Erestino

"Wait!" I shouted. "I'm not ready yet!"

Cindy looked like she had been forcefully pulled out of a trance. "What's wrong?"

"I... need to rest." I still couldn't feel my arms. Needless to say, that wasn't a good sign.

"Sorry Cindy, he does look quite exhausted, how about we wait a bit? How long do you think you need to rest for, Reno?"

"Well..." I thought for a moment. "Maybe about thirty or so minutes." Silvia nodded, and Cindy sighed slightly under her breath. Sorry, Cindy, you've been waiting for quite a while but I need this break.

I flopped onto the grass, letting the ground absorb all my fatigue and weight.

"Are you actually tired?" Cindy said, looking me up and down as I lay flat.

"Did you think I was lying?" I sighed.

"Yeah."

Uh, that's a little too honest, Cindy.

"Give me a break." I chuckled.

"You want another one?" Cindy said, exaggerating her voice.

"Y-you know what I mean."

"What's the extra 'y' for? Actually, I've taught a few kids, but you're the first I've seen learn on the grass after playing. There's always an element of surprise with you, Reno."

"Playing? That was training. And didn't you add an extra 'r' too? Don't you mean lean on the grass?"

"I said learn because I didn't think you had plans to get up anytime soon. I'll be teaching you while you're lying down at this rate."

"Come on—that's such an over-reaction. I'll get up eventually. I mean, are you really planning to teach a whole class while I'm lying down? That's quite the imagery."

"Image. I'm returning the 'r' and 'y' you borrowed."

"I borrowed? Isn't the extra 'r' yours?" I blinked.

"R you serious?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Y of course. Do you think I'm kidding?" I shot back.

"Talk about chemistry. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you two were the same age."

"Not the same age!" we shouted in perfect sync.

"See?" Silvia smiled. "You're both definitely on the same page, even if it's not the same letter."

Ah, touché.

Maybe Silvia had a point. Back before I got reincarnated, we'd have been around the same age—both high school students. From the way we were arguing... I feared my mental age hadn't progressed very much if at all.

"Fine, I'll drop it." Cindy audibly sighed.

I glanced around, choosing to not reply to her. "Looks like you both managed to finish the final block."

"It wasn't too bad at all actually." Silvia tilted her head slightly. "We could've done with a hardworking boy like yourself, however."

I smiled in response. "Sorry, I'm quite busy as of late it seems."

"It’s fine, it's fine." Silvia waved it off.

"So..." I glanced at Cindy. "What were you two talking about?"

"Huh?" Cindy jumped in fright. "W-what do you mean? We weren't talking about anything in particular..."

"R-right..." I nodded slowly. That's real convincing, Cindy.

"If you must know, Reno, we were talking about something really important." Silvia paused contemplating before her eyes shone with a strange glint. "Do you want to know that badly?"

A secret... between Silvia and Cindy?

Involuntarily, my head bobbed at her suggestion.

"The truth is—"

"Don't tell him!"

"It's a girls-only secret." Silvia smiled.

Cindy decompressed, her flushed red face regaining its pale countenance slowly.

"She really got you good, huh?" I giggled.

"Oh shut it." Cindy said as she rubbed her temples while slumping back. I guess she never planned to tell me in the first place.

"Well, seems like you're both full of energy, how about we get this lesson started before Cindy goes crazy."

I moved my hands, forcing myself up. It was quite painful to move them but they weren't numb anymore at least. This should do.

"So what's first on the menu, teach?"

"Teach? That has a familiar ring to it." Cindy smirked. "Today we'll start with summoning magic."

"Woah." I clapped. Now that sounds cool.

"Since you have no affinities there isn't a specific type of magic we should prioritise because in theory you'll grow at the same rate for all of them." Cindy said.

"So, we'll just try to teach you all of them, and whichever ones you have the most interest in, you can practice those more. Not having innate affinities doesn't necessarily mean you won't have innate interests. Does that make sense?"

I gave a short nod and Silvia did too. She smiled approvingly, like a mother watching her child do chores without being asked to.

"Do you know what type of learner you are?"

"I'm not quite sure what you mean?"

She scratched her cheek. "For example, do you learn more visually, audibly or some other way? Are you the type that needs to understand the theory behind things to use them?"

Hm. Good question.

"I'm a visual learner."

Actually, I was more of the type that needs to understand the theory behind why things work to really understand something. Truthfully, I'm not a visual learner. However, I wanted to see what she would show me if I said I was.

