The Judge Awakens!

A soft ripple of moon-light streamed through the ornate stained-glass windows, scattering an iridescent glow across the room. The bed chamber exuded a style of calm elegance. Marble pillars dotted the room, carved with ancient runes, while a crystal chandelier radiated a gentle light.

In the center of this luxurious chamber lay a figure, still as a statue, on a massive bed draped in luxurious silky sheets. The man stirred, his hand holding his head as it boomed with tiredness.

Without needing to ever check the time, he effortlessly pinpointed how long had passed since he had last been awake, "Twenty years." he muttered, and rose slowly off of the bed.

Twenty years, that was the length of time he had been asleep, or more specifically, in retreat, trying to solve a mystery, which he had finally completed.

The room seemed to tremble faintly as if responding to his movements. His aura was one of calmness, elegance, yet a deep sense of authority & a commanding presence that will force anyone to respect him.

He walked in the mirror and looked at himself. With the memories of his prior life he had just obtained, he now knew exactly who he looked like.

A character in a video game he'd played in his past life, Neuvillette, and he happened to share not only his looks, but his name also.

Neuvillette's current appearance hadn't changed at all over his 20 year rest. His complexion was pale but flawless, and his face was well defined and had a regal sharpness, with narrowed eyes with golden irises that held a calm gaze of unspoken judgement.

He had long, silvery-white hair that flowed like liquid, reaching just above his waist, with strands that were smooth and silken, parted neatly down the middle, with strands that elegantly framed his face.

He wore his signature outfit, a tailored midnight blue coach, with silver embroidery that curled in delicate, swirling patters resembling the currents of water, and along the coat's edges ran glowing runes that held protective enhancements.

Draped over his shoulders was a long cape of the finest silk, flowing down to his ankles like a cascade of water. The cape was deep indigo at the top, fading into a pale sky blue at the bottom.

Along its hem shimmered faint patterns of lightning, water, and wind, shifting and changing as though alive. The cape was clasped at his collarbone with a silver brooch in the shape of a dragon's head. On his hands, he wore gloves of supple white leather, the fingertips adorned with faint elemental sigils.

As he looked at himself in the mirror, all he could do was chuckle at the situation. Neuvillette was his name, the name he had been using since he arrived in this world centuries ago.

Yet, ever since he arrived in this world, he felt something missing, something important. It was like no matter what, he wasn't whole, he was missing a crucial element of his identity that caused him to feel this way.

Twenty years ago, Neuvillette made the decision to head into retreat, passing over control of the Court of the Fatui to his most trusted subordinates and heading into retreat to find out what the cause of this feeling was.

After this long retreat, he had found it. Regaining the memories of his past life, a life where he wasn't from this world, but another. A life where he laughed with his friends, and cried with his family, a world where there was no magic, no war, but technology.

He had even seem himself, although he was in a video game. He didn't learn much of the game from his memories, but he knew enough to know his past life loved that character, and it was probably why he became Neuvillette in this life, with the powers of many others from that same game.

He wondered why he was sent to this world, a world of monsters and demons, Angels & Gods, yet that thought swiftly exited his mind. No matter what, he loved this world, he loved his current life.

He moved from the mirror and looked outside the grand window. A blanket of darkness cloaked the Tokyo environment as his golden eyes surveilled the outside world intently.

Below, the sprawling grounds of the Palais Mermonia bustled with activity, even in such a late night scenario. Fatui Agents clad in pristine uniforms moved like a coordinated river, flowing in and out.

Their black and navy-blue uniforms bore intricate silver accents, marking their rank and role within the Court of Fatui. Some carried thick dossiers, others weapons of crystalline make, while a few conferred in tight groups, their gestures quick and decisive.

The air of disciplined efficiency filled the vast courtyard, a testament to the order Neuvillette had established long ago. Twenty years was an eternity for mortals, yet just a brief retreat for himself who had lived for centuries.

For centuries, he implemented this role without fail, the Chief Ludex, the highest Judge and Ruler of the Court of Fatui. A man of balance and impartiality, yet he wondered if his court had changed in any way since his absence. 

His thoughts drifted to the countless matters he had left behind when he retreated to seek the truth of his being, "Have the tides turned?" he murmured softly to himself, his voice calm yet heavy with contemplation. "Or have they remained the same?"

Soon, he turned away from the window, and with a renewed sense of purpose, he strode towards the grand double doors of his chamber, its intricate carvings of dragons glowed as if recognizing his presence.

He pushed the doors open, stepping into the vast hallway beyond. The first things he noticed with the corridors of the Palais Mermonia being as magnificent as he remembered, with marble floors and walls adorned with paintings of the Fatui's history.

As Neuvillette descended the spiral staircase that connected the uppermost levels of the Palais, the silence of his surroundings began to break. Servants and agents moving about their duties froze the moment they spotted him, their eyes widening in awe. Many dropped to one knee, bowing deeply as he passed. 

"My Lord Ludex," they murmured reverently, their voices trembling with a mixture of respect and disbelief, "You've returned…"

Neuvillette nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing, his expression composed yet distant. He was always a rather quiet person, preferring to speak using his actions, actions which carried the authority of the arbiter of justice.

He continued his descent, each step echoing through the halls like a soft drumbeat. When he reached the central atrium—a grand space with towering columns and an ornate mosaic depicting the scales of justice, he heard hurried footsteps approaching.

Turning toward the sound, he saw a familiar figure sprinting toward him. It was Alfred, his closest subordinate and most loyal confidant.

Alfred was a tall man, his sharp features framed by short black hair streaked with silver at the temples. His uniform was immaculate, a deep navy adorned with the insignia of the Fatui's highest-ranking officers.

His usually composed demeanor was replaced by an urgency that made him seem almost uncharacteristically frazzled.

"My lord!" Alfred called out, stopping abruptly and bowing deeply. His voice, though formal, carried an edge of relief, "I sensed your awakening and came as quickly as I could. It's… truly a relief to see you."

"Alfred," Neuvillette said, his voice as smooth and steady as the surface of a still lake. "It has been some time."

"Indeed, my lord," Alfred replied, straightening himself. "And though I wish we had more time to properly welcome your return, circumstances demand immediate attention."

Neuvillette's golden eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle shift that carried immense gravity, "What has happened?"

"There is an emergency requiring your judgment," Alfred explained, his tone grave. "I believe it'll be much more effective if you've seen it yourself."

Neuvillette just sunk into a quiet thought as he process Alfred's words before saying, "Very well," he said, his voice resolute. "Lead the way. Justice waits for no one."

With that, Neuvillette followed Alfred through the opulent halls of the Palais Mermonia, the faint shimmer of his cape trailing behind him like the promise of a storm. After twenty years, the Chief Ludex had returned, and the world was already calling for his judgment.

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This is a rewrite of this Novel. It was deleted due to an error so I'm rewriting using my knowledge of the plot. Some things might change, but that will just be in the early chapters as the novel hadn't gone far. For any previous fans of the Novel, hope you enjoy.