Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

Melisa sat on the couch, her hands still shaking slightly as the events of the day began to sink in.

Her parents were seated beside her, relieved and exhausted.

Javir stood in front of them, her hands glowing with a soft, warm light as she finished healing Melistair's wounds.

"There," she said, stepping back with a satisfied nod. "Good as new. Or, well, as close as I can get you without a full night's rest and a hearty meal."

Melistair chuckled, flexing his newly mended hand, wiping the blood off his knuckles.

"I'll take it. Better than the alternative, that's for sure."

But then his face grew serious, a frown tugging at his lips.

"Still, even though we gave those bastards a good thrashing, I doubt they'll give up that easily. A man like Striker, he's got an ego the size of a dragon. He won't let this go."

Javir sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"I was afraid you'd say that. And as much as I'd love to give you all more time to think things over, it seems like my suggestion is more needed now than ever."

Melisa perked up, remembering their conversation from earlier.

"Oh, right! Javir, you said there were other ways for nim to become free in Syux, besides getting a scholarship. What were they again?"

Javir smiled, a glint of amusement in her eye.

"Sharp as ever, aren't you, kid? Yes, there is another way. If a human pays for a nim's freedom, they can become a free citizen of Syux."

Melisa fell silent, her mind whirling with the implications.

[Javir could do that for us. She could buy Mom and Dad's freedom, and then we could all go to Syux together, as a family.]

But the words stuck in her throat, a lump of embarrassment and uncertainty holding them back.

[I can't just ask her to do that. It's too much, too big of a favor. She's already done so much for us...]

But Javir, seeming to read Melisa's thoughts, knelt down in front of her, looking her straight in the eye.

"Melisa, I know what you're thinking. And I want you to know, I'm willing to do it. I'll pay for your parents' freedom." She stood up, looking back at Melistair and Margaret. "On one condition."

Melisa swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest.

"W-What condition?" Margaret asked.

Javir grinned, a challenge sparkling in her gaze.

"That Melisa apply to Syux Academy. I don't want to see her talents wasted. She does that, and you can consider your freedom in Syux already acquired."

Melisa looked back at her parents.

They looked at each other.

"It's your choice, Melisa," Melistair said. "Do you want to apply?"

"I do," Melisa answered without hesitation.

"Then... That's it, then."

Javir laughed, ruffling Melisa's hair affectionately.

"Alright then, it's a deal. I'll take care of the paperwork and the fees, and I'll give you the material you need so you can start studying for those entrance exams. We'll turn you into a top-tier mage yet, just you wait!"

Melisa couldn't help it. She launched herself at Javir, wrapping her arms around the woman in a fierce hug.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you so much, Javir. For everything."

Javir hugged her back.

"You're welcome, kid. Now, unless you guys want to go for a second round against that man and his friends, go pack your things. I'd like it if we left by the end of the night."

And with that, the deal was struck, a new path unfolding before Melisa and her family.

It wouldn't be easy, she knew that. But with Javir by her side and her parents' love and support, Melisa felt like anything was possible.

[Look out, Syux Academy,] she thought, a grin spreading across her face. [Here comes Melisa Blackflame, future hero extraordinaire!]

---

While her parents finished packing, Melisa darted through the streets, her heart pounding.

In her hand, she clutched a rune, one she had crafted specifically for the old shopkeeper who had first let her know how high the standards of magic in the world actually were.

She burst into his shop, startling the man as he was reorganizing his shelves.

"Melisa?" he asked, blinking in surprise. "What in the world are you doing here so late, child?"

Melisa grinned, holding up the rune.

"I wanted to sell you this, old timer. A special, one-of-a-kind rune, just for you!"

The shopkeeper chuckled, shaking his head.

"Haven't we talked about this already, little miss? I thought I made it clear that I'm not in the market for those."

But Melisa wasn't deterred. She shook her head, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Ah, but this one's different! It's for a spell you've never seen before, one that I invented myself!"

The old man raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself.

"And what spell would that be, pray tell?"

Melisa giggled, grabbing his hand and tugging him towards the door.

"Come outside and I'll show you!"

Once they were in the street, Melisa took a deep breath, focusing her Essence and drawing the spellsign in the air.

"Illumi, nerca, var fal!"

