The whole time, Ruby's mind has been trying to predict what Aurora might want to tell her, but not in a million years did she expect this question: What if she wasn't the real Aurora? What does that even mean?

Ruby can't understand, yet she feels scared.

If Aurora wasn't real, then what is she?

"Sorry, that might sound confusing," Aurora said. "But yes, I really mean what I said. What do you think if I'm not the real Aurora?"

Ruby still doesn't get it and prefers not to continue talking about this. What she wants to know is the simple answer of whether Aurora likes her back or not, not this existential dreadful thing.

But if this is what Aurora wants to talk about, then she will talk about it.

"What exactly do you mean by that...?" Ruby asked.

"I guess it's easier to understand if I explain it from the beginning," Aurora said. "Before I came to this world, I was living as a different person. Different name, different family. I wasn't always Aurora Starlight. It's just... one day, I don't know how and why, but I just woke up as her."

"You mean you possessed her body...?" Ruby said.

"Yes, that's probably what happened," Aurora said. "But I'm not sure if I died before this or not."

"But what about Nova?" Ruby asked. "About the regression? How could that happen if you're not Aurora?"

"It didn't happen. I just lied," Aurora admitted.

"What...?"

"It's hard to explain," Aurora said. "The point is, I'm not the real Aurora. I'm sorry. I think you need to reevaluate your feelings toward me because I'm a fake. I'm just a liar.

Ruby was stunned. She wasn't sure what she should think or how she should feel right now. Ruby always had this feeling that Aurora was hiding something from her, something big. But this...?

That's weird, though, Ruby thought. She never found anything off about Aurora. She never saw Aurora suddenly act like a different person. She liked her a lot and had been watching her a lot. There was no way she could have missed the moment that Aurora changed into a different person.

"When... did this happen?" Ruby asked.

"Ah, it was right before we started studying in this academy," Aurora said.

A smile crept on Ruby's lips. This whole thing was still confusing, but Aurora should have told her that first!

Ruby immediately hugged her.

"You stupid!" Ruby said, almost crying. "You really scared me!"

"Wha-what?" Now Aurora was the one that was confused.

"I don't know about real or not," Ruby said, "but doesn't that mean that since the beginning, the one that interacted with me was you, right?"

"Well, yes. But..."

"I don't care then," Ruby said. "I still like you."

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"No, let's think about this more calmly," Aurora said, panicked. "I was a different person, from a different world!"

"Yes please, tell me more about yourself," Ruby said.

Aurora sighed as if she found Ruby was broken in the head.

"It's my fault. I'm sorry," Aurora said. "All this must be so shocking to you that you can't react properly. Let's take things slowly, okay?"

"I'm fine," Ruby said.

"No, you're not," Aurora insisted.

"I'm fine, though?" Ruby said.

While what Aurora told her was quite surprising, the one who would be bothered by it the most was the one who actually knew Aurora before she went to Magic Academy. Like her maid Lyra or her father. As for Ruby, she felt it was better not to overthink this.

It might sound mean, but she didn't mind even if she wasn't the real Aurora. As long as she was the person she had liked this whole time. Ruby felt like even Sera wouldn't mind either, not that she would share this secret with her.

That's assuming Aurora hasn't told anyone yet though.

"No, you're not fine!" Aurora said. "Sorry to mess with your head so much!"

Ruby was happy Aurora was worried about her, but first, she asked, "Did you tell anyone about this? Besides me?"

"No, not really," Aurora said.

Nova kinda found out herself, but she didn't really tell her anything.

"Not even your father?" Ruby asked.

"No," Aurora said, looking terrified at the idea. "I'm not sure how he will react if he knows I'm not his real daughter. He might even kick me out."

"If he decides to do that," Ruby said, "you can always come live with me."

Aurora blinked. "That's... Thanks, I guess?"

"Yes, in fact, you can do that even if he doesn't kick you out," Ruby said, smiling as if she had found a brilliant idea.

"I know it," Aurora said. "You keep jumping to weird conclusions because you're still confused, right? I'm sorry, let's stop talking about it for now."

"I'm fine! Geez!" Ruby said. "I get what you mean, I'm not that stupid."

"Are you sure?" Aurora asked, looking at her carefully. "I mean, you get it, right? I'm not Aurora. I've been lying to you this whole time."

