Orion was walking back to the girls, when he saw another man with them.


    With emotions he never expected to have, he walked toward the group.


    "Oh, Orion, you''re back."


    Amelia saw him coming.


    ''Huh? What''s wrong with him?''


    But she was instead greeted by a gaze that showed a lot of anger.


    She looked around to see what could have happened, when she realized in which situation she was in currently.


    ''Is he jealous?! This is bad!''


    "Ah- Wai-"


    She tried to stop him, but Orion had already stopped behind the man, who was slightly lower than him.


    "Who are you?"


    With a chilling voice that could deter anyone that didn''t know him, he caught the attention of the man.


    He slowly turned, pressured by Orion''s strong aura of anger.


    "Hello, sir Orion."


    The man stressfully laughed, and Orion realized who it was from his voice.


    His emotions calmed on the outside, but stayed strong inside him.


    "It''s me, Vincent. I''m sorry, I don''t wear my guard outfit on my day off."


    Orion realized that he jumped to conclusion way too fast.


    "Ah, no. You did nothing wrong. I should apologize for pressuring you like that."


    Amelia was touching her brows.


    ''If only you had cheeked who it was first.''


    Karteira looked at the scene in front of her eyes.


    ''What was that for?''


    She was pretty clueless about his feelings still.


    Only Amelia realize that he was obviously going to act like this if someone tried to approach his friends.


    And since Amelia was really important to him, there was no other result possible.


    So here he was, doing his best not to offend someone else because of his own conclusion.


    "I''m sorry Vincent, I honestly thought someone was trying to hit on them. I don''t really know what to do with that excess of emotions I had earlier."


    Vincent, who was wearing casual clothes, was a man in his thirties. He had short light brown hair, and had eyes of the same color.


    He had a white shirt with short sleeves, and shorts. This was the casual outfit of most people living in the desert. You could even say that the guard''s outfit was horrible to wear while being under the sun.


    "Is that so?! I am really sorry about that, I simply saw these ladies and thought about thanking them again for saving our lives yesterday. I wanted to thank you too, but they told me that you went somewhere else in the market."


    Orion nodded.


    "Also, I am already married."


    He showed his alliance on his left hand.


    "My wife would kill me if she heard you say that, so please. I really did not come here to hit on women."


    Here was a man scared to death of his wife.


    ''She might be a scary person.''


    "Marriage changes people, sir Orion. Be extremely careful."


    "Alright...?"


    ''I don''t understand, but I''ll keep that in mind.''


    Orion changed the subject, battling with his inner turmoil of emotions that were unsettled. He had to hide it for now.


    "So, did you came to buy something? Or simply to relax?"


    Vincent kindly accepted the change of subject.


    "I don''t think anyone can relax in this kind of environment. I came to buy a gift for my wife. When I came back alive yesterday, she was in tears, so I need to make it up for worrying her."


    ''What a good man. Now I feel really bad.''


    Orion knew Vincent was a good person to begin with. Their encounter the day before helped Orion change his view on some humans.


    "I heard from your friends that you''ve been enjoying the city, and that you''ve bought a lot of things. Are you finding enjoyment in sightseeing Hocride?"


    A commotion began to happen around them, but they were too focused on their conversation to notice.


    "In fact, we do. We haven''t seen every corners of the city, but we''ve seen the port, and the market so far. This city is the embodiment of Kamala''s wishes, and that I have accepted after seeing for myself."


    Vincent was happy. He was proud of working for a great Lord, and for the people inside this city.


    "How was Lord Kamala? We haven''t heard anything else other than her being back to work, even though we all asked that she took a day off."


    "What about me?"


    Both men turned to look at the one that interrupted.


    "L-Lord Kamala! Thank goodness you are healthy again."


    Vincent showed the greeting of the guards, a hand on his heart, bowing slightly, toward Kamala.


    "You are one of our guard? You have done well defending our city yesterday. I''ve asked Timothy to give a raise to all surviving soldiers. Obviously, we''ve decided to help the families of the ones we''ve lost."


    She looked extremely sad about that fact. The truth was that she hadn''t managed to completely defend her citizens, and she regretted that.


    "Thank you very much for you kindness, but if it weren''t for these three, the numbers of death would have been way higher."


    Vincent stopped his pose, and looked on his sides to Orion, Amelia and Karteira.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Orion looked at Kamala during her whole discussion with Vincent. She was alone.


    ''She''s stronger than anyone, so it''s most likely useless to attack her. That''s why she can dare to walk around town unguarded.''


    Was what he thought.


    She was wearing a casual white dress with gold accents on it that showed her legs below the knees.


