Chapter 157 - The City Of Love

"Wow! City of love! It's so beautiful!" Announced Taara, raising her arms up in the air while they all look at the wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars, Paris.

It was a bright and sunny day when the masters arrived at the sight of the Eiffel Tower, settling beneath its magnificent frame. 

Never had the masters decided to go on a vacation together, but just for three days they determined, they all deserved it. 

In their place, Agatha swore to look after the earth for, in return, the supreme white witch and Theo would permanently live on the moon, only to come to Aeros for visits. 

It was also Orion's first trip to earth and everything about it completely amused him. 

There was a long cue to get passage to the top, but no matter, it left them with many opportunities to take pictures of the surroundings. 

"Orion, come here, let's take a picture together," told Christopher, holding a camera. 

The young master frowned. They did not have such devices in Aeros. To come up with a portrait in his place of birth meant painting his face. He never crossed the gates to Trinity Bay, always busy with building his strength. 

"Ah, with that thing?" He pointed out to the camera that Christopher was holding. 

"Yes, son. Come, let me show you," said Christopher. 

"Okay, father," the young boy answered. 

"Call me Dad here," instructed Christopher. As soon as Orion stood next to him, he whispered. "Here, the more common way to call your father is Dad and Mom for your mother."

It was Brody and Taara who lined up for them, buying tickets so Amanda and Christopher, together with Abasi and Trisha, had more than enough time to take photos. 

Yet again, Orion was entertained at how pictures could easily be taken that he himself made use of the camera. 

He was a fast learner, zooming the lens in and out from behind his parents. He then saw a young girl, seemingly ten years old, just like the same age as his body. 

The young girl was standing next to another woman, watching over her. She looked so sad that it showed in her eyes. Yet, despite the melancholy on her face, her beauty was incomparable. 

She had a small face, skin white as pearl, and beautiful midnight ruby hair. 

The young girl's eyes reminded him of his mother's eyes. He zoomed in closer and was able to determine; it was in fact the shade of sea green. 

He took a few more pictures of the young girl before he turned to his parents and announce, "Mother - rather, Mom and Dad. As a future king of the dragon star, it is my duty to procreate!" He then pointed at the young girl and said, "She is the girl I choose to marry."

"With the order of the Red Dragon, Vermithrax, I request you to seek the girl's name, place of home, and her hand in marriage," Orion seriously said. He did not even blink. 

Amanda and Christopher looked at each other first before laughing out loud. 

Christopher sneered and grabbed Orion by the neck. He told, "I hate you break it to you, buddy, but that doesn't work like that."

"Yeah, and don't forget, you are still technically two years old!" Reminded Amanda. "You aren't getting married anytime soon! Haha!" 

She leaned over and told, "You - are still out baby."

"Hmmm." Answered Orion. He turned back to the young girl and contemplated. 

Out of the blue, he attempted to open his shirt, saying, "Then, Dad and Mom, I will just ask Vermithrax to get the girl's name and place of finding! No one can say no to the god dragon himself!"

"No!" Christopher and Amanda both said at the same time, scared for when a red dragon might suddenly appear in the middle of Paris. 

"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad, but I - I can't take my eyes off that girl. It has to be her. Can you please find a way to find out who that girl is and how I can come for her in the future when I am at the right age," told Orion.

"We will not get any more chance, other than today," he added, making a point altogether. 

"How do you know if she will like you?" Amanda pointed out. 

Orion sneered and answered, "Mom, I have seen the likes of the people here on earth. I conclude my looks are superior."

Christopher and Amanda threw in a few more objections, but Orion was determined, even returning to take off his shirt and summon the beastly red dragon. 

One thing both Amanda and Christopher were sure of. Their son was a stubborn one. Eventually, they wound up surrendering to his demands, both hoping, one day, he would forget about this day. 

There was only one way to get the information they needed without being perceived as a freak; it was through magic!

Christopher turned to the line and saw it would take another hour for them to get the tickets. Thus, he asked Abasi to bring him back to Aeros, taking the charm capable of hypnosis. 

Fortunately, upon their return, the young girl still stood sadly next to the woman in black suite, seemingly waiting. 

"Let me do it," offered Amanda. "It's less strange for a woman to approach."

She grabbed the amulet. The same Diana tried to use on Christopher, and walked in the direction of the lady, standing next to the beautiful young girl.

Amanda forced a smile and said, "Hello, I - I hope you don't mind, I am a tourist and I - I wanted to ask something."

The woman, whose clothes utterly looked like a bodyguard, said, "What can I help you with?"

"I was wondering," said Amanda. She took out the amulet and said, "I wanted to know if you know any shops that sell similar artifacts here."

When the lady wound up looking at the amulet, Amanda softly spoke, "With the power of this amulet, I see in my eyes, thy is in a state of hypnosis."

She repeated her chanting until the lady was in a complete trance with eyes looking past Amanda. She then looked down at the young girl and asked, "What about you little girl, do you know about this amulet?"

Amanda also put the young girl in a trance before she finally asked, "I'm sorry, but I just need to know the young girl's name and whose family does she belong to."

She looked straight into the woman's eyes and added, "Tell me everything I need to know. I command you."

"Young miss here is Esmée Bardin, the illegitimate of Victor Bardin, the family of the Bardins, the biggest shareholders of the BNX International Insurance Company in the country," told the woman. 

"Oh, wow. Impressive," responded Amanda. She rarely had the chance to visit Paris, but BNX Insurance is being offered almost in every country she has been too. She knew well that the company was big. 

"It isn't really, wow madam," the woman willingly told the information, unable to control her deepest sentiments toward the girl she had been watching for over a year. "If anything, this young lady is pitiful."

With a frown on her face, Amanda asked, "Why is that?"

"Because she was made out of a mistake, madam. She is never treated fairly. We came here with her siblings, but only they visited the peak of the Eiffel Tower. Like always, she is asked to wait for them as her siblings enjoy the benefits of being a Bardin," told the woman.

The tale suddenly made Amanda sad that she glanced down at the young girl. Esmée was glancing straight at Amanda's green eyes. Her expression was pensive and lifeless, yet her eyes were so beautiful. 

Amanda smiled at Esmée and said, "Hi Esmée, tell me. Why do your eyes look sad?"

"Because, I am not loved," said the young girl. "I wish my mother is still alive."

Amanda could not contest to the revelation. The girl and her guardian were under hypnosis, and they were forced to tell only the truth.

It saddened the master of fire to hear this from the young girl that somehow; she wished she could fill her with the affection she was deprived. 

"Well, one day, you may find the love you are looking for. Thank you for your time," Amanda said before canceling the hypnosis altogether. She left Esmée, returning to the side of her family. 

The moment she reached Orion, she heard her son asked, "Are you pleased with my choice, Mom?"

Amanda smiled and said, "Yes, I am very pleased." She glanced back at the young girl and said, "In fact, we could consider visiting her from time to time."

Orion smirked and said, "Thank you for bringing me here, Mom and Dad. This really is the city of love."

"Spoken... like a big man, eh," remarked Christopher, rubbing his hand on Orion's head. 

To further back-up the claims of Paris, being the city of love, Abasi acted from the heart. 

When the masters reached the top of the tower, Abasi stopped time altogether, only for five minutes.

Unknown to the rest of the masters, Abasi had been practicing to stop time for a while, wanting to make a special moment with Trisha.

Out of the blue, the entire tower fell silent. Only the masters were shrieking in excitement while Orion observed the act of proposal, making a mental note of the appropriate steps.

In front of Trisha, the master of time and space kneeled down to his beloved, holding up an engagement ring in his hand. 

He asked, "Trisha, honey. Will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?"