"Right. Then watch, this is the beginner summoning spell."

She raised her hand, but this time an imperial staff didn't materialise.

"Is there a reason you do that? Does raising your hand increase mana sensitivity or something?"

"Just a habit."

Oh. Guess that was that.

Then, without warning, luminescent white lines began drifting across the grass. One by one, intricate symbols intertwined in a perfect circle. The tingle in the air was faint, but it was enough to raise the hairs on my arms.

"Come forth, Quelia."

The circle flared a soft white, and the space within it rippled. From the glow emerged a figure as pure and pale as fresh snow…

"Dragon?" I grinned like I'd just met my favourite celebrity. "That's a dragon, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, it is what some people would refer to as, a dragon. Specifically, an infant."

The baby dragon chirped, its silver eyes bright with curiosity. It flew around Cindy in loose, playful loops, its wings beating so fast that they left faint streaks of light behind. Every so often it would hover close to her shoulder, almost nuzzling her cheek before darting away again.

Awww, dragons are so cute.

"That's impressive," Silvia said softly. "But why is she so weak?"

"Because... I'm lazy," Cindy said as she played with the airborne white dragon.

"Huh?" Silvia's voice shot up an octave. "And you want to teach my son your lazy habits?"

Cindy flinched, going ashen grey. "No, Big Sis... I uhm..."

Uh-oh, Cindy. Strike one.

"Cindy, you have such a rare breed of dragon that even I don't know what that is. And you're not raising it?" Silvia sighed and shook her head disappointedly. "No wonder you los—"

"Aaaaaa!!! Don't say it in front of Reno!" Cindy yelped as she waved her hands in front of Silvia. Don't say what?

"Fine, fine." Silvia held her tongue, content with just teasing her a bit.

"A rare breed..." I muttered under my breath, still hung up on Silvia's earlier words. "Earlier you said this spell summons familiars. Can you change familiars or do you always have the same one?"

"It's impossible to change familiars." Cindy said. "Even if your previous familiar dies."

"That's right, and you only get one." Silvia added. "This is the reason the beginner spell for summoning magic is unique. Your familiar is a reflection of your soul."

So familiars are a reflection of the soul… how interesting. Seeing how playful Quelia was, I could believe that.

Silvia continued. "Not only that—they’re also largely tied to your lineage. If you have a bloodline consisting of strong mages and fighters, your familiar will also be strong with a good bloodline."

I looked at Cindy and then at Quelia. A white dragon with unknown origins... that wasn't just rare, it was unheard of.

That meant Cindy wasn't just from a decent family—no, she was from that kind of family. The kind people whispered about. The kind you didn't openly ask around about unless you wanted trouble. And from how uncomfortable she was talking about her family earlier, it was best to let that sleeping dragon lie.

"Of course, your familiar is supposed to be your lifelong partner, so you don't need it to be extremely powerful or have an insanely strong bloodline. You'll still feel close to it because it's a part of you. A reflection of who you truly are." She glanced at Quelia with a faint, knowing smile.

Fascinating. An innate natural attraction... I wonder what my familiar's like.

"What if my familiar has a weak bloodline? Can it be improved?"

"I don't think you'll have to worry about that," Cindy said, looking at Silvia. "But yes, it can. You just need to give it special treasures or resources from a more powerful member of the same race. For example, if your familiar is from the Paper Tiger race, you would give it the heart, or another vital essence, of an elder Paper Tiger to help it evolve or grow."

"Woah! Familiars are so cool!" My eyes lit up. Now that's the sort of progression I was hoping for. And Paper Tigers—you're telling me tigers made out of paper exist? How can that even work from a biological perspective?

"You're right Reno, familiars are amazing. And someone's been neglecting their familiar." Silvia chided disapprovingly. Cindy lowered her head, sheepish.

"Let's make this a lesson for little Cindy, too. Seems like your teacher still has a few things to learn, Reno. Let's change locations—I wouldn't want to ruin our hard work."

What? Ruin our hard work how?

"This should do it." We'd moved past our small makeshift flower garden into a much larger field in front. Endless grass rippled in the gentle breeze with golden sunlight spilling over the rolling hills. Weather in the Butter region really is a blessing.

"Do you need all this space?" I looked at Silvia.

"Reno, do you know who your mother is?" Cindy said, slowly, as if she was in disbelief at my words.

