CHAPTER 392: AFTERMATH

Orion continued to sit quietly beside Fiora’s bed, his steady gaze locked on her peaceful yet exhausted face.

Her gentle breaths were now rhythmic, a reassuring sign that the crisis had truly passed. The intense heat from before had entirely dissipated, leaving only the remnants of scorched furniture and shattered decorations around them as silent reminders of the chaotic event.

In the silence of the room, Lumi’s small floating screen drifted gently into Orion’s peripheral vision, her soft voice carefully breaking the tranquil quiet.

[I wonder how she will react once she wakes up, Master. (｡•́︿•̀｡)]

Orion lightly nodded his head, his expression deeply contemplative. Internally, his thoughts reflected Lumi’s concerns.

’We need to wait and see about that,’ he quietly replied to her in his mind.

He knew Fiora would awaken eventually, but he also understood that confronting the painful truths of her past and her lineage would not be easy for her.

***

On the other hand, beyond Orion’s door, Selene quietly walked along the spacious corridor away from Orion’s room, her steps calm yet thoughtful.

She exhaled a gentle breath, shaking her head lightly in relief and mild astonishment as she whispered softly to herself, "That was quite intense. I genuinely thought she might lose herself there for a moment."

Selene paused briefly, gazing serenely out a large hallway window toward the setting sun. Its soft golden-orange rays painted the skies with peaceful light, signifying the calm after the storm.

Her gentle voice continued softly, tinged with pride, "Though Orion truly handled that situation remarkably well. He did better than I expected."

With a quiet, satisfied smile gracing her lips, Selene resumed her steady pace back toward her private study, her gentle silhouette disappearing down the hall, leaving behind only peaceful silence.

***

Back inside Orion’s room, the hours trickled by quietly as he stayed by Fiora’s bedside, unwilling to leave her alone even for a moment.

His calm, patient eyes continued watching over her sleeping face, observing every small movement, every flutter of her eyelids, waiting for the moment she would wake up so he could comfort her if she woke up.

Finally, after several long hours, a soft knock sounded hesitantly upon the door. Orion’s gaze shifted slightly, instantly recognizing the familiar, gentle presence of Rina waiting outside.

Quietly, Orion called out in a calm tone, "Come in, Rina."

The door slowly opened, revealing Rina’s worried expression. Her eyes widened as she looked at the utterly devastated state of Orion’s room, the scorched walls, broken furniture, and scattered debris.

A brief expression of worry clouded her face before she quickly spotted Orion seated calmly beside Fiora, gently holding her hand.

Relief visibly flooded Rina’s expression as she exhaled softly, tension visibly draining from her slender frame.

She moved carefully through the scattered debris, approaching Orion quietly before shifting her gentle gaze to Fiora’s peacefully sleeping face. Her voice was soft, carrying a blend of concern and quiet hope as she asked hesitantly, "Is she okay now, Master?"

Orion softly shook his head, "We still need to wait for her to wake up to truly know. But at least her Dragon bloodline is now fully under control."

Rina slowly nodded, accepting his words with a quiet sigh of understanding.

She stayed quietly beside him, listening attentively as Orion gently recounted the intense events: Fiora’s initial panic, the awakening of her bloodline, and the difficult task of calming and restraining her turbulent power.

Their conversation lingered for some time, the gentle discussion bringing clarity and comfort to Rina’s worried heart.

Eventually, Orion turned his calm gaze toward Rina, gently advising her, "You should head back to your room and rest now. You’ve had a long day too. Come back in the morning, and we’ll see how Fiora is doing then."

Rina hesitated momentarily, reluctant to leave, but finally nodded obediently.

She quietly stepped back from Orion and Fiora, pausing briefly at the doorway to offer one last gentle look at Fiora’s peacefully sleeping face before softly exiting, leaving Orion once again alone beside Fiora.

Throughout the quiet hours of the night, Orion remained seated there. His gentle hand never left Fiora’s delicate grasp, silently reassuring her subconscious mind that she was safe, that she wasn’t alone.

***

As the first rays of dawn broke through the half-destroyed window, a gentle golden warmth filled the room, slowly chasing away the lingering shadows and bathing Fiora’s sleeping figure in a tender morning glow.

The stillness was finally disturbed by a hesitant knock on the door. Orion’s eyelids slowly fluttered open, instantly awake yet calm, recognizing Rina’s gentle presence waiting quietly outside.

"Come in," he softly called out, voice low and steady.

The door quietly creaked open, and Rina stepped inside, wearing a concerned expression. Her eyes swiftly surveyed the ruined state of the room again, remnants of the chaotic events scattered everywhere.

She quickly approached Orion, carefully stepping through the debris until she stood beside him, her gaze fixed anxiously on Fiora’s peaceful, sleeping face.

In a voice that held hope, she quietly asked, "Did she wake up yet, Master?"

Orion softly shook his head, about to reply when suddenly he felt Fiora’s delicate hand twitch faintly in his gentle grasp.

Immediately, his attention snapped to her, eyes keenly focused on any further signs of consciousness.

Rina caught the movement as well, her eyes widening slightly in anticipation. They both held their breaths as Fiora’s eyelashes gently fluttered.

Slowly, carefully, she stirred awake, her breathing shifting as her eyes finally opened, hazy and unfocused at first before gradually sharpening into clarity.

Slowly sitting up, Fiora’s blanket fell away, revealing her curvy figure. Yet neither Orion nor Rina paid attention to her nakedness; their gaze remained firmly fixed upon her face, searching carefully for any signs of lingering distress or confusion.

Fiora slowly turned her head, her bright red eyes filled with initial confusion. Gradually, recognition dawned upon her expression, quickly followed by deep sadness as tears began welling gently in her eyes.

With trembling lips, she began to softly cry, her heart clearly aching as memories of her tragic past resurfaced vividly.

Without hesitation, Orion swiftly moved forward, gently enveloping Fiora in a warm, comforting embrace.

His large, strong hand tenderly patted her back, offering silent reassurance. In a gentle, calming voice, he whispered, "There, there. Everything is alright now. You’re safe. We are right here with you."

At the warmth and reassurance of Orion’s embrace, Fiora’s restrained cries turned into deeper sobs.

She clung tightly onto him, allowing herself to release the heavy sorrow and regret bottled within.

Rina quietly exhaled a gentle sigh, softly seating herself beside Fiora, reaching out to gently stroke her golden hair, offering her silent comfort and understanding.

The room filled briefly with the soft sounds of Fiora’s quiet sobbing, gradually fading away under the gentle consolation from Orion and Rina.

After a while, Fiora slowly stopped crying, lifting her head gently from Orion’s embrace. Her expression softened significantly, even though it still had lingering sadness, it also held warmth and gratitude.

Her voice was soft and filled with heartfelt sincerity as she spoke gently, "Thank you, Master... for being here with me."

Orion felt immediate relief flood through him at seeing her returning to normal. His keen observation noted a subtle yet clear change in Fiora. Her shy demeanor had changed a bit, she seemed to not be as shy as before.