Chapter 53 Spirit (4)
Spirit (4)
"I want to make a contract with Silpi."
[Huh?]
[What?]
Even if Sally's reaction was somewhat expected, why does he seem the most surprised of all? Maybe he's self-aware about having a difficult personality.
It wasn't because of personality traits that I chose the Wind Spirit, though.
The biggest reason was that Forest Spirits could only be properly utilized in limited areas.
Wasn't it said that Forest Spirits are the ones closest to nature and most dependent on it?
No matter how I thought about it, as the young lady of a count's household, I couldn't imagine myself spending much time in forests or natural settings, so I ruled them out.
On the other hand, Wind Spirits had much broader applications. Being able to summon a cool breeze on hot days was one reason, but not the only one.
If properly nurtured, couldn't Wind Spirits grow powerful enough to even create typhoons?
Moreover, they'd be far easier to control compared to Fire Spirits like Sally.
[You really want to choose me? Why?]
[Silpi.]
[No, but this is weird.]
Though Silvana tried to gently admonish him in a small voice, Silpi actually raised his voice in question.
[In all this time, no human has ever chosen me over Sally or Silvana?]
[Then perhaps you should consider fixing your personality first.]
[Urk...]
Silpi fell silent again, apparently having nothing to say in response. So he is self-aware after all—at least about his difficult personality.
"How do we form the contract?"
[...How do we do it, Silvana?]
When I asked Silpi, he didn't seem to know either and turned to Silvana with the question. Watching this, Silvana chuckled softly before speaking.
[Fufu. Are you embarrassed because it's your first contract?]
[Shut up.]
Though he grumbled, he didn't deny it. So this really is Silpi's first contract, then.
Come to think of it, he did say that until now, everyone had only ever contracted with Silvana and Sally.
[The contract is simple. Just place your hands together.]
Silpi, still in his flame form, cautiously approached. His size was slightly smaller than my hand. At this rate, wouldn't it be enough to just bring my hand close to his?
Thinking this, I moved my hand closer to the flame. The moment I did, my mind suddenly felt clear.
A refreshing sensation spread throughout my entire body. It was similar to the feeling I'd had when smelling Louie's tobacco earlier.
All the worries, anxieties, and fears that had been crammed into a corner of my heart vanished completely.
Silvana, who had drawn near to me for a moment, gave a slight nod. If the up-and-down motion could be called a nod, that is.
[Silpi, prepare yourself.]
[...Yeah.]
Suddenly, I felt wind.
A single gust crossing over a vast green grassland. The description might sound odd, but that's exactly how it felt.
Without realizing it, I closed my eyes in wonder. At the same time, I felt a cool breeze brush against my fingertips where they met Silpi's.
[Focus on that sensation, Contractor.]
Silpi's voice, calm and deliberate, echoed loudly in my ears. Unlike his usual curt tone, it sounded remarkably solemn now.
Hmm...
I could distinctly feel the tremors in the air.
[The wind is an existence that brushes past all things.]
[Thus, it is freer than any other.]
The wind enveloped my entire body.
I felt a liberating sensation, as if I could take flight and soar through the world at any moment. Was this the sense of freedom Silpi had spoken of?
[And thus, lonelier than any other.]
A wave of loneliness welled up from somewhere deep in my heart.
Was this the world as Silpi perceived it?
Spiritualists were originally those who communicated with spirits and grew alongside them. It was said that when forming their first contract with a spirit, a Spiritualist would come face-to-face with the world as seen through that spirit's eyes.
Endless freedom and solitude.
Was that the essence of the world as Silpi saw it?
Strangely enough, it didn't seem all that different from the world I saw.
After all, I was just an outsider who had possessed the villainess in another world. I understood exactly what Silpi was feeling.
[So this... is the world you see.]
"...Did you see it?"
[...Yeah. But I won't speak of it.]
Communication was, at its core, about feeling one another.
Silpi must have sensed the world as I saw it, too. If I felt a gaze of empathy and pity from those azure flames, was it just my imagination?
[I, Silpia the Wind Spirit, hereby form a contract with Adel von Este.]
With Silpi's declaration, I felt something connect within my heart. Was this the bond—the Link—that Arin had explained, tying spirit and contractor together?
