After Dylan left Orion into Keith''s Orphanage and went back to his hometown, life finally started to be peaceful again.


    Albriar''s Apostle finally put a stop to the outrageous actions of his soldiers, offering to the oppressed factions a chance to live without conflict.


    ...


    A few years passed, as Orion was nearing his ninth birthday. He grew up well with the help of Director Keith, while being surrounded by the many children of the orphanage.


    As a child, he never realized until now how much he was fond of this place. Everyone was his family.


    Every year, near the anniversary that was established by Keith the day Orion arrived, a surprise that was not so much a surprise once again happened.


    Today was the day Dylan came to see Orion. Happiness couldn''t describe his feelings.


    "Director, when is mister Dylan coming?"


    Orion was restless.


    "Calm down, my boy. He will come at some point, right?"


    Keith smiled at Orion.


    They were both waiting outside the orphanage, waiting for Dylan''s outline to appear near the center of the village, where the fountain was built.


    "I can''t wait to find out what he is going to teach me today!"


    Orion threw his arms in the air from excitement.


    This was Dylan''s customary gift. Each year, he taught something new about the world to Orion.


    For a nine-year-old, Orion already obtained most of the knowledge concerning the region, the different factions, the basic history of the last few centuries, the humans, and their leaders, etc...


    "Ah! I think I see mister Dylan!"


    Orion jumped while waving his arms. In return, Dylan waved from afar, approaching rapidly.


    "Hello Director, how are you doing?"


    Dylan extended his hand to Keith.


    "Perfectly fine, thank you for asking. And you, sir, how was your travel?"


    Keith grabbed Dylan''s hand and shook it firmly.


    "There was no incident on the way. It was difficult to leave my family once again, but this little one is like a son to me, so I''m always happy to see him. Right, Orion?"


    The burly beastman kneeled, put his right hand on Orion''s head and ruffled the child''s dark hair.


    "Yes, mister Dylan! I couldn''t wait anymore!"


    Orion jumped into Dylan''s chest and hugged him.


    "Well, Eli would definitely like you. I don''t know about Nylon, though."


    With a smile on his face, Dylan thought about his family waiting at home.


    *


    Nine years ago, after heading back home, he immediately asked his childhood friend, Eliza, if she would marry him. As he expected, she was waiting for him all this time.


    A year later, Dylan was the proud father of a baby boy.


    He considered Orion like his child, but couldn''t bring himself to remove him from Auro, the place he grew up in and called his home. He was also scared his young son would not accept Orion as a brother.


    What scared him the most was how the other beastmen would treat Orion. He was a human, and there was no reason to think that others would be kind to him, even if he were to become Dylan''s adopted child.


    Instead, he decided to educate Orion once a year during his birthday.


    For Orion, who learned anything faster than most children, it always provided an opportunity for Dylan to bring knowledge with him, it being trivial, or important.


    The truth was, Orion couldn''t understand everything, he only stored the knowledge in a part of his mind.


    For a nine-year-old, the world was interesting. But only the surroundings of the orphanage were significant, so why would he remember that there was a huge snake-like being that lived somewhere in the eastern ocean, or the organization of humans outside Auro?


    *


    "First, happy birthday, Orion. Your gift will have to wait until the lesson later."


    Dylan got up from the ground, dusted his knee, and looked toward the opened doors of the orphanage.


    "Tell me, Orion, did you get a girlfriend already?"


    With a smirk, Dylan glanced at Orion.


    "Huh? Of course not, mister. Why would you ask that?"


    With a confused expression, Orion tilted his head.


    "In that case, why is there a girl watching you from the entrance?"


    His finger was pointing at a girl peeking from the inside of the orphanage.


    "Hmm? Oh, it''s Amelia. I speak with her from time to time. She''s shy to others for some reason, but she''s really kind."


    "Would you mind going to her? I have a feeling she wants to ask something from you."


    Stepping behind Orion, Dylan grabbed his shoulders and gave him a light push.


    "Alright, if mister is alright with waiting."


    Orion walked to the surprised Amelia.


    "He is growing splendidly, as you can see."


    Keith began the conversation.


    "Thank you very much for taking him all those years ago. If not for you, he would be a soldier in training or something else in a human city. Or even worse..."


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Dylan was truly grateful.


    The two men in their thirties looked at each other, nodded, and proceeded to enter the orphanage to continue their conversation inside.


