Since you took what I gave, the scales demand equivalent exchange—give me Ling from your arms.

Aer’s words cracked like thunder inside Alicia’s skull.

She lifted her head; her loss blew away, and raw hostility flared like a blade.

What are you trying to do, waving thunder around?

Aer ignored it; in her eyes, Alicia’s hate was less than a gnat.

Don’t bother with the details; just obey me, and let the wind carry it.

Silent till now, Lian tugged Aer’s sleeve like a small wave tugging shore.

Aer, you promised you wouldn’t hurt Ling, right—promise set like stone?

Aer nodded; a thin sadness crossed her face like a passing cloud, too swift to catch.

As you see, I won’t harm Ling; my hands are clean as rain.

I’ll check her body, like mending a roof before storm.

Alicia locked on Aer’s blue eyes, hunting for a lie like a hawk.

But those eyes stayed flat, colorless as still water, unreadable.

Reason tugged her like a tide to hand Ling over; feeling screamed like a cliff she’d lose Ling forever.

People are creatures of feeling; even as a Yokai, Alicia’s heart beat like a drum and led.

She swept a wide hand; her eyes half-lidded; wind rose like a cloak, and her cool flair spilled out.

But I refuse!

Her shout rang like a stone against iron.

Anyone sours when refused; Aer’s eyes stayed flat, calm as winter water.

You should know you don’t have the right to refuse; that gate is locked.

It sounded like a threat, yet from Aer it landed like a bland report on gray paper.

Before, Alicia couldn’t beat Aer; now, as a newborn Yokai, power swelled like storm surf, and she got cocky.

She even pictured hanging Aer up and breaking her legs like dry twigs.

I don’t know about anything else, but I do have the right to refuse, carved in stone.

Aer had expected her ballooning bravado; surprise never touched that stone mask.

Fine. Since that’s how you think, I’ll beat you first, then talk, like rain before harvest.

She drew a slender branch from behind and wielded it like a wand; mana gathered at the tip like burning dew.

Alicia wasn’t dumb enough to wait; she set Ling on a trunk like a curled cat, then followed her creed of interrupting transformations.

She leaped, fist raised, carving the air like a hawk.

‘Genius Alicia’s All-Out Milk-Power Punch—Aer Limited Edition!’

Maybe she timed the shout; the long name hit like a drumbeat as her fist fell.

Aer stepped back with cool ease, like a tide retreating; nobody said you must stand still to cast, right?

Alicia’s fist crashed into earth; cracks spidered, wind pressure burst outward, dust rose like brown surf.

Alicia, let me teach you something: Yokai have ranks; as a newborn, you’re an ant under my heel.

Her branch-tip blazed red; the spell was ready, a sunrise caged in wood.

‘Medusa’s Eye—Ultra-Weakened Version.’

Red light exploded; everything bathed in it; Alicia’s body went slack, legs folded like wet paper.

Aer walked to Alicia; the branch, overburdened by her mana, sifted into ash like spent snow.

For a disposable wand, that was decent, a spark spent in one gust.

Aer crouched before Alicia so Alicia could see her whole shape, close as a looming cliff.

As you see, you can’t beat me; that mountain won’t move.

In all history, a newborn Yokai beat a great Yokai only once; you are not that storm.

Aer raised her hand glowing with mana; Ling, leaning on the trunk, flew to her like a hooked fish.

Lie quietly for now; I promise to return you a complete ‘Ling’, whole as a full moon.

The more she promised, the heavier Alicia’s unease rumbled, like thunder under skin.

She forced her weak body up, propping herself like a reed against a gale.

Why… do you… need… Ling… like fire needs oil…?

Her voice scraped out like dry sand across stone.

No reason. I told you—equivalent exchange. I gave you that bead, so you pay with Ling.

Alicia found sudden strength and shouted, a spark thrown into dry grass.

You’re strong-arming me, shoving a deal like a blade.

Aer shook her head; on her blank face, a thin sneer cut like a crescent blade.

Sorry. Whether you agree or not, since you accepted it, the trade is sealed like wax.

Tsk!

Alicia clicked her tongue, then pressed her right fingers together; her nails flashed like knives in sun.

She drove them toward her chest like spears meeting a shield.

Aer flicked her hand and murmured, “Bind,” like a net cast over a wave.

Her nails froze a finger’s width from her chest, sharp enough to break skin with one more breath.

Aer saw Alicia trying to dig out what was lodged in her chest, and her eyes darkened like stormclouds.

Do you know what you’re doing? If you pull it out, it’s bad for you and for me, poison in both cups.

Her binding clamped her mouth too; Alicia couldn’t speak, silence pressed like stone.

Aer wasn’t foolish enough to release her; uncertainty is a crack, and cracks break plans like ice underfoot.

Better to let that one lie still like a tied bundle.

Lian, come here, to my side like a shadow.

Aer called; her voice carried through the air like a bell in fog.

Lian looked at Alicia, pinned to the ground like a fallen kite, then at the storm on Aer’s face.

The plea to free Alicia stuck in her throat like a fishbone; she obeyed and came to Aer’s side.

Aer stepped to a complex magic circle drawn on the ground, its lines coiled like vines.

She set Ling in the center and had Lian sit there, holding Ling like a cradle.

Lian wondered why, but Aer’s anger burned like noon sun; questions shriveled, and Lian obeyed.

Aer poured her magic in; the face that was always cold brimmed with excitement, breaking like spring ice.

Finally… finally, it’s going to succeed, like dawn lifting the night.