Transmigrated as the Villain: I will survive

In this world there exists beings called spirits

Beings made of pure power, forces of nature that encompass the world

Stories came about from these spirits, legends speaking of great power blessed upon certain individuals across the course of time

Sofia Ester had been one such individual

The 2nd daughter of the prestigious Ester family had special eyes

It was said that she could see the realm of spirits and was beloved by its inhabitants, blessed with affinities in the 4 elements

Yet even to her there was exceptions

Spirits were everywhere, they were everything, and all of them loved her even the light spirits who kept distance had blessed her to ward away any evil or curse

Yet there was one type of spirit she had come fear

Having simply wished to play with it she had approached them, even after all the warnings she had been told by the other spirits, to the 10-year-old Sophie she could never believe that a spirit could harm her

And so she walked towards the dark spirit that she had seen for the first time as she stretched out her hand

The spirit didn’t like that though

That day she came to understand something

Those beings known as dark spirits where creatures of pure evil surpassing even demons

-----

’ They were bowing? ’

Holding the shaking Sophie I turned her words inside my head as I recalled everything I knew about these beings

’ Beings made of pure darkness and power, across history it was stated that they have never blessed any being, even seemingly looking down upon demons who had come to be known as the masters of the darkness attribute ’

A description written by one of the ancestors of the family and a blessed of the light spirits

Sophie stated that what she saw back then was an endless abyss and that she would have been swallowed whole if not for the sudden interference of the light spirits

Even then to save her a total of 10 spirits had to come together against that one dark spirit

" Sophie... are you sure? I mean it’s still a spirit no matter how far you were, how come you hadn’t seen it before? "

’ With those eyes of her how could she not have seen this before? ’

" I... I don’t know... those things seemed to just appear "

" ... "

" They bowed... those things actually bowed to him... "

" Sophie... "

" I... I’m sorry I just... "

" No no its okay... let’s get out of here... "

Telling her so I held her hand tight as I made my way through the party, thankfully the Stella requiem was a massive structure that had endless empty rooms to spare

Scanning quickly using my mana I found the closest one and sat Sophie down, surprisingly this room was fully furnished with top level furniture as well perhaps all the empty rooms as well it was to be expected at this point

" I’m sorry "

Sophie had finally stopped shaking as she said so, it seemed the change in scenery was for the better

" We are meant to be watching the students yet I.. "

Watching her like that I took her hand as I sat beside her

" It’s fine don’t apologize "

" But!! "

" I’m sure they’ll be fine without us for a while "

" ... "

Staying silent after that I could hear Sophie collecting her breath, as time passed slowly and she seemed to have gotten better I asked one more thing to be sure

" If you want to cry... "

" Oh shut it!!

Ugh you should learn to respect your elders you know!! "

" okay okay I’m sorry "

Deftly avoiding her finger flick I moved away as she started grumbling

’ That’s better ’

" Hey can I ask you something? "

After a bit more banter Sophie suddenly asked

" Hmm? "

" Do you trust him? "

I didn’t need to ask to know who, nor did I need to think to find the answer

" I do "

" Then... "

" ... "

" If I want to meet him again, this time alone, can you help me? "

" With Nicholos? "

" Yes I... I don’t want to be like this "

" Are you sure I mean to be alone with them you’d.... "

" What do you mean alone you’ll be there too "

" Eh? "

looking at me strangely she suddenly screamed

" No wait you thought I’d be going alone!? "

" You are the one who said so?? "

" Yes me, you and him alone!! I’m not going there by myself!? "

’ So it was naturally assumed I’ll be there? I mean I would have found a way to force myself in there but... ’

" ugh... yeah ok together "

" That’s right together "

Nodding her head Sophie stood up as she reached out her hand to me

" Come on I caused you too much trouble today, I’ll make it up to you "

Taking her hand, we walked back to the banquet together

" Hey bella? "

" Yes? "

" Thanks "

" Anytime "

-----

The banquet raged on all night filled with laughter, music and dance

thankfully nothing else had happened that night as the guests left one after another escorted by Arcanes servants

Waking up the at dawn the next morning I met up with the other professors as we were supposed to go and check upon the students and their schedules, mostly to stop the troublemakers from causing any trouble

" Good morning everyone "

Arriving I took beside Sophie as I greeted the group present in front of me, some waved while others greeted me

Helping myself to some tea we exchanged small talk with one another as we waited for the other professors to arrive

though the majority of it was simply the rest complaining about Nicholas’s attitude along with very obvious side eyes while mentioning it a rather obvious question was in all their eyes

’ An Arcane and a Whiteheart ’

They clearly had much to say and ask about what sort of relationship me and Nicholas have, yet be that as it may I am still Isabella Whiteheart

