"It's finally time... What does that mean?"
I asked, confused by her words. Come to think of it, the last time I saw her, she did say now wasn't the right time, didn't she?
"Your body has now grown accustomed to your power, so now I no longer need to hold back your seal. So, I'll stop suppressing your power now."
She said in a dull tone.
"Wait, does this mean I have even more mana. You're joking, right?"
I ask desperately.
(Would my neglect ring be able to suppress all of my mana now? Wouldn't monsters really be able to attack now)
I thought while sweating coldly.
"Haruto, will you form a contract with me?"
She asks in a gentle tone.
"Contract?"
I ask, tilting my head.
"Yes, it's the formal agreement between us, and from here on we will officially be partners."
She spoke. At almost the same time, the vortex of wind surrounding her slowly cleared. I could now see her face. Her beautiful, long green hair, which had a long blue and green ribbon on the side, fluttered gracefully in the wind.
Her long, one-piece blue dress was sleeveless, showing off her slender arms. There were two silver diamond armament pieces on either side of her thin dress, which was easily dancing with the gentle breeze.
"Well, Haruto... what will you do?"
She asked with her green eyes sparkling in anticipation.
"I don't know what happened when we formed a contract? I know we will be partners, but I don't see why I should."
I said with a frown.
First of all, who is this girl? Why does it seem she knows more about me than I do? She's been calling me by my first name like it's natural, and I don't remember telling her my name. I really don't know anything about this girl at all.
"Sorry, but I don't think I can just trust someone I don't know anything about."
I said calmly.
"Fair enough. Then let me tell you."
She said calmly, though there was some disappointment in her voice, but maybe it's just my imagination.
"I am Alya, the wind spirit monarch, and I've been connected to you, Haruto, since birth."
She said with a small smile on her face.
"Huh?... since birth?"
I made a confused face while staring at her blankly. How could that be possible? I'm not from this world. "Does this mean you've known about me even before I came to this world?"
I ask for clarification.
"Yes, didn't you remember what I said before? I'm the one who has always watched over you."
She said while tilting her head. She's been watching over me since the day I was born. Wouldn't she have had to have been on Earth for that to even be possible? None of this makes any sense.
"Weren't you from this world?"
I ask in a slightly loud voice. While still making a confused face.
"No, I think you are misunderstanding." She said with a troubled face.
"Misunderstanding?"
I said with a frown.
"Yes, we the spirits are not from this world or your original world either... we are from a spiritual world no humans can visually see, nor can there be any human who can physically touch that world. The spirits can move freely between worlds. We make a contract with humans whom we believe are worth making a partnership with."
She said, keeping a smile on her face. I see, so that's how it is.
"I have a question?"
I said, slowly raising my hand.
"Oh, and what might that be?"
She said, eagerly waiting.
"You said that you have been watching over me since the day I was born... so how old does that make you?"
I am highly interested. At a glance, one could easily mistake her for being of my generation since she has the appearance of a 16-year-old girl; however, if she had known me since birth, that would be impossible.
"Fufu... hasn't anyone ever told you that it's rude to ask a lady her age?"
She said with a blush on her white cheek.
"Haha... yes, I have heard that saying before, but I couldn't help myself."
I said with an awkward laugh.
"Well, anyway, what are the benefits of my forming a contract with you?"
I ask to change the topic.
"Well, since I am the great spirit of wind, I can promise you your wind magic will get even more powerful."
She said with a proud smile on her face.
"You'll also get to wield spirit power. I can guarantee it will be worth it."
She said while smiling from ear to ear. I couldn't help but think she looked beautiful, but I decided not to let my thoughts show on my face.
"Okay, I'll form a contract with you if I can get stronger. I think it will be worth it."
I said calmly. She was the one who had helped me back when I first came to this world, so I think I should be able to trust her.
"Yes, from now on, let's work together." She said slowly, shortening the distance between us.
"So how do we form a contract?"
I ask curiously.
"It's not hard, let me show you."
She said, stopping at a distance where she could touch. She then reaches out both her hands and touches my face before slowly bringing her face close at a range where I could feel her breath, and our lips met. My eyes widen at the soft sensation I felt on my lips for the first time.
For what seemed like almost an hour, she finally moved her face, and our lips parted.
"W-what was that?!"
I exclaimed while glaring at her with a red face.
"That was a kiss, couldn't you tell?"
She said with a nonchalant face.
"Of course, I know that was a kiss, but I was asking why you kissed me!?"
I shouted.
"Oh my, could it be that was your first kiss? I'm embarrassed. Doesn't that mean you'll remember it for the rest of your life?"
She said, smiling with the face of a maiden who was genuinely embarrassed by stealing the first kiss of a boy. She then traces her lips using her finger as though to remember that sensation she felt moments ago.
"Wasn't there any other way we could have formed a contract?"
I asked, exasperated by her playful attitude.
"Of course, there were many ways. But I personally wanted our contract to be formed this way."
She said with a gentle smile.
"Why?"
I ask, curious by her answer. The thought of such a beautiful girl falling for someone like me never even crossed my mind. There is just no way.
"You really need to be more confident in yourself."
She said while narrowing her eyes as though she saw through my thoughts.
A magic circle with weird symbols appeared on my right hand.
"What is this?"
I asked, holding up my hands.
"Oh, it's already here; that took less time than I thought. It is the proof of our contract."
She said with a look of delight.
"Proof of our contract, huh?"
I said while observing the symbols on the magic circle. It resembles a pentagram. As I started looking at the symbols, my head felt light.
"Seems like it's time for you to wake up," Alya muttered softly.
"I'm… waking up."
My consciousness started to slip away as the view of the forest turned white everything slowly faded away.
***
"Ah...It's so bright."
I squinted my eyes from the sunlight shining through the windows. With a small yawn, I slowly got up from the bed and moved towards the wardrobe to choose a suit I'm to wear today, when-
*KNOCK*
There was a knock on my door.
(Who could that be this early in the morning?)
I thought.
-It seems it's the boy who had challenged you from the other night.
"Huh?"
I made a confused face, not expecting a reply.
"Who is this?"
I ask with a serious face.
-Oh, have you already forgotten what a cruel partner.
The voice said, mixed with both surprise and sadness.
"Wait, is this Alya?"
I ask somewhat dumbfounded.
-So, you finally remember, I guess I wasn't fully forgotten after all, you get a passing grade.
She said, somewhat pleased.
"This girl."
I muttered. It's going to be really annoying hearing her voice inside my head from now on.
*Knock*
Another loud knock came from behind the door I slowly made my way towards it.
"Yes."
I said once I opened the door.
"Oh, so you finally decided to open your door, now our duel can begin."
He said, pointing his finger at me. He was a familiar face, the boy I met at the banquet last night, Hindu was now standing at my door.