The next day, Orion and Amelia walked out of Horizon as planned early in the morning. It was supposed to be a quick trip to the northern part of Eogis, where the famous 'Cap of Pearl Waters' was, one of the most beautiful scenery Triazils had to offer.

He had no real idea where to begin with, but now that he chose to listen to Elliott's advice, he couldn't back down. What crashed over there? It was something Orion thought about quite often.

Was it another important item belonging to Orianne and Reon? Or something absolutely useless? It could even be related to that powerful magic they used.

The only way to be sure at this point was to have a look while Miasma was planning his next move. What better moment than now to 'explore' Eogis?

Still, there was not much time. He had to be quick, but careful. Layla was still lurking in Eogis, somewhere, and it was not the right time to quarrel with her and her army when he himself wasn't ready.

He wouldn't refuse an opportunity to dispatch her, but there was no rush currently. Compared to the last months, he could take his time fully preparing for the fight.

They warped near place Orion and Elliott fought, and observed the huge crater that he left behind. As much as he wanted to ignore it, he was responsible for this massive crater. It looked rather shallow, but it was large.

Something around fifty meters of diameter by eye, and maybe five meters deep. Anyone would think a meteor fell right there.

As they continued north, someone was only awakening in Horizon.

...

Olivia, the new member of the group who practically forced herself to follow him, opened her eyes in a room she was unfamiliar with.

She barely had the time to put away the things she took with her the day before, as the tension brought a lot of stress to her.

Sure, she was happy to have been accepted by Orion and his companions, but she still felt bothered by how she forced her way in.

Even if it was uncontrolled, and that it was love at first sight, she still felt bad. But what was done, was done.

She sat in the bed.

"Aaaafff~"

While lifting her arms above her head, she stretched her groggy muscles, yawning at the same time.

"Hmhmh..."

Wiping her eyes for a few seconds, she looked at the curtains holding the rays of the suns at bay. Without thinking, she opened them.

"Ack! Dammit!"

She instantly blinded herself from the brightness, which removed the fog in her mind completely. Yes, Olivia was an airhead sometimes, mostly in the morning though.

"My eyes... what a way to start the day."

After closing the curtains, she wiped the tears accumulating in her eyes, and waited until her vision stabilized.

She quickly put some clothes on, as she slept with a nightgown, and opened the curtains at last, without blinding herself this time.

"..."

While looking around the room, she finally remembered.

'This is my new home.'

With a warm smile, she walked to the door and opened it. Stepping in the hallway, she looked around her.

'Orion's room is all the way other there. It's miss Tetra's room now. Amelia's room is right in front of his, but it is used by miss Henrietta currently.'

Her eyes went to the room next to hers.

'This is Karteira's room. I wonder if she is a late sleeper?'

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Finally, her eyes fell on the room right in front of her. Intrigued, she knocked on the door.

"Y-Yes?"

Hearing the voice of a shy girl answering, she opened the door slowly.

"H-Hello. I'm sorry, I didn't meant to bother you."

'This was the little girl's room? I should have asked before bothering her. Now I feel bad.'

She was about to close the door and leave her alone, when she noticed Stella drawing.

"I don't think you are bothering."

Stella shook her head while continuing her drawing. Curious, Olivia entered after closing the door behind her.

"Please excuse me."

Politely, she looked over the girl's shoulders.

"Is that Orion?"

Turning her head rapidly, Stella looked at Olivia with stars in her eyes.

"Yes!"

What surprised Olivia the most, was the talent the girl had.

'She's around ten, right? How can she be this good? This is like looking at the real one.'

And it wasn't all.

'How can she remember so vividly his features, and clothes. Even the pose is exactly like him.'

"Can I look at all your drawings? They are very good. Impressively so. I think even Lord Florian pales in comparison."

"The mister with glasses?"

"Yes. He his also very good with a pen."

Stella shared her notebook, and Olivia looked through it.

"That... is something."

In it, all kinds of things were drawn. Orion, Amelia, and Karteira's facial expressions, were recorded in it.

