"And at the end of it all, my decision paid off. As he had promised, with the body of the Omnithrallians transplanted into mine, I had become a being capable of going toe to toe against a god," Aegis of the Arctic Deity said.
"After that, he never forced me to do anything I didn't wish to. The only tasks I took under him were those I took willingly. I protected my race as I wished, not allowing them to endure hardship until now," he then recounted everything and remembered his life with Naka.
"Those are the only things I can remember everything about my life and how I encountered Naka."
Orion nodded in understanding, absorbing Aegis of the Arctic Deity's words.
"Knowing the consequences of transplanting the body of a foreign race into yourself, why did you still agree to such a request, Aegis of the Arctic Deity?" Aerialia asked, her gaze intense, fixed on the Aegis of the Arctic Deity.
She had calmed down slightly as she listened to their discussion, but her curiosity remained unabated, prompting her to ask her question when it ended.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity sighed heavily upon hearing her words.
"What kind of consequences?" Orion asked curiously, his interest piqued.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity redirected his gaze towards Orion, fixing him solemnly. "There are four unspoken rules that every race must follow. Firstly, no race shall infringe upon another race's territorial boundaries or governance structures without explicit invitation or permission unless in times of defeat following a declared conflict or war. Secondly, it is forbidden to denigrate, suppress, or exploit the cultural practices, beliefs, or identities of other races unless they are deemed slaves or a conquered race following a legitimate conflict or conquest."
"Thirdly, no race shall engage in the unauthorized manipulation or alteration of the genetic code of other races, including the transplantation of body parts or genetic material, without explicit consent from their god or divine authority. And lastly, all races are obligated to preserve and protect the natural resources, ecosystems, and environments of worlds and celestial bodies," he explained solemnly.
"Without these rules, countless races would have collapsed even before the 'Great War'. However, during the 'Age of Migration' and the 'Great War,' you should know better than me that none of these unspoken rules were upheld. So, it would help if you weren't surprised that I accepted such an opportunity when it was presented to me."
"Nevertheless, I've revealed all of this to you because you seemed intent on not leaving until I've told you everything I know about myself and my relationship with Naka."
Aerialia's fists clenched momentarily before her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"As for the rest, I took on the name Aegis of the Arctic Deity because of my deeds, and my singular purpose is to protect all those around me."
However, Orion nodded his head in understanding. He had gleaned a trove of crucial information alongside a few revelations that had expanded his horizons.
Initially, he had concluded that Naka was more likely to be a man-made god rather than a genuine god. However, after listening to Aegis of the Arctic Deity's words, he realized there were much higher chances of Naka being an Omnithrallian or a man-made god.
If two Omnithrallian corpses could remain intact until Aegis of the Arctic Deity found them, there was a chance that a few who lived could still be lingering in this world.
'Haaaa... This is problematic,' Orion thought, feeling the weight of the situation settling heavily upon him.
"And Naka? You said that he blocked your memories. Does that mean that you have no information about him?" Orion asked. Even knowing what Naka looked like would help uncover more clues.
Aegis of the Arctic shook his head solemnly. "I only remember his eccentric personality, the deeds he performed for me and my race, and a few other important pieces of information that he hadn't blocked. Yes, I'm aware that there are likely things he wanted to keep hidden, which might be why he blocked my memories. However, without him, I wouldn't be alive with my race. So, I don't care whatsoever about what he wanted to conceal," he responded.
Orion exhaled deeply, absorbing Aegis of the Arctic Deity's words. They essentially confirmed his assumption.
While Aegis of the Arctic Deity's attitude toward Naka was favourable, unlike White Flame's, it wasn't because he served Naka or anything like that. It was because of all the things Naka had done for him and helped him achieve.
"Even though Naka has locked away your memories, I'm certain that in your current state, you possess the means to unlock them if you desire to. Or is there something preventing you from doing so?" Aerialia asked abruptly, her gaze sharp as she focused on Aegis of the Arctic Deity.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity appeared hesitant to address her question initially, but after a deep exhale, he responded, "Yes, you're correct. There is a method by which I could reclaim all my memories..."
"Then what is it?" Aerialia interjected eagerly.
"This is a matter I must ponder before deciding, goddess Aerialia. You'll have to await my response," Aegis of the Arctic Deity replied calmly.
Aerialia nodded understandingly, her expression serious. Aegis of the Arctic Deity had already divulged much by responding to their questions, so there was no need to press further. If waiting for his decision was all they could do, they would wait a while longer.
"Okay. How about the Princess of the Garden? Considering she has been in the Garden all this time, you might know the purpose behind her creation, right?" Orion asked.
He doubted that the Princess of the Garden, an exact copy of Aerialia, was solely created to guard and tend to the Garden. He hoped to uncover why the Princess of the Garden purpose and why she showed no signs of pregnancy despite being expected to bear a child.
"I also believe that my memories concerning the Princess of the Garden are blocked and inaccessible. I'll need to decide whether I want to unlock those memories to verify her identity," Aegis of the Arctic Deity responded, shaking his head in defeat.
"However, there is one thing I do recall about her," he added.
