Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

"I hope you don't mind taking the elevator…" Nathalie ended up trailing her voice as soon as she grasped their grim expressions.

The three of them jolted upright, and Athan had goosebumps crept every inch of his skin when he realized what they ought to do but not the one he had in mind.

Especially the one that had the quickest route.

"Are you all really scared of it?" She raised her eyebrows while looking at them with a long face.

"Not used to it—"

"We don't have time."

"We would appreciate it if we used the stairs." Arnold chimed in, then peered sideways at the people who had waited for the elevator. "Moreover, it's still bustling with so many of them sticking in there."

Keith gave a curt nod, brimming his face with vigor from paling out earlier as soon as his eyes set the sight of it.

Nathalie then heaved a deep sigh as he looked at Keith. "I hope you don't mind if you take me there." 

"Oh, that would be an honor!" He pressed his chest as a salute while posing upright. 

"Fine. Let's take the emergency staircase." Nathalie pointed the direction, which they had to trek, and followed her lead.

By the time they got close to it and scoured the surroundings with fewer people passing by, she then gestured to Keith to act right away.

After which, he turned his back and lowered for her to ride on his back. "Will this do?"

"Excellent." She smiled and then perched on his back while she held onto his shoulders tight.

On the other hand, Athan had a calm facade but he couldn't help but be irked, especially a slight disturbance in his chest from the sight. 

'I mustn't be swayed by this…' 

He knew he had to let it pass and went on with it.

"Let's hurry, they are reaching the top!" Arnold muttered as he arched his neck up.

Keith sprinted as fast as he could; he was quick on his feet that it sounded a series of light taps on the metallic platforms, and the rest of them followed.

Meanwhile, Athan had his gaze locked ahead, with his legs all worked up from moving higher and higher. Several times he turned and reached for another floor, and never did he drop his rhythm from keeping up with the rest.

Alas, the sudden burden weighed upon him as he had to exert much force on his forearms but more so with his leg, noticing the sudden tension of every fiber of his muscles from hiking upwards. 

Squinting his eyes and clenching his teeth, he endured all he could for this shouldn't be a problem.

But with the place he was in where he could only rely upon the mana stored in him, it was much harder than he thought.

So much more could be said for Keith, carrying Nathalie for some time now, as his movements became a tad bit sluggish, which also slowed them down.

Nathalie wasn't a stranger about it, after holding tight without looking around for it was difficult to see around in such a fast movement, she slowly raised her head and looked around with narrowed gaze.

"Keith, you don't look so good."

"I—'m alright—"

"No, you don't." She begged to differ, all of them went into a consensus as soon as he had deep, ragged breathing in between his words. "Let's stop for a moment."

Her words became absolute, which then they slowed down. 

Soon the silence didn't linger for a long time in quite a small area with their deep breaths echoing the walls.

"My Lady…"

"I knew we should've taken our original plan." 

Her getting all upset was crystal clear, and her gaze bore deep on them as though she had so much guilt that resurfaced from it.

"Allow me— to carry... You then..."

"You're not any better, Your Highness..." She peered at him, up and down a couple of times, voicing out with a sharp tone. "We could never surprise nor confront her in this state."

"This might do then…" Arnold, meanwhile, was somehow experienced but it still wasn't an easy feat. When the three of them glanced at each other as they noticed how inconvenient it became, he retrieved his grimoire and scribbled for a moment. 

Tearing the pages and flicking them away to their chests, the pages burned and a sudden glow came to them.

Every part of his body became light and invigorated, as though he could go on for another round.

This time, Athan lowered himself, and when she hesitated, he only beamed a gallant smile while mouthing he was beyond fine.

"Don't blame me for your mishaps..."

'Perhaps she inherited her feistiness.' A deep chuckle came from his mouth while she mounted.

Once again, they were on the move. But a lot better than it was earlier.

"We're getting close..." Athan babbled.

She responded, "Full speed ahead."

Though it didn't take long enough that they barged through the door, and the floor was rather quiet. 

Nathalie then tapped his shoulder to drop her. When she stood, her stares roamed around, appalled how it was one quiet alley. Easily said they could steer clear from any nuisances.

"It's suspicious..."

Athan noticed this beforehand: as they got higher, people turned out fewer than it was before. He had no idea if it was out of the ordinary, so he never pointed it out.

"Is that so?" He tilted his head to the side while his hand pointed in a peculiar direction. "They are over there— No wait…."

Suddenly, all of his hairs stood on their ends when he realized the two of them stood and their silhouettes were in their direction.

Like they expected them to come.

"Are you serious?" She snapped in his direction as she breathed. Meanwhile, her hands beeped onto the smartphone. "Jonathan, any problems over there?"

"No, we've been tracking potential dangers here and keeping the utilities in check."

Athan overheard their conversation, but he was confident with his words.

"Mysti is waiting for us, that's a fact."

Keith looked at him. "Your Grace, since when?"

Suddenly, a bunch of snowflakes appeared in their eyes, remaining afloat, and sprawled from end to end of the hallway. Brushing past it latched on their bodies, except for Nathalie.

"... She got us…" Arnold hummed deep. "Has she already reached such level?"

Athan pondered how they were caught yet not one of them could detect.

Nathalie took a deep breath and said, "Anyway, there's no turning back.. Let's face her."