Ren's former memories flowed,
"Gramps, if the World Tree was hiding doesn't that mean it's weak? Why doesn't the Ash God attack it?"
Ren's eyes shimmered with night vision magic under the ashen sky as he massaged his sore body sitting up from the ground he laid in,
If the World Tree a major part of the world's mana and power were taken by the Ash God, it would be safe to say that the world itself was doomed to be devoured, not like the Ash Sky above them was any better but with the Tree's mana the Ash God wouldn't need to conserve power after casting his 9th Tier Spell.
The old man Ren's master thought for a moment with his hand holding his chin,
"Hoo, You're right about the weak part, the tree itself is just a big ocean of mana it can't attack nor can it defend, but the person defending it isn't weak."
"The person defending it? Like a guardian?"
His master's eyes brightened his index finger pointing at the Ash sky as they both looked up at it.
"That's right! The maiden of the tree, a god of the 8th rank and once she is supported by the tree she guards even the Ash God would need to be wary."
"Woah! Wait? If that's the case why haven't we heard anything about her?"
"Well…"
His master's silver eyes flickered in thought before he smirked.
"That's a story for another time. Now get up punk! You think I don't know you're trying! Getting me to talk so you can take a break!"
He raised the wooden sword he held, though referred to as such it was more like a twig he found laying on ground, but despite its thin size when he hit the ground large cracks started to appear on the earth as Ren desperately dodged.
"Ah! Damn it!"
…
'It's healed.', Ren looked at his left arm moving it around noting that it felt completely fine in fact it felt better than before,
The guardian healed their wounds without a word and as her title of 'Life Incarnate' implied they healed perfectly,
The two looked around, when they were found by the amicable Fae they were escorted into the tree, and currently around them was a beautiful room that seemed like an audience chamber in a castle.
There were dais that led to an empty throne, the interior decorations held a vibrant variation of color similar to the World Tree's leaves varying sky blues, deep oranges, and cool whites but mostly a light green.
In the middle of the audience chamber they were sitting at a table with two sofas, Aria and Ren were sitting next to each other facing Mairea, motes of green light floated materializing into small smiling faces,
Fairies, dozens surrounded them. They were about a hand length in size, they all held differing accessories and hair colors but all similarly glowed with the essence and mana of life. Wearing small dresses their little wings shimmered with green magic as they looked curiously at the guests that had arrived.
"Woah Woah!"
"Humans from beyond the forest…"
"They're so cute!"
"Calm down now! They are Lady Mairea's guests, set down the snacks and leave!"
An older looking fairy tried to reprimand the other fairies but..
"Penna, When lady Mairea said there'd be guests you couldn't even sleep last night!"
"ACK! I-I was y-you know! Preparing for their arrival!"
"Now little ones you're making the guests uncomfortable."
Mairea chuckled in a soft voice causing the other Fairies to quiet and giggle apologetically as they left, though Ren and Aria noticed them hiding behind a pillar watching the two, Whether Mairea noticed or not she looked towards the pair and spoke putting her hand on her chest in greeting,
"My name is Mairea the Guardian of the Spring Tree, to think we'd meet so soon, If Wrenia didn't inform me I wouldn't have been ready to receive you."
As she held her cheek with slight relief radiating a warm bright light as we both stared, Aria eyes glowed when she stared at Mairea inlaying a another with her face but she quickly turned into the same detached expression as always looking down at the varying snacks in thought,
'She seems amicable, she even brought out snacks and tea, could they be poisoned? No way, the guardians of World Trees must be pure of heart. If she wanted us dead she could do it herself though rules might be different in this world compared to Solaris… She also said 'Spring Tree' that's one season there might be more trees as well but the Atlas did say 'World Tree' in a singular fashion. Questions questions…'
'Wah.. What a nice lady! Unlike that hag that tried to turn me into fertilizer on sight.'
Ren understanding already that Aria was not the sociable type throughout the couple of days they spent together spoke up with a friendly smile of his own returning her greeting,
"Thank you for healing us and it's an honor to meet the Guardian of the World Tree, My name is Ren and this is…"
Ren looked to the side at Aria looking at the snacks, realizing she was deep in thought he tapped her shoulder a few times before she nodded leaving her contemplation looking at Mairea smiling slightly with a oddly high amount of etiquette,
"Aria"
"Hehe, What a polite couple, hmm cute guests like you may call me Mai for short."
'For short?', Ren thought confused
'Couple…', Aria tilted her head
Mairea stared at the two with an amused but somewhat motherly smile,
"Why don't you try some cookies? I baked them myself just for this occasion."
"Well don't mind if I do."
Ren nodded, taking one of the cookies from the ornately decorated plate, he felt a warmth at his finger tips indicating the freshness of the baked goods, and as he brought it to his mouth and bit into it.
'These are… delicious!'
After watching Ren eat one with delight Aria moved biting into her own cookie,
'The flavor is plain.. But the texture feels nice'
Aria's eyes brightened as a small smile formed on her face. Mairea watching them enjoy her cookies lit up in joy,
"I'm glad you enjoyed them, the milk used for the butter was sourced from the Zeranam continent in the east, Ah! Did you notice the plate? I got that one from the Faboran kingdom. It was made by one of the 7 master artisans. But the flour for the cookies is actually made in the garden here! Oh and.."
Ren smiled asking her various questions about the food, to the plate the food was on, to the table the plate was on, and they even talked about the decor in the Audience room, having seemingly hit it off, Aria ate the cookies while in thought.
'Zeranam and Faboran, I've never heard of those places, coupled with a world tree I've never seen. It's safe to say this isn't Solaris.'
