The Transmigrated Author
Chapter 231: Her Life (2)

[Alice's POV]

Rel, still lost in thought, didn't notice my approach until I was almost upon him.

He was dressed more formally than usual, the academy blazer buttoned up, a dark blue tie neatly knotted at his throat.

But what caught my attention was the red scarf wrapped around his neck, a splash of warmth against the cool morning air.

"V-V..." he stammered, his body instinctively recoiling as he turned to face me.

His eyes were wide with panic, flashing across his face.

Then suddenly he stopped and blinked rapidly, as if shaking off a bad dream, and his body relaxed.

"Oh... it's you, Alice. Have you been well?"

His voice was gentle, but I couldn't help but feel a little hurt at his initial reaction.

Had he mistaken me for someone else?

"Yes, I've been well, Rel," I replied, trying to keep the disappointment from my voice.

"Are you okay now?"

"I've been fine since then," he said, but I could tell he was lying.

The way he scratched his head and avoided my gaze spoke volumes.

Out of genuine concern, I said, "You shouldn't be pushing yourself too hard, you know."

But as the words left my mouth, a heat crept into my cheeks.

It was as if these words didn't come as naturally as I genuinely felt... perhaps I was coming down with something.

I looked away, embarrassed.

When I turned back to Rel, his eyes were solely focused on mine.

I felt a dizzying sensation as if I were caught in his gaze.

"That's really nice of you to say, Alice," he said softly. "I appreciate it."

And for a moment, I stole a quick glance at him, and a rare, gentle smile crossed his face before his usual nonchalant expression returned.

That view was quite refreshing. I thought to myself, my cheeks burning even brighter.

Rel's smile was so rare and unexpected that it suited him more than I could have imagined.

The way his eyes looked at me with genuine care made my heart flutter.

But I had to snap out of it.

This wasn't the time or place for such distractions.

"So... why are you up so early?"

"Well, I've been catching up on sleep lately," he replied, his smile fading as he returned to his usual stoic expression.

"I just happened to wake up around this time."

"Oh really," I said, raising an eyebrow. "But you still look tired."

"Trust me, I always look like this," he said with a shrug.

"...You don't look bad though," I mumbled, the words barely escaping my lips.

"What?"

"Nothing,"

***

[Rel's POV]

Initially, I hadn't realized how far I'd pushed my body.

But the aftermath of facing Louise, the raw power he'd unleashed, left me in awe.

Technique, attack power, sheer rage—he truly embodied the essence of the character I had created.

Development-wise, I knew there would be subtle shifts in his personality throughout the story, but his true arc wouldn't come into focus until later.

Still, there was no doubt that he was Jan's rival, a force to be reckoned with.

Though I held my own against him, I couldn't help but think that this "Anti-Magic" attribute shouldn't have existed in the first place.

Without Deus Le Veult, I probably would've been defeated in our first encounter. I was just grateful the pain wasn't as intense in the simulation.

Being stabbed by his polearm still felt like an eternity of hell, especially with the burn property of his elemental attribute.

It took my body some time to recover even with my accelerated healing.

But I wasn't one to hold grudges against my own characters.

After all, they were just playing their roles.

...

...

...

I had made a decent recovery but was advised to stay in my dorm until the burns completely disappeared.

Thankfully, my passive ability of mana control accelerated the healing process, turning a week-long recovery into a mere three days.

Now that I was back on my feet, two important events were just around the corner.

In Plain Sight Arc

The Milan arc revolves around Lan, the leader of the Histories Breakfast Club.

He's been invited to Italy to do business with the Montclair family, renowned for their collection of rare artifacts.

But this time, he's bringing the main cast along.

Not just for leisure, though.

Lan, having a deep love for his birthplace, also wants to show Louise the ropes of proper business practices, preparing him for his future role as leader of the Centurion's Guild.

However, the Montclair family is in for a rude awakening.

The Darkworld has them in their sights during this time.

Prior to the main cast's arrival, Mordred, under a secret identity, struck a deal with the Montclairs.

And with Mordred possessing knowledge the Montclair lacks, he knew the specific artifact in their possession: the Aspect Orb of Phantasmal.

This priceless artifact is said to have functions that defy the current understanding of this world.

Mordred, hailing from another world, plans to use the Orb to establish a new foothold for the Darkworld.

But this Orb has two distinct purposes.

First, it houses a miniature replica of society, a pocket dimension mirroring the real world. Hidden within this dimension is the soul of the Sword of Hope, one of the key components of Jan's ultimate weapon.

This soul was forged by a Soul Maker held captive by the dungeon boss within the Orb.

Second, after Jan retrieves the soul from the Phantasmal realm and defeats the boss, the Orb is returned to the Montclair, only to be stolen by their servant – a secret member of the Devil's Cult.

The Orb's true power lies in its ability to hold a literal soul.

By transferring a soul into the Orb and then placing the Orb into another body, all the original person's traits, skills, and gifts are transferred to the new host.

This is the prize they're after.

However, it would normally be useless, as no one in this world can transfer souls.

Except for one person.

She was a character I scrapped from my original novel, a decision I now deeply regret.

The A.T., in its infinite wisdom, must have brought her into this world to spice things up.

And that's why I can't allow anyone to gain control of the Orb, nor can I allow any human near her.

These two elements are crucial to the plot of this novel.

If either side gains control of one or the other, an all-out war is inevitable.

________________

Authors Note:

Item: The Aspect Orb Of Phantasmal - An Item that has a realm of its own within, the function of this item can hold a person's soul.