"These factions can be separated into two types: the humanoids, and the beasts. I''m going to classify the factions based on their type."


    Orianne began to list the factions while counting on her fingers.


    "On the humanoid side, we have the humans, the demons, the angels, the beastmen, the fairies, the lamias, and the extinct giants."


    Counting to seven, she stopped for a moment. After closing her hands, she began to count again.


    "The remaining ones are in the beast category, it concerns the kelpies, the dragons, the griffins, the kobolds, the arachnea, and the elementals."


    This time, she stopped after lifting six fingers.


    ''Some of these factions are unknown to me. Are they extinct too?''


    ''The demons and angels, I understood from seeing Orianne and Reon''s battle. The giants are extinct, which I''ve previously heard.''


    ''But the griffins, the kobolds, the arachnea and the elementals are nonexistent in our current time. Or at least they aren''t known to the world.''


    ''Wait, did she forget one faction? She only named thirteen out of the fourteen.''


    His thought was quickly answered.


    "The last one is a mystery to everyone. We don''t know how to classify them, nor do we know a single thing about them."


    "In this world, there exist beings that existed since before the creation of the factions. We call them the Remnants, and they are supposed to be hiding, but that also is unknown. We know it ourselves because we saw mentions of them in our old records."


    Orianne seemed to look past the device. Orion guessed from her expression that she was confirming the matter with Reon.


    "The other thing about this faction, is that they could be giant beasts, or shape-shifters. They could be extinct, or still live around somewhere. I know it doesn''t seem interesting, but you never know what could happen, and not offending such strong beings might be the best."


    ''Would the giant serpent across the Carmel Sea be one of them? Now I''m curious.''


    The idea of finding a Remnant and discussing with it was an attracting prospect to him, but that stayed in the corner of his mind, as more important matters needed to be dealt with. Namely, Amelia waiting for him.


    "This is all we have about the factions. We lack information on each of them, sadly, as we haven''t managed to build a good relationship with them before."


    "If you need a more detailed description, just look through this book, alright?"


    Orianne winked at the device before the screen went black.


    ''Wait! I''ll never know about those details, that book doesn''t exist anymore!''


    His thirst for knowledge would remain unanswered. To him, who loved to indulge in reading, this news made his heart ache.


    ''I just hope they still have it in their possession somehow...''


    Quickly, he placed the thought away from his focus, and kept listening.


    ''What''s next?''


    Orion waited for the next session, which started a few seconds later.


    ...


    Silently, Orion watched lessons after lessons on the dark screen. Occasionally, these lessons were replaced with the two sharing parts of their life.


    Most of the questions he wanted to ask were answered during those moments.


    He understood why Reon told him to wait. Though, there was still one considerable question to be answered, yet, the number of registered lessons appeared to come to an end.


    ''What happened to them? I still have no idea.''


    With that question floating in his mind, the robotic voice echoed once again.


    "Number of remaining files, three."


    "Memory Storage Number Forty Three, playing."


    ''I''m near the end. I understand better what they were trying to do with all of this. This is definitely a system replicating a school. I have a few questions remaining, but I guess I can always ask later.''


    He nodded to himself while waiting for the screen to turn on. After a few seconds, an unusual scene occurred.


    "This will be a different lesson than usual."


    For the first time in all the recordings, Reon appeared sitting next to Orianne. They both looked extremely anxious about the subject they were about to explain.


    "This will most likely be the most problematic thing for you, as much as it is for us. Yet, we have to explain it properly, or else you won''t understand later on."


    With a serious frown, Reon continued.


    "We have received information about the human named Elliott approaching Eogis."


    "That man is far too powerful, even for us. So, we have to think of a solution in case everything turns into a nightmare. Let''s hope we don''t have to resort to the worst."


    "This recording is not only a lesson, but also a simple recording of our findings."


    After breathing a short sigh out, Reon glued his back to his chair.


    "We need to wonder at this point. Was having you, our child, the spark leading to our demise? Or was it my and Orianne''s fault for trying to bring peace between our factions?"


    "That a single man would target us over a child is..."


    A feeling of despair and exhaustion appeared on his face as he cupped his face between his hands.


    "Don''t think nonsense, Reon. We don''t have to burden him with this, not now at least."


    Orianne tried to ease his worry. Reon dropped his hands back on the table and looked at her while regaining his usual gentle smile.


    His face dropped, his eyes vanishing behind the strands of his silver hair.


    "Alright, my child. This might end up being a shock to you."


    He looked up at the device before sighing. He looked at Orianne again and spoke.


    "You start. Give me a second, will you? I''ll bring it here."


    He moved away from the device somewhere in the room. Orianne nodded and looked at the device.


    "I''ll take care of explaining, then. You see, both our factions have something like an heirloom of some sort."


    "These supposed heirlooms were passed to us by an ancient hero that created both our factions, or so it is said."


