Novia
Overview
Member of the Campbells, the alluring Great Demon who will never be denied. She left her clan when heading to the surface and became the Kingdom of Lister's Defender.
Info
Overview
Member of the Campbells, the alluring Great Demon who will never be denied. She left her clan when heading to the surface and became the Kingdom of Lister's Defender.
Chapter One
(10700–17354, Era of Frost Veil) Novia, born to the noble Campbells of Holyscape, was trained by the Abyssal Council's top Soulkeeper, "Pure Soul" Crystal. Novia's birth wasn't part of her father, "Sir Bloodcup" Luigino's plan. As an Ansus Demons, Luigino was proud, flamboyant, and like all great demons, had many enemies. He battled his greatest rival, "Lord of a Thousand Golds" Howard, for centuries, killing him but succumbing to his curse—an eternal, bleeding wound. Unable to dispel the curse, Luigino grew frailer by the day. Upon realizing this, the Abyssal Council passed a decree that he must sire an heir. Though demons can have three offspring, Luigino's deteriorating body and soul meant any child's birth would likely be his end. Luigino refused to accept this fate, but the Abyssal Council's orders were absolute. Due to Luigino's cursed condition, most demons were wary of contributing to his progeny, and no demon would share a bloodline with him. In the end, Luigino, humiliated, was forced to create a life crystal and hand it over to Crystal for nurturing. The demons' concerns turned out to be well-founded. After some time, Novia was born. Even though Crystal had provided ample human souls as nourishment to counteract the curse's effects, Novia's body couldn't maintain a normal form. At birth, Novia was semi-transparent and had to sleep frequently to conserve energy. Both the Abyssal Council and Luigino himself considered her a failure. Despite the protection offered to Novia by the Council's decree, Luigino viewed her as an eyesore. Everyone knew that when Luigino finally died, he would be devoured by someone. That fate was unavoidable. Luigino believed that if he could consume Novia, he could buy himself some more time. Novia rarely woke up, and when she did, she maintained a submissive attitude toward her father's constant visits. But this didn't mean that Novia, even as a child, was unaware of her father's plans. She knew the danger she faced, and after weighing her options, she contacted the Council, sharing her suspicions and plans. Some in the Council were tempted by the idea of consuming an Angsas demon and struck a deal: Luigino's life in exchange for Novia's freedom. Not long after, Novia was allowed to leave her protective state and return to the Campbells. Luigino should've realized this was a trap, but his fear of death and resentment toward Novia clouded his judgment, and he overlooked the suspicious details. When he tried to attack Novia in the garden, demons from the Council appeared, killed him for violating their decree, and consumed him. In the chaos, Novia's semi-transparent form became an advantage, allowing her to consume part of Luigino's soul amidst the demons' scramble. The immense power of a great demon infused her, freeing her from her semi-transparent form and granting her a vibrant body. From that moment on, Novia truly "came into being." Afterward, she grew up in the Holyscape, her strength increasing. However, she showed little interest in the ongoing struggles. Influenced by the "birth" event, Novia preferred the Council's order and demonic contracts over endless conflict and scheming, though she did not desire them either. While exploring near the Holyscape, Novia discovered the "Moonlit Court" in the Noctis Ruin and became captivated by the moon on the ground. This became her driving force to go to the Earth.
Chapter Two
Upon her return, Novia entrusted her magical medium—the mirror—and her iconic whispered magic to the Secret Stone Society. Anyone who acquired the mirror could use the secret language to summon her, trading their soul for her power. For Novia, this felt effortless. After achieving great results, she caught the attention of her demon companions. After settling a few disputes, Novia left for the continent's center, following the moon's path. As the mirror circulated, Novia's influence grew steadily. Soon, the Wish Association, acting through the Abyssal Council, sought her out with a proposal. They wanted her and several other demons to protect the Kingdom of Lister for a thousand years. They offered a fantastical floating city, Tripura, from another realm instead of souls, and rare treasures to other demons. Intrigued by the unusual offer, Novia agreed to the deal and settled in the Kingdom of Lister, dedicating herself to guarding its lands. From then on, Novia had a place she could call her own. The fleeting, ever-changing humans drew her gaze, and before she realized it, a thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye. Most demons left after their contracts ended, seeking new pacts. Novia stayed, protecting the land as her rewards grew more varied over time. Human souls remained valuable, but devices making rose oil intrigued her. For modest wishes, she traded services for gold or knowledge. As a human-friendly demon, Novia attracted many contracts, making her an outlier among her kind. After the unspoken distancing from her fellow demons, she became, in effect, a solitary figure among them. Novia wasn't bothered by this isolation. Among greater demons, her modest soul harvests left her reliant on sleep to recover and extend her lifespan. Each time she awoke, the world had changed—new species and titles emerged, and strange encounters blurred past like a kaleidoscope. The estrangement from her own kind was something she secretly welcomed. When awake, she exchanged resources with humans, and with their leaders' tacit approval, the area around her floating city became her fief. She controlled its operations and influence. What humans considered a fulfilling life was not enough for Novia, as a demon. Whether influencing society, waging wars, or engaging in diplomacy, the pursuits that satisfied most demons didn't interest her. Obsessed with her beauty, she collected portraits and minted unique coins but had yet to find a worthy long-term pursuit. Bored and restless, Novia anchored herself in her beauty, emulating surface nobility—indulging in luxury and fulfilling contracts for four thousand years. She almost believed that nothing would ever change in her life. Then, everything shifted on an ordinary day when a visitor arrived at Novia's residence, "Clydesbrook," the floating city known as the "Kaleidoscope." From that day forward, Novia's life—colorful yet stagnant for over four millennia—took a dramatic turn, becoming a whirlwind of change. According to the Abyssal Council's records, the visitor struck a deal with Novia: he agreed to study Clydesbrook in exchange for immunity to her charms. Novia, the "Mirror of Lister," used every trick to ensnare him but failed. Captivated by his presence, she even defied the Abyssal Council's recall order. Despite the dragons' unstoppable invasion through the northern cities, Novia stayed on the surface for him, marking one of the past thousand years' most unusual events.
