The Rebirth of Lucas.
Lucas woke up in a foreign place after what felt like an endless slumber. The last thing he remembered was being in the hospital, preparing for surgery to remove a brain tumor. The numbness from the anesthesia was his final memory before falling into a deep sleep. Now, he found himself waking up in a seemingly familiar yet unfamiliar room. Standing before him were a woman and a young girl.
"Ah! He's awake! Thank God you're awake!" the woman, who appeared to be in her thirties, burst into tears and immediately pulled him into a sobbing hug.
Lucas sat there, stunned. Suddenly, a spliting headache forced him back into consciousness. He groaned and clutched his head as he lay back down. Voices began to echo in his mind, and a massive surge of memories—memories that didn't belong to him—drowned his senses. After enduring the excruciating pain for what felt like hours, he drifted back into sleep.
When he woke again, he was in a dark, gloomy void. The only light came from a golden book floating in front of him. It emitted a brilliant golden aura, though it was bound tightly by heavy black chains. Lucas felt a strange, magnetic force urging him to touch it, but he forced himself to stay calm.
Suddenly, the book moved on its own. To his surprise, the chains fell away and the book flew open. Lucas looked at the pages, but they were blank—no words, no letters, nothing. After a long silence, he reached out. The moment his fingers brushed the paper, a dazzling golden light swallowed him whole.
When he opened his eyes, he was back in the room. This time, the space felt more familiar; he now possessed the memories of the body's former owner. Lucas let out a soft, ironic laugh. He had survived death only to be reincarnated.
Beside his bed, the woman from earlier was fast asleep, traces of worry still etched onto her face. He smiled. According to his new memories, this was his Aunt Ana, his father's sister. She had raised him like a mother after his own mother passed away giving birth to him.
He was currently in Morningstar Manor in Mount Wujing Village, where his grandfather served as the Village Chief. While the village seemed peaceful, this world was filled with unfathomable mysteries: monsters, spiritual beings, and Immortals. In this reality, people could tame these creatures to be their guardians, but only if they had the gift.
To become a Soul Spiritas, one had to form a contract with a Grimoire, also known as the Bible of Familia. Every page represented a limited "soul pact" used to house a spirit. Grimoires were ranked by color—White, Yellow, Blue, Violet, and Black. While the number of pages could increase, a contractor had to be meticulous; the spirits they chose would forever impact their soul and their future.
As Lucas meditated on this, Aunt Ana woke up. Seeing his improved complexion, she teared up again and hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you're awake. I know it hurts to be a 'normal' person, but you shouldn't have tried to leave us," she sobbed.
Lucas realized the "old" Lucas had ended his life because of the humilation of being unable to become a Spiritas. His father had been a legendary Yellow Grimoire holder who once commanded a sub-species of Dragon. Having failed the awakening ceremony at age ten, the pressure of his father's legacy had driven the boy into three years of isolation and, eventually, despair.
"Here, eat first," his aunt said, offering a warm smile.
"Auntie... thank you," Lucas replied. He felt a lump in his throat; in his past life, he had very little family to care for him.
As she set the food down, Ana noticed a round tattoo on the back of Lucas's palm. Her eyes widened, and she gasped, grabbing his hand. "Lucas... when did this happen?"
The tattoo was the mark of a Grimoire.
"It happened while I was... struggling in the water," Lucas lied, sticking to a half-truth. He couldn't yet reveal that the original Lucas was gone. "I saw a light, and a book appeared in the center of it."
"The heavens haven't abandoned us!" Ana cried happily, wiping her tears. "Your father would be so proud. Eat, get your strength back, and find your first Spirit Familia!"
Lucas nodded and began to eat. He was in a strange new world, but for the first time, he had a family to protect and a future full of power waiting to be claimed.