Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 33: Master key

"Alright, I was just kidding," Neven chuckled. "As long as you're comfortable here, Lyra won't mind if you haven't tidied up your room."

"So should I be thanking you or Lyra?" Aria asked, relieved.

"No need to thank anyone," Neven said.

"Can your keys open every door?" Aria asked curiously.

"Yes, every commander has one. Except for the Grand Master and the Lunar King's rooms, we can open any door." He pushed the window shut and locked it. "Keep it locked; it's not as safe here as outside."

"I forgot to check," Aria admitted, having never touched that window, assuming it was locked. "Don't you need to lead the search?"

"Sable knows the North Tower too," Neven replied. "Quinn is a meticulous Grand Master, and the search is just to ensure safety. Besides, with all that noise, whoever it was must have escaped long ago."

Neven's gaze fell on the table, where a coin lay beside a clay pot. He slid it to the edge with his finger and asked, "Is this the coin from Longhorn Town?"

"Yes, the one you helped me retrieve."

"I thought it was a common currency, but you have a demi-god's coin." He looked at Aria in surprise. "Who exactly is Lucius Argent, and how did he know I was in Longhorn Town?"

"How should I know?" Aria shrugged. "In hindsight, I should have asked Lucius, but I may never find out. I can't leave anymore."

"You're not close to him?"

"He's my guardian. I committed a serious crime in Celestial Sanctum." Seeing Neven's serious expression, she admitted, "Alright, it's a long story."

Feeling cornered, Aria decided not to hide anything from Neven. She recounted her experiences in Celestial Sanctum but left out the part about living for over two hundred years. No one would believe she could live for that long, not even Neven.

"You don't remember the demi-god's accusations? And you don't know why Lucius Argent saved you?" Neven asked seriously.

"I don't know," Aria replied honestly.

"Then how could you admit to destroying the Celestial Eye? You're a mortal; you couldn't possibly have done it."

"The Oracle can read minds. She saw what I did." Aria shivered, the memory of the splitting headache still vivid. "So many demi-gods, I couldn't defend myself. I lost my memory; even if I didn't do it, I don't remember."

"How did they say you did it?"

Aria suddenly thought of something important. She drew a dagger from her waist. "With this dagger, forged from a shard of the Godslayer Sword."

Neven took the dagger, examining it closely. "This is a rare dagger. How did you get it?"

"I forgot," Aria said with a bitter smile. "Do you really believe I didn't kill a demi-god?"

"I believe you. They must have mistaken you," Neven said sincerely. "You're a good person; you couldn't have killed anyone. I believe you completely."

Aria's eyes welled with tears, feeling vindicated.

"This search is also related to the demi-gods. Although Quinn didn't say it directly, I think he suspects a demi-god infiltrated the royal palace." Neven continued, "If the secret meeting at Moon Tower was true, who would remember breaking into the barrier after two hundred years? Hearing your story, I'm worried they're here because of you."

Aria became anxious, terrified of the Oracle.

Sable suddenly knocked on the door, shouting, "Neven, what about your room?"