Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

For a long time, Keith thought that he went and turned back time with this nostalgic scene that happened before him as it was such a classic. Their visages had a prevalent reaction, albeit just as a glimpse of it.

Comparing then and now, he noticed several changes.

Especially the jealousy reversed between the ladies…

Never had he seen much of Mystique getting all physical when it came down to a confrontation, and this showed how much she had to take after all the crap she had been through.

But Veronica wasn't retaliating, and Athan didn't interfere at that.

[I so thought that we're still not on good terms, even after talking to you about moving past our differences. Still, I can't believe you wouldn't spare the rest for as long as I'm alive.]

"Not anymore..."

Veronica's face got covered with her draping ginger curls and fringes, but between the strands of her hair found the astonishment in her eyes with her body trembling ever-so-slightly.

It was as though the world stopped spinning on its axis, delving deep into the silence after the face slap crackled the air.

Mystique stood there, behind those frigid stares was a mountain of pain and forlorn she had long tried to bury over the past decades. She feared for her life with the kind of vulnerability that befell her.

[While I do accept any form of vengeance and vendetta you have against me. Hurting my family is a different case.]

"Violette, this isn't what you think—"

Then, she snapped at Athan, who had his eyebrows slowly furrowed to a line. She wrote as fast as she could for him to read. [What else could it be, then?!]

"I've long disregarded that idea when I got here as I put so much trust in you with this collaborative work. I thought we would've let bygones be bygones?"

Yet, Mystique contested her gaze with his, even with the sheer cold in her eyes that didn't faze him at all.

[Not only that; you could've included numerous innocent lives for a single mishap... How am I supposed not to get mad at you for that?]

"I…" He ended up clicking his tongue as he broke free from her stares.

But then, Veronica stepped forward, almost shielding Athan away from her with a stern look, holding her own on the ground despite the other side of her face burned beet-red.

"I made that decision; don't antagonize him any further."

[I sure will…] Mystique retorted, raising her chin in a tad bit of an angle as though she glared downwards at her countenance. [After not keeping his fianceé in check for a serious 'objective' we had so far.]

But even before Veronica opened her mouth, Athan pulled her to the side, making her face his way, as he mumbled in clenched teeth, "Don't make this part any harder for us, Veronica…"

The pupil in her eyes dilated when he uttered her name no less, and in a grave tone; she gulped hard, mustering the courage to herself regardless of what he was up to this point.

"I don't know why you've been standing up to her, for some time now." She then flicked his grasp on her arm away. "It was already the last song, but then the reaction of 'Frost Wyrm' was still uncertain."

"What did you mean?"

"He wasn't as swooned over as when it came to—No, he was never interested in our performance, only whenever it was Mystique's turn! So I thought this was never going to work and was only humiliation and a mere sabotage!"

Athan became cautious as she peered on Mystique, who seemed to be staring blankly at them.

Keith then peered sideways, and Ashtra bobbed its majestic head with snout fuming of white smoke in agreement.

'Was it really?' Then his emerald eyes darted back at Veronica, who continued with her words.

"Not only that, the 'Hymnic Conches' we had started to lose its power, of who knew what could be the reason, except hers!" 

Her voice raised as she pointed at her without even looking in her direction.

[No, mine also lost its power.] Mystique shook her head.

It was a critical situation where she noticed it beforehand and had to amplify her voice through her mana left within her to compensate for the loss they had.

Hearing it from her astonished them for what part of it led astray from their objectives.

"That can't be!"

[It's true, Veronica. I used my voice more than I could ever have. It's my power to imitate the amplification of the 'Hymnic Conch' as I sang my heart out. After that, I sought Nathan for help for a backup plan.]

"You mean…" Athan trailed off his voice, carefully watching her. "That black metal rod?"

Withal, Mystique gave a curt nod, agreeing to his query.

"You're not the only one who had back-up as well." After which, Veronica confronted them once more. "Should I really take all the blame? This idea you two had—Had we known this was bound to happen, my point would've been very well taken as there was no point of us being there!"

"Danne…" he breathed as soon as her silver eyes turned glossy as she bounced her glance to both of them, back and forth. 

"I've been holding my breath, and keeping up with you for the whole time, Athan..." Veronica then harshly tucked the locks of her ginger hair behind her ears after huffing several times.  "Perhaps your precognition isn't as accurate as it may be."

She turned around, but he reached for her arm once again to stop her from walking away.

"You're not going anywhere…"

"Leave me alone for now, Athan. If there's anyone who would've come up with the idea. It shouldn't be me who should take the fall." 

Her words somehow pierced him through and through, making him let go of her hold as she brisked away.

When her silhouette got smaller and smaller in the distance, Mystique beckoned Athan.

[Are you not going to chase her?]

"I blew it up this time, none of which got my way, so I have to make this up to both of you—"

[Rest assured, I had my fair share as well. But there is no need for that.]

After which, Keith rattled when Mystique snapped her head in his direction, and Ashtra flinched out, scurrying away.

"I know you're there, Ashtra."