"How long has it been since we''ve been together on the road?"


    Amelia looked at the sky above her, walking alongside Orion. There was a lot of clouds above them, yet there was no signs of incoming rain.


    "I can''t tell you exactly when, but not since Karteira joined us. Time sure went by quickly."


    Enjoying the walk through the grass, Orion smiled.


    ''When was it, that I felt so... free? I rarely had the time to enjoy the scenery, or even leisurely walk around before.''


    "I''m quite excited you know? You''re finally showing me that beach."


    "The Cap of Pearl Waters. Yes. I also want to see if it is as beautiful as your eyes."


    When the word ''beautiful'' escaped his mouth, the sigil of Silka blinked for a split second. The word wasn''t a trigger, instead, the thought itself was.


    He truly believed her pearl colored pupils were the most beautiful eyes he''s ever seen.


    "Yes. I still remember what you said back then. Even though it''s hard to get you to honestly share your thoughts on us, you''ve been changing as of late. You''ve worked hard, haven''t you?"


    "..."


    Orion looked away while scratching his cheek.


    "Do you know how much that gift changed us? Not only me, but Karteira too?"


    Bringing the pearl strapped around her neck from under her shirt, she smiled at it.


    "For me, it became the moment when I understood how serious you were. That it wasn''t just words. For Karteira, it was the moment her thoughts changed from friendship to love. Don''t you have anyone else you need to give gifts to?"


    While he listened to that embarrassing story again, he looked forward with a tinge of confusion.


    "Don''t try to play it off. I''m the one who told everyone it was fine to enter a relationship with you. Since I''ll always be number one, they can have whatever is left after. Call me whatever you want, but that''s the price they have to pay not to be heartbroken."


    "I''m sure you know who I''m talking about. Just so you understand, I''m quite observant. Now, tell me, who do you think I''ve been hinting at? If you miss someone, I''ll be sure to tell her, so be prepared."


    With a playful smile, she stared at him.


    "You know better than anyone that I don''t like those types of conversations, but fine, since it''s only the both of us, I''ll humour you. I''m not that blind either. I knew you were into me for quite some times too."


    With a slight blush, Amelia continued to smile.


    "Well, if we''re talking about women I''m close with, the first one is you. Then comes Karteira. You two are my lovers for that matters, so you are important to me."


    "But if we''re talking about others... the next one is Olivia. I think it''s too late to reject her, and honestly, I don''t think I''m capable of that."


    He looked rather bothered by his own feelings on that matter. As if he had no real control over the outcome.


    "It''s fine. She''s a charming girl. Give her some time to settle down. But I''m very much against ''that'' part of her. She sometimes look like she''s going to jump at you and devour you. In a very naughty way I mean."


    "She did force a kiss on me when I wasn''t paying attention."


    Amelia was still bitter about the timing. If she had been too late, she would have lost the opportunity to take his first kiss. But it was fine now, at least less than before.


    "Yes. So, Olivia is third. Think about a gift for her later. Next?"


    Orion didn''t need to rack his brain to answer.


    "Dramia and Drania... even though I don''t want to accept it. They are like little sisters to me."


    "So that''s how you saw them... too bad they aren''t thinking like you."


    "But you''re right, even if Dramia is hiding it thanks to her regular behavior, you''re the only one she openly smile to besides her sister. Drania isn''t hiding it, she jumps on you every times she sees you, and is more relaxed near you than anywhere else."


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    With a nod, he agreed.


    "It was very different when we met them, so it''s not hard to see the difference now. I try do keep some distance between us, because they seem to be confused."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I believe they''re still thinking about Noah. I don''t want them to mix their feelings for Noah with their feelings for me. I''m not Noah''s replacement."


    "So you''ve noticed that too... Well, I knew it too, since Dramia told me something similar previously. She said that she wanted to avoid a repeat of what happened at all cost."


    ''That''s what I thought.''


    With a confirmation, it only made it clear for him that he had to keep seeing them as sisters more than potential lovers.


    But Amelia had a different idea.


    "That''s why you need to step up more. What have you done for them so far? You''ve only been worrying them, no wonder you feel similar to Noah to them."


    "What?"


    "Am I wrong now? Seriously, did you not notice? It''s either fights or training with you. Even when we went out to Hocride for their new outfits, you weren''t there. You even managed to get into trouble."


    With nothing to retort, he felt bad for them all of the sudden.


    ''It''s true. Even if I thought of them as sisters, I haven''t done a single thing for them.''


    "If you don''t want to remain a comparison to Noah, then do something about it. Make them understand that you are more than just a fighter. Don''t just watch on the sideline, they suffered enough already."


