The Author tapped his pen lightly against the desk and spoke in a casual tone.
"Welcome back."
Ash, Nia, and Elysia stood in the boundless white void, facing the Author who sat casually at his desk.
Nia tilted her head, her black eyes narrowing slightly as she stared at the silhouette in front of them.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked bluntly. "What the hell is that?"
The Author let out a small chuckle and leaned back in his chair, twirling the pen between his fingers.
"Well, I suppose introductions are in order," he said in a relaxed tone. "Since Nia probably will wonder who the hell, I am anyway."
He gestured lazily toward himself.
"My good friend Ash has mentioned me a few times... I'm the Author. Or at least, a projection of him.
As this isn't a live conversation — I recorded this message for the moment you'd eventually reach this point, when you began moving beyond even the limits of perfection."
