11. The Author

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Word Count: 2800 Words

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Williams remained rooted to the spot, his hands sliding into his pockets as he sighed, lost in thought. 'How did my life come to this?' He shook his head, staring at Echinda's retreating back.

'Romance, huh?' His lips twitched bitterly at the thought. 'In my first life, I wasn't interested—or maybe I just lacked the courage, the energy, or the time to pursue it. There were many crushes, yes, but they stayed as fleeting infatuations. I never took the initiative. And soon, or perhaps within a week, I would forget about them. There was no one, who was able to break or overcome my resistance and occupy my thoughts.'

The memories stung faintly, yet he pressed on. 'But in my second life—my time in the world of LotM—I swore things would be different. After recovering from consuming the uniqueness and countless Beyonder characteristics, I resolved to change. I sought strength above all else, carving my path to become more than a mere pawn in the game of Outer Gods.'

A faint smile tugged at his lips as another memory surfaced. 'And then… she appeared. I was nineteen, and she was twenty—beautiful beyond compare, with a smile that could silence the raving whispers of the Original Creator itself. Her presence wasn't just comforting; it was transformative. She healed my fractured soul, eased the ever-present corruption within me, and gave me a purpose beyond survival. For her, I could have razed entire Divine Kingdoms, torn through the Spirit World and the Cosmos, and annihilated the Outer Gods themselves.'

His footsteps slowed as Echinda's figure grew smaller in the distance. She stopped, glancing over her shoulder, clearly searching for him. He remained still, sighing once more.

'Back then, everything was perfect, or so it seemed. My parents—Williams Moriarty's parents—showered me with love and care. They supported me even when I dreamed of marrying out of love, willing to accept a commoner into our family. And she… she was my world. Every move I made, every sacrifice I was prepared to offer, was for her happiness. A paradise, not for me, but for her. I was even prepared to risk the War of Cosmos just to see her smile.'

Echinda gestured for him to hurry, her smile a beacon pulling him back to the present. Yet the shadows of the past still lingered in his mind, casting their weight on his shoulders.

'Everything was great,' he repeated silently, as if trying to convince himself. 'So great that I introduced her to my family. They adored her, accepted her without hesitation.' His fists clenched as his thoughts grew darker. 'But fate has its cruel ways. Even as King of Angels, I failed to see it coming.'

His pace quickened, catching up with Echinda as they continued toward their destination. Yet his thoughts remained trapped in the flames of memory.

'The Church of Evernight came for us, striking my home with all the force they could muster. My parents… they sacrificed themselves to protect me. They gave everything to ensure my survival, and yet, lost in love, I failed to honor their sacrifice. I thought I could save us all. I thought I had the power. Frankly speaking, they were strangers to me, who had saved my life.'

Williams's hands trembled slightly as he shoved them deeper into his pockets, his jaw tightening. 'She was my everything, my entire world. I scoured the lands for her, my desperation growing by the second. But when I found her…'

The memory flashed vividly before his eyes, as if it had just happened. He stood amidst the smoldering ruins of the castle, flames licking at the night sky. The air was thick with blood, ash, and despair. The Orthodox Churches surrounded him in droves. And there, in the heart of it all, stood her.

Her back was to him, a sword protruding from her chest. Before her, a woman clad in black—a familiar face, her appearance and stance brought a sense of deja vu—shestood triumphant. Arianna.

His breath hitched as the scene played out in his mind. He remembered lunging at them, his rage blinding and absolute. His power tore through their ranks, reducing them to nothing but mangled bodies and crimson pools. Yet, at the end of his massacre, he stood paralyzed.

The concealment had been lifted.

He stared at his bloodied hands, wrapped tightly around Arianna's throat. A sword pierced through his chest, as he was attacked. And when his vision cleared, he turned to see her. 'The love of my life, my world, was nothing more than a Sealed Artifact. 0-17.'

Pulling his hand free from his pocket, Williams held up the monocle he always carried, turning it thoughtfully between his fingers. He placed it over his right eye and looked up, his gaze piercing through the sky as though looking beyond the Void itself.

'As they say, love is cursed.' His lips curled into a bitter smile. "So, my dear constellations, who are undoubtedly watching and reading me now, take this advice: If a girl—or a beautiful woman—suddenly shows interest in you, if she fawns over you and tries to draw you close, leave. Drop everything, pack your bags, and vanish. Leave the country, the world if you can, perhaps even the universe—if you're lucky enough to manage it. Just like me. We are stuck in this cursed World, where there is no solace."

