Meet the Four Stars, Young Man!

"Mnnh… ngh…" Kirie stirred awake to the faint rustle of fabric, a sluggish groan escaping his lips as he shifted on the recovery bed. At home, waking was a gentle unraveling—his bed a cocoon of tailored comfort, every curve cradling his small frame for maximum ease.

Here, though, even the state-of-the-art medical bed felt stiff, its advanced machinery humming faintly beneath him, a stark reminder of his battered state. His muscles ached with a dull protest as he dragged himself upright, the sterile air prickling his sweat-damp skin.

"Ah… K-Kirie… good a-afternoon…" A timid, stuttering voice cut through the quiet, trembling from a few meters away. It was Olga, her tone a jarring shift from the needy fervor that had consumed her earlier.

"Good morning, nurse… What happened to me…?" Kirie's voice rasped, groggy and uncertain, his mind brushing past the vivid haze of a 'wet dream' he couldn't quite place. Blinking blearily, he'd searching her flushed face for answers.

Olga's cheeks bloomed with a deep blush, her throat bobbing as she cleared it with an awkward cough.

"I-I treated your punctured l-lung and f-fractured sternum… left no mark of the surgery using a-advanced magic tools, and s-supplied you with magic and n-nutrients…" Her words stumbled over each other, her gaze darting away. Nutrients, huh?

"A-and got you out of your normal clothes, b-because they were sweaty from… f-from your test at the A-Astrum Valoria, yes!" she added hastily, her voice pitching higher. Kirie's brow furrowed—he'd changed into the patient scrubs himself, hadn't he?

"Thank you for your attentiveness, nurse…" Kirie's gaze drifted to the embroidered name on her breast pocket—Head Nurse, Olga Vandross. "Miss Olga!" he chirped, opting not to press further. Instead, he flashed his natural million-dollar smile, a radiant gift inherited from his towering father, Sora, and bestowed upon his only son.

The warmth of it lit up his boyish features, softening the edges of his kind gaze. Olga froze, stunned by the contrast—his vivid manliness from their earlier encounter now cloaked in such a gentle, disarming kindness. The memory stirred her, and the hollow rubber plug within her shifted as her insides clenched involuntarily, a tight, secret grip that sent a shiver racing up her spine.

"N-No need to be s-so formal…! O-Olga is fine…" she stammered, her voice a fragile thread. Beneath her flustered exterior, a torrent of forbidden longing surged. Oh, how she yearned for him to have been awake, plowing her senseless, punishing her for the shy, perverted desires she buried deep.

"I-I think it might be a bit weird to immediately do that, ahaha…" Kirie chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward grin. She was a pretty lady, he mused, her beauty half-hidden behind oversized glasses and that comically large lab coat. Judging by her voluptuous frame—those abundant curves straining against her clothes—it was clear why she draped herself in such baggy layers, likely hoping to deflect the attention her figure naturally drew.

"Y-Your entourage is o-outside, I believe they've been w-waiting for you for an hour…" Olga stammered, her fingers fumbling as she pressed a button on the wall panel. The infirmary's thick metal doors whirred open with a soft hiss, the sound cutting through the awkward stillness that hung between her and Kirie.

In an instant, Mille and Freda burst through, tumbling forward as if they'd been leaning hard against the slab. Their momentum sent them skidding across the polished floor, a tangle of limbs and startled gasps.

Panthera and Kelly followed at a steadier pace, their tall frames gliding in with a calm assurance. "Told you he'd be fine," Panthera chimes, their sharp gazes softened as they landed on Kirie, propped upright on the recovery bed, his pale blue scrubs slightly rumpled, but his lilac-cyan eyes bright with returning strength.

"...!" Mille and Freda, quick to recover, scrambled to their feet with a flurry of motion. Dusting themselves off, they darted to either side of the bed, each seizing one of Kirie's hands in a protective, almost possessive grip.

Their fingers laced tightly with his, their urgency palpable, as if anchoring him back to their world after his brush with oblivion.

"Young Master, how are you feeling?" Mille's voice trembled with a soft, anxious lilt, her cat-like ears twitching faintly atop her head.

