Amaryllis looked up and down at Orion with a big smile.

  "You're pretty good-looking. Actually, you might look closer to him than I realized from the back."

  "That's my grandson."

  She nudged Orion's side with her elbow while thinking about someone else.

  "My... grandfather?"

  "Yes."

  Nodding, Amaryllis took a step back.

  "While I look like this, I am actually an old lady. I've lived through the entirety of my time on Eogis with no regret."

  "It wasn't exactly all giggles and laughs, but it wasn't as awful as the memories we all shared."

  As a question welled up in Orion's heart, he stared straight at her.

  "How many people remember what happened?"

  The black-haired angel brought a finger to the corner of her mouth and pondered his question.

  "If memory serves me right... Only those of our family. I don't recall anyone besides us having those contradictory memories."

  Breathing a sigh of relief, Orion rubbed his nape and smiled.

  "You appear to be satisfied with the answer, so let's get to more personal questions now."

  Orion's left eyebrow twitched lightly as he straightened his posture.

  The angel in front of him, Amaryllis, also his grandmother, smiled with the same mischievous smile she had when she introduced herself.

  "Ignoring that dumb couple, I can answer anything you want."

  Moving his head up and down slightly, Orion asked his first question.

  "How much do you know about me?"

  Amaryllis took a step forward and leaned next to his face. Her right hand moved from his collarbone to his shoulder before firmly grabbing it.

  "Your soul is a vessel for us. It appears to keep a part of us alive. As much as I would like to know more about my grandson, I'm not sure whether I am actually alive."

  She pushed herself away lightly, smirking with a sensual look in her eyes.

  "While this is true, I actually enjoyed learning about you through your soul. The many intertwining bonds you have formed were refreshing, since I am used to this."

  Pointing back with her thumb over her shoulder, she pointed it at Alyssia and Alaric, seemingly apologizing to each other.

  "So, I have one question in return."

  Her expression softened, void of any playfulness.

  "How is your father?"

  Immediately, Orion breathed in. This question, which normally would be easily predicted, ended up being unexpected for him.

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  Reon was Amaryllis' son. Knowing of his circumstances would be the first thing on her mind.

  'This family...'

  A warm smile formed on his face as he spoke to himself.

  'Always thinking about each other, prioritizing their wellbeing over everything else.'

  Amaryllis didn't look so different after all.

  "My dad is doing well. After many ups and downs, he finally obtained the peace he desired."

  The angel smiled, heaving a long sigh of relief.

  "That's all I wanted. His father would be relieved to hear that."

  Since Orion's grandfather was a non-fighter and a common person, his soul was far too weak to ever leave its mark inside Orion's.

  Suddenly, the crescent halo on top of her head began to oscillate between a weak light and a stronger one.

  "Ah..."

  Orion frowned. This wasn't a good sign, and he knew why.

  Of the countless angels safeguarded inside the bracelet, many were sick. This wasn't a life-threatening issue, but one enough to hinder their everyday lives.

  They were forced to remain weak their entire lives, unable to drag a single ounce of magical strength in any circumstances.

  The sign of this illness appeared as a blinking of the halo. It was a sickness only present in angels.

  And Amaryllis showed the symptoms of being ill with that illness.

  "You don't have to worry. In here, it doesn't affect me."

  The angel smiled while looking up, trying to see her halo with no success.

  "I'm not exactly alive."

  Pushing her long hair back behind her back, she smiled.

  Taking the courage to ask, Orion clenched his fists.

  "From a single glance, I could tell you were powerful. How could this happen?"

  Making a hard face, Amaryllis looked at him.

  "I wasn't born with this."

  This was all Orion needed to learn.

  "This is most likely a result of altering fate... Did this appear after the day you were supposed to die?"

  She nodded with a smile that confirmed his observation.

  "After I had a talk with dad..."

  Turning her face, she looked at Alaric, who was looking at them from afar. His face was stern, but both could notice the intense affection in his eyes.

  "I confirmed that this wasn't a normal sickness. While I kept my power as is, I was unable to use it anymore. This is the curse for people who should have died so they won't alter the future even more."

