"..."

All eyes fell on Orion. They were shocked to see him recover and return to normal at last.

He glared at Elliott for a moment, before his eyes fell on Stella, who had been grabbing his arm since the beginning of the story telling part.

"Stella. Thank you."

While thanking her for something she did not understand, he caressed her hair.

"Why? I haven't done anything."

Cutely tilting her head, she still enjoyed the caresses.

"I will explain it to you one day. But know that I'm doing fine now because of you."

Amelia and Karteira approached him from both sides and walked toward him as if they saw a revenant.

Their emotions fell apart, as they lacked the strength to think clearly. They tripped on the bed in tears, almost throwing themselves into his arms.

Orion quickly grabbed Stella and sat her on his lap, before catching both women. Everyone was in a state similar to them, as they began to surround his bed.

Only Olivia, Elliott, and the dragons remained on their spot.

"I'm sorry. I've done something horrible to both of you."

"..."

Biting their lips in what was happiness to have him back, the past was of no matter to them. They were not caring at all. The only thing they wanted right now was to stay in his embrace, even if the situation wasn't the best currently.

"Are you... really alright?"

Dramia hesitantly tried to touch him to confirm, but retracted her hand. Though, Orion did not let her. He gently grabbed her hand, transmitting the heat of body to her.

At first, she was taken aback, but her expression relaxed afterward. Orion was really back, and well.

"Orion..."

With tear flowing from her beautiful green eyes, Drania staggered next to her sister and placed her hands over his and her sister's hands.

"I'm back. I've made you worry too much, haven't I?"

The sisters timidly nodded, finding it hard to find the words.

Orion looked at everyone one by one.

'Really, they all came running to help me, even throwing what they were doing.'

For the very first time in his life, he felt grateful to the people around him.

"Thank you for coming everyone."

A feeling of calmness settled in their heart, as Orion acknowledged their worries.

He then turned to the pink haired woman.

"Long time no see, merchant lady. Or should I call you another name?"

"Tia-Norun is fine. I should have known you would realize who I was instantly."

She shrugged, but with a very satisfied smile on her face. She was just very happy to see him well. Her and Enri-Ann watched him for so long they practically saw him as a part of their group, even if he himself was unknown to it.

"Nice to meet you at last. You'll acknowledge behind the one I noticed spying on us a long time ago?"

"Yes. I apologize for any inconvenience that might have brought to you. We simply watched your progress and your fights, but I would understand if you were to hold a grudge against us."

Tia-Norun bowed, certain that Orion would have something to say about it. She was ready to shoulder his anger or whatever, just like she did so many years ago.

"The little items you gave me. They were very useful. Thank you."

While still bending forward, she stared at him with a strange expression.

"Why are the 'Heroes' of this continent all so strange?"

Everyone tilted their heads at these words. Only Orion, Dramia, and Drania understood. Elliott knew too, of course.

That's why, Dramia revealed everything without hesitation. The grudge she had against her was impossible to erase.

"She's the one who sent Noah, the previous human hero, to his death."

"A Remnant..."

Florian was the first to understand her true nature. No one could live so long, only a Remnant.

"Yes, I am a Remnant. But you're accusing me of something I never wanted either."

"Then why did you sent him to fight the Miasma, if it was for nothing!"

Dramia lashed at her.

"Because this was necessary, and because he asked for a way to buy some time."

"Wha-"

Tia-Norun straightened, and continued.

"I was the first to try and dissuade him. Noah had already fought plenty for us. He removed the corruption from this land, saved countless lives, and even helped us Remnants. Do you seriously think we were using him as a pawn?"

"Everything that Noah did, sure, was a sort of mission we gave him. But he always had the right to refuse. We tried so many times to stop him, yet, even if we stopped giving him those missions, he alone went to save others."

"Do you understand our feelings? As we watched him die for the next Hero to take his place? You do understand, because you've watched it too. I was the one who personally requested that you survived."

"Because you were the only people Noah kept at his side. The only people he treasured. You certainly have a role in our plan, but past that, I am simply glad to see you alive."

Silence fell in the room, as both parties stared at each other, unwilling to give up.

*sigh*

Dramia sighed audibly and looked away.

"I know. I just had to say it. That doesn't change my mind. You could've done something to avoid his meaningless death."

"..."

Tia-Norun chose to remain silent to avoid Dramia lashing out at her again. But they both knew that Noah's death was weighting on the other, and that was enough.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

While this was going down, Nylon, Deveralna, and May got closer to Orion.

"Are you really fine?"

Nylon asked, remembering the gaping wound in Orion's chest.

