The sound of footsteps echoed through the empty, inclined pathway.


    Three people walked in the darkness before Noah used his light element to see the path in front of them.


    Tetra wasn''t affected by the darkness because she knew the right path by heart at this point, but for the other two, it wasn''t the case.


    They walked for ten minutes until the path began to break down.


    Silently, the two Heroes followed behind Tetra, who ignored two of the paths and walked through the leftmost opening.


    Then, they continued to walk down the rocky passageway with no other change in direction. Until they arrived at a wall.


    "This looks like a dead end."


    Orion observed the wall intently.


    "Knowing them, this is most likely a faint."


    To that, Noah nodded.


    "I agree with you. This wall is pretty suspicious."


    His instinct was right. As soon as Tetra approached the wall, it dissipated into a thick mist and flowed further into the path.


    ''Correct.''


    Inside his head, Tetra nodded in agreement.


    ''There''s still a lot to get through, so get ready to walk for quite some time.''


    Giving a warning to Orion, she then stopped talking altogether.


    Orion could feel the conflicting feelings coming from her, but chose to remain silent about them.


    It wasn''t difficult to understand her perspective. A place she and Henrietta guarded for thousands of years in complete secrecy was being revealed to outsiders.


    As the group continued, they arrived at a large cave opening.


    "Is that water I''m hearing?"


    As soon as they walked deeper, Noah noticed the clear sound of running water.


    "I hear it too. It comes from that area."


    Pointing toward the water, Orion looked into the distance. Noah threw a ball of light toward the ceiling, which illuminated the entire cave.


    In the distance, a deep, eroded by water, fissure appeared. It was at least twenty meters wide, separating the two sides with crystalline waters.


    The large cavern had two openings. One behind them, leading back to where they had come from, and one in front of them, which led even deeper into the earth.


    "This way."


    Tetra suddenly turned toward the flowing water and, without another word, stopped inches away from falling into the water.


    "..."


    Without commenting on her weird behavior, they joined her.


    *Vuuuum*


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    A quiet sound akin to glass vibrating echoed when Tetra took a step into the air.


    At first, Orion thought that she was going to jump, but seeing her foot being illuminated by a strange magic and that it was floating into the air, he opened his eyes wide.


    Continuing unbothered, Tetra crossed the twenty meters effortlessly, as if she were walking on the same rocky path as before.


    Noah and Orion looked at each other before the former shrugged.


    "What can happen at this point?"


    "True."


    Side by side, the Heroes stepped into empty air and felt a solid texture where nothing was seen.


    Only the light around their feet and the sound of glass vibrating were confirmations of their safety.


    As Tetra arrived at the other side and glanced over her shoulder, she nodded at the two following without showing fear.


    Orion and Noah finally walked on the rocky ground, and Tetra continued forward.


    Again, she came face-to-face with a solid wall.


    Her finger drew a circle on the wall, which flashed for a second before turning into the symbol of a snake biting its own tail.


    ''This symbol...''


    Pondering the symbol, he obtained an answer.


    ''This is Enri''s symbol as a Remnant. She never shows it, since she hates it.''


    ''I see.''


    Having obtained an answer, he let go of the matter.


    Again, the wall decayed into mist as the three walked through the arching entrance, reforming behind them.


    ...


    The entire place was a labyrinth.


    At times, Tetra stopped in the middle of a rocky passage, turned to a wall, and walked through it, leading them on another path.


    The entire cavern system was a defense mechanism for the Remnants inhabiting the underground of the Talviera Mountain Range.


    Tiohr-nam''s roots weren''t able to reach this place either, and no one in their sane mind would even attempt to search for them here.


    After a long stretch in the emptiness of the cavern system, they finally arrived at their goal.


    "A door?"


    Noah walked next to Tetra and stared at the door embedded into the wall.


    "We''ve arrived."


    With an apprehensive look, Tetra walked to the door and placed her hand on the doorknob.


    It was a simple wooden door in a large cave. There was no other doorway leading out apart from the one that brought them here.


    After hesitating for a brief instant, Tetra nodded to herself and turned the doorknob.


    *Creak*


    The old door squeaked as if it hadn''t been opened for a long time. In fact, that was the case.


