CHAPTER 356: MEETING THE MAIDS AGAIN

Eldric rested a comforting hand on her trembling hand, his eyes filled with pride and affection as they watched Orion leave.

"He really scared us this time," he softly said.

Selene nodded her head. "Yes, it was so similar to what had happened with Lucian."

Eldric went silent as he said after a moment of pause, "We shouldn’t talk about this in front of him. Lest he hesitate from such adventures due to us in the future."

Selene lightly nodded her head and closed her eyes to rest. The day had been one of the longest in her life. Eldric turned to look out of the window as his thoughts churned regarding what would have happened if Orion hadn’t returned.

***

The scene shifted as Orion approached his room, the familiar hallway quiet and bathed in soft lamplight.

The wooden floors beneath his feet felt comforting and familiar, the scent of polished wood and faint incense relaxing his mind further. Arriving outside his room, he paused briefly, a smile of anticipation forming on his face.

Gently, Orion placed a hand on the polished wooden door and slowly pushed it open. The door swung silently, revealing the softly illuminated interior of his spacious room.

Inside, Rina and Fiora stood busily cleaning. Rina was carefully dusting the shelves, her face focused as her silky hair swayed with each movement.

Fiora, on the other hand, was arranging Orion’s bed meticulously, her blond hair shimmering softly beneath the lamplight as she hummed softly to herself.

Both were utterly absorbed in their tasks, completely unaware of Orion’s silent entrance. His heart warmed at the sight, and a genuine, affectionate smile slowly blossomed across his face.

He quietly stepped into the room, clearing his throat softly.

At the gentle sound, both girls turned instantly, eyes widening in shock, surprise, and relief upon seeing Orion.

Rina’s eyes flashed immediately, a mixture of joy and relief visibly flooding her face.

"Young Master Orion!" Rina exclaimed softly, her voice trembling slightly from overwhelming emotion.

She quickly placed down the feather duster and took an eager step forward, hesitating briefly in her excitement, unsure if she should rush forward or maintain her composure.

Fiora’s eyes brightened visibly as a radiant smile quickly illuminated her face, relief evident in her warm gaze. "Y-Young Master! You’re finally back!" she exclaimed joyously, finishing tidying up his bed and rushing toward him without hesitation.

Orion chuckled softly, opening his arms warmly. "It’s good to see both of you again," he said, his voice gentle and filled with affection. "Sorry I kept you both waiting."

Rina immediately embraced him, her figure pressing against his chest as she sighed contentedly. "You really took your sweet time, huh?" she softly said, though her tone carried nothing but pure relief.

Fiora joined a second later, her softer embrace no less heartfelt. She held onto his sleeve gently, her eyes shimmering softly as she looked up at him. "W-We’re so glad you’re safe, Young Master. We were truly worried."

Orion chuckled softly, lightly patting both of their backs reassuringly. "What is even there to worry about? It was just a little adventure. And everything is alright now."

Rina stepped back slightly, playfully punching his chest with a mock-serious look. "Your first adventure! How can we not be worried?"

Orion shook his head. "It hasn’t even been one week. What were you worried for?"

Rina puffed her cheeks slightly, a charming pout forming on her usually gentle face as she crossed her arms. "Not even one week? Young Master, do you have any idea how slow the days felt for us? It was absolutely nerve-wracking!"

Fiora nodded enthusiastically, placing a delicate hand on her chest as if still feeling the lingering anxiety. "E-Exactly! Each day felt like it dragged on forever. L-Lord Eldric and Lady Selene assured us you would be alright, but how could we not worry?"

Orion looked at Fiora with slight surprise at how expressive she had become in just a couple days before he chuckled softly at their worry.

He gently guided them toward the comfortable sofas arranged neatly near a large window overlooking the peaceful gardens. Moonlight bathed the scenery in a silvery glow, creating an atmosphere of serenity.

"Alright, alright," Orion conceded gently, taking a seat between the two of them. "I apologize for causing you so much worry. Truly, though, I’m completely fine."

Rina gracefully settled down beside Orion, brushing a stray lock of silky hair behind her ear. Her voice softened, the slight reprimand in her tone turning to tenderness. "We’re just glad you’re safe and sound, Young Master. But you can’t blame us for worrying, you know. You’re precious to us."

Fiora quickly agreed, her red eyes sparkling with sincerity. "S-She’s right, Young Master. You’re irreplaceable. Of course we’d worry."

Orion nearly burst out laughing at their honesty. He gently squeezed both their hands in reassurance. "Now you guys need to learn to trust me. These adventures will get frequent in the future," he said softly, his voice brimming with playfulness.

The two girls looked at each other as Rina hesitated slightly and asked, "T-Then, can you take us with you on those adventures?"

He looked at her with a smile and said, "Only if you have equal level of strength as the rest of my club members."

The expressions of the two of them visibly relaxed, their faces gradually shifting from worry and hesitation to curiosity as they accepted his words and decided to train harder.

Rina leaned in slightly, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "So? What exactly happened during your adventure? You must have faced incredible dangers!"

Fiora’s expression turned equally inquisitive, anticipation evident in her voice. "Yes, p-please tell us! Lady Selene only mentioned that you went inside a Small World, but she didn’t tell us any details. We’ve been dying of curiosity!"

Orion chuckled, leaning back comfortably as he prepared to recount his adventure once more. "Well, let me start from the beginning..." he started and told them the things that happened with the group from the time they entered the portal.

Then he reached the intense part, his eyes glinting with memories. "And after the portal collapsed, I found myself back in that small world. The situation was extremely dire. The Vampire Leader, Valerian, was causing chaos, and the whole world was at the brink of collapse."

Both girls gasped softly, eyes widening as they imagined the severity of Orion’s predicament. Fiora’s hand tightened around his arm, eyes wide. "Y-You faced that powerful being directly, Young Master?"

Orion nodded slowly, his tone turning serious yet calm. "I had no choice. Thankfully, I’d hidden myself away long enough to improve my cultivation. Once ready, I confronted Valerian directly. He was powerful, far stronger than anyone I’d faced before. But after a long struggle, I finally managed to defeat him."

Rina’s delicate brows furrowed with awe and admiration, her soft voice filled with wonder. "Young Master, you truly are incredible. To fight such a terrifying enemy and come out victorious..."

Fiora shook her head in amazement, her voice gentle and reverent. "It’s almost unbelievable."

Orion chuckled, waving a hand modestly. "It wasn’t easy by any means. I learned a lot from that battle, especially about my own limits and what I must improve."

Fiora tilted her head slightly, curiosity gleaming brightly in her gaze. "What happened afterward? Surely, defeating Valerian wasn’t the end?"