A month went by rapidly as things drastically changed inside Horizon.

  Where time stopped everywhere else in the world, this secluded realm kept its time intact, thanks to the work of many people.

  In the midst of everyone training their hardest to overcome their limits, a few events happened in Horizon.

  The first one was concerning the dragons.

  At their arrival, there was nowhere for Monolavir, Ruminona, and their children to stay at.

  Immediately, Orion gave them permission to reside anywhere. They chose to stay true to their roots and chose the mountain area.

  With his help, they dug a cave into the center part of the mountain, digging deep down into its heart.

  That place became their new home, which felt the same to them, except without the ruckus of other dragons echoing through the tunnels.

  Once this matter was settled, it was the turn of the griffon.

  Its eggs hatched, at last, without issue.

  Three baby griffons, small and cute, ran around the little patch of forest their mother was resting in.

  These little ones, alongside their mother, became a key part of Horizon's ecosystem.

  Eating fish and meat, but also fruit occasionally, the griffons were the perfect regulators for this realm.

  The rabbit population, which was difficult to contain, became a problem of the past. Even larger animals, like boars, were part of their diet.

  After a month only, this family of griffons left their hideout and flew toward the mountain, joining the dragons in that part of the region.

  Everything was going mostly great.

  Senia and Olivia took care of the giant apex predator in the southern sea, dealing with its needs.

  Thankfully, that large beast barely needed to eat. It filtered nutrients from the water as a way of eating, which helped purify the water at the same time.

  Orion's world was starting to enter a golden age of development, where everything helped develop it further.

  Being a Lorelei with tremendous energy to spend, Senia used this opportunity to bring the giant creature into the equation.

  As it felt indebted to Olivia and Orion, it agreed to help without problem.

  Used as a training opponent and simple target of her magic, Senia and the predator, which took the name of Leviathan, grew closer as marine creatures.

  These were the major happenings that were resolved this first month.

  —

  While everything slowly settled down, another matter of utmost importance took place only a few days after the plane was sealed off.

  As if the impending need to obtain answers led his steps, Orion stood in front of the blurry figure that possessed almost every answer to his questions.

  With a grave look on his face, he stared at the eye, which was intently looking at him in silence.

  "Is there something I can help you with?"

  The gentle voice of a woman soothed his heart, causing his tension to disappear.

  "I wanted to have a little discussion with you, away from everyone else."

  "There have been a few questions troubling my thoughts for the past month. I hoped you would shed a light on those matters."

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The eye looked to the side, shining its bright eight-armed star in response.

  "As you can see, I am in this situation. Ask away, although I guarantee no answer."

  Giving her a nod, Orion walked closer to the machine and looked at the figure, trying to discern any feature.

  While being a system with a will, for some reason, it also possessed the shape of a woman. The figure had long hair, lying perfectly still even as she moved.

  Orion could also notice the assets that women possessed, making sure not to disrespectfully stare at her.

  After confirming that the figure was truly there and not part of his imagination, he chose to start with small talk.

  "Aren't you bored?"

  "Incredibly so. I have been observant of everything, which helped satiate this boredom somehow."

  She crossed her legs and appeared to hold her head with her left arm.

  "But I have never acted in ways to relieve it if you were afraid of such events. I have never wielded this power for myself since developing this ego."

  This entity only spoke to him through Henrietta a few times, but far too briefly to be considered a conversation.

  The nonchalant way of speaking actually helped Orion get around the fact that he was talking to a rational being instead of a simple system.

  "It never crossed my mind. Knowing that you've intervened only to stop the destruction of this land multiple times, I had no such fears."

  "That is good to learn you aren't thinking ill of me."

  Moving in a slight motion downward, the eye showed remorse.

  "Were you expecting me to despise you for forcing the role of 'Hero' on my shoulders?"

  At that point, Orion dug deeper into the true matters of the conversation.

  "As a creator, I had no part in your creation. As Tetra said, she was the one who came up with the idea and made it a reality."

  "While it is true, I am partially responsible for forcing this role on you. It wouldn't surprise me if you were ever bearing hatred toward me."

  At those words, he shook his head.

  "I have no reason to. Just as I said to Tetra, I don't hate this life."

  "Maybe I have let that title and the role I had to play in this story a little too much at heart at the beginning. It doesn't really matter anymore."

  "I have a family. I have a grown-up daughter, both parents safe and alive, and nine wives to take care of."

  "The friendships I've built were difficult to acknowledge at first, but I finally realized how important they were."

  "Blaming others for mistakes out of their control or hating someone for making my life harder."

  "It actually doesn't matter. Life wasn't easy from the beginning, but I pulled through."

