Twice Reborn Transmigrator

The frost drake spirit's eyes widened. I found the sight comical, but I kept my laughter in check. No need to make the frost drake spirit feel self-conscious.

"You will?" It asked, sounding like an eager child.

When it realized this, the frost drake spirit cleared its throat and put on an indifferent mask.

"I mean, yes," it said, feigning nonchalance, "Of course you are."

This time, I couldn't help myself. I chuckled.

"You're adorable." I said.

The frost drake spirit's back arched, like an angry cat's.

"I am a mighty frost dragon!" It hissed. "A ruler of ice and snow! How dare you call me cute?!"

"Yes, you are mighty and cute." I said. "No other frost dragon can compare."

The frost drake spirit stiffened for a moment, before it regained its composure.

"You have good eyes." It said, feigning nonchalance once more. "As a reward, I will allow you to call me cute."

I nodded my head in thanks.

"You are most gracious," I said in a theatrical tone, "Oh cute and mighty frost dragon."

The frost drake spirit preened under my praise.

"So," I said, "How do we form a contract with one another?"

While I knew a bit about spirit contracts, I never learned how to form one. I never saw the need. Why would I? It wasn't as if I planned on forming a spirit contract in the first place. Well, that ended up biting me in the butt.

"There are two steps." The frost drake spirit said. "First, we exchange mana. This will forge the bond between us. Second, you give me a name. This will finalize the contract."

I frowned.

"Give you a name?" I asked. "Don't you already have one?"

The frost drake spirit wore a sorrowful expression on its face.

"I did," it said, "However, I no longer remember it."

A beat of silence passed. I didn't know how to react to that, so I decided not to.

"In that case, I should give you a good name." I mulled it. "Do you have any preferences? I don't want to give you one that you hate."

The frost drake spirit looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Something meaningful," it said, "And suitable for a female."

Female? Oh! This was the spirit of a female frost drake. That never occurred to me. Spirits could change their forms at will, so sex and gender mattered little to them. At least for natural-born spirits. However, for spirits that used to be living beings, it was different.

Hmm, what kind of name should I pick? I needed to pick a good one. An opportunity like this didn't come everyday. I wanted something beautiful and regal. Perhaps a name about new beginnings?

Oh! I had the perfect one.

"Alright," I said, "I've thought of a suitable name."

The frost drake spirit gave me a suspicious look.

"Truly?"

I nodded. "Don't worry. You'll love it."

"Good." She said. "Otherwise, I will never forgive you."

I scooted closer to the frost drake spirit, before reaching through the tent entrance and holding my hand out to her.

"Shall we?"

She nodded, before placing a claw in my hand. The moment we made contact, the two of us exchanged mana. This part was rather simple, but risky. If something went wrong, we would both suffer from internal injuries. However, I was confident in my mana control.

The frost drake's mana felt as cold as ice, painfully so. It spread throughout my mana veins, as if freezing me from the inside. My body started shaking. Despite this, I maintained my composure. If I overreacted, the frost drake spirit might lose focus. I'd be screwed then.

I wasn't the only one suffering either. From the expression on the frost drake spirit's face, my mana felt painful as well.

As the two of us exchanged mana, I felt… Something begin to form. To develop. I wasn't sure how to describe it. There was something at the edge of my perception. Vague and indistinct. Was this the bond the frost drake spirit mentioned earlier? A moment later, she confirmed my suspicions.

"The bond is forged." The frost drake spirit said in a strained voice. "Quick! Give me a name!"

I nodded.

"Aurora." I said in a gentle tone. "Your name is Aurora. It means dawn."

The frost drake spirit's eyes lit up with joy.

"Yes! I love it! My name is Aurora!"

She let out a joyful laugh. At the same time, I felt a click. The vague and indistinct bond I shared with Aurora became clearer. I felt her presence, almost as if she were an extension of myself. This went both ways. It was a strange sensation, one that would take some getting used to.

Aurora's mana no longer felt painful. In fact, I found it rather comforting. It circulated throughout my body as if it belonged there. Had I gained an affinity for Ice?

"Is that it?" I asked.

Aurora nodded.

"Yes. You and I are now bound by a contract."

"Huh. I expected something more… Dramatic."

Aurora snorted.

"Not everything is loud and obvious. Sometimes the most important moments in one's life are simple and subtle. You'll miss them, if you're not paying attention."

I raised an eyebrow at that.

"I didn't take you for a philosopher."

Aurora let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"Of course. Ever since I woke up in this place, I've had nothing to do but think."

