Chapter 212: The New Arbitrator Ligeia
Isabel finally helped Ligeia change her clothes.
Although the newborn Ligeia was somewhat resistant to wearing such little girl's clothes, she happily looked in the mirror after she was finally put on them.
"When I was little, I rarely wore skirts. I always wore trousers."
Ligeia, wearing Isabel's yellow nightgown, walked among them: "It was mainly because I was very active at that time. There were no girls of my age, and I often played with the boys in the village.
"Sometimes we'd go fishing, sometimes we'd go get bird eggs. We'd climb mountains and reach very high peaks, only to be stuck and unable to get down—someone even fell and broke a leg. By the time we'd slowly slid down, our clothes and pants were already in tatters.
"I once got up in the middle of the night, sneaked out of the house, and went to the cemetery with my friends in the early hours of the morning. I even secretly took stones to break the church windows, just because the pastor was usually very mean to us..."
These were stories she had never told when she was Meg, but now that "Meg was dead" she began to tell them endlessly.
It seems like he is missing something, and also like he is commemorating something.
After all, from today on, Meg will no longer be seen. The only one left is the newly born Ligeia.
Because of this, Ligeia doesn't want Meg to be completely forgotten - although Meg is respected and valued as the strongest person in Avalon, few people understand what kind of person Meg really is.
In most people's minds, Meg is just a guardian and a symbol of invincibility.
She had no offspring, and her family was long gone. Her old friends, colleagues, colleagues, and even her first love had almost all died of old age. Those friends who were still alive were already very old.
She no longer has any commemorators of her own.
Well, at least Ligeia herself must never forget that Meg once existed.
The contract she had signed with Huan Tiansi was seared into her heart, a constant reminder—she must never rest in contentment. From now on, she would be reborn again and again, gradually shedding all traces of her old self until even the outline of her humanity vanished completely.
But unexpectedly, she didn't feel nervous or sad about it. Instead, she was eager to try.
...Perhaps she had developed a strong tendency to transcend the Tao since she didn't know when.
If not, she wouldn't have fallen in love with and married a demon as an overseer...
Ligeia quickly got over this delicate feeling - after all, she had once been "Meg", with a strong and resolute heart.
"Come on, let's go check on Sophia first!"
Ligeia's face once again wore that carefree, carefree smile: "I will treat you to a delicious meal later!"
Compared to the previous one, this time her smile was even more pure and innocent. Ligeia was clearly adapting quickly to her new body.
"I'll be clear," Aiwass said, sitting in a wheelchair, looking somewhat helpless. "I don't eat fried chicken in the morning."
He had to continue to maintain his image in front of outsiders… This had saved him several times.
"Oh, you make it sound like all I know is fried chicken."
Ligeia said dissatisfiedly: "I usually go shopping in Glass Island when I have nothing to do. I can guarantee that most people can't eat as well as I do.
"I know by heart where to buy good food and fine wine—though I don't smoke myself, I occasionally buy cigarettes for Arius. I also know the tobacco shops where he has a personal collection."
Ligeia said this with some worry: "But with my current body, it might be inconvenient to go out and buy alcohol and cigarettes. If only I could be seventeen or eighteen years old..."
"Maybe after a few more rituals, he'll be older."
Aiwass comforted casually.
Ligeia was so talkative that he would politely respond at first, but when he realized that he could talk non-stop without responding to Ligeia, he decided to stop and take a break.
Meg had a loud voice, and now Ligeia had inherited it. A child's voice was sharper and more penetrating, and could be heard from a great distance. Therefore, guards and servants had already come to investigate.
For those who asked questions in a gentle tone, Ligeia would simply point at Isabel and let her deal with it; and for those who came to ask questions aggressively, she would simply say "[Stand aside], you have nothing to do here" and drive them away.
She had no intention of concealing her identity at all. It would be more accurate to say that rejuvenation was outrageous in itself.
The all-too-familiar Dragon Blood Law also dissuaded people from attempting to stop them—it was pointless anyway. Among the guards who came to stop them was even a fourth-level arbitrator. But Ligeia glared at him, cursed him by name, and drove him away.
The other party was initially concerned about the Queen's safety, suspecting Isabel and Aiwass were being held hostage. However, after experiencing the familiar Dragon Blood Law and being scolded in a familiar tone, the other party immediately understood Ligeia's identity, his frown relaxed, and he let her go with a smile.
