Orbivian

Aldebaran dismissed all the doubts that haunted his mind, silencing the negative assumptions that sought to hold him back.

"Come to think of it, the view isn't so bad, right?" Aldebaran said, breaking the silence to ease the awkwardness.

Alissa didn't respond; her thoughts were elsewhere. A butterfly in her stomach made her feel warm. The cold around her seemed meaningless as beads of sweat formed on her skin. Even the rhythmic sound of the rain faded into the background as her focus settled on Aldebaran.

These emotions were unlike anything she'd experienced before—stronger, even, than the bliss she felt in the presence of the Goddess Thalendra. This was different. Deep in her heart, she realized how much she wanted him. She longed to explore these feelings further, to see where they might lead.

Aldebaran began to become uneasy, questioning her silence. "Alissa, are you no longer cold?"

She turned her face, making it impossible for him to read her expression. "No… it's fine," she replied, her voice uncertain. "Apologies, Master, but something strange is happening to me."

Aldebaran hesitated, unsure of how to respond, and waited for her to continue.

"I don't understand," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I thought I would never feel this sensation again after my banishment. But ever since I've been close to you, it's resurfaced."

She placed a trembling hand over her chest. "Something deep within me—it makes my heart beat so fast." Her eyes met his, close enough to feel her emotions. "Master, what is this feeling? What am I supposed to do with it?"

Tears spilled down her cheeks, her desperation clear. For as long as she could understand, love had been no more than admiration and devotion, a distant and detached concept. But this… this was something else—an attachment so deep it was impossible to let go.

Aldebaran was at a loss. He lacked the knowledge or experience to handle matters of the heart, but he couldn't deny that his chest tightened. Unconsciously, he leaned closer to her, drawn by an invisible force.

Her soft lips agape, a sight that made his resolve waver. "I… I'm not sure," he murmured, his voice barely audible as their breaths intertwined.

Neither resisted, their faces inching closer until the space between them was almost nonexistent. Alissa, her cheeks flushed, closed her mesmerizing blue eyes, too overwhelmed to meet his gaze.

To Aldebaran, her surrender felt like an invitation. Her vulnerability emboldened him, and he knew what he had to do. His heart raced as he moved closer, his lips almost brushing hers.

But as they were about to connect, the earth beneath them trembled, shattering the moment. Both of them snapped back, their eyes widening in shock.

Through the torrential rain, shadows lurked behind the towering trunks. Aldebaran's blood ran cold as the figure came into view, an ominous beast that sent a chill down his spine. Frozen in the spot, his mind now consumed by the threat.

"Is that... an Orbivian?" Aldebaran muttered under his breath.

Alissa, attempting to appear composed despite the charged atmosphere moments ago, replied, "That's not a normal Orbivian. It's their leader."

Her quick identification of the creature highlighted her deep understanding of them. As it emerged from the shadows, its sheer size became apparent—towering over the regular Orbivians by at least threefold. Its hulking form is flanked by a group of smaller Orbivians walking in a synchronized formation of four.

"This is our chance to talk to them," Alissa said without hesitation. She stepped forward, ready to reveal herself, but Aldebaran seized her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"What are you thinking?" he hissed, his voice low.

"It's fine," she assured him. "I know them. We can talk without worrying about anything bad happening to us."

Something about the Orbivians' movements didn't sit right with him. "Wait a moment," he said, narrowing his eyes. "When was the last time you spoke to them?"

Alissa faltered. "If I'm not mistaken, it was back when I was a Prophet."

His eyes widened in shock, her words hitting him like a truck. A Prophet. That was a lifetime ago for her, and he knew full well that even Mystical Beasts could change over time. He recalled her banishment and how she had retreated to the solace of the Goddess Pond. How could she know if the Orbivians were still friendly?

However, he wanted to believe her. If she was right, if untamed Orbivians weren't hostile, their path forward might become far less treacherous.

"Let's be extremely cautious here," Aldebaran warned, his tone firm. "Don't let your guard down for even a moment. If anything feels off, we retreat. Do you understand me?"

Alissa blinked, surprised by his usual warmth replaced with a commanding and almost authoritative aura.

"Yes, Master. Trust me," she replied, her voice respectful.

Both of them decided to step out of their confinement, revealing themselves to the beasts. Their noses to the ground as if searching for something. One of them suddenly halted, its attention shifting toward the two figures standing under the rain.

"Greetings, Guardians of the Forest!" Alissa called out, her voice raised. "It has been a long time since we last spoke."

At her words, all the beasts turned to face her, their eyes glowing ominously—especially the leader, whose blood-red gaze radiated a sense of dread. Aldebaran's muscles tensed as he realized they were surrounded. These beasts could end their lives in an instant, and the thought made his heart beat faster. He forced himself to focus, preparing for the worst.

"Have you forgotten about me, Gorian, King of the Orbivians?" Alissa continued. "We were once friends, and we spoke with one another as allies."

Aldebaran trying to locate the source of the small quake. It was almost impossible to discern anything through the dense mist and heavy downpour. However, his first instinct was to protect Alissa, stretching out his hand toward her.

Alissa stepped back as the silhouette near her raised both hands. Her eyes widened in terror as she realized its intent—delivering a swift, destructive downward strike aimed at her.

The attack would have been fatal if not for Aldebaran, who pulled her toward him with his telekinesis. The force of the impact created a shockwave, sending debris and a billowing cloud of smoke into the air, shrouding their surroundings. Alissa found herself in Aldebaran's arms, dazed as he steadied her.

"M-Master?" Alissa stammered, her voice filled with disbelief. "I… I don't understand. We knew each other."

Aldebaran, trying to calm her, responded, "It seems we'll have to find another approach."

Still in his embrace, Alissa's voice softened, filled with remorse. "I've disappointed you again, Master. Please… forgive me."

Aldebaran mustered a reassuring smile. "Mistakes happen so we can learn from them and become wiser. Don't dwell on it."

[Objective: Follow Alissa! (Completed)]

[Congratulations! You are now level 15!]

[Unlocked: Cultivation System.]

[New Objective: Cultivate Alissa's abilities!]