"And yet, you still act like a child."

Aurora pouted, before she ran over to me and started hitting with her claws. Despite her anger, she took care not to scratch me.

"And you're a mean jerk!"

I chuckled, before I realized something.

"Wait a moment. Why do you seem fine? You're inside my tent. Is it because of our contract?"

Aurora nodded.

"Yes. Heat no longer bothers me, at least not to the same degree. The same applies to you, but in reverse. In addition to an affinity for Ice, you also gained a greater tolerance for cold."

I raised an eyebrow at her, before I decided to test it out. I exited my enchanted tent, taking care not to squash Aurora. My concern proved unfounded. As I passed by her, she climbed onto me and scurried across my body like a squirrel on a tree, before settling on my shoulders.

Aurora's words proved true. As soon as I left my enchanted tent, I felt the cold. However, it no longer bothered me. Instead, I felt comfortable. Strange, but not unwelcome. At the very least, it would make living in the Icefall region more tolerable.

"Let us go, My Vessel!" Aurora declared. "I was trapped in this place for far too long. It is time for me to regain my freedom!"

"Not yet."

Aurora moved so her face was in front of mine. She stared at me in disbelief.

"What do you mean, 'not yet?'" She asked, aghast. "I want to leave this prison! That's why I made a contract with you in the first place!"

"I know." I said, nodding. "However, I came in here for a reason. I need to reach Second Star as soon as possible. Cultivating in here is my best chance at achieving that."

Aurora looked displeased by this.

"Ugh." She said. "How long will that take?"

I made some quick calculations in my head. However, I paused a moment later when I realized that I didn't know how fast I would be able to cultivate. Some of my cultivation would go to Aurora, slowing down my progress, though I didn't know by how much.

"Longer than I intended." I said.

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Aurora let out a resigned sigh.

"If you aided my cultivation," I said, "Things would go faster."

Aurora gave me a withering look.

"How? There isn't anything in here for me to consume, and my normal cultivation speed is glacial. My contribution would be negligible."

I shrugged.

"It's still better than nothing."

Aurora clicked her tongue in displeasure.

"Fine. Let us get started then. The sooner you reach this 'Second Star', the sooner I can see the sun again."

And with that, I focused on nothing but cultivation for the rest of my stay in the Heart Chamber.

I opened my eyes and grinned. Deep inside me, another star shone within my mana core, joining the first. It burned bright and brilliant. Together, my two stars formed the beginning of a constellation.

I had done it. I had reached Second Star, and within record time too, despite the handicap. The spirit contract reduced my cultivation speed by a third. A significant, but not insurmountable, obstacle.

Thanks to my Spirit Elixirs and the effects of the Heart Chamber, I still progressed by leaps and bounds. Aurora helped by sharing her cultivation with me. As she said, it was negligible but it was still something.

All this effort paid off. I reached Second Star a week after I formed a spirit contract with Aurora. My body grew stronger and tougher. My mana reserves expanded as well, as if going from a puddle to a lake.

Now I could use more powerful techniques, as well as stronger versions of my current ones. Not only that, but I could use Aura without fear, albeit only for a short while. At my current strength, I could fight Tier Three monsters with relative ease, let alone Third Rank Awakened.

"Congratulations, Gabriel." Aurora said in a languid voice. "Does this mean we can leave now?"

I looked in her direction. She laid atop the Frostheart, curled up like a cat taking a nap. I sat nearby, wearing nothing but a pair of trousers. Despite the near freezing temperature, I felt fine.

This was a habit I picked up. After forming the contract with Aurora, I stopped wearing anything more than the bare minimum. I didn't see the point anymore, since my cold tolerance protected me from all but the most extreme temperatures.

"Yes," I said, "We can leave now."

Aurora's head shot up and she stared at me with her serpentine.

"Truly?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Truly."

Aurora let out a boisterous laugh. Despite her small figure, she could be quite loud when she wanted to be.

"Finally!"

"Let me get dressed, and we'll be on our way."

"Hurry up then!"

I chuckled, before I prepared to leave. To avoid suspicion, I put on some warm clothing. Afterwards, I packed away the rest of my gear. Aurora skittered around me the entire time like an excited child, urging me to hurry up. When I finished, I took one last look around, just to be safe. After making sure I left nothing behind, I walked over to the door. However, before I knocked, I paused.

"You should hide before we leave." I said. "It's best if no one from Clan Frostheart finds out about you. I don't want to deal with any annoying questions."