"Master Kirie, at your word, I, Freda Gwenhael, will dispose of that phantom at once." Freda's tone rang sharp and resolute, her knightly vow cutting through the air with unwavering resolve.

Two distinct voices, yet woven with the same thread of concern, danced around Kirie. A quiet giggle bubbled up from his chest, and he squeezed the hands clutching his—Mille's warm and eager, Freda's firm and steady—returning their affection with a gentle press of his fingers. His eyes sparkled with warmth, the corners crinkling as he smiled.

"Yes, girls, I'm okay. It's a combat test, so I had to be prepared." His reassuring gaze swept across the five women filling the medical ward—Olga by the wall, Panthera and Kelly near the door, and Mille and Freda at his sides—each a pillar of his chaotic, steadfast world.

Mille's nose twitched suddenly, her tail snapping upright like a flagpole. She leaned in, sniffing Kirie with an intrusive curiosity, her sharp senses cutting through the sterile air. Her golden eyes narrowed, then flicked toward Olga.

A knowing, piercing gaze settled on the Head Nurse, sending an icy chill skittering down Olga's spine. Her plush frame stiffened beneath the oversized lab coat, her breath catching as Mille's silent scrutiny bore into her.

"I have brought you replacement clothes, Young Master. Please, follow me to the rest roo—" Mille began, her voice a chirpy hum as she produced a sleek peach-colored polo and crisp white chino pants, seemingly conjured from thin air.

"I can change on my own, thank you!" Kirie interjected, snatching the bundle from her grasp with a swift, playful tug. He flashed a sheepish grin before darting toward the changing room, the door clicking shut behind him with a firm twist of the lock. The sound echoed faintly, a small assertion of independence amid the hovering concern of his entourage.

Once Olga gave her stuttering clearance—her hazel eyes darting nervously between charts and Kirie—he was finally free to explore Empyrea Solis for the latter half of the day. She nodded, her oversized lab coat swishing as she stepped back, relinquishing him to the world beyond her sterile domain.

Stepping into the clandestine lounge drew immediate attention. The air shifted, thick with the murmur of curious voices and the rustle of shifting bodies. It wasn't just his prowess against Enigma that turned heads—rumors of his Astrum Valoria battle had already spread like wildfire—but the striking presence of the four towering women trailing in his wake.

The lounge sprawled before Kirie, a vibrant tapestry of eye-catching wonders. A wide reception area greeted him first, its polished counter gleaming under soft, ambient light, flanked by lush potted palms that swayed faintly in the magic-infused breeze.

Beyond it stretched a cozy lounge, where a snack bar doubled as a cafeteria—its counter laden with colorful trays of tropical fruits and steaming pastries, the air thick with the mingled scents of mango and warm bread.

Nearby, a play area buzzed with energy, the sharp clack of ping pong balls and the rhythmic thud of table tennis paddles echoing off the high, vaulted ceiling.

Kirie's curious eyes sparkled, drinking in the tropical atmosphere, the humidity kissing his skin as he marveled at this paradise woven from magic and tech.

Then his gaze snagged on a corner of the room, hooked by a familiar presence. There, lounging with an effortless air of command, were the Four Stars—Ignatia, Alden, Nyx, and Zenric. They reclined at a cluster of low, cushioned seats tucked against the wall, their silhouettes framed by the golden glow of a nearby lamp.

Each bore the quiet confidence of their Astrum Valoria triumphs, their casual chatter pausing as they sensed the new arrival, their eyes flicking toward Kirie with a mix of curiosity and recognition.

"There he is, the star of the show!" The orange-and-red-haired Ignatia would fire up, waving enthusiastically at Kirie. Zenric would follow a wave, a kind, stern smile given to the smaller male.

Kirie cast an embarrassed glance over his shoulder, his eyes darting silently to his entourage. The wordless plea hung in the air—either explore the lounge and enjoy themselves, or keep watch from a distance.

To his surprise, Panthera and Freda peeled away, taking up sentinel posts farther back, their towering figures blending into the crowd with a quiet vigilance.

Kelly, meanwhile, sauntered toward the play area, her broad frame drawn to the sharp clack of ping pong tables, while Mille slipped into the cafeteria's kitchen, her tail flicking eagerly as she vanished behind the counter, likely sniffing out a culinary adventure.

