"Mother, I think it's time for spirit awakening," Sai said with a slightly scared expression.
(I woke up early today because of the trauma from the accident in my last life. Even though there are no cars here, the fear still lingers.)
"Who's your mother, kid? I told you I found you in the forest. We're not related in any way," Lena replied with an annoyed face.
"And since it's time for the ceremony, just go. Why are you even telling me this?"
(This woman is my caretaker and my savior in this new world. Even though she's so annoying, she still has a good side. But remembering what she did to me as a baby…) Sai's body shook as he recalled a fragment of his past.
Flashback
(I'm hungry. Option 1, what do you have for me? Please, give me something…) Sai thought as his belly rumbled, catching Lena's attention.
"You're hungry? Hmm… You need something nutritious to build a strong body. I have just the thing for you," Lena said as she began mixing herbs and liquids.
Seeing the finished concoction almost made Sai gag.
(What the heck is that? It smells awful. Don't tell me she's going to make me drink that!)
Sai tried to resist, but he suddenly froze.
"Don't want to eat? That's not your choice," Lena said, giving him a look that made him question his survival.
Defeated, Sai drank the dark substance.
(This… is… the… worst… thing… I've… ever… tasted…)
"Don't worry. With this, you'll have a better foundation for your future," she said with a scary smile. (Since I'm taking care of you, I'll do my best, of course.)
(Every other regressor gets milk and a caring mother. What is my luck?!) Sai cursed his misfortune.
End of Flashback
"Sigh… Okay, I'm going," Sai said, walking out of the house, not expecting anything from her.
"Sai, wait. I'll give you some advice: remember, there are no bad spirits, just bad spirit masters—as long as you have some spirit power, that is."
"I already know that," Sai replied and left.
As a reincarnator, the possibility of not having spirit power never crossed his mind.
(But with my luck, anything is possible. This is bad…) Sai felt a pang of fear as he walked toward the Spirit Hall, where children were lined up, waiting nervously.
He saw an elder talking to a young man.
"T… thank you for being here," the elder said, bowing deeply with a fawning smile.
"Don't be nervous. We will start the ceremony now. Elder, please leave the room," the young man replied.
"Yes, of course! Good luck, children!" The elder left as the examiner turned to the children and smiled.
"I'm your examiner today. I am a Level 26 Great Master, and my profession is Spirit Master. I will guide you as you awaken your Soul Spirits."
The children grew even more nervous. Becoming a Spirit Master was the most prestigious career on the continent, after all.
The examiner grinned and said, "Now, I will show you the spirit of a true Spirit Master. Transform!"
Slowly, fur grew all over his body, his height increased, and something resembling cat ears appeared on his head.
"Waaaa!" A child closest to him burst into tears. Some children cried, while others were amazed. Sai, too, was awestruck.
"This is my Spirit, Lone Wolf! It's a Beast Spirit. There are two kinds of spirits: Beast Spirits, like my Lone Wolf, and Tool Spirits," the examiner explained, picking up the crying child and placing him in a magic circle for the awakening process.
"Spirit, awaken!" The wolf-man said, clasping his hands together. A bright light flashed, and a handkerchief appeared in the boy's palm.
Confused, the boy stared at it.
"Your spirit is a Tool Spirit, a Junk Spirit. It can only wipe snot away!" the examiner said, shaking his head.
The boy's disappointment was palpable, but the man wasn't done.
"Now, let's test your spirit power," he said, pulling out a crystal ball.
The boy placed his hands on it, only to sneeze snot all over it. The examiner grimaced and cleaned the ball with a towel.
"I forgot to mention: you need at least one spirit power to train your spirit," the examiner said. The boy, disheartened, ran out crying.
"Next! Spirit: Cooking Spade. Junk Spirit. Spirit Power: 0. Next! Spirit: Soup Bowl. Junk Spirit. Spirit Power: 0. Next! Spirit: Shovel. Junk Spirit. Spirit Power: 0."
Finally, it was Sai's turn.
"Hmm, your spirit is… a sword? Oh, wait. No, it's a knife. Too short to be a sword," the examiner said.
"Come, put your hand on the ball."
Sai approached and placed his hand on the ball. A faint light emerged.
"Spirit Power: 1. Well, at least you can rise in rank, though your potential is limited," the examiner said.
(This is bad… Am I talentless? No, stop the negative thinking!)
Sai remembered Lena's words: "There are no bad spirits, just bad spirit masters."
(But there's something else. When my spirit appeared, I felt another sensation, like there's something more…)
(Could it be… a second spirit? But it doesn't fit into either Beast or Tool categories. Is it a new type?)
Relief washed over Sai.
(Thank God. My reincarnator status isn't useless after all.)