The various places around Horizon were beautifully represented. She even managed to draw the Siren Sea, with a few Sirens showing tricks for her in the water.

On some pages, Sirius was also perfectly represented, fur and all, as if the drawing was the dog itself.

"I have never seen such talent."

She saw the scene of Amelia cooking in the kitchen, with Orion looking back on his chair with a cup of coffee in his hand.

Orion and Karteira exchanging a blow during an early training, Sirius sleeping next to Orion on the couch in the living room while he was reading a book.

Many scenes that would require a perfect imprinting memory. And Stella had it.

The more she flipped the pages, the more impressed she became. Until...

"You should forget about something like this."

Her expression softened, as she placed the notebook back on the table. On the page was Orion lying in bed with a hole in its chest.

"Nnh."

Stella understood that it probably wasn't a good thing to remember, but still, it was important.

"I was scared."

"Right."

Olivia listened.

"I never had someone caring for me before. I was always treated as if I was the plague."

"..."

"But when I was sleeping after arriving here, I felt something warm touching my hand. In my dream, I felt it."

"When I opened my eyes, I saw Orion holding my hand, but I fell asleep again afterward."

"This warmth, I had never felt it before. I liked it. I still like it."

Stella lost herself in her thoughts.

"But he was in that bed, and his hand was cold. He said that I saved his life by holding his hand."

"So, I don't want to forget."

She turned the page, and on it was Orion holding his chest in the same bed, with a serious expression on his face.

'That's right after Lord Elliott's story.'

Olivia noticed it, as she remembered being relieved at that moment.

"I suppose none of us want to forget that moment."

Without Orion fighting Elliott, she would probably never had the opportunity to tell the truth.

"Hmm."

Stella nodded, turning the pages to return to her previous drawing. She picked up her drawing pen, and continued.

"I like drawing Orion. There's so much things to draw with him."

With a smile, she drew the light form of Orion she briefly saw. But not only him, she drew Karteira and Drania being held by him, and the dragons sleeping behind him.

In awe, Olivia could only watch quietly.

"I won't bother you anymore. Oh, I'm Olivia. I think I forgot to introduce myself to you."

She placed her hand on the girl's head and caressed her short brown hair.

"Stella. It's the name Orion gave me."

With a nod, she removed her hand.

"If you need anything, you can come find me."

"Yes."

With that, Olivia waved at Stella before exiting her room. After closing the door, she turned around.

"How is she?"

"Hya!"

Hearing a sudden voice next to her, Olivia jumped.

"What?"

Karteira tilted her head in confusion.

"You scared me!"

"Yes, I think I got that much. So, how's Stella. Orion asked me to look after her while he was gone."

After recovering her breath, Olivia told Karteira what she saw, and how Stella was actually feeling.

...

"That's great to hear. But what's impressive is how you managed to get so much from her."

"Why?"

"She's similar to Orion in some ways. They're both cautious around strangers. One is questioning your motives, the other scared to be hurt again. If you managed to talk to her without triggering her cautiousness, then it means she either grew up slightly, or you don't look like a bad person to her."

Karteira had had a lot of trouble having the girl open up to her at first. It was only the curiosity of what a fairy was that helped.

But other people had less luck. Senia and Sirius were the only ones she had opened up her heart to other than Orion, Amelia, and Karteira.

"I see. I guess I'm pretty lucky then. I'll be careful not to bother her though."

"Orion can be quite scary when it comes to Stella."

While looking away with a strained smile, Karteira scratched her cheek.

"What do you mean?"

"He said that if he had known that Apostle, what was his name again... anyways, if he had known that guy was treating Stella so badly, he would have made it more painful, and for longer."

Karteira continued while Olivia looked with horror at her.

"Also, he's a doting 'father'. He's ready to give her anything she asks for."

A warmer expression appeared on her face.

"Right."

With a nod, Olivia ended the conversation. Karteira brought another one immediately.

"Amelia prepared breakfast for us, do you want to eat with me? I was about to tell our guests too."

"Sure."

Olivia was slowly starting to integrate herself in her new home.