Apparently, my dad thought it was a good idea to teach me how to use aura. My mom, on the other hand, disagreed. She said I should learn magic instead since it was more theoretical and less physically demanding.
Honestly, my mom was right. It was going to be a pain. But shockingly, she lost the argument, and they decided to test me.
"They're not asking you to fight," Erelya said.
"So what am I supposed to do?" I asked, feeling defeated. It was just one problem after another.
"I won't tell you now," she said, smiling. "But I doubt it involves fighting."
She was right—I wasn't fighting anyone. Instead, I was thrown into a massive forest to survive.
"Damn, how is this supposed to test me?" I muttered.
"You could've made me carry something heavy to prove I've grown stronger," I added.
"This will prove it. The monsters there are low level," Erelya said.
"So what then?" I asked.
"They're weak enough for someone at your level to beat, even without swordsmanship or magic," she explained.
I tried to protest, "Ooh, but I still don't—" but honestly, I didn't understand how they kept doing this. The maids in the house were something else. Even though I had become fit, despite this being a nine-year-old body, they just picked me up like I weighed nothing and tossed me into a carriage headed to the Whispering Woods.
"You don't look gloomy, you look dead," Erelya laughed, watching me as I started to lose my sanity.
Am I the only sane person here? My parents are sending me on a field trip to die, and I've got this useless demon tagging along.
"You're definitely fucked," she said bluntly.
I sighed. "Hah…"
"What?" Erelya asked.
"Nothing. Just wondering if I've been scammed," I said grimly.
"By who?" she asked.
"By nobody. Maybe by a demon who promised me power but hasn't given me shit," I muttered.
"When did I scam you? I gave you a second chance to be strong," she jumped to her defense.
"Yes, I know, but if the Holy Church found out, they'd hunt me down across the world," I replied, defending myself.
"But you don't have to worry. I'm good at concealing myself. I'm not just any demon," she said.
"And if people found out, I'd be burnt at the stake," I said, cutting her off.
"So you're saying I haven't helped you at all?" she asked.
"No, I'm just saying the cons of our contract outweigh the pros," I answered.
"Okay, you want power? I'll give you power," she said, pouting before disappearing.
She backed off easily. I hoped she wasn't plotting something. My instincts said she was.
When I arrived at the Whispering Woods, I couldn't believe this was where they wanted me to survive. Despite what anyone might think, this place looked beautiful. The trees gave off that mother-nature vibe, and the lakes were so clear. If this was a forest of monsters, I was sure I'd survive.
"Damn, this place looks so neat," I said, stepping into a large cave. The coachman had already left, so it was time to set up camp.
I gathered food. I was given a sword and a water pouch, so things were a bit easier. When evening came, I headed back to the cave for safety. But let's just say we all make mistakes…
A beast so large it couldn't fit in the cave was there. One eye peeked out as it scanned the entrance. Naturally, I felt what anyone would.
I was fucked.
This forest was supposed to be for low-level monsters? Who came up with that bullshit? I was done for.
I sensed a familiar presence, but it was filled with bloodlust.
A swoosh and a slash. A sharp pain surged through my legs. I fell, unable to move, before losing consciousness.
When I woke up, Erelya was right in front of me.
"My leg," I said, checking to see if it was intact. Strangely, it was.
"Was it a dream?" I wondered.
"No way. The pain's still here," I muttered.
"Erelya, where were you? I almost got killed," I asked.
"I know. I healed you after all," she said.
"But I almost killed you too," she added.
I wanted to say, "Are you crazy?" but I didn't. That demon was definitely on crack.
"You said our contract was a scam," Erelya said.
"The contracts where you immediately gain power are scams, because there's always a hefty price," she continued.
"What does that have to do with this?" I asked.
"Nothing… but there's a sure-fire method I know to help you gain power," she said.
"And what would that be?" I tread carefully. She was acting high, and I didn't want trouble.
"Death," Erelya said with little emotion.
"Huh? What the hell? I want to use my power in the living world, not terrorize hell," I said bluntly.
"I won't kill you. I'll use death to teach you," she said.
"And how would that work?" I asked.
"The strongest grow stronger with each encounter with death. So we just have to set you up to meet death," she explained.
Slash.
A new hole opened in my body. My vision blurred. Erelya smiled—not laughing, just smiling. She wasn't joking; she was deadly serious.
"The goal was aura. You will die indefinitely until you can feel aura," she said.
I knew she was insane as I lay in a pool of my own blood.
"Don't worry, I cleared all the monsters," she said. "There will be no interruptions."
Erelya couldn't bring back the dead—she wasn't a god—but she could heal at a level that seemed like resurrection.
I'm living proof. Physically, I didn't die, but mentally, I died more than five hundred and fifty times.