I was reluctant but dipped my feet in the waters anyway. It was cool and also rejuvenating. The first time I soaked here, it also felt the same but I hoped now no seaweeds or tentacles grab me and sap me of my strength.
Soon enough, I was comfortable soaking my whole body in the water.
Then right in front of me, I saw something that made me dazed. It was the spirit dancing on the surface of the waters, as if the water was its partner, it danced along with her gracefully. She shone like the stars in the night.
After she finished her dance, she looked at me with expectant eyes floating — no more like standing on water.
The dance was beautiful to say the least, it was like seeing a goddess dance amidst the waves.
Looking at those adorable eyes, I could still see a hint of childishness in them.
Considering that the spirit had just been born, despite its adult body, it still contained the mind of a child.
I could feel it wanting to be praised and appreciated. It wasn't simply my intuition that said it, but some sort of connection between us. Knowing that this connection of ours is not so simple but a connection so deep it lets us tell what the other desires, I realized that our life was now intertwined.
Accepting this fate, albeit a little burdened.
I looked at her expectant face gently and uttered with a slight nod, though a bit awkward, "It was beautiful."
Such simple words brought excitement to the spirit, she twirled around followed by the waters.
I could feel her excitement in my heart as well as her warm love. It was a bit...too much?
Not something I couldn't get used to though.
"Do you want a name?" I didn't really like referring to her as "spirit" when it seemed like we'd have each other's company for a long time. I ought to give her a name.
She stopped twirling around clearly hooked on what I said. She stared at me with sparkling eyes, excited once more.
How cute.
There was this unhidden smile on her face. I tried to think of a good name, something fitting for a mana spirit.
After a short moment, I smiled and uttered, "Neph, that's your name, do you like it?" I asked. It was the only name I thought was deserving of her.
The spirit - Neph, flew around in glee upon hearing her name. It was evident she was very happy. I was also satisfied with the name I made for her.
Looking at her, I also felt warmth and pleased. Maybe having her by my side won't be that bad, at least I now have a companion...I could talk to? Anyways, it would be nice to have someone by your side instead of being alone.
Also, even though they say that raising a spirit is an expensive endeavor, the return would be tremendously amazing.
To grow an apple tree, you must sacrifice an apple and a lot of your time, but once it bore fruit, you will find that what you put in was worth it.
The point is, Neph would be a very powerful companion that I could rely on in the future.
Talking about the future, something has been bugging me to a great degree.
As I noticed that as I advanced to another level, bits of bits of memories would return to me, but, what was concerning was that these memories had nothing to do with me personally — except for my measly name. It, however, had to do with the world, the memories I got were just basic information of the world like magic, mana, etc.
But nothing concerning myself personally. I found it a bit unsettling — the fact that I could remember things concerning other matters but about my life, there's none.
It was like a whole blank — as if I didn't exist before I found myself here.
It was an unsettling and mind-bugging thought, but it made me more determined to find out how I had gone here, and how my memories were all but blank.
First, however, I have to get out of this forest safely with my life intact, assimilate into human civilization, and somehow find my way there.
Who knows, maybe someone will recognize who I am, maybe I'm even someone prestigious with a high status that I'm widely known, or maybe I could just be a country bumpkin who is no one special among the thousands of pebbles in the sea.
I wouldn't know who I am until I get my lost memories back — that I was very determined to achieve.
Anyway, I decided that I would leave tomorrow first thing in the morning whilst for now, I'll let my body soak in the rejuvenating waters as well as recover my mana that was absorbed by Neph.