Teleported into My Own Novel as the Author!

The clang of metal echoed through the courtyard, as Char's breath came in ragged gasps, sweat trickling down his brow. His body ached, every muscle protesting the onslaught, but he gritted his teeth and pushed on. Tess's eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and focus as she effortlessly danced around him, her movements fluid and precise. Char swung wildly, his newly learned knife skills still clumsy and unrefined, his strikes barely grazing her before she spun out of the way with practiced ease.

He had barely landed a blow in their sparring session. Tess had him on the defensive, and no amount of effort seemed to close the gap between them. Every move he made felt sluggish compared to her lithe, graceful precision. She was like a shadow, always one step ahead.

He managed a half-hearted lunge, his knife aimed at her side, but she deflected it with a swift twist of her wrist, knocking the weapon from his hand with a quick flick.

"Come on, Charon," she teased, her voice light, almost sing-song. "You've got to do better than that. I could've had you on the ground ten times already."

Char panted, stepping back, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I'm trying," he muttered, exasperated. The sting of his failure echoed in his chest. Despite the hours he'd spent trying to learn the basics of fighting—learning how to hold a blade, how to move fluidly, how to not trip over his own feet—he still felt like he was a thousand steps behind everyone else.

Tess had insisted he train every day, and while he had improved marginally, it was like fighting a storm with a twig. The difference in their skill was laughable. She was a seasoned fighter, someone whose instincts guided her faster than Char could hope to follow.

"You're getting better, I'll give you that," Tess said, spinning her blade with a flourish as she straightened up. "But you've still got a long way to go before you can stand a chance against someone like Edmund."

The mention of Edmund sent a ripple of unease through Char. Since the rooftop encounter, his thoughts had constantly returned to the powerful protagonist he had written. The shadowy figure whose abilities—whose strength—seemed so far beyond his own. He still didn't understand why Edmund had shown up, or how the narrative he'd created was altering itself so radically. But he couldn't afford to focus on that now. He had to get stronger, faster, if he was to survive this world he'd written.

"I'll get there," Char said, his voice laced with determination. "I'll be ready."

Tess shrugged, wiping her blade clean with a cloth before she sheathed it. "We'll see. But for now, you've still got a long way to go."

Char took a deep breath, still panting. "What now?"

Tess grinned, clearly satisfied with the training session. "Now, we get ready for tonight."

Char's heart skipped a beat at her words. "Tonight? What's happening tonight?"

Before Tess could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps approaching caught their attention. From around the corner of the courtyard emerged Elyan, her usual relaxed demeanor tinged with urgency.She was carrying a small satchel, her expression tight with focus.

Tess immediately straightened up, her playful attitude replaced by a look of determination. "Elyan, what's going on?"

Elyan's eyes locked on hers, and she wasted no time. "The meeting's tonight. The Syndicate's members are gathering at a noble's keep on the opposite side of the city. It's happening sooner than we thought, but we've got a window to infiltrate before it becomes too guarded. You need to be ready."

Char's stomach clenched. "What's the plan?" he asked, voice tight.

Tess looked at him for a moment, her gaze calculating, before nodding. "We're going to crash it. Elyan's intel says that the meeting is important—could change the entire course of the Syndicate's future. We can't let that happen without making sure we get some answers. We need to find out what they're planning."

Char wasn't sure if he was more excited or terrified. This was it—the kind of action he'd been training for, the real danger, the risk that could change everything. But even as the adrenaline surged through his veins, his thoughts flitted back to the harsh reality that he wasn't ready. He wasn't prepared for this.

"I'll be ready," Char said, his voice steadier now, though the doubt still lingered in the pit of his stomach. "But I don't have what it takes to fight. I'll just slow you down."

Tess raised an eyebrow at him, clearly skeptical of his self-doubt. "You don't get to back out now, Charon. We're in this together. Besides, you've been learning. That counts for something." She offered him a grin, one that didn't quite reach her eyes, as if she were testing him.

Char swallowed hard, his mind racing. He wasn't ready. He didn't know what he was doing half the time, let alone what was about to go down tonight. But he couldn't afford to let that stop him. He couldn't afford to let his uncertainty hold him back when so much was at stake.

Elyan glanced at him briefly, before turning to Tess. "We need to move quickly. You two make sure you've got everything you need. We won't have time to prepare after we leave."

Tess nodded, her eyes hardening. "Alright. Let's make sure we're not walking into another disaster."

With that, they parted ways to get ready, Char heading back inside the safehouse to grab his things. The weight of the mission ahead settled heavily on his shoulders, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He had to focus. He couldn't back out now, not when so much was on the line.

He rummaged through his meager supplies, ensuring his knives were sharp and easily accessible. He adjusted his new outfit, making sure the jacket fit well and allowed for easy movement. His healing stone was tucked safely into one of the pockets, the faint green glow still reassuring, even if it was a one-time use.

When he emerged from the safehouse, Tess was already waiting, looking as ready as she ever would be. Her expression was determined, her stance ready for anything.

"Let's go," she said, her voice low and focused. "Tonight's the night."

Char nodded, taking a deep breath as they made their way toward the city's heart.

The streets of Oryn-Vel had a different air in the afternoon. People hustled through their daily business, oblivious to the danger that loomed on the horizon. Char kept his eyes on Tess, following her through the maze of streets, his thoughts racing.

As they neared the keep, the weight of what was to come settled over him. He wasn't prepared. He didn't know if he ever would be. But he was here now, and there was no turning back.

And if Edmund Ardent appeared again… well, Char would deal with him when the time came.

Tonight, they would crash the Syndicate's meeting, and everything would change