The Reincarnated Archmage

I am aware that I've already died. I can still feel that I have a physical body, yet something is different. I am no longer the powerful Archmage of Light that everyone knows. I can't feel anything inside me. My mana, my magical powers, my unusual senses... All of it was gone. My body just turned into an empty shell after I died.

But still, I can feel the unusual aura in my environment. I have a hunch that darkness surrounds me, that's why I didn't bother to open my eyes. I also feel like I'm floating randomly in a space without any destination. It's weird, but at the same time, the silence is comfortable. Is this what death feels like? All of a sudden, I heard something. At first, I thought I was just imagining things. But the noise I heard is getting louder and clearer at the same time. Someone is talking to me.

"My sweet and beloved child."

Is he talking to me? If it's a yes, then it's weird to hear it since I am already past from being a 'sweet and beloved child' just like what he is calling me right now.

'Who are you?'

"I don't have a name. But you can give me one."

What is he saying? Why should I give a name to someone who just talk at me randomly? I should just ignore him. He is just disturbing my newly death experience. I just died a while ago and I still want to savor this feeling of being dead.

But my plan to ignore him started to waver. Instead of leaving me, this annoying someone keeps on poking my cheek! I am tired and I wanted to rest. Can you just leave me alone and give me back my peace of mind?

'Stop it. It's annoying.'

"I won't stop until you give me a new name."

'Fine, fine. I'll call you Lyle. So can you now give me a peace of mind?'

"Lyle." He repeated. "I like it. From now on, my name is Lyle. And now I bestow you my blessings and powers. I'll be in your care from now on."

'Huh?'

What is he talking about? Now I have the urge to open my eyes to see and analyze what is happening to my surroundings right now? But before I can do it, the weirdo that I just named Lyle put his hand to my eyes to stop me from opening it.

"Just rest for now. I'll see you again later."

With that, drowsiness suddenly envelops me and I went back to sleep.

-//-//-

I still feel a little bit sleepy, but I also noticed that I was wrapped in something soft and warm. What is this feeling? I remembered that I'm just randomly floating earlier without any direction? Or did I arrive to my final destination?

I decided to open my eyes this time to see what is happening. When I open my eyes, it's still blurry so I keep on blinking until my vision gets clear. But what's this noises I'm hearing while I'm blinking my eyes?

"Ester, did you see how cute she blinks her eyes?!"

"My sister has a different hair color and eyes, but she is really pretty!"

"Radel, stop screaming. You're disturbing Aly. And yes, Cedric. Your sister is pretty."

Who are these people? And why they're so big? The three random strangers are looking at me with smiles with their faces? Why I try to stand up, I noticed that my whole body doesn't obey me. Oh, it's wrong. I can still move my arms and legs, but I can't stand up! What is happening to me?

"What's wrong, Aly? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" The blonde woman asked. Are you asking me? And who is Aly?

The blonde woman suddenly reaches out to me and hold my body. Wait, wait, wait! Did I really shrink into a small human? She's too big that she can easily carry me as if I'm just a light luggage. I was about to push her when I noticed my hands. There are too small and plump!

"Maaaaaah!"

What? I was about to tell the woman to stop carrying me, but I can't even speak properly! The woman who is carrying me suddenly let out a soft laugh. Not only her, but also her two companions let out a cheerful laugh.

"She recognizes you, Ester! My daughter is smart!"

"My sister's voice is too adorable!"

"But I'm so jealous of my wife just now! She first call you before me!"

My mind is a mess right now. I know logically what is happening right now, but I can't just accepting so easily. In the first place, I should be dead right now. I was planning to disappear eternally and gets a plenty of rest in the afterlife. But my expectation was betrayed with my current situation. I look at my small hands again and feel my face scrunch a little. That's right. I just turned into a baby.

-//-//-

After a few days of knowing that I just turned into a baby, I silently gather my thoughts and think about my situation. There are three things that are bothering me right now. First, I was reincarnated. I know that reincarnation is not impossible, but I didn't expect that it would happen to me. I am not a god or goddess, but just an Archmage that was given an order before to save the world. Second, my new identity since I woke up in this place.

The three strangers I saw when I woke up are my new family. I have a father, mother and an older brother now. They all call me Aly so I guess that's my new name. It looks like they cherish me a lot since whenever they see me, they will stop whatever they are doing just to go near and give me a loving smile. I can't sense any danger towards them so I just let them do whatever they want to me. After all, I can't protest even if I wanted to since I was in this state. They would always hug me, pat my hair and kiss my cheeks. I'm not against physical touch, but since this experience is all new to me so I feel a little bit disturbed and annoyed.

And lastly...

"Are you bored? Do you want me to create some sparkling light to entertain you?"

The most disturbing thing is this man. He is the one who talked to me randomly while I was in that unusual space. The man I named Lyle. And according to him, he is a Dark Spirit. I knew a lot of things about Spirits from my previous life. Spirits are the powerful creatures who are also responsible for the balance of this world. If these Spirits was pleased with a human, they offered them a lifetime contract by just asking a new name to their chosen contractor. And yes, Lyle is my contracted Spirit.

I should be more wary when he asked me about names. I totally lose my brain that time and I forgot about this important information. It should be okay if this Spirit just blessed me with his power, but since he asked me for a name and I gave him one, he will be with me all the time. And now, I can't reverse the time and got contracted with a Dark Spirit. A contract between a human and a Spirit is cannot be dissolved unless the contracted human of the Spirit dies.

This Spirit, who is now Lyle, is looking at me with a smile on his face. His face is a beauty. His hair is short, jet-black hair is too shiny for a man like him. His eyes are also black and he has a beauty mark near his right eye. Ever since I was born, Lyle was always guarding me from afar. He showed up right after my new family left the crib when I first woke up.

Also, it's weird to have a Dark Spirit that protects me since I was an Archmage of Light from my previous life. I still don't know what should I feel in this situation, but I decided to set aside my feelings and use my brain first. Luckily, I still have all my knowledge and memories when I'm still the Archmage Veronica Herol with me so I guess I'll be fine.

'Lyle.' I called him. Right now, we are talking through telepathy. This is possible between the contractor and your contracted Spirit.

"Yes?"

'You're a Dark Spirit, right?' I asked as I raise my arm.

"That's right." Lyle answered and he slightly moves the mobile toy on my crib. He thinks that I am reaching for those toys.

'So why did you choose me as your contractor?'

"Because you have something special in you the first time I saw you."

I frown. What is he talking about? I was about to ask him when the door opens, revealing my older brother. I am the only one who can see Lyle so my family is unaware of his presence. Cedric, my elder brother, approaches the crib where I was in and touch my cheek.

"Pretty!" Cedric squealed in delight. I wonder what is my physical appearance for my new family keeps on saying that I'm pretty. Then Cedric looks like he realized something and leave my crib. After a few minutes, he's back and holding a noisy toy. He puts the toy in my hand and looks at me expectantly.

What is he waiting? What did he expect me to do?

"He wants you to play with the toy he gives you." Lyle said while watching me with amus.e.m.e.nt.

I stare blankly at Lyle before returning my gaze to Cedric. Is he really waiting for me to play with this toy? I let out a sigh internally and look at the toy. I am m.a.t.u.r.e enough inside, but since I was a baby now, everyone expects me to act like one.

In the end, shake my hands to make a sound with the toy Cedric gave me. Seeing me taking an interest with the toy, Cedric let out a boyish laugh. He is really delighted to see me playing the toy he gave, huh? This boy really cherishes me. I continued shaking the toy until Cedric is satisfied.