Xion: "I'm sorry, but... What the hell is going on?! "
Lilin: "You won't deceive me so easily, scum. Only a greater demon would be capable of summoning the power you just demonstrated. "
"Even the most powerful lesser demon would struggle, let alone a feeble human like you. "
'That's what happened, I used some kind of spell. '
"Hey listen, Lilin wasn't it? "
"Mind if i call you Lil? "
Lilin: "Request denied. "
'Yeah figured. '
"I am just as surprised by this as you are– probably more. "
"Let's just take it easy with that sword while we figure this out though, alright? "
'What should i ask her? '
Xion: Why did you call me 'Your Majesty' just now? "
"Don't play dumb with me. "
Her eyes grew smolder.
Lilin: "The aura you projected was far too potent to be anyone other than Demon King! "
"You can't be serious"
When she looks just that, I throw my hands up in exasperation.
"You have got the wrong guy! I am not even a demon, let alone their vanquished king! "
She tilts her head thoughtfully.
"I will admit, you do sound earnest... Even if you are pitifully naive. "
Xion: "Thank you! "
Lilin: "That can only mean, that he is yet to awaken within you. "
When she sheathes her sword, I breathe a sigh of relief. The Next thing i know her face is mere inches away from mine.
"Tell me human, have you had visions, dreams or other any other similar phenomena involving demons recently? "
'Oh I am so suddenly back to being a human again? '
'Wait a minute'
"How do you know about those dreams?! "
She eyes me warily.
"It appears my superiors were correct about you then"
"Perhaps you have already surmised as much but those are no ordinary dreams... They are memories"
"Given the aura i saw just now, I have little doubt who they belong to either. "
I wait with bated breath.
Lilin: "Abezethibou, the Demon King of NarakLok. You bear his soul within you. "
Xion: "I–I, this is some sick joke?! "
'This has to be some kind of joke.
'I am sure Vignette put her up to this'
"Nice try, Lilin"
"I will admit you had me going there for a moment. "
She furrows her brows.
"Embarrassing how long it took me to realize actually, I mean what kind of agency wears uniform like that? "
She clenches her jaw, her fingers twitching near her sword hilt.
"Are you really that dense?! Explain the magic then! "
She huffs impatiently.
"I am aware of how this sounds. But all the signs point to the same conclusion. "
"Somehow you have become a vessel for the Demon King. "
"Without intervention it's only a matter of time before his soul consumes you and replaces you. "
"When you say intervention, that is like, what?"
"Keeping a daily mindfulness routine or something? "
Anger flashes in her eyes.
"You have just been informed that the soul of a bloodthirsty tyrant is slowly devouring you from the inside you. "
"Would it be too much to expect you to treat these matters with the gravity they deserve?! "
Xion: "No, I completely agree. Like I said before, it's a coping mechanism you know? "
"Funny how the threat of losing yourself to demon possession really highlights your own quirks, don't you think? "
She shakes her head with a sigh of exasperation.
"Whatever, better than the hysteria most people respond with, at least. "
"These dreams though, that's the only unusual activity you have noticed this far? "
"Well aside from that aura or whatever magic it was just now. "
She nods reflectively.
"Thank you confirming, in that case I am confident that our contingency protocols will suffice for now. "
Xion: "Contingency protocols' ?"
Lilin: "Standing orders should any of our agents happen to identify Target Alpha in the field. "
"And that's—"
"You, that's right. I'm to keep you under constant observation until such time as any further symptoms appear. "
Xion: "And if they do? "
She regards me impassively.
"We'll cross the bridge when we come to it, as you humans say. As long as the risk of Profane Ascension remains low, there is no cause for alarm. "
'Oh sure. Why let a little Profane Ascension ruin your day?! '
"Your compliance in these matters have been noted human. "
"If all goes according to plan, we won't meet under these conditions again. "
With that, she leaps back into the bushes she sprang out of before turning my life on its head.
'One minute she is saying I am at risk of imminent demonic possession, the next she justs expects me to carry on like nothing ever happened?! '
'If this is going to be our last meeting, I need answers! '
I watch the rustling bushes with a feeling of despondency.
'You know what forget it. If her speed before is any sign, I would never catch her anyway. '
'Besides ignorance is bliss. '
'If there is nothing I can do, why torment myself? '
As I continue on my way home, the influence of the distortion seal seems to dissipate.
I assumed it only worked one way, but people gradually appear all around me.
Not that I am inclined to pay them much attention anyway.
'I have got a lot to unpack before I can really come to grips with this. '
(End of the chapter)