    "You''re right. I''ll think about what to do."


    He was ready to change little by little. Until know, he pushed everyone away, scared that his potential death would hurt the ones around him.


    The situation hadn''t changed that much, but after losing to Elliott, he thought about the attitude he held against everyone, against himself.


    ''I have to be better.''


    Internally nodding, he made up his mind. Dramia and Drania were also important to him, so not treating them well would be an insult to them.


    "Alright, that''s five. You''re missing a few more."


    *sigh*


    Orion sighed with exaggeration.


    "I know. Deveralna, Senia, and May. But they are rather... special."


    "Why, because two of them are demi-humans, and the last one a walking corpse?"


    "So you knew about May?"


    "Yes, she told us when you were with Stella. Florian is also in the know."


    Slightly shocked, Orion thought.


    ''I wonder how they took it.''


    "Sure, seeing no blood come out of a cut was rather... interesting, it doesn''t change the fact that she''s a friend. I don''t have that many friends to begin with, so I don''t care if she''s special. My boyfriend is a one of a kind, at this point, nothing can shock me."


    "Pff-Hahaha~"


    Unable to control his laugh, Orion let it out.


    "That''s true. The same goes for me. I have the daughter of a Remnant, and a battle addict fairy as my girlfriends. It can''t be me stranger than that."


    "Right?"


    They both laughed together for a moment, until Orion continued.


    "But I don''t think I''ll be possible with a lamia and a siren. Even with Karteira, I keep wondering if our genetic matches."


    "Says the man who is an hybrid himself."


    "..."


    Orion''s eyes darted around in search of something to say, but there was nothing in his mind.


    "You got me there. I guess I''m worrying for nothing. I guess I don''t want to hurt them in case we aren''t compatible with each other."


    "That''s fine. If you tell them that, they would understand. But instead, you''re haven''t been talking to them as of late. You better change that rapidly."


    "Senia''s been asking why you haven''t come to check on her recently. She looked pretty bummed out. But seriously, the only thing you told her and Deveralna was "I''ll train you!" Orion... you can be pretty heartless sometimes."


    Realizing the mistake he''d made, he gritted his teeth.


    ''I''ve messed up!''


    "Deveralna is something too. She''s very patient with you, and very understanding for a ruler. Maybe it''s because she''s a young queen, she won''t give up on you so easily, and I understand the thought of staying by your side."


    "Treat her better, I''m sure I''ll be good for us in the long run."


    Orion silently nodded. He had a lot work on with the girls around him.


    "Also, you better treat your friends like so. Kamala, Florian, Eric, and even Elliott at this point, even if I don''t want to admit it. Oh, and please don''t go after my mother, please. I won''t forgive that."


    "I won''t! Why would I go after your mother?!"


    Shocked, he couldn''t help but shout.


    "I don''t know, just in case."


    As their conversation was finally ending, the smell of salt entered their nose.


    ...


    They arrived at a cliff directly north of the battlefield, which wasn''t were the Cap of Pearl Waters was.


    "We''re here. What do we do now? Are you going to warp until you arrive?"


    She asked, knowing Orion liked to end things fast.


    "I will probably do that. We''ve already walked for half a day just coming here, so let''s end our search before the sun sets."


    "Alright then, I''ll be waiting for you. Do you mind if I cook something while you go?"


    Shaking his head, Orion opened a small portal, which looked different from the portal he used to travel to Horizon.


    It was like a spiral of completed darkness. Amelia plunged her upper body inside, and took out a few things from the magic.


    "That storage magic is quite handy, I''ll give you that."


    "I don''t know why I never tried to create it. It wasn''t that difficult, as it is similar to Horizon itself."


    Amelia plunged again in the storage portal, and took out a table.


    She was now ready to cook.


    "Alright, I''m going then. From the distance, I should be coming back around an hour or two."


    "I''ll be cooking a long meal then. See you later."


    When Orion would return, their supper would be ready. While Orion traveled around the coast''s cliffs, Amelia enjoyed the sound of the crashing waves on the rocks below, and the wind blowing through her hair.


    ...


    Exactly two hours later, a portal opened next to her.


    "Amelia, I''m back."


    "Let''s eat then. Everything''s ready."


    "You really can cook anywhere."


    They both sat down and ate. When they finished, the sky was turning orange because of the setting sun.


    After everything was put away, they entered the portal to the Cap of Pearl Waters.


    The scenery wasn''t the beach she was expecting. Orion had stopped still on top of the cliff.


    "Here."


    He opened another portal.


    "Be my guest."


    Directing her through the portal, Amelia found herself in awe.


    "This is..."