"Waitwaitwait, this doesn't make sense! First of all why are you me!? And what are you-"(Lydia)

"You need to calm down first."(Stella)

She cut me off by merely pointing her index finger at me, I felt my body losing its strength, similar to how it felt before I lost consciousness.

"You were the one that saved the brat named Ria!"(Lydia)

"Unfortunately, no"(Stella)

It isn't her!?

"Listen, I know you have a ton of questions to ask, but I want you to listen to me first."(Stella)

"..."(Lydia)

"..."(Stella)

"..."(Lydia)

The awkward silence was too much so she began talking.

She told me of the events that happened after the game, her memory was hazy, but what she clearly remembered was her using a unique magic to restart this world.

It worked, but it was an entirely different dimension, whoever reached this world was not known, except for two people.

"The prince and Lydia, right?"(Lydia)

"Correct."(Stella)

It was obvious,since they were the ones nearest to Stella at the end of the game.

Still, there's an important question that's yet to be answered...

"If you were sent to this game, wouldn't you normally be in "Stella's", your body?"(Lydia)

"That's where the first problem comes in."(Stella)

I knew it.

"Someone else is inside "Stella", I don't know who, but that person's will is strong enough to force me in this body."(Stella)

"And that person is...?"(Lydia)

"That's where the second problem comes in, the only way for me to know is to meet the person itself, if not, our plans for the future will be ruined."(Stella)

"Plans for the...future?"(Lydia)

I never heard nor knew of such a plan.

"We are going to need "Stella's" help if we plan on surviving this world."(Stella)

"Stella's"...help?

"What? No, that's just-"(Lydia)

"Huh? What's the problem?"(Stella)

That's not how the game...

"I-I'm the villainess, a-and she's the heroine."(Lydia)

"And...? I don't see any problem. You haven't even met each other, you just have to pull the right strings and she's sure to help us."(Stella)

"B-but that's not how it happened in the game..."(Lydia)

If I just kill the heroine in one of the bad endings, I'm sure to survive, there's no need for-

"The game!?"(Stella)

"W-well I-"(Lydia)

"Oh right! hahaha, "the game"."(Stella)

"..."(Lydia)

"DON'T SCREW WITH ME!"(Stella)

"Waugh!?"(Lydia)

I was startled by her sudden change in demeanor, she was furious, the soothing aura she had suddenly turned menacing, the feeling I had from the king couldn't compare to this.

The reason was obvious, unlike the king, her anger, her rage was directed towards me.

"Hahaha, how could I forget!?"(Stella)

Laughing as she looked towards the sky, she suddenly faced towards my direction, and like that-

"Uwah!?"(Lydia)

-I was sent flying.

But unlike last time, I actually crashed into multiple pillars, flying in a straight line and finally crashing into a pond.

My entire body was aching, I was lucky to have landed on a shallow area since I couldn't really swim.

I could still move even with the pain, this really is a dream world.

"THIS-IS-NOT-A-GAME!!!!"(Stella)

"Akh!!"(Lydia)

I felt like a hammer fell on my head, as she suddenly appeared before me, once again pointing her hand towards my direction.

"Kiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!"(Lydia)

I was trembling in fear, running won't do anything, and I don't even know how I came here in the first place.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact.

But nothing happened.

"Huh?"(Lydia)

I opened my eyes, Stella was looking at something behind me.

Turning around, the pond I fell into was missing, like it wasn't there in the first place.

What I saw was a mirror, with a gold frame filled with designs, it was a simple one commonly used by nobles.

But it currently had ripples on it, which slowly disappeared.

"Tell me Lydia, what do you see?"(Stella)

???

"H-huh? W-well I can see myself."(Lydia)

Light green, curled hair with a tiara filled with gems.

Yellowish, round eyes befitting of a 5-year-old, it had a small tint of red in the center.

I wore a black dress, like a Gothic Lolita outfit, similar to most of my clothes.

It had a golden pattern for design, and there was no jewel embedded on the clothing.

"DON'T FUCK WITH ME!"(Stella)

!?

"W-what's your problem!?"(Lydia)

"LOOK! Tell me what you fucking see!"(Stella)

It felt like my head's going to blow out of pressure, I submissively answered in a frightened tone.

"G-green hai-"(Lydia)

"YOUR HAIR'S BLACK!"(Stella)

...

...huh?

"What are you-"(Lydia)

"Stop denying it! You've already noticed since long ago! The influence you've brought to this child's body!"(Stella)

I once again looked at the mirror.

The curled, green hair I've been seeing everyday wasn't there, no, I knew it since long ago, it was never there.

Black eyes, black hair, the color of my hair, and my eyes.

"You already knew since long ago, you just couldn't accept it, this isn't like the game, you only used being "Lydia" as an excuse to have such an attitude."(Stella)

I didn't face her direction even while she's talking, I was looking at my own reflection, trembling in silence.

"..."(Lydia)

"You're a coward, making such an excuse, using it whenever someone despises you, escaping from the reality that the rotten one is you."(Stella)

"I- no! I'm not-"(Lydia)

The image in the mirror reverted back to the original 5-year-old Lydia.

"!?"(Lydia)

"That isn't you, she's the original one owning this body."(Stella)

The "Lydia" in the mirror ran towards her direction as she spoke.

"Your original form, who you actually are, can now be seen as a reflection."(Stella)

As she said that, my feet suddenly went numb, causing me to fall on the floor.

Looking at the mirror, I saw a black haired, 16 year old girl covered in blood.

She- no, I was crying.

"This child here beside me is the original owner of this body, we're merely thieves that stole it from her."(Stella)

"..."(Lydia)

"I understand what you've been through, but what's done is done."(Stella)

She said that as she stared at me with pity.

Those same fucking eyes I've grown sick of.

Those eyes that have surrounded me, locked me for my entire life.

"What's done is done? WHAT'S DONE IS DONE!?"(Lydia)

The ground trembled as I said that, I wasn't surprised at the sudden earthquake, why would I? I caused it myself.

But she wasn't fazed one bit, her pitiful eyes continued in piercing my chest as it started getting painful.

"I will kick you out of this body."(Lydia)

"Go ahead."(Stella)

I- w-what?

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"(Lydia)

I was stunned at her sudden answer, the earth stopped shaking and the"Lydia" trembling behind her calmed down.

"Have you never thought of how this body survived with three people within, with three mana cores?"(Stella)

Mana cores, an orb-like shaped container placed at the same position of the heart.

It houses the person's entire mana, connects to the entire body, allowing the physical body to function, in this world of magic.

In this world of magic, everything needs mana to exist, and to live one needs a mana core.

"Th-then..."(Lydia)

"I'm the only reason we're currently alive, I decelerated the fusing of our mana cores, if I didn't do so, we would've died since long ago."(Stella)

*crack*

What the hell is it this time!?

"Shit."(Stella)

Cracks appeared at both the ground and sky, as the entire place started vanishing.

"What the hell is happening!?"(Lydia)

"They've noticed"(Stella)

*crack* *crack*

They?

"Listen here, I don't have much time left but remember this-

*crack* *crack* *crack*

-do not trust the gods."

...

...

...

Opening my eyes, I wondered whether it was just a dream.

Standing up and facing the mirror, tears started to form.

Locking my door, I spent the entire day crying.

(Author note-I'm sick!!![too much chocolate >, -because of that, I'm not sure of how the chapter turned out, I'll just re-check it tomorrow

-I can see the light!

-I like it when you're confused :3

-another side story incoming!!!!

-Subtle hint: sidestory)