Echinda's voice broke his reverie. "Hey, what are you doing just standing there? Come on."

He blinked, noticing she had stopped ahead, waiting for him. Quickening his pace, he caught up to her, his expression unreadable.

Walking side by side, she glanced at him, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. "So, Williams. What happened in the past to make you hate love so much?"

His gaze remained fixed ahead as they approached the small house where they'd be staying. Entering, he sighed, leaning against the doorway. "I'll talk about it later," he said, brushing her off.

"Later when?" she pressed, unwilling to let it go.

"Over breakfast," he replied curtly, retreating to the room assigned to him.

She called out after him, her voice light but persistent. "I'll hold you to that!"

He smirked faintly, shutting the door behind him. Stripping off his coat, he headed into the bathroom. Standing beneath the warm cascade of the shower, his thoughts drifted once more. 'Surprisingly, this world has showers and bathtubs.'

The water washed over him, but it could do little to cleanse the weight of his memories.

---

"So, you were betrayed by this girl you thought you loved," Echinda remarked, taking a delicate bite of her sandwich. Her tone was casual, yet her gaze lingered on him, assessing. "But that doesn't mean everyone's like her. One bad experience shouldn't define your view on love."

Williams nodded slowly, swallowing the bite he had been chewing. "Fair enough," he admitted. "But that wasn't the end of it. After her, my life spiraled into a void. Those were my darkest days—I was lost, consumed by madness. Yet, as the old saying goes, when you hit rock bottom, you often find something—or someone—worth clinging to." He glanced up, his voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and nostalgia. "I did find someone. A good person. She was beautiful, intelligent, and had a sense of humor that broke my barrier. She was beautiful, far more than the first." He paused, a faint smirk gracing his lips. "…I had a crush on her."

Echinda leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued, the half-eaten sandwich forgotten in her hand. "And then?" she pressed, hanging onto his words.

Williams exhaled, his smirk fading into something more sardonic. "She turned out to be a he," he said bluntly, the words carrying both humor and resignation. "Perhaps, they must've been a witch. A cruel one, for fate, to play with me like this."

Echinda froze, her expression shifting between shock and amusement. The unexpected twist left her speechless for a moment before a giggle escaped her lips. Unable to contain herself, she finally burst into laughter. "Sorry," she managed between chuckles, raising a hand in apology.

Williams shrugged, his tone indifferent. "It's fine. Really." He glanced at her, his gaze sharp yet curious. "So, what about you?"

Echinda stiffened at the sudden shift in the conversation, clearly caught off guard. She quickly shook her head, brushing off the question. "I… haven't thought about it," she replied, her voice casual but her eyes evasive.

Williams arched a brow, unconvinced. "With your looks?"

She sighed, rolling her eyes as she resumed her breakfast. "Nope. I'm not in a relationship and have never been in one. And before you give me that suspicious look—no, I'm not lying." Her tone was firm, almost defensive.

Williams leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as he watched her intently. 'Liar.' The thought echoed through his mind, a silent accusation. His gaze flickered briefly, tracing her movements before settling on her face again.

'I've seen your dreams, Echinda. On the second night, purely by accident, I found myself wandering through your consciousness. That's when I discovered your so-called advanced magic, and it amused me. Your reincarnation status, though—that was revealed to me on the very first day I woke up here. You thought your thoughts were your own, but I stole them effortlessly.'

He took another bite of his food, his demeanor calm, though his thoughts churned. 'You can fool others, but not me. I know everything about you. Your grand fantasy of forming a harem after your reincarnation? It's not lost on me. And let's not forget your countless relationships in this world. You use people, then move on as though they were mere tools. Even now, you're involved with that man—David, isn't it? He's suspicious, true, but so are you.'

Echinda remained oblivious to his musings, her focus entirely on finishing her meal.

'You've hidden your strength well, playing the part of someone laying low, but I see through you. Your ambition—your insatiable craving for money and power—is written all over you, no matter how you try to mask it. Yet, there's regret, too, buried deep beneath your arrogance. You hate your past as much as you revel in your schemes. Even your so-called "lightning technique"—a pitiful attempt to pass it off as your strongest skill. I wasn't fooled by the act, nor by your feigned shock from its power, after I cast it. I saw the fear lurking beneath your expression.'

