Round 2

The same voice that echoed in my head before I was transported here spoke again. I stared at the apple that had magically appeared before me, causing me to wonder if this was part of the plan that this ethereal being had for me. I would say a god, but I didn't know what to believe now. 

"W-will Lyra come back?" I hoped the voice would answer me and confirm what they meant by attempt 2. Do I enter a new timeline or do I begin this one again? 

However, my question was met with silence and the apple was pushed off the rubble by an invisible force and onto Lyra's stomach. 

"I guess there is only one way to find out." Grabbing the apple, I took another look at Lyra's corpse. I didn't know why I kept staring. My body trembled at seeing her without a head and made me want to throw up. 

"Please, let this bring her back." My hand shook as I brought the apple to my mouth. My other hand clenched at Lyra's clothes, praying that this apple would bring me back. If it doesn't, then I see myself finally snapping. 

*Crunch* 

Taking a bite out of the apple, it tasted like nothing, but it wasn't long before my consciousness started to fade. It was a different sensation from when I first ate the apple, but the fact that I was feeling it meant it was working. 

Suddenly, everything turned black, and my body felt like it was in space. I floated in nothingness, going in an unknown direction until I was able to open my eyes. 

I regained control of my body and gasped for air as I sat up. My eyes adjusted to the light and I realised I was back in my room. It was definitely the same timeline, but did everything really reset or was it just a really bad dream I just had? 

Looking around for any evidence of the timeline resetting, my eyes caught sight of something purple on my desk. 

Glistening in the light was the same purple apple with a chunk of it gone where I bit it. 

'I really did go back in time… at least I think I did.' There was no way to say for sure just yet, but seeing the apple was enough to convince me. 

"Saki~? It's time for breakfast otherwise, you'll be late for your first day." My Mother's voice came through the door, as well as the same smell of the breakfast I had when I first woke up.

'I restarted, right?' I clenched my head as I felt a headache coming, trying to comprehend what just happened. I was already on the verge of having a mental breakdown so the last thing I needed was more uncertainty. 

'Me and Lyra meet at the ceremony, so if she isn't there, only then will I find out if it worked.' I felt my throat tighten, thinking that Lyra wasn't alive but I needed to hold myself together until then. I couldn't imagine what state I would be in if she weren't here. Seeing her be so brutally murdered was hard enough to stomach. 

"Saki?" My mother suddenly peeked her head through my door to see that I was awake. 

"Y-yeah I'm coming. I just woke up." My voice was slightly shaky as I hadn't quite recovered, but I tried to act natural. There was no need for her to worry and I wanted to keep it that way. With me starting over, I could avoid some encounters and actually make it through the school. 

"Well, get up quick before the food gets cold sweetie." My Mother smiled and walked back to the kitchen. 

Dragging myself out of bed, as soon as I tried to stand up, I realised I was still quite shaken up. My legs could barely hold me up because of the petrifying fear of that night. 

'Come on, everything is okay now.' I focused on all the facts that suggested that I had restarted. It helped me calm down, at least temporarily until I got to the academy. 

*

Getting changed into my uniform and packing my bag, I decided to take the apple with me. I didn't know if I was the only one who could see it, but I didn't want my Mother to throw it out by accident. Granted, it is some kind of god apple, but I can't bet on it appearing in front of me like that again. 

Walking out to the kitchen, the food was placed out exactly like it was originally. 

"Good to see you are ready, did you pack everything?" Still cooking something in the kitchen for herself, I took a seat and began to eat. 

"Yes, I did, don't worry." Although things are playing out slightly differently since I actually know what is going on, it still felt so surreal. I was half expecting to wake up lying next to Lyra's corpse. 

"Excited for your first day? I'm sure you're eager to finally learn how to use magic." Now this was different. I knew my Mother could use magic, but she hadn't taught me anything at all.

"Well, I can already use a little bit, but it will be nice to properly know how." Conjuring up a tiny flame from the tip of my finger, my Mother turned around and looked rather shocked for a second. 

"When did you learn that?" There was a slight shake in her voice which was very odd from her usual behaviour. I knew she was hiding something, but there seemed to be a lot more to it that I didn't know. 

The headmaster already said I was part of a noble family yet here I am as a peasant. 

'After I find out Lyra is okay, I need to see if I can get some answers from my Mother.' It dawned on me that I had information I technically shouldn't know from the headmaster. If what he said is true, then I am actually part of the creation magic family. 

"I just could feel the mana within me and it allowed me to create yellow flames. I don't try to use it since I don't want to accidentally burn the house down." I couldn't just say I learned it at the academy, so I hope it was normal for some people to naturally learn it. 

"That's great, but do be careful." My Mother played it off with a smile, but it didn't feel genuine. 

"I will." 

'When I thought nothing could be wrong having my Mother back, there is already some suspicion about her.' I wanted to believe that everything was peaceful and I'd have no issues. 

'Urgh, my head can't take any more problems, I need to hurry.' Right now, my head was too full of worry for Lyra and how I was going to avoid Raja, as well as all the other harassment I endured. Quickly eating my breakfast, I grab my things and head to the front door. 

"I'll see you later, Mum." Waving goodbye, I put on my shoes and left for the academy.

"Stay safe Saki~." 

* 

I was almost sprinting to the academy in hopes that I would catch Lyra before the entrance ceremony. The anxiety was slowly getting more intense as I approached the gate. My entire mental state relied on Lyra being alive and if I couldn't find her, then screw this apple and life. 

The many judgemental looks I got when walking to school were very much the same, but I didn't care. I was used to being looked down upon, so if anything it's a good thing as I know nothing has changed. 

If things play out the same as they did last time, then I can avoid them. The main turning point was Lyra's suspension, so I definitely need to prevent that from happening. It all went downhill from then on because I was alone.

*

Finally, after running for 10 minutes, I made it to the school gate. I looked around everywhere to see if I could spot Lyra before the whole ceremony started. I saw myself breaking down and crying if I saw her and I would rather not have that happen during it.

'She also won't know who I am.' I needed to be careful not to scare Lyra off otherwise, this whole restart would be pointless.

'I just need to see her and that's all that matters.' If I could just get a glimpse of her entering the school, then that will be enough. Any kind of confirmation will put my heart and mind at ease and get rid of this sick feeling. 

So with that, I headed towards the hall and sat in a patch of grass that was in view of the gate. This generated more looks from people passing by, but as long as it wasn't Raja or April, it should be fine. 

*

<10 minutes later> 

The ceremony was about to start, but it was also around this time that Lyra showed up. I intently watched the gate as there were still students coming in, giving me a slight amount of hope. Then I saw her, she walked around the corner of the gate in her uniform. 

"Yes… s-she is alive."