"Going back in time?" Ruby laughed. "This is so stupid."

Even with her mockery, Nova remained calm. They stared at each other.

"So," Nova said. "Do you really think that's impossible?"

Her confidence worried Ruby, but she knew this talk was just ridiculous. Why had she even bothered listening to her mad rambling?

"I've never heard of such magic, and I'm done with you," Ruby said, trying to leave.

"Are you sure you want to leave things hanging like this?" Nova said. "Don't you want to learn more about Aurora and me?"

Ruby knew that whatever Nova said, she couldn't just believe it. Nova could easily be lying and messing with her, but... but she wanted to know more about it. She wanted to know more about Aurora.

"Fine," Ruby said. "Let's say I believe you two are back in time, then what?"

"A lot," Nova said. "In the world before I was regressed, Aurora was basically bewitching all the boys. That includes my fiancé, Finnick, Oliver, and all the others."

Aurora being popular among boys, Ruby could believe it. Even right now she had heard rumors that some boys from noble families were planning to ask her to be their fiancé. But her hogging Casper, Finnick, and Oliver? The image just felt wrong somehow.

"Aurora's not that kind of girl," Ruby said.

"Well, I'll admit she's changed," Nova said. "Before this, she was more active in chasing guys. But anyway, because she stole Finnick's attention from you, we ended up becoming friends."

If the situation were different and it was Aurora who had stolen Finnick from her, Ruby couldn't help but admit that she might have been willing to become friends with Nova.

The idea of being friends with Nova disgusted her though.

"We tried to get back at her with... a little pranks and stuff," Nova continued. "I over did it, angering Casper and almost getting killed by him. Instead, I regressed to my younger years."

"So... you got a second chance?" Ruby tried to make sense of things.

"I guess I wanted revenge," Nova said. "So after I regressed, I tried my best to be in friendly relationships with all the boys. So I wouldn't get killed again. Though in the process, it seems I made you an enemy."

Ruby was stunned. She had never seen Nova this vulnerable before. Was she really telling the truth?

"Anyway," Nova said. "The mine that Aurora's family bought, originally it was going to be yours. So isn't that mean she's stealing from you?"

"What are you trying to say?" Ruby said, her mind trying to process all this new information.

Nova smiled. "Are you and Aurora really friends?"

***

Aurora noticed that over the past few days, Ruby has been acting a bit off. She hasn't been avoiding Aurora like she did before, but she seems more distracted and not quite herself. Aurora can't help but wonder what might be going on with her.

Like today, after they finished their lesson, Aurora and Ruby were walking down the hall together.

"Today's lesson was pretty boring, huh?" Aurora said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I prefer something more hands-on."

"Yeah," Ruby replied absentmindedly.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Really? What class do you like the best?" Aurora asked, curious.

"Yeah," Ruby said, still not fully present in the conversation.

Aurora sighed. "Again with this, you're not even listening to me, are you?"

"Yeah."

"Do you like eating rocks?" Aurora asked.

"Yeah--wait, what?" Ruby's mind snapped back, looking at Aurora in confusion.

"So, you're finally paying attention to me now?" Aurora said, pouting.

Ruby was stunned. She had never seen Aurora pout like that before.

"Cute... I mean, I'm sorry," Ruby said, flustered. "I just... have a lot on my mind."

"Okay," Aurora said, her tone a bit hurt. "I guess you don't want to share it with me?"

Ruby let out a sigh. "It's not that I don't want to tell you... "

In fact, Ruby really want to talk about it with Aurora. After all, it's about her. She think it's better to find out stuff directly from her. But... She was scared.

If what Nova said was true...

"I get it," Aurora said, looking disappointed. "I guess I'm not the most reliable person."

"No, no, no, that's not what I mean," Ruby panicked.

"Then what do you mean?" Aurora asked.

"I-I mean... " Ruby didn't have excuses prepared and her mind just wasn't working right now. She struggled to find the right words to explain herself.

"See? I'm just useless, right?" Aurora said. "I remember you asked me to tell you when I need help, but you don't want the same from me?"

"Y-you're overthinking it, that's not what I mean!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Whatever," Aurora said, her tone dismissive, as she began to walk faster, leaving Ruby behind.

"Wait!" Ruby called out, hurrying to catch up. "It's my fault, please don't be mad at me!"

But Aurora didn't listen and kept walking quickly. Ruby reached out and grabbed her hand, which ended up stopping her.

"I get it," Ruby said, her voice softening. "Let's talk."

Ruby was taken by Aurora to her room, and she couldn't help but feel a little excited. After all, it was Aurora's room. As she looked around, she noticed that the room had a consistent blue theme throughout. She glanced over at her bed and noticed a couple of books lying on it.

