"Impossible," the woman with the daring slit in her gown exclaimed. The last woman who hadn't yet attempted to use her powers furrowed her brows in confusion, likely realizing that her ability might also be ineffective, just like the others.

As I observed from the sidelines, my eyes occasionally drifting to their exposed panties and then back to their perplexed expressions as they attempted to revive Saria, it became increasingly clear that their efforts were in vain.

Deciding to speak up, I asked, "So, there's nothing any of you can do?"

....

Madam Seraphina found herself at a loss for words in response to this particular question. When the Queen had first summoned her and the others and explained that they had discovered people from outside the kingdom above the upper section of the mountain, Seraphina was initially shocked and struggled to believe it.

However, upon closer examination of the individuals and noticing the absence of gemstones within them, their shock was tempered with a sense of disbelief that they had learned to manage. As healers, they had encountered nauseating and unimaginable wounds that required them to maintain their composure, so this situation, although astonishing, was not entirely beyond their capacity to handle.

Madam Seraphina halted her words, her gaze sweeping over her fellow healers in search of any possible solutions.

Unfortunately, their tired expressions and shaking heads conveyed the same message there was nothing more they could do.

Letting out a deep sigh, she continued, "There isn't anything more we can do at the moment. Our only option is to try mixing some herbs for her to see if she reacts to them, since our abilities seem ineffective."

Orion nodded in understanding but couldn't help feeling a twinge of disappointment. Based on what he had witnessed, he had hoped for a more miraculous outcome. Nevertheless, he accepted the results and asked, "Do you have any trees nearby?"

Feeling her panties wedged between her buttocks once more, Valeria adjusted them slowly before she asked, "We do, but what do you need that for?"

Orion nodded with relief, grateful that they had access to trees even though they were currently underground. He carefully chose his words and explained, "You see, my friend is a bit special, and with a tree, I think there might be a chance to help her get back on her feet." Even if they found his words strange, as long as he could be given the chance to try it out, he didn't care about their thoughts.

Although the members of the healing council were puzzled about how a tree could aid in recovery, they decided to give the young man's suggestion some consideration. After all, their healing abilities had proven ineffective, so they were willing to entertain any possibility.

"Sorry, but even if we wanted to, we can't get you out of this room or do something like that without getting permission from the Queen or King," Madam Seraphina explained, shaking her head in disagreement. She added, "You'll just have to wait a moment for us to see if we can get permission from the King or Queen."

Orion understood their predicament. He figured he would do the same if he were in their shoes back in his village. "Alright, I'm willing to wait," he replied, nodding in understanding. However, curiosity pulled at him, wondering how a tree could survive down here, or if it was even a tree at all.

Nevertheless, he knew he wouldn't find out until he saw it for himself.

"Alright," Madam Seraphina replied before turning her attention to Thoren, the man in the white robe, and Valeria, the woman with a sizeable bubble ass who was currently dealing with the inconvenience of her panties getting wedged between her butt cheeks.

She continued, "Marisela and I will go and inform the King and Queen of the results and also relay the young man's request. Meanwhile, you two can stay here and continue trying to see if there might be anything more that you can do."

Valeria and Thoren nodded in understanding as they watched Madam Seraphina signal to Marisela for them to leave.

The door made a soft click as they opened and closed it behind them.

"Let's get to work then, and see what else we might try," Thoren said to Valeria as he approached Saria's bed once more, activating his healing ability in an attempt to find a solution. Orion found a spot to lean against the wall and watched closely as the woman with a wedgie also approached Saria, likely intending to use her own healing abilities to see if they could make a difference.

As a bright white light shone over Saria's body, Orion couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment when the light disappeared seconds later. Valeria blinked in surprise and stood in a daze for a moment before she tried again.

This time, she tapped her chest and conjured her gemstone, allowing it to hover above Saria's unconscious form.

.......

The Gemheart Clan

Main building

"Knock!!" "Knock!!"

"Come in!" Garnet said as he glanced up at his wife entering the room, gently closing the door behind her. Observing her attire, a thigh-high garment instead of her usual attire that she often wore to proudly display her panties and her position as the Clan Mistress of the Gemheart clan, Garnet couldn't help but furrow his brows, sensing that something was amiss.

"Is what I've heard true, Garnet?" Elara Gemheart asked, her gaze fixed on her husband. She had initially questioned her ears when she learned that Princess Crystallia had brought someone from the upper section who claimed to hail from outside the mountain.

However, after confirming the news with the wives of the elders, who had heard it from the clan leader himself after the council meeting at the palace earlier today, she rushed to his study to seek confirmation.

Garnet quickly grasped her intentions as she finished her sentence and nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's true," he confirmed.

"Princess Crystalia disrupted the council meeting again today, and this time, she brought someone we believe is from outside the mountain. However, the king adjourned the council meeting before we could extract any information from him," he snorted in annoyance before continuing, "I doubt they want this matter to become public knowledge, as it could spark rumours throughout the kingdom. So, it's either one of the Crystalforge private guards conducting the interrogation or the Queen herself, considering she's currently the most powerful figure in the castle."