Villain Transmigration: Author Transformation

"There's no mistake about this! These portraits are our ancestors!"

He couldn't help but tap into it, zooming in further and he was beyond at loss for words. 

Nathalie, all the more, got her colored surprise from what she heard about it; no other than from the mouth of the Grand Duke of Blackwell.

Moreover, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Keith, who was also in the same position as her and also the time where Mystique spouted unspeakable words back then.

[But father, were there no portraits such as…]

"Of course there wasn't!" Arnold suddenly raised his voice, then cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, I lost my composure. I— I just…"

[Please don't worry, I understand."

"Can… Can you show me… Uhh, M— More of these, please?!" Arnold stared at her and the screen back and forth for he couldn't believe what he saw so far.

[I'm not so sure if I have some about an angle that captured the portraits but I'd do what I can.]

Her hands tried to scroll down, digging more of her photos but she couldn't help but get embarrassed from several selfies and mirror shots about her collections like dresses, accessories, and other branded items featured in such a high definition.

But it was always a breather when she somehow dropped by to a photo that featured the stairs as well.

"It really is! No doubt!" he breathed out while he pulled away. "Is this perhaps a mansion as well?"

'As well?' Even then, Nathalie gave a curt nod, simply to agree with every word, which only pressed his lips thin.

"Even the interior of this place has no difference at all." 

Nathalie thought in mind if she should tell what she knew as well now that they were reaching a point of two different views that neither one of them knew the other.

[I remember somewhere along the lines when she appeared…]

"What? When?"

[It was the time where Keith got sick at Desertpeak Town, and through Ashtra's help, we delved deeper into his dreams, only to be transported to the world I was in…]

Her eyes darted at the knight behind her, being vigilant of what she was about to utter as soon as the words left her lips but at the end he smiled, nodding, as he believed in her.

Arnold began to tremble from his stead, and his visage had myriad of emotions she couldn't read, even with a single glance at him. It was a lot— like it had bottled up so much ever since and only let out this time around. 

"...I've never had this much urge to seek one's memories…"

Arnold tried to calm himself down for now and lend his ears to what she was about to spill; but then, he couldn't help but remember that Ashtra was with her— residing in the necklace she wore all this time.

Which he then continued, "Perhaps, Ashtra can show us such an image if he also went there."

[Oh, then… It won't be a problem for me as well.]

'Ashtra, wake up…'

Ashtra hummed for a while before leaving a reply. "You want me to show something?"

'If you can—'

"I sure can."

'Name a price.' Nathalie rolled her eyes.

"Oh, you know what it is." After which, he then let out a snicker.

'You're still as cheeky as ever; although, it's lessened these days.'

"I've been behaving better for your convenience since, lest you'll use my name against me… I'd rather not, thank you very much."

Nathalie then kneaded her forehead while heaving a sigh and then the serpentine figure of the necklace began to gleam brightly.

Illuminating the room, everything— except her and the rest in the room, around her turned white. Like they got transported to another dimension.

Not long enough, it revealed she saw herself standing beside Jonathan and the sudden appearance of Ashtra.

'This moment…' 

There was no point in hiding the truth she knew to him, for he was the one bringing them at this point and as she became desperate to save what unknown condition behind Keith.

"I still couldn't get used to it but… You really do look like her, regardless of the color…" Arnold was in awe, and clearly, Athan couldn't help but nod as well.

Athan mused afterward, "You're wearing a nightgown, did this happen at night?"

[Close but not quite, it happened close to the break of dawn.]

"I see..."

From the distance, Keith appeared and prowled as he became apprehensive amidst the large glade in such a verdant forest.

After which, a car emerged from the other side, with the smooth engines revving heard in a distance as it zoomed towards the gate of the mansion.

Mystique appeared, without any disguise, which was different in Nathalie's case.

"She's wearing an illusion…"

The three of them looked at Arnold, and Ashtra didn't bat an eye.

[Most probably, to convince Keith, is that it?]

"Indeed, and someone is inside that car, a familiar one knew of her disguise… Who holds a sinister gaze against her."

[You know? Even her intentions?]

"Bright as the day I'd say, she's not afraid to show it, and it seemed like Mystique knew and was confident enough that she would be unharmed."

'I see… Well, it did make sense…' She then scribbled back midair. [That's Daisy…]

"It makes sense now…"

After which, they followed them as they entered within the front lawn of the mansion, bringing much further shock to him.

"That mansion! It really is!"

Arnold and Athan watched with eyes unwavering and not wanting to miss whatever happened.

'May I know, father?'

"So you don't have any idea of this then?"

Nathalie shook her head. "The dreams revealed to me were only the ones that revolved around His Highness, as you've seen in the book I've written, and it only revealed the golden age of the Dysnomia Empire.

"... Fair enough…" Arnold said nothing further for he realized she had answered her question to the best of her abilities. "Before the foundation of the Dysnomia Empire, we were only a small nation, smaller than Ustreador…"

'What?!'

Before they delved deep, the scene around them changed.