Once Orion returned to Auro to speak of the news with the mayor, who couldn''t believe it that in the same day, he managed to strike a deal with the central point that was Albriar, he was about to take the portal back to Horizon.


    At the same time, in the kitchen.


    "Karteira, you''re back? How did it go?"


    "I don''t know. A mix of good and bad I would say."


    The girls began to talk about his gift.


    "What do you mean?"


    Amelia, who was in the middle of finishing the cake she made each year for Orion, looked at her friend.


    "Well. I''m not Orion. So it was hard to prove I was one of his friend. I was almost on the verge of fighting with them. I had to show my identity to convince them, and then they gave the message when they understood."


    "So we don''t know how she will react?"


    "I couldn''t meet her, but I''m sure she received the message, so I''ll only check tomorrow if she''s at the spot."


    Then, at that moment.


    "I''m home."


    They heard Orion''s voice entering the house.


    "Oh, he''s back. Let''s keep it to ourselves for now."


    "Sure."


    Amelia finished the cake without being pressed, and covered it with a metallic cover.


    They then went to see him, as he went to the living room to unwind a little.


    ~


    The rest of the day quickly went by as Orion checked on the sirens as usual, and then went to check on the mini-Tree of Life.


    Showing no differences than the day before, the Siren Sea was in peak conditions, while the tree''s stem had grown a few centimeters again. It looked healthy, but Orion kept a close eye on the tablet in case he needed to provide any nutrients, or help for it to grow.


    "Now then..."


    He took out the pocket watch in his chest pocket, and looked at the time.


    ''3PM. Days are going so fast recently.''


    Standing alone, he looked at everything around him.


    The house, the still in construction guest house, the hub of portals, the new Tree of Life, and the the Siren Sea.


    ''When did this barren space began to change?''


    As he was thinking, a voice he hadn''t heard in a few days finally reappeared.


    ''Don''t you know the answer?''


    ''Ego?''


    ''Yes, it is me. So, why the long face? Are you contemplating your life right now?''


    Orion smiled, feeling that maybe that was indeed the case.


    ''You may be right. I never thought I would be celebrating my twenty-third birthday. I was ready to die at any moment.''


    ''Right. Isn''t it something to be proud about?''


    But he shook his head.


    ''Of course, I am glad to still be alive, even after all of those fight. I almost died the first time I attacked the Apostles, I also got close to death when attacking the last Corrupted Lord in the fairy realm.''


    ''I almost died fighting Ivan''s corrupted form, and I died once fighting Julian. All of my fights were close calls. I can''t think of anything but being one lucky person at this point.''


    ''But then, I look at all of this, and I start to wonder. When did I make so many allies? Four months prior to that point, it was only me and Amelia going toward Eogis.''


    ''Karteira, Dramia, Drania, Tiohr-nam, Kamala, Florian, and the sirens. I still can''t believe all of this was able because of a single element.''


    He opened his hand, and a sphere of void element formed above it.


    ''That is your potential. There is nothing wrong in feeling like you are right now, because the future is... unknown for everybody.''


    Tilting his head, he asked.


    ''Why the pause?''


    Ego''s voice seemed to die down, as she was about to leave.


    ''No idea.''


    And then silence. Orion was once again alone inside his head.


    ''So many mysteries. So many things I can''t answer, so many problems needing to be resolved, and so little time too.''


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ''What is next on our journey? There shouldn''t be any problems on the way to Bandir. I should also think of a gift for Amelia, her birthday is twelve days after mine.''


    Amelia really hated her birthday, because she didn''t knew if it was the real date, or if it was changed in the orphanage. She avoided celebrating it at all costs, but Orion still gave her small things.


    She never brought it up in a conversation, and if asked, she would talk about something else instead.


    Really, she can also be troublesome sometimes.


    Orion stared at the building in construction, and at the portal hub that he wanted to change.


    He turned to the tree and said.


    "When are you going to create trees? I know I can''t press you or anything, but I''m curious."


    "..."


    The tree obviously remained silent. Only the wind that was brought out with the tablets setting on this space.


    With a smile slightly embarrassed, Orion turned around and returned home.


    ~


    The next day.


    It was finally Orion''s birthday. Amelia and Karteira were already preparing everything, with one finishing the food, and the other getting the gift ready.


    Orion was silently enjoying a book in his bed, since Amelia strictly forbade him from going downstairs except for going to the toilet or showering.


    He could have gone training, but it was his birthday, and who knows how Amelia would have reacted if he truly went and do that.


    *Knock* *Knock*


    "Yes? It''s open."


    Someone he wasn''t expecting knocked on his door. Well, that someone was in fact two people.


    Drania opened the door and flew at high speed toward Orion, before jumping on his stomach.


    "Hi! It''s us!"


    "Oof! Drania? And Dramia too? I thought you two returned to the fairy realm?"


    Dramia crossed her armes and smiled dryly.


    "With Amelia running around left and right, of course we wouldn''t miss this. Happy birthday."


    "Yes! Happy birthday."


    With Drania imitating a swimming posture, Orion looked at them.


    "Oh, you''ve changed outfits? You look great in it."


    "Ehehe."


    "Hmpf!"


    The outfits these two received after going to Hocride were finally worn.


