"The third and last Echelon is the Primordial Echelon, the place where your father and I met." She said with a reminiscing smile.
"Oh? So we're originally from the third Echelon?" Asked Orion in confusion.
Weren't they natives of the Chaos Heavens?
From what he had read in their clan archives, if they weren't, they would've been heavily suppressed by the Will of Chaos and it would've been impossible for them to even cultivate.
"No, we aren't. I know what you're thinking and believe me, we are suppressed. You are suppressed." She calmly said.
Knowing his mother wouldn't explain, Orion fell into contemplation.
"Beyond the third Echelon, is the Outer Echelon, our birthplace." She added, utterly shocking Orion.
Didn't she say there were only three Echelons? Why didn't she explain anything about the third? If they were from such a prestigious background, what were they doing in the lowest levels of existence?
Millions of thoughts flew through Orion's mind as this single sentence recontextualised all the information he had read within their clan archives.
Incongruencies, mistakes, inconsistencies and more flaws he had previously ignored within the facade of their clan seemed to flash through his mind as he couldn't help but lament at his clan's mysteries.
"If I explained anything about the third and fourth Echelon, your mind would simply implode. The information I've told you about the first two Echelons is so dumbed down and incomplete that all your theories are probably wrong. There's no need to worry though, you'll eventually get your bloodline memories. You'll understand then."
Orion calmed down before he slowly nodded, he didn't like where this conversation was going.
'They wouldn't tell me any of this lest something bad happened…'
Reading her son's rapid conclusion and keen senses, Hera couldn't help but sigh.
"The reason we are telling you all of this is for you to truly understand what we're about to tell you." Said Eros.
'I wonder, are Echelons divided by something? What are the Echelons contained in? Can someone own an Echelon? Conquer one? If that's the case then under who are we? How come we aren't under the control of any centralised power? Does our family own this-'
"Orion."
" Sorry." Apologetically answered Orion as he refocused.
Without wasting any more time, Eros simply explained their entire plan and the implications of their ambition.
The more Eros spoke, the more the ever present smile on Orion's face disappeared and turned into a frown.
As Eros finished, his frown eventually dissipated as he heavily sighed.
"So, you'll be gone for seven years?" Sadly asked Orion.
"Yes."
Though Eros' voice was firm and clear, Hera couldn't help but notice the softening of his gaze as he saw his son's expression.
"It's fine, I understand. It'd be selfish of me not to. You have the duty as clan leaders to uplift our status and your own ambition as cultivator's to seek higher peaks. The only thing I'll ask is for you guys to swear a Dao oath." He calmly said.
"Swear upon the Heavens that you won't die."
Instantly, both Eros and Hera plunged their hands into their chests, grabbing their heart as they spoke in unison.
"I swear upon the Primordial Daos that I will come back alive. May the Overgods bare witness to my oath."
BOOM!
A thick pillar of golden lighting instantly fell upon them before it burst into a mist of runes and arrests that immediately branded themselves upon their hearts.
Most people wouldn't understand what the point of swearing upon your life that'd you come back alive was.
After all, if you died, what worth would your Oath have?
Even Eros and Hera thought so but they didn't hesitate to swear upon the Heavens if it meant it'd put Orion at peace.
Obviously, Orion knew this and yet he had still asked them to do so. Why? Only time would tell.
"Good enough?"
"Mm."
"You'll also have to fight as hard as you can, the next six years won't be easy for you." Seriously said Hera.
Knowing what she was referring to, Orion only smiled.
Seeing their son's usual cocky display back, the duo smiled in relief.
"I heard there's a new restaurant in Alkria that's been making waves. How about we go check it out?" Said Eros.
Alkria was the Hub of Luxurious independent cultivators.
Orion's eyes immediately lit as he heard this, so did his mother's.
Lightly chuckling, Eros waved his hand before they vanished.
***
As the Erebus family happily went out to eat, oblivious to the plights of the world, the gaze of a single boy seemed to pierce through the Heavens, threatening to set it ablaze.
On his lap, the corpse of a naked and defiled young woman could be seen covered in blood and contusions.
The redness of his eyes and their resemblance told everything that needed to be told.
As the young boy's crimson pupils pierced into the sky, as if searching for answers, the tiny droplets that rained down on him perfectly melded with his tears.
Closing his eyes, the boy calmed down. He couldn't die, he couldn't give up, not yet. Not before he avenged his mother.
His fury quickly overshadowed his sadness and drowned his loneliness as he focused.
He had a task to complete.
Slowly standing up, the boy tore his robes off as he covered his mother's body.
Despite his frail body, he didn't seem to have any trouble as he calmly took her into his arms and went even deeper into the forest that lay in front of him.
Steadily, he walked. Despite his own injuries, despite his famine, despite his sorrow, despite his fury, despite his fear.
He walked.
Looking for a proper place to bury the last person that ever mattered to him.
If any experienced cultivator had been here to see this, they would've been utterly shocked.
No, shock wouldn't have been the right word.
Fear.
Ashen hair.
Red eyes.
Milky white skin covered in obsidian runes.
And most importantly…
The cross in the middle of his forehead.
This was a Heir of the Vagontraz.