"A thousand years ago, Alaric Grayhart brought chaos upon the earth. He was a force to be reckoned with. The strongest being to ever have been born."
Migi explained while Ryan remained on the bed with a small juice box in his mouth.
"His reign lasted for almost a decade, bringing the world into total despair. Spirits and Humans decided to work together, calling themselves Contractors. All the Contractors who existed then joined together to vanquish him, but none succeeded… the war was completely one sided".
"I mean, he can't really be that strong if it took him over a decade to rid the world into utter chaos?" Ryan chimed in.
And of course Migi was there to refute his words.
"Lord Alaric had a great goal in mind, that was the only reason he spared his enemies. If he wanted to, he would have erased earth from the solar system." She said, her tone a bit harsh.
But she took a deep breath before she continued-
"Those who served under The Spirit King knew victory was at our grasp. It was only a matter of time. But then-"
A sad look played on her foxy features, and even she looked to the side, "The Spirit King killed himself".
Ryan paused, a flash of memories playing in his head.
"No one knows why he did what he did, The Spirit King is a man of great intellect, surely it was for the right reasons. But before he did, he transferred his soul into his seven wives".
"He was married?... To seven wives?" Ryan asked, his eyes widened in excitement.
Suddenly, being the reincarnation of the Spirit King didn't seem so tasking.
"Eight wives, actually," Migi corrected. "There were the seven known wives, and one whose identity remained a mystery even to most of his inner circle."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And these wives were...?"
Migi began listing them off:
"First was Aria, the Spirit of Freedom . Then Ignis, the Spirit of Fire. Aqua, The Spirit of Water. Terra, the Unyielding Stone. Liz, the Spirit of Light. Vita, the Spirit of Life. And Astra, the Spirit of Shadows".
Ryan counted on his fingers. "That's only seven. Who was the eighth?".
Migi's ears twitched.
"As I said, her identity was a closely guarded secret. Some say she was the most powerful of them all, others claim she was merely a myth."
Ryan nodded, processing this information. "And you're saying I'm the reincarnation of this Alaric guy? The Spirit King?".
"Yes," Migi affirmed. "Your soul carries the essence of Alaric Grayhart. It's why your spirit energy has always been... different."
Ryan frowned, recalling his struggles at the academy.
"Different? You mean weak".
Migi shook her head vigorously. "No, not weak. Dormant. Waiting to be awakened."
"And how exactly do we 'awaken' it?" Ryan asked skeptically.
Migi's eyes gleamed. "I can help with that. As your contracted spirit, I carry fragments of memories from your past life. I can transfer them to you, helping you reconnect with your true self."
Ryan sat up straighter, suddenly alert. "Wait, you can just... give me memories? Just like that?".
Migi nodded. "It's not without risk. The process can be... intense. Are you prepared to receive them?".
Ryan hesitated, his hand unconsciously moving to his chest where he had felt that strange pain before.
He looked at Migi, seeing the earnestness in her eyes.
"I... I think I am," he said finally. "What do I need to do?".
Migi approached him, her form shimmering slightly. "Relax your mind. Open yourself to the memories. And whatever you do, don't resist."
Ryan stared at Migi, his eyebrow raised in a mix of skepticism and amusement.
"You want me to just... relax and 'open myself to the memories'? Sounds like some new-age meditation nonsense."
Migi's tail swished in irritation. "This isn't a joke, darling. The process is delicate and potentially dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" Ryan asked, leaning back against his headboard and crossing his arms. "Am I going to sprout tentacles or start speaking in tongues?".
Migi sighed, her little fox shoulders sagging. "Your irreverence is truly remarkable, even in the face of your own legendary past."
Ryan grinned. "It's part of my charm. But seriously, what's the worst that could happen? You could have done this from the start, no?".
"Well," Migi began, her voice taking on a more serious tone, "the influx of memories could overwhelm your current consciousness. In rare cases, it might even fracture your sense of self. So I didn't think I'd need to do it".
Ryan's grin faded slightly. "Oh. That does sound... not great."
Migi nodded, her eyes locked on Ryan's. "Indeed. Which is why I need you to take this seriously. Can you do that, just this once?"
Ryan held her gaze for a moment, then let out a long breath.
