My Years as a Shadow Guard with Nothing in My Head

(Third-person narration + top + older partner + ancient setting + master and servant) Whenever Yi Yi hears about the various demands other masters make of their shadow guards, he realizes he doesn't quite measure up. He's a shadow guard with an empty head, unable to offer his young master clever strategies or help with anything complicated. But every time, his young master pats him on the head and says, “Yi Yi is already the best shadow guard.” His young master is the best young master in the world. But a shadow guard with an empty head won't live to see the end of the story. He died one night. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself alive once more. In this new cycle of life, he was still his young master's shadow guard. How wonderful.