Merut

Pitter-patter

Overview

Fortuitously transformed into a higher-tier monster by the influence of abyssal energy, she gradually developed a personality and learned things through her interactions with humans. She is very concerned about her origin and becomes evasive when asked for details. She is kind-hearted and holds the unattainable desire of becoming a human.

Chapter One

(4513–4549, Era of Frost Veil) Abyssal energy dispersed during the Evolutionary Shuffle, creating many monsters, including Melurote.
Originally, she was a liquid-like entity living in Ansebog. Different dialects call her kind differently: in Laqutte, they're oozes; in Lingua Communis, they're slimes.
Slimes were once low-intelligence creatures, easily spotted in forests. Later, they learned to change colors to blend with their surroundings, making them hard to see.
In addition, their susceptibility to the influence of environmental elements led to the creation of subspecies like fire slimes and frost slimes.
Melurote stands out with high intelligence and the ability to use almost any magical elements, giving her multiple attributes. In Mirren's history, most heroes had one main attribute. Even among the most gifted humans, such balanced talents like Melurote's are rare, seen only in a few ancient figures.
Balanced growth, however, risks mediocrity across all traits. This was Melurote's dilemma. Her slime form limited her abilities, keeping them subpar. She survived by consuming and breaking down foliage and discarded waste.
Melurote eventually grew to five times a normal slime's size, becoming a huge, sticky mass that frightened many adventurers.
Whenever Melurote tried to help adventurers, things went wrong, even leading to rumors of a sly slime attacking humans near Ansebog.
Melurote's furtive behavior and alleged misdeeds defined her reputation. Though slimes never harmed humans, self-proclaimed heroes still sought to eliminate these creatures on principle.
Melurote didn't want to harm humans or be harmed by them. So, she started avoiding them and found she was fine alone in the bog.
Most heroes rise through some accident. Though a slime wasn't a grand hero, Melurote saw herself as one. One day, she followed a demon girl out of curiosity, which changed her fate.
Melurote couldn't grasp the demon's significance. Millennia had passed since the Ancient War, with demons vanishing from the mortal realm. Such lore was beyond her limited knowledge.
Even if she knew, the bold slime would probably still investigate. Though just a minor monster, Melurote had confidence in her willpower. But soon, she lost the ability to think and could only follow the demon girl.
Later, when reflecting, Melurote realized it was the demon girl's staff. The unique staff emitted a tempting energy that could fulfill her desires.
The demon girl noticed Melurote but didn't overreact like a human would. After all, Melurote was just a low-tier monster once blessed by Holyscape, so she decided to ignore her.
Since the holy war defeat, Holyscape's races lost ambition. The demon girl, tasked with reviving her race, secretly crossed the barrier to the human world with no allies. Thinking of this, she found the slime's Holyscape aura comforting.
She tossed a Noctis Crystal to Melurote, who had only ever eaten leaves. Upon absorbing the pure magic, Melurote immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter Two

Upon awakening, the Demon Girl had vanished mysteriously, leaving her homeland unknown. There was speculation about her return, but Melurote had yet to discover she had assumed human form.
Why do all beings seem to approach the human form? She had no idea.
Melurote thought it was the girl's desire. The girl had a destination, and to get there, this form was indispensable.
Melurote, a fruit's moniker. People brew wine from it. And it was also the first phrase that reached her ears.
She woke to find herself in a bustling crowd. The ritual was underway, and the streets were filled with festive cheer.
"Such hazardous endeavors were not the wont of an ooze. "
The ordeal was arduous, and she committed numerous faux pas. Yet, maybe such a ritual required a jester like her to lighten the mood.
The crowd laughed and helped the unknown girl immediately. Melurote learned her key lesson: mutual aid is crucial in human society.
By helping and receiving help, Melurote learned valuable lessons and understood which aspects of herself to hide. She briefly felt integrated into the crowd, but as the ritual ended, the sense of alienation returned.
Familiar faces disappeared. The cityscape promptly resumed its structured façade, leaving Melurote feeling displaced.
Lost and wandering for days, Melurote was eventually picked up by a circus as an illusionist. She traveled extensively with them, enjoying countless festivities.
Over time, she realized that an outsider could never fully blend into a mostly human society. Even at its most accepting, humanity would still view different beings through a lens of inequality.
Though she had taken on a human form, solitude and trepidation still enveloped her.
Once an ooze, she transformed from the swamp to the lively human world, yet she remained apart, with an unbridgeable divide.
Seeking solace in festivals and celebrations, she longed for the comfort of home, where the swamp felt more welcoming than the bustling city.
Following the Dalal Demons' exile from the Aiyans' land, the cambion, despite their sophistication, remained estranged from the monsters' domain. Every attempt to fit in underscored her growing powerlessness.
She helped others but yearned for companionship. Joining in celebrations and laughter only intensified her profound sense of loneliness.