Then, a strange sight unfolded within the Palace of Silver and Tin: an unknown little girl, accompanied by Princess Isabel, who rarely left her room, roamed the palace with impunity, unstoppable. Strangest of all, she possessed two horns, seemingly unlike any human.
Queen Sofia is very old and her sleep is shallow and short.
At this time, she had finished breakfast, put on her glasses and started working in the study.
Ligeia barged into the Queen's office without an appointment or knocking.
But Sophia was not panicked. When she saw Ligeia, the queen's eyes immediately focused on the dragon horns on her head.
Queen Sophia looked at Ligeia hesitantly, then looked at Aiwas and Isabel who followed in and sat in wheelchairs, as well as Lily who followed slowly at the back.
"Guess who I am?"
Ligeia grinned.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar smile on the girl's face—that kind of evil and arrogant smile that made people not hate it at all—Sophia smiled helplessly: "You've become younger...Meg."
"Tsk, boring. How did you know it was me? Is it because little Isa is here?" Ligeia was a little disappointed.
"Between your eyebrows and eyes, I can still see some traces of your youth."
The old lady smiled kindly and gently and said, "Come here, girl. Let me hold you?"
"You actually still remember what I looked like before..."
Ligeia murmured.
She herself has forgotten what she used to be like.
There were no cameras in that era, and she couldn't afford to hire an artist to paint her portrait. What's gone is gone, and it will never come back.
Somewhat surprisingly, Ligeia did not resist Sophia's request for a hug.
She leaned over and hugged Sophia tightly.
"I can smell the old man stench on you now, but I couldn't smell it before... Is it because I smell too strong?"
Ligeia whispered, "It's like an old book taken out of a basement, or an old house covered in dust. It has a smell that is watched by amber."
"This is what it means to be old. This is the breath of death."
Queen Sofia lowered her eyes and spoke calmly.
Her eyes were swollen and purple, and the skin on her face had lost its elasticity.
"What should I call you?"
Sophia said gently, "Is it still Meg?"
"Ligeia."
Ligeia replied, "My present name is Ligeia—it was given to me by Aiwass. He was the one who gave me the ritual... and in terms of the grace of rebirth, he can also be considered the parent of this body. It is undoubtedly very reasonable to be named by one's parents."
"It's a nice name, Ligeia. Much better than your previous name." Sophia nodded.
"Meg" means pearl.
A treasure brewed from pain is indeed in line with Meg's life. But sometimes Sophia also feels that perhaps it is precisely because of this name that Meg has been given this experience.
"Aren't you envious?"
Seeing Sophia so calm, Ligeia felt a little regretful: "I wanted to stop you properly."
Sophia simply hugged Ligeia, patted her back, and whispered, "I don't really want to die. Death is just the beginning of another journey... The Lord has decided to promote me to an apostle. I still remain in the material world because I can't let go of Avalon.
"It still has too many problems, and Isabel is still too immature and completely unprepared. It's not time for me to die yet, I can still hold on a little longer.
"—But it's just a matter of holding on. With the priests' healing, we can prolong our lives as much as possible. If we confuse means with ends, we'd be acting foolishly."
“That’s great.”
Ligeia felt a little envious and a little regretful: "It seems that we will be separated after all."
"I think you can also be promoted as an apostle of the Crown Master."
Sophia said seriously, "You are the only person I have ever met who has received the Silver Crown Dragon's gift. You are His beloved... and now, you even possess dragon-like characteristics."
"Because I can't let go of Avalon either...it's like my child."
Ligeia sighed and hugged Sophia tightly. "If I died, Xingbi and Iris would probably make a move immediately. That's why I wanted to advance before. But now is a better opportunity."
"Spread the word, Sophia. Say that Meg is dead... she died of old age, and that Ligeia has taken over as Grand Arbiter. That should motivate them to act."
"Yes, this plan is fine."
Sophia nodded in agreement, "Give them a good beating, and they'll be much quieter.
"Then I will announce your death today... When do you want the funeral?"
"Don't do it. Keep the death a secret. It will be more credible this way."
Ligeia laughed and said, "Watching his own funeral, this is outrageous... I don't know how Shylock managed to hold back."
"...But will the Xingti people believe it?"
Isabel couldn't help but ask her grandmother, "Meg... Oh, Miss Ligeia told me. The enemy they faced wasn't very strong."
"It's not about whether they will believe it or not, but part of them will 'hope' it's true."
Aiwass, who was sitting next to Isabel, shook his head and said softly, "Even if the smart ones among them know this is a trap, they can't stop those who want to die."
(End of this chapter)
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