Upon hearing Selene's explanation, Orion's eyes widened in shock.
A realization erged on Aerialia's expression as she hovered quietly beside Orion. She slowly shook her head with a wry smile, understanding that he had reached the sa conclusion.
'Doesn't this an that she would awaken earlier as well?' Orion thought, holding back his irritation. He quickly cald himself, understanding why Ilse hadn't revealed such a thing.
"Is that all?" Orion asked, his eyes fixed on Selene.
"She also taught us a few divine and Magikal techniques to study and learn. It will take so ti for the Four-eared Elves' new residence to be built, so I'll have to wait until then before practising the Divine Techniques," Selene replied.
"Can I know what the Divine Techniques are?" Orion asked, his curiosity piqued.
Aerialia was curious as well. Having secured a stellar gate for herself and her children, Ilse undoubtedly possessed unparalleled arts and techniques.
Unfortunately, they were destined to be disappointed.
"Goddess Ilse made us promise to keep this to ourselves and not reveal them to anyone else," Selene responded, biting her lip with mixed emotions.
However, she quickly steeled herself, her expression growing more resolute. "But you are my husband and the Supre Leader of Paradise. I know you have no ill intentions toward or the Prisrion race, so I'm willing to tell you the Divine Technique Goddess Ilse taught us," she added.
Orion noticed the seriousness in Selene's expression and shook his head.
"If Goddess Ilse told you not to reveal them, don't. Besides, it's as if we're coveting what she has when we have our own goddess," Orion said, glancing briefly at Aerialia.
Though Aerialia realized Orion was trying to flatter her, she was still pleased with his words. It would be a disgrace for her and severely damage her standing in Ilse's eyes if Orion began coveting the things Ilse had provided for her own children.
It would only show that Aerialia wasn't caring for Paradise, limiting her right to interfere with its territory.
In short, Ilse was subtly challenging them all.
Aerialia smiled inwardly at the thought. As expected of a goddess, Ilse had her own strategies. However, Aerialia was confident that Ilse was fated to fail. While Ilse might excel in other areas, when it ca to Orion's family and the protection and growth of Paradise, Aerialia was confident that he wouldn't disappoint her.
Upon hearing Orion's words, Selene furrowed her brows. "Are you sure?" she asked.
Even though she understood his reasoning, she knew how much he valued Divine Techniques, especially given his race's impressive comprehension abilities. She wanted to be sure he wouldn't regret his decision later.
"Yes, I'm sure," Orion nodded.
"Fine, but if you change your mind, don't hesitate to inform ," Selene replied. She leaned in to give Orion a kiss on the lips before pulling back.
"I need to return and process everything I've experienced today. I also need to inform Crystalia about what she missed. I'm sure she'll be excited as well," she said.
Crystalia hadn't joined the assembly because she was still pregnant, and no matter how much Orion trusted his control over Ilse, who was still a literal goddess, he wouldn't risk putting either Crystalia or their child in potential danger.
Selene soon effortlessly soared into the air and disappeared into the sky.
Refocusing his gaze on the Golden Palace, Orion understood that Ilse could wake up faster, allowing her to grow stronger and break free from his control. The fact that she had already found a way to overco her current condition in such a short ti made him worried about her future actions.
Aerialia noticed Orion's concern but said nothing to ease it. As a Divine Soul, her abilities were limited; she could only guide and protect him for now.
Orion quickly cleared his mind, unsummoned Morphic Puppet, and soared high into the sky, disappearing from sight.
Within the Golden Palace,
On a large, queen-sized bed made of materials nearly impossible to find in the material world, Ilse lay within a magnificent golden palace. The palace resembled the one outside but was far more prominent. Like a kingdom, various glistening structures were spread across 8,000 square kilotres of land.
The Golden Palace was the sole structure within this separated space.
Ilse heard every conversation unfolding outside the Golden Palace. When she heard nothing more, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
-----
One and a half months later,
Orion, Aerialia Aurora, Selene, and Crystalia landed before the Golden Palace.
