Aurelia POV
"My son… my son Nathan!" As the explosion erupted, the sound could be heard from a hundred miles away, but it did not concern me. The only thing in my mind was my child… my only child.
"Nathan!" I shouted desperately.
My house was in complete chaos. Fire, smoke, the smell of burning wood and scorched animals spread everywhere.
As I searched for my son, a sudden wave of terror replaced my anxiety. "What's this?" Fear prickled across my skin, my eyes darkened with worry. A dark red-orange aura filled the whole place, a powerful yet terrifying spirit cloaked the shattered house. My frozen body refused to obey because of fear.
However, my son is my son. Not even death could overpower a mother's worry for her child.
I rushed toward the center of my house, activating my animal spirit to shield me from harm.
"Vision!" I cast a spell. With my owl spirit, I could see through anything blocking my sight.
And then…
My eyes filled with tears as I saw my son floating in the middle like a radiant sun, glowing with the power of animal spirits, wrapped in a thick layer of mana.
I cried, relief overwhelming me. "My son Nathan… I'm glad you're fine!"
Nathan POV
"Where the hell am I?" The terror I felt earlier vanished.
"You will be my host. You will use my power, and I will guide you toward your goal." A piercing voice suddenly spoke.
"Who… who are you?" Despite fear, I bravely asked.
"I know you. I know what you are. I know where you came from… IAN." The voice faded into the darkness before it completely vanished.
Nothing came to my mind… my soul froze, and I didn't know how to respond. Hearing those words left me utterly speechless.
And then…
Memories from my previous life flashed. Hundreds of images swirled, pouring from every direction.
"Aunt Marie… Seleneeeee???" I was so focused and amazed in this life that I completely forgot where I came from, who I left behind. The people I loved, the people I cared about, and the reasons I wanted to live.
And then… it all went blank.
After that encounter, my body felt light, my soul cleansed. Slowly, I opened my eyes.
"Whaaaaaaaa?" Shock overwhelmed me. 'My house… where the hell did it go? Shit… shit, I'm floating in the air?'
'My animal spirit finally unlocked,' I muttered in a low voice.
I celebrated my success in manifesting my spirit, but my joy didn't last. My brain flooded with memories from my previous life. My smile died along with my excitement. As I slowly descended, I noticed my father—my father in this world.
His face was filled with anxiety as he cried like a child, rushing toward me. I turned my head and saw my mother Aurelia, terrified yet still running toward me as well. Both reached me at the same time.
They were crying, worried, and scared.
As they hugged me together, I felt their warm embrace. 'What is this feeling?'
A tear slid from my eyes.
'So this is love. The love of parents I longed for. The love of parents I craved for so long… a love so worried and afraid to lose someone.'
'This is the love I always prayed for…' Without realizing, I cried like a helpless baby for the first time in front of my parents.
After that event, my father spent every afternoon teaching me everything he knew about Animal Spirits. It had already been one year since that day.
"So… that's all I know about Animal Spirits." He picked up the wooden sword stuck in the ground. Lowering his upper body, his right hand raised the sword high enough to match his head while his left hand pressed against the ground. Without warning, he activated his Dog spirit.
With it, his physical strength, flexibility, and reaction speed surged. In an instant, he appeared behind me. My reflexes weren't fast enough to dodge. With one powerful swing, I was launched several meters away, rolling across the dirt.
"Urrggg…" I groaned, my body unable to withstand the blow.
Yet I stood, my fierce eyes locked on him.
"That's good! I don't want to hurt you badly, Nat! I'll strike again…"
"Oh yeah? You're literally trying to kill your four-year-old son," I muttered.
"No. I'm teaching you how to fight for your life," he replied, surprisingly having heard me.
'Tsk. His Dog spirit enhances his hearing too.' I clicked my tongue, rushing toward him again.
He vanished into thin air like the wind, reappearing at my left. Before I realized, his foot smashed into my face, slamming me to the ground.
"Haaa… haaa…" I gasped for breath, lying open and vulnerable as he unleashed another strike from above. With my remaining strength, I blocked the mana-imbued wooden sword using only my bare arms. My bones cracked from the impact.
'Use my power, Nathan. You will never win against him with will alone.' A chilling voice echoed in my mind.
"No!" I shouted, pushing my dad back with all my strength. I managed to escape his strike.
"Oh… that's my son," he said proudly, despite being surprised.
'You are weak! Fragile, lesser human! Again, use my power, and you will never lose!' the voice roared eagerly.
'Who the hell are you?' I responded in my mind, eyes still fixed on my father.
'Human weakness lies in information,' it replied calmly. 'Close your eyes, and I'll show you true power.'
'My dad will attack me if I do that.'
'JUST DO IT!' The voice rose again, furious at my defiance.
'Fuck this.' I cursed, but desperate to win, I closed my eyes.
In the darkness, I saw a figure. No—not just a figure. This was a monster.
A monstrous surge of mana poured from its body. As it walked closer, I could finally see it—a Nine-Tailed Fox Beast. Its thick fur blazed with orange flames, terrifying yet majestic. Infinite power streamed like rivers from every step it took. Its golden light illuminated the darkness, its fierce eyes fixed on me.
As it reached me, it touched my chest with its paw.
'Arrgggghhh!' I clenched my teeth in pain. My knees dropped, my body crushed under the immense pressure. Yet I knew it—this was true power.
Moments later—or so I thought—the pain was gone. The fox vanished. In real time, it had lasted less than a heartbeat.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. My senses sharpened to extremes. Every motion slowed—my father charged at me, but it was like watching slow motion. Birds flapped like snails, leaves fell like snow.
I looked at my father. My stance shifted, ready for another round.