Aurora nodded, before she leapt towards me and disappeared into my body. That was one of the perks Aurora enjoyed, thanks to our spirit contract. She could inhabit my body and take refuge within it. Thankfully, she couldn't do more than that, otherwise I would have never formed a contract with her. Sharing my body with a spirit felt strange, but I would get used to it in time.

After Aurora hid herself inside me, I knocked on the door to the Heart Chamber three times. Moments later, it opened, revealing a female martial artist belonging to Clan Frostheart. Her eyes widened when she saw me, though she otherwise didn't react. Good thing I put my clothes back on. Otherwise, this would've been awkward.

"Greetings, Honored Guest." The martial artist said, bowing. "Are you finished with your seclusion?"

I nodded.

"Yes, I am," I said, "Thank you."

"Is there anything else you need? Our clan head commanded us to look after you until you leave the estate."

I shook my head.

"No, I don't need anything." I paused. "Well, maybe one thing. Where is your clan head? I want to pay my respects to her before I leave."

"The clan head is at the Icefall Adventurers Guild."

Figures.

"In that case, I'll pay my respects later. Right now, I just want to go home and take a bath."

While I kept myself and my gear clean using my [Cleansing Mist] technique, it wasn't the same as taking an actual bath. Besides, that technique always left everything damp.

"If you wish, I can escort you to one of Clan Frostheart's guest rooms." The martial artist said with an eager expression on her face.

"No," I said in a firm tone, "That's not necessary."

The martial artist seemed disappointed by this.

"Very well." She said. "In that case, follow me. I shall escort you to the surface."

I nodded and followed the martial artist as she led me through Clan Frostheart's estate. As before, the carvings that decorated the place caught my interest. However, unlike before, I took the time to study some of them. Whenever this happened, my escort didn't complain or make any comments. Instead, she waited nearby with a patient expression on her face.

Many carvings depicted a stylized version of the Icefall region in all its wild and beautiful glory. Some depicted the land itself, with its rocky hills and alpine forests. Others showed scenes of warriors fighting ferocious looking monsters.

As I studied these carvings, an idea came to mind. This was an opportunity for me to gather more information. It would be a shame to waste it.

"Are these Clan Frostheart warriors?" I asked my escort, pointing to one of the latter carvings.

My escort nodded.

"Yes. Clan Frostheart settled in the Icefall region centuries ago, long before Icefall City even existed. The founder believed that living in such a rugged and dangerous environment would hone our warriors' skills and strengthen our Clan."

I shrugged. Not a bad plan, from a certain point of view. I mean, it worked out for Clan Frostheart. They prospered, despite the dangers that plagued the Icefall region. In fact, they prospered because of the dangers that plagued the Icefall region. Monster hunting served as an important part of the region's economy.

"Did your Clan settle here?" I asked. "Or somewhere else?"

"We settled here, Honored Guest. The original settlement built by Clan Frostheart became the foundation of Icefall City."

I nodded. Now came my real question.

"Is this where your Clan found the Frostheart?" I asked. "If that's something you can't share with outsiders, then pretend I never asked."

My escort bit her lip with a conflicted expression on her face.

"We aren't supposed to discuss the Frostheart with outsiders." She said, almost to herself. "However, since the clan head allowed you to cultivate in the Heart Chamber, I'm sure it will be fine. To answer your question, yes. Our Clan's founder discovered the Frostheart here. That's one of the reasons why our Clan settled this area in the first place."

"Thank you for telling me." I said, giving her a bright smile.

My escort's cheeks flushed. Huh. Maybe my face was useful after all. To avoid suspicion, I asked a few more questions, before I continued on my way. My escort brought me all the way to the surface. Before she left, she asked me if there was anything else I needed. I turned her down, disappointing her once more.

When she left, I took some cloth and wrapped it around my head to hide my face. I didn't want to cause another commotion by walking down the street. Later on, I would buy a proper mask. For now, this would have to do. I then stepped outside.

It was morning, which surprised me for some reason. Spending more than a week in seclusion messed with my sense of time. After my eyes adjusted to the sun, I headed towards the rented house I shared with Leroy. As usual, Icefall City was a lively and bustling place. In fact, everyone seemed cheerful for some reason. After the quiet solitude of the Heart Chamber, this took some getting used to.

"You can come out now." I whispered. "Didn't you say you missed the sun?"

I found it odd that Aurora hadn't left my body already. Maybe she felt nervous.

