Eventually the fog engulfing Elizabeth's consciousness slowly faded however this led to her only becoming more confused as a thick metallic stench wafted to her nose.
Even more attention grabbing was the taste.
It was impossible to ignore the thick all consuming taste of iron that seemed to cover every inch of her mouth yet leaving her strangely sated. There was no hunger nor thirst. If anything her body felt more invigorated than ever before; if with a very stuffed tummy that ached ever so lightly.
Moving a hand to hold her hair which caused some surprise. Thinning her eyes to try to peer through the hazy world, pinching a bit of her hair, dragging it in front where her confusion grows. Her silver hair seemed to have regained some of the long forgotten shine that she could boast about in her youth.
A life on the run didn't exactly do wonders for one's health - she was luckier than most due to her perceived importance to the cult she ended up with. Still there was only so much they could do. Hair product was strangely not one of the things they put importance on.
Immediately she panicked as she regained her last few memories of her waking moments.
Looking at her hands for a moment only to pat all over her body to find that she was still perfectly healthy but even had different clothing on.
Though she couldn't help hiss when actually tensing & releasing her fists.
Turning them around revealed them to be bruised with a little bit of blood which seemed fairly fresh yet no actual wound visible. It was a confusing sight. As if she had only happened upon the last few bits from a wound that had already had plenty of time to heal.
Meanwhile her clothing was far better than anything she had seen over the last seven years of her rather bipolar years of life. Her drab cloak was replaced with something more elegant - a purple with gold inlining that you'd have expected a royal to wear. Strangely it smelled of violets when she brought the hood to her nose; something she hadn't smelled since
The clothing underneath was also quite elegant. A one piece dress that boasted a skirt with some volume yet stopped at her thighs allowing her to easily move about. Maybe a bit scandalous for a noble lady however certainly something she could see the appeal in with her new perspective on life.
Especially since they were so fetching when combined with pantyhouse & knee high black boots with crimson lace in a cross-pattern up her shins.
Then it hit her.
It wasn't totally out of left field as a theory so she quickly jumped up to look around only to see herself in a fairly high class office. Not on the level of her father yet certainly not something your average lumber manager could afford to furnish. What was more surprising was the writing on the windows.
"Tax Has Been Taken"
Written in a crimson "ink" that didn't take a genius to guess the origin of.
Looking around she realised she was sat upon a very comfy sofa before she had jumped up with a receipt of purchase having fallen to the floor when she stood up.
A slight shock was that she could easily read the tiny letters upon it while it sat on the floor - certain that such an act wouldn't have been possible before. At least not without mana enhancement to help. What was more shocking is that she recognised some of the descriptions on it as matching what she wore.
It even had underwear on it!
Shiving as she decided to walk up to the window only to quickly freeze as she was about to pass the leather chair that was looking out the window.
There sat a headless desiccated husk, skin hugging the bones with no muscle to speak of, slumped with its limbs splayed out as if a frozen moment in its final struggle. There were no signs of where the head could have been however she was a smart girl. Quickly seeing the odd bits of white material on the floor.
A terrifying question entered her mind.
Unable to decide which would be the more terrifying answer.
At that very moment she once again stopped all movement (only sound being her own shallow breaths) as her mind returned to a time not too long ago.
A body skewered to a coffin of black.
All fluid drained from an already dead corpse.
Done to bring a monster that shouldn't exist back to life.
"N-no she returned to the coffin, she can't be here?!"
Stepping away to find her back soon pressed against the window.
It startled her enough to quickly back away from the stationary fixture turning around to look out at the street where she saw something equally as horrifying.
Atop each of the street lamps was a severed head that she recognised simply due to recency bias; each belonging to the members of the gang who had worked together to capture her. Everyone responsible for it found themselves on display. Expressions of sheer horror revealed that they didn't have an easy time.
They didn't capture her…
They captured the attention of a monster no one should provoke.
Looking around, like a scared little mouse, for any sight of the blood haired demon monarch.
Fortunately she didn't find anything.
