09. Echinda Aurelius

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Word Count: 2800 Words

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The woman entered the room, her gaze instinctively drawn to the bed. Not finding the boy there, panic surged through her. Her heart raced as doubts flooded her mind. 'Could David have been right? Was bringing him here truly the right choice?'

Yesterday's events replayed vividly in her mind. She had brought the boy to this house, only to face David's sudden shift in demeanor. Her companion, who had always been the epitome of calm and reason, had turned hostile the moment his eyes fell on the boy.

Echinda Aurelius was not one to act rashly. A brilliant researcher from Laugus, the famed Academy City, her intellect was her pride. Her studies on magic, particularly the mysterious of the space and the Celestial Bodies, had set her apart among peers. Her beauty, often likened to that of a goddess, only added to her reputation.

Though often ridiculed for believing there to be infinite dark space beyond the sky and stars. She remained firm in her studies. Despite possessing great intellect and talent for research, she wasn't blessed with magic.

It was when she met David, the kind and calm person. Whose intellect perhaps rivaled hers.

David had always been a trusted colleague, different from the many superficial researchers surrounding her. He had guided her studies, helped refine her understanding of magic, and indulged her passion for the stars. When her research had reached an impasse, it was David who suggested she travel to the enigmatic Lawless City to uncover new insights with him. Her curiosity about the Red Moon, brought her to the city.

But now, that same David seemed like a stranger. His reaction to the boy was unsettling, as if his calm facade had cracked to reveal something darker beneath. Though he had later apologized, his sudden outburst continued to weigh on her mind.

---

As she stepped further into the room, her eyes darted nervously around. Her panic ebbed only when she spotted the boy by the window. Relief washed over her, but… something about him gave her pause.

"Who are you?" the boy seemed familiar, but his face, she didn't recognize it. Neither the dress he wore. Even his physique had changed. Yet, she had the feeling, that it was the same boy who had held her, before fainting.

The boy stood there, his frail frame silhouetted against the light, his posture unnaturally still. For a moment, her thoughts blanked, and she stood frozen. Then, snapping out of her daze, she forced a warm smile and approached him.

Williams was surprised, but he masked his emotions quickly.

Bending down to meet his eyes, she watched as his gaze flickered nervously, a cautious wariness reflected in his dark pupils. Stretching out her hand, she tried to reach for him, but the boy instinctively pulled back.

His defiance was subtle yet unmistakable. He stepped away, his shoulders taut with mistrust. Echinda sighed softly, her smile turning helpless. Masking her unease, she reached out again, this time more gently, and ruffled his hair. Her tone was warm and maternal as she asked, "Are you okay?"

---

Later, the boy sat at the table, quietly munching on the food before him. Across from him, Echinda observed him with a kind smile, her chin resting in her palm.

"I hope you're enjoying the food," she said, her voice light yet tender.

The boy nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the plate.

His quiet demeanor made her chuckle awkwardly. Shaking her head, she decided to break the silence. "We haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we? I'm Echinda Aurelius." She paused, studying his expression. Meeting his cautious eyes, she added, "And what's your name?"

The boy froze, his fork midway to his mouth. His eyes darted around nervously before settling on the table. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, no sound escaping. He tried again, his lips parting like a fish gasping for air, but no words came. Finally, he bowed his head, staring intently at the floor.

Echinda's heart ached at the sight of his discomfort. Rising from her seat, she walked over to him and placed a gentle hand on his head. Her fingers ruffled his hair again, her touch softer this time.

"Don't worry," she said, her voice soothing. "No one will harm you here."

The boy nodded reluctantly, his guarded expression betraying his lingering wariness. Echinda's smile faltered, but only briefly. She pressed on with a cheerful tone, hoping to ease his tension.

"It's alright if you don't want to talk," she said, stepping back. "No one's going to force you. But… I do need something to call you, don't I?"

The boy blinked, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Ah, right!" she laughed. "I was just thinking of a nickname for you."

Her musings were interrupted when the boy finally spoke, his voice soft and hesitant. "Williams… Moriarty."

Echinda's eyes widened in surprise. For a moment, she thought she had misheard. "What was that?"

"Williams Moriarty," he repeated, a little louder this time, though his tone remained wary.

Echinda's surprise melted into a warm smile. The boy's willingness to speak brought a quiet joy to her heart. She had been worried about him ever since finding him injured. Though her healing magic had repaired his wounds, she'd feared the trauma might linger.

Now, watching him eat and seeing his flushed cheeks whenever he glanced at her, she couldn't help but chuckle softly. His shyness was endearing, his caution a testament to his resilience.