He placed his fork down, staring through her as though peering into her very soul. 'You wish to return to Earth—that much is clear. Everything you've done, every line you've crossed, has been driven by that singular desire. Your actions, however cruel or cunning, stem from one thing: him. The man you left behind. Your love for him compels you to keep fighting, but your thirst for power… it's consuming you. You're lost between the two—between your ambition and your heart. Which will you choose, Echinda? You are a living example of paradox. You have been suppressing your desires for him.'

Echinda glanced up, her smile faltering slightly under his gaze. "What?" she asked, her tone tinged with unease.

Williams shook his head, his expression softening into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Nothing," he said, picking up his cup. "Just thinking."

As he sipped his drink, his thoughts whispered into the silence, unheard by anyone but himself. 'Though, I wonder of what you will choose.'

---

Smiling to himself, Williams met her gaze, his tone warm yet sincere as he spoke. "I am truly grateful for everything you've done for me."

Echinda raised her hand, interrupting him before he could continue. "There's no need for gratitude," she replied, her voice steady. "If I'm being honest, I was a little selfish in doing so. You could even say I had my reasons—your magical powers, for instance. You have more magic than anyone I've ever encountered."

Williams tilted his head, studying her. "But you didn't know about my magic when you first decided to save me. You must have discovered it later, after the fact."

Echinda hesitated, then nodded. "That's true. I didn't realize it at first, but when I did, it only strengthened my resolve to keep you close. I taught you magic because I have my own ambitions, Williams. There's something I wish to achieve, and for that, I'll need an immense amount of magic." Her voice softened as she continued, almost as if speaking to herself. Then, barely above a whisper, she added, "I'm a selfish and cruel person."

Williams leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. "Echinda, for everything you've done for me, I want to repay you. Is there anything you desire? A wish, and I'll grant it."

Echinda blinked at his earnestness before smiling gently. "You don't need to do that."

"I'm serious," Williams said, his tone firm.

Echinda regarded him thoughtfully for a moment before her expression softened further. "If you insist… Then, I wish for you to live happily, Williams Moriarty."

---

Later that evening, Williams sat at the table in his room, scribbling furiously into his notebook. The sound of his pen scratching against the paper filled the room as he muttered to himself, "This should be good."

[Walking back to his room, he sat down, reading the book. His eyes refusing to leave the book. The words written on them, stealing all his focus.

It was when he heard a knock on his window, he got distracted, yet he refused to look away from the book. His eyes glued to the contents on the pages.

He closed his eyes to contemplate, yet he refused to look at the window. Afraid of the contents of the book to come true.

He steeled himself to not look, and controlled himself from taking a peek.

Still, he continued reading the contents of the book.

Despite the knocking continuing, he ignored it. Until, he gave in and looked over. And there, knocking on his window was a beast woman.]

Satisfied, Williams nodded at his creation. "Perfect."

He flipped to another page and began to write again, murmuring the words as he scribbled. "You can address me as… You can address me as…" He paused, groaning in frustration. "Forget it!" With an exaggerated motion, he threw the book out of the open window, watching it land on the street below.

"I wonder how he'll react," he mused aloud, leaning back in his chair. "If this works… though, in my current state, I can't say for certain."

Sighing, he turned toward the mirror in the room and froze. A familiar figure stared back at him—a white, ghostly specter with an aura of mischief. "Ah, Arrodes. Long time no see," Williams said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

The entity in the mirror bowed deeply, its tone reverent yet playful. "It is an honor to see you again, Great Master. I have been occupied, gathering information about this world."

Williams chuckled lightly. "Busy, were you? So, are you finished with your little investigation?"

Arrodes straightened slightly but remained deferential. "Not entirely, Great Master. I came to inform you the event—one that will alter the course of this world. It is soon to happen."

Williams closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself. Then, opening them, he spoke calmly. "So, the time has come."

"Yes, Great Master," Arrodes confirmed. "Are you interested in this event? If so, when would you like to leave for it?"

Williams leaned back, a contemplative look crossing his face. "Perhaps this week, Arrodes. Yes… this week."

The specter bowed once more. "As you wish, Great Master."

Williams tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair, his expression sharpening. "And Arrodes… tell me about the man named Shadow?"

Arrodes nodded, its eerie form rippling faintly. "Yes, Great Master. Shadow is going join as a student at Midgard Academy for Dark Knights, next year and…" Arrodes hesitated briefly before continuing, "...he is also the leader of the group known as Shadow Garden."

Williams' lips curved into a faint smile as he leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "Interesting. Very interesting."

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**The End**

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