In the silence of the dark, modern room, an ordinary man stared intently at his laptop, only the sound of clicking on a keyboard stimulating him just enough to stay awake.
Click, Click Click-
The laptop screen was almost blinding, his hunched back reminiscent of a chronically online author. Text was rapidly forming onto the document on the screen.
"Just one more paragraph... Just one more.", the man muttered under his breath.
This was the novel I've been writing for the past year. It was an idea that came up I was young, that I scribbled all onto a piece of paper like I was mad. It was only a few years ago when I'd picked it back up again to earn some extra cash. Although the initial story wasn't as exciting or polished, the concept was solid enough to monetize, given a few modifications.
And now, after 300 chapters, the novel was coming to an end.
I bore witness with buried fanaticism in my eyes as the final villain was defeated by the protagonist. Soon, my writing slowed down, line by line, word by word.
Completely immersed, I wrote down the last scene of the novel.
<-------------------->
"So, it ends like this.", in the estate of a great noble, a crimson-haired man, littered with wounds, knelt powerlessly on the ball floor.
"How fruitless.", the man said, a smile curving beneath his slitted eyes.
A blade pointed to his neck.
"Cael Seryth.", breathing heavily, Lucen stood above him, "It was a tough fight."
Both were ridden in wounds, blood seeping toward the ground. Blades crossed with the walls of the estate bearing fissures all throughout. Alas, this was the final hurdle Lucen had overcome.
Cael Seryth, who caused him endless suffering, only stayed frozen in place--it was uncertain whether it was from fear, despair, or nothing at all. But regardless, there was no need to ponder over these mysteries anymore, as he was finally at the end of his rope.
Lucen's hand trembled as he held his sword, but there was no mercy left to spare for the fallen noble. He looked down coldly, "Any last words?"
Cael lifted his head, his gaze making contact with Lucen's, and his smile stretched ear-to-ear into an almost inhuman grin.
"Ah, no.", it was as if he was holding back a laugh. He whispered, "Just kill me. Go ahead."
A shiver ran down Lucen's spine, and he gritted his teeth. Nothing much to say, huh?
"Very well then.", pressing his lips together, Lucen tightened his grip on his sword, "I'll grant you your last wish. Not that you had a choice anyway."
Exacting utmost precision, Lucen performed his most powerful combat technique.
Eternal Grave!
With the surrounding light quietly gathering and engulfing his sword, Lucen slashed at the kneeling man without a second thought, not allowing even any slight leeway for any tricks or cards-
Shing! The next moment, a head rolled below his feet.
"..."
...Peering down on the severed head of his archenemy, the centre of massacre, Lucen's hand finally lost its grip, and the sword fell to the ground in bittersweet victory.
Clang!
<-------------------->
It was done.
"Finally.", I sighed in relief. There was now no longer a need to worry about long, sleepless nights. No more comments pressuring me to upload more, faster, and better. I could move on.
Looking proudly at the masterpiece I'd written, whose story was still fresh in my mind after a year, I aimed my mouse to click 'save'.
Click
I stared at the loading icon and the bar below it, quickly filling with progress. After a few seconds, the last chapter saved successfully.
Then, a sharp pain hit me.
"Gah!", my mouth gaped open. I subconsciously reached for my chest, my hand uncontrollably sweeping through the things on my desk.
Clatter! Bang!
Things fell to the ground, and I gasped for air, the pain too intense to pinpoint where it was coming from.
"H-help, urgh! Shit-", I could barely squeeze words out of my mouth, my mind spiraling as the pain gnawed at my consciousness.
My eyes darted around, desperately looking for and grabbing my phone. Fumbling with it, my hands trembled uncontrollably as the numbers '911' was typed onto the screen.
"Urghh!! CAll! CALL!"
It hadn't even been a minute, and my mind felt like it was on the verge of insanity.
But just as my finger reached out for the 'call' button- something banged against my very soul, and the life in my eyes slowly faded.
Trembling, my phone fell to the ground, and shortly after, my body collapsed along with it.