    They walked past Orion and Amelia, while both began to converse. Amelia was, as Orion described, a shy girl that needed time to talk.


    "Amelia, can I help with something?"


    Orion smiled brightly.


    "Ah... yes, I have something... for you."


    Amelia blushed slightly at Orion, yet her long bangs hid the rosy color on her cheeks.


    She was older than Orion by one year, and was another orphan that was brought into Auro after losing her family to the dragon''s rampage nine years ago.


    She was also the only other human in Auro.


    With blonde hair stopping at the middle of her back and thick bangs covering her eyes, she had the word ''shy'' written all over her. She wore a pink shirt with three pretty flowers in the front, a long skirt stopping at her ankles, and for an unknown reason that added a touch of mystery to her, a pink leather glove on her left hand.


    "What could it be?"


    Orion thought strongly about what Amelia would give him.


    "Can you... come with me?"


    Amelia pointed timidly toward one door in the orphanage.


    "The kitchen? Alright, let''s go then."


    Orion started to walk at the same pace as Amelia.


    He walked across the main hall of the orphanage that comprised of a few benches, the counter where the receptionist lady who always gave sweets to the children worked at, and the stairs leading to the upper floor.


    On either sides of the first floor were doors leading to the kitchen on the left, and the bathrooms on the right.


    Entering the kitchen, Orion opened his eyes wide.


    "Wh-What is this! Amelia!"


    Orion turned around to a smiling Amelia.


    "Happy... birthday Orion. For being so kind... to me."


    Amelia walked next to Orion and handed him a plate with a slice of strawberry cake.


    "I- Amelia. Thank you."


    With a smile on his face, he surprised Amelia with tears falling down his cheeks, looking at the cake.


    "Ah... Huh... I didn''t mean... to make you cry."


    The girl looked apologetic.


    "Don''t worry, I''m happy. I''ll enjoy your gift now."


    He wiped his tears and took the fork in his plate, before eating the cake slowly to enjoy it.


    Amelia watched happily as Orion showered her with praise for making a delicious cake.


    "Can we share this with everyone?"


    He asked.


    "Of course. I don''t think... you can eat the whole cake anyway."


    She giggled while thinking of Orion with a stuffed belly after eating everything.


    They cut the cake into seven parts, and moved around the orphanage to share the cake. First, they gave one to the receptionist lady, four to the other orphan, and one to Keith and Dylan both.


    They all ate it with a smile, and praised Amelia for how good it was.


    ...


    "Amelia, this one is for you."


    Orion handed the last slice to Amelia.


    "Eh? I thought you... would keep one more slice for you?"


    She looked very surprised.


    "I want everyone to be happy, at least today."


    Not accepting no for an answer, he forced the plate into Amelia''s hands.


    "Orion, you really are too kind to me."


    Tears fell on the plate Amelia was holding.


    "I should go back to mister Dylan after this. But before that, let''s sit."


    Orion sat on a bench in the hall with Amelia. As she ate the last slice of the cake, they laughed together a little longer.


    ...


    "This cake sure was great."


    Dylan enjoyed the cake he was given previously, leaving a clean plate behind.


    "It sure was. That was our little Amelia that made it. She likes to cook, so I''m not surprised."


    Keith continued to praise Amelia, as he always did.


    "Let''s return to our previous topic, shall we? Are you sure about what you said? Humans are on the move again?"


    Dylan displayed a serious face.


    "Yes, I don''t think we have to worry much, honestly. They are certainly looking for something, but what, we aren''t sure. The mayor is looking for any conflicts happening around."


    With a nod, Keith acknowledged that it was dangerous, but not enough for Dylan to move.


    "It''s a good thing I decided to teach this to Orion."


    Glancing to his side, Dylan looked at one particular item on top of his large bag. Keith also ended up looking at that item.


    "Oh, you are serious about this."


    Both men looked at each other with a serious expression.


    ...


    An hour later, Dylan took Orion in the back of the orphanage. Keith decided to observe, and strangely, Amelia was also here, looking eagerly to what Orion would learn.


    "Alright, Orion, I''m going to teach you a way to defend your home. This is the art that made me strong. Other than my strength as a beastman that is."


    Dylan laughed at his last comment.


    "What are you going to teach me, mister?"


    Orion was jumping around excitedly.


    "The Eagle Eye ability, and your gift, my first crossbow."


    He took a small crossbow out of his bag.