"Fine. I'll try to behave. But I make no promises about keeping a straight face if I see any embarrassing memories of my past self."
Migi's whiskers twitched in what might have been a smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, darling."
Ryan shifted on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position. "Alright, so what now? Do I need to sit in a special way or chant something?"
Migi hopped onto the bed, positioning herself in front of Ryan. "No chanting necessary. Just try to clear your mind and relax. I'll initiate the transfer."
Ryan closed his eyes, then immediately opened one to peek at Migi. "This isn't going to hurt, is it?".
Migi's tail flicked. "It shouldn't, but everyone's experience is different. Now, eyes closed."
Ryan complied, taking a deep breath. "Okay, okay. I'm relaxed. Totally zen. One with the universe and all that jazz."
Despite his flippant words, there was a slight tremor in his voice that betrayed his nervousness.
Migi noticed but chose not to comment.
"I'm going to begin now," Migi said softly. "Remember, don't resist the memories. Let them flow through you."
Ryan nodded, his eyes still closed.
He felt a strange warmth emanating from where Migi sat, growing stronger by the second.
Then, without warning, it was as if a dam had broken in his mind.
Images, sounds, and sensations flooded his consciousness.
He saw vast landscapes he'd never visited, felt the weight of responsibilities he'd never borne, heard voices of people he'd never met.
It was overwhelming, disorienting, and for a moment, Ryan felt like he was drowning in the deluge of unfamiliar experiences.
"M-Migi," he gasped, his eyes still tightly shut. "It's... it's too much."
He felt a small, warm presence press against his hand.
"Focus on my voice, darling," Migi said, her tone soothing yet firm.
"You're still you. These memories are a part of you, but they don't define you. Remember who you are now."
Ryan clung to her words like a lifeline, using them to anchor himself amidst the storm of memories.
Slowly, the chaotic flood began to organize itself, settling into his mind like puzzle pieces finding their place.
As the intensity of the experience began to wane, Ryan became aware of his surroundings again.
He was still in his room, still sitting on his bed. But something felt... different.
Cautiously, he opened his eyes. The world seemed sharper somehow, more vivid.
A subtle shift had occurred within him, as if a new perspective had clicked into place.
Ryan's gaze swept the room, taking in every detail with quiet interest.
When his eyes settled on Migi, a flicker of recognition passed over his face, followed by a small, genuine smile.
"Well?" Migi asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "How do you feel?"
Ryan tilted his head slightly, considering the question.
"Different," he replied, his voice calm and measured.
"Clearer. Like I've woken up from a very long nap and I'm hungry too." His smile widened a fraction. "It's good to see you, old friend. Though you were much larger the last time we met."
Migi's ears perked up, surprise evident in her expression. "You... remember me?"
"Fragments," Ryan said with a slight shrug.
"You were my dragon, weren't you? Interesting how things change." He glanced around the room again, his demeanor relaxed but attentive. "I assume you stopped the transfer early?".
Migi nodded, still watching him closely. "Yes, it was becoming too intense. Any more could have been dangerous."
"Hmm," Ryan hummed, seeming neither concerned nor disappointed. "Probably for the best. Even this much is... quite a lot to process."
He swung his legs off the bed and stood up smoothly. "Now, about that hunger I mentioned earlier. I believe I said something about pheasant?"
Migi's tail swished, a mix of relief and lingering concern in her voice. "Darling, perhaps we should discuss what just happened first? Your personality seems... different."
Ryan glanced at her, his expression neutral but not unkind. "Different? Maybe. Or maybe this is just another facet of who I've always been." He stretched casually. "But you're right, we should talk. Over food, perhaps?"
As he moved towards the door, Migi followed, her mind working to understand this new version of Ryan.
He was still carefree, but there was a new underlying confidence, a sense of purpose that hadn't been there before.
"So," Ryan said as he reached for the doorknob, "shall we go find that pheasant? Or do you think the cafeteria will have to do?"
Migi couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "I doubt we'll find pheasant easily, darling. But I'm sure we can find something to satisfy the great Spirit King's appetite."
Ryan smiled again, a hint of his old mischief returning to his eyes. "Well then, lead the way, my faithful dragon. Let's see what this new chapter has in store for us."