A light in the darkness.


    The wide, flashy light, akin to a will-o-wisp, followed the trajectory across an entire system shaped like an infinity symbol.


    ''...''


    After three years, Orion was beginning to understand the nature of his magic.


    The void magic was still impossible to bring out in its entirety, but its overall growth turned out to be ten times stronger than any magic he used in the past.


    It became a ticking bomb that would inevitably explode out of him the day the curse was cleansed from his system.


    With the void element following his every command, the frail, tiny speck of magic became a powerhouse that enveloped his entire core, lighting a fire so bright that no one would ever extinguish it.


    ''This is frustrating. I can feel it growing. This power isn''t the same anymore, but I have no way to actually judge whether it will be contained by my will or not.''


    Another voice echoed, answering his worries.


    ''Nothing is impossible for you, isn''t it? Meditating was the greatest choice you''ve ever made so far.''


    As Tetra sweetly whispered those encouraging words, Orion''s third eye observed the void element turn into a bright star, illuminating his core.


    The residue of light magic from Alyssia and the dark magic residue from Alaric both spun around it, acting in symbiosis with the powerful energy.


    ''I wouldn''t have had this opportunity if not for you. I''m grateful.''


    The two grew closer during these three years, pushing each other when they felt overwhelmed by their current situation.


    ''...''


    Orion closed his eyes and crossed his arms.


    ''She''s at it again... When will he stop?''


    ''Probably never. I had no idea it would turn out like this.''


    ''Yet, you don''t look really bothered by her actions.''


    Slightly nodding, he opened his eyes. He could hear the discontent in her voice, but there was nothing she could do, as she was unable to even touch Orion.


    ''Why would I? I''m really close to them, so I have reason to act differently now.''


    ''Do whatever!''


    Tetra acted more possessively by the day, which made Orion smile. He began to really appreciate her presence and emotions toward him.


    ''Alright, time to wake up.''


    Orion''s third eye closed, and his breathing returned to normal.


    "..."


    "Fuuu~"


    "Nia, stop that already. Don''t bother him."


    The twins, now eighteen, were clinging to Orion as he meditated.


    "Why? He never says anything. It''s not like I''m doing anything bad to him. Fuuu~"


    Again, Nia blew air into Orion''s right ear while crawling on his lap. Mia was leaning on his shoulders from the back, trying to push her sister away from Orion''s face.


    They were as petite as Orion remembered, having the same height they would have in the future.


    A low sigh escaped Orion''s mouth as his anthracite eyes opened slowly.


    "You two again."


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "I did nothing wrong! Why am I included?"


    Mia suddenly jumped at his awakening and glared at her sister, who was still sitting on Orion''s lap.


    Since Orion was in a crossed-legged position, it was the perfect seat for her.


    "Haha~"


    "Don''t laugh! It''s all your fault!"


    "Please defend me, Orion!"


    The twins began to fight lightly, pushing each other and Orion, bickering about who was to blame.


    "..."


    A faint smile formed on his face as a peaceful feeling developed in his core. Orion leaned to the side, grabbed Mia''s arm, and pulled her next to her younger sister.


    "!"


    Before she could understand anything, she was sitting on his right thigh, while Nia was sitting on the opposite one.


    "What are you..."


    Perplexed, she slowly looked at his face. She could see his warm smile and the giggling face of her sister, which irritated her even more.


    "Relax a little. You don''t have to be on edge at all times. You can be selfish sometimes, too."


    "Look at your sister."


    Both looked at Nia, who had her hair lightly caressed by Orion.


    "Hue?"


    ''What was that cute sound?!''


    Tetra suddenly exclaimed, feeling a fraternal feeling take over her at the sight of this adorable creature.


    "Hmm~"


    Mia began to mumble as she pondered. On one hand, she was jealous of her sister, but on the other, she was stubbornly trying to avoid showing affection toward him.


    Even though it was already too late for that, it wouldn''t have been Mia otherwise.


    Orion slowly reached for her head when she crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks.


    "I''ll allow it this time."


    Chuckling at her haughty tone, Orion nodded.


    "Yes, my Queen. I will oblige."


    He placed his hand on her brown hair and gently caressed it.


    "It''s good that you understand."


    A faint but sweet smile replaced her pouting face, which made Nia immediately tease her in return.


    "You should''ve been more honest from the star-"


    But the glare she received in return forced her to look away and shut her mouth.


    ''We''ve seriously messed up in the past. These two were so sweet, and yet, we''ve practically forced on them a tragic life.''


    ''I''ve ignored these two when I could have taken them in. I''m sure life would''ve been more interesting like it is currently, instead of making them witness the cruel state of the world.''


    As the two melted under Orion''s pampering, Tetra continued.


    ''Henrietta birthed Amelia just to be sent to death, even though it tortured her for years. We really are terrible adults.''


    Orion continued in silence, believing that Tetra knew exactly what he would say in this situation.


    ''Your silence is louder than any words. You know how to deal with me now, don''t you?''


    He heard a light chuckle in his head, lifting the heavy mood she was falling into.


    ''It''s been quite some time, so of course I do. Let me tell you this instead:''


    ''What''s important isn''t the beginning, but the end.''


