Vesi stirred, reluctant to break free from her rest. The quiet comfort of the world had wrapped around her, filling her with a feeling she'd almost forgotten—peace. As her senses returned, she opened her eyes to the elegant dark walls, intricate fixtures, and the faint lights dancing along the ceiling. The room radiated a familiar warmth, and for a moment, she simply let the realization settle in. She was still in Nazarick.
Relief washed over her, so overwhelming that she closed her eyes briefly. The years of longing and searching felt distant now, a memory pushed to the edges of her mind. As she breathed deeply, her heightened senses caught on to the presence of someone nearby, watching her with quiet patience. Turning her head, she saw light spilling from the doorway, framing a tall figure standing just beyond it with his hand on his temple. The moment their eyes met, the man stepped closer and bowed slightly.
"Good afternoon, Lady Vesi."
The orange-clad figure now stood by her bedside, and though her mind was sluggish, his name soon emerged from the haze.
"Demiurge," she murmured, nodding faintly. "It's... good to see you."
His eyes softened as he inclined his head, holding her gaze with surprising warmth. "It was my deepest honor, Lady Vesi," he said smoothly. "I was glad to wait and ensure you awoke comfortably."
The words held a weight that gave her pause. The way he looked at her with such admiration. His presence—his intense, unwavering loyalty—felt so out of place. Memories of the early morning crept back in, blurry but enough to remind her that he had acted like this when they'd met as well. Still, something about his demeanor was hard to pin down. Pushing the thought aside, she braced herself against the bed to sit up, becoming eye level with the devil who remained slightly bowed.
"So, how long was I asleep?" she asked, her voice a bit raspier than she expected.
"Only a few hours, my lady. You returned quite fatigued, and we—" Demiurge's expression softened, his gaze momentarily more personal, almost reverent. "—we are most glad you took the rest you needed."
Vesi managed a small nod. Her mind, still dazed, grasped at his words. "Well has anything interesting happened since I got here?"
Demiurge's expression brightened, his wide grin deepening. "Ah, quite a bit, my lady. Shalltear has eagerly taken to planning a celebration for you, the guardians will have a meeting this evening to ensure it will be perfect. Everyone is beyond pleased to have you returned." He paused, a faint trace of amusement in his gaze as he continued. "The atmosphere has been most lively."
The name sparked a faint connection—Shalltear. The familiarity stirred something, but it was fleeting, slipping through her grasp like water. Vesi frowned, trying to recall more, but the images wouldn't come. Embarrassment crept in. These beings had been part of her creation, and yet, here she was, unable to summon even the simplest memories of them. Her focus had always been on her friends—her guildmates—not the NPCs they had left behind.
The guilt gnawed at her. She masked it as best she could, but her hesitation didn't escape Demiurge's sharp eyes. Misreading her confusion as interest, he offered a solution.
YOU ARE READING
Philian Apolesai
FanfictionOne of the supreme beings that Ainz thought had abandoned the game years ago was actually brought to the New World hundreds of years before. She's already had her adventures, plundered all this world had to offer, and now sits in boredom. Jaded by h...
