The night swallowed them in its embrace as together, they navigated their way through dimly lit corridors and shadowed alleyways. Sienna felt a shiver of apprehension run down her spine, a sense of foreboding looming over her like a heavy cloud. She glanced sideways as Sieya, his profile sharp against the darkness. There was a tension in the air between them, a silent understanding that they were walking right into the unknown. Or she guessed, they had been walking into the unknown quite a lot lately. Their footsteps echoed hollowly in the empty streets, the only sound in the desolate night. Sienna's heart hammered in her chest, the rhythmic thud matching the pace of her racing thoughts, as she tightened her grip on Seiya's wrist. What awaited them at their destination? Who was this person that Seiya was leading her to? As she allowed him to turn the corner, a figure emerged from the shadows, a silhouette in the dim light. Sienna felt her breath caught in her throat, as her senses woke to high alert. As Sienna found Seiya's protective stance, the enigmatic figure in the alleyway seemed to cock their head, as a sudden gust of wind swept through the night, carrying with it and air of magic and mystery. In a split second, a swirl of shadows turned, revealed a handsome black - haired man materialized before them, his sharp features were lit up by the flickering of a small source of light above him.
Sienna could see the sparkling of something mischievous flash from his eyes, playing into the confident smile that now appeared on his face. With a flourish, the stranger began shuffling a deck of cards in his hands, the intricate patterns dancing under his deft fingers. Sienna's eyes widened in awe as she sensed the raw mystery that emanated from him, and by the looks of it, Seiya was feeling it too. It was clear from the moment he stepped in front of them, this was no ordinary man - he was a wielder of magic, and by the looks of it, those cards in his hands held secrets waiting to be unveiled. ''You're not the same man I met in the bar, what happened to him?!'' Seiya's voice trailed off as he eyed the newcomer warily, his instincts on high alert. The black-haired man chuckled, the sound rich and melodious, as he continued to shuffle the deck of cards with effortless grace. "Ah, but appearances can be deceiving, my friend," he said, his voice smooth like velvet. "I am one and the same, just revealing a different aspect of myself." Sienna could feel the electricity crackling in the air, a sense of anticipation building around them. The man's eyes flickered between Sienna and Seiya, a knowing glint in their depths. "I go by many names, but you may call me Orion," he said, his tone carrying a hint of mystery. And as he spread out the deck of cards before them, the night seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the magic to unfold. ''I told you I would help you. And that is what I am here to do.''
''You aren't human, are you?''
Orion's smile widened, the corners of his lips curling up in amusement. "Ah, perceptive as ever," he replied, his eyes glinting with a mix of playfulness and something deeper. "No, my dear friends, I am not quite human. I am something older, something... different." His words hung in the air, laced with a sense of mystery that only added to the enigma surrounding him. Sienna felt a shiver run down her spine, a mixture of fear and fascination intertwining within her. Seiya clenched his fists, his expression a mix of determination and wariness as he studied Orion intently. And yet, despite the otherworldly presence that emanated from him, there was a sense of trust that seemed to bloom within Sienna's heart, a belief that perhaps, just perhaps, this mysterious being was indeed here to help them. As the cards continued to shift and change under Orion's hands, a sense of destiny seemed to hang in the air, guiding them towards a path unknown but filled with endless possibilities. 'I am not human, but neither are you, friend.'' Orion said as he barred his eyes closer into Seiya, who looked a little amused, but it was obvious he wasn't going to allow this Orion to harm Sienna. Seiya's gaze hardened as he met Orion's intense stare, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "You may not be human, but I will not stand by and let you harm Sienna," he said firmly, his voice steady and resolute. Sienna felt a surge of gratitude towards Seiya, his protective instinct filling her with a sense of safety even in the presence of this enigmatic being. Orion chuckled softly, his eyes flashing with an unreadable emotion. "Ah, the protector," he mused, his tone laced with something akin to respect. "But fear not, my friend. I am not here to bring harm. I am simply here to offer up my help. You said you were in search of a man by the name of Alman, you're hopeful he can take you to the realm of the gods, is that right?''
Seiya's expression softened slightly as he listened to Orion's words, his gaze still guarded but more open to the possibility that this mysterious being might indeed be an ally. Sienna glanced between Seiya and Orion, sensing the shifting dynamics between them as the conversation unfolded. "Yes, we are searching for Alman," Seiya confirmed, his voice cautious but determined. "We believe he holds the key to reaching the realm of the gods." Sienna nodded in agreement, her curiosity piqued by Orion's knowledge of their quest. ''Do you know where we can find him? How do we get to the north mountains from here? Do you know?'' A strange smile found their way to Orion's face, one that had Sienna's throat becoming offly dry. ''I can do better than telling you.'' Soon they found themselves enchanted as Orion's hands moved with fluid grace, the cards swirling around him in a mesmerizing dance of colors and symbols. His eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light, a flicker of both power and might shining within them. As Sienna and Seiya watched with non-blinking eyes, a sense of both wonder and wariness crept over them, knowing they were about to witness the power of a nothing type of supernatural, one Seiya had never even seen in his many years. Without warning, Orion raised his hands above his head, the cards gathering around him like a swirling vortex of energy. With a swift and decisive motion, he released the cards towards them, the magical symbols glowing and pulsating with an external light. Sienna felt a heavy surge of energy wash over her, the power of the cards enveloping her up in a cocoon of swirling magic. She gasped just as rush of clarity and focus began to flood her senses, her mind sharpening as her intuition was heightened to an almost supernatural level.
''Sienna!'' In front of her, she caught the eyes of Seiya, who was also caught up in the whirlwind of magic, his eyes widening sharp as he too felt the power of the cards infused into him. His muscles tenses, his senses sharpening as well, as together, they braced themselves for whatever challenge lay ahead. As the magical energy of the cards enveloped Sienna and Seiya, it proved to be more overwhelming than they had anticipated. A blinding light filled their vision, their bodies tensing and then going limp as they succumbed to the power coursing through them. The last thing they heard was Orion's voice echoing in their minds before darkness consumed them entirely...