    "I have already discussed the matter with the man on your side. Since I haven''t told the guards yet, I''ll tell you, because you seem to be acquainted with them."


    She placed a hand on her side, and took a prideful pose.


    "From today onwards, this man and his companions are our allies. With their help, we will strike down Ivan who dared to attack our city."


    Vincent turned to Orion with awe in his gaze.


    "Not only did you save our Lord, but your are planning to help us? Thank you very much."


    "It isn''t much. This needs to be done anyways."


    Orion shrugged it off, because what he did, his hunt, wasn''t something he did to be praised for.


    ''Something his off, what is this situation?''


    He looked at Kamala intently.


    ''He knows. He knows!''


    She was panicking inside.


    Technically speaking, she had to use two persona. A prideful one, the ''Lord'' of Hocride, and her true self, when she was alone.


    ''She acting differently today.''


    Orion definitely thought that this was weird, but then let it go. He was not that interested in knowing the ins and outs of someone''s mind.


    "So, what are you doing here Kamala?"


    She let out a sighed of relief knowing that Orion wasn''t going to ask about her attitude.


    "The guards kept sending notices to me. If I didn''t take the day off, they would all refuse to work anymore. What choice did I have?"


    She shrugged, a stressed smile on her face.


    "So here I am, doing some shopping."


    "The great Lord of Hocride, doing some shopping. I''m sorry, this is kind of funny."


    Orion began to laugh.


    "You can laugh, even I find it funny."


    Everyone around them looked at the scene of her Lord and a unknown man laugh together. They were confused, and yet they were glad to see her healthy.


    "I will take my leave here. Lord Kamala is in good hands with you three."


    Vincent was going to leave.


    "Wait."


    Orion stopped him.


    "What are you looking for? For your wife."


    Vincent hadn''t really thought about it, but if he had to choose.


    "I''m thinking of a nice looking brooch."


    "I know someone that sells some."


    Orion told him where to find the young man he bought from before joining with them.


    "Thank you, sir Orion!"


    "You are welcome. It is my apology for earlier."


    "I do not mind it, I would react the same if my wife was bothered by another man. Have a nice day."


    He excused himself and walked toward the direction Orion told him to.


    "So, are you done with your shopping?"


    Kamala asked the group.


    "Technically yes. We''ve bought the things we needed."


    Orion was ready to go back to the inn.


    "Have you bought new clothes too?"


    "No. Why would I?"


    Kamala brought her hand to her brows.


    "Are you seriously walking around in such awful clothing?"


    ''Is there something wrong with my clothes?''


    Orion looked at himself.


    His shirt was kind of dirty, with many dirt spots visible even on his black shirt. His jeans, the same color as his shirt, was scratched all over, with places having long cuts.


    "Don''t tell me this is his style?"


    She turned to Amelia and Karteira.


    "I don''t think it his, he just doesn''t care is what I think."


    Karteira agreed with this too.


    "And both of you, do you have enough clothes? You haven''t changed from yesterday. Garments? Underwear?"


    They both looked toward the sky.


    "..."


    Kamala was boiling. She had in front of her a three people that didn''t care or didn''t even tried to look good.


    Amelia had a simple pink shirt, with white jeans almost in the state as Orion. There was even blood spots on some parts, and not small ones.


    Karteira was the better one. She wore black jeans like Orion, but it was in great shape. Her white shirt was the problem. There was blood on it too. Well, since she didn''t cut open the enemy the day before like Amelia, she was in a better position.


    But overall, their clothes were awful.


    "I don''t care, you''re all coming with me!"


    Kamala lost her patience.


    "Can I do something before that?"


    Orion cut in, feeling his emotions getting out of control.


    "Hmm? What?"


    ~


    "...!"


    Arrows after arrows were being fired inside a white space.


    Orion was losing himself in frustration. This was the first time it ever happened to him.


    ''I''m not supposed to be like this. Why can''t I contain this raging emotion?''


    Amelia, Karteira, and even Kamala were far behind him, looking at his rampage.


    "His arrows are deadlier than usual. What happened for him to be like this? Do you know Amelia?"


    Karteira asked Amelia, the one that knew almost everything concerning him.


    "He said it himself."


    Amelia refused to answer, because the answer had already been told. She still continued.


    "Remember what he said, when he talked to that man."


    Karteira remembered the conversation that happened a few minutes before, until one particular moment popped up in her head.


    -


    "I''m sorry Vincent, I honestly thought someone was trying to hit on them. I don''t really know what to do with that excess of emotions I had earlier."


    -


    "Huh?! Was he jealous?"


    "Seems like it. This was the first time someone else than him approached us. I don''t really know why he''s reacting that much though."