A brilliant blue flame burst from her hand, dancing and swirling in the night air.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened, a look of amazement and respect crossing his face.

Back inside the shop, he nodded slowly, turning the rune over in his hands.

"That's... impressive, young Melisa. Very impressive indeed."@@novelbin@@

He glanced at her, taking in her traveling clothes and the pack slung over her shoulder.

"But I can't help but notice you seem to be dressed for a journey. Where are you off to, if I may ask?"

Melisa beamed, practically bouncing on her toes.

"Syux! I'm going to join Syux Academy and become a real mage!"

At that, the old man's eyebrows shot up, a spark of recognition in his eyes.

"Syux Academy, you say? Well, well, well..."

He rummaged through his pockets, pulling out a single coin with a black flower etched onto its surface.

"In that case, consider this my payment for your rune, and a bit of advice to go with it."

Melisa took the coin, turning it over in her fingers with a curious frown.

"What is it? What does it mean?"

The shopkeeper smiled, a secretive, knowing sort of smile.

"When you get to the Academy, find one of the teachers, one with the surname Suthers. Give her this coin and tell her Balor sent you. She'll understand what it means."

Melisa's eyes widened, a thrill of excitement running through her.

"Balor? Is that your name?"

The old man chuckled, patting her on the head.

"It is, child. Now, off with you! You've got a long journey ahead, and a bright future waiting at the end of it."

Melisa grinned, tucking the coin safely into her pocket.

"Thank you, Balor! I'll come back and knock your socks off before you know it!"

"I'll wait with bated breath," he chuckled. "Farewell."

With a spring in her step, Melisa raced back home.

As Melisa burst through the front door, she was greeted by the sight of her parents and Javir, their packs slung over their shoulders, excited and nervous.

"There you are!" Margaret exclaimed, pulling Melisa into a quick hug. "We were just about to go looking for you."

Melisa grinned, her cheeks flushed from her sprint through the village.

"Sorry, Mom. I had one last thing to take care of before we left."

Melistair raised an eyebrow, glancing at the bulging pack on his daughter's back.

"And what might that have been, my little adventurer?"

Melisa just winked, tapping the side of her nose.

"Nothing big. Promise."

Melistair, behind Margaret, frowned, a thought occurring to him.

"By the way, how exactly are we going to get to Syux? It's not exactly a short walk from here."

Javir grinned.

"Oh, don't you worry about that. I've got it all handled. Now, let's get moving before the sun comes up and ruins my big dramatic exit!"

With that, she ushered the Blackflame family out the door, leading them towards the edge of the forest.

As they stood there, the village behind them and the vast unknown ahead, Javir began to move her hands in a complex pattern, her fingers weaving an intricate spellsign in the air.

Her lips moved, murmuring an incantation that seemed to go on forever, the words flowing together in a melodic stream of power.

Melisa watched, transfixed, as the air around them began to shimmer and warp, a faint glow emanating from Javir's hands.

And then, with a final flourish and a burst of light, a spectral carriage appeared before them, its translucent form shimmering in the moonlight.

"Whoa," Melisa breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. "That's so cool!"

Javir grinned, dusting off her hands with a satisfied nod.

"Pretty nifty, right? Were you all worried I was going to make you walk to the human kingdom?"

As her parents climbed into the carriage, marveling at its ethereal beauty, Melisa paused, turning to take one last look at the village she had called home for the last week or two.

The longest week or two of her life. Well, of this life or the last.

"What's Syux like?" she wondered quietly. "Will it be very different from here? EH?"

Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted into the air, strong arms wrapping around her waist as Javir spun her around with a laugh.

"Oh, kid, you have no idea!" she exclaimed, carrying Melisa towards the carriage with a bounce in her step. "Syux is like nothing you've ever seen before. It's big and loud and full of more people than you can possibly imagine!"

She set Melisa down inside the carriage, plopping down beside her with a grin.

"But you know what? I think you're going to love it. Because in Syux, anything is possible. It's a place where dreams come true. Especially for someone like you."

And with that, Javir flicked her wrist, and the spectral carriage began to move, carrying the Blackflame family towards their new life.

Now, more so than when she'd first woke up even, Melisa felt like her new life was truly beginning.