Chapter Three

\u3000She returns to Ansebog to live out her days. Alone but no longer afraid, she survives on leaves and grass, having no grand ambitions—just a desire for a comfortable life away from the struggles of the city.
At times, she feels lonely until she meets a Dreadra Cambion, a powerful Gorgon far stronger than her.
u3000\u3000Calling herself Apoffis, she aims to create a kingdom for monsters on the west side of Ansebog, a place where they can live free from human discrimination.
Here, monsters will belong and no longer need to hide from humans who threaten their lives.
After the brief unity of the Tudoria Kingdom, Ciaran remains ravaged by war. "How nice it would be for my friends and me to have a stable home and enjoy some wine," thinks Melurote.
She is tempted by the idea of forming ties with humans and mingling among them.
However, conflicts arise early on, as the monster kingdom rejects all humans, a view Melurote finds extreme.
Once dissent appears, it lingers, only to resurface with greater intensity later.
Apoffis gathers the cambions to construct the Scarlet Bastion and establish control over monsters, drawing human attention.
Despite ongoing human conflicts being mere civil wars to them, the rise of a cambion kingdom is intolerable. Human forces rush to distinguish themselves from the monsters.
The monster kingdom gradually abandons communication with humans, becoming increasingly exclusive.
At this juncture, Melurote departs the monster kingdom.
Since then, she roams, pausing only to aid those in need, wandering without a destination.
Over time, bards begin to praise this little mage for her kindness, sharing countless tales about her—whether true or not. Regardless, she is depicted as a quirky mage girl whose words often contradict her thoughts.
As time passes, even endless journeys come to an end. The last fiesta concludes, its glow fading, yet another fiesta is soon to begin. Sadly, she hasn't received an invitation.
Ultimately, Melurote attends what may be the final fiesta of her life. Everyone enjoys the Melurote wine, the atmosphere is lively, and she quickly becomes tipsy.
She harbors one last forbidden wish: after turning back into ooze, she wishes to remain by everyone's side.
As she falls asleep, she dreams of holding hands with people as an ooze, celebrating at fiestas.
Seated on a bench in the fountain square, she slowly transforms into ooze.
"…Melurote…wine…fruit…I…everyone…likes…"

Historical Notes

"Ooze:
Oozes are thought by some not to form naturally. Numeours of them were spawned during the Ancient War. (Others suggest that the conditions in Mirren were conducive to their formation, with Abyssal energies acting as catalysts.) There are speculations that Oozes might be part of another demonic scheme.

Melurote:
Unlike her peers Giratia and Ann, Melurote, a monster, received no kindness from humans. Yet, she is peculiarly fixated on becoming human and exhibits unusual friendliness towards humans. It is likely linked to her origin as a rare Tear of Angel—a pure energy being of emotions. The Dynastic Chronicles mention that only four angels descended during the Evolutionary Shuffle. Bethiris the Demon Slayer descended in the Kingdom of Terria (1009 – 4162), Messiah the Infinity Halo in the Sanctgard Empire (7480 – 10937), Saberlyn the Void Specter in the Kingdom of Galo (4491 – 10937), and Phoebe the Goddess of the Moon around the Scarlet Bastion in the Kingdom of Monsters (4507 – 7478). Only Phoebe matches both the time and location, although her serene and graceful nature starkly contrasts with Phoebe's personality. The first and revised second editions of the general history records the fate of Melurote—She transformed into a slime on a bench and being killed by the crowd. This detail was removed in the final draft.

Demon Girl:
Edwina, the Outsider (2431–10375, Era of Frost Veil), was an Achlys Demon noble belonging to the Akarins, one of the three commanding factions under the mighty Holowell. The Akarins, a solid part of the war party, holds significant sway with lands to the southwest of Castle Noctis. This was Edwina's first trip to Ciaran—her ancestral homeland and once a thriving hub documented in ancient texts. The journey strengthened her resolve, solidifying her role as a envoy of the Abyss during the Golden Age.

Holyscape:
Commonly refers to the Abyss, termed Holyscape by demons, whereas angels and Yagol people might call it the Realm of Sin. The term has softened in Era of Eternal Flame, but many still prefer the older term, without any intent of derogation or arrogance.

Dotur Dynasty:
The Dotur Dynasty (4461–4502), founded by the Yagol people after Hilbeyan disintegration, was a short-lived empire during a tumultuous period. After the Monarchs' War, Gaia and Ottilia parted ways, leading to three major powers on the continent. The Velarra established the Kingdom of Terria (1009 – 4162), Orccodros founded the Kingdom of Hidrin (246 – 3949), and the Yagol established the Kingdom of Anya (308 – 4460). The political landscape lasted for thousands of years until in 4461, King Makrad of Anya conquered the other two nations, seizing most of Ciaran's lands and compelling the Dwarves to submit. Yet the shortest-lived empeire disintegrated shortly after her dimise due to long-standing divisions and controversial policies.

Great Figures of the Ancient Times:
The Lord Inquisitor refers to two preeminent figures from the Era of Firstlight, Dorine Owen and Elenor Campbell.

Dalal Demons:
These demons, evolving from the Aiyans and associated with the Ansus Demons, boast the highest population among demons. Characterized by their horns and a lack of wings, they excel in dark magics.

Circus:
Melurote belonged to the Emerald Circus, managed by the animal tamer, Margaret. After helping her recover a missing lion, Melurote earned herself a place in the circus.