pang of nervousness as I considered his words. I really wanted to dance with her, but the thought of it made me feel uneasy.

Before I could gather my courage, Kero had already approached Analu and asked her to dance. She seemed hesitant at first, but her cousin Maria urged her on. I watched as Kero stumbled through his dance moves, looking like a baby deer trying to find its footing for the first time.

As I laughed, Maria turned to me and asked, "Mr. Weirdo, can you do any better?" I wasn't sure, but a sudden surge of confidence washed over me, and I took the now jealous Celestia and Maria by the hands and led them onto the dance floor. We swayed and laughed together, the rhythm of the music carrying us away.

As the crowd around us shifted, I found myself facing Analu. I felt my heart racing as I gazed into her beautiful hazel eyes, and for a moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away.

As the woman sang Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud," her beautiful voice echoed through the open space. The musicians accompanied her with their primitive instruments, creating a tune that blended well with the melody. Although the performance was impressive, my attention was fixated on the girl standing in front of me. Her radiance was unmatched by anyone else at the dance.

When the song ended, the crowd erupted in applause, their cheers and excitement filling the air. We returned to our table, and Mr. Raymond took the stage to share some great news. He announced that the villagers could now travel in the direction we came from, which was from the east. Everyone cheered, but I noticed a few people giving us strange looks.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of eyes burning into me. I turned to see a man glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me. I couldn't fathom what I had done to provoke him, but I had a feeling I would soon find out.

As I surveyed the crowded village, I couldn't help but wonder how so many people managed to fit into such a small space. With only about 50 huts, there seemed to be over 500 people present. Perhaps 10 people stayed in each hut, but some of them were clearly too small for that.

It wasn't until later that I found out another village had come to celebrate with them. They had met up about a week ago to discuss distribution and exchange of supplies, and this celebration marked the culmination of their trade settlement.