Chapter 210 - She actually kissed!
"Five years ago, the Astraea Familia I belonged to uncovered the Rudra Familia's major scheme, so we began hunting them down and ventured into the lower floors," Ryuu began.
"There, we were ambushed by the Rudra Familia. Most of the floor we were on was destroyed by traps they'd buried long ago."
"The dungeon wailed, and a monster called the Juggernaut appeared. We were no match for it. If not for you, Orsted, we would've died horribly at its hands."
"Everyone was killed, except me, saved by Alise and Kaguya's protection. Then you appeared. Your presence stopped the monster and altered our doomed fate."
"You were pure light, radiating an overwhelming aura: a warrior beyond our imagination."
"With just a few moves, you defeated the Juggernaut, a monster we couldn't hope to face."
"You told us you came from the future to change our fate. But even after killing the monster, our new path wasn't fully secured."
"Everyone in the Astraea Familia, except me, had to leave Orario. Until you appeared to save us, we couldn't be seen in the city, or no one could save us."
"Alise and the others felt an indescribable terror at those words. Defying your warning would lead to our annihilation by an unseen force."
"So we believed you. Alise and the others took Lady Astraea and left Orario, leaving me behind."
"You also told me to find you and share this when you grew up. You didn't give your name, and your body was pure ligh, I couldn't see your face but only your height."
"I've been searching for you ever since. When I first saw you, Orsted, your figure felt familiar, sparking a strong hunch. I started watching you closely."
"It wasn't until you unleashed that strange yet familiar aura that I knew you were our savior."
"I've been waiting for you to grow stronger, hoping to aid you. But you didn't seem to need my help."
"So, I spent my savings, bought a grimoire through special channels, and got you a powerful magic sword, hoping it would assist you."
"Before your expedition with the Loki Familia, I thought you were strong enough to face that monster, so I made this bold request."
"But, Orsted, you seem to have known this all along."
Ryuu quietly shared the burden she'd carried for years.
Orsted's expression confirmed his suspicions.
The Astraea Familia's fate had diverged because of his interference, sparing them death but forcing all but Ryuu to leave Orario.
Why, though? Orsted didn't fully understand, but he suspected some restriction related to time magic.
Crossing time to save the Astraea Familia likely came with limits, such as their absence from Orario for a period.
His body of light during the rescue suggested time magic at work.
Not revealing his name, leaving Ryuu to find him, was likely another restriction of that Miracle.
But something puzzled him, Ryuu seemed aware of the Astraea Familia's original tragic fate from the anime.
How?
If he'd saved them, how did they know their original doomed path? Did he tell them? Unlikely, they might not have believed him.
"Ryuu, how do you know your fate would've been tragic without me?" Orsted asked.
"Your appearance disrupted time, creating a real timeline and a false one. Those of us there saw the false timeline and understood what it was," Ryuu explained softly.
"You crossed time and rewrote our tragic end, pulling that timeline apart and destroying it."
Orsted nodded thoughtfully. Altering time and space?
This must be his Miracle magic to achieve that.
He had no leads on it yet but planned to research it later, hoping to develop this Miracle further.
Unbeknownst to him, after hearing Ryuu's story, the cause and effect of this magic had shifted.
The three question marks in his status had become text, a brief description of the Miracle.
"You also told me to join you on your first Familia expedition," Ryuu added.
Orsted's eyes narrowed, catching a thread of insight.
"I'm taking Lili and the others on the Hestia Familia's first expedition in a few days. You can come along," he said.
"Great!"
After Ryuu replied, she smiled at Orsted and closed the distance between them.
Her hand gently touched his face, her eyes gazing softly into his.
Orsted lifted his eyes to meet hers.
Seeing her expression, he returned a small smile.
Tears trickled down Ryuu's face as she cried softly.
With a quiet "Mhm" and a smile, she leaned in and her lips touched Orsted's.
She actually kissed!
Orsted looked stunned but didn't pull away.
Seeing her lonely figure, he hugged her tightly.
Soon...
They parted, a thin thread of saliva connecting them.
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