"Luralie, have you ever seen a light spirit?" I asked, the next morning while having breakfast. However, instead of having in my room, like normal, it was set in a dining room. It was just Luralie, Zale and me for breakfast.
"I can't say I have. Why do you ask?" Luralie replied, as she cut into a meat, which was the first-time meat had been served since my arrival.
"Oh, well, the other night, I saw one sitting on my windowsill and wondered whether that was a common occurrence." I said, cut a piece of red meat and placing it into my mouth. It was a nice and juice cut of meat that was herbed and cooked to perfection.
However, before I could enjoy the taste in mouth anymore, I heard the clattering of cutlery. Looking up, I saw that Luralie was sitting with her mouth open, as if she froze while taking a bit of her meal.
"What did you say?" She asked, not minding that the piece of meat that she had on her fork had fallen and landed on her dress.
"There was a light spirit in my room the other night." I said, placing my cutlery down.
"I've been living her for hundreds of years and never come across a light spirit. Reyna even said they don't exist." Luralie said, looking out the window that overlooked the forest.
"Well, I don't know what else to say. It was the first time I've ever seen something turn into complete light and vanish. So, if it wasn't a light spirit, then I don't know what it could have been."
"Excuse me, but you can really see spirits?" it was Zale who asked. She had been watching Luralie and mine conversation with a strange look.
"Yes, I did say so, shortly after rescuing your friends." I retorted.
"I thought you were just joking." She said, getting visibly more anxious. That was probably because those who can see spirits are considered important, in elfish culture.
"Not only can he see them. But he attracts them like a moth to a flame. He is even more talented than I am." Luralie, boasted as if she was talking about her own child. Though, giving all that had happened in the last few days, it was probably a bad comparison.
"Please spare the overexaggeration." I said with a sigh. "Anyway, what about this update I was promised?" I asked, finishing off my breakfast.
"Ah yes. Yesterday, we found traces near the edge of the forest, of the band of trespassers leading to the south. So, we plan on heading out today in pursuit." Luralie said. I looked at the smile on her face and remembered my feeling I had last night.
"We?" I asked, hoping that she didn't mean what I thought she meant.
"Yes, we. You, Zale and I are going, as we are the fastest and too many people are going to attract too much attention." She explained. And while I couldn't argue with the logic, something tells me that she was just using it as an excuse to go out and play.
"Isn't the matriarch needed here?" I replied. Looking at the child-like matriarch with a judging look. She shrunk slightly under my gaze.
"It'll only be for a while. Plus, as a matriarch, I have to make sure this matter gets resolved." She argued in a small voice.
"Fine. Then when are we leaving? I'm quite anxious to get back to my research." I was close to maxing my control skills. Once I do, I'll finally be considered an arcanist.
"We can leave as soon as everyone is ready." She replied.
"Well, I'm ready whenever. However, you might want to get changed." I said, pointing to the slice of meat resting on Luralie's dress. She looked down, wondering what I was pointing at. Seeing the piece of meat, looking up at her, made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
I laughed, as I left the dining room, to get all my belongings and to get changed into to more traveling friendly clothing.
However, as I left my washroom, I spotted a little figure sitting on the edge of the bed. It was the same figure of the glowing girl from the other night, though with less radiant light.
"Hello." I spoke. I was curious as to why this light spirit kept appearing to me and not anyone else.
She just smiled at me. Then, with one swift motion, and a flash of light, she appeared a few feet in front of me.
"What are you?" She asked, as she cocked her head to one side. Her golden eyes seemed to be looking through me.
"What do you mean? I am me, a human." I replied, finding her gaze a little off putting.
"Hmmm, you don't seem human. Your spirit is far too strong and colourful to be human." I was a little taken aback by her statement. I didn't know why my spirit was strong, I wondered if it had something to do with why I was sent back in time. But still don't have a reason to explain it.
"Well, I don't have an explanation for that." I answered honestly. And she looked at me a little more intensively for a few more moments.
"Make a contract with me." She said, out of nowhere. I didn't expect my first contract would be with a rare light spirit.
"OI! Whatcha think you're doing!?" Another voice joined in, from off to the side.
An energetic, red orb came barrelling in, floating in-between me and the light spirit. "I'm going to be his first contract!" Leave it to little red to lighten the mood a little.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, the light spirit started to giggle and looked at the bold red orb. "I apologise, please go ahead and be the first."
The little orb span around, as if they were happy that had won the right. Then, turning towards me, it looked at me expectantly. Luckily, I read all about the process in one of the books in Luralie's library.
The ceremony was pretty simple. You and the spirit need to connect together with each other's spirit energy. Then, you give the spirit a name. thus concludes the explanation.
"I'll call you, Anala." I said, finishing the ritual.
The little red orb, started to glow a vibrant red light that grew in intensity, until I had to shield my eyes.
"Yay! I have a name!" A feminine voice spoke, though it sounded like a little child, only older than before.
Taking my arm from away from my eyes, I saw a small, seven-inch, female-looking figure dancing around in celebration. They had yellow flame-like skin but had red patches on their hands and run up their arms, as well on their feet up to their knees. It looked like flames that had been frozen in time. On top of their head, was a long, billowing bush of hair that looked like flame, and seemed to slowly flow and simmer.
As I was in wonder of Anala's new form, they quickly dashed into me and hugged me. Completely drunk with happiness. She then, looked up at me with a big childish grin.
"Sorry to interrupt, but can we make our contract now?" The light spirit asked. However, Anala looked over to her and frowned.
I sighed and walked over to her and once again began with the ritual.
"I'll name you, Nira." This time, I felt the need to be more grandiose. However, she just looked at me with a smile as I held her hand.
Nira, like Anala, glowed a bright. But before it became too bright, it faded, with no visible change.
"Were you expecting a drastic change like Anala?" Nira teased, as she stifled a laugh with her hand.
"Well, I wouldn't expect a mid-rank spirit to evolve from a simple contract with a novice spirit arts user." I said, picking up my backpack, ready to leave. Though, Nira looked a little disappointed at my lack of embarrassment.