'Why did you ask about the Frostheart?' Aurora asked, her voice in my head.

I almost tripped in place when I heard this. A few people gave me odd looks. To avoid attracting even more attention, I walked off and found a quiet corner.

"How did you do that?" I muttered.

I heard Aurora snort. Again, in my head.

'Simple.' She said. 'We're connected now, remember? Focus on our bond and think of the words that you want to tell me.'

I followed her instructions.

'Like this?' I asked.

'Yes.'

Okay, this was pretty cool. Aurora and I could have telepathic conversations. While in the Heart Chamber, I focused all my time and effort on cultivation. This meant that I couldn't study my contract with Aurora, and everything that entailed. I needed to rectify that.

'To answer your question,' I said, 'You're one of my people now. I take care of my own. What affects you affects me, including your past. That's why I asked about the Frostheart. I wanted to know if Clan Frostheart was related to the human who attacked you and turned you into a spirit.'

'Why?' Aurora asked in a sardonic tone. 'Even if they were, what does it matter? That human is long dead. He's the one I hold a grudge against. There's no point in getting revenge on anyone else.'

'To figure out what happened to you and reverse it, if possible.'

If Aurora died and became a spirit that way, there wasn't anything we could do about that. However, if someone turned her into a spirit, then perhaps there was hope. A slim hope, maybe even a false one, but hope nonetheless.

'You would do that for me?' Aurora asked in a small voice.

'Of course! As I said, you're one of my people.'

Aurora didn't respond right away.

'Thank you.' She said, before falling silent.

People started to give me strange looks for just standing there, so I hurried off to the rented house.

When I returned to the rented house, I found it empty. Either Leroy was out training, or he was off on a job. Not that there was much difference between the two. I mean, hunting monsters counted as training. Or rather, a practical application of training.

I put my gear away, before I cooked myself a quick meal and cleaned myself up. Afterwards, I headed out to get some personal errands done. First, I searched for a mask to cover my face. I didn't want anything fancy or elaborate, so I got myself a wooden mask similar to Leroy's. However, to differentiate it, I got one painted with intricate designs.

After that, I went to the armorer I visited before, the one I commissioned to make some armor out of the stone tusk boar hides. To my delight, the armor was finished. It turned out the armorer felt inspired by my request and spent the entire week working on it.

The armor looked gorgeous: sleek and form-fitting. It looked similar to the gear I wore back on Earth, when I first started out as a hunter. Thinking about those days brought a melancholic smile to my lips. A part of me missed that part of my life, but the rest of me was happy with my current life.

I put the armor on to see how it fit. A few areas needed some adjustments, but it otherwise fit perfectly. Best of all, it didn't hinder my movements. As a martial artist who relied on mobility, freedom of movement was paramount.

The armorer adjusted the armor to better fit me, which took a little while. Afterwards, I paid the rest of the commission and went on my merry little way.

After that, I headed towards the Icefall Adventurers Guild. I needed to check in with my friends and find out how things were going with the demons and their summoners. If they weren't there, I would head to Icefall Manor to find Cally. Good thing the two places were within walking distance of each other.

However, when I arrived at the center of Icefall City, a gruesome sight caught my attention. Someone had constructed a crude wooden gallows. Five naked bodies hung from the gallows. It looked like they died a few days ago, though I needed to take a closer look to know for sure.

The bodies looked bruised, battered, and bloody. Whoever these five were, they suffered before they died. Even as I stared, I watched as someone threw a rock at one of the bodies.

"Excuse me," I said, calling to a nearby man, "What happened here? Who are those people?"

The man gave me a surprised look.

"You don't know?"

I shook my head.

"I haven't been to Icefall City in a while."

The man's eyes lit up with understanding.

"Ah, I see. Did you hear about the demon summoners that were in the area?"

I nodded. The man pointed to the five bodies.

"That's them. The Icefall Adventurers Guild, House Icefall, and the Church of the Sun found their hideout a few days ago and attacked them. From what I heard, it was a bloody fight. The place was infested with demons. Most of the demon summoners died, but a few survived." The man grinned. "Well, not for long. Lord Icefall had them hanged for their crimes. Afterwards, he announced he'll hold a feast next week to celebrate the occasion."

That would explain the cheerful atmosphere. However, I wasn't in the mood to celebrate. According to Cally, these were just the sacrificed pawns, the decoys. The real threat was still out there. We needed to deal with the demonic incursion before it attacked Icefall City.

I thanked the man for his help, before I headed inside the Icefall Adventurers Guild.