"Obviously, she's Silvia."

Silvia just smiled. "Play close attention you two."

She didn't move. Countless azure lines of light traced intricate patterns across the ground, locking into place with sharp, deliberate precision. Soon a blue magic circle formed, swirling with compressed energy, like a storm trapped in a crystal.

1x1 tethers. 2x2. 4x4… 8x8… 16x16… 20x20… it's still going!

The deep blue light pulsed, brightened and dimmed, as if the circle itself was breathing.

"What the... hell is that—" I whispered. A beginner spell? Every fibre in my body screamed that this was far beyond anything I'd seen before.

The magic circle finally halted at roughly 25x25 tethers. This large for a familiar? Sure it was supposed to be a lifelong partner but that definitely didn't mean it'd be the strongest thing you could summon. Considering it's a beginner spell I'd even consider it the weakest, right?

What the heck is she about to summon...

"Come forth, Erestino."

Suddenly, a colossal figure rose from the blue magic circle, as if the very ground had birthed it.

Crystals—thousands upon thousands, each a distinct shade of blue. Its scales were like shards of ice, each one catching the sunlight and scattering it like tiny stars. Its wings stretched wide, stretching shadows across the grass, each movement sending a cascade of flickering reflections onto the ground.

As the magic circle's glow faded, the full magnitude of the creature became clear. A mythical being from legend, now stood before us in breath-taking reality. Its eyes, deep pools of liquid sapphire, regarded Silvia with quiet intelligence, simultaneously majestic and playful.

I blinked.

"You've got to be kidding me." Cindy's mouth hung agape.

"A dragon! Cindy look! It's a real dragon!" I shouted.

"M-mine's a real dragon too..." She said as she held Quelia. Oh yeah I forgot, this isn't my first time seeing a dragon.

"But yours is well uhm..." How to put this. "Lacking."

I was expecting some sort of angry response but I was met with silence. Silent agreement.

"Wait, Cindy." I glanced in her direction. "Do you feel... colder?"

"It's the dragon's breath." Cindy said slowly. "Look underneath the dragon."

I followed her gaze. The dragon hadn't exhaled harshly, it just breathed normally. Clouds of frost hovered over the area in front of its mouth as it lay there quietly.

Beneath the dragon, the grass was vanishing, overtaken by a creeping frost that spread outward in a perfect circle. Ice laced the grass like delicate glass, shimmering faintly in the sunlight.

The ice is coming... for us.

"Eres." Silvia spoke, her voice different somehow, like she was speaking an ancient royal language. Cindy's words from earlier came to mind.

Reno, do you know who your mother is?

"I didn't see them down there. Or... her." The ice stopped advancing as an ancient majestic voice boomed. Her? Is he talking about Quelia? Suddenly, my legs caved in, as if I was being forced to bow to a superior race.

"Reno did you see that? It just... talked?" Cindy said as she looked down at me, her eyes incredulous. "Reno?"

"Don't speak, you'll hurt him." Silvia said. The dragon nodded—they were communicating telepathically.

What was that just now..? I hobbled up with Cindy's help, albeit barely. My body felt cold down to my very soul, as if some strange force had infiltrated it. It felt like I was being forced to prostrate even though... the dragon wasn't even looking at me. Or speaking to me.

"D-did you not feel that just now?" I said, looking to Cindy.

"Feel what?" She said, confused. "What happened?"

"She's a high level dragon contractor. She won't feel the innate suppression of a high level dragon unless they actively try to enforce it. But you, on the other hand, Reno... you will feel it even by proxy." Silvia said slowly.

Silvia's words reminded me of what Glyffe had said earlier: if I showed you the sword techniques, you'd be traumatised just from seeing it. Now I didn't doubt his words. My parents... who are they really?

"This showing is more for Cindy than it is for you, after all. Her familiar has the potential to be as strong as Eres."

Cindy's eyes lit up, then her eyes suddenly dimmed. "How do you know? Didn't you say you didn't recognise its race?"

"Eres told me." Silvia smiled.

Cindy's complexion brightened again. "Did you hear that Quelia?"

"Queee!" the little dragon cried excitedly. I guess that's the only sound Quelia can make as a baby.

"Wait, is that why you called her Quelia?" I said, shocked.

"M-maybe." Cindy mumbled. Typical Cindy, though actually it was a fitting name.

