The Extra's Reincarnation

[Florence Estate - Living Room]

In the grand Florence estate, the fire crackled, its warmth filling the room.

The scent of burning wood brought back a cherished memory.

My father, a renowned general in the Aureus army, would often return home with tales of his missions.

But tonight, I wanted to hear a story I hadn't heard since I was three.

"You want to hear that story after all this time, sweetie?" my father chuckled. "I thought you'd outgrown it, acting like such a grown-up!"

"I just want to hear it this one time" I insisted. "I dreamt about it last night."

"Oh really? Then let me get the book."

He retrieved a worn red book from the shelf, the one he used to read to me almost every night.

"Although you're not in bed, Diana, it's fine if you lie down here."

He patted the couch, and I lay down, eager to hear the familiar tale.

"Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a princess trapped in a tower. Her beauty was unmatched unlike any other. But she was imprisoned away from the world because of her beauty. Then, a brave prince, armed with courage and a heart of gold, came to her rescue. He scaled the tower after hearing the voice of the princess and together, they escaped the clutches of the wicked witch and lived happily ever after."

I listened, recalling the dream last night.

A prince... that was it. I dreamed of a boy of black hair and blue eyes.

Although in that dream his face wasn't clear, I hoped that one day we'd meet.

"The...end..."

"...!"

As the story ended, I blinked, and the firelight flickered.

Reality snapped back into focus, and I realized the monster, Bonrick, was still alive.

"Ms... Diane... I have no more.... energy,"

Leanne, the girl who had supported me, whispered before collapsing behind me.

"Leanne... wake up!" I checked her pulse and breathing, but she had no mana left to sustain her consciousness.

THUMP!

I heard a massive stomp in the ground and I realised Bonrick approached was approaching us slowly with hunger burning in his eyes.

"I need to move now!"

My heart pounded as I tried to move Leanne and myself away, but it was futile.

I searched for Ezekiel, only to find him unconscious on the ground.

"Damn it!"

I grabbed Leanne's body and shuffled backward, my legs weak and numb. But it was no use.

I came to the decision to stop wasting anymore energy and sit still.

"Haah... I guess this is it..."

I looked up to the night sky and figured this was all I could do.

But I felt a faint spark of energy resonate within me and that meant I had just about a few percent of mana to spare.

"You've done enough already, so you can live just a little longer."

HWAM...

With a final surge of mana, I shoved Leanne into the carriage behind us.

Two shadow bats materialized, lifting her fragile body to safety.

I could only hope Ezekiel was still alive.

If he is, that's good, because tonight, I meet my end.

DOOOOOSH!

*

Diana stared in disbelief. Ezekiel hovered effortlessly above Bonrick, a feat that eluded even skilled wind mages.

But that wasn't what truly shocked her.

In an instant, she recognized that he had assumed a form granted by a spirit's power.

Spirit Link.

In this world, mages can form powerful connections with spirits and even monsters, known as "Spirit Link." This link allows the mage to borrow the spirit's power and even assume its true form.

Throughout history, many spirits formed contracts with powerful mages. As these spirits learned and evolved, they gained access to their past users' abilities. This meant that modern mages had the potential to surpass their predecessors.

However, in this age of technology, forming compatible links with spirits has become more difficult. Simply having a similar affinity is no longer enough. Spirits now choose mages based on their worthiness, seeking those who strive for something beyond themselves and dedicate their power to a greater purpose.

If a mage possesses power without ambition, the chances of forming a spirit link are slim to none.

But a mage with ambition and dedication, even if they lack the power power, they may have a better chance of connecting with a spirit.

It's a complex system, but simply put, a spirit link occurs when fate brings the two together.

...

Diana's eyes were in shock as she saw the form Ezekiel had taken.

It was one similar to that of an Ancient King, Ezekiel's presence surpassed anything she had experienced before and that this pressure alone was exceedingly more scarier than the Grand King Of Aureus.

"Stolen from the depths below, grant the cast to smite those who oppose, may the world combine the element of fire,"

Ezekiel chanted, swiftly incanting his spell.

With trembling hands, he conjured a medium-sized portal filled with complex patterns and symbols.

"..Spell Arts Of Wind... Hell Storm Bringer"

SHAAAAH!

A devastating beam of wind, shaped like flames, erupted from the portal and struck Bonrick, obliterating the upper right half of his body.

"Did... he kill it?" Diana nervously watched seeing Bonrick stand there with closed eyes.

But the moment she turned her head to Ezekiel his form seemingly disappeared and he muttered the words.

"I missed."

RAHHH!!!

"...!"

Bonrick roared in fury, desperately trying to regenerate.

His flesh writhed, attempting to knit itself back together, but to no avail.

"ME HURT... MUST EAT... NOW!"

Enraged and hungry, he charged towards Diana on all fours and just as he was within reach he leaped up into the air and dived down.

"It's over..."