"Who are you?"

"I could ask the same to you."

Orion and the stranger looked at each other, though Orion couldn't see any features under the hood.

In fact, Orion was only able to observe the man's arms that were past the long hooded cape that the man was wearing.

'To begin with, from the voice, it is a man.'

Orion looked briefly behind the man, and noticed that the Corrupted Lord was slowly vanishing into nothingness.

'Well, I have to thank him at least.

Even if he was cautious of the man, he had to give credits when it is necessary.

"Thank you for the help, though, you will have to excuse me for pointing my weapon at you. Let's say that I have many enemies."

The stranger scrutinized Orion for a few seconds. Orion did the same, until both of them twitched.

'This man's posture, even though he uses claws, his stance his close to Amelia's when she wields her daggers.'

The same realization was happening for the stranger, but different.

Orion and the man looked at each other, before asking a question at the same time.

"Are you related to Dylan / my father?"

With astonishment, they remained on the spot, thinking about their next move, until Orion dropped Alcyone first.

"I have no reason to attack you."

'If my intuition is right, then this man is...'

The stranger retracted his hands inside the cape, and removed his claws. Once removed, he removed his hood.

Both men approached each other.

"I'm Nylon, son of the beastman 'Savior' Dylan."

'I was right.'

Long white hair flowed behind the beastman's nape, stopping at his shoulder blades, pointy ears, and fangs. The typical beastman indeed.

"Orion Feales. Orphan rescued by Dylan."

"I recognized father's teaching in your posture. Not many humans possess the hunting abilities that my father teaches."

Shaking his head, Orion corrected Nylon.

"I'm not human."

This little declaration took Nylon slightly by surprise, but it wasn't the time to question him right now.

*Thump*

Orion heard a loud noise behind him. He turned around to see that Eric had lost consciousness, and his body fell in the snow, with Caroline and May at his side.

"Can you excuse me? There is something I must do."

"Sure. We'll talk later."

Amelia and Karteira stood ready to attack the whole time, but when they realized that Orion wasn't about to hurt that stranger, they returned to neutral, accompanying Orion who went to help Eric.

"Could you two move aside for a moment?"

Orion patiently waited for the two women to voluntarily move away. He knew that it was a tall request to ask, but he could try to help Eric.

Caroline and May stared at each other, before standing up and walked a step back.

"Thank you."

He kneeled, and began to do his magic. Literally. By using his light element to heal the man.

'I have no idea if my element can heal traumas, or what seems to be brain damage, but if it was caused by an ability, it should be able to return to normal.'

With his hand on Eric's head, he applied healing, while also looking for the small amount of corruption in his body, like he did for Kamala and Florian before.

'Same as others, too small to cause any harm unless contact with the corruption is made.'

The wounds that were accumulating since last night disappeared, before making a grunting noise, showing signs that he was waking up.

"Where..."

Eric lifted his upper body from the ground, and looked at the beast who was almost completely gone.

"I guess we've won?"

"Eric?"

He turned his head when he heard Caroline's voice. The moment his gaze fell on his wife, many years of memories came back to him in an instant.

His eyes opened wide, before turning to Orion.

"I... It makes no sense."

"Did that do anything to you?"

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As Orion asked this, Eric sat on the cold snow. He looked around him, touched the snow, and watched his hands.

"So many things I had forgotten. The battles I've fought her, the whole fight against the Azur Dragon and our struggle, my childhoos with Caroline, and May's..."

'Seems like I've managed to remove that effect. That makes me wonder how much the light element can affect people. It can heal almost any afflictions, and the most dangerous injuries.'

A thought began to develop in his mind.

'Maybe... just maybe, I could bring back a dead person?'

But he shook his head instantly.

'No, it's not right to think of that. Unless a soul is intact, it would be impossible to bring back the dead.'

'I should learn more about the 'souls' before attempting something so dangerous.'

While Orion was in deep thoughts, Eric stood up and hugged Caroline without saying another word.

"Eric?"

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"I remember everything again. Thank you for staying with me through the years. I can't believe I worried you for so long."

"You... remember? You're not pulling my leg?"

Having his brain restored to its pristine state, the part that stored memories worked once again like it should have. Eric had forgotten more than two third of his life before Orion healed his condition caused by his ability.

"I'm not. I'm really not. What was random flashes of the past got restored. I remember everything, really."

He stopped hugging her, and composed himself.

"How are my men handling the invading beasts?"

The group looked at the wall's entrance, where his three hundred soldiers were.

With a serious expression, he got ready to finish the fight, but there was no need, as his men managed to hold their ground.

"UOOOOOH!"

He heard the cheers of his soldiers when they saw their Lord walk toward them. Their fist high in the air, and with pride, they fought off this years invasion without a single loss.

Eric smiled happily and held his fist high, walking to reunited with everyone.

It wasn't unusual for them to win without any casualties, but this year was more dangerous than the previous ones. The length of the invasion, the numbers of beasts, and that massive Corrupted Lord were all out of the ordinary.

In fact, if not for Orion's group, the invasion would have most likely be successful.

With Eric, Caroline, and May leaving to complete their duties, Orion, Amelia, and Karteira stood behind to deal with Nylon.