Selene nodded firmly at Orion before walking through the grand archway and lightly rasped her knuckles on the grand door.
After a few minutes, the grand doors opened, retracting into the walls. Ilse stepped out of the
entrance.
"Goddess Ilse," Selene said respectfully, bowing to her.
Orion, Crystalia, and Aurora followed suit.
Ilse scanned everyone present, her gaze lingering on Aurora. In an instant, Ilse vanished from her position and reappeared before Aurora.
Orion was too slow to react to her swift movent. Yet, he imdiately activated his gift, transforming into his lightning form, and instantly appeared between Aurora and Ilse.
"Get back," Orion commanded.
Hearing Orion's words, Ilse narrowed her eyes at him and involuntarily took a step backwards, her body moving against her will. But her gaze soon refocused on Aurora, then alternated between Aerialia and Aurora.
Witnessing this, Aurora gently touched Orion's shoulder. "I don't think she ant any harm. She might just be curious," Aurora said.
She wasn't surprised by Ilse's reaction toward her after a particular goddess's dramatic
reaction.
Orion transford back into his human form. He had been so startled by Ilse's sudden movent that he had instinctively transford and issued a command to her. Nodding at Aurora, he then turned to Ilse and gave her an apologetic look before stepping aside.
Ilse remained stern, facing Orion. "Is she a piece of your Divine Soul?" She asked curiously, shifting her attention towards Aerialia.
"She was. However, she's now independent of her own existence," Aerialia responded, shaking her head.
"How is that possible?" Ilse asked, her eyes widening in shock and surprise. Even if divided souls could survive independently, she noticed sothing unusual about Aurora that wasn't present in others, making her doubt her existence.
"I thought the sa," Aerialia replied, "but unfortunately, it's true. This is all due to Naka's doing." She didn't go into detail about how Aurora had co to be, as it was a sensitive topic for her daughter and not information to be released casually.
Upon hearing Aerialia's words, Ilse's eyes widened even more in astonishnt. Her previous concerns about Naka surged dramatically. One thing was aiding in the reconstruction of her body, which would inadvertently lead to her resurrection. However, recreating a living, breathing divine entity separate from a divine being even after their death was another.
Who's to say that Naka hadn't done the sa to her? Ilse shivered as such a thought erged
in her mind.
However, Orion and Aerialia knew that such a thing would never happen. The only reason
Naka hadn't taken such an approach was because it would an Ilse would no longer be the Ilse he knew. They all understood that the Ilse they had witnessed within the Aegis of the Arctic Deity's mory vastly differed from the Ilse before them.
Ilse gradually recomposed herself, refocused on Aerialia, and asked, "Have you tried possessing her body to regain a physical form?"
The tension in the atmosphere dropped several degrees.
Aurora's expression paled at Ilse's question.
Orion reached out to grasp Aurora's hand. He held back from interfering, understanding that
Aerialia could handle this.
Selene and Crystalia trembled slightly as Aerialia and Ilse held their gazes against each other. "No, I haven't because she's my daughter," Aerialia responded. Noticing that Ilse was about to reply, Aerialia swiftly added, "I didn't bring her to have this conversation. I did so you can look at her and see if you can help her deliver her child."
"Your daughter? Her child?" Ilse's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't help but doubt what she was hearing. Gaining independence wasn't enough; the separated divine soul before her was also pregnant. It was well known that goddesses had difficulties carrying a child due to their divine nature unless they incorporated the law of fertility and others. However, only a few goddesses would attempt such a feat in a race to attain divinity. Similarly, gods needed to use the sa laws when dealing with other goddesses or mortal won to prevent trauma or death from the sudden influx of divine energy.
Ilse gulped, her voice breaking with emotions as she asked, "And who's the father of this child?" She wanted to know the man brave enough to join with the independent soul of a goddess-now her daughter-and defile her womb with his seed.
Aerialia cleared her throat and briefly glanced toward Orion. "The child's father is the Supre Leader of Paradise, Orion. He is also her partner," she replied, refocusing her gaze
on Ilse.
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