The next day.

Orion woke up, and as usual, took care of his basic needs.

After taking a shower, he walked to the kitchen for his morning coffee, and waited for everyone to wake up in the dining room.

The first one to come down was, unsurprisingly, Karteira. She was almost waking up as the same time as Orion, but she had to take care of her appearance before walking out of her room.

They discussed a little bit about the day's training that was to come, and what to do with the sisters.

She was worried they would refuse to come with them.

Right after, the same sisters, Dramia and Drania, walked downstairs and arrived in the dining room.

When Orion asked if they would come with to training, even if it was for spectating, they both agreed, even though Dramia was a little reluctant at first.

In the end, her curiosity about Orion's capabilities in battle won over. Drania was a little less energetic than usual, but it was understandable, as she had awoken from her deep slumber.

The last one to wake up, yes, was Amelia. This was also unsurprising. The time her brain had to completely switch on was relatively long, and there was also the time she took to carefully brush her hair.

Everyone was now reunited around the same table. They enjoyed a lazy afternoon together, discussing of the various experiences they had lived through recently.

Orion listened to the four talk without bothering them, as he already explained his situation the day before.

The time quickly moved to noon. Amelia was preparing their meal, with the help of Dramia.

'That combination is rare.'

Looking at them quietly from his chair, Orion thought.

'The same happened before we split toward our different goals.'

He remembered them also cooking together when Karteira, Drania and himself went to train on the other side of the lake.

"I'm going back to my room for now, I want to prepare some things for this afternoon."

He stood up from his chair, and placed it back to its original spot, before speaking for everyone to hear.

"Alright, I'll be sure to call you when we're done."

Receiving Amelia's notice, he quickly returned to his room, and sat on his bed.

An internal sigh echoed in his mind.

As his gaze wandered around the room, his eyes finally set on the one item he was trying not to look at.

Even though he loved its design, and cherished it for it, it was also a curse.

'I haven't looked at it for a while.'

He carefully took the hourglass he received from the weird merchant lady, and lightly tapped on the glass.

- 111 -

*sigh*

'Already three weeks. From leaving the fairy realm, to Hocride, we've spent three whole weeks and more.'

The sand was actually flowing extremely slow, almost imperceptibly.

From four months and a half, less than four months remained before Elliot was back.

'I am not nearly powerful enough to confront Elliot. This is not going as well as I was expecting.'

Orion was in a weird mood. He wasn't depressed over that fact, but he wasn't happy either.

'Do you need a comforting voice to soothe your aching mind?'

A gentle voice echoed in his mind.

'Ego? Why have you come to speak with me?'

'What? Can't I exchanged words with you sometimes?'

He placed the hourglass back on his nightstand, closed his eyes, and lied on his bed.

'Sorry, that was a little too snappy at you. Of course we can talk.'

'Great.'

Hearing the happiness in her tone, their conversation began.

'You had something to specially talk with me?'

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

'Both about you and Amelia. Take it as a report from me about your current state and abilities.'

There was something bothering him about that.

'Why did you never spoke about that before?'

'Because you weren't strong enough to even bother with that. First, improvements. After, reports.'

'So, what are you going to speak about? About the fact that I am stuck on many aspects of my abilities?'

A little giggle escaped the voice.

'You're really bitter about that one, isn't it?'

'Well, of course I am. Both Karteira and Amelia, even Kamala, are making more progress than me.'

Once again, another giggle.

'Tell me? Who in this world is able to obliterate a city, or a corrupted beast with one arrow? Who killed two Apostles, beings almost untouchable?'

'...'

'Who is it? It can't be you, right?'

The sarcasm made Orion grit his teeth.

'Are you here to tease me?'

'A little.'

He opened his eyes, his mouth opened like a goldfish.

'Straight answer. I wasn't expecting that. Alright, do your worst.'

Readying himself for a next wave of teasing, the next sentence was quite different.

'Sadly for you, I'm not here for that. Let me tell you about yourself a little.'

Nodding, he silently listened to the voice of the entity knowing more about himself than even Orion himself.

It was to wonder what was really that entity that could read the flow of time and space and know what abilities was forming inside his and Amelia's soul.

