The Author's POV

'Why is it taking Kevin so long?'

During my conversation with Malik Alshayatin, in which I was trying to buy as much time as possible, I sneaked a look at the time on my watch.

Ten minutes had already passed since Hemlock had appeared, and nothing had happened.

'Did something go wrong with the operation?'

Kevin was supposed to be on his way to killing Malik Alshayatin, who was hiding not so far from where we were at the time, according to what I knew about the situation.

He was the only one who knew the precise location; I wasn't even sure of it myself.

Given that Hemlock was still seated at the oval table alongside everyone else, it was clear that Kevin had not yet made his move.

'Is it possible that he ran into some problems, and it's taking him more time than it is supposed to?'

This was the most likely possibility.

Kevin, in my opinion, was in no real danger at any point.

Malik Alshayatin would have already vanished by now had he found out that Kevin had attacked him, and taking into consideration the fact that Kevin was solely performing this action based on his memories, there was no way that Hemlock could know what was coming for him.

It was simply impossible.

'I guess I'll just stall for a bit more time. '

It wasn't that I really minded, but I was rapidly running out of topics to discuss in order to kill time. Octavious, to my great relief, came to my aid in the nick of time.

For some inexplicable reason, it felt to me as though he was in on the whole situation.

'I'm imagining things, right?'

"Is there anything you hope to accomplish by remaining here? I'm certain that you didn't just show up to listen to our conversation. If you truly desired to hear what we had to say, you would not have divulged your identity so early."

"As expected of the strongest human, you're very perceptive."

Hemlock clapped twice, his back lying on the leather chair.

"Initially, I intended to come here to confuse the minds of everyone present. I wanted you guys to question yourselves and perhaps convert a few of you to our side, but I changed my mind.

Hemlock gave me a friendly smile as he slowly turned his head in my direction and looked at me. As the ominous foreboding, I was experiencing became clearer, I felt shivers run down my entire body.

"...But I changed my mind. Not too long ago, a small bird told me something, and let's just say I discovered something even more entertaining."

The instant he said those words, my pupils constricted violently. Specifically, when he uttered the phrase "little bird," the puzzle pieces in my mind began to fall into place, and my breathing became rougher.

I muttered two words without hesitation in my mind.

"Monarch's Indifference."

My vision turned black.

***

was unconscious was a mystery to me, but the

I was all

right turn, I walked in that direction

the sensation of something warm enveloping my entire body. In a short amount of time, the pleasant warmth morphed into something intolerable as a searing pain began to spread across

kept moving forward regardless, not paying the slightest bit of attention

pain that my mind and body went through

it wasn't long before I spotted a tiny white orb about the size of a star way off in the distance. The orb grew steadily more expansive as I proceeded forward with my

far I had to travel before I would reach the orb, but as soon as I got within a few feet of it, I could see that it was

too far away from the orb and staring at it with

in his direction and stopped when I was in the same space as

at the orb as well, I noticed that it was

fact that his body

my eyes, I spoke

was you, wasn't

spoke in

held up for so long. This

of my composure, I was aware of a searing rage permeating

looked at me with

should be

every fiber of my being wanted to let out a shout, but I

that shouting would only give the impression that I was losing control of the situation and would contribute

do was keep my

mind of the pointless emotions clouding my judgment to effectively find a solution

will be able to live, and I will be able

the point of staying alive

if, in the end, I

you will live a few

"Very kind of you."

staring at the

facing the orb, and it appeared for a moment

me, but when I looked beside me and saw the other me

'What's going on?'

***

voice shook as he knelt on the ground while holding

"E..Emma?"

as he did so, tears began to form in the inner corners of his eyes, and he

with a look of

eyes were absently gazing upward, he tenderly stroked

shit...after all that I did to distance myself from

shallow, which indicated that she was still alive. However, it was abundantly clear that

had left a clear

caused Kevin's mind to become disorganized, as evidenced by

tears that began to form in the creases of his eyes moved more quickly down his cheeks, and it appeared as though the

"H..How is this possible?"

closer to his in an embrace, he mumbled