Across the room, Nyx spared Kirie only a fleeting glance before shrugging, her arms crossing tightly over her bountiful chest like a guarded shield.

A shroud of mystery cloaked her—dark-clad, aloof, her presence a riddle begging to be unraveled. That enigma shattered in an instant as Ignatia slung a casual arm around Nyx's shoulders, her grip firm and familiar.

"Here's Nyx! She's a little shy, but she's a good girl!" Ignatia's voice boomed with a warm, teasing lilt, her fiery confidence cutting through the lounge's hum. Nyx's pale cheeks flared with a sudden, fiery blush, the heat creeping up her neck like wildfire.

"W-what! What are you talking about?!" Nyx sputtered, her protest a sharp burst as her dark eyes flickered between Ignatia and Kirie.

"Tsk... don't make me sound weird in front of other people, Tia!" She squirmed under Ignatia's hold, but her gaze kept snagging on him, pulled by something she couldn't name.

It was that sweet, golden scent wafting from him, subtle yet intoxicating, and the latent radiance pulsing beneath his skin—a quiet glow that tugged at her instincts, her darker power. She couldn't pin it down, but an unspoken force whispered to her senses, urging her to step closer, to linger within the reach of his arms. She detested it.

"I don't think that's the right way to say that, Igna..." Zenric, the mediator of the bunch, fanned down Ignatia's enthusiastic flames with a de-escalating tone, while Alden was snoring lightly in peace.

"D'awww, it's okay, Nyx! I saw you trying to catch him when he fe—" Ignatia's teasing chirp halted mid-sentence as a shadowy hand erupted from Nyx's shoulder, its inky tendrils curling around Ignatia's mouth to silence her. The sudden move snuffed out her words, leaving a muffled yelp in its wake.

"This loose-lipped…!" Nyx growled, her annoyance flaring as she balled a fist, her dark eyes glinting with exasperation. With a sharp sigh, she tucked her arms back across her chest and sank deeper into her cushioned seat, the fabric creaking faintly under her shifting weight.

"Ahaha… Thank you, I appreciate it…" Kirie dipped into a shallow bow, his million-dollar smile breaking through—warm, radiant, a legacy of his father's charm. His doe eyes twinkled as he aimed it at Nyx, who huffed and turned her head aside, her blush deepening despite the stubborn tilt of her jaw.

"How are you, Kirie? The spirits are pretty frazzled from your injuries earlier…" Zenric's voice flowed in, smooth and steady, cutting through the tension. In his cupped hands, he cradled a cluster of green motes, their soft glow pulsing with a comforting, earthy energy.

They shimmered like tiny emeralds, radiating the raw essence of nature—roots and soil and whispering leaves—his power laid bare in their gentle dance.

"I was graciously taken care of, thank you for your concern!" Kirie beamed, his million-dollar smile stretching wide as he turned to Zenric Florendar.

With a playful little wave, he greeted the natural spirits swirling in Zenric's palm—those green motes pulsing softly, their earthy glow casting faint shadows across his fingers like a miniature forest breathing alive. His lilac-cyan eyes twinkled with genuine warmth, reflecting the Son of Gaia's soothing presence.

"Ignatia Calden!" The explosive redhead thrust a peace sign toward Kirie, her voice a bright, crackling burst that cut through the lounge's hum.

"Yes, that's my big brother earlier, and I'm proud of him!" Her shining smile blazed, a radiant force rivaling even Kirie's charm, her fiery hair catching the golden lamplight as it framed her bold, unyielding grin. The Fist of Fire's energy seemed to ignite the air around her, drawing every eye in the corner.

"Alden… Vael… nice t'... meetcha..." A groggy murmur drifted from the sidelines, paired with a lethargic wave of a hand. The Blue Flash slouched in his seat, his voice heavy with a drowsy drawl, as if rousing from a nap. His hand flopped back down, fingers brushing the cushion, his cool, subdued aura a stark foil to Ignitia's blaze and Zenric's calm.

"And so! Since everybody's here, let's explore Empyrea Solis!" Ignatia would suggest with an energy no one can easily match.