The lakeside erupted into commotion, with demigods stepping back, their faces pale. Aria gazed at the pitch-black dagger, its crimson gemstone eyes unsettling her. This dagger had once belonged to Thanatos; 280 years ago, he had used it to strip Aria of her scales.

Lucius carefully held the dagger, closed it with care, and then set it down gently. "Ladies and gentlemen, this dagger is no ordinary weapon. It is a sacred artifact forged from magical energy...the Dragonbone Dagger, crafted in part from fragments of the dreaded Godslayer Sword."

The expressions of the onlookers turned grave; at that moment, the dagger lying quietly on the tray seemed to portend a deadly disaster.

"The ancient demigods shattered the Godslayer Sword to thwart its threat," Lucius continued. "But one fragment was forged by the demon into this dreadful dagger.”

Aria's heart raced as she sensed the sinister aura emanating from the dagger, as if malevolent eyes from the depths of hell were fixed upon them. She stared at the dagger,her eyes flickering with unease and concern.

"This dagger is not just a weapon of doom; it's a symbol of dark power. Its presence signifies the existence of a looming threat from the shadows. We're not out of danger yet. I want to remind everyone that sealed demonic lairs, scattered across the land, could be opened at any moment, just like this dagger, manipulated by demons," Lucius's voice weighed heavy with solemnity as his gaze pierced through them. "Unfortunately, Aria's amnesia is severe, and even our Oracle has been unable to restore her memories.The origin of the dagger is even more elusive now."

"What is that?" a demigod pointed to the tray.

"In addition, this girl carries another artifact," Lucius said, cryptically. He approached the tray, where a golden pendant lay quietly.

"Lucius, please bring the pendant over," Adomoye's eyes gleamed, her interest piqued.

When Lucius presented the pendant, a hint of surprise flashed across Adomoye's pale face. She gently pulled at it, and with a metallic clink, the pendant unfolded its golden wings, emitting a faint glow.

Adomoye raised a delicate eyebrow, her voice cold and commanding. "This is the Exorcism Candle."

Whispers spread along the lakeside.

"She carries both the Exorcism Candle and the Dragonbone Dagger," Lucius reiterated. "But her memories are muddled, and we can't trace their origins."

Aria stood astonished by the lakeshore. She had intended to tell Lucius that Hawk had given her these items, but the words remained stuck in her throat. Explaining now wouldn't reverse the sudden judgment. What puzzled her more was Adomoye's failure to glimpse that scene when probing her mind.

When Lucius came back with the two items, Aria couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Lucius, can I take a look?"

"I'm afraid not," Lucius shook his head and handed the two items to Tayvon.

"It's obvious that she did it. This girl is the culprit," said the demi-god holding the silver staff.

With his fingers interlocked, Lucius hung them in front of him, without refuting.

"Lucius, how is the demi-god in your hands now?" Adomoye asked.

"We've done our best, but he hasn't regained his sanity," Lucius explained.

"As demi-gods, we have treated the suspect fairly enough," Adomoye said proudly. "Now, let me use mind-reading to examine his memory."

"But, The Oracle, he's an innocent demi-god," Lucius said.

"Lucius, you are the kindest among our guardians," Adomoye's tone softened, "Perhaps he knows something we don't. Do you want me to wrongly judge a mortal girl because of negligence?"

"Forgive my ignorance," Lucius apologized, lowering his head.

After a moment, there was a strange cry from the lakeside.

A badly injured demigod was brought up, his face pallid, his gait unsteady, requiring support to walk properly. But when he saw Aria, he suddenly became frantic, struggling desperately to break free from the demigods on either side.

"All right, Gian, calm down," Adomoye reached out, casting a spell on the out-of-control demigod. Gian seemed to be infused with a strange sense of happiness all of a sudden, as if he had encountered his most revered deity, walking unsteadily towards Adomoye.

Then, with a smile, Gian knelt before her, as if following his highest faith.

"The Oracle, my most revered Oracle, please accept my sincerest blessing," he bowed, attempting to kiss Adomoye's feet.

"Gian, look up," Adomoye's voice was devoid of emotion.

Gian's smile widened.

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When Adomoye placed her pale hand on his forehead, the strange laughter suddenly turned into wailing. Tortured by the mind-reading spell, he contorted his features, in unbearable pain.

Aria stood aside, sweating profusely, having experienced such agony before. She could feel the pain and anguish emanating from his mind, without Adomoye needing to ask, as all memories would be conveyed to her through telepathy.

After a moment, the torture ceased. Gian collapsed weakly onto the icy surface, trembling all over.

"He's not bleeding?" Aria asked Lucius in surprise.

"It usually isn't worse than what you've experienced," Lucius replied calmly.

Adomoye's gaze was calm as she slowly walked back into the lake. Finally, she looked at Gian lying on the ground with an expressionless gaze. "His memories are intact, complete before he fell into a coma," Adomoye's gaze turned to Aria, with a hint of threat. "He saw you pierce the Celestial Eye with the dragon bone dagger, and how you harmed another demigod."

Aria opened her mouth to explain, but suddenly realized she didn't know how to explain. She couldn't even be sure if she had really done those things. She tried to seek help from Lucius, but like the other demigods, Lucius showed no compassion.

Under Adomoye's gaze, an air of cold solemnity enveloped Aria. She felt as if she were caught in an unforgiving whirlpool, unable to escape.

