Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

Athan might've sat alone on such a spacious red velvet couch, but he was never this nervous ever since he had gotten another chance in life. He could only lower his head, leering at his reflection off the glass table in front of him.

Not because of Ashtra and Stravwuark, who sat on the other couch, sitting from the two more couches beside his, but the woman that stood across from him.

What terrified him the most was her features struck great similarities, enough to haunt his mind for decades to come; he knew after seeing Jackal and Clarice back then, but it still hit him differently when it came down to her.

Compared to the two, she had little to no magic traces, and he was no longer surprised at this point.

"You're here..."

'Curses.'

He closed his eyes shut, knowing that even her voice turned out to be similar as well.

"I hope you don't mind introducing myself." 

Arching his neck up, he looked at her visage, her eyes screamed in great caution but had no choice but to face him. Even then, she still reached out her hand.

He knew that look because he was the same.

Even so, she was beautiful with the purple oversized turtleneck sweater with skin-tight denim trousers. 

She nudged the reading glasses she had on her nose bridge as she cleared her throat.

Upon reaching for her hand to shake, her skin was fair and smooth, but it fired a series of sparks to his, making him a little giddy in front of her.

"I'm Nathalie."

'That name… I'm sure I've heard it before…' A twitch came from the corner of his eye but he didn't let it be too obvious to her as he gave a curt nod.

After, Nathalie took a seat, and then he thought to start the conversation like the gentleman that he was, "It's nice to meet you as well—"

"Indeed. So, let's cut to the chase, shall we?"

'Something tells me that she might be the answer I needed.'

After all, he came into this weird world without knowing such a thing and went on with his instincts.

While it did catch him a little off guard, he sat upright and went along with her for he meant business as well.

But right now, as he got meticulous with her words, he thought it might be the time to talk about it.

"Let's play a game, shall we?"

Goosebumps crept every inch of his skin, convincing himself that he was beyond unsure what game she recommended.

Despite the hard lump stuck on his throat, he mumbled, "... What would that be?"

"For the old time's sake, one question—one answer, like your life depends on it."

Athan, as though, had his heart skip a beat upon staring at her at this specific moment.

Like a déjà vu…

His hands almost clawed deep to his thighs without averting away from her, and still mustered the remaining courage within him.

"Alright. Ladies first."

"How did you end up here?"

He caught the glimpse of Ashtra and Strav, more on the former as his piercing at him, screaming inwardly to tell nothing but the truth.

With gritted teeth for a while before answering her, "Nathan called Arnold for emergency…"

Nathalie went agape as she thought she didn't hear it well, in deep contrast with the other two who narrowed their gaze.

He wanted to tell from what he knew, from the aftermath of the one-sided massacre near 'Desolate Ravine' to rushing to the deepest part of the lone city in that place, only to find out everyone was frozen before Arnold could punish them.

"Wait, wait..." Her palms raised, stopping him for a while. "Then, what was his response?"

"My turn, isn't it?"

She took a deep breath before a heavy nod. "Go on."

Myriad questions came to mind, but that will come later, and as foolish as he'd think about it, there was a fine line between that he needed to clarify for the sake of his sanity.

"Are you Mystique Blackwell?"

Meanwhile, Ashtra and Stravwuark glanced at her quizzically, and she had no reaction that he'd expected.

"...Yes and No..."

'What in the hell is that— god damned! She seemed to never mince a word… Though she gave me two answers, I'll give her that.' He cleared his throat and agreed to her.

"Then, what was his response?"

"We rushed our way there when His Grace said your curse had yet to uplift for this month..."

Nathalie nibbled her lips for both of them knew it was true.

"Right, you go on."

Athan tilted his head and never did he think that his heart pounded that hard as he mused, "Why no?"

She was seen clasping her fingertips perched atop her crossed legs.

"... Because what you see right now is the true me that came to your world…."

Foremost, Athan was all floored when her words went adrift to his ears, crackling like a roaring thunder within him. 

'So, Mystique and Nathalie are the same people now? Could this be why the sudden change? Did she know the future through that?"

He already knew that deadly poison that worked almost to a point of no return was enough to seal her fate; he didn't believe that she was still alive after what she'd been through all these years.

With that in mind, he thought of taking her responsibility, even if it meant being a villain. Though his version was lesser evil— for he cracked the code on how to overcome the bleak future awaited him.

Upon learning that the crucifix of the problem was the death of Mystique, Athan became too frantic, doing everything he could do to avoid the war at all cost.

Knowing that she awakened was a blessing in disguise, more so for her state the same as his— another chance in life. 

Even if she turned out the worst or ridiculing him how she was right all along, he wouldn't mind it.

It wasn't that much of a price to pay.

Somehow, his stares went out of focus, blurring around as so many questions ran through his mind.

Thinking about it, the woman in front of her was the true blessing. Out of everything that happened. 

'Even if I had another chance, which I have now, it would be a long process to achieve and revert what was once then, and gets too complicated than it is already...'

However, Stravwuark jolted upright when he started to blurt out his words.

"Master is here!"