After getting changed I head down to the kitchen.
As usual Vignette is already there, munching away.
"Morning Xion. "
"Hey, morning Vignette. "
"You are unusually fresh today. Something happened last night? "
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I evade her probing look.
"What's with the inquisition? "
I take the seat across from her, where my breakfast is waiting.
As I start to eat, I find myself glancing at her compulsively.
She pecks distractedly at her toast while scrolling away.
'I know she grew up on earth, but she is still a demon, right? '
'Maybe she can shed some light on this whole thing. '
'Should I ask her about it. '
"Hey listen. "
She looks up, cheeks puffed out as I catch her in the middle of chewing a mouthful of toast.
"Mm"
As she eyes me expectantly, I realize that I am not even sure how to broach the subject.
'Well, there's always the direct approach if all else fails, right? '
"What do you know about the Demon King Abezethibou? Aside from the stuff that everyone knows, I mean. "
She regards me silently.
"Something wrong? "
She shakes her head.
"I am surprised you said his name correctly, that's all! Most humans struggle with it. "
'Normally I am one of them. Is this the another sign? '
"Anyways I am not sure what I can tell you beyond what we have covered at school. "
"If it's first hand account you're after, my mom might know a thing or two. "
"I was too young to remember life before the Great Exodus. "
Xion: "Yeah, I know. I just thought maybe there were stories you have heard that didn't make it into the history books. "
"Folklore or prophecies, like about his reincarnation. "
She regards me curiously.
"That's awfully specific. "
"what can i say? I have got morbid interests. "
" well it was rumored that he would take a new body whenever he was injured or grew too frail. "
"Lesser Demon parents often use it to scare their kids into behaving, like a kind of Boogeymen. "
"So, is it possible? "
She shrugs.
"I guess, I am no expert! There's a ritual though, called the—
Oh what was it again?
Propane—"
"Profane Ascension? "
"Yeah that's the one! "
She eyes me skeptically.
"Have you been brushing up on demon history? "
"W–Well, you know–"
She breaks into a smile.
"I'm impressed, Xion. "
Xion: "You are always saying I should learn more about your culture. "
She nods fervently before her brows began to furrow.
"What has you so interested in his reincarnation though? That's pretty arcane stuff even for us demons. "
"Like I said, morbid fascination. "
"Do you know how it works? The... Incubation, i mean. "
"Nothing really specific. "
"According to stories he would discard his physical form upon selecting a new host. After his soul was implanted in this vessel, it would slowly take over it from the inside. "
"The ritual of Profane Ascension just marks the final stage of the metamorphosis. "
"Pretty grim stuff, huh? "
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.
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"Yeah, no kidding.
"Any idea how this ritual is set in motion? "
Her skeptical look returns.
"I'm starting to worry about you now, Xion. You haven't joined a doomsday cult or something, have you? "
I force a wry smile.
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"None of them would have me. "
"Anyway, this ritual? "
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She sighs before going on.
"Well the exact details are known only to the malteri priestesses that served the Demon King. ""
"It would take an absurd amount of mana to transfer a soul from one body to another body though. "
"If I told you any more than this, they would force me to kill you. "
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She flashes a wicked smile.
"Seriously though, I wouldn't lose any sleep over this, Xion. Even if his second coming does happen, I doubt it'll be during your brief lifespan. "
Xion: "How reassuring. "
Her eyes dance mischievously.
"Just one more thing, do the stories say anything about what happens to the host throughout the whole thing? "
She shakes her head gravely.
"I doubt anyone but the Demon King himself could truly answer that. "
"None of his vessels would have lived to tell the tale, after all. "
"R-Right."
'I wonder if that's why Lilin has orders to stand by and observe.
I'm like some test subject.
Until i pose a threat, at least. '
"Thanks Vignette. I've heard enough for now. "
She pats my hand with a smile.
"Hope I didn't ruin your appetite. "
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As we make our way to school, I glance around nervously.
'If what she said she true, Lilin could be just out of sight. '
Vignette: "Huh? "
When Vignette stops, I follow her gaze to the bushes ahead.
'Wait, isn't that where-'
"Some wild animal must have charged through here. "
She turns to me with a frown.
"Was it like this on your way home yesterday, Xion? "
"I didn't notice anything. But that doesn't prove much. "
She nods, rolling her eyes.
"You would probably wander halfway across a battlefield without noticing anything amiss! "
"Oh, like you can talk! You spend every walking hour with your eyes glued to your Phone screen! "
She breaks into a wry smile.
"Touchy this morning aren't we? "
Xion: "Come on, we'll be late! "
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At school
Mr Okabe: Good morning, everyone.
"Before we start our class, I have a special announcement to make. "
"The finest school in all of Tengu City has a new student joining us from today! "
'Isn't this the only high school in all of Tengu City though? '
'Wait, what did he say?! '
"Let's all give a warm welcome to Mana Hashimoto! "
All eyes turn towards the door as a slender girl enters the room.
'No, it can't be'
Lilin: "Hello, everyone. I'm Mana. "
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(End of the chapter)