Chapter 367: Choice
As I dripped Lethe on her, I would check on dream world before dripping it one more time to see her most recent memories. I repeated the process until we get our desired result.
I can see that her recent memory in 'dream world' is cut off in the middle of Eros' explanation of the whole truth of reincarnation and the connection of the gods to it.
She shrieked in surprise at the sight of us and placed my vial of Lethe back in my spatial storage while manipulating 'dream world' to allow her to speak again.
-Dabria, can you still feel the effect of the arrows on her?-
-No, none.- Dabria answered
"Albert, can Helena sense any of the arrow's effect on her?"
"None." Albert shook his head "She sense no god's mana on her."
"What's going on?" Eleanor asked "I was with Eros a moment ago! And if it's you guys, why am I still tied up?"
"Oh, it's because we're into this sort of play, Eleanor. I thought you love it too."
"What?!" she yelled with her face fully red
"Dude, not cool." Albert sighs
"Yeah, this is a serious thing and you're making a joke." professor Steel added
-I thought it was funny.- Ace said
-That's because both your heads are messed up!- Diana scolded us -Just...free her and we can do this joke some other time.-
-You mean do it on you?- Ace asked
-Yeah, let's stop before it gets weird.-
Damon then released her from her bond and free her. I then casted healing magic on her to heal the injury she got from being tied up.
"Alright, I'm going to show you your memories of what just happened through 'dream world'. Don't worry, you are now cured of the effects of the arrow, so it should be fine."
I manipulated 'dream world' to change our surroundings a bit. We are now in a fancy home theatre where Eleanor can watch glimpses of the memories I deleted.
I didn't show full details as it will hurt her too much.
*****
Eleanor is crying for the loss of her bond, what she and Eros' did to Albert, her attacking the castle and what she did with Eros, who used his powers to manipulate her.
"Why did you show me?" she asked in the middle of tears as Albert tried to comfort her "I don't want to know."
"Unlike the truth of reincarnation, you would have found it out sooner or later. And when you do, you'll just be more hurt."
"So what now? Do I have to stay as an oracle for the rest of my life?! Being forced into a role that I want no part in?!"
"Well you can escape it by either death or losing your purity, I'd say that either way it's not the worst thing you can experience." Cain chimed in "I mean, at least you got a choice. I would love death."
"Cain, pick a good timing. Just say nothing at the very least." Urie sighs
"Yeah, I know I'm dumb, but I at least have common sense." Erix added
"You know what? Just let me leave this place, everything smells and just seeing your face is giving me a headache, take me home." She demanded
"No, not yet. When you go home now, you're just gonna shut yourself in and shutting yourself away from everyone. You'll going to settle it here a little bit before I'll let you go back. Tell us what you plan to do."
"I don't know!" she yelled while crying "I don't know, okay! I don't want to live as an oracle and I also don't want to give away my purity to just anyone so that I can be free from it, I just want to go back to when everything was normal again."
-Guys, I'm really weak with dealing with crying women, help-
-Don't ask me. I'm also clueless, you're on your own.- Siege replied
-Kiss her maybe?- Ace suggested -It works in fictional stories.-
-And take advantage of a friend in her vulnerable state? No thank you.-
-It's just a suggestion, I know you well enough that you won't do that.-
"Look Eleanor, just take Apollo's blessing for now. And maybe someday, you'll find someone you like and can-"
"I don't want to have a voice whispering to me of what's going to happen in the future every single day. It keeps repeating the same thing over and over, at this point, death would be a better option!" she retorted "I didn't asked to be like this! Just bring me home."
"Ok lady, I have had it with your whining!" Cain shouted back "I get it, what's happening to you is shit, but look at this group of people, a few people here probably suffered more than you! Perseus has the burden of carrying the fate of everyone on his shoulders and yet despite complaining about it, he's still willing to continue to do it.
"He fought as a young child against monsters whom even a regular adult would run from everyday for a country who didn't even trust him despite his loyalty in help of defending their country. Urie over there was a child who lived in the slums of his kingdom and had to feed on the blood of rats to survive everyday before he was discovered by a wandering lich for his talent!
"Boo hoo, I have something unfortunate happen to me, everyone does!" Cain yelled " What do you mean 'I didn't asked to be like this' ? No one asked to be born and yet here we are! Just deal with it! You have a choice at least. I don't! I have to live forever regretting one mistake I made!"
"Cain, dude, calm down. I think we all get it."
"Yeah, everyone have their bad days, just let her let it out." Albert joined in
"No! You don't!" he retorted "I killed only 1 person! One! And look at me! I have lived for hundreds and hundreds of years as I slowly lose myself over time. Just deal with it! We all have our ups and downs, we complain, but we move on, not demand to go home. You are an oracle, use your abilities to help. People are going to die and you can save them, be selfless! Or just give away your purity if you don't want to, it isn't that hard! You have a choice now, so...don't waste it."