Nathan's POV
It's already seven months since I was reborn in this world. And finally, I achieved the greatest step to becoming a fully grown human. I am now able to…
Crawl! Hahaha.
It really sucks staying in the bed all day and night listening to everyone around me. I feel like I'm in jail, trapped in the form of a baby's body, unable to move freely.
My bones and skin are finally getting tougher. I crawl toward the mirror my father just bought.
As I get closer to the mirror, I see my appearance. "This is me?"
This is the first time I've seen myself in this world. My irises are red—seems like I got this from my mother—with thick, sharp eyebrows. I have a good-shaped nose as well, and my hair is purely dark black. If I get older, you might think I really look like my mother. My skin is clear white and glowing under the sunlight.
"I'm in love with myself." I smirk at the mirror while rubbing my hair.
But there's one thing I want to know—where the hell am I? By observing my parents, how people live here, the culture, the language, and everything else, I've learned that this world is not Earth.
There are a lot of differences between this world and Earth.
This world seems like a medieval era—a period between the ancient and modern period. So the most obvious thing I noticed: there is no electricity.
But how are they able to live without any source of energy? That question lingered in my head, but based on my studies…
People in this world use magic and mana. I always imagined and fantasized about this kind of life, but never in my wildest dreams did I think this would actually exist.
I only saw magical powers in movies and video games.
Two years have passed now. I spent all my time escaping from my mother to go into our library room—not to read nursery books, of course, but to learn more about this world.
I learned that not all of the people can use magic, and for those who can, they have supernatural energy they call mana.
Based on the book I'm reading titled "Basics of Magic and Spirits"—
Mana is a magical source of energy for them to be able to neutralize, control, and manipulate magic.
People are able to have mana and magic if their animal spirit is fully manifested…
"Wait, what is animal spirits?"
Animal spirits are spiritual powers that only 30% of the population has manifested. In certain spiritual traditions or cultures, animal spirits refer to a spirit that helps guide or protect a person on a journey and whose characteristics that person shares or embodies.
In simpler, more relatable terms, everyone has their own animal spirit that embodies them. When in use, the animal spirit takes over the soul of a human. In exchange, the user receives significant enhancement over physical strength, intelligence, agility, and complete control over mana, thus making them able to have some special abilities.
"Manifest? How can I have an animal spirit?" I mumbled to myself while continuing to read.
Animal spirits can be acquired through extreme concentration and meditation. Some cases of people acquiring their animal spirit occur at the age of 13 to 15 years old. If a person can't manifest their animal spirit between that age gap, then their chances of having an animal spirit decrease to zero percent. To cut the long story short, you must be able to manifest your animal spirit before turning 16 years old.
"Based on this book, I should be able to manifest my animal spirit by closing my eyes, clearing my thoughts, and releasing all negative energy." I closed my eyes and sat on the ground. A few minutes later, nothing happened.
"Uuggggghhh… This is harder than I thought." I groaned on the floor as my body felt tired.
Another five months have passed. I am still trying to figure out how to manifest my animal spirit. Based on the textbook, I should concentrate until I can feel my soul reaching me.
With proper breathing, I sit on the wooden floor and close my eyes. I focus my thoughts, reaching the very bottom of my soul. I should be able to at least access the entrance of my spirit's domain.
Every day I practice my meditation.
Again and again, I continue my so-called training to acquire this animal spirit.
"What's this?" And finally, it seems my years of training were not in vain.
I am floating in a place like a void space with infinite darkness that leads nowhere, yet I can control my body like I'm flying.
Not long after, suddenly I feel my body temperature rising at abnormal rates. I feel an infinite mana all over my body. A sudden terrifying energy flows through the darkness—a gaze that pierces through my soul, an evil eye that's been watching me all this time. Not a single cell in my body dares to move. My soul is paralyzed with fear, trembling in horror.
William's POV
"This is the last thief we caught!" I put the man inside a magic jail.
"Nice catch, William!" The man shouted, raising his brows at me. "They really give me a headache." He continued speaking while tying the magical beast at its neck, connecting it to the carriage of the magical jail with the three persons locked inside.
"We will continue our thieves' hunt tomorrow. You can go home now, William." The man rode at the back of the magical beast and started to command. "Hiyaaaah!! I'll go ahead and turn them over to our facility." He left with the three thieves we just caught.
When they were gone out of my sight, I turned back and went home.
After Aurelia gave birth to Nathan, I quit being a hunter and started working for our local security in our village. That man is Lieutenant Zack. He gave me this job as a gift for me and my wife.
Lieutenant Zack is a good person. His 30 years of experience being a Pro-Hunter benefit the Imperial Security branch. With him in charge of our local villages, I am assured that my family will be safe.
As I walk, I see the destroyed cart from the thieves. "His control over his bull animal spirit is top-notch. That last charge attack on our enemies—even I, fully aware, was caught off guard."
"I wonder how's everyone…" As I walk toward the woods, I remember my previous party when I was a hunter.
After passing through the woods, something strange warns my instincts. I suddenly feel chilled down my spine. "Something's happening."
I sharpen my eyes, activating Spirit Dives. I start walking carefully. Using my animal spirit, it enhances my instincts, smell, and reaction speed.
A sudden surge of pressure from a powerful magic mana strikes like lightning. "This is so powerful."
Then a powerful loud noise from a distance—seems like an explosion from a hundred TNT bombs. I run at full speed toward the explosion, my heart beating faster and faster as I get closer, realizing this is the direction toward our house.
Not long after, I reach the vicinity of our household. My eyes widen when I see my house completely annihilated and destroyed. My thoughts think of nothing but—
"Nathan!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, rushing toward the shattered house burning in flames. Smoke and dust block my vision, yet they do not bother me.
"Release!" I cast a strong wind spell to clear my surroundings.
As the wind blows away all the smoke and dust, clearing as well the fire's heat—
My tears start to fall when I see my wife from the other side completely unharmed as she cries hysterically with no idea about our son's safety.
"This is unbelievable…" I kneel on the ground when I see my son Nathan floating in the middle of the air, looking as though he's meditating in a bed of clouds.
"He's just 3 years old. How is this possible?"
My son just manifested his animal spirit at the age of 3 years old.