This wasn't the kind of situation that she had expected to deal with after their last meeting.
"The other reason related to this matter is that I have decided to unseal my memories," Aegis of the Arctic Deity added, shocking them out of their thoughts.
Orion shot back up to his feet. "You can't do that!" he exclaimed.
"Aegis of the Arctic Deity, are you trying to renege on the agreement we made yesterday?" Aerialia asked, narrowing her eyes at Aegis of the Arctic Deity.
"Yes, I am. After all my discoveries, no matter how much I don't wish to do this, it's time to finally seek some answers and unseal the memories I've promised myself never to unseal. Also, from the looks of things, our attackers will not leave until they get what they want. I also don't know how long they're willing to wait. Despite being able to replenish my Primordial energy now, I don't know how much I can handle before I give in."
"If we continue to do nothing, their attacks will draw attention due to the dense accumulations of laws in the area, and we'll have to stay in these barriers for an unknown amount of time. Choosing to remain oblivious is something I cannot see myself doing, so I deeply apologize for breaking the agreement we made in our previous meeting."
"I've decided to unseal my memories and witness the truth. That's why I've called you here. Do you want to witness the truth with me? My mistakes, my wrongdoings, and all the things that led to who I am today," Aegis of the Arctic Deity asked.
Hearing Aegis of the Arctic Deity's words, Orion's body trembled with emotion. "If you decide to unseal your memories, what will happen to this territory? Without your protection, the Orion Cities will certainly revert to how it was, as I'm not sure the warriors can protect everyone. People who have given their lives for the development of this territory will die. Please, Oberon, do not do this," Orion said, pleading.
He never expected it to come to something at this very moment, but he understood the repercussions if Aegis of the Arctic Deity decided to unseal his memories.
Although he had been ignorant previously, thinking there was a way they could overcome this, after discovering that there was none and that they could only make a choice and go through with it, he felt stupid for thinking he could handle such a decision.
"Don't you feel shame breaking your agreement with a defenceless mortal, Aegis of the Arctic Deity? You are neither the god of treachery nor trickery. I have acknowledged you as a god, so if you do this, you are proving to me that my assumptions about you were not wrong—that you are only a mortal masquerading in the skin of a god. Aegis of the Arctic Deity, do not do this," Aerialia retorted, tightening her fist, her expression morphed with fierce anger.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity shook his head, "I am sorry, but regardless of whether you choose to accept my offer and come with me to witness the memories I've chosen to seal through these years or choose not to, I am still going to unseal them, so the decision is yours," Aegis of the Arctic Deity said, his gaze shifting from Aerialia to Orion.
A blood-red box soon materialized before him, and he placed his hands over it, "Nonetheless, though I won't be able to protect you from the Vylkr vines any longer before I am gone, I'll use the little time I have left to eliminate our current attackers, along with any god that might emerge during that time."
"I am sure that though they might be curious about the location where the Divine mysteries havebeen triggeredseveral times already, theywouldn'tbeso stupidto take a risk and go there themselves.As for anything that happens after that, it willbe leftfor you to handle."
Orion's expression loosened when he heard Aegis of the Arctic Deity's words. He understood that there was no way to stop him from making this decision, and the only choice he had right now was to follow Aegis of the Arctic Deity to witness his sealed memories.
If push came to shove, he would have to find a way to utilize the resources available in the Mountain and see if it would be possible to save more lives without Aegis of the Arctic Deity's aid.
"If there is no other way to convince you not to do this, okay, then I agree. I'll come with you to witness these sealed memories of yours and judge for myself if they are worth putting the lives of everyone within Orion's cities in immediate danger," Orion responded, stepping forward and halting before the blood-red box, his expression resolute.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity nodded at Orion and shifted his attention towards Aerialia.
"Fine. I'll be coming, too. I want to see who Naka is and how all this started. Besides, this is what I wanted from the beginning, so I see no reason to refuse such a chance now that we have no choice," Aerialia responded, loosening her fist as she nodded at Aegis of the Arctic Deity.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity nodded and stretched out his hand towards Orion. "Grab my hand," he said.
Orion slowly took hold of Aegis of the Arctic Deity's hand, feeling the warmth and unnatural smoothness that no flesh or body should possess. Aerialia stood beside him, and Orion tightly gripped the Crimson greatsword as it was the only thing holding his connection with Aerialia together.
"Are you all ready?" Aegis of the Arctic Deity asked, his tone serious, unlike before. Obviously, he was serious about what he was planning to do.
Orion and Aerialia nodded in unison.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity refocused on the blood-red box and began to unseal it. Almost instantly, the blood-red boxshook violently before gradually disintegrating from top to bottom, its fragments scattering like specks of dust into the air until it abruptly vanished from sight.