A monotonous voice, close but yet different from Ego took over.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Bearer of the Fifteen Shackles. Out of the fifteen available locks, six have been unlocked. Parts concerned are:

Legs (one out of two, left leg, Gears 2),

Arms (one out of two, right arm, Overdrive),

Magic (four out of ten, comprising Dragon Tongue, Light Healing, Magic Diffusion, and Void Element Creator.)

- Calm Analysis: An ability used to perceive the most details in a given situation, forcing the users brain to process said details at an unrivaled speed.

- Eagle Eyes: Give a zoomed view of a specific area in the users field of view.

- Light and Dark elements: The users available elements, given by the compatibility of the Shackles with the user.

- Void element: A new element created by the user. Capable of modifying space and time itself to some extent, and moving though distance in short amount of time.

- Corrupted Curse: Focus the hate of previously conscious corrupted beings on the user. Potent curse, unable to be removed due to the soul fusing with it before the user's birth.

- Element shaping: The user's innate abilities to shape the elements however it is desired.

- ???? Cannot develop.

- ???? Cannot develop.

- ???? Cannot dev- ERROR!>

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

'That is a lot to take in, isn't it?'

The normal voice of Ego returned.

'...'

'Nothing to say?'

Orion was shocked beyond belief. He never knew about all these details about himself.

Of course, he knew about the gist of his abilities, how they worked, and how important they were.

But what was the most shocking that there seemed to be so much progress to make, so much discoveries about himself, about the Shackles, and the remaining abilities he had yet to create.

There was also the names of his family and closest friends. Orion heard a lot of gibberish after Keith's name, stating that he had many more people that would become important to him.

Hope, determination, expectations, happiness, ... only good emotions took over him.

'So this was not the end of the road for me.'

Something lifted from his chest. The previous feeling of failure disappeared completely.

'If it was impossible for you to grow, your life would have not gave you the opportunity to form ten magic shackles. Even if I don't know most of them, or what they will be yet, these opportunities are within you.'

Her tone suddenly turned colder.

'But be careful. Those opportunities also means that a mistake will cost you your life, and the life of those around you. Be careful of each of your actions, because there is no turning back. Lose an opportunity, and you future will become hazy, leading only to despair.'

'I live with that everyday. I am lucky enough to have these slower moments in my life, out of the conflicts of the continent. I could even hide in here for the end of days, and live a normal life.'

'But that is not who you are?'

With a silence following, he laughed.

'Someone has to do it, and for some reason, I feel compelled to avenge my parents.'

'Orion, an hybrid of angel and demons, trying to save the continent from falling deeper into chaos and corruption. Not because of complacency, neither for self-satisfaction of being called a hero, but because of vengeance.'

'I fear for your ending if that is your only reason. Think carefully, vengeance will only lead you so far, while bringing the others around you into the same spiral that consumes everything.'

He remembered his mother pleading for him to live.

'I cannot promise anything. My vengeance is only for Elliot.'

'...'

'Why the silence all of the sudden.'

'A little advice, for you who will most likely commit a mistake. Think carefully on your choices. Do not make any rash decisions on the spot, and never commit to only one option.'

'Orion, you are the last hope of the angels and demons. Do not waste your life.'

Her voice died down, stopping the communication with him.

"Hmm."

Looking at the ceiling, the muffled sound of discussion could be heard from below his room.

"I will keep that to myself. That advice, I will keep it in my mind."

Choosing not to underestimate the words of an entity that knew many things known only by the future itself, Orion contemplated on a few things.

"I have to kill a powerful individual with both the Second Gear, and the Arm Overdrive. The next Apostle, Julian, should be a good target for that."

"Now, I just need Amelia to agree, or else I will never progress further."

Sitting in his bed, he looked at the door.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Orion? Food's ready."

"I'm coming."

He stood up and walked to the door, falling face to face with a flustered Karteira, who wasn't expecting him to be at the door that fast.

They both walked downstairs, joined with everyone, and Orion enjoyed a nice meal. The conversation he had with Ego kept repeating in his mind until everything had been completely integrated.

He knew a lot about himself, and his own limitation, and now was almost time to break through a few blockage.

An afternoon of tough training was upon him, before leaving for the dragons' den, Ormrdivin.