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "My family, the Diom, possess the Shackles, a sort of lock that puts fifteen restriction on one''s body and mind. It is, in all honesty, too powerful to be used."


    Orianne looked in the direction Reon previously left from.


    "The Feales possess the Key to the Shackles. Both heirlooms are artifacts that the hero used in his time to destroy an awful being. If those artifacts weren''t in our possession, it would simply remain as a legend, though."


    Reon sat back next to Orianne, a brand shaped like a key in his hand.


    "That brand is the Key. Or, put in another way, this is the tool to imbue the Key in one''s soul."


    "That soul becomes the only one capable of unlocking the Shackles. Once the Shackles are placed into the host, the brand will look for a host of its own too."


    Shocked, Orion opened his eyes wide. He began to question himself.


    ''What the hell is this story? Are you saying Amelia was chosen to be the Key? Don''t tell me! Do I have the Shackles in me?!''


    Orion started tapping various parts of his body, in hope to find proof of his doubts.


    ''Amelia! How could I forgot, we were still inside the burning orphanage! What am I doing watching stuff like this at a time like this!''


    Frantically looking for a way out, he gave up after noticing no changes. Reon continued, so Orion listened once again.


    "The bothering part is, it''s possible the bearer could never find the one with the key. In theory, it''s impossible since both are supposed to be linked, but in case we do put these chains on you, you have to know."


    "The mark should appear on someone''s body. At least, the mark makes it easily noticeable."


    Reon finished his explanation. He looked at the brand in his hand, and back at the device.


    "If you find the one with the Key, protect them with your life. This is what being a man means."


    Orianne felt relieved hearing those words, since he never encouraged his child in any recordings before this one. She had been the only one speaking until now.


    "Also, do not die. A true hero stays alive until the end. If you have friends, lovers, family, do not make them regret having knowing you."


    "This is embarrassing, Reon."


    Orianne''s cheek began to show a light shade of pink.


    "I think we''ve given all the necessary details you needed to become stronger."


    "Let''s hope you will remember this as an informative lesson."


    ''This is a bit too late. I thought I was pretty normal until now.''


    Forgetting for a second that he could hunt new species with as few as three arrows, Orion still had the title ''Hunting Expert'', which made him less than normal to begin with.


    At that point, the recording stopped.


    ''So Amelia is necessary if I want to be stronger... What I find strange is that there are no real threat in the village asking for me to get stronger.''


    Orion never moved away from Auro. He never fought anyone, nor did he care about getting much stronger than necessary.


    What he didn''t know yet, was that the tusked and horned gray bear was only the beginning of a terrible problem.


    ''Only two recordings, once they''re done, I have some things to ask them, and then, I need to get back to Amelia.''


    Determined to get through everything, he waited for the second to last recording to play.


    "Number of remaining files, two."


    "Memory Storage Number Forty Four, playing."


    ''It''s starting, what''s it gonn-''


    Before Orion could finish his thought, he was met with an unfamiliar tent like room, and the scream of a man he didn''t know about.


    "REON! ORIANNE! The human hero is here, and he is by himself. It''s awful, he already killed half of our forces and is approaching as we speak!"


    Both were now on a battlefield, trying to strategize to stop a certain man.


    "What do you mean half?! Did he destroy a three thousand soldiers force by himself?!"


    Reon was panicking, which was a very unusual reaction coming from him.


    "Reon, calm down. Breathe for a minute. Some things are more important right now. Did we secure the young ones and the women?"


    Orianne acted as the demon''s leader, and Reon as the angel''s leader. Both acted in tandem.


    *Inhale* *Exhale*


    "I''m good now. Sorry, and thank you."


    She simply smiled at him.


    "Yes, we''ve managed to safeguard some of our people. For the day the world can accept them again."


    The man ran out of the tent.


    "I still wonder what we did wrong. Is a child born from an angel and a demon really able to threaten the great human hero? Or is it just an excuse?"


    "Only by asking him will we know."


    "You''re right, let us prepare for battle, Orianne. I can''t believe I''m making you fight while pregnant. I''m a failure of a husband."


    "Did you think I''d watch you die by yourself on the battlefield? Losing you is the same as losing our child. We never had the opportunity to teach our child anything! He was supposed to be kind-hearted, and avoid any conflicts with that stupid Elliott!"


    "Orianne... I know."


    Reality started to catch them. The inevitable was coming, and both felt tears falling down their cheeks. Losing the peace they worked so hard to establish because of someone else''s judgment, was too difficult to accept.


    Frustration was stuck to the core of their souls.


    Reon wiped his and Orianne''s tears, before shock appeared on his face from an idea he thought of.


    "Orianne, we''ll make him regret."


    The recording got abruptly cut after Reon touched the device.


    ''So this was the last stand they made as two powerful factions. This is a tragedy... and this was supposedly my fault since I am their child?''


