I looked at the high elf princess walking next to me.

Like nearly all others in fantasy books, elves are well-known due to their vast number of superhuman abilities. Those abilities include, keen senses such as sharper hearing and sight, even to the point of night vision, resting the mind and travel simultaneously, foresight, some kind of telepathy, power to control nature to some extent, such as summoning floods, and the power to conjure visions of the past. There are few elves that display this degree of power. Take Laura and Eredhel for example. The two of them had reached the peak of their race. I wasn’t sure how strong Aldion— Zefra’s father—was. I could tell that he was very powerful judging by the fact that Skyrith said that the two of them were equally matched.

I knew that I could never beat Skyrith. She was a multi-caster mage that could perform multiple high ranked comparable spells at once. I’d like to point out the fact that not all elves are born with spirit magic. Skyrith and Eredhel were two of them.

I hadn’t come into contact with the king yet so I could only guess. Maybe I should spend some time with Miya’s parents. They were nice enough to let me train under Skyrith after all.

High elves are even more mysterious and wonderful creatures. They could even be called the perfect race. They live longer than normal light elves and have stronger magical affinity that involves spirit magic. They were basically powerful semi immortal mages. Only the royal bloodline was consisted of high elves. Miya’s father was a normal elf but her mother was a high elf.

Miya was one of the few that could summon Lesser Monarchs. Lesser Monarchs fall under True Monarch spirits. If Undine could control all the water in the world then lesser monarchs like Depth could control an ocean. This depends on if there’s water nearby. Lesser monarch have limited skills so they cannot conjure the element out of nowhere like Ifrit and Undine.

We came to a lake located near the kingdom walls. The guards gave us permission to leave but strictly told us to be back before midnight. That was when their shifts ended. If we didn’t then he’d report us to the academy.

Being students of Graponia Academy had its perks. We could even get discounts at the expensive stores in Pira city’s shopping district.

‘Maybe I should invite Miya or Bridgette out next time.’

The two of them were the only ones I could invite. Damian was apparently too busy with training. I hadn’t seen Nate in a while. Charlotte.... Well, our relationship was complicated at that moment.

I began explaining my reason for bringing her here after sitting down at the edge of the lake. She sat right next to me.

“You know, Princess Miya...” I looked at the stars shining onto the surface of the lake. “Ever since the first day we went on an adventure together, I noticed something.”

Her gaze went all over the place while her face looked like steam was going to come out.

“The two of us were like soulmates.”

“S-Soul m-m-m-mates...!?”

“Yeah. Perhaps it was this connection we shared. The connection through spirits.”

Thousands of little lights flew around us and landed on our bodies. They played around with each other while laughing innocently. They bonded with our spiritual energy.

I held out my finger, letting one to land on it.

“A connection far deeper than friends or acquaintances. It was something more. Something... special.”

I looked into her green eyes and saw her beautiful hair being illuminated by the spirits. A myriad of colours shone on her face.

It was like looking at an artist’s masterpiece. I could never imagine a girl to be that beautiful.

“I knew right then that you were the one.”

“S-Saying something like that so out of the blue...”

She covered her face.

“Please close your eyes, Miya.”

“O-Okay.”

She closed her eyes and leaned close to me and puckered out her lips.

‘What is she doing?’

-Come forth, Undine.

“Huh? Spirit Language?”

Miya’s eyes opened wide.

The surface of the lake moved on its own and manifested a human form. A woman with blue skin and transparent hair walked out of the lake.

She approached me and kneeled.

“You called, My King?”

“T-T-That’s...!”

Miya stood up in shock and pointed at Undine with shaking pupils.

“The Water Spirit Monarch!?”

“Oh? A high elf? You wanted us to meet?”

I smiled.

“Miya meet Undine. She’s my contracted spirit.”

“H-How!?”

She must not have seen my battle against Rolath’s undead army. I sent Ifrit and Undine back since I had to cast Mass Exorcism. I didn’t get the chance to make a contract with Ifrit so it would be difficult to summon him again unless I were in an area filled with fire.

“The answer to your question is quite simple: He had enough power to help me manifest in this world. In fact, Ifrit was also able to manifest for a short time. Since My King’s spirit core is still incomplete, he can only have one monarch at a time.”

Miya’s eyes turned towards me. I could see shock and disbelief on her face. It was quite funny seeing her expressions change so much.

“Undine. Is it possible for me show Miya the core domain?”

“I believe it is. The two of you must synchronize your spirit mana with each other then I will send both of your consciousness into that plain.”

“That sounds easy.”

“Yes. It wouldn’t be difficult for you two. All you have to do is put your foreheads together.”

“That…”

Miya seemed hesitant about something. She scratched her arm before sighing.

“Okay! Since there’s something you want to show me, I’ll do it!”

She brushed my bangs out of the way with a red face.

When her forehead touched mine, I felt her warmth.

After spirits gathered around us, I activated my spirit arm to regulate our mana together. Since I improved in my efficiency in spirit magic, I didn’t need to concentrate to synchronize.

Undine spoke.

“I will begin now.”

She put her hand above our heads and then I felt my consciousness being sucked somewhere.

…

..

.

“Huh?”

Miya looked around the pitch black space when we arrived.

