I Refused To Be Reincarnated

The priest raced against the howling wind, leaving afterimages in his wake. Fortunately, the temple's designer used the best materials, or the elegant slabs would have cracked under his legs' pressure.

He penetrated the throne hall in a flash, his eyes widening in panic. "My Emperor!" He yelled, rushing to the unconscious archmage. The worst theories took shape in his mind as it swirled into chaos. With the sigil in this state, did the magus retaliate already, snuffing his liege's life like a candle?

However, his tense expression relaxed after he checked the powerful man's heartbeat. Drawing a deep breath of relief, he used his mana to check his condition, ignoring the ethereal copy flickering in and out of existence. After all, Zarathor only veiled the magus' eyes.

After a short moment, the emperor's eyelids fluttered, and soft moans unbefitting of such a terrifying figure escaped his lips. "Mhhh. What happened?" He muttered, holding his throbbing head with a grimace.

"I have terrible news to report!" The priest said, an icy shiver running down his spine.

However, the emperor raised his hand to command silence. Then, he gazed at his surroundings, taking time to recover his bearings. The morning sun he expected to see was gone, replaced by a sky tinged with orange hues, meaning he missed many hours.

Memories of what he did before his blackout gradually resurfaced as a frown spread over his forehead. "Did you get the ritual?" He asked, turning to the priest.

"Yes. But..." the priest hesitated before outstretching his hand. "The sigil is ruined!" He exclaimed, showing the cracked archaic medal resting in his trembling palm.

Alarmed, the emperor rose to his feed like a panther, snatching the item with incredible swiftness. His frown deepened as he scanned it.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Why is the bastard not here yet?" He muttered, his mana dancing in and out of the sigil through its fissures. There was no way the magus didn't feel its drained powers and broken link after so many hours, compelling him to wonder what held him back.

"Tell me you didn't kill the brats," he said, holding the bridge of his nose between his fingers to chase his splitting headache away.

"I'm ashamed," the priest replied, bowing his head in reverence. "The kid tricked me and escaped. His ghostly guardian is unconscious," he added, not understanding how they mattered when they faced destruction.

"Good. I'll visit the college. Leave to prepare the Gate," the archmage said, swinging his palm to command attention as his mind raced in all directions. The magus' inaction, despite his newly regained freedom, filled him with joy and worry at the same time.

However, the facts were laid bare before his eyes. His soul didn't collapse, and no mana surge struck his empire. After all, the magus could annihilate him with a single thought.

'Is it because of the ghost's ritual or that creature's doing?' He pondered, gazing at the loyal priest's departing figure. 'If it is because of them, I'm in debt,' he added, a dissatisfied grimace covering his features. When had he ever owed something to someone? Be it debts of gratitude or the more regular debts of blood, he had always repaid them without delay.

Then, he focused on the image of the creature he struck a deal with. "Did I commit a huge, unneeded mistake?" He muttered, gazing at the horizon with his piercing blue eyes to spot the terrifying creature and ascertain it wasn't raining death on his world.

*****

Meanwhile, Zarathor smiled in a small city's streets. His classic but old-fashioned clothes were gone and a leather jacket fluttering around his fit body replaced them. With steady steps, he walked to the dust-filled mining area.

Heavy carts filled with unorganised stones covered the field as burly men holding pickaxes busied themselves with their work. Soon, noticing the enchanting man's silky white hair and expensive outfit, a supervisor raced to meet him. "What can I help ya with, m'lord," he asked, fidgeting with his fingers with a nervous frown.

"Oh! What politeness! I like your people more and more," replied Zarathor, a devilish smile tugging at his lips as ideas popped into his mind. Unfortunately, he couldn't act on them because the contract's invisible chains bound him. "I'll just explore the mine for a few minutes.

Act as if I don't exist," he added, waving his hand in dismissal before walking to the quarry's mouth under the baffled man's eyes.

He followed the narrow pathway, passing by sweating men swinging their pickaxes vigorously until he reached an area covered with warning signs and blocked by wooden planks.

His eyes lit up as he felt he drew closer to his goal. Carried by the wind, demented whispers filled his ears. Anyone hearing them would have gone crazy, yet they sounded like music to him.

"Those fools never found it," he said, his broadening smile letting his teeth glisten in the dimly lit mine as ominous shadows danced on the walls.

With a snap of his fingers, the ground rumbled under his feet, parting to let his body pass through several kilometers before closing, leaving no traces behind.

After a brief fall, he unfurled his red wings and flew towards a glistening light. With each meter crossed, his heart pounded harder as the light grew brighter until his eyes enlarged.

"Hahaha! Found you!" He burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter as he gazed at a terrifying great sword planted in the rocks. However, a statue standing nearby ruined his excellent mood.

With a disdainful grimace, he spat on it. "You are our race's disgrace, sister Nyxara," he said, his face contorting into a ghastly grimace as he raised his foot.

RUMBLE

Rocks flew in the air before colliding with the ground as he added, "No one wishes for your return. Die in this lowly world, wench."

With the hateful individual out of his way, his smile gradually blossomed as his fingers inched towards the great sword's rough pommel. "Come see your new master, baby. Together, we'll sow ruin and death everywhere," he said, excitement filling his voice. Meanwhile, menacing blood-red energies billowed around him.