"There have been fewer attacks as of late, but we can''t very much be complacent, aren''t we?"


    Orion opened the door to the Remnant''s meeting room.


    "I agree with you, but you cannot continue non-stop without even taking a break."


    "Depend on us more. When we need you, we''ll call for you. Can''t you relax for just a day?"


    Tetra and Noah were having a light argument. When Orion arrived in the room, Henrietta acknowledged his presence with a quick glance.


    Noah also noticed him, but he couldn''t ignore the person he was speaking to.


    "If I take a moment to relax, will you stop asking?"


    Done with the conversation, he gave up.


    "One day per week, unless you are required somewhere. If you were to fight Miasma with a tired mind when I could''ve prevented it, do you think I''d be able to leave with the guilt?"


    Noah sighed, slowly shaking his head left and right.


    "I get it. I''ll rest for the day."


    "Good. Every so often, you don''t have to act as if the entire fate of the world rests on your shoulders. You''re also your own unique self. Treasure yourself as much as we treasure you."


    Tetra finally noticed Orion, but she frowned immediately at his presence.


    "The same goes for you. I know you''re the same as Noah. If we don''t keep an eye on you, you''ll suffer alone somewhere out of our sight."


    Orion snorted while lifting his hands in a defeated way.


    "Guilty of charge."


    He sat next to Henrietta and crossed his arms.


    Tetra relaxed and smiled, which made the mood less prickly.


    "I know you two are grown men. In the end, pulling your ears is all I can do."


    When Noah sat at the table, she sat next to him, lightly pushing a strand of her pink hair behind her right ear.


    ''I''m of the same opinion, since I''m the one who said it. Maybe you two are thinking that I''m the pestering type of woman and that I''m forceful, but that''s really all I can do.''


    ''It''s impossible for me to stand on the same battlefield as you. That''s why I— no, we all— want you to be careful. Being a coward isn''t shameful in any way.''


    ''This is much better than being dead.''


    Orion internally nodded. After throwing himself into all kinds of matters in the past, only now could he understand the weight behind her concern.


    But even after understanding her, he did not regret any of his past choices. It was because of them that he survived his intended fate.


    "So. Now that I have nothing else to do today, do you want to go somewhere, Orion?"


    Tetra dropped her head and clenched her fists.


    Lifting her head, she glared at him while biting her lower lips frustratingly.


    "..."


    "That''s a rather cute expression you''re making."


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Orion couldn''t help himself and openly gave a small compliment, but no one knew that he was, in fact, talking to the Tetra inside his core.


    "There''s no point if it''s you complimenting me! Damn it!"


    Like a child throwing a tantrum, Tetra slammed her fists on the table lightly.


    "You''re not even hiding it anymore."


    Henrietta smirked as her best friend breathed in and out to compose herself.


    "Anyway, where do you want to go?"


    After a few seconds, she calmed down and asked with genuine curiosity.


    ''I''m a really lunatic person. This is eye-opening.''


    ''Am I like this to you?''


    Orion pondered for a moment, searching for the best way to answer. In the end, he chose sincerity.


    ''You can be heavy in certain situations.''


    ''Oh...''


    She sounded very disheartened, but he wasn''t done answering.


    ''But I like that. It gives you a certain charm that others don''t have.''


    ''Oh!''


    Her mood shot straight through the roof and made her hum in euphoria as she received praise.


    Orion was more open to her advance than Noah ever was, and she found that refreshing. With Orion, she could go overboard, and he wouldn''t judge her for it.


    As Noah pondered her question, Henrietta observed Orion silently.


    Each time he was in the room, she wondered how far Orion was planning to go to succeed in his plan.


    Since she was the only one in this room who knew that he was planning to simulate Noah''s death and actually make the world believe it, her mind couldn''t wrap around the many ideas she developed toward this goal.


    She wanted to ask him more about his plans, but even after three years, she was unable to bring herself to take the first step.


    Occasionally, Orion appeared to be deeply in thought. He was a mysterious man, impossible to understand, even after scouring the ''Book of Fate'' numerous times.


    "I feel like going south. I want to check the border on that infinite frozen landscape."


    "You''re mad... You haven''t listened to a single word I''ve spoken."


    Tetra sighed, knowing that the place Noah wanted to go was a haven for corrupt beasts.


    "But fine. If that''s what you want, I won''t hold you back."


    After making up her mind, she stood up.


    "Let''s go, Orion. I want to discuss something with you while there."


    Nodding, Orion stood up alongside Noah, and both walked next to the pink-haired Remnant.


    "Be careful. I haven''t been made aware of an attack, but knowing you two are prone to trouble, don''t let your guard down."


    "Don''t worry, Enri. If I ever get a vision, I''ll notice them immediately."