"Sorry," Aurora said. "My maid isn't here today, so my room is a bit of a mess."

"No, I don't mind," Ruby quickly replied.

"Please feel free to take a seat wherever you like," Aurora said, as she dropped her bag."Would you like some tea? I have some cookies too if you'd like."

"Sure," Ruby said nervously. She couldn't help but glance at the bed, the white sheets and soft pillows calling out to her. But she forced herself to sit in the chair near the windows instead.

Aurora poured tea into Ruby's cup, the warm liquid steaming as she handed it to her, even though it hadn't been warmed up. Aurora knew that the game's description mentioned everyday things working automatically using magic crystals, but she hadn't had the time to study it to know how exactly it worked.

"Thank you," Ruby said, taking her cup from Aurora.

Aurora sat across from her and said, "So, tell me what's bothering you."

At first, Ruby looked unsure, but as she took a sip of her tea, she began to open up. "A few days ago, I talked with Nova," she said.

Ruby began speaking, her words tumbling out of her mouth as she told her everything. She discussed their conversations about regressing, how Nova used to be her friend, and even the abandoned mine. Everything.

Aurora was stunned, the information she just heard taking her by surprise. She couldn't believe that something so significant had occurred without her knowledge.

Her face went pale as she said, "I'm sorry..."

What a blunder, Aurora thought to herself. She had been so preoccupied with other things that she had failed to notice such a major mistake. She should have known better.

The reason Nova was keeping the mine a secret was because she wasn't sure what Aurora's plans were. It was likely that she was holding back the information in case she could use it as leverage or material for blackmailing her later on.

But now that it was clear that all the money from the mine had been used to purchase a large amount of Kroma herb, Nova no longer had any reason to keep the mine a secret.

There is no reason for Nova not to tell Ruby about it.

Did she subconsciously still think that it was a game? Thinking that just because Ruby was already her ally, she thought it would stay like that permanently?

But with this, their relationship will change.

"I'm sorry," Aurora said. "I should have told you first."

"So... does that mean," Ruby said, carefully looking at Aurora's face, "all of that is true?"

Aurora nodded. "I'm sorry I kept it a secret."

"I-it's fine," Ruby said. "Such an absurd thing... I would have a hard time believing it anyway."

"Still," Aurora continued, her voice laced with a hint of sadness. "I should have told you first. You're my friend now, not her."

"Did we though?" Ruby responded.

Aurora felt a sharp pain in her chest. Ruby's words hurt more than she had anticipated.

"Do-do you want me to give that mine back...?" Aurora stammered, her voice trembling. "I will give it back. I'll give everything back. I'll even pay back all the gem earnings too."

"Aurora," Ruby called out. Aurora looked up and saw Ruby standing right next to her, her expression filled with worry.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to make you cry," Ruby said, gently holding Aurora's hand.

Aurora didn't realize what Ruby meant until she felt wetness on her cheeks. Without her noticing, she had been crying.

"Eh? Tha-that's weird... Why am I crying...?" Aurora immediately tried wiping away her tears, confused.

"Now who's the crybaby again?" Ruby grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

"Don't tease me..." Aurora pouted, still feeling embarrassed.

"You know," Ruby said, her tone growing serious. "All this time I've been worried. If it's true that we used to be enemies, then what kind of relationship do we actually have? What do you actually think about me? These questions have been bothering me ever since."

"Are you and Aurora really friends?" Nova's words still echoed in Ruby's mind.

Ruby smiled, "But looking at you right now, that question seems so stupid."

"But... I stole that mine from you," Aurora said, her voice filled with guilt.

"Who cares about that stupid mine!" Ruby exclaimed quickly. "This necklace you gave me is worth a million times more than that."

"But... I got it from that mine. Isn't that like giving you a gift from your own money?" Aurora said.

"Geez! Who cares about all these small details!"

Ruby hugged her tightly. This silly, stupid blue girl is just impossible, she thought to herself with a hint of fondness. She couldn't help but smile.

"You're... not angry?" Aurora asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Why would I be?" Ruby replied, her voice filled with warmth.

"But..." Aurora's voice trailed off.

"I just noticed," Ruby said. "How silly it is to get all frustrated over something that I didn't even do."

"But, Ruby..." Aurora started to say, but she was interrupted.

"Except, does it actually bother you for me to be by your side?" Ruby asked, breaking away from the hug.

"No, no, not at all," Aurora reassured her.

"Then isn't it fine?" Ruby asked, with a hint of a smile.

Is it really fine? Aurora wondered to herself. Because even now, she hadn't told her everything. At the end of the day, she was still a liar.

***