Chapter Three
Novia's brief encounter with the mysterious visitor lasted three months, after which the visitor left Clydesbrook, and all records of their time together ended. Reluctantly obeying the Abyssal Council's recall, Novia spent half a year untangling her human affairs. Meanwhile, the situation between humans and dragons began to shift. Humans, now daring to explore the dragons, assembled an elite expedition. As a demon familiar with human nature, Novia expected the situation to improve and delayed her return to the Holyscape again. The Abyssal Council, frustrated by her indecision, expressed displeasure, but Novia remained unfazed, focused on expanding her influence. With most demons having withdrawn, Novia's expansion became much easier. Her relentless efforts spread the name "Mirror of Lister" across cities, reaching the continent's heart and subtly infiltrating the southern lands. At the same time, she forged contracts through various remaining guilds, each agreement carrying the unspoken clause: the search for one person's whereabouts. Bound by a hidden pact, she never disclosed the person's name to her partners, providing only a vague description. Unfortunately, this crucial detail faded from history. For a demon, this was undoubtedly a risky move. With most demons gone, her presence and the sanctuary she protected now stood out, impossible to ignore. Yet Novia seemed indifferent to it all. For a life that otherwise ran with little interference, this one disruption felt both jarring and undeniable, and it emanated a dangerously alluring charm. She yearned to seize this unreachable figure, believing that only then could she find peace for her restless heart. To this day, no one knows the true appearance of the person she sought. Only contract records and unsent letters remain, revealing her obsessive infatuation with the mysterious contractor. In those letters, she compared the contractor to the radiant moon—distant and unattainable, yet captivating—expressing her unwavering resolve to possess them. But in the end, it was clear she never got what she so desperately desired. While Novia drowned in her obsession, the world continued its relentless march. Humanity had begun studying dragons, but this discovery had little impact on the war. Most demons had retreated underground. When Princess Camilla of Apatite became a Dragon Knight, neighboring nations grew suspicious of Apatite's rising power. Compared to the dragons, it was Apatite's rapidly strengthening military might that they truly feared. After they plotted to kill Camilla, the first alliance shattered in bitter discord. Despite their fear of the dragons, the nations still didn't hesitate to launch attacks on one another. In 17354, during this chaotic era, Novia encountered angels, was hunted, and forced to flee the Kingdom of Lister. Angels were rare on the Mirren continent, and while Novia was not weak, her influence among the Ansus Demons was too insignificant to affect the war. So, no one could say if this fateful encounter was simply a coincidence or the result of some dark plot. When Novia finally escaped her pursuers, the Kingdom of Lister was already in ruins. She never found the one she longed for, and the kingdom with deep ties to her had fallen. What she felt in that moment remained a mystery that no one could ever uncover. After killing several nobles, Novia ended her quest for vengeance and began her journey back to the Abyss. Perhaps due to the peace she'd grown used to, Novia couldn't escape her fate this time. The path she chose was ambushed by a giant dragon, and Tripura crashed during the battle. Novia, its master, disappeared without a trace.
Historical Notes
The Decrees of the Abyssal CouncilTo ensure a steady influx of fresh blood into the Abyss, the Abyssal Council enacted several laws, including: When a greater demon weakens, it must spawn offspring, who the Abyssal Council protects for years. Cristo"Cristo, the Pure Soul" (900–11500, Era of Frost Veil), a member of the Abyssal Council and a rare soulkeeper among the greater demons. Though often seen in the shadows of demonic conspiracies, no proof has confirmed her active involvement. Luigino"Sir Bloodcup" Luigino Campbell (532–10713, Era of Frost Veil), an Ansus demon. Luigino's relentless pursuit of power and conquest led him to steal businesses and territories from other demons, making him numerous enemies. Howard"Lord of a Thousand Golds" Howard Holowell (500–10696, Era of Frost Veil), an Achlys Demon. Howard, a demon of territorial pride, clashed violently with Luigino over control in the mortal realm. In 10696, Howard fell to Luigino's treachery. Before dying, he cursed him, binding their blood in an eternal flow. Wish AssociationAfter Lister's founding, the Wish Association traded relics with the Abyssal Council for protection from demons. Lister(13010–17354, Era of Frost Veil) Once the remnants of the Sanctgard Empire, Lister is a small kingdom wedged between three great powers. Lister's vulnerable geography makes it easy to attack but hard to defend. Through diplomacy and alliances, it has kept its independence.