Chapter 2: First Meeting
Estella was from the Astalos family, whose ancestors were well-known for their blinding swordsmanship, literally. They have a natural alignment with the Light Element which is one of the rare elements and it was coupled with their unique sword arts, «Dancing Angel Sword Arts». Their family was a force to be reckoned with at those times. Sadly, the preceding family heads were useless and dragged the family to the brink of destruction.
It was now all on her to save her family and make it prosper once again. But as a young girl, what can she possibly do? Her father had put all of their hopes on her and that is quite a responsibility to bear for someone her age, but do they care? No.
Estella turn her attention to the ring she just got and strangely, her mood was lifted and she wiped the frown on her face and replaced it with a smile. She continued on her way back home, happily thinking that even though she was suffering all her life, she was still lucky to find a ring, a beautiful one that just fits right with her preference.
…
Orion successfully bounded the ring with the girl, though it would not recognize her as its master, this will allow Orion to manifest a projection of himself to the outside. It had also given control to some of its functions he can't control before. Now, he was just bidding his time until she was alone inside her room.
In the meantime, Orion was spreading his senses to cover the whole planet. This is a very wasteful way of using his energy as it would deplete almost 40% of his almost infinite energy. But this was a necessary step to take for his plan, he gathered information about the planet he was currently in so that he can prepare properly.
After a few minutes, Estella had arrived in her home and Orion was also finished gathering information. What he found astounded him as he never expected to be in a technology-based planet. Although he had heard about those kinds of planets, they were destroyed a few millenniums later because of their unsatisfied curiosity. He was also sure that this planet was also heading towards its destruction if it weren't for the appearance of the energy they called 'mana'.
With the appearance of mana, many changes that lead to the change of Earth's path to destruction. If things go as the way it is, then they wouldn't have to worry about the planet's destruction to the next billions of years.
Moving one, the Mana that the humans of this planet had discovered was an inferior version of the spiritual energy that can be found back on his planet. Though Mana was already enough to make changes and there are also these Dungeons that emerged from the grounds. A black tower with exactly 100 floors each, they can be found all over the world and can only be destroyed after reaching the top.
Inside this Dungeons are what they call as Magic Beasts, it's was quite funny for Orion as these Magic Beasts they're calling were actually just a Ferocious Beast that knows a few simple spells. But for the humans on this planet, they are seen as Magical Beasts filled with power and mystery, he can understand that.
Next would be the weapons of this world, Orion didn't know what he should say. They're trash? Useless? He doesn't want to judge them just because of the level of their master over weapon refining, but they are just utterly hopeless in this field. They don't even have pills and only have a few potions in the market which were made by lucky individuals, found in the dungeons, or dropped by magical beasts.
Orion sighed, "This is going to be a problem, I've already spent 43% of my energy and the materials needed to help me break out of this ring may not even exist here. I need to find out more and in order to do that, I need to talk with this girl." With his senses, he looks at Estella who can be seen eating with her family.
"I just hope that she can help me."
…
"So Estella, how's your training going?" Rigel asked his daughter. With white, perfectly groomed hair that was clumsily hanging over a bony, stern face. His cold-piercing golden eyes stared fixedly at Estella who was looking down at her father's question.
"Hmmm?" Rigel frowned upon seeing her daughter's reaction. "You did not make any progress again?" He asked.
"F…Father, I am close to breaking through. I j-just need more time." Estella answered, while stammering. She avoids looking directly into her father's eyes. Her mother was looking at her worriedly, she was the only one that truly cared for her.
"Estella, you've been saying the same thing over and over again for the past six months. Your peers have already all reached C-rank while you're still stuck at the D-rank." Rigel wiped his mouth with a tissue, he then stood up and left after saying, "You will come with me to Sashor, the Nephele family had offered a marriage contract in exchange to helping our family."
"No!" Estella slammed the table with her hands. Marrying someone she didn't even know and the worst of it, to the Nephele family who was known for their sinister dual cultivation arts. Is her father really going to marry her off?
"You don't have a say on this. If you decline, then it would be your sister." Rigel cold-heartedly answered without turning his back. He left the dining room as silence filled the room.
Lyra stood up as she went towards Estella and comforted her.
"Don't worry Ella, I'll convince your father, okay? Don't cry… shhh shhh shhh." She hugged Estella and comforted her, but even she knows that she won't have the ability to convince her own husband. She holds no authority in the family and was only considered as a trophy wife.
"Don't mom, father will just hurt you for interfering with his decisions." Estella stopped her mother, in fear that she would get hurt. She was now thinking of a way to convince her father and the only way she could think of was to enter the prestigious Paradise School for Girls.
[If you want to solve your problem, go inside your room]
"Huh?" Estella was surprised to hear a voice inside her head.
"What is it, Ella? Are you okay?" Lyra asked.
[Get inside your room]
"Ella?" Lyra held unto Estella's shoulder and shook her slightly, this got her attention.
"Ah… mom, I'm fine. I just need to rest." Estella answered her mother with a smile. This cause the concern on Lyra's face to disappear as she reciprocated her with a smile of her own.
"You go to your room then. Don't worry about your father, I'll find away." Lyra promised.
"Don't worry about it, mom. I'll change father's decision on my own. Just take care of yourself, okay?" Estella said.
"You silly little girl, you're worried about me now."
"Of course, I've grown up."
"Okay, okay. Head to your room and rest properly, you still have class tomorrow."
"Okay, mom. Good night."
"Good night."
Estella hurriedly went to her room, she then heard the voice again.
[Locked the door and close the windows]
Even though she was confused, Estella still did what she was told. She was desperate to find a way to solve her current problem. And the voice inside her head said that it can solve it. Even though she is not sure whether it was telling the truth or it was lying, she decided to trust her instinct.
Not a moment later after she closes the last window, the ring in her hand glowed and a light came out of it. The ball of light then slowly change form into a young man with short hair and was wearing a loose robe.
"Hello." The young man's soothing voice was heard and Estella felt she was free of her problems. The anxiety she was feeling disappeared and was replaced with tranquility. His voice was like a bottle of «Serenity Draught».
"W-Who are you!? And why are you here?!" Estella asked, even though she had no idea what she even asks those questions. It was clear that she was expecting someone to appear upon hearing the voice inside her head, but the sudden appearance of the young man surprised her so much to think properly. A clear sign of inexperience.
The young man just smiled at her questions, the smile made Estella blushed but she still stared directly into the young man's eyes. The young man opened his mouth and said.
"I have a deal with you."