Her decision to bring him here, despite David's objections, now felt uncalled for. 'It wasn't a mistake', she thought with certainty. 'Not at all.'

---

'She's beautiful…' Williams mused, his gaze lingering on Echinda. It was all he could think. 'Perhaps even comparable to Katarina.' A thought flitted through his mind, fleeting yet vivid, as he sighed.

' I am Williams Moriarty, and yet I am also Ben—the boy who was killed just a day ago, whose body I now possess.' His musings deepened, taking on the surreal complexity of his existence. 'As a Faceless would say, I am me, and so am I him, and so is he, I. A paradox, yet utterly true. I am many things, yet at the core, I am always… myself.'

His memories drifted like scattered leaves, caught in the winds of multiple lives. The faint echoes of his first life were almost imperceptible now, overshadowed by the anchors of his time as Williams Moriarty—'Ah, the same,' he thought, a wry smile curving his lips.

But reality weighed heavy upon him. 'I can't even use the Historical Void to its fullest potential in this world. That boundless expanse of history, the source of my multi-formed Great Old Ones and Pillar powers—it's out of reach. His fists clenched at the thought. I've been nerfed. Severely.'

Despite his vast collection of Uniquenesses, their once-mighty authorities were now mere shadows of their former selves. 'Reboot, capable of turning back time across entire regions, has been reduced to affecting only a single item. And even then, its power is fractured, unable to touch certain forces.' He frowned, frustration flickering through him. 'Robbing destiny itself? Gone. Now, I can only tamper with time, thoughts, and memories—and even those are limited to specific targets.'

Williams sighed, casting his mind over his predicament. 'There's little I can do until I recover. My strength will return in time, but for now, I must adapt to this new Historical Void—different from the one in the Lord of the Mysteries universe.' He allowed himself a faint smile. 'At least this world has Earth, though it exists in another dimension. That opens up interesting possibilities. Perhaps I'll visit it someday.'

His thoughts turned to the stories of this universe. 'If my memory serves me right, Earth undergoes massive changes after the Shadow comes to this world. The monsters that invade from another dimension… they'll be fascinating to encounter.'

His musings were interrupted by Echinda as she moved gracefully around the room, collecting plates from the table. Williams watched her quietly, his gaze thoughtful. 'She has been kind to me.'

---

A Month Later – Lawless City

Williams had spent the past month recuperating in Echinda's care. 'She's been teaching me the language of this world, he mused, twirling a pen idly between his fingers. I can speak it well enough, thanks to my integration with Ben's memories, but the boy never received any formal education. Reading and writing were beyond him.'

He smirked to himself. 'Still, with my intelligence, it only took me an hour to master the basics. I've been pretending to learn ever since.' His gaze drifted out of the window, watching the bustling streets below. 'It wouldn't do to shatter her pride. She's been so earnest, after all.'

Echinda's voice broke his reverie. "Don't push yourself too hard, Williams. I know studying can be exhausting and boring to many."

He glanced at her skeptically, his brow arched. "Do you?"

Her lips curved into a sheepish smile as she admitted, "Well… maybe not. I've always loved studying. I guess I assume everyone feels the same." She paused, her expression softening as she regarded him. "But you're remarkable. You're a fast learner, far beyond anyone I've taught. If you keep putting in effort, you'll master the language and history of this world faster than anyone else. And to think you're tackling mathematics and magic on top of it all…"

She trailed off, her eyes scanning him as though appraising his potential. With a wistful sigh, she continued, "With your talent and memory, you'd surpass the best minds at Laugus Academy in no time. You mustn't waste such gifts, Williams. You're destined for greatness."

Williams groaned inwardly, leaning back in his chair. Her enthusiasm was palpable, but it drained him nonetheless.

Echinda's gaze fell on the books she'd laid out for him—basic mathematics problems and foundational magic theory. She gestured toward them expectantly, silently urging him to continue. Williams, suppressing a sigh, reluctantly sat forward again.

"We've been at this for a month," he said, his tone measured but firm. "I've learned all I can from these exercises."

Echinda tilted her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "That sounds suspiciously like an excuse."

He shook his head, exasperated but amused. "No excuses. If you don't believe me, let's make it a test. You can give me a series of difficult questions—anything you believe I shouldn't be able to solve. If I pass, we'll move on to magic. And yes, to that advanced spell you keep dangling in front of me."

Her eyes sparkled at his confidence. "Fine," she said, her smile widening. "But remember, Williams, if you fail, you'll have to tell me everything you know about the Red Moon."

"Of course," he replied, his tone steady. "And I'll repay the debt I owe you for saving me."

