"Noah. Are you here?"


    In the man''s room, a lone girl entered.


    "Mia? This is a rarity to see you without your sister."


    Greeting the girl with a smile, Noah closed the book he was writing into and dropped his pen.


    With a stiff expression, Mia approached the table.


    "I have something to ask you. My sister is too mentally fragile currently, and I would rather she rests instead of torturing her mind like I do."


    His smile vanished instantly as he pointed to the chair in front of him.


    "What is it that you want to discuss this time?"


    Mia and Noah often found themselves together when the former wanted to discuss something she couldn''t understand.


    Even though the twins appeared to always be near Orion, Mia depended on Noah for serious matters.


    "I have rarely questioned Orion for the past three years."


    She dropped her gaze, feeling a sharp tinge of guilt as her question left her mouth.


    "But... Who is he?"


    Lifting her head, she looked into Noah''s eyes.


    "He doesn''t talk about himself at all. Nia might not act concerned, but I know she is eager to learn about him."


    "Are we just invisible to him? Or is it something we shouldn''t know for our own sake?"


    Her mind was clear, and her questions were straightforward. Noah wasn''t sure how to answer her, as he also had a secret he kept hidden from others.


    "Are you aware that Orion and I are referred to as Heroes?"


    Giving a small nod as an answer, Mia placed both hands on the table.


    "I heard Tetra blurt out something like that a few times while talking to Henrietta."


    He crossed his arms over the table and leaned forward.


    "This isn''t just a title. It is a symbol that represents our lives. We live to fulfill the duty bestowed by this calling."


    "Of course, it doesn''t mean we are different from everyone else, but the weight of our duty can lead to us distancing ourselves or keeping others within arms'' reach."


    In his eyes, Mia was young enough to be considered his daughter. As he already had a son, he knew how to deal with her question.


    There were some topics he couldn''t bring himself to talk about, just like a father would to their children.


    "Usually, our fate isn''t all roses and happy endings. This is the main problem, and we are aware of it. Can you imagine what usually goes in the head of someone who grasps this reality?"


    Her eyes opened wide, and her shoulders trembled. As her head lowered and her eyes stared at her hands, she nodded.


    "We are more powerful than anyone else, but our future is as fleeting as a flower. To be frank, we are fated to have a horrible death."


    Not holding anything back, he spoke frankly. If she had a desire to learn more about Orion, she needed to acquire the corresponding initial concern for the two Heroes.


    "Does that mean that, to avoid leaving loved ones behind, you chose to remain alone?"


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    This was what Noah hinted at. He simply closed his eyes and remained stoic.


    "That''s insane! Are men stupid?!"


    Slamming her fists on the table, Mia angrily shouted.


    Noah was slightly surprised by her reaction, but still remained composed enough to answer her.


    "This isn''t the first time we''ve been told that. The tendency to take the easiest paths is one of our greatest sins."


    "Sin? What''s that?"


    He shook his head.


    "Don''t mind it. It''s a word that signifies a wrongdoing toward ourselves and others."


    "Instead of walking the difficult path and fighting back our fate, we accept it and live with pain. At least, that was what we were supposed to do."


    "What Orion hides, I also do. We might have different sets of circumstances, but we are the same."


    A sneaky smile formed on his face as he closed his eyes.


    "Now, more than ever."


    Thinking that Orion''s will to fight back rubbed off on him, he couldn''t help but feel his expectations about the future grow.


    ''I''ll go back to them. I swore to him that we''d both make it and return home.''


    This conversation helped him confirm his stance on the matter. There were no hesitations left in his mind.


    "I don''t get everything you''ve said..."


    Opening his eyes, Noah smiled warmly.


    "You don''t have to. All in all, I cannot tell you what Orion''s life was before meeting you. If you want to know that badly, you will have to ask him yourself."


    Frustrated but thankful for the answers, Mia stood up from her seat.


    "Also, I suggest bringing your sister along. This is something both of you need to learn, not just you. Do not shelter your twin sister too much, or it''ll come back and bite you later."


    "You might have different resistances to struggles, but it doesn''t mean she is not allowed to know."


    "And you never know. Maybe it''ll help both of you grow closer and push you two to greater things later."


    Surprised by his sudden advice, she stood in place with a bewildered expression.


    "Do you have a twin too?"


    His words brought her thoughts toward this short question. She recalled immediately that she also knew nothing about the man before her.


    Noah shook his head slowly.


    "I only had a younger brother."


    "Had?"


    His gaze appeared to drift toward an empty spot in his room.


    "It''s nothing important."


    But Mia wasn''t deceived by his dismissal. She remained in her spot until Noah turned to her and noticed the serious glare in her eyes.


    In return, he sighed.


    "Really, it''s nothing."


