I never thought that one day I would walk into the halls of a prestigious academy, in the body of a fourteen-year-old girl with pink hair and pink eyes, carrying in her left breast the heart of a knight captain who died from poison. But life always likes to mock people in the strangest ways—and today, it did just that.
The gates of Ax School opened like the gates of an ancient temple: four white stone pillars supporting a soaring dome, each relief carved with the image of the Holy Knights. The crowd behind me jostled, but I stood still for a few seconds, taking a deep breath.
"Calm down, Mabel. No… Deuwyn Alyane Endias."
I reminded myself. The new name still sounded strange.
As soon as I entered, a school staff member led me to the central building—where the principal worked. The building was located behind a large courtyard, surrounded by statues of ancient wizards, warriors, and saints. I followed, feeling half curious and half wary.
"Miss Deuwyn, the headmaster wants to see you as soon as school starts," the guide said.
I nodded.
The headmaster wants to see a student in private?
That felt a little… familiar. Usually a commander would call in the warriors with the highest achievements, or when there was a big matter. Not to see a girl who was only 14.
We stopped in front of a heavy black wooden door carved with dragon eyes. The guide knocked twice and left.
"Come in," a deep voice, slightly dragging on the last word, sounded from inside.
I pushed the door open.
The headmaster's office was large but tidy. Light filtered through the glass windows, illuminating hundreds of ancient books. At the desk, a man stood with his back to her, looking at a stack of documents.
Before I could say anything, he turned around.
At that moment, I thought my heart stopped for a moment.
Black hair tied low, silver eyes, a sharp face that looked younger than his age—that was not the headmaster I had imagined. But what made me freeze was that gaze. The gaze that had once looked at me through the iron mask of the trainee team, calling me "sister-in-law", even though I was three years younger than him.
"…Mabel?"
His voice broke out softly, so surprised that his silver eyes widened.
I closed the door.
"…You really remember, Ijeckerl."
He walked quickly towards me as if he couldn't believe my existence.
"No, it can't be… she died. I saw the funeral with my own eyes… But—this body, this gaze… the holy power in her… I can't be mistaken."
"You're still as talkative as before." I crossed my arms. "And yes, I am dead. I am Deuwyn now. Even if I don't want to."
He stood in front of me, looking down at me closely, as if in a blink everything would disappear.
"If it were you… you would have died from Celestium poisoning. There is no way to recover—"
"I know," I interrupted. "But I woke up in this body. And now we meet again, at a school I never heard of when I was alive."
Ijeckerl held his forehead.
"The gods really have a… sense of humor."
I laughed.
"If God really did this, He must be very free."
We paused for a few seconds to catch our breath. The reunion of two people who had fought together on the battlefield was never easy.
"Sit down."
Ijeckerl pointed to the sofa beside me.
I sat down, and he sat across from me, his elbows on his knees, leaning forward as if forcing himself to stay awake.
"Do you feel it?" he asked.
"What?" I tilted my head.
"Your divine power. A small part of this body."
I was silent.
Actually… I had been feeling it all morning.
A faint stream of energy, like a stray candle in a dark room. Not as strong as the divine power I once had—where it swirled like a storm of holy fire. But it was there, like a fragment of Mabel Phemlo herself.
"…Yes," I admitted. "But very little."
"Yes." Ijeckerl nodded. "The divine power is slowly transferring from the old body to the new one. It recognizes your soul, and is trying to integrate."
"But why is it taking so long?"
"Because this body already has a different magical system. When two opposing elements coexist, the body must adapt, otherwise you will die again from the magical impulse."
I raised my eyebrows.
"…Die a second time? I just came back to life a few days ago."
"So you have to be careful." He spoke very seriously. "If you force this body to use holy magic, it will react. Don't touch it until the transmission is complete."
"How long will it take?"
"Two months at least. One year if the body reacts strongly."
One year…
I sighed, resting my hand on my forehead.
For someone who used holy magic to fight, heal, protect… living without being able to use it is like having an arm cut off.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds.
"Okay. I understand."
Ijeckerl looked at me, his eyes softening.
"You are still you. Calm, stubborn, and… trustworthy."
"I haven't changed."
"You haven't changed. You're shorter."
I raised my head, rolling my eyes.
"You—!"
Ijeckerl laughed, leaning back in his chair.
"I was joking. But really… I'm glad you're alive."
At that moment, I saw his silver eyes flash with relief.
A kind of emotion I had never seen in him when he was in the army.
"Yeah." I said softly. "…I'm also glad you're still alive, and have become the principal."
"For whom did I enter the academy that year, have you forgotten?" he curled his lips. "Because the person who told me, 'Without knowledge, you'll only die on the battlefield.' That sentence haunts me to this day."
I blushed.
"I told all the juniors at that time."
"But I remember it the most."
The atmosphere was a little too strange. I coughed to cut it off.
"…What now? I'll go to school?"
"You're a special student. Of course you have your own room, your own class, I've already taken care of all your records."
Then he stopped, looking at me so seriously that I was a little startled.
"But there's one thing you have to remember: don't let anyone find out you're Mabel. That… will cause chaos."
I frowned.
"Do you think I don't know? I'm dead."
"Yeah. But people like to dig up things that should be left alone."
He stood up, touching my shoulder.
"If you're resurrected, live a worthy life. I'll help you keep your secret, and I'll help you stabilize your holy power. You're not alone in this life."
I looked at him for a long time.
"Thank you, Ijeckerl."
"It's been a long time since you called me that."
"Do you like it?"
"Very."
A gentle silence passed.
Then I stood up and adjusted my shirt.
"Then I'll go explore the school."
Ijeckerl frowned: "Don't cause trouble."
"I'm not the one causing trouble."
"…When you were alive, you smashed a holy statue out of anger."
"I don't remember! Don't make it up."
"I saw it."
My face turned red like a tomato.
"Done. I'm leaving!"
I opened the door and walked out, hearing Ijeckerl's small laugh behind me.
The door closed, and I took a deep breath.
Okay, Mabel—no, Deuwyn.
The second life had begun.