Star of the New World

SECTION 1
Sarah's gaze quickly pans around the room, trying to make sense of her new environment. Several thoughts race through her mind: "Where am I?!" "What are these people saying?" and "Where is my mom? My friends?" 

Sarah then looks over at her reflection again. 

"That's me...?"

She has really been reborn into the body of an infant. 

She reaches out her arm towards the reflection, hoping this was all a bad dream. 

"This has to be a cruel dream. A nightmare! ...It has to be. I wasn't hit. This is all just a dream! I... I... I must still be sleeping in my bed! Mom will wake me up soon! This isn't real..."

As she stretches, her arm falls short. Pathetic. Weak. Helpless. From deep inside, despair festers, consuming her mind.  She tries to scream, but all that escapes from her mouth are the shrill cries of a newborn baby.

The sounds horrify her. 

This isn’t her voice. This isn’t Sarah anymore. It's the cries of a baby, the cries of Alexia. 

SECTION 2
"She is nearly grown, Preston, and still you complain about her training every day," an older voice said. 

"Potential means nothing if she refuses to put in the work," Preston snapped, yelling at the older voice in the room.

"You only care about results. She tries harder than you think. Sometimes, people simply lack the warrior’s spirit. That doesn’t make her a failure," the older voice said calmly.

Alexia sat near the old wooden door to the mansion's main office, listening to the two argue about her. 

It's been ten years since she arrived in this world. Ten years after Sarah had died. The name of Alexia is natural to her, but the thoughts and memories of Sarah still linger in the back of her mind. 

"I'll prove them wrong. I can become stronger," Alexia says to herself. 

Alexis always repeats those words to herself. Countless times she said it. For years, she trained. Yet, no matter how far she pushed herself, how much she studied, Alexia could not make any progress. 

At the age of two, Alexia started to train. Over the years, she learned how to read, write, and even understand the language of the world. 

Her family, the Polaris clan, is a noble family that has produced a great number of soldiers for the Celestial Kingdom. They are a clan of both knights and scholars. To be born into such a clan was to be expected to succeed.

Her main focus, however, is the study of mana. Alexia often trains with her grandpa, Frederick Altair Polais, alongside her two eldest brothers.

For Alexia, the expectation on her was heaviest among the rest, as she was the youngest, so she had the greatest potential. Her eldest sister, Staria, had already risen to the level of a national hero. Her two older brothers were strong as well, having mastered the basics of mana training. 

Alexia can only use the basics of the second art, which is Fortification.

Their father, Preston, never failed to remind them of the standard set by Staria. Alexia, though, has never once met her father's expectations because of her own weakness. Her inability to grow stronger. 

Alexia's father and her two older brothers shunned her because of this. To them, she is the family embarrassment. A weakness that holds the others back. Despite this, Alexia wanted to prove them wrong. The only ones who believe in her are her grandfather and her eldest sister. They alone give Alexia the motivation to continue forward. 

"Staria... When will you come home?" 

Alexia often asks herself. She can't always hide behind grandpa, and her sister is never home. Alexia is often the punching bag of her brothers. She's been sent to the hospital many times because of them. 

As Alexia was deep in thought, the doors to the offices suddenly opened. She fell forward and fell onto the floor, where her father, grandpa, and a few servants stood and stared. 

"Ah- Sorry," she stammered, embarrassed. She quickly gets up and brushes dust off her blue dress. 

Prestion, with a look of disdain, walks out of the room with the servants. 

Frederick, with a kind look, talked to Alexia. "What brings you here? Were you listening in?"

"Yes... Sorry," Alexia said, looking down. She knows that eavesdropping is bad. Especially if it's about her. 

Frederick cut her off. "There is no need to apologize. You only want to grow stronger. So, I've decided... I'm going to send you to the Cardinal Academy."

"Wha- Cardinal?!" Alexia said in surprise. "But grandpa," Alexia was cut off again.

"I know it's sudden, but it is for the best," Frederick added. He then takes out a small sheet of paper.

"You'll be going there in 2 years. The minimum age is 12 for freshmen. You'll remain there until you're 15," Fredrick said, his voice low. He looks at Alexia with a look of someone who has already made up his mind. He is doing this for her own good.

"... Alright. I understand," Alexia said sadly. She wasn't stupid. She knows her grandpa only wants to do what is best for her. To get her out of the abusive household. 

"Just... stay safe. I know it can be hard, but I believe in you," Frederick said as Alexia left the room. 

SECTION 3
Alexia sits alone in her room. The conversation she overheard, her grandpa's words, and the mention of the academy have her mind racing. Her heart beats in her chest loudly as her ears ring. She recalls some of Sarah's old memories, particularly about being the Star. What could it mean?

Alexia then calms down after an hour. She sits in bed, looking up at the ceiling. 

"Every time I train, the memories of Sarah fill my mind," she says softly. 

Every time Alexia trains, she is held back by the memories of Sarah. Sarah wants to find a way home, while Alexia wants to become stronger. 

"A Star," Alexia said calmly. 

"What does it mean? Is this a test by a cruel deity?"

Alexia lets out a deep sigh, deciding it would be better if she just gets some sleep. 

In her dreams, she relives the moments of Sarah. The crash that killed her. Pain.

Alexia then wakes up in a panic. 

'AH-" 

"Oh.... just that dream again," she said, now calming down. She can feel the same pain Sarah felt. The despair. The anguish. 

Calming herself, Alexia then falls back asleep, this time for good. 

SECTION 4
Alexia stands outside the Cardial Academy for future scholars and knights. Two years passed in the blink of an eye. Alexia, with a brave face, steps forward onto the academy grounds. 

"It's so big," Alexia said in amazement. 

The Cardinal Academy is one of two schools in the Celestial Kingdom that produce scholars and knights. 

Alexia, knowing her powers are limited, was enrolled in the scholar's program by her grandpa. However... there is one problem. Her eldest brother, Barrett, is also a student here. 

Barrett is a senior. Alexia thought it would be best to avoid the knight classes for now. 

As she walks, Alexia bumps into another girl. This causes Alexia to stumble on top of the other girl. 

"E- Sorry!" Alexia said, quickly getting up and helping the other girl. 

"It's fine! Please, don't be! I should have been walking faster," the other girl said. She has long, messy, cyan hair and light purple eyes.  

"Are you hurt?" Alexia asked. Her voice is a bit shaky as she has never had a proper conversation with anyone outside of her family. She can remember how Sarah used to speak, so she decides to use what limited knowledge she does have. 

The girl giggled and brushed some of her cyan hair from her face. "I'm fine, really! That's just a little nick. It's nothing, honestly."

Alexia glances at her hands, which are now stained with some dirt after her fall. However, she smiles a little as there is no damage. Her training her fortification had worked. 

"I'm Alexia," she said, now looking up at the girl.

"I'm Lia! It's nice to meet you, Alexia. Are you a new student here?" Lia asked. 

"I am. I'm new here... I just enrolled in the scholar program," Alexia said with a hesitant voice. She purposely left out the rest of the story. She doesn't want to burden anyone with her troubles. 

"You are?! Me too! This is my first year here as well! I got in on a scholarship. I'm excited to learn everything!" Lia said with enthusiasm. Lia is chatty, cheerful, and someone to become friends with.

"Me too," Alexia said, a small forced smile on her face. She is lying to Lia's face. In reality, Alexia is at the academy because her grandpa wants her to learn more than just fighting and to be safe, away from the family's estate.

After some talking, the two decide to walk towards the main building together. 

"I wonder if she'll like to be friends with me," Alexia said to herself, as the doors closed behind her.