"Do you want to know what I have seen?" Adomoye's voice pierced Aria's mind, cold and merciless.

Aria felt an indescribable fear and anxiety welling up inside her, unable to comprehend why she had been plunged into such despair.

"Is it me?" Aria furrowed her brow, attempting to find some release, yet Adomoye's gaze remained sharp as a blade.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Adomoye's tone was filled with authority and unquestionable resolve. "I don't need your explanations, I only need your confession."

Aria felt her mind ensnared by Adomoye's gaze, unable to escape or resist. Her consciousness began to be consumed by a powerful force, as if trapped in an inescapable nightmare.

As Adomoye continued chanting the incantation, a silver energy began to emanate from Adomoye's hands, like a massive vortex, drawing Aria's consciousness into its midst. She felt her thoughts becoming chaotic and disordered, as if being manipulated by an unseen force.

“I... I don't remember any of this,” Aria panickedly replied in her mind, trying to maintain a shred of clarity and rationality, but to no avail. She felt her consciousness gradually blurring, drawn in by a murky image surfacing from the depths.

In the distance, two figures caught her eye. One stood with their back to her, seemingly silently observing something, while the other lay on the ground, a pool of blood forming beneath them. Aria's heart fluttered with unease as she sensed a strong aura of danger permeating the air. Yet, she found herself unable to move, as if bound by some mysterious force.

Beneath the glimmering silver-tinged pool of blood, Aria suddenly realized where she was. At the far end of the temple's dome, a colossal eye emitted dazzling rays of light. The lights danced around the eye like flowing silk—a Celestial Eye of the demi-gods. Anxiously, Aria shifted her gaze to the figure opposite her, trying to discern who they were and why they appeared in this eerie scene.

However, when the murderer turned around, Aria's heart surged with intense fear and despair. For the face that met her eyes was eerily familiar, almost a mirror image of her own. Holding a jet-black dagger, her face and dress stained with blood, they filled Aria with revulsion and disgust.

This sudden twist of fate left Aria feeling profoundly shocked, her thoughts in disarray. She attempted to recall why she had come to this place, but her memories were locked away by some strange power, everything becoming hazy and indistinct. She felt as though she were being sucked into a vast whirlpool, unable to break free.

Yet, a voice in her mind made her realize where she was. What she saw wasn't her own memories—it was it was Gian's.

“You've seen it all,” echoed Adomoye's voice from afar.

“How could I? I don't remember any of it,” Aria incredulously replied in her mind. Everything around her twisted like a whirlpool, and after a dazzling burst of light, she found herself back in reality, once again facing Adomoye's cold, indifferent gaze.

"I... I don't remember any of it," Aria stammered, her heart racing, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, her throat parched as if consumed by fire. She didn't know what to say, couldn't believe she had just killed a demigod. She tried to recall the scene from before, but her memories seemed paralyzed, utterly unresponsive.

During the subsequent trial, Aria couldn't focus at all, completely lost in her own struggles and memories. It wasn't until the final judgment that she snapped back to reality. Adomoye's last cold and emotionless verdict echoed incessantly in her ears.

"Execute her... Execute her..."

Aria felt weak, nearly collapsing, as Lucius supported her, helping her to barely hold onto her heavy body. She felt as if trapped in an inescapable nightmare, a despair so profound with no one to wake her up.

Aria was roughly escorted by two guards, heading straight to the execution site. Her heart was filled with despair, and her body could no longer support her thoughts.

Lucius followed silently behind, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness. He knew how cruel all of this was for Aria, but he couldn't change the reality.

Along the way, they passed through much of the Celestial Sanctum. The grandeur and magnificence of the temple stood in stark contrast to Aria's inner despair. Her eyes were full of helplessness and hopelessness, as if she saw her life coming to an end.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance to the execution site, a white stone bridge leading into the clouds. Lucius produced an exquisite piece of magic-infused half-god language script, shimmering with a faint light. This was their only pass to enter the execution site, and the guard of the demigods made way for them.

"Leave it to me from here." Lucius said calmly, as if escorting criminals to their punishment was a routine task for him. However, Taycon beside him was terrified, his face even paler than Aria's. The tray in his hands continued to tremble violently.

Aria followed silently.

She hardly knew what to say to prove her innocence. Since she woke up, the whole experience had been absurd, as if she had mistakenly stumbled into a strange world that was about to end her journey abruptly.

They crossed the long stone bridge in the clouds and arrived at the edge of a forest shimmering with silver light. There was no breeze, no one around, and silence prevailed. If it weren't for the crisp sound of resin under their feet, it would have seemed like they had entered a place where time stood still.

Tayvon, holding the tray, couldn't help but shiver exaggeratedly. He hated this forest. "Mentor, why do they still send us to supervise the execution? Shouldn't this be left to the executioner?" He complained bitterly.

"I am her guardian." Lucius replied.

"I can... not go in, I..." Tayvon lowered his head, his whole body still trembling.

"Do you want to stay outside?" Lucius asked.

Tayvon nodded vigorously.

"As a demigod, you should show reverence here, not fear."

"Reverence..." Tayvon muttered softly. "This forest is full of deceased demigods. All I feel is eerie fear..."

"Mr. Harper." Lucius rebuked sternly. "If I hear you say such things again, I will have Adomoye assign you to guard this forest forever."