A few minutes after returning to his realm, Orion was stopped by someone.

  "How did it go?"

  Holding a radiant sword in hand, Titania stood with a firm gaze.

  "There was no problem."

  He answered her with the same firmness.

  "That is good. I was prepared to use my power in case anything had gone wrong."

  The atmosphere grew lighter as she pulled back her sword.

  "..."

  Her face betrayed her voice. She was holding back something that ate her spirit away.

  "What is it? It's rare for you to seek me out, let alone with such an expression."

  Her eyes were focused, and the grip around her weapon was intense.

  "You always see through me like an open book. Maybe that is why I can trust you so readily."

  With a faint smile, she lowered her face and laughed.

  But then she straightened her gaze and stared into his eyes with a renewed will.

  "Along with Henrietta and Tetra, we have decided to move past what happened the day we've turned Remnants."

  Orion instantly understood the meaning. Clenching his hands, he patiently waited for her to continue.

  "It was not only Avyerbdon. You might already know that, though."

  "Of course."

  He nodded. This was a name that remained in a part of his brain since the day Elliott opened up about his past.

  "Nine other creatures destroyed our world that day."

  "The only time we have uttered their names was when the ten of us gathered in the same spot."

  Her hand trembled lightly. This was a heavy memory, but she pulled through.

  "Servamnlya was the one who destroyed my country... and killed my mother."

  The deep gaze of hatred that appeared on her face was all too familiar to Orion. But the feeling he got from her was not related to vengeance.

  "That name makes me sick simply by speaking it."

  "An animalistic way of fighting, which surpassed the greatest fighters of our time. That is how those beasts fight."

  Pondering, Orion brought a hand to his face.

  "Do you think they devour their prey's physical appearance and adopt their general behavior?"

  For a second, Titania froze. Her eyes drifted to the side, and with a shake of her head, she acknowledged her ignorance.

  "I have no idea to be entirely transparent with you. It could be a possibility, now that I think about it."

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  He continued.

  "If they left while wearing the appearance of the Valkyries, it means that they change appearance with each meal. That is a strange concept."

  "In that case, what are they?"

  Orion's hair slowly drifted in front of his eyes as he asked that question.

  It was a question with no answer. Until the day he was to face them, this would remain unanswered.

  With a light shrug, he began to walk.

  "Let's talk while moving. I want to hear more about the others."

  "Sure."

  ...

  Entering his room, Orion sighed.

  "We've got no idea what we're facing off."

  "For all I know, they could already be reaching for a way to enter this realm."

  He placed a hand on the wall and leaned against it.

  "They are not ready. This is far too early to even consider fighting them off."

  "I could potentially hold one off, but ten of them? Who knows how many of these creatures exist?"

  Feeling unusual anger fill his heart, he sighed.

  "This is not good. Get yourself together."

  "It's my job to make sure they are ready in time."

  Straightening, he looked into his hand.

  "I've already done everything I could to seal their presence from leaking out. Now, it's only a matter of how strong their nose is."

  This was the biggest gamble he ever made.

  It was a rush against time itself, which Orion could do little to contain.

  As he looked out of his window, he could see the darkness stretched endlessly into his world.

  "This is my only chance, isn't it?"

  He looked into his hand.

  "Noah?"

  Thinking of the man who helped him understand what was truly important, he clenched it.

  The legacy left by the former Hero was living in his core.

  "I have to remain strong in any circumstances. I cannot let those emotions sway my decisions."

  "So be it. If I have to face otherworldly creatures, I will oblige."

  With a sharp smile, he turned around.

  "I'll prevail and prove that I am the strong...est."

  His eyes settled on a figure inside his room.

  "I knocked, just so you know."

  "May?"

  A red-haired beauty stared at him with a smirk, leaning on the wall next to the door, her arms crossed.

  "You never bring those discussions to us. Is there a reason for that?"

  He shrugged.

  "The only reason I can think of that will satisfy you is that those problems have no solutions. If they were easily resolved through suggestions, I would bring it up to the entire family."

  "I get that."

