Chapter 1: Awakening in the Shadows
Consciousness returned like a shock. A moment of emptiness, followed by a whirlwind of sensations. Cold, damp, the smell of earth and ancient stone. The body ached, as if it had endured days of intense training, but the mind was sharp. Too sharp.
— What...? — muttered Revchi, his own voice sounding strange to his ears. He opened his eyes and saw calloused hands, fingers marked by scars. A chill ran down his spine. These were not his hands.
He slowly stood up, feeling the stiffness in his muscles, as though the body was adjusting to something new. He looked around, confused, not recognizing the environment. It was an open field, with the silhouette of a large tower in the distance, surrounded by excited apprentices. Then, fragments of memory flooded his mind—broken memories, like pieces of an incomplete puzzle. The Grimoire Tower. The place where young aspiring mages received their first grimoires.
The apprentices walked around excitedly, chatting with hopeful eyes. Among them were many ordinary, dreaming youths. And among the mages present, Revchi spotted his reflection in a puddle of water.
Revchi Salik's face stared back at him.
His heart raced. It was impossible. He knew this world—Black Clover—and he knew Revchi, a disillusioned ex-Magic Knight consumed by bitterness. But the memories were fragmented. Confusing images of betrayals, defeats, the fall of a man who once believed in justice.
Did I reincarnate as Revchi? he thought, touching his own face. Why him? Why now?
The sound of bells echoed, signaling the start of the ceremony. Driven by instinct—or perhaps by the fragmented memories of the body he now inhabited—Revchi stepped away from the crowd and stood outside the tower. The feeling was strange. He knew he wasn't just himself, but he couldn't deny that part of that man was still there, like a shadow on the edge of his consciousness.
The chain grimoire was already strapped to his belt, worn by time but still functional. He ran his hand over the rough cover, feeling the familiarity of the object, even though it wasn't truly his.
Then something unbelievable happened.
Another grimoire descended from the sky. New, immaculate, with a distinct aura. Also three-leafed, but with a silvery glow that contrasted with the common tones of the others.
Revchi's eyes widened.
— Two grimoires? — he muttered, his mind racing. This is like Yuno… No, this is even worse.
He cautiously picked up the second grimoire, feeling a peculiar energy emanating from it. Upon opening its pages, the truth was revealed: it was the Grimoire of Inert Transfiguration, a special grimoire, unrelated to traditional elements. The spells described were disturbing, allowing the manipulation of the physical form of living beings and objects, similar to Mahito's abilities from Jujutsu Kaisen.
This… is like Lucius. The realization hit him like a punch. Grimoires like this were rare; they belonged to a special category, separate from traditional elemental affinities. If Lucius possessed a special grimoire related to time, Revchi now held one related to transfiguration.
But there was more. As he flipped through the pages, he realized he could understand the enchantments with unexpected ease. Then the answer came: they were the memory fragments of the original Revchi. Years of combat experience, understanding the nuances of magic—all of it, though incomplete, was now part of him.
— I can only use this because… he's still here — he whispered, a mix of unease and gratitude. The original soul of Revchi, though weakened, still influenced his actions.
Revchi closed his eyes, focusing on the two presences within him. He could feel the original soul, weak but persistent. Using the power of the Inert Transfiguration Grimoire, he performed an instinctive spell, something that seemed etched into the pages as if it had awaited him. Chains of magic enveloped his body, penetrating to his very essence.
— I can't live with this constant threat… — he murmured, activating the magic. — If we're two, then we'll become one.
The souls intertwined in a whirlwind of energy. Pain and clarity mixed as the complete memories of Revchi flowed into his mind. The resentment, the frustration, the failed ambition—all of it was purified in the process. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer the bitter man of the past, nor a stranger in a borrowed body.
His appearance changed before his very eyes. Wrinkles and expression lines vanished, muscles adjusted, and the body shrank slightly. In the reflection of the puddle, a 15-year-old youth stared back, with slightly tousled dark hair and sharp eyes, carrying the determination of two lives fused into one.
— Now… I am truly Revchi. Not the failure, but someone new. Someone strong — he said, closing both grimoires. — And I won't be a pawn in this game. I'll be the player.
The game was just beginning, but this time, Revchi was ready to control the board. More human, more conscious, but above all, determined to rewrite his destiny.