  Orion nodded as he came to the same conclusion. Amaryllis immediately continued.

  "Instead of hiding in the angel city all my life and forcefully coloring my dark wings white to avoid being found out, I lived comfortably in our mixed village."

  "I went out of my way to find my husband once again, who supported me until the very end during the hardest times."

  "But as I lived past that fateful day, a lot of us lost our ability to use magic."

  "I suppose this is where the lost elements became truly lost."

  Moving her hands in a circle in front of her, two light spheres blink in and out of existence before being extinguished.

  "Hmm... I can't use magic here, either. This is disheartening."

  After smiling dryly, her face recovered the mischievous look it had earlier.

  "Well, there's nothing I can do about that. I died a long time ago as an old lady."

  Laughing at her own comment, she walked around Orion with her hands behind her back, taking wide strides.

  "What else do you need to learn about this grandmother of yours?"

  At this point, Orion knew her personality. She was assertive, playful, and charming.

  She was respectful and well-mannered, but Orion found it difficult to agree with how easily she entered his inner space so casually.

  But she grew on him rapidly, as he felt a sense of familiarity with her beyond comprehension.

  "Were you happy?"

  She stopped a bit behind his left side, leaning heavily forward so she could stare at his face.

  "I wasn't expecting such a normal question."

  Straightening her body, she continued to walk around him unbothered.

  "Well, as surprising as it is, I'm glad you are showing some interest towards me instead of treating me like a tool to answer random questions."

  Orion smiled and closed his eyes.

  "Family is important. Isn't that the rule for us?"

  "Hahaha! You're damn right!"

  Bursting out laughing, she smiled innocently.

  "Do I look sad to you?"

  As her feet came to a stop inches from his, she stared inside his anthracite eyes.

  "While I cannot say for sure, I will say that it isn't as simple as that."

  The darkness in her eyes told a story that was deeply concealed inside her soul.

  "That is correct. It is rather complicated."

  "I have two different memories."

  "One was a treacherous life, where my parents killed themselves in response to the lies of our people. I had to constantly watch my back to not be found out, dying from overexertion as I took care of my son alone."

  "The second one is a life of peace, surrounded by the people I loved. I never lacked anything and managed to keep my family from harm. My son grew up, and I was there to see him depart from the nest."

  With a strangely attracting smile, she asked him.

  "Which do you think matters to me?"

  Orion genuinely considered the options. As he thought of what he would answer, he frowned.

  'This isn't about me.'

  Correcting his thoughts, he gave his answer.

  "Memories replacing the tragic ones will always be more valuable."

  "You do understand."

  Placing her hand on his nose, she touched it before taking a few steps back.

  "You're right. I'd rather focus on the good memories you helped create instead of dwelling on the horrible life I went through."

  The smile on her face disappeared, and, with a swift movement of her arm, she placed her right hand on her chest.

  "This Amaryllis is ready to support you with everything she has."

  A white aura, turning more toward yellow, covered the angel.

  As Orion stared in awe, threads of energy left her body and moved toward him.

  "..."

  Instinctively, he lifted his hand and reached for the threads.

  His index finger touched the energy, and with incredible speed, it began to transfer inside him.

  Every ounce of Amaryllis' power was swallowed by Orion, merging with his original power.

  "What did you do?"

  Returning to her normal posture, she smiled.

  "Mom and dad told me to help you in the past."

  "I refused, at that time. There was no way I would teach someone in the state I was in."

  "But those memories... This new life you gave me."

  "This opportunity to live a fulfilling life. I will never forget it."

  "So..."

  As a veil of light covered Orion, his angelic traits flashed into existence.

  "As a thank-you gift, I will give you the greatest power the angel possessed. The only angel who transcended past its limits."

  "You learned the 'Abyssal Sovereign' power from dad."

  "I will give you the means to become the second 'Seraphim'. How you use this power, I leave it in your hand."

  Feeling the newly formed power flow through his entire being, warmth covered Orion as changes appeared on his body.