Sam was walking towards the mansion, his pace slow and heavy. "It looked like my speed got slower due to the System shock." His hands were trembling, and his legs felt like lead. The wound in his mouth was not bleeding anymore, but the pain was still there, deep inside his bones.
When he entered the mansion, a maid noticed Sam's appearance. He looked wounded and pale. She quickly took him to the family healer. It was the first time Sam saw someone else use magic in this world. The healer chanted softly, and a green light glowed from her hands. The light touched Sam's skin, and the external cuts closed instantly.
Sam watched with jealousy. He wanted to do that. He wanted to wield power like that.
"But I have the System, "Sam thought, clenching his fists under the blanket. "With the System, I can become stronger than anyone in this family. The God wants me to write my own destiny, and the System wants me to make contracts with spirits. In this life, I will be the one to control my destiny."
Sam thought this while walking towards the dining room to eat dinner. It was empty. No one was there. He sat alone. A maid placed dinner in front of him. It was quite delicious, rich meat and fresh vegetables. He was hungry since the time he transmigrated to this world. He ate quickly, feeling the strength return to his body.
From his memories, he knew this world was larger than Earth, at least four times the size. Different races coexisted together—humans, elves, beastkin. There were many kingdoms, but only one Empire ruled over them all. The Crimson Clan served that Empire.
He walked toward his bedroom and slept on the bed. He was quite tired. In the next morning, he woke earlier. He had a habit of waking quickly because he needed to prepare early for work in his past life. That habit remained.
"Even though that doctor cast healing magic, my body still hurts," Sam muttered, stretching his stiff arms. "Looks like he only healed the wounds and did not treat the internal damage fully."
With that being said, he spoke to the air. "System, are you here?"
[ Yes Host. System Is Online 24 Hours ]
"You told me that you can help me get admitted into the Zenith Imperial Academy."
[ Yes Host,You Just Need To Find A Spirit To Make Contract With ]
[ But Remember Host, You Can't Contract A Strong Spirit Which You Can't Handle ]
"Where can I find the spirit to make contract with? It's not like spirits will come looking for me," Sam thought while walking in the garden. No one was there. He was all alone in the garden. The morning mist covered the flowers.
[ Spirit Energy Detected Host ]
[ Fire Spirit, Weak And Injured. Host Can Make Contract With It ]
A map opened in front of him. It was a blue holographic screen only he could see. It led him towards the forest behind the mansion.
"But there are rumours of a beast," Sam whispered. "But I need to take a risk. Or I will still be worthless, not able to change anything."
Thinking that, Sam walked toward the forest. As he was going deep into the forest, he felt the temperature going up by the point. The air became dry and hot.
"It was not this hot when I came here yesterday," Sam noted. The grass here was brown and dried.
"System, where is the spirit?"
[ Host It Is Near The Bushes In front Of You. Stay Alert,It Might Attack You ]
Sam saw a small creature. It had red skin, flame covering its whole body, and looked like an imp. It was hovering slightly above the ground.
After seeing Sam, the Imp attacked with a fireball. Sam dodged it somehow. The heat singed his hair.
"It's now or never, Sam," he thought. "It's nothing in front of being hit by a car and yesterday's System shock. These small fireballs can barely hurt me."
Sam ran towards the Imp with all he got. His legs pumped hard.
[ Host Only Need To Touch The Target To Sign A Contract]
[ But It Will Drain The Host's Mental Power and host mental power is weak ]
"Stop saying such negative things, System. You should be motivating me instead."
A fireball attacked Sam with speed faster than Sam expected. Sam used his palm to stop the fireball. It burned his skin, but he pushed through. He somehow touched the Imp.
[ Contract Initiated ]
[ Spirit Name: Fire Imp ]
[ Spirit Rank: F ]
[ Bonding... 0%... 40%... 80%... 100% ]
[ Bonding Completed ]
After the contract signed successfully, the fireball flame which felt like burning turned into warm water in the cold winter. The Imp, which was trying hard to escape from Sam's hand, stopped struggling. It sat there like a tamed dog. It rubbed its head against his finger.
[ Host Can Now Use Spirit Power ]
[ Spirit Skill: Fireball Acquired ]
[ Spirit Skill: Flame Immunity For F-Rank Skills Acquired ]
"System, show me status."
[Status]
[Host Name: Samuel Crimson]
[Human Rank: None (Zero Aptitude)]
[Spirit Power: Equal To F-Rank (Low)]
[Spirit: 1 (Fire Imp)]
[Skill: Fireball, Fire Immunity]
Sam tried to cast fireball. A small ball of fire appeared in his hand. It danced on his palm without burning him.
"Oh my god, this is so cool," Sam whispered. "This is the first time in both my lives that I used magic. Now I am not a waste of the Crimson Clan. I shall rise above everybody else. Father, Mother, Sisters, and everyone who looked down on me."
[ Host stop wasting time here ]
[You Need To Start Training, Or You Won't Be Able To Attend The Academy In This Lifetime]
In the bedroom of his parents, his mother Luna spoke softly. "Cris, is this the right thing? To send our son to that academy filled with geniuses? He will get hurt. And due to you, I didn't even speak to him. He is a quite prideful child. His pride will shatter there."
Cris looked out the window. His face was stern, but his eyes showed worry. "Luna, I know that you are worried. But Samuel needs to find his own path there. If he gets admitted, there are chances that he can find his own special path like his sister Aria."
"I can't lose him like I lost my sister in the demon battlefield," Luna said, her voice trembling. Tears formed in her eyes. "Time is running out, Cris. You need to understand."
Cris turned to her. "The other six clans....they are trying to replace our Crimson Clan with another clan. We need to stand firmly. Maintaining indifference toward him will protect him. Zenith Imperial Academy is supported by the Emperor, so no one can touch Samuel there. It is the only safe place for him now."
Luna fell silent. She knew the politics were dangerous. But a mother's heart was hard to calm..