"You wanted to ask me about this? So you know the reason for this strange situation?"

Tiohr-nam leaned forward, her face showing a weird emotion of enthusiasm, uncharacteristic of the Remnant.

"I do. I needed to know if you were aware of it in this era. It is strange that it is active at this time, as this was made in the future."

Pondering his words, the Avatar brought her free hand to her chin.

"From your words, it means that this 'pact' was made by me voluntarily."

Orion nodded.

"It was."

Relief appeared on the Remnant's face.

"Then I can relax. I was afraid a stranger had managed to create a bridge between us in order to siphon my energy."

This time, Orion shook his head.

"I had to swallow a..."

Recalling the scene, he frowned.

"A seed to aid in your recovery at the time. You were close to death, so I had no choice but to agree to help you."

"Right."

Thinking of the possibility, she thought.

"The only reason I would do such a thing is if the person were trustworthy and had a giant pool of magic energy inside their core."

"And, from a single glance..."

Her eyes shone brightly green.

Tiohr-nam glanced at Orion's information, which was a privilege reserved for the master of life and her offspring.

"I have trouble seeing the details concerning you, but one thing I can be certain of is that you bear the title of Hero, which is a confusing occurrence."

Most of Orion's status was hidden by noise. The only clear pieces of information were his name, one of his world titles, and his abilities.

"I can trust someone who wields the title of Hero rightfully."

With the same haughty tone that she used the first time they met in the fairy realm, Orion faintly smiled. This made him recall many moments that he had forgotten.

As Tiohr-nam continued to explain that Orion was trustworthy and that she understood why she created the bridge between them, which existed strangely in the past too, Orion looked at his hands.

Tetra glanced at him, feeling the changes in his being.

'He's growing compassion in his heart?'

Confused, she lifted her right eyebrow. These changes were rapidly formatting Orion into a new person, and she was in the front row to see him evolve.

'This entire journey into the past is only the beginning. I don't think I will be able to return home anytime soon.'

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Thinking of his family, he recalled the six years remaining before Noah faced off with Miasma. During those six years, Orion was determined to be someone entirely different.

He would become a true Hero, being the Noah of his era. To become the most powerful and forgiving man to support his world.

And the first step to achieving this was...

To recover his power.

—

After having his discussion with Tiohr-nam and having asked her to keep the future Tetra a complete secret from others, they were released by the Tree of Life.

Without speaking a word, he made his way back alone to the Remnants' hideout, trying to bring even an ounce of the void magic out.

Tetra tried to help him while using her power of 'Space and Time' but was unsuccessful, just like him.

Miasma had managed to block their power.

But while walking on top of the underground river, where his feet walked on empty air, he recalled something.

"The curse!"

"Why have I not thought of this before?!"

His eyes opened wide as the memories of various events played back in his head.

'I thought you got rid of it?'

Confused, she asked him.

Placing his hand on his chest, Orion frowned.

"During our showdown, I might've inhaled a large amount of corruption, which revived his curse."

"I am certain of it. That's why his hold on our power combined is strong, and that's probably how he managed to know I had returned."

'Which also means...'

With a terrible frown, Orion nodded at her words and answered.

"That humanity hates me..."

"Unless I get rid of this corruption inside of me, we won't be able to gather any power at all."

The curse placed on Orion by Miasma was the most powerful affliction possible for those resistant to his corruption.

Those under this affliction were subjected to the unbridled hatred of those under the effect of corruption.

What made him certain of that were the memories of his first time in Hocride as he passed the corrupted forces of Ivan and during the invasion of Julian's forces during the siege of Albriar.

All corrupt humans within a twenty-meter radius were drawn to Orion and showed even more savagery, as if these mindless husks were tasked with eliminating him on sight.

Orion understood why it was made to work like that.

"His plan was for me to never assist humanity... This was smart because it worked."

He clenched his black shirt while clenching his other hand strongly.

"I've been played, cheated, and manipulated."

Anger at himself flowed in his eyes.

'You had no idea. Though, I think you wouldn't have cared anyway, even if you had known.'

Tetra was more down-to-earth during these moments, knowing full well that Orion's hatred for humans wasn't something that would be resolved so easily.

Only after making peace with Elliott was he able to alleviate the fury in his core.

"You're right. Why did it take me so long to realize that I had been hurting others all along?"

Seeing his reflection in the current under his feet, he reprimanded himself.

'That is not important.'

Suddenly, Tetra began to show frustration.

'Stop being a stick in the mud, and think for a second.'

"..."

He closed his mouth and listened.

'Do you think those ladies followed you because of that hatred?'

'Maybe you think they weren't attached to you that much?'

Orion blinked furiously, shaking his head vigorously.

"No, of course not! This never crossed my mind."

'Then it's totally irrelevant!'

Slightly peeved, Tetra shouted, which made Orion wince at the high-pitched voice.

'Sure, I get it. Your entire goal was to get revenge on your parents' fate and to bring peace to those lost angels and demons.'

'But what about now?'

'Do you really think that by turning into a wimpy brat, it will make you stronger?'

Orion opened his eyes wide in utter shock.

"Me?! A wimpy brat?!"

He was lucky he had asked Henrietta not to watch over him because she would have thought that he was crazy, talking to himself.

'That's what you've been doing for a while! I understand that you miss your family, but instead of looking fondly at those memories, use the energy as a catalyst for returning home!'

Letting out a sigh, Orion relaxed.

"No one ever called me a wimpy brat. That took the wind out of my sails..."

With a frustrated smile, he let go of the feelings Tetra pointed out.

"Just so you know, I also feel down occasionally, like everyone else. It doesn't mean I am like this all the time."

'Oh.'

Embarrassed, Tetra's tone returned to normal.

'I was sure the loneliness was starting to eat at you.'

Walking toward the other side of the flowing river, he smiled.

"How can I feel lonely when I have you with me?"

Inadvertently, he spoke the words Tetra wanted to hear the most. This made the woman gasp before turning her all quiet.

"Hmm?"

Seeing that his friend turned all quiet, he continued on the right path.

Then, he talked to himself, knowing she was listening to his words.

"I have been thinking a lot recently, and I'm sure you've noticed."

The sound of his footsteps echoed inside the empty cave.

"About what I went through in just a few months."

Without considering the months passed in Horizon during the time dilation and the entire moment inside the 'Corridors of Time', the journey he went through began halfway through spring.

The conclusion of his journey ended two months into the autumnal season.

"These months were the most egregious part of my life. I'm not talking about meeting any of you, of course."

"Living constantly under the pressure of having to get stronger was... very taxing on my mind. If not for everyone, I would've succumbed to those emotions a long time ago."

He walked forward with a regular cadence, unbothered by the weight his words carried for Tetra.

"Me, you, Henrietta... We're all the same. The amount of pressure on our shoulders is downright outrageous, and it is to wonder how we survived so far."

"But, from what I've begun to realize recently..."

The words leaving his mouth were also confirming his thoughts out loud after racking his brain incessantly.

"It is that this is an experience I need to reflect upon. We all do."

"You have to also think about what went wrong and bring closure to yourself. Henrietta, who, I hope, is fine, also needs to reflect on what happened to you."

Oblivious to the events happening in his time, he recalled his friends.

"We all need to focus on the months we lived together and push forward."

"Relying on you and Henrietta to create the perfect future shouldn't have been a thing to begin with."

His footsteps stopped as he looked into the dark opening to his left.

"The ones who must write the future..."

Disappearing into the darkness, his voice echoed.

"Are us."

Inside his core, the feeble void element trembled, ready to support its master through thick and thin.