Thoughts cut off as sudden light sprouted up behind her; turning revealed what appeared to be a demonic circle (painted a familiar sickly green glow) forming. Soon enough that glow expanded to the point where she couldn't even make out the arcane symbols anymore. Only to fade as quickly as it formed.
It only took a mere instant so Elizabeth was more surprised that she managed to catch it - of course she was already sure who said magic belonged to.
Sure enough, a familiar ikeman in ominous robes appeared.
Yet the demonic hamster was not alone for once.
A perfectly androgynous glasses wearing figure stood right beside them with a kind smile. Their eyes, though, were completely covered by the glare that somehow was always present. Upon the lenses there were slim shadows that reminded one of the hands of a clock slowly rotating around.
Their clothes were also akin to those that a noble may wear however (somehow) appeared far more humble than any of those she had previously met. Overall the vibe they gave was one she couldn't quite begin to place. At the very least they shouldn't be too hostile as they came with Necro, were her thoughts.
"What in the demonic realm took you so long to clean up a bunch of punks?"
That impatient hamster clicked his tongue while tapping his foot.
"I thought something had happened to you but it seems like you've been quite busy… No wonder her grand exaltedness took interest in you if this is how you operate without any formal training. Must say it reminds me a lot of our younger years cleaning up the pits of- well never mind."
Shaking his head as he felt his companions eyes burning a hole in the side of his head; trying to stop the monologuing hamster from spreading more secret information.
It was only then that the new figure spoke up.
"Well I do believe it was quite improper of you to have left a young untrained girl to take on a sect of criminals without any supervision."
Chastising the hamster who flinched.
"But they were just some weak humans who rely on the-"
"Is she not also a "weak human" in this current instance?"
Adjusting the glasses on their face with one delicate push via an outstretched middle finger - their voice was as soothing as their appearance. Carrying with it a feeling similar to those scholars yet wrapped up in a far more approachable package. Having both wisdom and warmth combined together.
"Ah, w-well… Didn't stop her from tearing those thugs to bits!"
Hurriedly pointing his stave out the window where the "warning" was clearly on full display.
"Erm… Actually… It wasn't me…"
Even she knew her voice came out as more of a squeak, yet the two clearly heard it as they turned towards her all the same. Necro with a furrowed brow while the new arrival lowered their position to meet the girl on eye level. Not by bending over but squatting down.
"Do you know who could have?"
Cocking their head slightly to the side with a disarming smile that nearly brought a blush on the girls face.
However, once she heard the question, her mind instantly formed the image of the terrifying divine demon wreathed in a body of flame and fueled by destructive lightning. Only for that to compact down into a far smaller yet no less terrifying form. One of long crimson hair and piercing violet eyes with crimson slits.
But it couldn't be… Could it?
"N-no…?"
That answer didn't seem to convince the "demon" in front of her who momentarily turned their head to look toward the headless corpse. A mere microsecond where a contemplative look took over. Still they soon returned to their caring self as they shook their thoughts away with that now familiar smile.
"I suppose there is nothing to be done then; though I suppose I should introduce myself?"
Asking with a tilt to their head that quickly got a little nod from the still shaken Elizabeth.
"Well I suppose you could say that I came here to help out a little since there are no other matters that currently require my attention."
Soon standing up to their full height that (while not particularly tall) allowed them to stand over the far shorter Elizabeth in front of her. Somehow this didn't make them anymore intimidating. Although it did lead to the girl's attention being drawn towards the strange items stored in leather sheaths over their body.
Something that the supposed spider took immediate note of; yet they didn't explain and simply chuckled as they turned towards Necro.
That monologue heavy rodent having his hands placed against the window while studying the display.
Almost as if it would allow him to understand something more.
"There is no reason to stick around and gather attention."
"Tsk."
He didn't answer verbally but he did approach them once again just as the sound of horses approaching became obvious to the only human of the trio.
"I want some strawberries…"
He complained while slamming his stave onto the ground to whisk them away once more.