Aria still held some doubts of her situation, her mind swirling with theories about their location or world, just because she had another chance of living didn't also mean she would be sent to a completely new world.
She even held ideas that this was a mind spell and she had been hexed by Pandora considering that witch was the Goddess of illusion.
The thought that she was inside an imaginary world made by her enemy was quite the terrifying idea, but thinking back to Ren who seemed to be in the same situation as her she held on to the idea that this wasn't the case, in addition there wasn't a reason to build such an intricate illusion to attack her.
'Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.'
The quote she heard back on Earth came to her mind before she internally shook her head,
'It could also be many years in the future as well, hahhh I should just remain vigilant. But how can I remain vigilant while also living peacefully?'
Aria ruminating at this dilemma decided to just observe the world and come to her own conclusion later,
'Lazy? No I'm just letting my more competent future self decide..'
Now focusing back into the conversation between Ren and Mairea,
"Incredible! A couch made from Hydra leather. It's no wonder I felt so comfortable!"
"Hehe, I got it as a birthday gift from Wrenia, you should have seen the look on her face when she handed it over, her embarrassed face is so precious!"
'These two…'
Aria continued to eat the cookies in silence.
…
"Wrenia? Didn't you mention her when we first met something along the lines of 'you've finally arrived'."
Ren asked with curiosity and Mairea seemingly realizing she had gone off topic widened her eyes and nodded,
"Hmm yes, although Wrenia informed me of your approach 'they' had always known we'd meet."
Aria and Ren's eyes glowed at the answer,
" 'They' knew we'd meet?' ", Aria asked with intrigue
"Yes 'they' although I can't tell you their identity, 'they' are the one who made the Atlas with its 'problem' and are probably the one who transmigrated you into this world to solve said 'problem'. They are also the one who tasked me to help you two." Mairea Answered with a smile,
Aria and Ren's eyes glowing with curiosity brightened even more, Ren asked,
"Is there a reason why you can't reveal this person's identity?"
Mairea still wearing a warm smile nodded,
"It's because even I don't know who they are. Not their name, face, gender, rank, nothing."
Aria frowned while Ren tilted his head,
'And she agreed to the person's request, is she foolish?'
'What the heck?'
"Lady Mairea, why did you agree with their task to help us?" Aria asked confused at Mairea's thought process,
Mairea understanding the look on their faces, let out a soft chuckle.
"One aspect is because I can read a person's soul and intention, I knew this person was aiding me in bringing balance to the world because they had good intentions and their soul was pure so I believed I should heed their words, of course I'm not so foolish as to rely solely on my ability to read a person."
Mairea looked down at the cookies picking one up and biting into it.
"And the second part is that…My memories have been altered."
Mairea looked up at ceiling in the audience chamber the magical lanterns floating in the air shimmered brightly with warm hues giving the room a homely cozy atmosphere,
"Your memories?" Aria tilted her head in slight confusion
"Yes"
Mairea answered with a warm smile finishing the cookie,
"And it is not a small amount, in fact a majority of my memories have been altered in some way, they haven't completely changed but I feel they are sealed deep into my mind. It tells me that 'they' must have been important to me in some way."
Her hand reached for the table formed by the Divine Tree as her fingers smoothly moved on top feeling the wood gently with affection,
"The Spring Tree also didn't react so I believe I wasn't forced in any way nor was there a sign of struggle, if I did do something that went against the world's equilibrium then it would react by stripping me of my title, yet here I am still the Arbiter of Equilibrium and the Fairy of Spring."
Aria and Ren both nodded in understanding, having had close interaction with the guardian of Divine Trees from their respective worlds they understood the importance of role they played in keeping the world in Equilibrium, acting against the world was the same as betraying the tree and though defenseless without a guardian it would still strip the guardian of their title though both have never seen such an event happen.
Aria then asked a question she had on her mind specifically pertaining to the words that Mairea had mentioned during her greeting,
"How did you know we were transmigrators?"
Mairea answered easily,
"Well firstly your souls aren't acclimated into your bodies yet, a telltale sign that your souls have been moved in some form, of course that isn't the only reason as any powerful soul mage could do that and plus someone can transmigrate with their body and soul…."
"Instead it's the presence you emit that differs from the world itself, I was also told by 'Them' beforehand as well."
'That was also how I was found out as well in the Abyss' Ren nodded agreeing with the words then asked,
"Then why the two of us? Why not more people or different people entirely? And I apologize if I'm rude but aren't you strong yourself Miss Mai? Why can't you solve the problem the Atlas presents?"
Mairea looked up briefly before looking back with a smile,
"It seems you are mistaken, there were more people. They had potential but how should I put this… It isn't enough, 'they' said their souls weren't "resolved" or something along those lines. You two have the highest chance of success, at least that is what 'they' said."
"But oddly you two are the only transmigrators I've seen recently, of course my memories of others may have been altered."
Ren nodded, Aria then asked a question she had posed to him before now to Mairea,
"You know we are transmigrators right? We have no connection to this world and the person who made the Atlas.. Lady Mairea, what exactly is the Atlas? Why do you believe that we will solve this 'problem' the Atlas has presented us when we don't even know the problem?"
"Well.. how should I put this…"
Mairea fell into thought holding her chin before answering looking back up with a smile,
"This answers Ren's question as well, though I'm the Guardian of the Spring tree, and a rank 8 deity I haven't solved the problem since…"
Mairea smiled in a odd way seemingly not knowing how to say the words but she opened her mouth,
"The Atlas is a guide.. a guide to kill a Primordial, a 5th order transcendent of the 10th Rank"
"Once this Primordial descends, this world and the others will be destroyed, including the worlds you were transmigrated from."