"..."


    An unforeseen situation was currently happening in Horizon, a day after Orion resolved the vortex problem.


    Sitting at the dining table, which had to be upgraded to a larger one to accommodate the new residents, were everyone currently living in the house.


    Amelia had called everyone for a meeting, as she was the most bothered actually.


    The problem wasn''t easy to ignore, and it was obvious to everyone.


    "Orion."


    "Yes, Amelia?"


    The culprit was, of course, Orion. He was the reason of her anger.


    "I am fine with you getting more women. I said it before."


    She glanced over each and every newly added family members. Starting from Olivia, Dramia, Drania, Deveralna, and lastly, May. She was definitely thinking of Senia too as she glanced behind her toward the wall, in direction of the Siren Sea.


    "Yes."


    He nodded, while everyone gulped. All they needed right now was to get on the wrong side of Amelia, the main lover.


    "What I have a problem is..."


    Amelia seemed like she was about to lash out at him, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth.


    She opened her arms wide and smiled dryly.


    "How am I supposed to feed everyone? There''s way too many people that I alone am incapable of producing enough food."


    They all stared at Amelia with a confused expression.


    ''That''s it?''


    Was all that formed in their head. This was the tamest reaction they expected of her.


    "Do you have anything that could help with that?"


    Orion slowly closed his eyes and thought.


    "Well, for a start, you''ve forbidden me from helping, so I guess this is not an option."


    He smiled and shrugged.


    "We''re twelve. That''s way too many people for you to handle, I agree. Dramia."


    When he opened his eyes, he turned to look at the fairy who was listening until now.


    "Me?"


    With a cold expression characteristic of her personality, she glance toward him.


    "I know you''ve cook together with Amelia before. Could I ask you to help her?"


    "..."


    She looked as Orion bowed his head slightly.


    "Why are you being so respectful all of the sudden. Do I look like someone who would refuse?"


    "No."


    "Hmpf!"


    Even as she puffed her cheeks and looked away, everyone could notice the smile on her face.


    ''She''s happy to be the first one I called, isn''t she?''


    "I''ll volunteer."


    Henrietta raised her right hand high above her hand.


    "Tetra cannot cook a single thing, so I''ll do it. We need to be of use somehow, or we''ll feel like freeloaders."


    With a smile, she looked toward Amelia.


    "It''s also a good opportunity to spend time together."


    Amelia nodded, a happy smile on her face.


    She stopped and looked at everyone.


    "Someone else would like to participate?"


    Karteira, Deveralna, May, and Tetra both shook their head. They were all a disaster in the kitchen, just like Orion.


    "That just leaves... Drania and Olivia?"


    Olivia stood up from her chair and stared inside Amelia''s pearl colored eyes.


    "I can do anything if it a dessert. Not much about an actual meal, I am afraid."


    "Me too! I can only cook sugary stuff!"


    With obvious exhilaration, Drania jumped of the chair and exclaimed.


    Dramia, as per usual, placed her hand in front of her eyes and sighed.


    "Me too?"


    A cute but small voice that no one expected to hear suddenly emerged from the chaos.


    "Stella? You want to help too?"


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    With a charming and motherly smile, Amelia asked Stella. The little girl nodded, a bit shyly.


    "C-Can I learn?"


    Every single women in the room felt the need to protect this little creature. Her eyes shone with interest, so how could Amelia refuse.


    "What does dad think?"


    "..."


    Orion being the last wall separating Stella from helping Amelia and everyone in the kitchen, she waited anxiously while grabbing the table edge.


    His gaze moved to Stella, and for a moment that seemed like an eternity to her, his answer finally came out.


    "If she wants to learn, why not? It will probably take time to have her learn all of it, though."


    "But even so, Stella. Do your best."


    He was so gentle with Stella that those who weren''t used to it thought that this Orion was a copycat of the original, with more compassion than ever. Yet, as they sat there, they could only hope to get that treatment in the future.


    Amelia opened the notebook sitting in front of her at the table, and began to write in it.


    "So... Dramia and Henrietta are my helpers, plus Stella when she wants to help. That is for the meals. We have Drania and Olivia for the dessert making part, also adding Stella."


    "We''ll rotate each day so that you don''t feel bored. Since we have seven days, you will rotate between even and odd days each weeks. Is that fine by you four?"


    She stopped writing and looked at the concerned members. Henrietta nodded, but asked in return.


    "What about you? Are you fine doing it everyday?"


    As someone who had never failed a day of preparing their meals, Amelia nodded.


    "I like doing it, and there''s no reason to stop either. I just need help to prepare food for twelve people. But..."


    With a pleading gaze, Amelia turned to Orion.


    "I know those eyes. Do you need something?"


    "You know me so well. In fact, I do. Is it possible to get a few more kitchen appliances? I need another oven, and a larger sink. We have to buy a lot of plates and tableware, followed with-"


    "I will get you all of that!"


    Deveralna suddenly cut in and stood from her chair, slamming her open hand on her chest that jiggled slightly.


    "Whatever you need, I will buy it for you. I can''t have Orion continue to pay for all of us without ever repaying him!"


    They all nodded, thinking of his wallet. Sure, he was loaded with cash, but there was a limit. Thirteen mouths to feed was going to be hard on his finances, counting Sirius too.


    "Are you fine with that Orion?"


    You could see on his face that he definitely wasn''t ''fine'' with it, but he swallowed his pride and let it go for good.


    "Sure. If Deveralna is alright with that, I am too."


    ''I will use the money I have to buy them presents then.''