  Pushing her back off the wall, she approached him with her arms still crossed.

  "What are you doing here at this hour?"

  Genuinely curious, he asked as she stopped inches from him.

  But rapidly, he understood as she extended her right arm in front of her.

  "You were making a rather worrisome expression, so I thought I could soothe your mind."

  Her index finger moved from his collarbone to his stomach lightly.

  "I thought, maybe, that you would take my first time tonight."

  He smiled in return.

  "I would not sacrifice that special time just as a way to ease my worries."

  "I know."

  May pushed his chest, forcing Orion to sit on his bed.

  "You just have to think of me tonight."

  Sitting on his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck before kissing him.

  'As if I could think of anything else.'

  ...

  Orion and May walked out of the bedroom in the morning.

  "..."

  Silent, May smiled as she made her way to her room while Orion moved downstairs.

  'Only Tetra is left.'

  With that thought in mind, he turned around and walked into the changing room.

  After having his usual relaxing time alone, he exited.

  This morning was like any others. He drank his black coffee and spoke with everyone before moving outside.

  While making his way past his garden, he played with Sirius for a bit and talked to Procyon about some random stuff concerning her.

  Then, out of nowhere, he turned to the portal hub after finishing with them.

  He walked into the portal leading to Turric and sucked some fresh, cold air into his lungs.

  After a few seconds, he nodded to himself and knocked on the nearest door.

  "Yes?"

  The voice of a woman answered his knocks, rapidly opening the door.

  "We rarely have any visitors at this hour."

  Caroline, Eric's wife, opened the door.

  "Good to see you healthy, as usual."

  "Orion!"

  Surprised, she smiled.

  "Come in. Don't stay in the cold."

  The snow wasn't quite as thick today, but it was still at ankle level. Carefully avoiding bringing snow into her home, he entered with light steps.

  "Who is it?"

  Eric, reading a journal at the table, asked her.

  "..."

  She looked at Orion with a smile, urging him to sit at the table.

  Without a word, he sat in front of Eric.

  "Caroline?"

  Moving his eyes from his newspaper, he finally noticed Orion.

  "That's a face I wasn't expecting to see today."

  With a smile, he placed the paper on the table and stood up.

  Leaning over the table, he stretched his hand in his direction.

  Orion returned the smile and grabbed his hand, shaking it firmly.

  "..."

  Eric felt strange at that instant. His brows frowned, a heavy feeling leaving his mind.

  "I knew it. You've been using it again."

  The fog in his head vanished, but for good this time.

  A white hue flashed in Orion's eyes as he erased Eric's troubles.

  "Ah..."

  Letting go of his hand, Orion sat down, leaving the man confused.

  "You should have no problem with your memories anymore. I've made sure of it."

  Sitting back, Eric looked into his opened hands.

  "It feels like the last time you've healed me, but far more uplifting."

  "That's my way of thanking you for saving May that day."

  Eric stared at him with a dumbfounded look. But then his eyes smiled.

  "I guess good deeds are always rewarded."

  "It appears to be true."

  Smiling with his eyes closed, Orion felt better.

  "What happened? What is this weird mood between you?"

  Caroline walked in with a cup in her hand before handing it to Orion.

  "Man's stuff."

  "Haha~"

  Orion laughed at Eric's reply.

  "Your husband's been cured of his disorder. He won't ever forget anything from now on."

  "Really?"

  Surprised, she looked at Eric.

  With a neutral face, he nodded.

  "That's great!"

  Hurriedly, she ran next to him and hugged him from behind.

  "I wasn't expecting such a news this morning."

  Delighted, she was on the verge of crying.

  "Even my broken mind... You truly are special, Orion."

  The reality finally caught up to him as he bathed in his wife's genuine feelings of relief.

  "It's nothing. You are important to May, so I will take no chances in making her sad."

  "She's one of the reasons I came to help you. The other is that I felt like doing something good."

  Both smiled.

  "Thank you."

  Sipping on his cup of coffee, Orion nodded firmly, accepting the heartwarming thanks from this family.