Darkness.
Cold.
Silence.
And then—
Pain.
A blade flashing down.
A scream caught in my throat.
So this is how it ends…
Betrayed. Framed. Abandoned.
Executed like a criminal.
I shot upright in bed.
My lungs burned as if I had just been drowning. Sweat clung to my skin, soaking the collar of my sleep shirt. My heart hammered so loudly it hurt.
"…Hah… hah…"
Moonlight filtered through the curtains.
The familiar shape of my dorm room slowly came into focus—the desk, the wardrobe, the tiny bookshelf stacked with academy notes.
Alive.
I was alive.
My hands trembled as I stared at them. No ropes. No chains. No blood.
"…What…?"
My voice sounded small.
I stumbled out of bed and rushed to the mirror.
The girl staring back at me looked younger.
Softer.
Three years younger.
My breath hitched.
"No way…"
Memories crashed into me all at once.
The accusations.
The whispers.
The trial.
Everyone turning their backs.
And then—
The blade.
The darkness.
Death.
I remembered dying.
So why was I here?
"…I went back?"
This wasn't a dream.
It couldn't be.
Dreams didn't feel this real. This sharp.
My chest tightened.
Three years ago.
First year at the academy.
Before everything fell apart.
Before they destroyed me.
The door creaked open.
"Nilla? You're awake?" My roommate's voice was soft, cautious. She stepped inside, bag slung over her shoulder, uniform neat. Concern filled her face.
"You've been asleep all day," she said. "You missed all your classes. I tried waking you this morning, but you wouldn't move. I thought you were sick."
I nodded, forcing calm onto my features. "I'm fine. Just… tired."
She sighed in relief. "Oh… thank goodness. I was worried."
I let a faint, harmless smile spread across my lips. Memories flickered—trial, whispers, betrayal. And her. She had stayed silent when I was innocent. She had watched me be destroyed. Not once did she defend me.
Perfect.
"I'm going out for a bit," I said casually, standing and picking up my coat.
"At night?" she asked, frowning.
"Yes. Personal matters," I said smoothly. "If anyone asks… cover for me."
Her eyes widened slightly, then she nodded. "Okay…"
Good. Obedient, just like before.
The dorm corridors were silent. Moonlight spilled across polished floors as I strode toward the exit. Shadows moved at the edges of my vision—students who had stayed quiet while I was falsely accused, letting me be humiliated.
Then, a soft, unfamiliar voice whispered in my mind:
"Hiii… I'm Aurora."
"What…?" I muttered a little too loudly. Heads turned toward me, but I ignored them, walking steadily onward.
I reached the fence at the edge of the academy grounds. Cold metal pressed under my fingers.
"Well… technically, you can just jump. You were reborn with powers," Aurora said.
I froze. "Why would I believe you?"
"Because I'm in your head," the voice replied smoothly.
My brow furrowed. "How… do I do it?"
"Believe," she said simply.
I exhaled. No time to hesitate. I leapt. My hands gripped the fence effortlessly, and I pulled myself up as if the wall were no taller than a railing. The cool night air brushed my face.
At the top, I paused, looking at my hands. No scratches. No strain. They were fine.
"How…?" I whispered to myself.
"Because of me. I know, I'm cool," Aurora replied playfully.
I smirked, adrenaline surging. "Well… that's convenient. But we still have to reach that mansion."