NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Ligeia
I stood there, dazed, forming possibilities in my head for what could evoke such a visceral reaction. That it came from an intense shock due to the fact that my body may be of someone so important it hinges on sanctity for this person was something I could obviously understand, but who exactly it was, I couldn't really tell since the slate was in a language I couldn't understand. It seemed very image-like, like hieroglyphs, which I supposed would be easier to learn. But then why was I able to understand the language? Magical cheat isekai starter pack stuff? Why couldn't it come with basic literacy then too?
Seeing that there was nothing to look at in this bleak space for now, I stared at the beautiful demon woman sprawling all over the ground in a silly way, foaming at the mouth. The fact that I seemed to hold this amount of sway over her meant that I could easily take advantage of her sentiments to do as I wished. Not that I would, though.
Overall, it seemed that I wasn't some nobody in the world. Although my grave didn't really look the best, I could tell that there had been much damage and graverobbing inflicted on it. The slate did seem very sleek and classy as well. Add in the fact that it was centered in the very middle with the other graves surrounding it—it almost looked like the place was meant to be a mausoleum for me.
Around ten minutes passed with my random thoughts. She began to awaken. I conveniently chose to stand behind her field of vision as she opened her eyes in fear of anything too sudden happening again. As she raised her head in confusion while slowly remembering what had happened, she suddenly jolted up and began looking around frantically, taking a step back then bumping into me.
She yelps, raising her hands in awkward and comical gestures to try explaining her nervous state of mind "i-i-i-i-i…" stammering before I got irritated at how pathetic the girl who was beating my ass just a white ago became, I took her hand out of instinct and told her to calm down, to which she did after some coaxing.
"I-i… words cannot describe how much this means to me… to us… after all these centuries of decay, you return Lord" shedding a few tears as she continues "my parents died looking after this grave, the only thing left in the realm after those damned humans destroyed everything. I'm the only one left now" at this moment she couldn't control herself anymore and started wailing. "B-but now…! in the most bizarre of circumstances! you've managed to resurrect? A-after the death of all your subjects amidst their abject despair? When no one is left but an incompetent little girl with nowhere else to go? I'm so sorry my Lord, to see your great Realm after perishing at the hands of those humans turned to this, nothing left of it, not even your tomb…" she finishes after being overwhelmed by her crying.
I looked at her face, not really knowing how to respond. I could just play the act that she's expecting of me, but i can't really say i'm invested or care enough about any of this, i don't even know what the name of this place is.
I really don't want to just fall into the puzzle this easily, after all i'm not so escapist as to just be totally seduced by the prospects of this life and completely forget about ever living my real one, or previous? Regardless, since I cannot just go back to the way things were, it's best to just go with the flow for now.
"I see" Claiming in a dry, uninterested tone. I really wasn't trying to stress myself as to put up an act or anything. Maybe this works too since it could just be interpreted as stoic and haughty Demon Lord manners. "No use thinking about what has happened then. Since I'm awake now, this is already the biggest gift we could have." Pausing for a while to pace around then continuing "For now, take me where you stay. Then we will think about the future course of events… I've yet to catch your name coincidentally".
"Ligeia, my Lord!!" She chimes happily in response.
"Ligeia, that's a beautifully fitting name" I couldn't help but remember a song with the same title, that served as a perfect soundtrack for the current landscape. "Do you have any friends, Ligeia?" She bounces around in unrestrained excitement at my words, seemingly happy at my statements.