    Even though Tetra remembered the exact path to arrive here, she had taken it only once before.


    Her memories of the path were perfectly preserved.


    "Enri..."


    As she opened the door, her eyes fell on her friend, who slowly turned her head to meet her.


    "Tetra. Good work bringing them here."


    Walking inside the dimly lit room, Tetra nodded.


    A few seconds later, Orion and Noah entered before they closed the door behind them.


    The first thing Orion did was look at Henrietta.


    ''She''s looking rather pale.''


    ''Hmm~''


    Confirming his thoughts, Tetra agreed. After a brief silence, she continued.


    ''She''s afraid. Her eyes are anchored on you.''


    He already knew that. It was one thing to trust him, but another to actually make him come to their hideout.


    ''I''ll be careful not to aggravate her.''


    ''Please do.''


    Making sure not to move further than necessary, Orion quietly waited.


    "So, this is where we meet again."


    Noah walked between him and Henrietta, catching her attention. The expression on his face was a forceful smile.


    He tried to alleviate the heaviness in the room by becoming the center of attention.


    "Noah, I''m sorry, but would you mind sitting over there for a moment?"


    Henrietta ignored his attempt and pointed at a chair on the other side of the table.


    "I tried."


    With a shrug, he walked to the place he was instructed to go.


    "I suppose it''s between us?"


    Orion asked with a faint smile. There was no mockery in it, which Henrietta noticed.


    "This was a very difficult choice to make."


    She began to talk, her eyes deeply fixated on his body.


    "Yet, the fact that you knew about my power was the reason for this meeting."


    "I understand. I came here ready to answer any questions you might have about a range of things that wouldn''t impact this era."


    Without moving an inch, he watched as Tetra walked next to Henrietta.


    "We get that you aren''t hostile to us. That''s not why we are carefully examining you. It''s the fact that you clearly know more about us than you should."


    Henrietta crossed her arms and continued with a severe frown.


    "Even if it were true that you protected us in the future, there are things I wouldn''t say openly to anyone besides Tetra."


    "For example... the way my powers as a Remnant work."


    He could see the suspicion in her eyes.


    "Orion."


    His eyes flickered at the sudden call, knowing that what she was about to say was important.


    "I am unable to see a single piece of information about you."


    Touching the book lying open on the table, she grabbed it and carefully held it from below to show a page.


    On it was the name ''Orion Feales'', which was the only information he had given.


    But, everything on the page was a blank slate.


    "You have no future, Orion. At least, in this era, your existence is..."


    His eyes drifted to the white page.


    "Invalid..."


    This was difficult to accept. Whatever Orion was about to do in the future, nothing would matter, as his actions would be unable to affect the course of history.


    ''In a way, that''s a relief.''


    Closing his eyes, a faint smile formed at the corner of his mouth, rapidly disappearing as quickly as it came.


    ''You won''t have to fear affecting the past, but still, be careful.''


    ''We have no idea if this could change.''


    In his head, Tetra''s voice warned him once again.


    "I made you come all this way, so please, answer my question."


    Henrietta leaned forward, making Orion nod in response.


    "Like I said, I''ll answer anything I am capable of."


    She nodded and went straight for it.


    "Where did you learn about my power? I am unable to believe Tetra was foolish enough to provide you that information freely."


    "Did you steal some of her memories?"


    Shock appeared on his face.


    "No, of course not. That wouldn''t even cross my mind."


    Orion honestly answered without even thinking about it.


    "I suppose you aren''t lying. You weren''t possibly lying when you stated that she was family to you, so this I can trust."


    The emotions on his face showed that he truly couldn''t believe this was a possibility.


    "Then... I have only one guess."


    Standing up from her chair, she ignored Tetra next to her and approached Orion.


    The fear in her eyes was as plain as day, but she still came closer.


    Stopping right in front of him, she asked the most unexpected question that even O


    rion wasn''t expecting.


    "You and Tetra... were a thing?"


    His brain was entirely shut down at the end of those words.


    ''...''


    Inside Orion''s core, the future Tetra blanked out.


    ''Huh?''


    The words finally registered in both of them.


    "What did you say?"