[Back to present Ti]
Ludwig finished cleaning himself up and slipped into his new set of clothes, the fresh fabric a stark contrast to the grimy events of the previous day. The tailored fit reminded him of Van Dijk's ticulous care, but the gesture only deepened the disconnect he felt. As much as he appreciated the gesture, Ludwig couldn't help but feel like a fraud—dressed in the guise of humanity, hiding what he truly was.
Returning to his shared room, Ludwig noticed Hoyo sprawled out on one of the beds, dead to the world, while Kassandra's soft snoring filled the quiet space. The sound brought an unexpected smile to his lips, and he lingered at the door for a mont, observing them. There was a strange peace in watching them, a serenity that he knew he would never feel again. Hoyo's face was smushed against his pillow, while Kassandra, ever the composed intellectual, had let her guard down entirely in sleep.
Though the lies and the camouflage hid his true self, so no one would think of him as anything but human, Ludwig knew that he has long since lost his humanity. A monster in the guise of a man. Standing right between two trusting comrades that don't know the truth about him.
Ludwig was unable to sleep, not for the lack of trying or even the attempt to do so. The inability to sleep wasn't new to him; it was simply another fact of his existence as an undead. He could lie down and close his eyes, but rest would never co. His mind, sharp and relentless, had no off switch. Tonight, it was worse. The events of the day replayed in his head like a cursed record, looping endlessly.
The bravery that the Lantern gives him was sothing he needed to address, he jumped into the fray without caring much for his own wellbeing, trusting the ability to return from death to solve his problems if things go bad. However, deep down there was a small fear that this might just not work. He couldn't help but have this feeling that if he were to die again, he might actually be gone for real this ti.
Ludwig contemplated about what he truly needed to achieve in this world. The longer he spent here, the less appealing his forr world beca. He thought about many things, if what Necros said was true, if he achieved the Eternal Quest, would Necros truly send him back? And if he did send him back, after god knows how many years it would take him to beat the Seven Usurpers of Death, would he still feel the sa about his family?
By then, would he still rember his mother's face, or his father's stern but encouraging tone? Would he have the sa interest in worldly things?
Questions that had no imdiate answers continued spinning and formulating in Ludwig's mind. Especially when paired against the incredibly tall task of defeating things that even Van Dijk, a mage at the Eight Circle said that it was not sothing he could handle.
Thinking of which, what is this Gluttonous Death? One of the cardinal sins? Gluttony. What is it? Who is it? And how did it co to be.
More questions, but no answers, and looking at his bestiary didn't help much. Because under the Gluttonous death input in the bestiary all Ludwig could see was.
***
[Na??? Usurper of Life. The Gluttonous Death]
An entity that currently dwells in the Bog of Tibari. A forrly rich land, that was able to host many beings, a river once flown through Tibari granting its people ease of life and riches unlike any place. But the nature of these people and their voracity soon cursed the lands, which brought existence to the Gluttonous Death. Once it beca part of these lands it transford them to its own image.
Further Information is Unavailable.
Location, Bog of Tibari, at the borders of the Black Tower academy territory.
Appearance… unregistered.
***
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Ludwig moved the notification away; the Bestiary wasn't too helpful sadly. At least he knows the terrain to be a quagmire now.
Ti trickled down, slowly as ever, before the first break of dawn and the cries of an overly energetic rooster began waking and bringing life back into the city.
Ludwig peered over the window to see several people coming out of their hos, either setting up stalls or preparing for the day. There was still one more day of the Mage Masquerade event, but from the ss that happened yesterday, Ludwig doubted that people would have the sa fun and enjoynt that they did yesterday.
But he was shown how wrong he could be, and how human nature could triumph anything if it ant that they could drink their sorrows away or at least ignore and forget the bad for small joys.
The sll of toasty bread and als being prepared wafted through the room, even for a skeleton, sothing inside his organ-less body stirred. He didn't feel hunger, but he still felt like he should at least have a bite of whatever that was cooking.
Ludwig was light on his feet as he removed himself from his bed and out of the room, he then climbed down the stairs and found out that he wasn't the first one up from all the custors. Several others were either already up and awake drinking warm ale, or they probably never slept. While the sll of fresh morning food wafted through, Ludwig went to an empty table and sat down.
Just as he took his seat, the busboy from yesterday ca in with a loaf of freshly baked and cooked bread and a bowl of soup, "You're up early," the busboy said. "Have so of this, it's our Inn's special hangover soup and bread, though that doesn't an you have to be drunk to have it," he said and moved away to bus another table.
Ludwig grabbed the crunchy warm bread and began eating. A simple al, far from anything he'd ever had back at earth, but it was warm, and good.
Even for an undead, he was thankful that he could still taste food and so of the minor joys of life.
Do he didn't understand where the food went, he wasn't about to start questioning a favor from Necros such as this.
After all, he owes Necros too much to be ungrateful, another chance at life after a wrongful death, and the taste of food and alcohol, blissful little things that many take for granted.
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