"Patriarch Rylan, I assure you that we are not ignoring this situation; we are well-prepared to handle it. No matter what kind of phenomenon arises, we are ready to face it. Furthermore, we can effortlessly hold back the Vylkr vines because we possess a god's protection."
"We believe this divine shield will enable us to push back this phenomenon until it ends. Nonetheless, I hope you keep this revelation to yourself and do not reveal it to anyone," Orion responded, sighing as he revealed the secret of Aegis of the Arctic Deity to Patriarch Rylan and Isadora.
"A god," Patriarch Rylan repeated, his expression stunned. He snapped his head in the direction of the Village Chief.
Witnessing the Village Chief nod in agreement with Orion's words, his expression froze as he refocused it back on Orion.
A sudden thought surged through his mind, prompting him to recall the encounter with Iris, a divine apostle who had disclosed her identity to him on their first day in the Second Border City.
However, the information she provided was that the god was dead. Given the various challenges they faced in Orion's Cities, he opted not to pursue the matter further, focusing instead on repairing their relationship with the territory's leaders before asking about a sensitive topic about the divine apostles.
But who could have expected that he had been deceived? Not only was the goddess still alive, but it was also the very reason they were shielded from the Vylkr vines—
Wait a second!
Another thought surfaced in his mind as he recalled Iris mentioning the name of their goddess, Aerialia, the goddess of the hunting moon, instead of Aegis of the Arctic Deity. Although he wasn't familiar with the latter name, he instantly grasped that they were referring to two distinct gods.
The small village with which he had previously traded had undergone such rapid development that it now received blessings from two gods. And that didn't even include Naka, whom he was sure was the village's primary god and the reason for their success thus far.
Three gods!
Beside him, Isadora's mind seemed to short-circuit, leaving her in a daze. She was now more focused on regaining her composure than seeking Orion's attention.
"Patriarch Rylan, I understand that this revelation might not be easy for you to swallow. If given a chance, I had intended to deliver the information in a much calmer manner, not like this," Orion responded, his gaze fixed on Patriarch Rylan, whose expression had shifted multiple times in seconds.
Meanwhile, his daughter beside him seemed frozen in shock, unable to regain her composure.
Orion wasn't overly concerned about revealing the presence of Aegis of the Arctic Deity to them, as it was only a matter of time before they learned about him. Whether they could do anything about it would depend on whether they could defend themselves against a literal man-made god.
Patriarch Rylan shook his head. "You don't have to explain. Though this revelation shocked me beyond belief, you don't have to worry. I perfectly understand your reasons for doing so," he sighed deeply.
"But there's something I would like to ask concerning this god," Patriarch Rylan interjected quickly.
"What is it?" Orion asked curiously.
It was Patriarch Rylan's first time learning about Aegis of the Arctic Deity, so Orion was curious about what questions he might have.
"Is 'he' alive?" Patriarch Rylan asked.
Orion nodded. "Aegis of the Arctic Deity is alive, and... well," he replied, trailing off slightly.
"Do you have any further questions, Patriarch Rylan?" Orion asked.
He had pressing matters and wanted to wrap up the meeting as soon as possible.
Patriarch Rylan shook his head in response. Though he had many questions bubbling in his mind and sensed Orion's readiness to address them all, he recognised the wisdom in quelling his curiosity and maintaining silence at such a crucial moment.
"I came here only to ensure we are prepared for what will come. Hearing that we are under the protection of a god is enough to put my weary heart at ease," Patriarch Rylan responded, exhaling in relief.
"If that's the case, then this meeting is—" Orion began, but before he could finish his sentence, a loud thunderstrike pierced through the sky, echoing like a resounding drumbeat, compelling him to fall silent.
Patriarch Rylan exhaled deeply. "It seems it's already started," he remarked, his gaze fixed outside the window.
…......
Within minutes, they arrived at the headquarters of the Healers' Association branch and directed their gazes upward.
Orion, the Village Chief, and Stronghold Leader Zogar watched the bright flashes of light streaking through the sky like thunder.
The once bright sky was now wholly darkened, resembling the depths of night without a single star to illuminate it, casting the entirety of Orion's Cities into an eerie shade of darkness.
Street lanterns suddenly flickered to life, glowing across the darkened expanse of Orion's Cities.
"What's happening? Why has the sky suddenly darkened?" asked a man standing nearby.
"Didn't you see the large smoke rising around the city earlier? I heard from someone that the warriors were burning the Vylkr vines, so I think this has something to do with the Vylkr vines," said another man beside him.
As they conversed, several others nearby overheard their voices clearly and immediately understood that this occurrence was directly related to the Vylkr vines. Considering the dangers of the Vylkr vines, they became even more frightened about the event and what it meant for their lives.
Multiple voices began to speak up, and soon, the whole area was filled with chatter and screams.
"EVERYONE, QUIET DOWN!" Orion's voice reverberated around the area as he attempted to calm the voices that threatened to escalate into a problem if not handled immediately.
The whole area suddenly quieted down.
"In case some of you are not aware of who I am, let me clarify; I am Orion, the architect and founder of the Orion's Cities," Orion spoke loudly, his voice cutting through the silence.
