"It's fine. All my magic power is yours."

For an Elf Tamer who fought solely through magic, entrusting all their mana to an Elemental Spirit meant placing their very life in the spirit's hands.

"Not yet, Master," Xia paused mid-air, glancing back at me before resuming her energetic flutter. "Little Yiyi seems unharmed! Oh—and since we're guarding an Angel, we'll surely get praised when we return!"

"Hmm..." The elf maiden offered no further words. Instead, her obscure, secretive chant flowed softly once more:

*"Was zweie ra stel zuieg manaf, yerh zecta lerx duseat maal."*

Beneath that melody-like incantation, my body suddenly felt weightless.

"Good girl, Little Yiyi. No pain now..."

The other figure strained to lift the thick branch pinning my ankle, revealing my smooth, unblemished calf.

"Yiyi is fine, Master." Though unharmed, the healing magic swiftly dulled the pain echoing in my mind. I turned my head, gazing at my reflection in the Elven Spring—despite that brutal assault, my bare skin bore only dirt and grass stains, not a single scratch.

"Phew... Good thing it didn’t flatten Yiyi’s chest." A hand ruffled my hair. Then, leaning close to my ear, she whispered, "You okay?"

"I’m fine, Yiyi is." Honestly, if I were still human, that strike would’ve reduced me—and my clothes—to dust. Yet now, I felt untouched. If not for my naked body exposed to the air, I’d have thought the attack was an illusion. "But... sorry, Master. Yiyi failed to cast offensive magic."

Both attempts had failed. The second nearly cost me my life—and worried her. *Wait.* Why should I care if she worried? I apologized out of habit for failing the spell. Her concern meant nothing. *Yes. Exactly.*

"It’s alright... But my next request might be a bit much..."

*Huh?*

I stiffened, instinctively covering my bare chest. Yet bound by the Contract, my voice came out soft and sweet, tinged with reluctant anticipation: "If Master wishes... Yiyi won’t mind, even here."

"A-ah! That’s not what I meant!" Her face flushed crimson. She waved her hands frantically before patting my head. "Though... this side of Little Yiyi is also adorable." She took a breath. "What I meant was—I want you to keep fighting, if you can."

"Mhm... Yiyi can." My body reacted before my mind could protest. I nodded instantly, forcing a frail smile. "Don’t underestimate Yiyi."

*Words spilled out before I could think.* The Contract made me feel oddly happy—but fighting that sixth-tier Contract Beast meant only one outcome. My body might not break, but I’d endure being blasted away again. And again.

"Little Yiyi truly is this young lady’s strongest Contract Beast." Suddenly, I was pulled into a tight hug. Her chest felt soft but... flat. *Headache... Is this really...?*

"Everyone else is fighting. How could this young lady and her strongest Contract Beast run away? That beast can’t truly hurt you, Little Yiyi."

*Ah... Right.*

I nodded against her chest. I wasn’t a coward, after all.

But she didn’t know. She hadn’t felt the agony that could shatter a mind. Even when the pain faded, the memory of near-death lingered.

*Well... I’ll be careful.* I had to help those two Elves with offensive magic. *Not for her. Not at all.*

Yet doubt crept in as I watched the two magic-wielding Elves nearby—their spells shattered effortlessly by the beast. I had near-limitless mana, but no proper spells to wield it. Like having infinite bullets but no gun.

The highest-tier magic I knew was "High-Tier Magic." Beyond that lay "Inherited Magic," "Sacred Magic," "Forbidden Spells"...

*If only I could use Elven Magic like them...*