I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Wei's eyes widened slightly as he took in the smooth ground. Through the gaps, he could even see basements and foundations filled with wealth beyond his imagination. Mesmerised, he observed rows of timber shelves supporting fine blades, the jade bottles preserving pills he had no doubt were fragrant enough to make his mind spin, and the delicate herbs tucked inside glass displays.

But it made no sense. Despite the safe distance, he had felt the wave of scalding heat on his skin. So, how was the ground immaculate?

An idea that made him stutter came to mind. But could mages have this much control? "D-Did you control the blast to protect the mountain and all this wealth?"

"Of course. Why would I damage nature or my spoils?" Adam raised his thumb, then gestured at the basement with his index and middle fingers.

Qi herbs, metals, pills, and enchanted weapons instantly flew toward him before vanishing into his spatial ring. "I guess we're done here. Time to leave."

He winked at the bright-eyed children and flabbergasted Wei, who almost choked on his saliva when he saw a small hand wrap around Adam's forehead.

"Let's go!" Qing hurled her fist overhead, standing on Adam's shoulders with a bright smile.

"Argh!" Wei slapped both his cheeks, his arms trembling. "Don't offend our benefactor, Qing! Get down!"

"Why?" Qing tilted her head, a finger on her cheek. "Oh! I didn't have time to tell you, Papa, but he carried me all the way from the witch's woods back to our village on his shoulders." She planted her fists on her sides with a proud nod. "This is my private spot!"

While the children glared at her enviously, Adam began to zip space open to his blessed land. "Let her. She deserves moments of fun... they all do." He sighed. "Fortunately, my companion's city has everything they will ever need."

Wei sighed in relief, ready to follow Adam. But then, a deep furrow creased his brow. "Wait!"

"Yes?" Adam raised a brow, his hand freezing mid-air.

"It's about that book I told you about... sorry." Wei scratched his cheek.

"I can check it out before returning." Adam nodded, shifting the coordinates to Wei's house. "Blank pages and faded title, right?"

"Err... It doesn't seem impressive when you say it like that..." Wei pinched the bridge of his nose. "But yes, this one. I believe there is something more to it."

Space tore open before Adam, revealing the village's calm streets. He stepped through, chuckling. "It's not a demonic book, right?" An icy shiver ran down his spine. "Please, tell me it's not. I'm done dealing with these cursed items."

"It shouldn't be..." Wei coughed. "I think."

Adam rolled his eyes. But what were his chances of stumbling on all three demonic treasures, especially two in the same realm?

A grin spread across his face as he crossed the torn space. "Retrieve it, Wei. And don't worry. I've had a few close calls with demonic artifacts. As long as your book isn't one of their great treasures, I'm confident I'll handle it just fine."

With a conflicted nod, Wei rushed inside his house. He had been a poor cripple mourning his daughter just a few hours ago. Now that he had returned to the familiar cold, damp air and heard the pitter-patter of rain streaming down the hole in his roof into a full bucket, he sighed.

"Everything... is real." He glanced at the repaired wear and tears running along the walls, his lips curving. "Adam's offer, too. I can't make him wait."

Yet, his eyes darted to a small chest tucked in a corner of the living room. Tenderness replaced his worries as he approached it, then pulled the lid open.

Wooden dolls draped in rough fabric filled it. He gripped a panda wearing a farmer's overalls, a beautiful lady in a wedding dress, and her faceless husband. Memories of Qing's enchanted smile when he offered them to her resurfaced, along with her chuckles each time she played with them.

He tucked them at his belt, muttering. "I'll carve you a dozen new ones soon."

Then, he walked to his bedroom. Crouching, he removed a piece of wood hiding a compartment large enough to shelter a few coins and a book: the one he inherited from his father, who had inherited it from his father.

His fingers inched toward the faded cover, his brow furrowing. He tried to read the title, but saw nothing. The dry pages, yellowed by who knew how long and empty, cracked beneath his fingers.

Why did his family protect such a useless thing for so long? Did its mystery intrigue his father like it intrigued him?

He rose to his feet, tucked the book under his armpit, and left with a steely glint flashing in his eyes. "I'll hopefully get the answer today."

Once back in front of Adam, he extended the book with a nod.

Adam tucked his fingers around his chin, a brow raised. "Are you sure you brought the right book?"

Wei frowned. "Isn't it as I described it?" He ran his finger on the thick side. "Is it because of its thickness? I do find it strange for such a large book to be empty."

Adam scratched his head while Qing pointed her finger at the book and exclaimed. "Such a pretty book! So many dancing colors. It's amazing!"

As Wei's jaw dropped, Adam's eyes sparkled. "As she said. I see waving colors and traces of ink on the side you've touched." He snatched the book, chuckling. "It's probably magically protected, like the other grimoires I've found."

"No, no, no." Wei shook his head. "You seeing it is one thing. But her?" He pointed at Qing. "Why can she when no one in our family could?"

Adam ignored the question to read the calligraphed title: The dreamer's grimoire.

Without wasting a second, he flipped the cover, wondering if the author had left their story like Kwame, Elena, and Pablo. And as expected, the first words caused a grin to spread across his face.

"Dearest descendants, guard this grimoire well—it rightfully belongs to the bloodline of House Reverie. I know it will fade in this foreign realm, now that the council has purged most of its ancient members. Yet I have faith that, one day, one of you will awaken to our dream-born gift... and reclaim the legacy we left behind."