Deon began telling Vierenna a little about the life of the person named Walid. He didn't directly link himself to the name, but he made it clear from the beginning. He started his tale from the day his choices became limited—the day he decided to follow his passion as a writer, more than five years ago.
The words flowed from his mouth easily, as if he were telling a fairy tale rather than recounting a reality he once lived. There was a sense of nostalgia in his words, but also a detachment that pressed upon him, reminding him of his present reality more than any other day.
Vierenna remained still, her expression blank as she listened attentively. Seeing this, Deon continued speaking. The funny thing about his entire life was that the five years he had always considered so long were now summarized in so few, repetitive words at best. A strange way to realize just how empty his life had been. And to fill that void, he started explaining some details and laws of his world in comparison to hers.
One thing he did not mention was his novel, which this world was supposedly the setting of. He didn't want to make that connection. It seemed too ridiculous when viewed from an objective standpoint. Even Deon himself had come to think so. He also didn't want Vierenna to question her reality, as he could certainly provide evidence to support his theory. So, as a compromise, he merely implied that he had knowledge of her world and its rules without explaining how.
The last thing Deon spoke of regarding those five years was his death. He didn't go into all the details—partly because he was embarrassed by how insignificant his death was, and partly because of the anger that filled him whenever he thought about it.
Vierenna, who had been listening intently from the beginning, shook her head in amusement at the mention of his death, which likely came as a shock to her. She definitely didn't believe him—Deon knew that much—but she couldn't just ignore his words, especially when he delved into the details of his transmigration. He relied on that fact, as it was his way of connecting Viktoria to his reincarnation. He was about to tell Vierenna everything he had experienced and all the evidence he had found. That was something she wouldn't be able to deny, right?
So he reminded her of his first day in this world—when he opened his eyes on the bed, thinking he was in a strange hospital. Deon recalled how he had asked for her name in fear and disbelief, though he didn't explain the reasons behind it.
From there, Vierenna's expression gradually shifted into a frown, one that deepened with every word Deon spoke. She tried to interrupt him, but every time she opened and closed her mouth, no words came out. She looked like she was listening to a fascinating story, but not the usual kind—especially when Viktoria de Avila entered the equation.
Deon spoke of Viktoria's connection to the lake in the backyard, of how he nearly lost consciousness just by looking at it. He even told her about his status screen and the voice he heard whenever he faced the lake, linking it to his reason for wanting to hear Viktoria's voice from the memory record.
Vierenna questioned this, and Deon told her that the voice was indeed Viktoria's. She tried to push him for confirmation, implying that she had a way to prove it, but Deon insisted on continuing his story. So, he did.
He told her how he viewed magic as someone from a non-magical world and how he learned to interact with it so quickly, thanks to his Mana Sense skill. That last detail caused Vierenna's expression to shift to surprise, indicating that Mana Sense was something known in this world and not exclusive to him.
Throughout Deon's entire speech, one thing he emphasized was his familiarity with both the world he had died in and the world he had found himself in. The former, because he didn't want to sever his connection to what he once was; the latter, because he wanted Vierenna to think there was something tying him to this world—whether it was Viktoria or his "forever unfinished" novel.
This wasn't manipulation on his part. Deon wholeheartedly believed it, or else why would he be where he was now?
Deon continued his story, mentioning the challenges he faced and his ignorance of many things he was expected to know. The simplest example of this was the Eirenios Household's sword style, which was enough to prove his claim. However, he avoided mentioning any challenges related to the original Deon, as he didn't want to stir something in Vierenna.
From the day he opened his eyes in this world, Deon never thought he would speak about who he once was to anyone, no matter how close they were. Yet here he was, proving himself wrong. It was difficult—talking to Vierenna, of all people—but each word that left his mouth was followed by another in a flow that felt strangely natural.
In a way, it reminded him of writing. For him, the hardest thing was always to start, but once he did, moving forward became easier.
But there was one thing Deon didn't have in writing, and that was knowing when to stop. Once he started, he would go on and on until he ended up with details that might not even be necessary to the narrative. The same thing happened in conversations, but this time, Deon reminded himself to regulate his words, even under Vierenna's silent pressure. He didn't need to tell her every detail—only the important points. After all, the truth could seem different when burdened with unnecessary details. He would only provide more if she asked for them.
After what felt like hours of talking, Deon placed a final touch on his words.
"That is my humble life story. And I'd love for it not to end here."
…
Vierenna's blank expression remained fixed on Deon's figure, hunched under the sheets. Despite his seemingly calm demeanor, there was both tension and relief within him.
But all Vierenna could think about were her mother's words, which were finally beginning to make some sense.
I am trying to free him from his chains—
You must be strong when he regains what he once was—
When you see it with your own eyes, you will understand what I mean—
Whether you accept the truth or not, that is up to you—
Give your brother the time he needs—
The two of you must figure it out between yourselves—
Each word echoed loudly in Vierenna's mind, piecing together fragments of sentences that had never held meaning before, yet she had never been able to forget.
But of all the words spoken, only one sentence was the one Vierenna clung to with all her might. She wanted to believe in it. No—she did believe in it, because it had been the truth for many years now.
He will always be your brother—
Vierenna closed her eyes in the uncomfortable silence, lowering her head to look at her hands. She rubbed them together, feeling how cold they were. She didn't like that. She didn't like the chill that covered her body, because it wasn't the kind of cold she enjoyed.
She felt something freezing around her eyes, a result of her own coldness, and that kind of coldness spread into her expression. The redness in her face slowly faded, turning into a pale, lifeless white.
Vierenna wasn't aware of the change, but she knew she didn't feel okay.
Despite how she felt, she had to say something.
She lifted her head toward Deon, who watched her with concern but said nothing.
"You're lying."
That was all she could say in that moment.