"Besides the lingering pain, I'm fine. There's no reason to worry that much."

They breathed a sigh of relief knowing Orion wasn't one to lie about his condition.

"I believed you wouldn't die easily. Thank you for surviving."

Deveralna's tail wrapped itself around his wrist still held by Dramia and Drania. He was still thinking about how to treat her from now on, but he chose to give her some freedom. He wouldn't outright reject her right now.

May felt conflicted about all of this. She was unable to understand her emotions at the moment, between the extreme worry she had previously, and the contrasting relief she felt right now. In the end, she stayed away, simply observing him.

Lastly, from the trio of worried woman, Senia remained silent while looking for any lasting scars or injuries on his body. She also took a long look at his abs and chest, as the clothes near these areas were ripped apart.

Kamala, Florian, and Eric began to discuss about matters related to their cities now that they were free of worry, before they turned to Olivia, and made her join their conversation.

Sirius patiently waited next to Stella, knowing that he wouldn't be pet until everyone released his hand.

Monolavir and Ruminona were about to leave the window and lie down where they were, before Orion grabbed their attention.

"Amelia avenged your children. She killed the man that ordered the abduction of the dragon eggs."

Orion and Monolavir stared at each other for a minute. A rage that was unsettled for years was finally brought to rest in his heart.

With a slow blink and what seemed to be a nod, Monolavir and Ruminona removed their head from the window.

For the first time, the dragons were relieved to have shared their power to a trustworthy person. Amelia became the most trustworthy human in their eyes, and a true friend.

Though, she was in no conditions to be thanked at the moment.

Not once did Amelia and Karteira moved from his chest. They completely stopped caring about anything else, and simply waited for time to pass until they would calm down.

The only one left to deal with was Elliott, who waited patiently that everything settled down in the room.

"Do you think that little story of yours would excuse those despicable actions you've done until now? If I believe in what you've said, you've been manipulated by Miasma until now, but you were still conscious of it."

Elliott opened his eyes and stared back at Orion.

"This is a complicated situation where I won't be able to clean my name, ever. I haven't told my past just to get a little pity or forgiveness out of you. I'll at least say that I took no pleasure in killing the angels and demons."

"I was never one to like violence to begin with."

Whenever he looked at his sword, he remembered Frey and her teachings.

"That sword..."

"Yes, it's one of the few things she left behind. The other being me, her son."

Orion felt excruciatingly sick just speaking to Elliott, but it was true that he kept him alive, and did not hurt Amelia or Karteira during their clash.

"What does that make you? The son of a Remnant and a 'Valkyrie'? What are you exactly?"

Elliott smiled sarcastically and closed his eyes.

"Just like you, I don't know. You and me are both entities that shouldn't have been birthed, yet, here we are."

Shaking his head, Orion disagreed with him.

"Maybe you don't know who you are, but I do. I've decided what I would be, thanks to the Remnant Silka."

The sigil of the Remnant of Beauty shone bright in his eye.

"Ha~ Color me surprised. And what are you exactly, half-angel half-demon?"

Ignoring the condescending tone, Orion spoke so that everyone heard.

"From today onward, the Agathion faction will coexist with the other factions of Triazils."

Everyone heard his words clearly. This had a nice tone to it, so it was quickly adopted.

Elliott turned to Tia-Norun, and revealed something.

"Were you aware that his magic was able to seal everything from the world? That hiding both of you in his magic world was the most efficient and safe way to protect you?"

The pink haired Remnant looked at Elliott with confusion and suspicion.

"How do you know this much?"

"Father took a hit from that new element. It wasn't difficult for him to learn of the functionalities behind it. He noticed that it was able to break a part of his corruption off this world, and seal it somewhere he was unable to access."

"..."

Tia-Norun placed her index finger on her cheek, before moving it to play with her pink hair.

'The reason we managed to spy on him was because her magic managed to follow him, otherwise, I'm sure we would've been unable to find him in that place.'

'Maybe...'

She glanced at Orion, then back to Elliott.

"Can you confirm our presence is completely hidden?"

Elliott silently nodded.

In a flash of light, Tia-Norun vanished, only to appear again a few seconds later with someone else.

"Let me go! Tia! What are you-"

"Enri, shut up for a second."

Dragging Enri-Ann by her wrist, she walked past the sisters without paying them any mind, and stopped next to Orion.

"Orion Feales, could you perhaps hide two Remnants in your place? In exchange, we'll tell you everything we know."

"Tia! You can't be serious?!"

Enri-Ann began to struggle when her sight fell on Amelia. She did her best to get away, but that remained useless.