    An acknowledging grunt entered his ears, making him turn his attention to the twins again.


    "How long have I stayed in a trance? From how hungry I feel, I''d estimate twelve hours."


    Nia ignored his question and continued to enjoy his caress like a cat, while Mia looked at him with semi-raptured eyes.


    The fog in her head lifted as she heard his voice, and she rapidly recovered her composure.


    "Y-Yes. That''s correct. We entered this room around two hours ago, I think. You were still unresponsive, but we kept quiet."


    "That stupid sister of mine only began to bother you when you appeared to be in discomfort."


    Nia smiled and opened her mouth without thinking.


    "The sparkling stars were pretty."


    "Hmm?"


    Orion tilted his head.


    "What about sparkling stars?"


    Mia sighed and rubbed her eyebrows.


    "I thought I told you not to speak about that."


    "Bu~ut"


    She wanted to slap her younger sister''s head to wake her up from her daydreaming state, but as she would rather not break away from her share of caresses, she contained herself.


    Instead, she answered him with her relatively low knowledge about magic.


    "How do I explain this?"


    "Take your time."


    While nodding, she pondered.


    "When you were in a trance, sometimes your body emitted some kinds of particles above you."


    "After a while, they began to accumulate and turn into stars. They rapidly vanished, but they were... pretty."


    Surprised, Orion asked her another question.


    "Black and white stars?"


    "Yes, but also weird stars that moved differently than others."


    "How so?"


    "They looked rather... everywhere? I don''t know how to explain that correctly. One moment they were in one spot, another moment they were somewhere else."


    Mia looked perplexed, as if afraid that Orion would not believe her.


    "So they were warping around. Do you recall their color?"


    She did. In no way did they ever forget the beautiful stars they saw today.


    "It was like looking at the night sky inside those stars, but they also had a strange glow to them."


    Leaving her with her memories of the event, Orion turned to Tetra.


    ''What could that mean? Is void magic escaping my body alongside the other two elements?''


    Tetra pondered alongside him. She had an inkling, but no proof to push her point.


    ''Maybe it isn''t your elements escaping, but only a manifestation of your innate power?''


    ''You''ve been nurturing the void element for three years straight now. This is time you didn''t have in the past to focus on your elements.''


    Orion instinctively nodded.


    ''You''re right. But if it''s a manifestation of my abilities, isn''t that dangerous for others around me?''


    ''This appears to be a type of ''Magic Diffusion''. If so, it is incredibly hazardous to stay around me when I meditate.''


    The more magicules were in the air, the more others were susceptible to falling sick. Depending on the amount, it could even kill them.


    ''I don''t think it is even close to a ''Magic Diffusion''. If I had to call it...''


    Pondering for a few seconds, Tetra gave Orion a new ability.


    ''I''ll give it the name of ''Blooming Aura''. Doesn''t that sound romantic?''


    Knowing Tetra, he knew he could let her give names to his abilities without fretting too much over it.


    She was the one who gave him many abilities until now.


    ''That''s the eighth shackle ability, by the way.''


    ''Huh?''


    Orion felt confused. This was a topic he had completely forgotten.


    ''Out of the shackles binding your soul, you''ve unlocked eight of them. I know all of them, but I am unable to speak to you about them. I don''t know your future, but I know everything about ''you''.''


    ''The first level was the ''Dragon Tongue'' that Monolavir unlocked for you. Next were the ''Light Magic Enhancements'' obtained during the fairy matter.''


    ''Third was ''Magic diffusion'', which was discovered after leaving the fairy realm.''


    ''When you arrived at Hocride, you''ve created the fourth one, ''Void Magic''. Later on, after your battle against Elliott, came the fifth unlock through your faction traits, ''Angel and Demon Lineage''.''


    ''Fighting against the giant eel in Noctelagia came the sixth one, ''Multi-Weapon'', which we''ve used in tandem once in the past.''


    ''In seventh place, we obviously have the ''Abyssal Sovereign'' power. This was also something I knew, but I had no idea what it actually was.''


    ''Now, we''re at the eighth unlock, the ''Blooming Aura''. It''s unclear to me how it''s going to influence your life, but it should in a good way.''


    Listening to her, Orion nodded.


    ''I trust you. You''ve never led me astray.''


    ''That''s incredible praise you''ve spoken to me. Are you alright?''


    ''When did you start being rude like that?''


    ''Haha~''


    Tetra laughed heartily, but inside, she kept something hidden from him. Information she had no idea how to process.


    She could feel an eleventh lock through her Remnant power. One ultimate lock that shouldn''t exist.


    Not knowing what to make of it, she quietly and silently placed this piece of information in the corner of her mind.


    As both were arriving at the end of their conversation, Orion stopped caressing the twins.


    "Alright. I have to talk to Noah. Sorry about that, girls. I''ll entertain you later."


    "Heee~h"


    Disappointed, Nia unwillingly stood up. Mia followed without saying a word, but the disappointment was clearly visible on her face.


    "I guess it can''t be helped..."


    Feeling a tug in his heart, Orion wanted to keep them close to him, but he still had a duty.


    It was his duty to correct the course of history. To lie to the entire world and protect his future with everyone.


    He walked to the door and looked at them.


    "See you later."