I paused noticing something. Familiars are supposed to be a reflection of the soul, right? And Silvia's is... a frost dragon. Something which I would never have guessed. If it was to be a dragon, I'd think it'd be something softer and gentler, like a water dragon or an earth dragon. But...

Erestino was cold and aloof. He was almost detached and above the world, not even looking at the unworthy creatures beneath him. Almost imperial, like some sort of royalty. This is a reflection of Silvia's soul? Silvia who's always smiling and compassionate? I almost didn't believe that familiars and souls are that closely linked, but both of them said it themselves...

Quelia being a reflection of Cindy's soul made sense, she was very childish and playful but still had a natural awe to her. Something which drew in any onlookers to her, much like Cindy.

But Eres... honestly, I was scared. If it wasn't for the fact I wanted to admire this creature of legend I'd read about countless times, I'd have ran away a long time ago.

Just hearing his voice inflicted an instinctual suppression beyond reality—my whole body screamed one thing.

Kneel.

"I didn't know familiars could talk?" Cindy said, confused as she looked at Silvia.

"Most can't, but Eres is, special. Talking isn't necessary anyways because contractors and familiars can communicate heart to heart." Cindy nodded.

At some point, the sky had shifted. The clear blue had dimmed, and clouds thickened, curling and twisting above us as if drawn toward the dragon. A cold wind swept across the field, bending the grass and carrying a faint crystalline scent.

"A domain. Just his presence alone causes the environment to change. How the..." Cindy's voice trailed off. I'm right there with you, teach.

"Right, it's about time."

Silvia smiled, and the great magic circle pulled the dragon back into itself, its light dimming rapidly until the field was empty once more.

The heavy chill in the air thinned, and the frost-glazed grass began to darken with moisture. Overhead, the swirling clouds unravelled, breaking apart into faint wisps until the sun spilled into the field again.

"It's not melting." I stared at a specific patch of grass, drawn to it.

"E-everfrost!" Cindy squealed. "What have you done? You know this patch of grass will remain cold forever right?"

What? Permanently?

"Oh... I forgot he'd gotten this... strong." Silvia said slowly, her words both melancholic and nostalgic.

"W-what are we going to do?" Cindy said panicked.

"I can erase it, no big deal." Silvia waved her hand and the ice melted instantly. Cindy almost passed out, her face going pale as her legs went limp.

"How did you do that?" Cindy questioned. "Water magic? But that's—"

Silvia raised a finger to Cindy's lips. "It's my familiar, obviously I can get rid of a little ice he left behind." She smiled.

True enough, it wasn't like Eres was trying to permanently freeze the area or anything. I guess what shocked Cindy is that Silvia erased something she thought was 'everfrost'. But perhaps there was levels to everfrost—or what Eres left behind wasn't everfrost in the first place.

"Still..." Cindy trailed off, her voice still uncertain.

"Anyways, isn't it time for the main event? Aren't you going to teach Reno how to summon a familiar?"

"Right... I guess I'll... get to it." She's still in shock? Well I can't blame her really, but my reaction meter capped when I felt Eres' innate suppression. Nothing could surprise me as much as that now.

She waved her hand and a magical circle formed on the ground, inscribed by the wind.

"The ritual is simple. Someone draws this pattern on a medium, like paper or the ground. Then the contractor puts a drop of blood onto the circle and pours mana into it. It's also best to think about the thing you value most."

Silvia nodded. The thing I value most...

"Does it matter how big the circle is at first?"

"Nope, as long as it has the key symbols, it'll change to fit your familiar."

"I'm ready." Cindy nodded in response. I held my thumb out and a swift blade of wind cut at it, forcing a drop of blood to fall from it. Then, I channelled my mana into the ground.

The one thing I value most... I thought about my past life. Marino, Nagisa and Akio. I thought about my hobbies: biology, running, drawing. I thought about my current life and the parents I'd been blessed with, Glyffe and Silvia. I thought about all the people I'd met: Magia and the Little Dreamers, Rosette and the pre-scouts, Stox and Cindy.

Think about the thing I value most? How could I choose only one?

Just then, the circle lit up, shining a rocky green.

"Oh?" Silvia said as she covered her mouth.

"Here it comes." Cindy said, her eyes wide with expectation.

Two dragons. Will mine be... a dragon too?

Erestino the frost dragon, huh... I wonder if my soul is also... cold... like Silvia's.

Poof!

"Kyaaa!"

Huh? Kya?