"Alright, alright, quit clinging to me. Aren't you going to check the book I gave you?"

Aer reached out and eased Ling off her, her little head rubbing Aer’s belly like a kitten seeking warmth.

Ling wasn't mad at being pushed away. She flashed two neat rows of teeth, a silly grin like sunshine through leaves—a bit dumb, still adorable.

Ling set her new “gift” on the table. Her fingers brushed the cover; the raised texture snagged like bark, rough yet strangely pleasant.

Our first meet-and-greet was over, like a curtain falling after the prologue. Time to step into the deeper scene.

She gripped the cover and flipped it outward. A faint weight pressed her palm; the cover was heavier than she’d expected.

For Ling, that weight was nothing. The book opened anyway, like a door nudged by a breeze.

Whoosh. Pages fanned open. Yellowed sheets appeared, like autumn leaves kept in a glass box—aged in color, yet not worn at all.

Even the writing… Well, there was none. For a book with history in its bones, every page was blank, as white as fresh snow.

"So why is there not a single word?"

It wasn’t a pointless question. Ling had seen Aer read this book for hours. Could Aer really stare at empty paper that long?

"Hehe~ It’s because you’re so impatient, little cutie. You didn’t let me explain how to use this thing."

"Didn’t you tell me to look?" The retort rose like steam, but Ling swallowed it. She needed Aer’s guidance more than pride.

"Ahh~ my bad, my bad. So how do I use it? Wise, gorgeous, number-one-in-the-world Sister Aer, please teach your silly Ling."

Ten thousand four hundred ninety-two days together had taught Ling this trick: speak like this, and answers bloom like spring.

"Mhm, since your taste is that good, I’ll give you a small lesson~"

Aer stepped behind her and caught Ling’s hands from the back, warm palms settling like steady anchors.

"First, pour a little mana right here."

She guided Ling’s fingers to the gem on the cover. Ling focused and let her practiced "mana release" flow from her fingertips.

Click.

A crisp lock closing sounded from inside the book. The gem flared red; a needle of light pricked Ling’s eyes, and she flinched shut.

Clank, clank, clank—

A chain’s strike rang in her ears. Something cool coiled up her right hand, like a metal serpent tasting the air.

Ling didn’t resist. She simply felt it wasn’t hurting her; it felt like armor wrapping her wrist, protection without a price. Strange, right?

The glare faded through her eyelids like dawn dimming. Ling opened her eyes and looked down at her hand first.

A chain was wrapped around it, red patterns pulsing along the links, flickering like living embers in a hearth.

"Alright, Ling~ that completes the contract. From now on, you can use her freely. I’d love for you to use her often."

This tongue blurs pronouns like mist on water. Ling didn’t notice Aer calling the book “her.” She simply nodded in understanding.

"I’ll look at it often. But… what does it even do?"

"Emmm… I won’t dump everything on you. I’ll write a few lines. You figure the rest out as you go~"

"Eh~~ why? Just tell me outright!"

Ignoring Ling’s protests, Aer gathered mana at her fingertips and began to write, light scoring letters like fireflies tracing air—

"[Script] LV.??? Intro: It’s the one in your hand. Want to know what this book does? Go seek it. I placed all power there."

Ling read it once. Every single word made sense alone; together, they tangled like reeds in a stream, leaving her head full of fog.

"What… what is this even saying? What is this ‘Script’? What’s with the ??? level? And your last line says nothing!"

Aer only answered with a sweet smile, crescent-soft, then spoke something even more opaque.

"Leave these things to the future Ling. For now, play for a while. After all… some things can’t be dodged."

What the heck? So I’m supposed to explore later? What’s up with Aer today? Is she talking weird, or am I just dumb?

Aer noticed Ling’s brain stall out. She tugged the stubborn cowlick on Ling’s head, a playful pinch, releasing only when Ling yelped.

With Ling wearing an "I’ll kill you" look like a thundercloud, Aer kept smiling, warm as lantern light.

"I told you, Ling, don’t overthink. Come on. I’ll take you somewhere fun."

At the word “fun,” Ling’s bristling mood smoothed out. Stars flickered in her eyes like frost crystals catching light.

"Going to play? Yes, yes!!" Then doubt rippled. "Why is Aer taking me out today?" She wasn’t usually this eager to play.

Aer didn’t bother with a flimsy excuse. She answered honestly, voice quiet as a stream beneath leaves.

"I plan to keep you company properly, just once."

"Is that so?"

She was still puzzled, but play was play. Who cares why, when joy is calling like a bell?

"Then… let’s go!"

She turned and darted out the door, quick as a sparrow. She missed the whisper that slipped from Aer’s lips.

"Before you… sleep, I’ll play with you one last time…"