Rebirth Of The Bastard Spirit Summoner

Sandhill National Library

Flip Flip

In front of Jade stood a large pile of thick-covered books that smelled of dust and old paper, and in front of her was another large book that covered almost half of the table.

"Useless."

Jade flipped through the book, a deep scowl on her face as she read through the words, her frown deepening as she did.

—Immortality is the only path to rebirth, as once dead, there is no possible route to life.

She shut the book and pushed it to the side, picking up the next one and speed reading through its content.

[March, first year after the death of King Boserius]

—They called me mad for proposing to bring the king back with the forbidden arts, yet here they are, running back to me.

[1st—June, First AD]

We did it! King Boserius walks among men once more. He seems a bit confused and lacks mental coordination, but it is just a side effect of the spell.

Soon, he will be back to his normal self!

[25th—June, First AD]

Something is wrong. King Boserius has shown no sign of improvement, and the guard spoke of a strange habit… he bit one of the maids recently.

The writing had become messy, as though the author had become panicked as he wrote.

[2nd—July, First AD]

The maid seems to have caught the same sickness as the king. We have isolated them both and called the best healers across all four regions in hopes of a solution.

[7th—July, First AD]

The king is missing.

That was where the book ended. Furious, Jade tossed it to the side and picked up another one.

—The sages of the academy believe that rebirth is nothing but a myth, a hoax brought up by those scared of death. Maybe they are right. I do fear death, who doesn't?

But I believe that there is more about it than meets the eye.

We are limited by the things we see, our growth stunted by the world around us. Just as magic was once a thing of legend, rebirth is just another magic just out of reach for us.

Flip Flip

"Get to the point!"

The librarian glanced at her from her desk, fixing a nasty glare at her, but Jade did not notice.

—Dr Edmurh, final notes.

At this point, I have visited all nine regions, and in my search, I have witnessed things my mouth cannot speak of, all in the search for rebirth.

There are a lot of things I would have loved to research, more experiences I would love to have, and people I would love to spend time with.

Sadly, it seems this will be my end. I write this knowing that my time will soon be at hand, my body grows weaker each day, and my heart trembles even at the slightest trouble.

To anyone reading this old man's rubbish, know that I stand firm in my belief that rebirth is just another convenience we have yet to discover. Perhaps a gift from the gods?

I hope my notes will be a guide in your pursuit of rebirth. If not, I hope you can find solace knowing that—

•Lord Edmurh, The Mathematics of Life•

Jade shut the book and left the library, her mind a mess of thoughts.

In the past, when she felt like this… confused and lost, she would go out and feel the wind against her skin. Taking in the fresh air often did her good.

But now the walk only made her feel even worse.

She could not even properly enjoy walking again. The wind which usually felt cool against her skin now left subtle vibrations, the only indicator that there was something there.

As a spirit, she could not breathe, nor could she feel a thing. Her senses had been distorted to fit her body, yet her mind remained human, leaving her in a confused state.

It was suffocating.

She glanced at the side of the street, watching as a girl screamed at a salesman, complaining about the taste of her food.

She watched the girl bicker for a few moments before hurting her teeth and turning away.

Jade wanted to scream, to shout out her frustrations, but she knew better than to do that in such a public place, so she walked into a far alley.

"At least you can fucking taste it! You're not some pretty walking sculpture that can't do anything right!"

She wanted to cry, but spirits couldn't cry…

Without an outlet for her emotions, her grief ate at her from the inside, clawing at her heart. And like a cancer, there was no remedy.

At first, she was eager to visit the city. She felt interacting and living with others would make her feel human again.

But she was wrong. All she felt was envy.

The longer she spent with them, the more it became clear to her.

She was no longer human.

She clenched her jaw, anger bubbling within her as she walked in the lonely alley.

For several days she had buried herself in the library, searching for a way. Even if it was just a lead that was doomed to fail, she just needed a little hope.

And yet she found none. No leads, no hope, not even the faintest evidence that what she wanted was remotely possible.

"What's a babe like you doing in a place like this?" came a serpent-like voice from behind her.

Jade turned to the direction of the voice, her expression detached.

He looked like the very definition of scum, dressed in dirty rags and so skinny that a strong wind could knock him down. The only thing of value was probably the crooked dagger he held in his hand.

'Why did I not just die that night?' Jade thought to herself.

"Come, don't be shy," said the man as he drew nearer.

'Why did I have to be cursed to this fate?'

The man snickered, licking his lips, as he now stood in front of her.

"Why did he betray me?" Jade said, speaking out loud this time.

The man placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I'll show you a good time, and you'll be begging for more when I'm—!"

He never completed those words… a large crystal spike exploded from the floor, splattering blood all over Jade as it plunged into his chest, killing him instantly.

Jade stared at her hands, her eyebrows knitted together in anguish.

Her arms were fading away.

Her colour, the only thing that differentiated her from other spirits, would soon vanish as well.

It was just five years ago that she figured it out… the soul was not meant to stay outside a body for this long.

Her soul was eroding. Very soon, there would be nothing left. She would soon be like other spirits, and when that happened…

Jade would be truly dead.