**Chapter 1: A Second Chance**
As Illysha regained consciousness, the very first thing she felt was nausea. The sensation was so overpowering that it threatened to make her retch.
"What happened?" A voice cut through her confusion. Illysha hastily assessed her body's condition while still inspecting herself. Then, she heard it again. "Illysha! Illysha! Is something wrong with you?"
Her heart skipped a beat, and the nausea momentarily faded. It was a voice she could never forget, a voice she had missed dearly. "Mother...?"
Her mother, who had departed long ago. The voice of Celestia. Sylvia couldn't have imagined that she would hear it again one day. "Did I succeed? Or did I fail and fall into the world of the dead?"
Clutching her mother's hand tightly, Illysha looked around carefully. "Next! Roland from Kyle Village!" someone called out. Kyle Village? Illysha wondered if such a place even existed. It seemed remote and distant. "Hmph! Just go in already."
The scene was a chaotic mix of children waiting to be examined. And in the midst of it all were Illysha and her mother. Rough, unattractive soldiers from the lord's castle controlled the surging crowds, ensuring order.
A flag bearing the symbol of an ivory tower fluttered atop a pure white tent. Illysha took in the surroundings, trying to make sense of her situation.
"It seems that I succeeded in reincarnating with the help of the time spell from the pocket watch." Illysha's small hands confirmed her success. She had traveled precisely 35 years into the past, before the war between the church and mages had erupted.
The mandatory mana reaction test for every child who turned 10 years old was taking place. Before her journey back in time, Illysha had been 45 years old. Based on her current situation, she deduced that she had traveled back 35 years into the past.
"I've come back further than I thought possible," Illysha mused. She had hoped to return 25 years, to prevent her mother's death and seek vengeance against those who had wronged her.
With newfound determination, she thought, "This time, I will change my destiny. I won't let it end like it did in my past."
As Illysha resolved to make the most of her second chance, she prepared for her turn in the mana reaction test. "I will come back, Mother," she whispered to reassure her worried mother. Walking toward the soldier in front of the tent, she introduced herself, "Illysha from Eclea Village."
"Eclea? Ahh! So you are Celestia's daughter?" The soldier's attention was drawn to Sylvia's mother, who had worked as a maid in the lord's castle. She had been a target of attention due to her beauty and widow status.
"Don't bother the mage with useless questions," the soldier scolded, his eyes fixed on Illysha's mother. It was a detail Illysha had been oblivious to in her youthful ignorance.
After her examination, she planned to confront the soldier about his behavior. With that resolution in mind, Illysha entered the tent. Inside, a young mage and three knights stood guard, discussing the number of children remaining for testing.
"Sir Aron, how many children are left?" one of the knights inquired.
"I believe it should still be around a hundred of them," Sir Aron replied wearily, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
"This brings me back to the good old times," the mage within the tent commented, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "During my time as an apprentice mage, I was dispatched to conduct one of these tests. I really miss those days."
Illysha noticed that the mage, named Vale, seemed different from most mages she had encountered. He had an air of nobility about him and treated those around him with respect.
Mages were precious and rare, and their value was immense. Their scarcity made them even more valuable than most nobles. However, many mages were known for their arrogance.
Vale's behavior stood out as a pleasant surprise to Illysha. She thought about the significance of the mana reaction test, how it aimed to find and nurture mages for the nation. It was a way to ensure the strength of the country.
As Vale prepared to examine her, Illysha braced herself. She knew the test might make her feel dizzy, a side effect of stimulating the mana heart, the organ exclusive to mages.