Echinda waved off his words. "There's no need for that. I'm just glad to see you recovering." She studied him closely, her gaze lingering. The frail, paranoid boy she had rescued was gone, replaced by someone bolder, more confident.

Her heart swelled with quiet pride. 'He's growing… and somehow, he's already grown on me.'

---

Echinda stood a few meters away, her sharp gaze fixed on Williams as he cast her original technique—one that summoned lightning. She had never shared this technique with anyone before, fearing it might be misused. It was her masterpiece, the culmination of years of relentless effort to develop magic despite her own limited magical reserves. Yet, her power had always fallen short of expectations.

The spell or technique had been locked away in her arsenal, a secret she dared not reveal to anyone. If shared, she knew it would be twisted into a weapon of war, a tool of destruction, and she had no guarantee it wouldn't be turned against her. The technique she had taught Williams, however, was different. It was not just a spell or technique —it was unique magic, fundamentally distinct from the magic of this world.

As she watched, black lines began to ripple outward from Williams' body, weaving through the air like cracks in reality itself. Red lightning danced around him, violent yet controlled. Her breath caught in her throat. 'His magic is manifesting in reality… Is he the protagonist of this world? Or the villain destined to bring its downfall?' The thought echoed in her mind, stirring unease as she observed his execution of her cherished technique.

---

Unlike Echinda's growing awe, Williams himself remained unimpressed. After studying the spell's intricacies with a critical eye, he sighed, turning briefly toward her.

Now standing in an open field outside the city, Williams began to prepare for the final phase of the test they had agreed upon. He had already passed the theory exam with astonishing ease, leaving Echinda speechless. To say she was shocked would be an understatement—her very worldview had been shaken.

She had initially underestimated him. Williams had progressed far beyond her expectations, mastering the basics and leaping into advanced magical concepts within weeks. 'At this rate,' she mused with a mixture of awe and disbelief, 'he'll surpass me in no time.'

Ignoring the tension in her expression, Williams stretched his arms wide, as if embracing the power of the storm brewing above. 'A technique that transforms the body into a conductor, summoning thunderclouds to unleash a relentless torrent of lightning strikes', he mused. 'While the caster cannot control the lightning's direction, they can turn the entire battlefield into a storm-ridden inferno until their mana is depleted or they choose to deactivate the spell.'

He let the details simmer in his mind, analyzing the practicalities of the spell. 'It's an interesting concept for this world. Especially considering this world's magic system relies heavily on reinforcement and body rather than spells like other fantasy novels. Power here is defined by intellect and mental fortitude—by understanding the nuances of magic. No wonder Shadow is considered the strongest being in this world. So far, at least.'

Standing firm, Williams allowed red sparks to radiate around him, intensifying as the skies above began to churn. Thunderclouds rolled in, their ominous presence blotting out the sunlight. Lightning danced along the edges of the clouds, illuminating the field in brief, violent flashes.

He smirked, stealing a glance at Echinda from the corner of his eye. 'She's interesting. Who would have thought there'd be another reincarnated soul from Earth besides Shadow? Unlike Shadow, who confines himself to atomic manipulation, she's been exploring and experimenting in every field. Her ambition is remarkable, even if her magical reserves are meager by comparison to me. My point of reference so far.'

Answering his call, the storm unleashed its fury. Thunder roared like an ancient beast awakening, and jagged bolts of lightning slashed through the heavens. The ground trembled as one strike after another scorched the earth, leaving charred craters in their wake.

Williams' movements were precise, deliberate. With every flick of his wrist, lightning obeyed as if he were conducting a symphony of destruction. Yet he held back, refraining from unleashing his full might. Though the technique was hers, his Uniqueness of the Tyrant Pathway granted him far greater control and affinity with lightning than Echinda could have imagined. For now, he chose to adhere strictly to her technique, out of respect for the test.

'It would be fascinating', he thought, to see the work of another reincarnated person from Earth—someone other than Shadow. 'This technique proves that she's no ordinary mage. She's a genius. Though she lacks the raw power to match Shadow, her brilliance would surpass his.'

The storm intensified, casting the field into chaos. Lightning struck with increasing ferocity, splitting the ground and searing the air. Yet, in the midst of the tempest, Williams remained unshaken, standing tall and unmoved as the storm raged around him.

When he was finally done, the land was scorched black, littered with smoking craters. Williams turned toward Echinda, who stood transfixed, her face a mixture of awe and fear. Without a word, he began walking back toward the city, his steps hurried.

Echinda followed close behind, stealing glances at the destruction he had wrought. Her thoughts churned as she tried to reconcile the boy she had saved with the overwhelming presence he had become. The storm showed no sign of dissipating, its fury lingering like an echo of his power.

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**The End**

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