"What do you think, Orion?"

Amelia was preparing food, albeit with difficulty. Her hands were still shaking from the unexpected confrontation with her first Apostle.

"About his proposition? I don't think it's such a bad idea. If they really wish to change the world as they say, then our goal aligns ever so slightly."

Conflicted, Orion stared aimlessly into the forest.

"But it's still pretty risky, isn't it? I know I said we can summon Monolavir and Ruminona, but that doesn't mean it is acceptable for us to jump into the jaws of our enemies."

With a nod, he turned to look at her.

"You are right on that, that's why it will only stay as a potential visit. We still have a lot to do, like finding the remaining factions."

Even if this encounter showed no enmity from the other party, it doesn't mean anything for them right now.

"I'm done, let's eat no- Wha-?"

While bringing the plates of sandwiches, she tripped over Orion's bag.

"!"

With sharp reflexes, and the use of the 'First Gear', he caught Amelia and the sandwiches before both fell to the floor.

The bag, though, tipped over and spilled its content on the mud.

"Are you alright? Did you sprain your ankle?"

"Y- Yes, I'm fine. I didn't get hurt, don't worry."

He put Amelia straight on her feet, and took a sandwich out of the plate he gave back to Amelia.

"Thanks for the food, as always."

He walked to his bag, and crouched to pick the food ingredients and the few items he had taken with him that were laying on the ground.

Between the two books he brought with him on this journey, there was an object wrapped in a cloth.

'This cloth, there's the white branch 'artifact' I received from that merchant a while back.'

Looking closely at the cloth, he noticed a faint flickering light.

"Thanks for catching me. I'm sorry for tripping on your bag, I'll help pack everything back in."

Amelia finally began to calm herself, realizing what had just happened.

She did the same as Orion, walked a few steps towards his bag, and crouched next to him.

"You're welcome, it was no big deal. I know you are still on edge, take your time."

"Though, there's something going on with the item we received a while ago. Let's tidy everything and take a look at it."

"This is the branch, right? Why is it glowing?"

"No idea, that's why I want to look at it."

They packed everything that fell out in the bag, and took the cloth somewhere where they could sit.

"Sit there, I'll sit on the ground."

Orion pointed at a tree stump, halfway cut.

"Are you joking? How am I supposed to sit on that spiky trunk!"

"Your daggers?"

"Oh... I see."

Amelia created Aura, and cut the tree horizontally. The dead tree got cut near its base, while a perfect seat was crafted.

"But why am I the only one to sit? There's definitely space for both of us on it."

"Because I won't let you sit on the dirt. I don't mind since I have my mantle."

Amelia sat on the overly large stump, and looked at Orion with pleading eyes.

'Please sit next to me.'

Her eyes were screaming this.

His only reaction was a heavy sigh, before admitting his defeat. He walked to where Amelia was, and sat next to her.

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"Alright, can we look at this now? It's still glowing, and my curiosity has been picked."

"Yes, I got what I- I mean, let's look at it now."

'She can be manipulative every so often. It's good to see she's back emotionally.'

He placed the wrapped 'artifact' on his knees, and began to unwrap it.

"I'm opening it."

As he unwrapped the surrounding cloth, the light remained faint, as it continued to flicker.

The item in question was a white branch with encrusted gems, and a sturdy thread going from the tip to a cocoon of silk trapping a beetle.

Just seeing this made Orion wonder why such an item existed. Amelia was attracted to the beautiful jewels in the branch, but also by the beetle inside.

She gazed at it for a few seconds, and she exclaimed in shock.

"Orion! The beetle inside, it's still alive! It's moving, really slowly, but it's moving!"

"What? Let me take a look."

Orion took the branch before lifting the whole thing, observing the ball of threads trapping the beetle inside it.

It didn't take much time before Orion realized she was right.

"It's still alive. I was sure it was dead when we received i-"

"!"

Orion reacted to something that moved in the corner of his vision.

"Something's moving in the water! Amelia, take cover immediately!"

Just as he was speaking, many shadows began to swarm the lake's water.

Orion and Amelia moved from the stump and hid behind a tree on opposite sides.

'It's strange, the water isn't moving at all. With all of these entities moving, why isn't there a single ripple?'

This observation was made by both Orion and Amelia. Something was odd about this situation, adding to the strange phenomenons across the entire forest.

"Amelia, stay where you are, I'm going to get closer."

As if one time wasn't enough, Orion once again said something absurd.

