Drawing upon her newfound memories, Aurora was aware that the father of this body was the youngest son of the current head of the Bennu family. However, tragedy had struck when "Aurora Starling" was merely a month old; her parents were assassinated while away from home, leaving only her, still in her cradle, as the sole survivor of the family.
Despite the Bennu family's collective disdain for her, a girl deemed a waste, her grandfather, the reigning head of the Bennu family – Arcanus Starling, had shown a measure of favor due to his youngest son's memory. He had arranged for someone to tend to Aurora's daily needs, but that was the extent of his involvement. In the eyes of a prestigious family like the Bennus, a person who excelled at neither scholarly nor martial pursuits held no value and was even considered a disgrace to the family name.
Not even the annual family banquet was an event to which she was invited.
For the crime of trespassing into the dungeon, it seemed that Aurora would face severe consequences, if not death itself.
Had it not been for her father's sake, Arcanus Starling would likely have disowned her as a granddaughter. As it stood, the current Aurora Starling had no one to turn to.
"Sitting in a rather precarious position, aren't I?" Aurora mused with a smile, seated in a chair, analyzing her current predicament.
A waste with no allies; it was as dire as could be.
"But it could be worse," a resonant voice suddenly resonated in Aurora Starling's ear, catching her off guard.
Aurora started and quickly rose, cautiously surveying her surroundings.
Although this body lacked any real strength, Aurora Starling's past life had been that of a legendary thief whose senses were unparalleled. Yet, in this spacious room, she detected no trace of another's presence.
Where was that voice coming from?
"If you dare to speak, then why not show yourself?" Aurora demanded, her eyes narrowing as she searched the room.
"Reveal myself?" The voice echoed, this time with a chill.
"Little girl, cease your search. I am not elsewhere, but within you."
Within her?
Aurora was taken aback.
"I had thought you would live your life in ignorance, but it seems you've suddenly become wise. Fate is a fickle thing; it seems the heavens are offering us both an opportunity," the icy voice sounded once more, and this time, Aurora was certain that it originated not from the world around her, but from within her mind.
"What are you?" Reincarnation was one thing Aurora could accept, but this sudden voice was something else entirely.
"Human? No one in this world would call me that. They prefer to address me as – a Demon."
A Demon? Aurora's brow furrowed.
"Girl, let's strike a deal," the voice proposed.
"What kind of deal?" Uncertain of the voice's identity, Aurora realized that this self-proclaimed demon was indeed within her body.
"You help me return to the world, and I will help you break the seal, restoring the power you should possess."
"Totem?" Aurora Starling was growing more confused by the moment.
"Lift the sleeve of your right arm," the voice instructed.
Aurora Starling did as she was told. On her right arm, there was a patch of skin, slightly darker than the rest, which she had not noticed during her earlier examination of the body.
"Is this the totem?" she cursed under her breath, wondering what secrets this young body held.
"This is the Seven-Star Lock, a seven-layered totem that has sealed away all your powers, reducing you to a laughingstock of the world. If you agree to help me, I will break them for you."
Aurora gazed at the nearly imperceptible mark on her arm, considering the credibility of the demon's words, before a mischievous smile curved her lips.
"Before we continue discussing the terms of our deal, shouldn't you show some sincerity and tell me about my future ally? And why you are inside my body."
Perhaps there were few in the world who could negotiate with a "demon" within their body as calmly as Aurora Starling could after being reborn.
After a moment of silence, the cold voice spoke again.
"With your current strength, you are not yet worthy to know my name. You may temporarily address me as – Heron. Why I am within your body will be revealed after you break the seven seals. For now, you are too fragile; knowing too much could only invite danger."
Aurora laughed. Apart from the partial name "Heron," she had gained no useful information.
"This isn't much of a negotiation. How can I be sure that once I help you return, you won't turn on me."
Power was a valuable thing, especially in her current situation, but she wanted to understand certain things before planting any
As a top-tier master thief, any potential danger was accounted for in her plans. Only by resolving all risks could she deliver the final, silent, and decisive strike to claim her prize.
Heron fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Killing you would be the same as killing myself."
"I now reside within your body; should you die, I too would dissipate into nothingness."
This was good news indeed! Aurora continued to fish for information with a smile on her face.
"Then, once you're free, can I rest assured that you'll dispose of me?"
"I will never kill you."
"Oh? Why is that?" Aurora Starling asked with a seemingly innocent smile, but the sharpness in her eyes contradicted her expression.
"When I chose to reside within you, I entered into a soul contract with you. Killing you would result in the loss of ninety percent of my soul."
Losing ninety percent! Aurora Starling almost wanted to clap her hands in glee. Although she still didn't understand why Heron had chosen to inhabit her body, she could now be certain that he would never harm her under any circumstances. As he had said, killing her would be the same as committing suicide for him.
"Now, I will release the first layer of your totem. You will regain the ability to learn Furyflame and Arcanergy. This is the first gift I offer to you as my ally." As Heron's cold voice echoed in Aurora Starling's mind, a searing pain shot through her right arm.
The pain was like a massive wave, engulfing her completely. She didn't even have time to ask any more questions before she was swallowed by darkness once again.
...
When Aurora Starling awoke, a kind and elderly face greeted her.
"The seventh young lady is awake," the old man said with a gentle smile.
Aurora Starling furrowed her brow slightly, searching her memory to identify the old man as Utumn Starling, the physician of the Bennu family.