As Orion drifted through time, the pressure exerted on his body slowly faded, letting him move more freely.

At the first opportunity, he pulled the dagger from the holster around his thigh, shaved his beard, and cut his hair.

All the while, his relationship with Tetra improved as she teased him for every little thing.

Even if she bothered him sometimes, he was grateful to have someone to talk to in this endless nightmare.

After getting stuck for many more years, Tetra recovered some of her power. Without her body and magical circuit, simply pulling a fraction of her power became challenging.

She was only a soul, unable to affect the world as much as she could before, but they rapidly found a solution to that problem.

Orion simply had to become the host of her power. Linking her soul to his was a simple solution, if not paradoxical in nature.

A body hosting two souls was, by the laws of Nature, impossible. This only became conceivable because they were in a place outside of Nature's reach.

But it was easier said than done.

Tetra had to send her power through Orion without overloading his circuits. At first, a conflict happened between the void element and her source, similar to the clash between Orion and Miasma.

With carefulness and patience, they broke through the challenge and pulled it out.

Orion's void element merged with the power to control 'Space'. It was an overwhelming mass of energy that could only be used once.

They were both getting ready to break through the boundaries of this place.

"Are you sure this will work?"

"If it doesn't work, we'll be stuck in here forever."

Orion nodded, looking at his surroundings.

"This place sure is strange."

"The 'Corridors of Time'."

Tetra, being a Remnant controlling this concept, understood this place better than anyone else.

"You were there once before."

"Right."

Tetra spoke slowly in a rare, serious tone.

"It is because of us that you were sent through time. I wouldn't mind if you were a little madder at me."

"Why should I?"

The frustration on his face showed that he wasn't very interested in entertaining her inferiority complex.

"We've already spoken about this matter. It's been so long that I can't even bother to care."

They had been stuck in this place for thousands of years at this point. Since this place was special, Orion had no need for food or sleep, making it especially tough to adjust to.

His base needs were completely gone.

But so were his memories. The faces of his companions were gone, but his love was still present.

Thanks to Tetra, who kept describing them to him, he managed to pull through his darkest times and remember them.

He was eager to return to Horizon and hug them all.

"Well, I know. Still, we've basically forced you to become the next sacrifice."

"And without it, I wouldn't have met any of you. I would've died with my parents when Miasma controlled Elliott. If I had to choose, I'd pick the surviving path."

He pulled the bracelet from his pocket and clenched it in his hand.

"..."

"Is it still unresponsive?"

Orion nodded. Through Orion's eyes, she was able to see what he was seeing.

"Yes. Without light and dark energies, this device won't power up."

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"I..."

Tetra was about to add something, but Orion put the bracelet back in his pocket.

"I'd like to believe they are simply asleep."

With a faint smile, Orion looked into the empty air. He wasn't able to imagine them, but he tried nonetheless to recall their figures.

"In that case, we'll have to try to revive that device after getting out. Are you with me?"

"From the beginning."

Both agreed to escape this place and return to the time they came from.

"I can't wait to see Henrietta's face when she finds out I'm still alive."

With a faint smile, Orion closed his eyes.

"You have a very nasty personality."

"Stop saying that! I have a perfectly fine temperament; I'll have you know!"

Orion could imagine Tetra crossing her arms and turning her head away while puffing her cheeks.

They had been together for so long that he could picture her actions from her tone of voice alone.

"Sure."

"Ah! You don't trust me, do you? Wait until I'm back; I'll make you eat your words."

"You're digging your own grave; you should stop speaking."

This type of exchange was usual for them, as this was the only relief they had.

They were once simple acquaintances, but now, a powerful friendship and mutual support helped them fight against their worries.

"..."

Tetra suddenly kept quiet. Then, she asked for confirmation one more time.

"Are you really sure? Because I'm about to send my power through your veins."

After a short silence, Orion nodded.

"I'm ready. Let's start slowly."

"Alright."

Inside Orion's core, Tetra approached the bright sun that was his soul. A tethered link formed between them as she focused on stabilizing the transfer.

"I'm sending a drop just to make sure."

A tiny drop of energy flowed through the link, entering Orion's soul.