Thud
In the cold, dark room, I laid lifelessly limp next to a ringing phone. In the next moment, it picked up.
***
"Gasp!", my eyes shot open, my body tensing up, "Haa, haa, haa..."
"W-what happened?! Am I dead?", I immediately felt around my body and head for injuries. As the rain drowned out my voice, I felt some phantom pain lingering around my neck, before disappearing in a flash.
Shaa...
Wait...Rain?
Snapping back to my senses, I looked at my surroundings. Immediately, my eyes widened--because where I stood, in fact, was not a hospital, nor my room.
But a cemetery.
Caw! Caw! Crows called out far away.
The eerie atmosphere of countless graves in the distance, the night befalling the sky like a blanket, and the rain feeling cold to the touch.
"Huh...", I let out a breath in disbelief. I didn't feel anymore pain. But seeing how I felt cold, this probably isn't a dream. There's no one else around me either.
I looked at my body. Dark brown pants, a white blouse, and a maroon vest. There was golden embroidery embedded all around my clothing. This looked like something someone from the medieval era would wear...
I frowned. The last thing I remember is passing out, just before I called 911. I should be either dead or in my room right now. Just what is happening...? I could only gather context using clues around me.
Looking in front of me, I could see two graves, put closely together. A few symbols were carved into the stone of the graves; it seemed like an ancient dialect. But despite only being fluent in one language, I could read it clearly.
'Seryth Luke' and... 'Seryth Maya'.
"Seryth, sounds oddly familiar...Seryth?!", I exclaimed. I know these names!
It was like I was hit by a truck.
'Seryth'
It was the household name of one of the seven great noble families in the human empire. The seven great families had authority only second to the emperor, and were basically revered all across the domain. Even seeing the burial site of someone belonging to those families would be a huge honor! I should feel grateful to even be here right now...
However, there was also a problem.
All of that was in my novel!
There's no way. All of that is my novel's setting! Maya Seryth and Luke Seryth, I remember these two people who I had pulled my hair out deciding names for! I tried recalling the notes I had written down for these two characters.
Luke Seryth was the head of the Seryth family, while Maya Seryth was his wife, the matriarch. After a wild attempt to usurp the other six great families including the throne of the emperor, they were both executed, leaving behind their only son and bloodline: Cael Seryth.
That wasn't even their first rodeo either. Those two including Cael's granddads had attempted usurping the six great families multiple times throughout history, only slipping by without consequence because of their careful management of evidence and their control over military.
However, it was only this time that the emperor finally struck punishment down on them, executing and stripping them of their noble titles.
But now, why are their names here? Why am I here?
...Seeing my clothing and my surroundings, I let out a shaky breath.
As if my body was moving on its own, I hurriedly stumbled to a nearby puddle that had formed on the ground, and looked at my reflection.
Instantly, I froze.
Crimson hair, slitted eyes, and a mouth that seemed to naturally twist into a smirk. I touched my cheek, and the reflection followed.
I gulped. There's no doubt about it. This appearance is... Cael Seryth. The greatest villain, to be defeated by the protagonist at the end of the novel.
A realization formed in my mind, and a self-defeating smile stretched my face. I never thought that transmigration would be a real thing... I-..
"Could I have become Cael?"
Come to think of it- I scanned my surroundings again. The place where the heads of the Seryth family was buried was the Cemetary of Heroes, in honor of their achievements in war despite their betrayals.
This was one of the most crucial places in the novel. I held my chin. If this was right after they were executed, Cael, the son, should be visiting their graves right about now.
I remember it clearly, the scene taking place on a rainy day, on a dark night, when the full moon had risen, Cael standing and staring blankly at the graves of his parents...
But soon, I would know that I would have no time to let this new reality sink in. Because if I got it right, then this was the exact scene where Cael would disappear from the world.
...Right after narrowly escaping an assassination, that is.
With a deceivingly calm expression, I looked up at the sky. Glancing at the full moon, a single thought surfaced in my brain.
I'm fucked.