"Hey, how was the hunt today?"


    "As usual. But since Orion left, we''ve been having trouble getting a lot."


    "Yes, thanks to him, we still have a lot of processed and stored meat."


    A bunch of villagers were discussing in the plaza.


    "It''s been so quiet without these two."


    "..."


    Amelia and Orion were both really important for the village. The beastmen all accepted these poor orphans as if they were their own members, and lived with them, even depending on them.


    From all of the orphans, only Orion and Amelia refused being adopted. They remained in the orphanage Director Keith managed until they were adults, and then lived inside the house the villagers built for them.


    It was the least they could do for them. Then, after a while, they both decided to leave Auro, for a reason they haven''t spoken of. They wanted to ''see the world'', but they knew it was more than that.


    Orion did change after the orphanage fire, and so did Amelia. Something in their demeanor was different. Though, it wasn''t in a bad way.


    They spent more time secluded in the forest than inside the village, but Orion kept delivering hunted preys, and Amelia sometimes came to either play with the children of Auro, or learn more about cooking from the various shops.


    So, when they turned their head toward the entrance of Auro, and saw three people entering, they could only smile.


    "Isn''t that Orion and Amelia?!"


    One of the women said, directing everyone''s attention toward them.


    "You''re right, it''s them!"


    "They''ve returned!"


    All the time they were gone, the villagers were also worrying. This world was quite dangerous, and they hoped nothing would happen to them.


    What more, with the news of Apostles fighting each others, and not a single news from Orion himself, they could only think that the worst had happened, with them being mixed to these problems.


    If only they knew.


    Orion and Amelia both waved at the villagers from the distance.


    Everyone waited as they got closer.


    "Hi. How have you been?"


    They stopped, instantly getting surrounded by the villagers.


    "Look at you! What''s this stylish outfit?"


    "Still as tall as ever! Have you no shame?"


    Orion was surrounded by all the men of Auro, getting tapped on the shoulders, and joked about.


    "Amelia! How are you? You seem to be eating well."


    "And who''s that person with you? A new friend?"


    "Did you get more beautiful while we weren''t looking? What happened? Don''t tell Orion finally-"


    *gasp*


    Amelia and Karteira both were bothered by the rowdy crowd of women. They were questioned without any time to answer any of them.


    ''That''s one of the reason I didn''t want to come back.''


    Orion smiled with a tired expression, and Amelia ended up the same, while Karteira watched carefully at the unfamiliar situation both of them were living.


    "Alright, calm down everyone."


    A man they knew all too well clapped a few times.


    "I now you are happy to see them, but you won''t get them to talk like that."


    "Keith."


    The villagers turned around, and smiled frustratingly. He was right.


    When they understood that they may have pressured them a little too much, they backed away, while apologizing.


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    "Thank you Keith. I didn''t knew what to do."


    "Me neither."


    Orion and Amelia smiled dryly.


    "You don''t have to thank me."


    Keith, the man that both considered as their second father, stood there, same as ever.


    ''I swear this man doesn''t age. Even Dylan had grey hairs.''


    While they were thinking the exact same thing, Keith asked.


    "Why have you returned after a few months away? How was your journey?"


    Without any shame, Orion pointed at Amelia.


    "She asked me to return, so we did."


    "Yes, because he didn''t want to! Can you believe it? It''s his birthday in two days, and he thought no one would remember!"


    "I thought it wasn''t that important."


    Keith smiled warmly.


    "You haven''t changed you two. And you are?"


    Looking at Karteira, who he had never seen before, she stared at him straight in the eyes.


    "My name''s is Karteira. I became their companion during one of their stop."


    Squinting at her after the introduction, he seemed to think for a second, before smiling at her.


    "I am Keith Jeria, Director of this village''s orphanage."


    He bowed in front of her, making Karteira panic a little, as she also bowed in a hurry.


    After straightening, he smiled, and looked at Orion.


    "Will you follow me?"


    As a response, Orion nodded.


    Leaving all of the villagers who returned to their daily life, it didn''t take long until all of Auro knew they were back.


    ~


    "I see. A lot of events happened for you two. But to hear that you had a hand in all of the recent incidents happening, I have no words."


    "I suppose Dylan would be proud of you."


    The group followed Keith inside the orphanage, and talked inside his office. Omitting the fairies, his powers, and a lot of troublesome details, he only made it seem as if they were simple eye-witnesses, who helped other people at that time.


    "Talking of Dylan, he isn''t coming this year, right?"