Until finally, Amelia felt the need to look at the person shouting next to her.

Enri-Ann, or Henrietta, and Amelia stared at each other.

"..."

Immediately, Enri-Ann quieted down and looked away. Amelia's eyes opened wide, wider than they ever did.

The person in front of her was a perfect copy of the person in her memories.

She left Orion's side, who was intrigued by the sudden request and by the other woman behind Tia-Norun. Ignoring the pink haired woman, she approached Enri-Ann, and hugged her.

"You were still alive. Mom!"

Tia-Norun released her grip on her friend's wrist, and watched with a warm expression something she wished to her friend for so long. That was why she brought her here without hesitation.

Amelia strongly embraced her mother, refusing to let her go. Enri-Ann could simply wait, but even that was too hard for her. With trembling hands, she hugged back her only daughter.

"I'm... sorry. There was no other way."

Most of the people inside the room were confused. Everything was going too fast suddenly. Remnants, Elliott's story, Orion's recovery, reunions...

There was too much to process for them who had only their city to care about recently. So, they kept it far away in their mind, until they were able to get answers from Orion and Amelia about it.

While Amelia and her mother were having a moment, Karteira stepped off the bed too, satisfied. Only Stella remained on Orion's lap.

"There is a lot we have to talk about and settle yet, but its time to leave Orion alone so that he can recover completely. Let the man rest, we'll talk at a later date."

"I'll provide a room for everyone here, just follow me."

Olivia stepped in the middle of the room, and caught everyone's attention.

"I'll stay here with Orion."

"Same for me."

Amelia and Karteira refused to leave. As Amelia broke away from her mother, she looked at her.

"We have a lot to talk about, but for now, I'm staying with Orion. You better not disappear."

She was pretty angry, which Enri-Ann perfectly understood.

"..."

Silently, she broke away from Amelia, and exited the room, not knowing what to say to her.

"Mom..."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't go anywhere. Orion, please give me your answer tomorrow."

Tia-Norun followed Enri-Ann outside, and caught up to her. From the corridor, everyone could hear the heated conversation between these two.

Not long after, everybody had left the room besidesStella, Elliott, and Olivia.

"I still have a lot to tell you, but I'll wait for you to rest. I'll leave Vanitas in this room too. It won't attack you out of nowhere, so you don't have to worry. It doesn't work like that anyways."

With a smile, he walked out of the room. Only Stella and Olivia stayed behind.

"Both of you, I would request a moment alone with him later, would that be possible?"

Amelia and Karteira looked at the young woman with curiosity. For a strange reason, they felt alright with leaving her with Orion.

"Later. Right now, we want our time with him."

"Stella, you go too. Sorry."

The little girl pouted for a second, but still jumped off the bed, and walked out of the room with Sirius, who still hadn't be petted by his master.

"Sure. I'll be waiting. Just follow the corridor on your left and go downstairs. You'll find me quickly. Well then."

Olivia bowed politely and walked out of the room.

Only Orion, Amelia, and Karteira were left in the room.

"I don't care anymore."

The moment the door closed, Amelia lunged at Orion, grabbed his cheeks with both hands, and forced a kiss on him.

*smack*

With a enthralled gaze, she parted away from Orion, leaving space for Karteira.

Karteira did the same, albeit more gently.

"Ha-a~"

Heat began to cover their whole body, as something strange began to happen to them.

Orion grabbed their waste, and pulled them closer to him.

"I've been way too selfish. Look at you two, making you wait that long."

He kissed Amelia while looking deep into her pearl colored eyes, and then kisses Karteira, drowning into her cerulean blue eyes.

Alternating for more than an hour, they released their primal instincts that were blocked until now because of Orion.

...

"A~ Ah~"

Both Amelia and Karteira grabbed their chest after an hour of affection. The heat in their body condensed into a single point.

By accepting everything Orion had to give, they received in their soul a proof of his love.

Amelia noticed a sphere of darkness with stars sparkling into it form above her other elements, while Karteira noticed a bright light illuminate her mind.

Their bond became so strong that Orion shared his own elements with them. They were both new bearers of lost elements.

"That's..."

Even Orion found that strange. That wasn't as if he had lost them or given them away, yet, he felt lighter, as if some restrictions on him were lifted.

Drained, both women dropped next to him the moment the heat dissipated, falling asleep at his sides.

'I should rest too. That was a little too wild.'

He smiled, and laid in bed while carefully placing his companions under the covers.

'I have to make up my mind definitively. Mom, dad, I'll think about it.'

The next few days will be the starting point of a brand new adventure for Orion, Amelia, and Karteira.