"I am not Aria White's reincarnation, but I have inherited her memories…" Aria explained.
"Inherited her memories…? But that is—"
"It's not the same as reincarnation." Aria quickly shook her head and said, "During my breakthrough to the Transcendent Realm, my consciousness was brought into this strange world. It was there that I met Aria White."
Aria felt some sorrow when she recalled her experience with Aria White before she continued explaining, "The world seems to be a construct of Aria White's memories. I was about to learn about the events of the Divine Realm there…"
She felt uneasy recounting the next bit of information, but she quickly steeled her resolve. Leon would not want her to hide anything from him.
"I also found out that Aria White took her life after returning to the Divine Pill Kingdom and learning of your death… However, her soul was preserved in that strange memory world for many years…"
"But in order to let me leave, she willingly allowed herself to be absorbed into me when our bodies made contact… Now only her memories exist inside me…"
Hearing news of Aria White's death, Leon felt pained in his heart. Tears quickly filled his eyes but refused to overflow.
Even so, his face paled, and his body felt lethargic.
"Why must you be so stupid? Why did you take your own life…?" Leon spoke to himself with sorrow, seemingly lost in his own world.
'So Aria White was no longer in the world as well…'
Seeing Leon like this, Aria also felt like someone was gripping onto her own heart. She had never seen him so weak and lost before.
At the same time, she began to wonder if Leon only loves her because she resembled the Aria White that he loved.
The confidence she had suddenly disappeared and only insecurity remained behind, gripping her heart. Was Leon's feelings for her fake all along?
She shivered at the thought and buried her face deeply into Leon's chest with her arms wrapped around him, feeling she would lose him if she did not hold onto him tightly.
Leon was pulled out of his melancholy.
He quickly realized the emotions and insecurities that might be plaguing Aria's heart and mind.
After a long mental sigh, he closed his eyes sorrowfully before embracing Aria more tightly in his arms.
Aria White was gone, but Aria Rivera was still here, in his arms, where she was close and not going anywhere.
It seemed like everything tying him back to the Divine Realm was gone. There was no one left in the Divine Realm that was close to him.
The only ones left behind were his enemies—enemies that must be killed at all cost! If they did not lust after his father's treasure, the tragedy could have been avoided!
His path was clear.
After the flicker of killing intent disappeared from Leon's eyes, he glanced down at Aria and rubbed her head.
He moved her bangs and planted a warm kiss on her forehead before aligning his eyes to meet with her.
"I had my doubts, but I never once tried to push my feelings for Aria White onto you. I know that would have been unfair for you. Just know that whether it is you or Aria White, I love you both. My feelings for you have been and will always be real, okay?" Leon said.
Although he felt hypocritical saying this considering his love was divided, it is what it is.
Aria held his hand on her cheeks and nodded with happy tears flowing down her cheeks, "Mm!"
They were not the best nor the most romantic words to hear, but they were the words she wanted to her most.
The insecurity in her was dispelled in an instance.
They resumed enjoying each other's warm embrace for some time before he said, "Tell me more about your encounter with Aria White in that memory world. Why are you so sure you weren't Aria White's reincarnation? I want to hear your thoughts on this matter."
Aria playfully drew circles on Leon's chest before her expression suddenly became serious after hearing his question.
"Reincarnation is the process of the soul ferrying into a new body to be reborn anew. In this regard, I can't be Aria White's reincarnation if we are two people existing in the same timeline. Instead, it feels like our connection was that between the host and clone. Except, who is the host and who is the clone is undetermined."
"Hmm…"
Leon hummed a low tune in deep thought. Aria's point of view really made him think about why the world might be like this?
"If we follow this line of thought, then there is a possibility of everyone having a copy in this vast expanse of a world." Leon inserted his opinion, building on Aria's idea.
He had thought of this possibility before but no way to confirm with just himself.
Now that there was also Aria, who also possessed knowledge of the Divine Realm, maybe they will be able to figure out some things.
"Speaking of this…" Aria suddenly recalled her fight with one of the foreign Transcendent and said, "I met the copy of Judas Gahfrit in this world…"
Leon's eyes immediately snapped wide open after hearing her words and gazed at her solemnly in question with both his hands gripped on her shoulders, "Where and when did you meet him?"
"Ahh…" Aria's softly exclaimed in pain.
Aria's expression crumpled from the strength of Leon's grip, causing him to be startled and release his grip in apology, "Sorry."
"Ptui!"
Aria pouted before sticking her tongue out at him. Shortly after, she said, "He was the younger Transcendent that assaulted father back in the kingdom. I killed him on the way."
"So it was that person… It's good that he is dead." Leon nodded with a light smile before reaching out to caress Aria's head.
"This is all thanks to you."
"Hehe!"
Aria enjoyed Leon's doting.
But then she suddenly frowned and asked, "However, I realized too late and didn't destroy his parting soul in time. Would this cause us trouble in the future?"