The woman had slightly messy light brown hair and was wearing a sweater and sweatpants that I recognized from my previous life. She was petite and slightly nervous looking, until she noticed us. 

“Incredible! You barely look different from when I first met you!” she exclaimed, “Like Ozzy said, I am Michele, but please call me Mickey.”

She went from nervous to full energy in one go and beckoned us all closer, as she moved closer herself. The Headmaster stepped back and simply watched.

“Even Autumn is here! My cute little heroine!”

“What?!” Autumn squeaked.

“Don’t worry, I know you are a boy,” Mickey assured.

Didn’t that make it worse? Wait, if she called Autumn a heroine could it be…

“Would you happen to know of a certain game where we are characters?” I asked.

“Know it? I wrote it, silly,” Mickey answered.

Both Autumn and I stared at her in shock. I recovered after a few seconds, on the outside. “So… you asked to see us because your characters are based on us?”

“That is one of the reasons, but there is actually something far more important,” Mickey explained, suddenly turning serious, “I don’t know the exact details because I only heard some things second hand, but before you finish your first year of Nobility, a major event will happen. That event turns all of you into the Heroes of Tethia.”

“I know that summons have a completely different timeframe than we do,” Alois brought up, “but you are basically saying that you saw our future in your past?”

“It sounds weird when you say it like that, but yes,” Mickey agreed.

“But... Why us? Why are we the heroes of Tethia?” Autumn asked.

Mickey paused. “You mean you don’t know? I was told so casually I thought it wasn’t a big deal,”

“It might just be something we are overlooking?” I offered.

“That’s true,” Mickey agreed, “It is because you can all remember your past lives.”

I froze, and I doubt I was the only one. I didn’t miss the Headmaster’s sudden interest either. No, backtrack, did she say-

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“All?” Alois asked, “I knew everyone here was interesting but even the kitty?” He ruffled Autumn’s hair and got smacked away by Keane. “And it’s owner…”

“Keane doesn’t own me,” Autumn grumbled.

“I think we are getting off track,” Wayde said with narrowed eyes, “Does that mean everyone knows about the war?”

“War?” I asked, a bit startled.

“I think we may have to start at the beginning,” Caleb suggested, “From the sounds of things you are getting your second chance here, but some of us are from other worlds.”

“You sound oddly informed,” Alois noted, “Has my roommate been spying on me?”

“Alois… You read your diary out loud when you write in it every night,” Caleb sighed, “It is less spying, and more finding out whether I wanted to or not. I thought you had just lost it at first.”

“Wait, I do?”

“Yes,” Caleb affirmed, “I have also been doing research on summoning and reincarnation, and I found some spells that could explain all of our presence here.”

“So we were called here?” I asked.

“Yes, but I don’t know the details since I have no idea what kind of person activated what kind of spell.”

I glanced over at Mickey who was looking awkward and confused. From the looks of things she didn’t know either. Headmaster Osmond took this opportunity to approach.

“Why don’t each of you take turns and tell each other a little about your past,” he suggested, “After that, you can come up with a plan together, Heroes of Tethia.”

He gestured to Alois who sighed before starting.

“I am-”

“Wait, you are just going to talk here?” Caleb protested.

“Can you think of a place more secure?” Alois shot back.

Caleb fell silent, and despite the Headmaster’s presence could think of nothing to argue either.

“I am the same person I was last time, except last time I never attended Nobility. All I know is that the Empire of Gaia suddenly supported the other kingdoms and the entire continent turned against us,” Alois explained, “Right as I died I found out about a forbidden artifact that might turn the tide. However, it never occurred to me that anyone else might remember.”

“Since I am connected, I will go next,” Wayde said.

“Wait,” Maximus interrupted, “We don’t have to-”

“Do you want history to repeat itself?”

“...I understand.”

Wayde turned back to us. “I was the last king before Tethia fell, but I am also still the same person I was last time. I was the sixteenth king to be crowned during the war, and my wartime skills were not to be praised. I died on the battlefield. Maximus was my assistant.”

“Isn’t that a bit switched around?” Keane commented.

“I thought so too, which is why I am making sure I am seen that way this time around,” Wayde agreed.

Maximus looked away. There was definitely something left out but I didn’t want to make him spill it in front of the Headmaster.

“We can skip Maximus then,” I said, “I came from another world that did not have magic. However, we had lots of technology and stories of magic. I was just an ordinary person there.”

“So was I,” Autumn nodded, “But I mostly remember that game.”

“The one Cassandra mentioned earlier?” Keane asked.

“You mean my game?” Mickey asked.

I had forgotten she was also still there…

“Yes. There was something like a war in there too, so we will probably be facing one,” Autumn confirmed, “The game details said it was because they were after our magic.”

“So we have several people who know pieces of the future,” Wayde mused.

“So I guess I’m next?” Caleb muttered, seeming extraordinarily bored, “The world I came from is barely comparable. Most everything was different and we spoke telepathically, not with our mouths. Because of that it took me forever to learn to speak here.”

I hadn’t thought about that, but it made sense, and I felt strangely sorry for him. On second thought, that glare definitely meant he would lash out at any form of pity.

“A chemical researcher and scientist,” Keane said, “Also from another world.” He had brought said research here, and was clearly done with this whole conversation. “Can we go back now? It must be hard for you to continue to hold onto your summon for so long.”

The Headmaster smiled. “Not in this room, but you are free to go at any time,” he assured, “I am sure you need some time to think because we go into planning. Just let me know what I can do to help.”