In the Temple of Memory before the war, countless orbs of light, like frightened fireflies, flowed and collided with frequencies never seen before, reflecting the pale and solemn face of the goddess herself.
She had just experienced an extremely dangerous 'backlash'.
It was not an active inquiry, but a fragment forcibly 'shoved' into her vast sea of memories, suddenly awakening like a venomous snake—it was the moment when Metis, the Queen of the Underworld, stood silently before the temple of Nyx, and the 'gift' wrapped in the purest 'night', one that could be absorbed even beyond perception, merged with Metis's divine body.
The memory itself was frightening enough, but what chilled Mnemosyne to the bone was its meaning.
Nyx had done this deliberately.
The primordial triple-aspect goddess, governing night and fate, if she truly wanted to completely hide something, even the embodiment of memory could not see the slightest trace.
There was only one explanation for how clearly and undeniably this clip was shown 'before her eyes': Nyx was allowing her to see, and even... it was deliberately meant for her.
What did this mean?
Did it mean that she had been drawn onto a chessboard, becoming a link in the far-reaching scheme of the Night Goddess, a passive messenger or a pawn of warning?
Either way, it portended great trouble, capable of shattering even an ancient Titan like herself.
Fear, like the cold water of the Styx, soaked into her divinity.
She instinctively wanted to flee, to bury this memory deep and pretend to know nothing.
But reason told her that from the moment she 'saw', she could not escape.
Nyx's deliberate act was itself an invisible bond.
Flight? That would only allow the eternal darkness to consume her faster.
After the initial fear and compromise, panic was replaced by a kind of resolve to break the cauldron.
"Since avoidance is impossible, take the initiative to stand... Perhaps with the one who might offer some protection."
She murmured to herself.
Therefore, when the spearhead of Hades was revealed, she made a decision that surprised the gods: to take the initiative to leave, swallow the pomegranate seeds, and firmly bind herself to the Underworld.
This was not only a plea for refuge, but also a declaration of submission, a submission to Nyx and Metis that she had 'accepted her fate' and would not reveal their secrets, as well as a desire to place herself under Hades's nose, hoping for a glimmer of hope when disaster struck.
However, having completed all this and officially become a member of the Underworld, looking at Hades, who had bound her to this realm and entrusted her with duties, a mixed feeling arose in her heart.
It was not love, but a sympathy based on long life experience, almost pity.
Hades, the strong one who relied on his own strength and wisdom to break free from the cage and establish order, might not realize what a terrifying weapon of ancient times was held by the Queen of the Underworld, whom he trusted most and accompanied day and night—a weapon that probably originated from the 'gift' of a primordial god who was pleased to see him.
She could not speak clearly. Merely mentioning Nyx's name might attract attention, and directly pointing it out would be like seeking a dead end.
But she could not remain completely silent.
On this day, after reporting to Hades on the details of archiving the memories of the dead, Mnemosyne did not leave immediately.
Her floating orbs of memory slowed down, as if mirroring an indecisive mind.
"Your Majesty," her voice still held an ancient hoarseness, but with a hint of barely perceptible hesitation.
"When I traverse the long river of memories, I sometimes touch upon some... very ancient, even deliberately forgotten, ripples."
Hades raised his eyes, his amethyst pupils silently watching her, waiting for what came next.
Mnemosyne did not look at him; her gaze seemed to fall upon a certain point in the void, focusing on a non-existent image.
"Eros... Eros... Her power is not merely pleasure. In ancient times, it was the most dangerous weapon, capable of making stars fall and shattering laws. It destroys will, distorts covenants, and can even... silently alter the course of fate."
Her words were very slow, each one seeming to be pulled from heavy shackles.
"It is like the sweetest poison, often wrapped in a seemingly harmless, even 'well-intentioned' cloak. Those who possess it may not fully understand its... danger. Especially if it is accompanied by 'secrecy', it becomes even harder to defend against."
At this moment, she abruptly stopped. She could not do much more.
She mentioned the name 'Eros', hinted at its terrifying nature, noted that it could be wrapped in 'good intentions', and associated it with 'secrecy'.
She hoped that Hades's wisdom could piece together a picture close enough to the truth from these broken clues.
She bowed slightly, said no more, and her figure slowly retreated into the deeper shadows of the temple along with the flowing orbs of memory, leaving Hades alone on the throne, his face calm as water, only the index finger tapping the armrest, wearing the ring transformed from the 'Chains of Resolve', pausing for a moment.
After Mnemosyne left with her ambiguous warning, the palace of Hades sank into a deeper silence than ever before.
Hades still sat on the throne, unconsciously stroking the dull and cold ring made from the 'Chains of Resolve'.
In the depths of his violet eyes, it seemed as if a dark nebula slowly rotated, digesting the broken yet captivating hints of the goddess of memory.
Eros... Ancient weapon... Sweet poison... Accompanied by 'secrecy'...
Each word was like a key, trying to open a door to disturbing truths.
Mnemosyne dared not speak directly, but the essence was clear enough.
Accompanied by 'secrecy', distorting covenants... Metis?
Could she possess the dangerous divine power of Eros?
Recalling the sinister surge of pink divine power in Cronus's final moments, and the essence of Eros whose core was coiled around the throne of the gods, Hades's heart grew cold.
Who could have given it to her? Besides the primordial gods, the only one who could access the divine power of Eros was the God-King Cronus...
Gaia? No, she had no motive. Moreover, with her obvious divine attributes, it would have been impossible for her to hide contact with Metis from him.
Rhea? As the former Queen-Goddess, she might indeed have been in contact. But her surprise at the revelation of Eros's divine power in Cronus was not feigned.
Nyx? Yes, she was indeed the most likely.
Whether for balance, to restrain him, or... to promote some 'inevitability' according to her trajectory of fate.
She had the motive and the qualifications. As the goddess of night, she was also the god who most often concealed her contact with Metis from him.
And Metis, his Queen of the Underworld, his wise companion—did she know what she held?
Was she being used, or... was she willing to accept this power as the ultimate means to safeguard her 'eternal' covenant?