"Isskra," Erenyx said, one hand raised toward the sky, the other resting on her chest. "It means Shriek of Ice."
She finally sat up, a small smile tugging at her lips. "That's what I'll call it. The sound it made when it cracked and formed—it really did sound like screaming."
Orion nodded with a grin. "You're quick with names... and good with them. Might need you to rename some of my moves."
Erenyx laughed. "Like Flying Thunder God?"
Orion groaned, rolling his eyes. "I thought it sounded cool when I was younger."
"You must've been an ambitious kid to come up with a name like that," Erenyx teased.
Orion chuckled softly. "Yeah... I really was."
He rose to his feet, his expression softening. "Tell me, Erenyx— do you have any goals?"
She paused, thinking. "Not really, I guess. I just want to get stronger— to protect the people around me."
"That is a goal," Orion said, nodding. "But I mean something tangible. Something you can aim for right now."
Erenyx tilted her head. "Hmm... not really."
"Well," he said with a grin, "you know the Festival of Dawn coming up?"
She nodded.
"Since you didn't get a formal invite, you can't enter the main tournament— but how about this? Try placing top ten in the Beast Hunt. Think you're up for that?"
Erenyx shot up to her feet, eyes gleaming. "Is that a challenge, unc?"
Orion smiled, brushing a few twigs and leaves out of her locs. "You bet your ass it is."
Erenyx grinned ear to ear. "Then I might as well take number one."
"Good," Orion said, crossing his arms. "Just make sure you come back with a fat purse while you're at it."
Erenyx turned toward the house, tossing a smirk over her shoulder. "Promise."
...
"I'm sending her off to Arystel," Orion said flatly, arms crossed, his long white hair falling in front of his face and glowing faintly in the low light.
"The Old Boy doesn't even know I have a child under my wing. Why would he invite her?" Caelus asked, assuming Orion meant the tournament.
"He didn't," Orion replied. "And he was your most trusted client and student, wasn't he? Why haven't you told him?"
Caelus sighed, his eyes hidden beneath the fresh bandages wrapped around his head. "You know he's not one of us..."
Orion scoffed. "Don't lump me into this fucking cult of "Apostles", Caelus. I'm only here to keep my promise— to take care of Erenyx. Almost everyone else isn't committed either. Syran only plays loyal to get closer to you, Zhen and Mad Dog are bound here by their own chains. Out of all the primaries, you're the only one still devoted to Neriah."
Caelus wanted to argue, but the truth in Orion's words cut deep.
"My point stands," Orion continued. "You've got no reason not to tell Old Boy. It could actually help her. But you're too busy kissing Neriah's ass to even consider it."
He stepped closer, his voice rising. "You need to realize— we won't be enough for her. Not when the Saint returns. When that bastard throws the world back into chaos, you'll only have yourself to blame for holding her back."
At that name— the Saint —Caelus froze, his arm tightening as if to crush the memory. His lips parted, but no words came out.
Orion turned away with an irritated sigh. "You're hopeless, old man," he muttered before dispersing into a flicker of lightning and vanishing.
Left alone, Caelus pressed his back to the wall, his breathing shallow. His thoughts drifted back—fifty years ago—to the night that still haunted the world.
The Darkest Night.
When the Saint came, and the world was left helpless.
If not for Old Boy... and his best friend... Conravia would have long fallen to the Saint's grasp.
...
Orion tossed a strange-looking bag toward Erenyx.
"A dimensional bag of your own," he said. "Try not to let it slip that it actually is one though."
Erenyx caught it easily, her eyes lighting up.
"Dopee~ What's the capacity on this thing?" she asked, slinging it over her shoulder.
"It already has the basics—and pretty much all your stuff—packed in. But the capacity isn't all that great," Orion said casually, scratching his head. "Maybe around... the weight of a continent."
Erenyx slapped her palm to her face.
"You idiot. Just because that's small for you doesn't mean it's small for us normal people."
Orion put a finger to his lips, smirking.
"Not too loud now. You're not supposed to know all that about me."
Erenyx rolled her eyes but grinned. "You're so full of yourself."
"But off you go now," Orion said, smile returning. "I better see you on TV."
"You bet." Wind gathered around her feet, kicking up leaves as she dashed into the forest.
Orion stood there for a moment, the smile fading from his face. When he finally turned back toward the house, his voice had gone cold.
"Couldn't even bring yourself to say goodbye to her? Pathetic."
Orion sighed. "Anyways, connect me with Syran. I need to speak with her."
Caelus reached forward and placed a hand on Orion's head.
"Hey, Syran."
A smooth, silken voice responded almost instantly.
"Nari? That you?"
"What did I tell you about calling me that?" Orion replied, rolling his eyes. "Is it just you right now? I need to stop by."
"Aww, you miss me, huh? I knew you couldn't go long without seeing your bestie~"
Orion's tone hardened. "Is it just you or not?"
"Yeah, yeah. My project just left—it's just me. Come on in."
With that, Orion removed Caelus's hand, severing the link, and his body dispersed into a cloud of violet lightning.
In a room devoid of light, a woman sat in a chair, one leg crossed over the other as if she'd been waiting. The air was still—until Orion appeared, lightning faintly flickering off his form.
"What's the update with Project Lazarus first?" Orion asked, perching on one of the many disheveled tables scattered around the room. "How are things going with him?"
Syran smirked in the dark. "Lazarus has been quite the clever one. He's nearly fully calibrated. I've already placed him where I needed him— and he's provided me with quite a bit of information, might I say."
Orion nodded slightly. "That's good. And what about the fragments?"
Syran's smirk faded into a sigh. "Sadly, it's true. They're slowly coming back together... He's awake again."
Lightning cracked across Orion's arm, his face tightening.
"Dammit."