We may be colleagues and the academy may adhere equality, yet I am still of house Whiteheart, and though I am not one to abuse my status after calming down yesterday I had asked of them a small favour

Not for long just till the end of this trip, after all if my parents should come to know it should come from me not a rumour brought upon the gossip of some teachers

Ignoring them all I simply continued to talk with Sophie,15 minutes or so since then everyone had arrived except one

Surprisingly it was Professor Dexter despite having always been the first to arrive, in fact I couldn’t remember seeing him yesterday at the banquet either

Perhaps the others also found it odd as the topic steered towards where he might have been as some started betting on the reasons why he could have been late

Sophei herself had thrown in a bet saying he would be a no show

Still as 5 minutes became 10 and 10 minutes became 20 doubts started to bubble up as those who tried calling realised that even as his crystal was ringing there was no sign of picking up

The fact that no one saw him at the banquet yesterday was also suspicious as he was never the type to shirk his duty

And recalling the contents of the letter merlin had left me and the true reason for this trip I couldn’t help but have my own doubts

Just as some of the other professors were getting ready to go and check on him a sound of boots clicking on the floor behind me

A presence that shouldn’t be here in this room were only the professors were gathered and all servants had already left long ago

Looking behind me, the face of a kind elderly man appeared before me as I watched as the faces all around me turned white mine included

Not only was he a face that had appeared recently back in the academy, but he was also a horror story my mother used to tell me at night

Unannounced like a shadow, eyes as dark as the abyss

The reaper had appeared

’ Since when was he here!? ’

I couldn’t sense his presence, no one did, that’s how he was always stated to be, a monster whose stealth overshadowed that of SS ranks

" Hello dear guests "

"""" ... """"

" I have come to inform you that due to a sudden summons Professor Dexter had to return to the academy in urgency "

" I....is that so? "

" Indeed Professor Desmond, I had simply wished to convey this to you on his and lord merlins behalf "

Sitting stiffly Professor Desmond nodded franticly under his gaze, as he simply smiled the whole time

Moving forward after that he moved slowly as everyone kept their silence yet as his hand rested on the doors handle he turned back one last time

" This here is Arcane, it would be best not to speak badly about its owner, you are guests so you get this one chance "

"""" ... """"

leaving those words behind he closed the door as he left

The room stayed silent for a long while after that

-----

Having finished all our business with the other professors Sophie and I had gone to one of the many cafes in the hotel

Having liked the cakes here we had agreed to meet with Jake, Elizabeth and Christine here after they return from sightseeing in Arcane

" I felt like my heart would stop "

holding her hand over her heart Sophie muttered as she took a bite out of her cake

knowing full well what she was talking about I revisited the feeling of dread I had felt back then as he stood before me

Remembering the stories I had heard growing up from my mother I could only draw a bitter smile as I compared it to the real thing

" Did I ever I tell you that I used have nightmares of this guy? "

" Wait what??? "

" Yeah, my mom would always say that if I don’t sleep early and eat my vegetables that the Arcanes reaper would come for me "

Blinking her eyes Sophie face went blank before her eyes started gaining a mischievous as she slowly leaned

" No... Ahem.... I mean he was a cautionary tale? "

" Well.... yeah? "

" So.... are you going to have another nightmare today? "

" Sophie "

" Do you want me to hold your hand? "

" Sophie!!! "

’ This isn’t even funny... there is nothing funny about this at all!! ’

" Pfft "

" oh don’t you dare.... "

" pffffft!!!! "

Clutching her stomach as she desperately held back her laugh Sophie hunched over as her eyes started to water

" I was seven!!! "

" I can’t.... please I can’t.... "

" Ugh "

Realising there is no point trying to understand her logic I simply continued eating my cake as she laughed on

" Are you done? "

Watching the now composed Sophie I asked as she continued wiping her tears

" Ah yes I am know "

" No really what was so funny about that? "

unable to hold back I asked but shook her head as if exasperated

" See that’s why I’m the elder "

" What does that even mean?? "

" It means that it doesn’t matter if it was funny or not as long as you gave a reaction to it that’s enough!! "

Watching her hold her head so high after saying that I couldn’t even feel angry this time just defeated

" Yeah ok "

I was about to just continue with my cake however the sudden golden wave stopped me in my tracks

’ The golden echo ’

As both Sophie and I started channelling our mana to deal with any and all disasters that may come, the emperors voice roared across Arcane as its contents froze us still

" To all of my subjects I hereby declare....

I Julius Dragonblood bestow upon Sir Nicholas Arcane the rank of duke alongside other rewards for the act of beheading the fallen archwizard Koschei the deathless "

’ What? ’