The Author's POV

The moment those words escaped from my mouth, the very air around the room chilled entirely, and as I sat in front of Waylan, I found myself blinking for a longer time than I usually would have.

There was something nagging at the back of my mind, and for a moment, I hesitated to voice my thoughts, unsure of whether I was overthinking or not.

But as I studied Waylan's expression, the nagging feeling persisted within me, urging me to speak up.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence between us.

"You know, Waylan, I've been thinking."

I said slowly, my voice laced with uncertainty.

"I couldn't help but wonder if there's more to Kevin's memory wipe than just sparing everyone the pain of his passing."

I thought I knew Kevin well, but after thinking about everything that had happened, I realized that I actually knew almost nothing about him.

The Kevin I knew was a lie.

...and thus, it made me question whether he truly erased everyone's memories to spare them from being hurt by his death.

Perhaps it was true to some extent, I felt that there was more to it than just that...

Waylan's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise before he lowered his gaze, his hand coming to rest on the wooden table between us.

"What do you mean?"

He asked, his voice neutral.

I blinked slowly once more, deliberating over the words that I was about to say.

"It's just that... apart from me, no one else should know about Kevin. And yet, somehow, you do."

I watched Waylan's hand tense slightly at my words, but he remained silent, listening intently.

I leaned forward, my eyes locked on his.

"So, how is it that you know?"

I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"How is it that you don't know about his death and the changes he's made while I do?"

For a moment, Waylan's hand hovered uncertainly over the table, his expression unreadable. But then, he let out a soft chuckle, his features relaxing into a smile.

"Heh, so it's true then..."

he said, more to himself than to me.

His casual demeanor intrigued me, and I found myself studying him more closely, searching for any hint of deception or guilt.

"What have you figured out?"

I asked, unable to hide the curiosity in my voice.

Waylan looked up at me, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Why did you suspect me? I thought I had done quite a good job up until this point..."

nonchalance, I sensed a hint of unease in his voice. Clearly, he wasn't as unaffected as he tried to play

Everything was perfect... There should've been nothing to indicate you at all of

as if to reassure himself more than

"...and yet, I did."

my

was a certain nun that I met a little while back, and she told me

could see a flicker of confusion pass

she tell

his voice laced

Protector knows the name of

watching as Waylan's

Protector knows the

echoed, almost

nodded, pursing my

"Indeed..."

mumbled to myself before looking back

really notice it at first, to be honest. To me, there was nothing really wrong with your name.

was how it was supposed to be.

guess I

in silence, each lost in our own

things have changed recently, haven't

looked up at him, my gaze

"Yes, they have."

my perspective, that was his name, and that

Things, however, changed recently.

at first I thought it was because history was different. It wouldn't be surprising if some things were different... It made perfect sense if you thought about it. Why would there be no change

and I had no faults with it. Even after everything that I saw, I still didn't feel that there was something wrong with your name… the same was for

looked straight into

was what I thought it was, there didn't seem to be any change, and I

Protector knows the

sticking in my mind. I wasn't sure why, but I felt that those words were of

leaned back against

a farfetched thought, but… what if… and I mean what if… for some strange reason that I don't know… I have the power of a

thinking about Kevin… I had the sudden thought that perhaps, the name shift in the

If I took the nun's words to mind, wouldn't it mean that from my perspective, only I

if, my mind automatically translated how everyone was referring to him, and how I was

if the entire time I had been calling

it all a matter of

"You see…"

looked at Waylan with a complicated look. Drumming my fingers

here hoping that I was wrong, I had already confirmed things beforehand and was just clinging to the little hope that never existed, to

skill that I have. It's a

of my

Judging from how

kept staring at me with an impassive look

I continued.

me to see things from another one's perspective rather

let out

a bit of a farfetched thought, and I hoped I

lowered

that my hunch was correct… and you really are Oliver Roshfield in

but as I went through the other's memories, I came to realize that my hunch was

perspective, he was Oliver

my perspective was he Waylan Roshfield, and it only dawned upon me once I carefully looked through their memories and paid attention to every little detail in them. That was