SPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Scholar

~What do you plan on doing now? Its new form doesn't change the Representation's effects.~

Libra's tone indicated both curiosity and skepticism—the latter vividly more dominant with how she asked the question.

In response, Aloe only smiled.

"Just watch." A twinkle shone forth within her eyes.

And then her lips parted.

"Original Magic…"

The being of pure light roared as it rushed towards Aloe, sheer bloodlust radiating all around it.

"… [Aurora Vidalis: Lightless World]."

~VWWWUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

At that very moment, all the light in the vicinity fell under Aloe's command and were instantly absorbed by her.

The enemy was no exception.

In a flash, it became one with the several other fragments of light in the entire world they stood in, and everything became one with Aloe.

As a result, she glowed ever so bright in the vastness of darkness around her.

"Mission complete." Her words echoed out.

~Ahh, I see now. Brilliantly done, Aloe.~

Libra's words stemmed from a place that very few Constellations would even consider.

She was impressed.

~You turned the darkness into pure light so you could absorb it all—Representation included.~

"Precisely. And thanks to that decision, I can't ever run out of Light."

The Representation of her enemy was now a part of her.

Life and Death.

"I can infuse my Light with both qualities now. Isn't that cool?" Aloe grinned.

~So you basically have two Representations now. Is that even allowed?~

"Haha! Come on! Isn't this just a spoil of war? Don't tell me you'll be leaving just because of this." Aloe smiled further.

~You already know I can't cancel our contract. It lasts until your demise.~

For a moment, silence existed between the two.

~Besides, even if I could… I wouldn't.~

This made the young bastion of brightness chuckle lightly.

"And why is that?"

~Let's just say I quite like your style. Aloe Vida… you're certainly a special entity.~

"Well, I wasn't always like this. It's thanks to Jared for resurrecting me and—"

~No. It's not Jared that made you this way. You've been special since birth. Your premature death just activated the recessive gene you have always had.~

Upon hearing that, Aloe froze. She had already suspected that there was more to her ability and growing talent that met the eye, but she always attributed all of that to Jared's intervention during the Demonic Disturbance at Ainzlark.

What Libra was telling her felt like abrupt news to the ears.

"What are you saying?"

~I can see it already. The reason you were able to respond so positively to Magic, and why you were a somewhat suitable host for Kazen…~

Libra's riddle-like words puzzled Aloe even more.

Just what was she saying?

~You're a descendant of the first Singularity. You're Merlin's seed.~

Upon hearing such a profound, unexpected revelation, Aloe's eyes bulged in absolute shock.

She wasn't expecting this.

No one could have predicted it at all.

"W-what?!"

~Indeed. Your bloodline is incredibly potent. You're a genius.~

The truth was heavy, and the same applied to Aloe.

This new revelation changed everything.

Both in this world, and in the one that once was.

Deep within Libra's mind, however, where Aloe was unable to hear her, the Constellation had a few more thoughts as she looked at her Host.

~I suppose that's why he chose you…~

It was subtle—almost bittersweet—but Libra felt something at her very core.

~… Hero of the forgotten world.~

********

[Moments Earlier]

The enemy in front of Ciara was a massive hulk of an entity.

It had seemingly innumerable limbs, with a height that defied logic. Its entire body seemed to be made of an impossibly tough exoskeleton, and it had eyes that decorated its body.

Each of its innumerable limbs took on varying shapes and sizes, their properties containing various attributes.

In simple terms, it appeared to be a cosmic octopus—though it had a crustacean-like skin.

The numerous eyes all over its body glowed, and its imposingly massive form appeared to be growing even larger by the second.

"An Original Magic that allows instant transformation, huh? To think we would be facing a shapeshifter, and it instantly resorts to its strongest form." Ciara whispered.

She wasn't talking to herself, though.

Her partner was right with her, hearing every single word she uttered.

~It is unwise to underestimate your opponent. Your enemy realizes that.~

"It has no mind to realize anything. It's essentially a survival response to the amount of power it senses from me. Like instinct."

~Still… you shouldn't be so lax about your opponent.~

Once Aquarius said those words, Ciara fell into a deep hush.

She said nothing.

It made Aquarius a little puzzled—even slightly worried that her words could have caused her Host some distress.

As a Constellation who had never bonded with a Host before, she didn't know how exactly to address one, or where to draw the line.

As a result, a slight feeling tugged at her that maybe she had misspoke.

That wasn't the case, though.

"You're right. I shouldn't be lax!" Ciara beamed with a smile.

This raised Aquarius' spirits almost instantly.

~Y-yeah! Exactly!~

"I should finish this as swiftly and efficiently as possible! That way, I can go and check on Jerry!"

~Y-yeah…?~

Ciara's interpretation wasn't exactly what Aquarius was going for, but she couldn't take back her words at this point.

She could only exercise due caution.

~Don't be too impulsive, though.~

"You don't need to worry, Aquarius!" Somehow, Ciara's words caused the Constellation's worry to slowly dissipate.

Perhaps it was due to their strong connection, but she could see that Ciara was absolutely confident of her victory.

This didn't come out of a place of pride or carelessness.

No, it was the opposite.

"I'll win."

Aquarius found herself nodding, while her inner self raced in anticipation as she awaited what her Host would do.

She already knew, though.

"[Pseudo-Primeval Magic: Aegir]"

The hulking beast roared as it charged at Ciara, probably sensing something off the instant she uttered those words.

Unfortunately for the poor thing, it was already too late.

~VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!~

At that moment, the cosmic crustacean octopus found itself in a halt, and then slowly… its form began to shrink.

It was a forceful, painful process; the massive creature sinking into itself like quicksand.

In a flash, it was fully immersed within itself, imploding at an accelerated pace.

~BWUUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

A soundless explosion sent shockwaves teetering to the very edges of space-time, with not even a shred of the creature's mass remaining.

[Aegir] had completely eradicated it.

"We're done here." Ciara smiled at the empty space in front of her.

It felt nice not having to see a disgusting monster in front of her.

~You used Aegir to control that thing, despite it having no real mind or soul. Impressive.~

Despite hearing Aquarius' praises, Ciara only shrugged.

"As long as it exists, it has a network of causes behind it. Its instinct also serves as a mechanism of its existence and actions. Using Connection to take control of that Instinct, I forcefully induced a self-destruct sequence into it.~

Taking this directive from Ciara as its new instinctive imperative, the enemy self-destructed in an implosion.

~Well posited.~

"Now that we're done here, I'm off to see Jerry!" Ciara beamed, instantly locating her lover amidst the vastness of a high infinite space.

Surprisingly, Aquarius did not protest against this.

Now that she and Ciara shared a special Connection, she could see why the girl was so infatuated with the boy.

~Alright. Let's go.~

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading, everyone!

Did the revelation shock you, or you always suspected Aloe was a bit special?

Which is it?

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