*Thump*

Now that he was accustomed to her power after many trails and errors, his heart throbbed slightly at the alien energy that wasn't his own.

He opened and closed his hands to let the drop of energy travel into his magical circuit, letting his body get accustomed to her energy.

"This isn't the first time we've done that, but it sure is a strange feeling. Is that how Deveralna felt when she became a Remnant?"

"Probably a thousand times more potent, if you think about it. She surely had a steeled mind to have survived the full release of the source of Power."

"..."

Orion nodded, recalling the time it took for her to adjust to the power.

"It was a terrifying prospect. I don't know what I would've done if she never returned from that cocooned state."

The drop of energy traversed his entire circuit, returning to Tetra.

"Are you ready?"

Sighing in preparation for the intense feeling that was about to submerge him, Orion smiled.

"When you are."

"Then..."

An influx of energy flowed like a tidal surge through Orion's magic veins.

"Gh!"

Gritting his teeth, Orion focused on keeping everything under control.

His breath became erratic, his muscles screamed, his bones creaked, and his vision blurred.

"Fuuuu~"

Taking a deep breath, he stabilized his body. The beat of his heart synced with Tetra's, and his muscles relaxed.

Then, the surge of void magic slowly flowed alongside the energy Tetra sent through their connection.

Tuned in perfect synchronicity, Orion and Tetra worked together to make this whole process succeed.

'Carefully and precisely.'

The flow of energy became manageable. After letting the two energies flow together, they began to merge.

Two similar energies became one, creating a power capable of severing the shackles that kept them locked in the 'Corridors of Time'.

But it was still in an uncontrollable form. Orion was in no position to wield it efficiently. Time was required for this terrifying power to show its potential.

"Orion, be careful."

His focus was concentrated on stabilizing the two energies rampaging inside him, but he still nodded quietly to her worried voice.

After a few long minutes, Orion slowly opened his eyes.

Etched on his pupils was the sigil of the Remnant of Time and Space.

"You've attained the first stage. Continue."

*

Tetra's sigil was a bit different compared to the other Remnants. The power available to her appeared as a number.

She explained how her power worked during the years they spent together.

When she was in a neutral state, the sigil appeared as an hourglass. When she used the minimum amount of energy to influence time and space, a '1' appeared, replacing the hourglass.

The power used to see into the future brought the '2', while the power to modify the past appeared as a '3'.

Everything past '3' was a death sentence for her.

*

They were aiming for a new breakthrough. A stabilized version of her power, where the void element neutralized the effects of her Remnant power.

"I... can see."

Orion's third eye began to open as various visions played in his head. Visions of various periods of Triazils, mixed and jumbled up, randomly played from this unnatural place.

The second number appeared in his eyes.

"Focus! Don't let the visions take over."

"I am."

Ignoring the visions, Orion let the process continue.

The surroundings suddenly flashed by Orion as the surrounding space rapidly flew by.

"Third door... Don't move an inch; we don't want to inadvertently interact with any part of history."

The third number flashed in Orion's eyes before glitching violently, bringing intense pain to him.

"Ack!"

He closed his eyes.

"Open them, Orion! You have to overcome the pain."

"That's... easier said than done!"

Angrily answering back, he forcefully opened his eyes.

"I'll help you!"

Tetra, seeing through his eyes, observed the flashing memories of the continent.

"Where is it? Where-"

She looked erratically to find the present, or a time after Orion had been gone.

"I can't hold it for much longer! This is our only chance!"

"I know! But-"

Orion blacked out for a second. He bit his lower lips, which brought him back.

"Tetra!"

"..."

She sighed in defeat.

"Do it..."

The glitchy number in Orion's pupils suddenly stopped moving and morphed into the number '4'.

"Wherever we go, let's hope it's still Triazils."

Orion slammed the palms of his hands together and released a pulse of energy.

The 'Corridors of Time' abruptly stopped flowing before Orion thrust his hands forward.

His fingers pierced the fabric of time as he pulled it apart.

"!"

Tetra felt the sudden pull of reality drag them out. Orion stretched his arms and threw his body into the opening without hesitation.

"Whatever happens, at least I'm not alone."

His words were swallowed by the closing rift as time flowed again.