    They looked at Orion''s expression of frustration on his face.


    The more he shot, the more his feelings were stabilizing.


    Kamala was looking at this with her eyes wide opened. First, she was in the space that Orion created the day before, and now she was watching arrows fly at a speed incomparable to the one that killed the first Apostle three months ago.


    She looked on her side, and there was an absurd amount of furniture laying in the open, and a big house that seemed all but finished.


    In the air, a ring was free-floating, emitting particles.


    ''This place, this man, everything is too strange to me. I don''t understand anything.''


    She was lost.


    "Amelia, create a three wall barrier in front of me, please."


    Orion said without looking back.


    "Alright."


    She did as he asked, and three tall and thick rocky wall appeared away from him.


    He placed his crossbow in front of his face, aligning the sight with his eye.


    The rare triangle shaped arrow appeared inside the groove.


    "..."


    *Click*


    The arrow began to rotated faster and faster, and made contacted with the first wall. It began to crack, and after two seconds, it broke down. The second wall didn''t not resist either, and the third simply exploded on hit.


    "So much power..."


    Kamala blurted out without thinking.


    "Stronger."


    Amelia created three metallic walls this time.


    ''You won''t get threw this. Sorry Orion, but you asked for it.''


    He blinked a few times, and dropped his arms, his feelings completely appeased.


    "You''re joking?"


    He turned while laughing.


    "You''ve asked for stronger. What did you expect?"


    "I don''t know, not metal at least."


    Alcyone vanished in thin air as he walked toward Amelia.


    "Feeling better?"


    "Way better. Thanks for your help."


    He placed a hand on her head, caressing her hair.


    "You''re welcome."


    She accepted his gentle touch with a smile.


    ''I wanted to see more, but I guess that''s it.''


    Kamala was intrigued by his full potential.


    ''Maybe I''ll ask him to help me with my earth defenses.''


    While she was thinking that, Orion reopened the portal.


    "Alright, let''s get back to the other side."


    They all nodded, and walked in front of him, crossing one at a time.


    ''The house is still standing, just like I expected. The ring is still full of magic, which is a good news. I just need to not forget to close the portal.''


    He walked through, closing it behind him.


    Kamala returned to herself after returning in her city.


    They were in an alley were no one seemed to go through, which helped Orion use his power out of prying eyes.


    "Follow me now."


    Kamala walked in front of them, leading them to a store she knew very well.


    "This is a clothing store I frequently visit. If you want custom made, they can create pretty much anything. Most of my wardrobe was created here."


    ''Though I would prefer if they didn''t add the gold on my robes.''


    They followed Kamala inside, who was immediately recognized by the clerk.


    Kamala explained that she was looking for new clothes that would fit the three people accompanying her.


    ~


    This whole ordeal took three hours.


    Orion walked outside of the store.


    *SIGH*


    "That''s the biggest sigh I have ever heard coming from you."


    Amelia was right behind him.


    "I kind of understand him. I don''t think I''ll ever enjoy staying so long in this kind of store, when you''re being treated like a doll."


    Karteira almost let out the same sigh as Orion, but she contained it.


    "I hate those stores. I truly hate them."


    Orion looked at the bag he was holding with his right hand. It was the outfit Kamala chose for him.


    Likewise, Amelia and Karteira had one bag each too.


    "Kamala is a beast when it concerns clothes."


    Amelia laughed, remembering all of the outfits Orion had to try before she was satisfied.


    ''I''m happy, I got to see so many various combinations that he would have never tried.''


    Kamala exited the store and joined them.


    "Are we done?"


    Orion asked her, completely exhausted.


    Kamala nodded. It was time for her to return to her duty as a Lord.


    "I''ve enjoyed myself enough. Thank you for today."


    The three looked at each other, and agreed mentally.


    "Even though it was tiring, it wasn''t that bad. Thank you for the clothes."


    Orion said, speaking what everyone thought.


    With a smile, she turned away and was ready to leave.


    It was right at that moment.


    "Lady Kamala! Something bad is happening!"


    Timothy had finally found Kamala. There was worry on his face.


    He stopped in front of Kamala.


    "Breathe Timothy."


    *Inhale* *Exhale*


    He did that a few times.


    "Here, this is the report from our scout near Kaios."


    "!"


    Kamala took the letter he had in his hands and began to read it.


    "This monster!"


    Orion listened to her, and curiosity took hold of him.


    "What has happened?"


    Kamala turned around with sweat on her face.


    "Ivan as begun killing his own civilians."


    ''Here it is!''


    The sign Orion was waiting had come faster than he expected.