Chapter 22

Odalys stood up and stepped forward, beckoning the others between two large trees. "Give me a hand," she said.

Freya, rolling up her sleeves to reveal her slender forearms, strode forward with excitement. Selah grabbed her bag and followed closely. Odds picked up her dagger to clear away the seeds beside them, revealing a large rock.

"Let's move this!" Stellan stepped forward quickly. However, the rock was quite large. Despite his efforts, he couldn't budge it.

"Give me the rope," Odalys said. Preva quickly handed over her rope. Odalys looped it around the rock, and using a large tree as leverage, pulled hard. With a "boom," the rock rolled to the side, revealing a hidden cave entrance.

"A cave! How did you find this, Odalys?" Freya exclaimed, her face full of surprise. Everyone gasped in astonishment, not expecting such a discovery.

"I was just taking a chance," Odalys explained. "Normally, no one dares shelter under these trees during rain for fear of lightning strikes."

Curiosity piqued, especially considering Freya's and Stellan's fame, the others initially hesitated. However, as they walked, they relaxed and integrated into the group.

"Since this tree is often struck by lightning, isn't it dangerous to stay here? What if there's a thunderstorm tonight?" Selah worried aloud.

Stellan nodded in agreement.

Odalys chuckled softly. "Precisely because it gets struck by lightning, dangerous beasts won't approach, making this the safest place." She added, stepping forward to clear weeds, "And there's a superstition that lightning-struck trees ward off evil spirits."

"And this cave is safe, as long as you're not under the tree during a storm. The rocks were placed here by someone, suggesting someone once lived here and blocked the entrance after leaving," she explained softly.

"Which means it's safe. And that's why the person who left wanted to keep it hidden," Odalys concluded.

She stepped inside, switched on her flashlight, and found the cave clean and dry, with some straw to one side.

"Someone actually lived here before! Look, two bowls!" Freya exclaimed, entering with Selah. Although the cave was dark, it was spacious enough for tents and cooking.

"This is it. We'll stay here tonight," Stellan declared, his voice filled with relief and admiration for Odalys. He hadn't considered her a valuable asset before, but now, witnessing Freya's trust, he instinctively followed suit.

"Odalys, how did you know all this?" Freya's curiosity remained high. Ever since Odalys saved her, their bond had strengthened significantly.

"I've been living in the mountains with my mentor. If I didn't have these skills, I'd have died on the mountain long ago," Odalys said with a chuckle.

Instead of feeling inferior about her mountain upbringing, she felt pride. Her mentor had high standards and didn't take on just anyone; she considered her upbringing a blessing.

"You grew up in the mountains? Wow, could you take us there sometime?" Freya, sociable and unfazed by Odalys's lack of conventional fame, asked enthusiastically.

Odalys raised an eyebrow, tucked her dagger into her Doc Martens, and replied, "A top actress, a best-actor-winning actor, and a debut artist want to visit my remote mountain? Seriously?"

Freya casually tied her hair up. "Why not? We weren't born famous. Besides, you're a badass. When we get back, I'll introduce you to some resources," she said, crossing her arms.

She suddenly turned, her gaze fixed on Odalys's face. Leaning in, she whispered, "Odalys, do you have a boyfriend?"

Odalys laughed, shouldering her luggage. "I'm married."

"Lol, you're married! But you're really good-looking. How about I introduce you to my brother? He's super handsome!" Freya exclaimed excitedly, lugging her suitcase behind Odalys.

The photographer followed, capturing shots of the group.

(Online comments follow, expressing surprise and speculation about Odalys’s background and relationships.)

The fans in the live broadcast watched them set up camp. Odalys checked the time; it was 5 PM.

"Let's check the surroundings and find some food. It'll be dangerous once it gets dark," Odalys suggested.

Everyone, exhausted, was initially reluctant to move, but her words snapped them back to reality.

"Yes, let's find food first," Stellan agreed.

They encountered Sophia's group, who had clearly treated their wounds. Sophia's face was adorned with band-aids.

"Haven't you found a place yet?" Sophia asked with a forced smile, hoping to see Odalys upset. To her surprise, Odalys walked past without comment.

"What did I do wrong? Why is she ignoring me?" Sophia asked Atlas, her voice choked.

Finnian, irritated, grabbed Odalys's arm.

"What are you doing? Are you going to hit me? The director said no physical harm between teams," Odalys said coldly.

The atmosphere shifted; all eyes focused on Finnian, his anger evident.

(To be continued…)