    Hearing the words of approval coming out of him, Deveralna let out a beaming smile, seemingly delighted to be able to help.


    The many women of the house, even if they sometimes looked at each other with jealousy, could maintain a pleasant atmosphere thanks to him. He would not ignore their words, which made them accepted in return.


    They needed time to get accustomed to one another, and conflicts would arrive sooner than later, but that was how a family was in the end.


    Nothing is always all sunshine, and Orion knew it better than anyone else.


    The discussion between the women continue while Orion moved in the living room along Karteira, May, Deveralna, and Tetra.


    "If only I knew how to cook."


    Karteira sat on the couch closest to her with a defeated gaze.


    "Everyone has their talents. And I''m sure it''s fine, you need more practice, that''s all."


    He sat next to her and patted her head.


    "But I really wanted to be of use to Amelia. She''s done so much for me, and I can''t do a single thing for her."


    "Just eat what she cooked, that would suffice."


    With a glance, Karteira looked toward the owner of the voice, Tetra.


    "What do you mean?"


    You could hear a frustration in her voice, but Tetra ignored it.


    "I am like you. I can''t repay Enri for all these years she took care of me. It ate at me so much I asked her. That''s when she told me."


    -


    "We don''t cook for people to be indebted to us. We do it because we like seeing others enjoy what we make. A simple ''thank you'' is more than enough. Also, finish you plate! Those peas won''t eat themselves do they?!"


    -


    Tetra smiled while recalling the past.


    "You hate peas?"


    "Never liked them."


    "Me neither... I don''t like peas."


    May asked with a mocking smile, Tetra shrugged, and Deveralna looked defeated just thinking about it. The atmosphere turned friendly after that point.


    "I see. Just ''thank you'', right?"


    Understanding the words she was told, she warmed up to Tetra.


    "Yes. You will probably find a way to thank her with actions, but for now, this should suffice, don''t you think?"


    She nodded.


    "You''re right. Thank you."


    "My pleasure."


    The pink haired woman then walked toward Orion and sat next to him. Karteira silently looked at her, ready to stop her at any time with her scorpion tail if she tried anything funny.


    "Do you need something?"


    When he asked that question, he suddenly noticed Tetra''s index finger approaching his face. Cautious, he looked for any sign of an attack, but relaxed when he noticed it was nothing dangerous.


    "Focus on my finger for a moment."


    Her nail touched his forehead, and Orion felt slightly dizzy.


    "What are you doing to him?"


    Curious, Deveralna asked the question May and Karteira wanted to ask.


    "Training his senses. He wanted me to help with his affinity to control ''Space'', did he not?"


    "Oh!"


    All three in unison exclaimed after remembering.


    "Stay quiet for a minute, he needs to relax. Also, Karteira?"


    "Yes?"


    "Hold his hand. It will be easier for him to relax. You two, do the same."


    Orion felt the world spin, and spin. Nothing was like he remembered, his vision was distorted, and for once, felt incredibly sick.


    "What is this disgusting feeling?"


    He said, not knowing if he was thinking or talking.


    "This is what ''Space'' feels like. Calling it ''disgusting'' is a little rude, but I get why you would think that."


    As he was struggling heavily to contain his nausea, two hot grips alongside an ice cold one managed to catch his attention.


    ''Karteira... Deveralna... and May.''


    The feeling of twisting space never let up, by his mind grew accustomed bit by bit.


    ''Am I spinning? Or am I standing straight? I don''t know.''


    "I am going to show you for a brief instant, at the cost of an injury, what time can do. You better heal me, alright?"


    His vision blacked out, and an infinite see of particles extended in front of him.


    ''Where am I?''


    He felt like he was sitting. His body couldn''t move, but he felt movement. Either his body moved by itself, or the surroundings moved, he didn''t knew.


    "One of us disappeared, I fear that-"


    "You can''t do that! Are you asking us to-"


    "Stella, you sure grew up fine. Is it because of-"


    "Even my broken mind... you truly are-"


    "I can''t control it! Help me-"


    "A disgrace! You are such a disgrace! I should have killed you-"


    "Orion? Orion?! No! That can''t be-"


    "Me? I''m-"


    ''My head!''


    Orion grabbed his head in pain, hearing the countless voices overlapping in succession.


    *Snap*


    The sound of snapping fingers brought him out of the space. He blinked a few times to adjust his vision back to normal.


    "S-Space and Time, they b-both hold the same significance. I d-don''t know what you saw, but that is the path that *cough* will play for you."


    When his vision adjusted, he looked Tetra, drenched in sweat, blood dripping out of her mouth.


    ''Fuck!''


    He hurriedly placed his hand covered with light magic on her chest and healed her back to normal.


    ...


    "Much better. Thank you."


    Tetra smiled as if nothing had happened.


    "Don''t do that again. If you die on me, there will be a price to pay."


    "Oh! Scary! So... what did you see?"


    Her playfulness vanished, leaving a strange seriousness unusual to her behind.


    "I don''t know, I only heard voices. I couldn''t recognize their voices as it played too quickly."


    "That is a shame. I thought it would help you get the upper hand against Miasma, but alas. My power as weakened a lot it seems."


    With frustration in her voice, she stared at her hand.


    "Anyways, did you understand a little what ''Space'' is?"


    "Do you mean to say, "What ''Space'' and ''Time'' is"?"


    A satisfied smile formed on her face.


    "Good."


    Orion was starting to understand the similarities between his Void element, and the concept of ''Time and Space'' Tetra ruled over.