In the distance, I could see my two cores.

“This is my core domain.”

I spread out my arms at the bewildered Miya.

“This…”

She looked at my spirit core.

“Why does it look like this?”

There was a purple aura surrounding my white spirit core. It was like the aura wanted to swallow my entire core.

“I don’t know. After the meeting with the Dryad Queen, it became like this.”

The two cores were also closer than before. They were a meter apart from each other.

“Clyde… if your core looks like that, doesn’t that mean you’re at the 8th stage already?”

“Yes. But as Undine said, my core is incomplete. She told me that my power might’ve been sealed since I was born with this core. Maybe my body can’t handle the real power of the core yet.”

Miya looked at me.

“Clyde… What are you?”

I knew that she didn’t meant anything hurtful by it. But what could I tell her? That I was blessed with this power by the one who reincarnated me?

“I’m not the next Spirit King, that’s for sure.”

Maybe I was given this power for a different reason. I didn’t want to take the responsibility of becoming such a great figure respected by the elves.

I was rather afraid of taking such responsibility.

“I’m definitely not like him even if I have this power.”

I wasn’t a hero. I was an ordinary academy student searching for his purpose in life. I was still growing.

“You’re right. They shouldn’t think of you as the Spirit King’s descendant… You’re someone else entirely.”

Miya had a small smile on her face.

She touched the purple energy and looked at it closely.

“This is strange. Maybe it’s impurities?”

I shook my head.

“The purple energy feels like a foreign substance inside my body. No matter what I do I couldn’t get it out of my body. Even now my meridians are free of any impurities.”

I felt my consciousness fading.

“Ah, it seems that Undine can’t hold this for too long.”

The two of us were pulled out of my core domain.

...

“I apologize for my limited abilities.”

“It’s fine, Undine. I was able to show her at least.”

I looked towards Miya and noticed the complicated look on her face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah...” She looked like she realized something. “I think it might’ve been because of the Spirit Seed that Xantha planted within you.”

“Huh? What’s that?”

“I heard that it’s the will of the Spirit King. They said that it will help your spirit magic grow.”

“That was why master was able to sustain the ancient spirit power without combusting.”

“What!? People can explode if the power doesn’t fit them!?”

‘I seriously had that kind of dangerous power inside my body?’

“This is why we protect the Dryad Queen. Not everyone can handle her power. Some tried forcibly taking her essence but ended up dying a meaningless death. But, despite being human, you were able to handle it. That was when we were certain...”

Miya turned around as her hair fluttered. She raised her arm and pointed at me with her index finger.

“That you were the Spirit King’s incarnation.”

“...”

Miya made a small smiled and dusted herself.

“It’s getting late.”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Thank you for showing me the great Water Monarch. I’m touched that you trust me this much.”

I smiled.

“That’s obvious. Like I said, we share a special connection after all.”

“D-Don’t say it like that.”

Undine chuckled behind me.

“I should get going then. It was wonderful meeting a high elf such as yourself, princess Miya Josaline Erwin Elca.”

“Y-Yes. I am honoured to have met a great spirit such as yourself."

Miya awkwardly bowed.

“Please call me when you need my assistance, master.”

“Ah, before you go.”

“Yes?”

“Can you talk to the Lesser Monarch of Wind? Miya can’t seem to get the spirit to make a contract with her.”

Undine sighed.

“She’s a troublesome one. Okay. I’ll deal with her.”

Undine turned into water again and disappeared.

“Shall we go?”

“Yeah.”

◇◇◇

After walking with Miya to her dorm, I came to my own room. My two roommates were already asleep by the time I got back. Their servants were nice enough to set my food aside.

After I ate my dinner.

“Haaaa...”

I sighed like an old man when I sprang onto my bed.

When I infused mana into my arm, it glowed white. After a few seconds, water spirits started appearing in mid-air.

Since I had some alone time, I figured that it would be perfect to continue training my proficiency in water magic.

Since my spirits were masked with my arcane mana, no one would be able to sense them. That was the purpose of Skyrith’s training back then. She taught me how to use spirit magic without alerting anyone.

Using my arcane mana as a cover, I summoned over a thousand little water spirits. I started weaving them and creating different shapes and sizes.

My heart felt heavy over the future events that may take place at any time and anywhere. The answer to my questions could only be answered by old me.

Was Zero the only enemy in this world? I didn’t really hear the full contents of what happened. The conference that happened a year ago refused to disclose any information.

Maybe they were worried about the people’s reaction. We managed to survive but at what cost? I could see that all of them looked dejected about something when they questioned us at the Sky Fortress.

Even Erica told me that the atmosphere was weird back then.

‘Someone far powerful than Zero must be ordering him.’

What happened during that fight? Why did the Order suddenly decide to enter the Red Abyss? During the Red Hunt, entering dungeons becomes dangerous for newbie adventurers. It will get even worse in S-rank Labyrinths. This was why so many adventurers were called to the HQ.

Maybe it was futile but I wanted to hear what happened at least.

“It’s scary not knowing what the future holds in store for us...”

I dispersed the little spirits and turned off the magic lamp.

‘I’ll focus on the now for the time being...’

I chuckled as I remembered Miya’s words.

“Incarnation, huh...”