"Why closer! Aren't we supposed to avoid fighting in such opened area?"

"Who said we are fighting?"

He showed the branch in his hand, as the flickering became faster. The beetle showed faster movements compared to before, moving in the direction of the lake.

"Wait! Do you think it has something to do with the fairies? I can't let you take another gamble today!"

After ordering her to stay behind, Orion walked closer to the lake. But it was too hard for her to remain in place while he once again put his life in danger.

With every bit of courage in her being, she hurriedly joined Orion.

"What are you doing? Why couldn't you wait?"

"I don't have the nerves for another big event. If something happens, I want you near."

Orion agreed with that, so he remained silent. Instead, he looked towards the hundreds of shadows looking at them in the lake. Their blue eyes instilled unease into them.

'Are they waiting for something? Are they waiting for us?'

Orion thought for a few seconds about what to do.

'After coming this far, I can't back down now. Sorry, Amelia.'

As he made his mind, he turned back to Amelia with a smile.

"Well, let's go. What could happen after having a nice chat with an Apostle? What could go wrong anymore?"

Sarcasm left his mouth, so much it made Amelia crack. She stopped herself from laughing, creating a weird smile on her face.

Satisfied, Orion left his hiding spot with the branch in one hand, and Amelia's left hand in the other.

He got close to the edge of the lake, and spoke to the shadows.

"I have no idea who or what you are, but we do not want conflict. We came looking for the fairy faction in these woods."

"As someone related to the angel faction, I came looking for them with a companion."

The shadows appeared surprised. Some showed hints of anger, others looked confused. Many emotions could be seen on the shadows.

"I'll repeat myself, I am not looking for a fight. I am only looking for the fairies."

After finishing his introduction, he had to wait five minutes before something happened.

A part of the water began to ripple before it opened in a wide circular shape, letting an unusual figure out from the water.

The being emerged, and walked on the water. After a moment, it stepped on the lake's edge.

"As I thought, you really are well hidden. I apologize for bothering you."

Orion bowed to show respect to the fairy.

"Human who thinks himself an angel, who are you?"

A humanoid bug walked on the grass. His features were not much different from humans. Only the wings on his back, and the antennas on his head, showed he was a fairy.

Orion noticed the similitude to an insect, and instantly made the link between this fairy, and a moth.

Many particles flew from his wings as the fairy opened them, falling downward like dust. His skin appeared light purple, giving signs that the being was poisonous.

'I don't like that tone. I can understand it because of their past, but why being so condescending?'

Cautiousness instantly replaced the respect Orion had.

"I am Orion, last member alive of the angel and demon faction. As you can see, I am not human."

"Not human? What a joke. We know that both factions perished a long time ago. There is no way a lone survivor could exist."

He glanced at Amelia, before moving his head next to her ear.

(Amelia, lower your daggers. Please.)

Orion whispered to an infuriated Amelia. She wasn't expecting the fairies to be this rude.

"What proof do you need from me to believe it?"

As she slowly lowered her arms, Orion looked at the fairy and asked a question.

"Believe you? We will never. We could discuss more if you were able to use the two forgotten magic, but that is impossible, as I'm sure you have no idea what those are. Only the Hero could use them."

The fairy turned away and tried to fly back in the hole he came from. But Orion didn't let him move further.

"Alcyone."

He shot a light arrow at the ground in front of the humanoid bug's feet, which made him gasp in surprise, as well as every single shadows in the water.

"Taygeta. Silence this bug."

The second arrow pierced right through his flank, leaving no a scratch to it, as the arrow could only inflict an ailment.

"..."

The fairy couldn't utter a word anymore. It tried to understand what happened, and realized he maybe had provoked the wrong person.

The woman behind the man terrified him. Looking into her eyes, he could see she was able to use the five elements.

'I should have used my ability before angering them. I'll look at this man too before doing anything else.'

'...'

His eyes opened while, as he dropped to the ground, terrified.

'It was the truth?'

Now, he was feeling awful. All of this could have been avoided with a simple glance.

'I'm dead, aren't I?'

It was his thought, looking at Orion aiming for his head with a white crossbow.

"I won't shoot anymore, so stop being rude, alright?"

The humanoid bug nodded instantaneously, multiple times, moreover.

"You will be able to speak again in a few minutes. Until then, let's wait together."

Orion smiled as he moved closer to him, crossbow in hand, while an annoyed Amelia walked next to him.