Orion stood before the mysterious woman, his hand firmly gripping the hilt of his knife. He had demanded to know her name, but her response only left him more uncertain. "Stella," she had said, with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Orion couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about her. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he sensed danger lurking beneath her pleasant demeanor. He had learned the hard way not to trust strangers, especially those who appeared unexpectedly on the battlefield.
As he watched her, he noticed something strange about her appearance. Her dress seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, as if it were made of a material that didn't quite belong in this world. Her eyes, too, were an unnatural shade of red, almost glowing in the dim light.
Orion couldn't help but wonder how this woman had come to replace the Garuda. The Garuda had been a formidable opponent, and he had expected its defeat to be the end of the battle. But now, with this new player on the field, he wasn't so sure.
He decided to take a step back, putting some distance between himself and the woman. He needed to assess the situation before making any moves. He scanned the battlefield, searching for any other signs of danger.
Stella's smile faltered slightly as she noticed Orion's cautious behavior. "Don't be like that," she said, her tone almost pleading. "Just ask the system. It will tell you who I am."
Orion's mind was racing with questions. How did this woman know about the system? The system was a closely guarded secret, known only to him. The system was the fragment of his past life soul, the one thing that connected him to his previous existence.
"How can you know about the system?" Orion asked, his voice guarded.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtStella's smile widened, and her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Let's just say that I have some connections," she said cryptically.
Orion narrowed his eyes, trying to read her expression. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about this woman. He decided to take a chance and ask the system, hoping that it would shed some light on the situation.
"System, do you know who she is?" Orion asked, his gaze fixed on Stella.
The system responded immediately, [Yes, Host.]
"Who is she then?" asked Orion once again, his curiosity piqued.
[She was the beast that was tamed by your past life,] the system replied, its monotone voice filling Orion's mind.
Orion's eyes widened in shock. The fact that this woman had once been a beast was unnerving, to say the least.
"How can it be?" Orion asked, his mind struggling to comprehend the idea. "How can a beast become a human?"
But this time, the one who answered was Stella. "It is easy," she said, her voice filled with a hint of amusement. "Once you reach a certain level, you can transform into a human."
Orion stared at her in disbelief. He had heard of such transformations before, but he had never seen one in person. It was said that only the most powerful of beasts could achieve such a feat, and even then, it was extremely rare.
"What is the purpose of this tower then?" Orion asked, changing the subject. He wanted to steer the conversation away from the unsettling revelation about Stella's past.
Stella's response was unexpected. "Nothing," she said with a shrug. "It's just a tower."
Orion frowned. He couldn't believe that such a magnificent structure would exist for no reason at all. "There must be something more to it," he insisted.
Stella only smiled, as if she was expecting this question. "This tower's function is for me to wait for you," she said, her voice soft and gentle. "The reincarnation of my former master."
Orion's eyes widened in surprise. "Your former master?" he repeated, trying to make sense of her words. "What do you mean?"
Stella's smile faded slightly, and a hint of sadness crept into her eyes. "I was once the loyal companion of a great warrior," she explained. "But he passed away before he could achieve his ultimate goal. I have been waiting for his reincarnation ever since."
Orion was speechless. He didn't believe that this woman made this tower only for that. He couldn't imagine someone dedicating their entire life to waiting for a single person. The idea seemed far-fetched and almost impossible.
"But how do you know that I am the one?" Orion asked, still unsure of what to make of the situation.
Stella's smile returned, and she gestured toward him. "Your soul," she said simply.
Orion furrowed his brow, not understanding what she meant. "My soul?" he repeated, confused.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmStella nodded. "Yes, your soul. Your soul is the same as my former master's," she explained. "I can feel it. That's why I have been waiting for you here."
Orion didn't know what to say. He had never heard of such a thing before, but he couldn't deny the fact that there was something strange and familiar about this place.
"But why wait for me?" Orion asked, still trying to wrap his head around the situation. "Why not move on?"
Stella's expression grew solemn. "Because I made a promise," she said. "A promise to my former master that I would wait for him, no matter how long it took. And I intend to keep that promise."
Orion was amazed by her loyalty and dedication. He couldn't imagine making such a promise himself, let alone keeping it for hundreds or even thousands of years. It was clear that Stella was more than just a beast.
"I understand," Orion said, nodding his head in respect. "I will do my best to fulfill my role as your former master's reincarnation."
"Very well," Stella said with a small smile. "Let us begin."
eaglesnovɐ1,сoМ Orion watched as Stella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, she moved towards him and entered his soul. At first, Orion felt nothing out of the ordinary, but then he felt a sudden surge of energy coursing through his body.
"Btw, please endure it because when I entered your soul, your body will be reforged by my flame and you will be reborn, but the pain will be a little painful," Stella teased, her voice echoing inside his mind.
Orion was taken aback by Stella's words. "Why don't you tell me earlier?" he shouted, feeling a mix of anger and surprise.
"I forgot," Stella replied simply, as if it was a trivial matter.
"Dammit," Orion muttered under his breath. He didn't know how painful the process would be, but seeing Stella speak about it so playfully made him unsure of what to expect.