"So, you're my brother dad kept talking about? You're not quite the person I imagined you were. Less stylish, and less muscular."

"Brother? I don't remember having one."

Orion didn't understand, as he made a confused expression.

"I don't blame you for not understanding. Dad has always pestered us about the man named Orion, and that he always regretted not adopting him. I believe that Orion is you, or am I wrong?"

"In fact, I won't accept 'no' for an answer. You won't fool me, that stance you took when aiming at me is the perfect textbook form of his teaching."

''The Art of the Hunt'... I won't be able to fool the man's son.'

Remembering that it was thanks to this knowledge that he was able to grow stronger, he lowered his guard slightly.

"But how did you realize I was related to father?"

"The same as you. Your posture."

Since he was still in his magic activated form, Orion formed Dawn and Dusk out of thin air, and grabbed them while making the same posture as Amelia before she threw herself in battle. In fact, it was a perfect copy of Nylon's stance when he was facing Orion.

"So you've also learned the other part of his teaching? That is impressive. I couldn't manage the crossbow, so I went with 'The Art of Assassination'."

Amelia twitched slightly when she heard that the name of the ability she was taught by Orion himself was in reality an assassination type.

"I've only taught you the basic form. I haven't taught you anything related to what Dylan spoke about to me. The fact is, I only know the names of the attacks. I can't reproduce them, because I am not a beastman. The only thing we can imitate is the overall stance, not the abilities."

She breathed a sigh of relief, because for a moment, she thought he kept important details from her again, but in fact did not.

"Well, you're right. We beastmen are built different from humans, and... whatever you are. I'm sorry if that sounded condescending. You said you weren't humans earlier, but since I don't know anything about you except what dad told me, I don't want to be too disrespectful."

"I don't mind. From outside, anyone would guess that I am human. To be fair, I would prefer waiting before revealing more about me."

Amelia walked forward and spoke.

"We were on the road to Logran before this 'invasion' stuff happened. I kind of forced him to have a talk with Dylan before moving anywhere else."

"You should be Amelia, right? Dad said that there was a human girl who always found herself near Orion, and that she was a sweet person. Blonde hair, strange eyes, and..."

Nylon looked at Amelia's body without ill intent, and checked the boxes that his father used to describe Amelia.

"Yes, that checks out. Glad to meet you."

He bowed his head in a respectful manner. How could she be mad when the man was acting normally.

As for Orion, he didn't mind him looking at Amelia. Looking wasn't a crime, but looking with a lecherous gaze would definitely make Orion angry.

"I'm sorry for asking, but why are you here? I know Logran is not far from Turric, but I don't understand why a beastman, moreso the son of Dylan, came to the border between Triazils and the Frigoria Plains."

Orion was a little suspicious. Even if this was a relative to Dylan, he couldn't trust him on the spot.

'He appeared out of nowhere, and even though he helped me, I can't find any reasons for why he is here.'

Nylon looked at the wall, then east.

"Did you know that each year, before the invasion happens, there is a sign signaling it to us? As if it was a signal for us to be prepared."

Shaking his head, Orion stayed silent.

"Lightning strikes, halos, birds, earthquakes, there are a lot of ways the signal can manifest. But this is the very first time a roar managed to echo loudly, followed by a beam of magic that made father sweat profusely."

"If that wasn't a sign, I don't know what that was. It was so bad, I decided to check the state of the gate alone, and how surprised I was when I saw the usual invasion happening, and that the Turric's Lord also had that instinctive reaction to check on the gate."

"I chose to not get involved unless it was necessary, but when I saw that massive beast coming over the wall, I knew I had to join at some point. I couldn't join in the middle like 'Hey, guys, I'm here to help.'... I'm an assassin, if I show myself at every occasion, I'm not fit for the role."

Orion nodded, satisfied with the answer.

'Now I get it. This guys really Dylan's son. I guess it's in their blood to help people.'

When he realized it, a little smile appeared in the corner of his mouth.

'I guess I'm the same. His way of thinking is contagious.'

-

"The ones with power have the responsibility to manage the life of those who do not have that power."

"Use it to protect their lives, and you will understand the meaning behind it. Wrongfully use it, and it will come and bite you back later on."

"Remember, you can't save everyone, but saving the ones you can, is a step forward toward your own inner peace."

-

Those words were the first thing Dylan taught Orion, and the words he heard every years during his birthday.

"Anyways, we need to deal with the aftermath, meeting with Dylan will have to wait."

"Sure, I'll help you with that. I'll return home with you, it will surprise him quite a bit. Also, my mother really wants to meet you."

Orion's face stayed neutral, but he was a little shocked knowing that Dylan managed to speak so much about him that they all wanted to see him.

"Also, you won't mind me considering you as my 'brother' from now on, right? If not for dad's stupid choice to let you be, you would have been part of our family."

'Is that even normal?'

He was truly shocked. Out of nowhere, he had now a brother.

"Sure, do what you want."

Orion walked away toward the place Eric was, followed by Karteira.

"He's quite a hard person to read."

"Not really. Give him time to know you, and time for you to understand him."

Amelia smiled at Nylon, before catching up to him.

"There is a lot I need to learn, isn't it?"

Nylon looked at the sky, thinking.