"Humph, if you know, then you better apologize to me!" Ruby retorted.

"I... I'm sorry?" Aurora automatically said.

"More sincerely!" Ruby demanded.

"I'm truly sorry," Aurora said. "But that's not the point!"

Ruby sighed. "I get it already. Maybe I didn't get it a hundred percent, but I know my feelings for you are still the same. And that's enough for me. But what about you?"

"I... I don't know," Aurora said hesitantly.

"You... don't like me?" Ruby looked a little hurt by just saying that herself.

"No, that's not it! It's just... It's not that simple," Aurora said.

"It's that simple for me," Ruby said.

"Do I really need to answer you right away...?" Aurora asked.

"Well..." Ruby was unsure. If she was going to get rejected, she preferred not to hear the answer at all.

"Do you mind if I take some time to think it through?" Aurora asked. "I don't think... I can make good decisions right now."

Ruby pouted. "What's so hard about it? You can just say you like me."

"I do like you," Aurora admitted.

Ruby blushed. "Don't say that if you didn't mean it!"

"Sorry."

"Whatever," Ruby said. "If that's what you want, then I can wait."

"Thank you," Aurora said, looking relieved.

Ruby had mixed feelings. It seemed kind of unfair that she was being pushed to make a decision as soon as possible, but Aurora didn't have to. It almost made her want to take back her words.

Ruby shook her head. "So what have you been doing with Sera just now?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

"Well, if you're okay with what I just told you," Aurora said, "I guess you'll be okay if I tell you about my conversation with Nova."

Ruby blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, conversation with Nova? Isn't she still unconscious?"

Aurora told her everything: about how she had failed to wake Nova up, about ancient magic, the endless Nightmares, Nova's predictions, and ultimately her own situation.

"What's up with that?" Ruby said. "So after her stupid plan failed, she decided to dump everything on you?"

Aurora smiled. "Pretty much."

"So, until the end, she was still bullying you?" Ruby said. "You shouldn't just accept it! We should make her get executed!"

"Eh, that might not be a good idea..." Aurora said.

"Why not?" Ruby asked. "That talk about ancient magic was interesting though."

"Yup," Aurora said.

"But can we actually trust her?" Ruby asked. "I mean, both of you aren't friends. There's no reason for her to tell you the truth. She might just be messing with your head."

"If that's all there is to it, then it's fine," Aurora said. "But I do have some vague ideas about where this kind of problem can come from."

"It comes from the elf kingdom?" Ruby guessed based on what Rita had told her.

"So you know? Yes, that's one possibility," Aurora said. "And the thing is, even if Nova's prediction was wrong, big changes will happen around the world. At least, that's what I'm sure of."

As Ruby thought about Rita, she noticed someone watching them in secret.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ruby said, staring at something behind a wall. At first, Aurora was confused about who Ruby was talking to, but then she looked in the same direction and understood.

"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation," Rita said as she appeared from behind the wall.

Ruby replied, "Whatever, we're done talking anyway."

"Oh, that's great, miss!" Rita exclaimed.

"Yes, yes. Now, don't you have something you must do?" Ruby said, gestured towards Aurora.

"Oh, right," Rita said. She stood in front of Aurora, picked up her sword, and offered it to her.

Aurora blinked in surprise. "What...?"

"This was yours, Miss Aurora. I'm giving it back," Rita said.

Aurora understood and replied, "Ah, it's fine. You can keep it."

"Are you sure...?" Rita asked, looking a little confused.

Aurora nodded in response.

"But isn't that some kind of legendary sword or something?" Ruby asked.

"It is, but I can't use it anyway," Aurora replied. "So you can keep it."

"But you could still use it as decoration or something," Ruby suggested.

Aurora giggled. "That's an interesting idea, but it would be such a waste. I believe it's better being used by an amazing knight like Rita."

"Thank you for recognizing my ability, Miss Aurora, unlike my master," Rita said.

"Hey!" Ruby interjected. "If that's how it is, you can ask her anything, Aurora. Work this silly knight to the bone!"

Aurora smiled. "I can't do that."

"It's fine, I don't mind, Miss Aurora," Rita said. "If you're really giving this to me, that's at least what I can do to pay back. My master already gave her consent too, so you can ask me anything."

"I see," Aurora said. "Okay, I will keep that in mind."

***