    "A crossbow? It doesn''t look like a bow, though?"


    Orion was overly interested in the weapon. As he took the weapon, he began to carefully observe it in detail.


    "It is different from a bow. Instead of holding an arrow with your hand to fire it, you put it in here."


    Dylan put an arrow in the groove of the crossbow.


    "How do you shoot it then?"


    Orion became even more interested.


    "You see this small curved piece of metal? You need it to pull the string as hard as you can to lock it near the back. Then you put an arrow in the groove until it reaches the string you pulled."


    "At this point, you only need to press this trigger to launch the arrow. But be prudent, it is deadlier than a bow."


    Dylan explained carefully and slowly.


    "It is faster, more precise, and easier to use than a bow, if you possess the strength to pull the string."


    He watched Orion struggle to pull the string.


    "It''s so... hard!"


    Orion couldn''t pull the string more than halfway through.


    "I expected that. It isn''t something you will use immediately, so you''ll need to improve your strength with some physical work."


    Dylan then proceeded to teach the ability, which was necessary to learn to perfect the art of using a crossbow.


    "You see, this ability is called Eagle Eye, it makes your eyes focus on distant objects. It is perfect for hunting. If you have the capability, it can even be used to spy on people. I don''t recommend using it on girls."


    Dylan spoke like he knew from experience.


    "Sir, did you?"


    That sentence was not missed by Orion.


    "Yes, she still holds a grudge against me after fifteen years."


    Dylan sighed while remembering Eliza''s wrath.


    ''She''s scary. Maybe I should bring some flowers or perfume to apologize again.''


    "Spying on people is a crime, even on your loved one. It''s even worse on your loved ones, as it proves you have no trust in them."


    Making sure his point went across, he hoped Orion would learn not to misuse his abilities in the future.


    "I understand mister. Only on prey."


    Orion nodded.


    "Good. If you understand that, then read this and try to focus your eyes on the top of the town hall. I''ve put a little something up there."


    Dylan handed a handwritten page of instructions to Orion.


    ...


    After struggling until sunset, Orion finally managed to see slightly further away than he originally could. He barely saw what was on the town hall''s roof.


    ''Give it your best, protect what is important to you.''


    "I see it, mister."


    Orion closed his eyes to stop the ability, and looked at Dylan.


    "Great, please remember that saying. A true man protects his family. Losing your life is the same as failing."


    Dylan was respected for protecting his faction, like the ''Savior'' he was.


    It was impossible to stop every casualty, but saving as many lives as possible was what a protector should strive for. This was Dylan''s way of living, and he was now teaching it to Orion.


    Dylan looked behind him, to see Keith holding a sleeping Amelia. She fell asleep at some point watching Orion train for so long.


    "This is it for your gifts, Orion. I hope you like them."


    Dylan stroked Orion''s head.


    "Just seeing you is enough to make me happy, you know?"


    Orion hugged Dylan''s right leg.


    Every time this moment happened, only silence painfully echoed between them. Separation was always a tough pill to swallow for both of them, and it was nearing rapidly as the sun was setting.


    "Thank you mister. I will try my best in getting some strength. I want to try the crossbow."


    Removing himself from Dylan''s leg, Orion smiled sadly.


    "Do not point that weapon at anyone, alright? It is scary to be a target."


    Slowly, Dylan put a bit of distance between them.


    "The sun has set, this is the moment to say goodbye again, Orion."


    "Yes, I''ll see you next year then?"


    "Definitely. I wouldn''t miss your birthday for anything."


    Dylan smiled and gave a thumb''s up, and it made Orion laugh.


    "Director Keith, I''ll be seeing you next year. As usual, please take care of him."


    Waving his hand at Keith, Dylan saw him bend forward since his hands were full of the sleeping Amelia.


    "Do not worry, we''ll be awaiting your next visit."


    Keith straightened.


    At last, he turned around, picked up his bag, and walked toward the back entrance of the orphanage.


    "See you again, Orion."


    "See you again, mister Dylan."


    With his visit concluding, Dylan left the town of Auro, bought an expensive perfume and a flower bouquet for his wife on the way home, and was finally relieved of an awful grudge at last.


    Orion worked hard during the following months and years. He mastered the ''Eagle Eye'' ability, and was finally able to nock a bolt in his crossbow.


    With the help of Auro''s hunters, Orion started to increased his hunting proficiency.