    ''It''s even greater than I expected. I never thought such outfits could reveal so much. Those dresses hid quite a lot.''


    Orion looked carefully at the sisters. Previously, they were wearing a simple pink or green dress, depending on the days. These clothes really looked plain, and childish.


    What he realized was that they really weren''t children at all. Even if merging with the fairy essence stopped their growth as humans, they still retained what they had before, and honestly, it was well hidden.


    The first one to speak was Drania, after removing herself from Orion.


    "A green turtleneck shirt with long sleeves, brown shorts, and black stockings. To add, he even gave us matching black boots!"


    Dramia entered the room and closed the door behind her.


    "I don''t like turtleneck shirts, so I got a green jacket with short sleeves instead. The rest is the same as her."


    What was impressive was the amount of details on them. They weren''t just plain clothes. The material used for the stockings had a glitter to it, the shorts had a great design, making them stylish instead of boring looking, and there was a little crown drawn on their chest. Left for Dramia, right for Drania.


    And to top it off, it seemed that this clothier''s main working purpose was to make tight clothes, that were still supple enough to allow movements.


    ''...''


    His thoughts stopped, trying not to be rude to both of them, but it was difficult.


    Dramia''s cleavage was more developed than her sister, but Drania had something Orion liked more, larger thighs.


    Anyway, he quickly changed his mind, and complimented them again.


    "You look very precious with these clothes. Can I see the back?"


    They both turned to show the back of their clothes. There, an opening for the wings had been made.


    A broidered lining made of soft darker green tissue was made, to avoid shafting the precious and fragile wings. Without the wings, you could see parts their shoulder blades, and a little bit of the lower back.


    You could even see part of their bra, but that looked more in style with the opening. It wasn''t eye catching by any means.


    "I like them. Do you like the designs?"


    "We do!"


    Drania giggled again as she turned around and sat next to Orion.


    Her sister remained her back turned toward him as she was embarrassed. Dramia''s face was currently bright red, and Orion noticed it by looking at her ears.


    "Then this is all that matters. So, tell me why you came to see me? That can''t only be to show me your beautiful new clothes, right?"


    He seemed to have hit the middle of the target, as Drania looked away for a second.


    "Well, Amelia and Karteira asked us to babysit you while they finish preparing."


    "Sis?!"


    For once, it was Drania who felt that her sistr said something out of character.


    "Oh... babysit me?"


    Orion began to laugh loudly, making Amelia who was right below shudder at the thought.


    "Alright, I''ll play their games. Let''s talk at the table for now, I wouldn''t want to let you stand for long."


    Standing up from the bed, he gave a hand to Drania, and led both of them at his table further in the room.


    For an hour or so, Dramia and Drania asked questions about him and whatever interesting to them.


    From the state of the sirens currently, to Orion''s personal opinion on frogs. At one point, he began to ask them about Noah, and their past.


    What did they like, if some things have changed since becoming a hybrid, how their body felt.


    They had a really interesting conversation right after the other, and Dramia was the one to open completely for once.


    Drania was more secluded. Orion understood that she had trouble accepting her past, but he went another way past her toughest protective shell.


    He placed a hand on her hair, and spoke those words.


    "We all make mistakes, but it''s how we make them a part of us that makes them great. Regretting an action doesn''t mean that you made the wrong choice. It means that you saw an opportunity to surpass yourself in the past."


    "The ''you'' from today is not the same from the ''you'' of the past. There is also the fact that it is impossible to know what tomorrow has in store for you. Look forward to tomorrow, even if it is bleak, and live cheerfully."


    Even Dramia resonated with his words.


    They both smiled warmly, and were reminded that the choice to help him wasn''t wrong. He needed them, as much as they needed him now.


    Orion particularly liked that changing mood of Dramia. Her tone was cold most of the times, but sometimes, you could see a bright smile on her face, and the emotions she tried to repress under her attitude.


    Drania was as always, cheerful, but hiding her insecurities. He wanted to help her get through this phase, but ultimately, it was her own mentality that would save her.


    At one point, Orion heard someone coming upstairs.


    *Knock* *Knock*


    "Yes?"


    "Everything''s ready, you can come down."


    Amelia only spoke those words after popping her head through the door, before closing it again and walking back downstairs, excited.


    "Well, I guess it''s time. Thanks for the company girls."


    "Anytime!"


    "Yes. I like talking with you."


    Almost shocked, both Orion and Drania stared at her.


    ''She sure can switch hard sometimes.''


    "Whaaaa! Sis!"


    Drania plunged at her and hugged her while crying fake tears.


    "A- Wai- Calm down! Let me go!"


    "Help! Orion!"


    He smiled and tapped on Drania''s shoulder.


    "Sure, I can do that. Drania, let''s go downstairs."


    "Yes! Let''s go sis."


    Successfully stopping a tragedy, which was Dramia having to fight back against her own twin''s affection, Orion stood up, and with the two fairies, went downstairs.


    ...


    "Umm... hi?"


    Orion stood, his mouth agape in the living room. He slowly turned his head toward Amelia and Karteira, who were smiling brightly.


    "She''s a great person, just like you said. Also, happy birthday, that''s your present."


    Looking back at the person in front of him, he blinked.


    His gift? Deveralna in the flesh.