  "And part of it is thanks to you."

  The figure's shoulders twitched lightly.

  "Why... do you thank me?"

  With a smirk, Orion closed his eyes and turned his body to the side.

  "That supposed magic my parents used to send me through time. While it might be practical in essence, it doesn't work as it should."

  "How was I brought into the perfect time to act?"

  Silence answered his question, until a sigh escaped the figure's mouth.

  "Your wits were always top-notch. I have nothing to hide."

  Switching the leg she crossed, Nature continued.

  "Tetra's work was sloppy. I do not accuse her of anything because the work of humans cannot arrive at the same level as us, creators."

  "While she perfected the ritual by giving the concerned party everything they needed, she forgot to actually put her magic into the spell."

  "If she had been focused, she would have realized that all it would have done was send a child into the limbo of time eternally."

  The eye focused on Orion.

  "I did what needed to be done. It wasn't supposed to be known, either. My function is to help the world run properly and heal it when it needs to be healed."

  "But maybe... I took advantage of the situation and sent you at the perfect time to deal with Miasma."

  "This is no excuse, but I wanted Tetra's plan to succeed."

  "With the 'First Hero' being impossible to save either after changing his fate many times, my hopes were crushed."

  "You were the only thread of hope I had, and I made you an unwilling puppet."

  "I apologize for that."

  The man shook his head lightly.

  "What happened to me when I was sent by the magic?"

  "I protected you from the rules of 'Time'. Nothing could affect you by my side."

  This finally answered his question about what had happened in his infancy.

  "I had to let some time pass for you to mature into an infant, but that was only a few months at best."

  Satisfied, Orion looked at the eye.

  "Thank you for protecting me. I am grateful."

  His words sank deep into Nature's mind, making her feel something she never felt.

  "You are... welcome."

  As a short silence happened between them, Orion decided to ask something weighting on his mind for a long time.

  "This question, I need a detailed answer on this one."

  His face darkened slightly, showing Nature that it was truly important to him. Recovering her composure, she nodded.

  "Ask away."

  "What happened to Alyssia and Alaric?"

  The eye appeared to focus deeply on its memories.

  "This will be a long story."

  "I need to know. I promised her."

  Clenching his heart, he could still feel the warmth of her magic cover his soul.

  His ancestors were always with him, and he needed to learn what ultimately happened in this timeline.

  Orion's wings phased through his clothes before lifting his body off the ground with a few strokes.

  Holding his posture stable, he appeared to sit in the air.

  "I'm listening."

  "Alright."

  The figure shook its head before beginning its tale.

  —

  "Alaric."

  "What is it?"

  After Orion returned to the hideout with Tetra late that night.

  "I need to talk to you."

  "Can it wait?"

  "Actually, no."

  She grabbed his head and forced him to look at her.

  "We have a lot of work to do, and I need your help."

  "Do you trust me with your life?"

  He had many complaints in his hearts, but they all faded away after staring into her eyes.

  Somehow, there was a light deep in them that subjugated his will to retort.

  "I..."

  He pondered.

  "Before I answer, tell me something."

  "Dummy..."

  Without him being able to ask, she kissed him.

  "I wouldn't ask you this if you weren't precious to me."

  "Hmm~, I guess."

  Blushing slightly, Alaric forcefully turned his face away and wiped his mouth with the back of his left hand.

  At the same time, Alaric seriously considered her request.

  Then he turned to her with a serious expression, void of red tint.

  "What do you need of me?"

  "We have to protect everyone, together."

  She handed him a notebook, which he took and opened before reading its content.

  "..."

  His expression switched between astonishment and anger.

  "Alyssia, what is this?"

  "Our future."

  Lifting his head from the book, his eyebrows showed how furious he was.

  "You're not lying to me. I know that."

  "..."

  She stayed silent, letting him acknowledge the truth by himself. Alaric was a wise person, albeit a little arrogant at times.

  But he always worked for others' happiness.

  Reading all the nasty events that were about to happen, his mind worked in overdrive.

  "The children..."

  At last, he realized the tragedy that was vowed to play out.

  "Even our child would suffer from this."

  As he kept reading, a deep hatred grew inside him.

  "Alaric. Don't let those feelings take over. You've made that mistake once, and it's written at the end."

  "..."

  As he read the last part, his eyes opened wide.

  He suddenly closed the book and ended it back to her. Moving past her, he continued toward the exit.

  "Where are you going at this hour?"

  "Train..."

  Closing the door behind him, Alaric left the orphan village with heavy feelings.

  This was the start of a brand-new story, written through love and hardship instead of blood and tragedy.