    Amelia asked, because she knew Orion wouldn''t.


    "I have already sent a notice when you departed to avoid Sir Dylan from making a useless voyage here."


    Orion shook his head.


    "I wasn''t supposed to come back, you couldn''t have known."


    "And what about that letter to him? Did you send it already?"


    He chose to ignored her.


    "You didn''t?!"


    While she was freaking out, he had a good reason though.


    "We''re moving south once we made our next stop east. We need to go toward Turric, and I remember his village is straight on our path. I''ll be paying him a visit instead of sending that letter."


    Now, she fell in shock for another reason. She placed a hand to her forehead, and dropped her face.


    "It''s always the same with you, why don''t you talk to me about that?"


    Orion looked at her with a face that showed that he didn''t understood her reaction.


    "You haven''t asked, so I didn''t spoke about it."


    "Yes, you two haven''t changed at all."


    Keith smiled warmly, happy that nothing changed between them.


    But, he did notice something different.


    "Are you two perhaps? Have you finally conceded, Orion?"


    He immediately understood were he was coming from.


    "I did. She pestered me for quite some time, until I finally decided to accept."


    "That is good to hear. I had a long time to admire how long Amelia tried her best for you, and how you did your best to hide your own feelings. Knowing that it finally settled like this, it makes me happy to know."


    They both laughed, embarrassed.


    "So, from what I''ve seen, you two are in a similar position to Amelia?"


    "Eh?"


    Karteira immediately fell in panic.


    "..."


    She looked at Orion, asking what she had to say. Her savior only shrugged.


    "I... am."


    Keith nodded.


    "Good. I appreciate that you haven''t lied about it. To be fair to you, I noticed from the look you gave him."


    "I know it''s not something common for the people around here, so I''ll try not to speak about this in public."


    Orion said while closing his eyes.


    "I think they wouldn''t mind. Everyone is special in some ways, and if you are attractive enough for the people you encounter, then what''s the problem? You just have to deal with it internally. Right, Amelia?"


    "Yes. I already said that I would accept multiple other women next to him. I will always be and will remain number one until the end."


    He laughed audibly. Once he stopped, he regained his composure.


    "I suppose you will be staying at your house tonight?"


    "No. There is somewhere else where we can sleep at."


    "Is that right? Then I believe it to be time for you to talk to the other villagers? Some of them might require you help on some things."


    Orion and Amelia nodded as they stood up.


    "Thank you, Keith. We''ll be seeing you later. We''re leaving in three days by the way."


    As Orion was about to leave the room, Keith called him out.


    "Orion."


    "Yes?"


    "Welcome back."


    His eyes opened wide, and an emotion he wasn''t expecting surfaced.


    ''This place is my home.''


    He turned his face away, and walked out of the room, before stopping.


    "Thank you. I''m glad to be back."


    And walked out of the building, leaving Amelia and Karteira with Keith.


    "That''s why I wanted him to return. He''s been dealing with some serious issues, and I thought that it would help him seeing his home again."


    "Kind as always. He his a lucky man to have you with him, Amelia."


    "Right? Karteira, let''s go before he goes somewhere."


    "Yes."


    She waved at Keith while Karteira bowed slightly, and both exited before closing the door behind them.


    "Serious issues, she said."


    He looked out of the windows, silent.


    ~


    After talking to Keith, Orion and the girls went around the village, first to show it to Karteira, and then to talk with the villagers.


    There was no real problems with them overall, and only Amelia had to help a few housewives with their recipes. She took this time to introduce new things for them to eat.


    Once this whole thing was done, they went to the small wooden house that they both lived in during their three years of training.


    ...


    "So tiny!"


    Karteira said, looking at the interior.


    "No wonder Amelia fell in love with you. Can you imagine living with one man in such a place for years?!"


    There was absolutely no more than the necessary. Two separate room, clearly made to be used only as a sleeping place, a bathroom with a shower, and a kitchen. The living room was the kitchen at the same time.


    "You think so?"


    Amelia looked around, noticing a few spiders in the corners of the house.


    "Anyways, let''s return home for now. We have a lot to do still."


    Orion opened a portal, connecting Auro to Horizon, just like he did for every important places of this world.


    ''The hub is starting to get encumbered with a lot of portals, I should create a room around it, and a few writings to differentiate which portal leads where.''


    With this idea forming in his mind, he walked through, successfully returning to Horizon.


    The next day, Orion came alone to Auro, to fulfil a duty he hadn''t done in a while. Hunting.