“Here, have some cookies and tea.”

Shinku placed a tray with cookies, two teacups and a teapot in front of Ayame. After Ayame dramatically recalled the memories of her past life, Shinku had done the snapping of her fingers again and there they were. In a different room.

This place was quite compact than the classroom they were in earlier. On the left and the right were bookshelves filled with various books. Here and there you could see an odd ornament placed on the shelves. And right at the back of the room was a window. In the middle was a large desk probably enough for six people. Ayame was seated at its far left. Shinku, who had poured her some tea and then herself, had taken the cup, went and sat down at its far right with the window to her back.

Ayame took a sip of the sweet tea and took a good look around the room. A small figure of a golden cat with its left paw in the air caught her eye.

“Alright”, Shinku said, gaining Ayame’s attention. “I hope by now you are aware of your past life.”

“Yes, pretty much. But why just not let me die. By the way, isn’t this the school I used to attend?”

“Let me explain it all,” standing up from her place she continued, “This universe is formed by a large library of books. The world you used to be in your first life and the world you were in just a while ago are all books. Books with stories written by some unknown being.”

“So you mean when someone dies their soul transfers from one book to another?” Ayame asked.

“Exactly.”

“So you're the person that manages this place… what did you call this place again?”

“The in-between.”

“You’re a librarian?”

“Ahem, No. There's another person for that. She isn't here at this moment. I am the editor, and the one responsible for keeping all books and their stories in proper order.”

Shinku went towards one of the book shelves.

“You see, lately these otherworldly beings have been submitting a ton of books and not all of them have a worthy enough story or world building to be an actual world. That was when I caught yours.”

She placed a large book with an oak white cover on the table. It had no title. The cover was just blank.

“What's this?”, Ayame asked.

“This here is Anastasia's world. An incomplete story.”

“You mean I was reborn as a character in that book?” Ayame asked, reaching her hand to the book which was swatted Away by Shinku.

“Yes, and- hey no! Swat”

Shinku swatted away Ayame’s hands again.

“Leme read! I wanna know the future too.”

“No you can't know the future. It goes against the rules. You know too much to begin with.”

“What it's not like I'm going back?”

Shinku kept smiling

“Wait, am I?”

“Yes you are. And you shall be the one helping me edit and rewrite this one mess of a book.”

“But I don't wanna.”, Ayame protested, placing her teacup on the table with a loud clink.

“It's not up for you to decide.”

Ayame had the urge to protest. But felt an immensely overpowering aura coming from the pink haired girl in front of her and decided to give in.

“We're running out of time, so I'll make it quick," Shinku said.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Ayame drank another sip from the cup. It was a sweet tea. Not a taste she had had before.

“It's simple, I'll be sending you back. But this time with an additional perk on your hand that I suggested and got the approval from.” taking the big book back in her arms she continued, “and this time I hope to see a better story carved out.”

“Wait what perk? And who did you-”

Ayame’s whole body felt numb and hardened. It was the same feeling she got in her last life. The feeling of being poisoned. Gahh, Not again! Ayame helplessly fell down from the chair landing on the floor. She lay, looking up at Shinku who looked unfaced.

Shinku came closer, bent down and shifted a loft of Ayame’s hair which had fallen over her face.

“This cant do Ayame-san, you haven't learned your lesson yet. Don't trust anyone too much. That's how you shall progress through the new plot.”

Ayame couldn't say anything as her whole body was paralyzed. The last thing she saw were Shinku's glowing eyes.

It was as if she drifted into a sudden sleep. The whole world went dark. Ayame felt as if some unknown force was pulling her down. It was like gravity acting on a falling person. And then suddenly fell and hit herself against something. Thunk

Grass?

She found that she could now feel her body. Which certainly felt odd. She opened her eyes and made herself up. She looked around with astonishment. The place had many orderly grown trees and in the far distance she could see the roofs of some large buildings.

It seemed she was in an even smaller body this time. Her small hands, slightly bruised and her dress a bit disheaven. Ahhh my head hurts. What even was in that tea? A few meters ahead there was a large fountain which she instantly recognized. Wait, I think I know where this is.

She went towards the fountain and looked into the small pond around it. What was reflected in the clear water was the face of a small girl, 4-5 years of age, white hair, long ears and golden eyes. She felt her face with her small hands.

She was back, Anastasia was back, most probably 10 years before the invasion. The place she was in was the royal orchard that surrounded her small palace. But something wasn’t right. Why were her eyes golden?

Was this what the strange girl from earlier had told her? The perk? What even would these golden eyes do? If anything they would bring more attention to Anna, and that's something she didn't want happening.

Moreover why do all those things that happened feel like I was in a long dream? Was it really a dream? No way certainly was not. I feel more mature than someone with this baby body should be.

“Princess! Where are you princess!”

Anna heard a voice, and as she looked in its direction, she saw a young woman who looked troubled, coming toward her. She was wearing a maid’s uniform, had brown braided hair, freckles, and wore a pair of glasses. It was a face Anna longed to see again. Tears drifted into her eyes.

“There you are pr-”

“Jeanne!”, saying Anna suddenly hugged the maid.

“Ehhhh what are you doing princess!”

“Jeanne! I missed you a lot.”

“P-princess must be teasing me," Jeanne said, confused.

After a moment Anna stopped crying and let go of the confused young maid.

“Oh my, princess, did you fall? Look, the dress is a whole mess. Let me dust off. Awww look at my princesses hands. Come let us go back to the palace princess.”, Jeanne said, dusting off and adjusting the disheaven hem of Anna's dress.

But Anna wasn't listening. She was deep in thought trying to get onto the right track of this situation.

“Wait. Jeanne.”

“Yes princess?”

“What year is it?”

“Princess?", Jeanne looked a bit surprised but answered promptly, “It's the year 489.”

“Oh that means I'm 5… hmm hmm”

The little elf, Anna, made a sort of thinking pose, holding her chin with her right hand and left hand on her waist, tapping the ground slightly with her foot.

So that means I got 10 years till the invasion. What should I do…?

Anna started scratching her head as if racking her brain for an answer. Quite the un-princesly behavior.

Jeanne looked shocked. Her little princess was a calm person. Never did she act like this. Perhaps she hit her head somewhere!, Jeanne thought.

“Oh yeah!” the little princess said at once startling Jeanne. “Were my eyes always this colour?”

“I'm sorry?”, Jeanne asked. Did she just hear what she just heard? Did her beloved princess actually lose her memories!?

“My eyes. Were they always this colour?”, she meant to be a bit stern but her child features made it look less threatening.

“Well no, princess, your eyes were red. The gold started appearing last year.”

“Last year huh…”

Before Anna asked any more questions Jeanne held her tight with both her hands. She looked almost on the verge of tears.

“Awww my poor princess, you might have lost some of your memories. Let us slowly recover them.”

“Ehhh but I'm-”

“No more questions princess.”, Jeanne said, cutting between Anna's words, “Now come here princess. Let us go get a nice warm bath and get rid of these dirty clothes. I-I'll get the physician to attend to you after that.”

“Huh? wa? Wait Jeanne!”

Jeanne dragged the helpless little princess back to her palace.