The Orion Project (Rewrite) (indefinite hiatus)

Chapter 57

Devon slowly opened his eyes, blinking as he tried to push himself up. The pain and exhaustion were almost too much to handle and he barely got into an upright position.

"Youngling! Thank the goddess you have awoken."

He groaned and rubbed his head. It felt like someone had bashed a dozen sledgehammers against his skull and then threw him off a cliff. He was sore everywhere, even his core felt like it was on fire.

"What...what happened?" He asked weakly.

"The power was too much for you to handle. I had to end the connection before it killed you." Eirlinda solemnly said.

"Thanks."

"Of course."

He sat there and leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. He took slow, calming breaths as he tried to fight the pain.

"So...that power, let's not do that anytime soon." He joked.

"We shall not. We must, unfortunately, return to that 'place'."

"Orion, it's called Orion, Eirlinda."

"I do not care, let us leave this place. There is nothing left here."

Devon reached out next to him, grabbing his father's sword firmly. His own was in his left and he used both to stand up. He glanced down at the blades, seeing the similarities and their differences. His own was just a tad larger than his father's.

"I wouldn't say that." He mumbled. "Might as well give him some kind of memorial."

"I am sure he would be, somewhat, proud of your accomplishments. Especially here." Eirlinda tried to console him.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure he would. Somewhat."

He slowly climbed out the cave and out on to the empty street. He glanced around and found the remains of an old statue. What it once was could be anyone's guess as it was cleaved in two. But he did vaguely remember it being a memorial.

"Here should be good." He said.

He flipped the blade around and stabbed it at the feet of the statue. The wrapping on the hilt had become unraveled and silently flowed in the wind. Devon bowed is head and gave a silent prayer.

"Take it easy Dad, I hope you and Mom are at peace."

He turned and left, leaving the remains of his childhood home and the memories it once held. He made it back to his airship and took. When he was in the air he checked his communications and saw over three dozen missed messages from Orion.

"Well damn, I'm gonna get an earful when I get back." He sighed.

"How long was I out?"

"I am unsure. It is hard to tell underground."

"Well, let's get this over with." He tapped a few buttons and the comms hummed to life.

"This is Thorne, reporting in." He said.

There was a brief silence before Solaris' voice furiously replied. "Where the hell have you been, Zealot?!"

"Should I be honest?"

"Yes, you might as well." Eirlinda replied.

"Sleeping, I guess?"

"What?"

"I...well, I tapped into my bond's powers and I guess it was too much for me to handle. I think I passed out afterwards." Devon scratched his cheek.

"You better have a better explanation than that, Zealot. It has been a week and a half since you went dark." Solaris spat.