LIGHTNOVELONLINE Nephis
Arthur turned around, feeling his emotions turning into a complete mess. He had thought he would be able to remain calm, but it proved otherwise. He felt his heart beating right next to his ears as he looked at the woman standing some distance from him.
She was a young woman with striking green hair that flew down to her shoulders, contrasting sharply with her vivid red eyes. Her attire was dark and elegant, adorned with intricate gold accents, while her expression exuded a calm yet commanding presence. It was as if she could shoulder all the responsibilities.
He took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. Seeing his unusual actions, the girl cocked her head to the side and approached him.
"Something happened?" The young woman asked.
Arthur sighed as he finally got a little calm. He couldn't help it. Seeing someone dear to him, someone he had once sworn to protect and then watched her body being eaten by the savage Abyssal Creatures. He remembered it all, and because of all that, he couldn't control it so suddenly.
He cracked his neck and grabbed the woman's hand, surprising her, but she didn't resist and simply smiled. Still, she was confused by his unusual behaviour and asked, "You gonna tell me anytime soon?"
"Neph! Do you have trust in me?" Arthur asked with all seriousness. His eyes looked into the vivid red eyes of the woman named Nephis.
Seeing such intensity and a rare serious look on Arthur's face, Nephis knew something was wrong, very wrong. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Is that even a question?"
"Great! Now come with me then," said Arthur, dragging Nephis to his room on the upper floor under everyone's astonished gazes.
Once inside his room, Arthur made Nephis sit on a couch and began to check around the room. He searched every inch of his two-room apartment and finally felt that it was enough. All the time, Nephis just sat on the couch patiently.
Finally, Arthur dropped on the couch beside Nephis and closed his eyes. He said, "Give me a few minutes to arrange everything."
Nephis nodded and made herself comfortable as she waited patiently. She had been friends with Arthur ever since they were kids, and she knew about Arthur more than even his parents. That's why she knew that something terrible had happened; otherwise, Arthur wouldn't have behaved like this.
Arthur closed his eyes as he considered his decision. He had decided to tell the truth about his regression to Nephis. There were many reasons for it, and one of them was simply that he loved her.
Nephis had loved him from an early age, but he hadn't noticed it because of how she usually behaved around him. However, she had later confessed to him and started a romantic relationship with him. However, good days never last long in the Age of Voidborns.
One day, one of the most terrifying Abyssal Creatures had attacked their camp and only a few survived that clash. That day, Nephis had used her body as a shield to buy some time for Arthur. He had watched her being eaten alive by those Abyssal Creatures from afar...
He didn't know why Nephis loved him so much and was so loyal, but he knew she was the most loyal person he had ever met. That's why he trusted her with all his heart.
He had tried a lone wolf strategy in his past life and knew it was nothing but a useless show-off. Lone Wolf never survived against the Voidborns. That's why he had plans to make a team and then a whole army to battle against the Voidborns.
However, he needed someone to shoulder the burden. And there was no one more suited for this task than Nephis. She was loyal to him, so much that she would even sacrifice herself for him, and he knew that she wouldn't leak his information. Well, it was not like anyone would believe his trash talk.
Arthur groaned, wondering how he should explain to Nephis so she would believe him. He then threw his head back and looked at Nephis, who was still waiting for his answers.
"Neph, would you believe me if I said I have time traveled?" Arthur asked and rolled his eyes. He then tried to explain. "I mean, yeah you wouldn't belie—"
"I do," Nephis said, still having that smile on her face.
Arthur stopped mid-sentence as he looked incredibly at her, wondering if she had some screw loose in her head? However, he also knew that she would believe in any bullshit if he was the one saying it.
"Don't get me that look, bozo," Nephis shook her head as she said. "I'm believing it because the changes in your behaviour. I know you more than you know yourself and those eyes...they are kinda unfamiliar to me. They hold maturity and yet at the same childness. How should I explain? It feels you're a different person yet you are not. So, the only solution is what you said."
Arthur looked at her suspiciously but didn't say anything. He then smiled and said, "If that's the case, then it's good. You'll be a great ally."
Nephis looked at him with a strange look and asked, "You seriously traveled between time?"
"Yes," Arthur's lips twitched, but he said nothing about that.
Nephis looked down and lingered for a while before she spoke.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"It's about something that will happen in a few years and the reason I died in future. Let me tell you a story. It's a long one."
Nephis nodded and listened very attentively. Although she had some doubts about his story, she still decided to believe him. After all, there were so many paths in the system, and each contained different types of skills and abilities. So, maybe Arthur had come back in time.