    ''No, definitely not. They''re not at fault, either. Having a child shouldn''t lead to such an end.''


    With a frown on his face, the last recording began.


    "Last file remaining."


    "Memory Storage Number Forty Four, playing."


    Orion bit his lower lips while listening through the very last recording.


    "Was the union of us angels and demons so dangerous for you humans to act against us? If you truly cared for balance, you just had to kill us both!"


    "I guess you are right, I could have."


    "You know, since the beginning, humans tried to separate from you both. But it was impossible. As you said, balance is everything. But now that you have committed that outrageous act, time as come to bid our farewell to both factions. Humans will finally reign supreme through me!"


    "Now that we are the last standing, do you intend to finish us?"


    "I''m curious, you see. I want to see you struggle a bit more. I especially aim to destroy that tiny life you are protecting because it is the source of this conflict to begin with."


    "YOU WOULD DARE!"


    There was only sound this time, but for some reason, Orion could picture the scene in his head, the battlefield he saw when transported to this place. The reddened battlefield, Orianne screaming at a haughty human, and Reon planning something being the human''s back.


    The recording seemed to glitch, as some voices were skipped.


    "Orianne, we have one opportunity, a fraction of time when he lets his guard down completely."


    "Reon? What are you going to do?"


    "I will sacrifice both of us, for our only hope."


    "No, you can''t do that to him. We vowed to give him a wonderful life. Do not force this on him, please."


    "So you knew I would do that in the end... I should have expected this from the demon''s heiress."


    "We are going to seal him with our factions'' combined power. My ''Life'', and your ''Death''. With this, it should give a good headache to Elliott and the human faction for the next hundreds of years. It will also successfully send our hope for a peaceful future."


    "Are you done? I don''t have the patience to look at you two disgustingly hug each other any longer."


    "I''m sorry, Orianne. The least we can do is send him away, give him his name, and our combined power. I''ll also give him the Key."


    "He will be fine, he will be strong, way stronger than us."


    "Do you realize what you are saying?! He will grow up without us! Who knows when he will be born, either! It could be tomorrow, in 10 years, or even after Elliott is free!"


    Some noise happened here, making the voices glitch again.


    "I choose to believe you, just as much as I believed in you until today. Our child is going to have a challenging life, like no others."


    "If you give him the Key, I have to give him the Shackles, do I?"


    "Yes, until he needs it, he will not know about anything related to us. This will be our last struggle, for him."


    More noise.


    "This is the end, Elliot."


    "Divine Magic: Life & Death!"


    "Mark my words, both of you! Even in a thousand years, death will never have me! Your struggle is useless in front of me! I am the str-"


    "It''s done, come Orianne, we have one last task before departing too."


    "Yes, our child''s name. But how do we make sure he knows it?"


    "With this."


    "He will inherit a part of us. He should know about it."


    "I see."


    "Our child will be named..."


    "Orion."


    The two voices intertwined, and something awakened in Orion.


    "I get it now. They sacrificed everything for me..."


    Falling to his knees, Orion became unable to stop the tears from flowing freely. The emotion was too strong to fight against.


    At the end of the last recording, Orion got sent back to the room his parents were sealed in.


    "Oh... he is back. Welcome back Orion."


    Reon opened his eyes first and greeted him with a faint smile.


    "Father. Why? Couldn''t you have fled with her? Was happiness impossible for you two?!"


    Orion remained on the floor while looking straight, according to his father.


    "Orion? You''re bac- What happened! Are you crying?"


    Orianne woke up too, and instantly ran to Orion before hugging him.


    This time, Reon did not stop her. The words his son spoke shocked him to his core.


    "Mother!"


    He hugged his mother back and released all the sadness he kept piling inside his heart while growing up without a family. Even at the age of eighteen, some scars were unable to heal.


    The fact that his parents sacrificed themselves for his well-being, and that he never knew until now, all these mixing up created a sobbing child finally reuniting with his family.


    ...


    After a few minutes, Orion stopped crying, and moved away from his mother, who started pouting again.


    "Be honest with me, do you expect me to do something about this ''Elliott''?"


    "If you can, yes. If it''s too late, hide. We refuse to let you die now that you know everything."


    "A true hero does not sacrifice himself."


    Orion spoke the words of his father.


    "I see you''ve watched everything diligently."


    "I learned from the best parents."


    Orianne and Reon looked at Orion, dumbfounded.


    "I think I''ll never regret having a son."


    Orianne finally felt like the mother she wanted to be.


    "Me too. I wish I had seen him grew up, though."


    Reon felt the tears building in his eyes.


    "Orion, there''s something else you need to know."


    His mother approached and grabbed his hands.


    "You should be able to use magic now, so we''re going to teach you how to use it correctly. Once we''re done, you''ll have to come back to reality."


    While tilting his head, Orion thought he had heard incorrectly.


    "Magic?"