Emisarry Of Time And Space Chapter 215 216: Emily.

(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

Power stones people, Gimme it.

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Orion kept pace with the group without effort.

They moved steadily through the forest, not rushing, not dragging. After days together, their formation had settled naturally. Scouts rotated at the front and flanks, rear guards changed every few hours, and short breaks were taken without debate. Emily had established control early, and no one questioned it.

Orion stayed somewhere in the middle.

That, too, was deliberate.

He had learned quickly that Emily paid attention to positioning. Who walked where, who drifted, who lingered. She didn't comment on it, but Orion had noticed her eyes tracking movement more than faces. A leader who watched patterns rather than people.

Interesting.

Four days had passed since he joined them. The initial curiosity had dulled, replaced by a cautious normalcy. He was still watched, but no longer stared at. Questions came less frequently now, and when they did, they were practical rather than personal.

"How far do you think we are from the capital?" someone asked during a short rest.

Emily didn't answer immediately. She looked to Orion instead with a weird intensity.

He noticed. Of course he did, and he wondered why.

"Hard to say," Orion replied evenly. "I've been doing my best to follow directions that seem like a path or a road."

A safe answer. Vague but reasonable.

Emily hummed.

She didn't press him, but Orion could feel the quiet evaluation behind her calm demeanor. She was acting like she knew something, yet she didn't press; and it was frustrating him, the fact that she could sense emotions only further made it worse. Orion had expected something smooth; he would just deceive them and they would fall for it, but Emily was bothering him, although everything was seemingly going well.

He was considering the chance that she knew something but she was hiding it because she wanted to take advantage of him, or maybe he was just being unnecessarily paranoid.

But over the past few days, he had come to terms with everything; his search for the perfect process wasn't possible. All he was sure of was that he'd come out on top, and that was the most important.

The group itself was… functional. Not exceptional, but competent. There were minor frictions—differences in combat philosophy, disagreements about pace—but Emily handled them efficiently. No raised voices. No dominance games. She listened, decided, and moved on.

Orion hadn't needed to intervene once.

That told him enough.

Later that day, as they resumed walking, Emily fell into step beside him. Not abruptly. Not deliberately obvious. Just… naturally.

"You've been quiet," she said.

"So have you," Orion replied.

She smiled faintly. "You're observing me"

Orion didn't answer; he wouldn't respond to her teasing.

They walked in silence for a few moments.

"You're not what I expected," she said eventually.

"Neither are you," Orion answered without looking at her.

That earned him a sideways glance. "Oh?"

"How so?" She asked.

"I'd rather not get into that," Orion replied.

"I think I understand why the girl hasn't chosen you yet," She said with a huff before leaving him be.

They moved on.

That evening, the group made camp earlier than usual. The forest had grown quieter over the last few hours—not silent, but subdued. Fewer monsters. Less movement. Even the ambient sounds of mana felt thinner, stretched.

Orion noticed immediately.

He didn't say anything.

Neither did Emily.

Dinner was simple. Dried rations supplemented by what they'd gathered during the day. Conversation stayed light, focused on mundane things—who needed rest, who'd take first watch, whose boots were wearing thin.

It was normal.

That was the problem.

Orion lay back against a tree, eyes half-lidded, senses spread thin and passive.

Soon he felt it.

Movement.

Not close. Not hostile. But organized.

Large.

He adjusted slightly, as though settling more comfortably.

Across the camp, Emily stiffened for just a fraction of a second.

So she felt it too.

"Up," she said quietly.

No panic. No raised voice.

Just one word.

The camp shifted instantly. People rose, weapons drawn but kept low. Formation tightened without instruction. Emily stepped forward, eyes scanning the forest ahead.

"What is it?" one of them whispered.

"Company," Emily replied.

Orion stayed silent.

The movement grew clearer as the seconds passed. Not monsters. Too structured. Too rhythmic. There was a cadence to it—steps, pauses, turns.

A procession.

The group waited.

Then they appeared.

Shapes of green emerged from the dense trees, one after another. They were tall, slender, and broad-shouldered. Their skin seemed to absorb the dappled light, showing dull hues of jade and moss. Clothed in layered garments fashioned from woven fibers and hardened bark, some carried tools, while others brandished weapons crafted from polished stone and crystal.

Sylgrid.

There were many of them.

The entire group instantly became still.

Orion sensed the atmosphere grow tense in a heartbeat. Mana surged involuntarily from several individuals in Emily's party before they managed to suppress it. Confusion, wariness, and an instinct screaming 'danger' where no threat had yet been identified.

Emily slowly raised a hand, signaling them to hold back.

The Sylgrid noticed them almost immediately.

Their marching formation did not falter, but their pace lessened. Multiple heads turned in unison. A few Sylgrid stepped forward, their hands hovering near their weapons but not yet grasping them.

Orion observed with keen attention.

No hostility was detected.

Not at this moment.

Emily advanced a single step.

She avoided looking at Orion or seeking his input. She simply acted as a leader would—taking initiative.

The Sylgrid contingent ceased their movement completely, forming a loose semi-circle. One among them, notably taller than the others and adorned with subtle insignia on his attire, stepped out from the group.

He regarded them with undisguised curiosity.

Emily mirrored his action, halting at a respectful distance.

They stood facing each other.

Orion watched from a short distance, intrigued by how she would navigate this encounter.

"Hello, are you part of the Sylgrid?" Emily inquired.

The Sylgrid regarded her for a moment before letting out a short chuckle.

"Are you human?" he responded in kind.

"Yes," Emily confirmed.

"Then I am Sylgrid," the Sylgrid replied.

"Oh, wonderful," she said, a smile gracing her lips. "Do you happen to have any information regarding the Sylgrid Jade?"