    "My brother died of sickness. I couldn''t do a thing for him before he passed, not even tell him I loved him."


    His grief-stricken grimace broke her heart.


    Even Noah was unable to understand why he spoke about his personal life to her out of nowhere.


    As he prepared to stand up from his seat, Mia suddenly leaped forward and hugged his face in her arms.


    "Mia?"


    He lightly tapped her arm to make her let go, but she wouldn''t budge.


    "You''re not alone, alright? We cannot replace your family, and I honestly don''t think it''ll be possible."


    "But please—depend on us more. You said it yourself, didn''t you?"


    She pulled away from him.


    "There is no reason to keep us within arms'' reach. Nia and I can be your support. You and Orion are going to break down one day, and we don''t want that."


    As an adult over his thirties, Noah felt strange being comforted by someone as young as Mia.


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    But instead of stubbornly keeping his neutrality and rejecting her words, he nodded and smiled.


    "What are you going to do?"


    "I''ll ask him, together with Nia. I want to know everything."


    She clenched her fists as Noah stood up.


    "I noticed frustration and sadness a few times on his face. How are we supposed to support and comfort him if we don''t understand the source of these feelings?"


    Stretching his hand forward, Noah placed his hand on her brown hair.


    "Then, good luck. I have a feeling it won''t be difficult to make him reveal everything."


    Knowing about those two girls being part of the companions he treasured in the future, it wasn''t difficult for him to see her succeed.


    "Even if he refuses, I won''t give up. And then, it''ll be your turn."


    Pointing at him, she smirked. Then she turned heels and walked out of his room.


    "Man, she''s like a storm. That boldness is quite troublesome."


    He sat down and continued writing in the book as if nothing happened.


    ...


    "I''m coming in."


    Right after finishing her talk with Noah, Mia returned to Orion''s room, where Nia, her twin sister, was.


    Orion was also there meditating. Next to him was the kobold Remnant, watching silently on the side.


    When she wasn''t on her hind legs, she looked like a normal wolf, albeit bigger compared to a normal wolf.


    The air exuding around her was one of a true primal creature. Since she was an animal with greater power, she couldn''t understand the rules created by those around her.


    Instead, it appeared that she chose to only observe Orion and rest now that her life wasn''t in danger anymore.


    As a smart beast, she knew straightaway that the people in the room weren''t here to hurt her.


    Since Orion was deeply working on his powers, Nia had fallen asleep in his bed, mumbling in her slumber.


    "Fluffy~ Warm~"


    Mia sat on the bed and shook her sister to wake her up.


    After a moment, Nia opened her eyes.


    "What? I was having a good dream..."


    Rubbing her right eye with her hand, she straightened.


    "I need to talk to you."


    ...


    After telling her sister about what she discussed with Noah, Mia walked to Orion.


    "All we can do is wait for him to be conscious again."


    "No need."


    He suddenly opened his eyes and stood up from the ground.


    Thanks to Tetra, who always kept an eye on the outside through his senses and relayed some information to him, he knew that she wanted to talk to him.


    Surprised, Mia jumped and fell backward on top of the bed.


    "..."


    Seeing the twins'' expressions, Orion turned to the Remnant, who kept her eyes on him at all times.


    Then he walked to a chair, picked it up, and placed it in front of the bed before sitting on it.


    "I can already guess that you have something important to ask me. What is it?"


    Now that she had her attention, Mia was shocked by her inability to open her mouth.


    She stared at him with frustration as the words were unable to form in her mind.


    "T-That''s..."


    As she began to panic, Nia grabbed her hand.


    Her gaze turned to her twin sister, and courage rose thanks to her.


    As Nia nodded to Mia, Orion clasped his hands together on his thighs, entwining his fingers together.


    ''Whatever they''re going to ask, be careful not to reveal everything.''


    Tetra gave him a quick warning. All she needed now was for Orion to bring even more pressure over him.


    ''I have nothing to hide. If there was one thing I have to absolutely conceal, it''s the relationship we have in the future.''


    Just from one look, he knew that this conversation would be a heavy one. As these young ladies were part of his family, he wanted to at least be honest with them now.


    With Mia making up her mind, she turned to him and met his gaze. Swallowing slowly, she nodded to throw away her doubts.


    When her gaze turned serious, she asked him.


    "W-Who are you?"


    The question shocked Orion, but he rapidly grasped its meaning.


    ''So, the day finally arrived for me to reveal my background.''


    ''...''


    Silently hoping for the best, Tetra listened alongside the twins as Orion explained how he came to this era.


    All he explained was that he fought Miasma in the future and lost his way in the past.


    But it was enough. That''s all he needed to tell them.


    Now, no one was blind to his situation.


    Even the Remnant next to him listened carefully, forming thoughts she wasn''t used to thinking at all.