Hmm...
As the air trembled faintly, Silpi's flames began to burn more fiercely. Startled by the sudden change, I flinched, but Arin shook her head reassuringly.
"After forming a contract, a spirit takes on the form most familiar to its contractor."
"I see."
So it takes the form most familiar to me.
What kind of form would that be? Though curiosity prickled at me, I decided to quietly observe.
[Wow! It's my first time seeing Silpi transform!]
Along with Sally's exclamation, the azure flames began taking shape.
First, it became a doll the size of a palm, then details started being added stroke by stroke as if painting a picture.
As I watched, Arin's expression gradually broke into a smile. In contrast, my face began growing increasingly warm.
[This form is...]
A tiny boy with gray hair, silver eyes, and a small scar near his eye.
Undeniably, it was a child version of Abel.
"My god, it's the Duke!"
"Ugh..."
To think Abel was the form most familiar to me.
Sure, I might have... certain thoughts about him, but surely not enough for my spirit to take his form!
[Oho~ So this is the form the contractor likes best?]
"Excuse me? No one said anything like that!"
When I confronted Arin, she only giggled without offering an explanation. My already burning face now felt like molten lava.
[Ah, a tomato.]
"I am NOT a tomato!"
[Eeek, humans are scary~]
Sally drawled teasingly as she sidled up to Silvana. Though it made my blood boil, I forced myself to stay calm.
"When I was little, I wanted a friend, so I took a girl's form. But Madam wanted the Duke, so—eep!"
"Shut your mouth!"
I clapped a hand over her lips, finally silencing Arin. Seeing her beaming smile only made the earlier embarrassment resurface.
"Tch..."
[This is fun. This human's interesting.]
[Besides, Silpi's never contracted with anyone before! Stop showing off!]
[Shut up, Sally!]
And so, I'd gained an extremely noisy spirit.
§
It was an ordinary, sunny day.
A towering spire stood beside an attached monastery. The church felt distinctly out of place among the surrounding buildings.
Its pristine white walls gave the impression of gazing upon pure snow.
This was the Holy State of Numen, where the Goddess Church worshipped the divine.
Those blessed by the Goddess could wield holy power as priests, dispatched to most nations. Naturally, the Arieh Empire was no exception.
This place functioned as a sort of hospital staffed by Numen's dispatched priests.
The reason for my visit, of course, was to check on Evan, who had been severely injured last time.
After what happened in the village with the Emperor, he'd been unconscious for days, leaving me worried for quite a while.
Technically, he'd gotten hurt because of my own greed.
"His condition still isn't optimal, so please remain quiet."
I nodded at the man in white priestly robes before entering the ward with Arin.
Inside, Evan greeted us with a relaxed wave and a faint smile. Seeing him so lively eased my worries slightly.
"You came, Miss. And..."
Evan's complexion paled as his gaze shifted. Just how had Abel treated him for this kind of reaction to a simple visit?
"C-Captain..."
"Long time no see."
"Haha... yeah, been a while."
His nervousness slipped back into his rural accent. Seeming to find it pitiful, Arin sighed deeply and took a seat by the bed.
"Anyone would think you're about to be devoured."
I cautiously sat down as well, studying Evan. Though holy power had healed most of his wounds, he still didn't look well.
"How are you feeling?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine."
He scratched his head as he answered, though his pallor suggested otherwise. Noticing this, Arin spoke first.
"Heard you got beaten by that guy."
"...Yeah. He was strong."
Evan bit his lip faintly, looking troubled.
As he said, the Emperor had been formidable. Evan hadn't even stood a chance.
"I'll be acting as Madam's escort knight for the time being."
"I... see."
After a brief pause, he nodded in understanding. For some reason, he looked a little pitiful.
[Who's that?]
Silpi whispered in my ear.
'My escort knight. He got badly hurt this time.'
[I see.]
His curiosity satisfied, he asked no further. Or perhaps the mood just wasn't right for more questions.
"Use this experience to grow stronger before you return."
With those final words, Arin stood and left the ward. Watching her go, Evan chuckled weakly.
"Still as blunt as ever."
That's what makes her reliable, though.
He murmured with a faint smile.