Chapter 53: Elemental Bonds
Lei Feng stood at the edge of the jagged cliff, the moonlight painting the world in hues of silver. Below, five figures waited—manifestations of raw elemental force, yet bound to him by unwavering loyalty.
As he looked upon them, a storm of emotion churned within him—nostalgia, disbelief, gratitude… and a quiet, haunting ache.
In my previous life...
He remembered the long nights in his cramped dorm room, the crushing silence broken only by the ping of rejection emails. The scorn in the eyes of classmates who saw him as a nobody—unseen, unwanted, unworthy.
And now?
A soft, incredulous laugh escaped his lips.
"Who would've thought," he murmured, "that one day I'd be reborn... wielding the power of lightning, slaying monsters, and leading a team of elemental spirits blessed with terrifying potential?"
His gaze swept over the vanguard, each radiating their own ancient power—each one impossibly real.
"To have companions like these… What more could I ask for?"
He smiled faintly. "Fate really is a funny thing."
"Is everything alright, Master?" Aquari asked gently. Her voice was as soft as a trickling stream, her ocean-blue eyes reflecting moonlight and quiet concern.
Lei Feng blinked, pulled from his thoughts. "Ah, yeah. I'm fine." He scratched the back of his head, offering a sheepish smile. "Just… happy. That's all."
Aquari smiled in return, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She tilted her head, studying him with an intensity that suggested she saw far more than he was saying.
Aren't these summons a little too perceptive? he thought.
Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. "Anyway! I'd like to get to know you all better. Mind telling me about yourselves?"
There was a pause.
Then, in perfect unison, the five spirits said, "We don't remember anything before we came here."
Lei Feng's smile faded. No memories...?
Their intelligence, composure—the sheer aura they carried—it all hinted at deep, ancient origins.
Could the system have sealed their memories? Or… are they remnants of something older?
"…Doesn't that bother you?" he asked carefully. "Not knowing who you were?"
Glacia stepped forward, her voice cool and crystalline. "The past is irrelevant. As long as I serve you, Master, the future can be carved anew. Why look back when the path forward awaits?"
Aquari nodded. "Memories are like water—beautiful, but always flowing away. What matters is where we are now. The bonds we form. The journey we share."
Their words struck him—not mechanical, but reflective. Philosophical.
Then Ignis spoke, stepping forward with a fist to his chest. "The past is ash. I live to serve you now."
Lei Feng smiled at the fire elemental's blunt conviction. Straightforward and loyal.
Granite scratched his craggy head. "Uhh... I think I only care about the present. Everything else is... is... nothin'?"
Lei Feng chuckled and gave the hulking stone guardian a pat. "Rock-solid thinking, Granite."
Only Aeolus remained, arms behind his head, floating lazily in the air.
"Aeolus?" Lei Feng prompted.
The wind spirit cracked open an eye, a lazy grin on his face. "What do you want me to say? 'Oh no, I miss my old life'? Pfft."
Then, in a blur, Aeolus vanished and reappeared directly in front of Lei Feng, eyes suddenly sharp and unreadable.
"Let me ask you something instead, boss," he said. "Would you want to go back to your past?"
Lei Feng froze. The question pierced deeper than he expected. Images of loneliness, failure, and quiet suffering resurfaced like ghosts.
"…No," he said at last. "To be powerless again? To live forgotten, invisible? Never."
Aeolus's grin widened. "Now *that's* what I'm talkin' about."
"But," Lei Feng added, softer now, "that doesn't mean I want to forget it. My past… it shaped me. Even the pain. Without it, I wouldn't be who I am today."
Aquari's lips parted slightly, her eyes shining with admiration. "Master…"
"Hah," Aeolus said, turning away. "Whatever."
Then—
FWOOSH.
A spike of heat surged through the air. Ignis stepped forward, flames crackling wildly across his body, his gaze blazing with fury.
"What's your problem, wind freak?!" he shouted. "How dare you speak to the Master like that?!"
Aeolus raised an eyebrow. "Didn't hear him complain. Maybe you're just a little *too* hot-headed."
"You little—!"
The ground scorched beneath Ignis's feet as fire flared—until—
A wave of icy mist swept through, instantly dousing the flames.
"That's enough," Glacia said, her tone sharp and cutting. "We are Elementals—forces of nature. Show some dignity. Especially before the Master."
Aeolus backed off with a shrug. "Didn't start it. Ask the fireball."
Glacia turned to Ignis. "And you. You'd incinerate the whole cliff over a spat?"
Ignis clenched his fists, glaring—but Glacia's frigid gaze froze his protest.
The air thickened with tension.
Aquari stepped forward, hands raised. "Enough," she said, her voice calm but commanding. "We're a family now. We shouldn't be fighting."
Neither elemental backed down.
So Aquari closed her eyes. Her voice dropped to a whisper, imbued with a strange power.
"For the Master's sake… please. Let it go."
A hush fell. Like a soothing current, her words washed away the tension.
Ignis finally bowed. "I'm sorry, Master."
Then muttered, "But I've got scores to settle with both of you…"
"Hmph," Glacia replied, turning away.
Aeolus just grinned. "Looking forward to it, flame-head."
Granite blinked. "W-What just happened?"
"I have no idea," Lei Feng muttered.
He turned to Aquari. "What did you just do?"
"Me?" Aquari smiled sweetly. "I just helped everyone relax~"
Lei Feng narrowed his eyes. "And how do you know all their names already?"
"I don't," she said honestly. "At least, not in the usual sense. But… I can feel them. Like there's a bond tying us together. Something ancient. Something deep."
Summoner's Empathy… Lei Feng's thoughts raced. Just how far does this connection go?
Then—
"Yo, boss!" Aeolus called, stretching with a yawn. "Didn't you wanna see our combat forms? When do we get to fight?! I've got some wind to blow!"
Lei Feng blinked. "I didn't mean it literally! I just wanted a look."
Aeolus groaned. "Lame. Fine. Can I at least fly around?"
"...Don't go far."
"WOO!" With a whoop, Aeolus vanished, the wind howling in his wake.
"So fast…" Lei Feng muttered in awe.
"Hmph. Not that impressive," Ignis grumbled.
"You're just jealous," Glacia teased.
"You—!"
"Everyone has their strengths, Ignis," Aquari said with a giggle.
Ignis muttered something under his breath… but a smile tugged at his lips.
Then—
"HAHAHAHA!" Granite suddenly burst out in booming laughter.
"What's so funny?" Glacia asked, mildly annoyed.
Granite kept laughing.
Lei Feng exhaled a slow breath, the corners of his mouth lifting. This… this is nice.
Then—
Ding!
System Notification:
Successful Kill!
+40 EXP
Ding!
Successful Kill!
+45 EXP
Ding!
Successful Kill!
+50 EXP
Ding!
Level Up!
Level 20 → Level 21
+10 Health
+10 Mana
+1 to All Stats
+5 Free Stat Points Awarded
"W-What?!" Lei Feng's eyes widened. "I'm leveling up… without doing anything?!"