Chapter 775: Talking It Out
"Shit... all my goddamn skills are gone," Orion sighed.
As everyone took in their new surroundings, a collective groan echoed through the canyon. Each of them instinctively opened their status screens, and the groans only grew louder as they realized the extent of their apparent reset. Cy shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. "What the hell happened to our stats?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. Luna glanced at her drastically reduced abilities, her piercing dark purple eyes narrowing in irritation. Aisa remained silent, but her clenched fists and the rigid set of her jaw made her displeasure clear. Even Findir, now completely human, let out a resigned sigh, his white eyes briefly closing as if to stave off the disappointment.
Orion, who had been silent up until this point, decided it was time to explain. He could sense their confusion and frustration, and despite his own unsettling transformation, he knew he needed to clear things up. Taking a deep breath, he began, "I’m sorry for the confusion, everyone. I signed a contract with the Sin of Gluttony, and it seems... well, it’s had some unintended consequences."
The moment he spoke, he froze. His voice, once deep and commanding, was now softer, carrying a distinctly feminine tone that caught him completely off guard. The words came out almost melodically, with a gentle lilt that contrasted sharply with his previous voice. He could see the surprise flicker across everyone’s faces as they registered the change, but no one interrupted, waiting for him to continue.
Clearing his throat—though it did little to restore his former voice—Orion pressed on, "The contract was supposed to give me back my original physical form after a while, but... there might have been a few side effects." He cast a quick glance at Luna, who was still holding the mirror, showing his reflection. His sharp dark red eyes, long purple hair, and now undeniably feminine features stared back at him. His towering build remained, but his softened muscles and curvier figure were unmistakable.
"I made sure to check everything thoroughly," Orion continued, his voice steady despite the unsettling realization. "The contract was solid—no hidden clauses or subtext that would betray us... just, our status’ is going to get tanked for a while. There was no other way we could come to the surface otherwise we’d immediately get fucked by the gods."
He watched as they processed the information, their initial frustration slowly giving way to understanding, though a few muttered curses could still be heard. "I’ll figure out a way to fix this," Orion assured them, though his voice—softened and delicate—sounded less commanding than before.
"Anyways..." Aisa rolled her eyes, walking over to Orion who was now the shortest in the group, though only by an inch or two. "Can we talk about where the fuck you were?! We all thought you died!"
Orion braced himself as Aisa’s sharp gaze bore into him, her words cutting through the air like a blade. "Can we talk about where the fuck you were?! We all thought you died!" Her voice, usually calm and controlled, now carried an edge of frustration that Orion had rarely heard before.
The others quickly chimed in, their initial shock giving way to a flood of emotions.
"Seriously, Orion! You just vanished!" Luna added, her piercing dark purple eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms. "We thought you were gone for good!"
Cy, usually the more laid-back one, couldn’t hold back either. "Do you have any idea what it was like thinking you were dead?" His tone was a mix of anger and relief, his pitch-black pupils narrowing as he fixed Orion with a stern look.
Bella’s voice rose next, her stunning green eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and exasperation. "You just left us! No warning, nothing! We were lost without you!" She ran a hand through her short green hair, her frustration clear.
Findir, now fully human and the most visibly changed, simply shook his head. "We searched everywhere... We didn’t stop looking, you know." His voice was quieter but carried the weight of all their combined worries.
For a moment, Orion stood in silence, letting them vent their frustrations. He could feel the weight of their words, the concern and fear they had carried in his absence. But as the seconds passed, the anger began to dissolve, replaced by something warmer.
Luna was the first to break the tension, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "But you’re here now... and that’s what matters."
Cy nodded, the hard lines of his expression softening. "Yeah... you’re alive. That’s more than enough for us."
Bella’s frustration melted away as she stepped closer, her vibrant green eyes shimmering with relief. "We’re just glad you’re okay, Orion."
Findir, still processing his own transformation, managed a faint smile. "I guess... we can forgive you, just this once."
Orion felt a wave of relief wash over him, his earlier anxiety fading as he looked around at the familiar faces. He didn’t need to explain everything in detail or justify what had happened. The simple fact that he was standing there with them, alive and well, was enough.
"Thank you," he finally said, his voice still soft but filled with gratitude. "I’m sorry for worrying you all, but... I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere."
Aisa, who had started the whole conversation, let out a small huff, but there was no real anger behind it. "Damn right you’re not," she muttered, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smile. "We’ve got a lot of shit to sort out, so you better be ready."
As the group fell silent, a subtle tension settled between them. The weight of the unspoken emotions hung in the air, everyone still processing the whirlwind of events and the shock of seeing Orion again, but in a form they barely recognized. The silence was heavy, each of them lost in their own thoughts, uncertain of how to bridge the gap that had formed in their time apart.
Without warning, Bella broke the stillness. She rushed forward, her eyes wide with emotion, and wrapped her arms tightly around Orion. Her embrace was strong, almost desperate as if she was afraid he might disappear if she let go. Orion felt the warmth of her body, the relief and happiness she poured into the hug, and for a moment, all the tension seemed to melt away.
Cy, however, approached more slowly. His expression was a mix of relief and overwhelming emotion, his usually composed demeanor cracking at the edges. It was clear he was struggling to hold back tears, his eyes shimmering as he tried to keep his composure. But when he finally reached Orion, the dam broke. He dipped his head, unable to hold back any longer, and Orion, though now shorter, gently placed his hand on Cy’s head.
Cy’s fists clenched tightly at his sides, his shoulders shaking as the tears streamed down his face. The flood of emotions—fear, relief, anger, and love—all poured out in those tears, the silent sobs wracking his body. Orion didn’t need to say anything; the simple gesture of placing his hand on Cy’s head was enough. It was a quiet reassurance, a promise that he was still here, still with them.
Findir, Aisa, and Luna stood off to the side, their gazes lowered as they processed the moment in their own way. Though they didn’t rush forward like Bella or Cy, the weight of the reunion was just as heavy for them.
Findir’s usually composed demeanor wavered as he hung his head slightly, his long white hair falling forward to obscure his expression. The brief moment of vulnerability was unlike him, but it showed just how deeply he had been affected by Orion’s apparent loss and sudden return.
Aisa, with her sharp, commanding presence, also found herself unable to meet Orion’s gaze. Her hands tightened into fists at her sides, the tension in her posture betraying the emotions she struggled to keep in check. Her head dipped slightly, her light blue hair cascading around her face, as she took a moment to collect herself.
Luna, normally so confident and self-assured, stood quietly, her piercing dark purple eyes softened as she stared at the ground. The usually vibrant and lively energy around her seemed subdued, replaced by a quiet reflection of everything they had been through. Her long pink hair fell forward, framing her face as she let the reality of the situation sink in.
"I wish I could give you all a nice long break. And if I’m gonna be honest, I need one as well... but, we have something to do. I think we’ve kept a little girl waiting for quite a while. In fact, she probably thinks we’re all dead," Orion lightly chuckled.
"Are you talking about Adele?" Luna asked upon raising her head, the skin around her eyes a burning red.
"Yeah. Once we meet up with her, we will figure out what to do from there."
