Chapter 272 Meeting Aurora

Orion then looked around, his eyes fell on a figure that he recognized. It was a young woman with long, blue hair that cascaded down her back in waves. She was standing alone between the group of disciples.

Orion recognized her as Aurora, a fellow disciple of the Celestial Harmony Sect. He knew her well, as they had come from the same school. But he also knew about her reputation among the other disciples.

Aurora was known for her cold and distant attitude toward others, making her one of the least approachable members of the sect.

Despite her aloof demeanor, Orion had always found it easier to communicate with Aurora. He already knew her attitude so well.

He approached her with a smile, hoping to break through her icy exterior. "Hey, Aurora," Orion said, catching her attention.

Aurora looked up at him, her expression unchanged. "Hello, Orion," she replied, her voice cool and distant.

Orion didn't let her demeanor bother him. He knew that it was just her way of protecting herself, and he respected that. "Are you excited about the Ruin Space?" he asked, trying to engage her in conversation.

Aurora shrugged. "I suppose," she replied. "It will be a good opportunity to test my skills."

Orion nodded in agreement. "Yes, it will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it. Elder Winston has put a lot of faith in us."

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Faith?" she repeated. "I think he just wants us to bring back as many treasures as possible."

Orion chuckled. "Well, that's true," he said. "But I like to think that he has faith in our abilities as well."

Aurora gave him a small smile, the first sign of warmth that Orion had seen from her. "Perhaps," she said. "But let's not disappoint him, shall we?"

Orion nodded, impressed by Aurora's determination. "Definitely not," he said. "We'll do our best to bring back the treasures that will benefit our sect the most."

Aurora nodded in agreement, and for a moment, they stood in companionable silence. Orion looked around and saw that the other disciples had started to move towards the entrance to the Ruin Space.

As they started to walk towards the entrance, Aurora spoke again, this time in a more serious tone. "Orion, I heard about what happened with Marcus," she said.

Orion tensed at the mention of the name. Marcus was a powerful cultivator who had caused him a lot of trouble in the past. "Yes, I had to take care of him," he replied, his tone clipped.

Aurora looked at him, her expression unreadable. "You really killed that bastard, Marcus," she said.

Orion looked at her and answered, "Yes, I killed him. He was a bother to me. He had sent assassins after me."

Aurora smiled a bit, but her smile was scary. "Thank you for not dirtying my hand," she said, her eyes glinting with something that Orion couldn't quite place.

Orion shuddered a bit at her words. He knew that Aurora had been forced by Marcus in the past, and he had been the one to rescue her. From that day, Marcus had developed a deep hatred for him.

Orion couldn't help but wonder if Aurora felt the same way toward Marcus. He decided to change the topic, not wanting to dwell on the past.

"So, what do you think we'll find in the Ruin Space?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

Aurora shrugged. "Who knows?" she replied. "But I'm sure there will be treasures that will benefit our sect."

Orion nodded in agreement. "I hope so," he said. "I've been preparing for this for a long time."

Aurora nodded, her expression serious. "Me too," she said. "I won't let anything stand in my way."

Orion admired her determination. He knew that Aurora was a skilled cultivator, and he had no doubt that she would be a valuable asset in the Ruin Space.

"Speaking of skills, how is your beast?" Orion asked, changing the topic once again. He had always been interested in the beasts that the disciples of the Celestial Harmony Sect cultivated.

Aurora's face softened at the mention of her beast. "Frosty is doing well," she said, a hint of affection in her voice. "He has grown much stronger since we last met."

Orion nodded in satisfaction, remembering the time when he had helped Aurora contract Frosty. He had been impressed with her ability to tame the fierce beast.

"I'm glad to hear that," Orion said. "I remember when we first met Frosty, he was quite a handful."

Aurora laughed, the sound surprising Orion. It was the first time he had heard her laugh, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth toward her.

"He was indeed," Aurora said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "But with your help, we were able to establish a strong bond."

Orion smiled, feeling a sense of pride. He had always enjoyed helping others, especially when it came to cultivating beasts.

Aurora then looked at him again, "Don't worry. My family is backing you so that Panthera Clan needs to think twice before offending you."

Orion was surprised by Aurora's sudden change in tone. He looked at her quizzically, unsure of what she meant.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Aurora looked at him seriously. "I mean that my family has your back," she said. "They know how important you are to our clan, and they won't let anyone harm you."

Orion was taken aback by her words. He knew that Aurora's family was one of the most influential clans.

"Thank you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I appreciate it."

Aurora nodded, her expression serious. "You're a valuable asset to our clan," she said. "We can't afford to lose someone like you."

Orion nodded, acknowledging the weight of her words. But as he looked at Aurora, he realized that he had made a true friend in her. He knew that he could count on her, just as she could count on him.

"Thank you, Aurora," Orion said. "I won't forget this."

Aurora smiled at him, the warmth in her expression making Orion's heart skip a beat. He couldn't help but feel drawn to her, even though he knew he needed to keep his focus on his goal.

He cleared his throat, trying to shake off the feeling. "I appreciate your support," he said. "But I need to remember that I am here for a reason."

Aurora nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "I know," she said. "And I support you in your goal."