    Seeing her friend nod, Tetra placed her hands on their shoulders and warped away.


    ...


    "It''s so fucking cold!"


    Holding her shaking body, Tetra glared at the snow. She was surrounded by snow-white matter piling on in every direction, while the frozen wind stung her skin with each caress.


    "I hate..."


    *Chii~*


    She sneezed cutely and sniffled as her nose instantly turned red.


    "I don''t get any of you! I''m going back!"


    Without waiting for an answer, she warped back to Henrietta.


    ''I really hate cold places. I am glad Horizon isn''t a frozen wasteland like this place.''


    ''And I''m relieved your core is so warm...''


    The sweetness in her voice made Orion smile without noticing it.


    Both Noah and Orion looked in front of them, unbothered by the cold air.


    "Is it something you don''t mind the two of them listening in?"


    Orion immediately went to the matter at hand. In fact, he had an inkling as to what Noah wanted to discuss in this kind of place.


    "This isn''t a secret topic, so it''s fine."


    ''Well, I''m here, so it''s not a secret between you two anyway.''


    Tetra giggled slightly, knowing she wouldn''t receive an answer from Orion just for having a bit of fun.


    "Is it about Miasma, as I thought?"


    Noah nodded. Instantly, Tetra stopped joking and grew serious.


    "We both know where that monster is. The only problem is how far into that land he is hiding. I could always rush and kill whatever attacks me, but I can feel countless eyes looking toward us presently."


    "And not the small kind of gaze. There are at least hundreds of large corrupt creations lurking in that perpetual storm."


    Their eyes stared into the land Elliott had freed in the far future.


    "I have no clear idea where that place is. I''ve been there once, but with no actual landmark to confirm its position."


    "It was so brief that I haven''t even walked out of the building."


    Orion gave his honest answer.


    After Elliott crushed the warp crystal, and Orion followed him inside the laboratory Miasma worked in to research the corruption, he only set his eyes on the inside of the dilapidated building.


    Once the portal closed, the only way to return to the Frigoria Plains was by foot. The warp crystals were always designed to be a one-way bridge.


    "It''s fine. I wasn''t planning to step foot in that place. I am not suicidal."


    "I am not lying when I say that hundreds of powerful enemies are waiting for us to enter their territory."


    Both knew how dangerous that entire piece of land was. Even together, they wouldn''t hold on long enough to clear it entirely.


    The ''Giant Corrupt'' beasts, the ''Corrupted Lords'', and the unlimited amount of basic corrupt beasts walking the land.


    Elliott described the place to Orion. Even in the future, it was a nightmarish place, but in the past, it was a hundred times more perilous.


    Everything was alive and well. It wasn''t the same as when Elliott and Nylon entered the plains.


    "It''s not worth it. We''ll have our opportunity to strike the day Miasma attacks us."


    Orion crossed his arms and glared into the storm. He was waiting for that day with impatience.


    The day when he could return to his family.


    "I understand. It was just a hope of mine. Maybe by striking him down early, we would avoid that dreadful day."


    "My thoughts were the same as yours. But I believe nothing would have changed. Fate isn''t easily broken, and I can vouch for it with every fiber of my being."


    Noah nodded. Through the many stories Orion told him from his era, he understood the importance of following one''s fate.


    But he also knew that he had the power to defy his end, just like Orion did. He rebuilt the motivation to return alive to his family, which he had abandoned at the beginning.


    All of this happened thanks to one man, Orion.


    As they both silently listened to the raging storm in the distance, a loud howl full of agony echoed in the white vastness.


    "!"


    "Where did that come from?"


    Orion turned his head toward the approximate direction of the sound. He activated ''Eagle Eye'' and observed the area.


    ''I don''t see anything.''


    Tetra also shared his vision, looking alongside him like she often did.


    ''Since I haven''t appeared to tell you of a dangerous event, I either haven''t received a vision or no one is in danger.''


    Giving a quick warning to him, she pondered.


    "That was a wolf."


    Orion knew very well about this type of howling. Sirius, in his Abyssal form, also shared the similarities of a wolf.


    "There."


    Orion pointed at the area that appeared to be the focus of their conversation, and Noah frowned gravely.


    "That is not a normal amount of corrupt beasts rushing to that place. Why?"


    Hundreds of corrupt beasts answered the cry of the wolf and rushed inside a frozen meadow.


    "There''s only one way to know."


    Orion looked into the air.


    "Henrietta, Tetra, we''re going to check. If it''s dangerous, come pick us up immediately."


    "..."


    Nothing happened.


    "In that case, we''ll have to check."


    Instantly, the two Heroes leaned forward and rushed toward the horde of corrupt beasts, ready to get the answers to their questions.