Alhaitham examined the ruins carefully for a moment, then said, "There seems to be something else here. Since the tomb contains relics from King Deshret's civilization, I'll transmit the information to those devices for projection."
Rahman crossed his arms. "Doesn't sharing knowledge violate your principles?"
Alhaitham said, "It does. But given that someone like you is present, I hope this information reaches you directly."
[Nahida: This information likely concerns the truth about forbidden knowledge. It's very important and precious.]
[Lumine: I understand. We'll all observe carefully.]
[Paimon: Forbidden knowledge... I'm curious.]
[Dehya: This must be a memory from the previous era. I also want to know the secret of King Deshret's death.]
"After you've seen it, you'll understand."
The documentary began to play slowly.
A narrator's voice sounded.
"Civilization was born from knowledge. But knowledge can also bring about its destruction."
"Disaster descended without warning. It was knowledge not of this world."
"Since King Deshret brought forbidden knowledge to this land, it spread like a plague. The mind became filled with maddening whispers."
"Gray scales covered the spine. The land itself was robbed of life, leaving only hopeless desolation."
The images showed countless suffering people and withered forests.
[Paimon: Ah, so King Deshret brought forbidden knowledge to this world?]
[Tighnari: Those people in the images look very similar to the mad scholars.]
[Nahida: The mad scholars became that way because they were infected by forbidden knowledge.]
[Lumine: Irminsul was also contaminated by forbidden knowledge.]
[Nahida: I've been searching for a way to save it.]
"Had it not been for the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata of the forest extending her hand, everything would have been irreversible. She gathered the priests to build several temples and poured her divine power into them. The disaster was miraculously contained, and the sparks of civilization were preserved in Aaru Village."
"But miracles cannot last forever. As long as forbidden knowledge exists, it will forever be the world's affliction."
"Until the end, the proud king of the desert—my king—chose to sacrifice himself."
"I have spent the rest of my life guarding one of the many temples. Now, this duty is also reaching its end. As I close my eyes, the figure of that noble deity appears before me."
The image showed the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata exhausting her life force.
"To cooperate with King Deshret in eradicating forbidden knowledge, she expended her power beyond its limits."
"Her form became like that of a child. How strange it is—thinking of her, I no longer fear death."
[Paimon: Nahida, is that why you appear as a child—because you exhausted your power?]
[Madame Ping: When a god exhausts their power, their form shrinks significantly. I've seen such things before.]
[Dehya: I never imagined it was the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata who saved the desert. I'm glad I never opposed the Lesser Lord Kusanali—otherwise, I would never have peace of mind.]
"Because I can feel that the breath of life will accompany me into eternal rest."
"Children of the desert, you need not hold grudges any longer. But this kindness—never forget it."
Dehya emerged from the vision, still dazed. "What... was that just now?"
Alhaitham said, "That was... a memory from the remains."