[The Same Evening — House Veyrath — Continuation]
Seyra followed Veyra, humming happily as she trotted beneath the cedar arches.
The farther they walked, the quieter the garden became. The evening sun painted the sandstone pathways in shades of amber, while long shadows stretched across the imperial gardens of House Veyrath. Small bronze bells hung from the cedar branches, chiming whenever the breeze passed through them.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Seyra’s short legs.
"Veyra, your legs are unfair!"
The enormous white leopard glanced back.
"Look at them!" Seyra pointed accusingly at the beast’s long limbs. "One of your steps is practically three of mine! If we were racing, you’d be disqualified for using oversized equipment!"
Veyra blinked, and Seyra huffed dramatically, placing her hands on her hips. "This is an unfair advantage."
The leopard continued walking.
"Hey! At least pretend to feel guilty!"
Veyra’s tail swayed lazily, and Seyra narrowed her eyes at the unrepentant beast before finally looking around.
The secluded garden was beautiful. A narrow stream wound between smooth stones, and an ancient cedar tree stood beside a pavilion carved with images of winged bulls and celestial serpents. Bronze oil lamps rested in small alcoves, waiting for dusk to deepen.
It was suspiciously peaceful.
Seyra looked at Veyra.
"Why did you want to play here?"
The white leopard stopped as Seyra tilted her head, then suddenly snapped her fingers as an idea struck her.
"Oh! We could’ve played at the training hall, you know!" Her violet eyes sparkled. "At least I could’ve seen some new handsome knight recruits."
She clasped her hands beneath her chin, a wicked little smirk spreading across her face.
"Tall, handsome, muscular knights training beneath the golden sun. Their bronze armor gleaming. Their sleeves rolled up—"
She paused to appreciate the mental image.
"—their glorious arms—"
Veyra slowly turned her head toward her as Seyra grinned. "What? I’m appreciating the empire’s military strength."
The white leopard stared at her in disbelief. "Don’t look at me like that! I’m a responsible citizen. I care deeply about the empire’s future and if the empire’s future happens to have a handsome face, who am I to complain?"
Veyra shut her eyes for one brief moment; the great Divine Elemental Beast seemed to regret every decision that had led her to this child.
Then—
WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHHHH!
A violent gust swept through the garden.
The bronze bells rang all at once, and leaves exploded from the cedar branches, spiraling through the air as the wind rushed across the sandstone courtyard.
Seyra’s hair flew in every direction.
"AAAAH!"
She grabbed the hem of her little tunic before it could become a flag of surrender.
"What is happening?!"
The wind surged around Veyra, lifting the beast’s magnificent white fur. Silver light shimmered beneath her paws, and the air itself began to tremble.
Seyra stumbled backward.
"Veyra?! What are you doing?!"
The leopard did not answer. Instead, a symbol on her forehead began to glow.
A silver sigil appeared between her eyes, its intricate lines resembling seven interlocking crescents surrounding a single shining star. Ancient markings flickered across its surface, glowing like moonlight reflected upon a sacred river.
Seyra stopped moving; her violet eyes widened.
"Wow~~~"
The wind grew heavier.
It swept through the garden in magnificent spirals, carrying golden leaves and tiny sparks of silver light. The stream rose in delicate ribbons, suspended in the air without spilling a single drop. The bronze bells rang like a thousand tiny voices welcoming the arrival of a forgotten god.
Yet not a single gust harmed Seyra; the wind curved around her little body, protecting her from the force of its own power.
Veyra slowly lowered her head, then she opened her eyes. Silver radiance filled them and then a voice echoed directly inside Seyra’s mind.
’Would you like to form a contract with me, little one?’
. . .
. . .
Silence, absolute, magnificent, world-ending silence.
Seyra stared at Veyra. Veyra stared back.
A leaf drifted between them, then Seyra gasped so dramatically that the celestial spirits themselves might have mistaken it for a battle cry.
"VEYRA IS TALKING!!!!"
The white leopard’s ears twitched.
"YOU CAN TALK?!" Seyra rushed around her in a circle, practically vibrating with excitement. "YOU CAN ACTUALLY TALK?! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?!"
She stopped in front of Veyra and pointed at her mouth.
"Wait! Your mouth didn’t even open! How am I hearing you?! Is your voice coming from inside my head?!"
Veyra blinked, and Seyra immediately grabbed her own head.
"Or...have I finally lost my mind, and then you start hearing voices inside your head? Papa is going to be devastated. I haven’t even reached my fifth birthday, and I’ve already developed a mysterious illness."
Veyra’s silver eyes narrowed.
’I am speaking to you through our elemental connection.’
"You mean you could always talk to me, and you simply chose not to?!"
’I could not speak to you in this manner before.’
"Oh."
Seyra paused.
"Then why can I hear you now?"
Veyra lifted her head with the dignity of an ancient divine creature who had guarded the elemental balance since the dawn of creation.
’Because I am offering you a contract.’
Seyra stared at her, Veyra stared back, and then a long moment passed. Then Seyra whispered, "A contract?"
’Yes.’
"With you? The Veyra? The White Leopard of Air? Papa’s Divine Guardian?"
’Yes, little one.’
Seyra’s eyes widened until they resembled two enormous violet gemstones. "Are you telling me I am getting a divine beast?"
Veyra’s tail flicked.
’Yes after forming a contract with me.’
Seyra blinked, and Veyra waited. The little girl tilted her head, looking at the enormous white leopard with genuine confusion.
"...It sounds like a scam."
. . .
. . .
The wind stopped.
Every floating leaf froze in midair; even the stream seemed to pause. Veyra’s eyes widened.
’WHAT?! A SCAM?!’
The Guardian’s voice thundered through her mind.
’I AM A DIVINE ELEMENTAL BEAST! I HAVE GUARDED THE WINDS SINCE THE DAWN OF CREATION! HOW DARE YOU CALL MY CONTRACT A SCAM?!’
Seyra covered her ears.
"YOU’RE SHOUTING INSIDE MY HEAD!"
’BECAUSE YOU HAVE INSULTED MY DIVINE DIGNITY!’
"AND YOU’RE PROVING MY POINT!"
The silver wind exploded outward.
WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!
. . .
. . .
"But... why do I need to?"
Veyra’s ears twitched.
"I can already see you. I can already talk to you...well, now I can...and we can play together whenever we want. So...what’s the point of a contract?"
. . .
. . .
Silence.
Veyra blinked, her ears slowly lifted because the little girl had a point.
A rather inconveniently good point. Veyra cleared her throat...or, at least, made an effort that sounded vaguely like one.
’Well... you would be able to use my power.’
Seyra considered that.
"Hmm."
’The power of air can be very useful. It can protect you from danger, help you move more quickly, and allow you to control the wind once you have learned how.’
Seyra’s eyes brightened slightly. "Oh! So I can make people bald by blowing all their hair away?"
Veyra paused.
’...That is not the purpose of my power.’
"But is it possible?"
. . .
. . .
Veyra took a deep breath, silently reminding herself that she was an ancient Divine Guardian and that patience was a virtue.
’Besides, I am the guardian of House Veyrath. You are the daughter of its Azram. It is only natural that we should form a contract one day.’
Seyra tilted her head.
’So...’ Veyra hesitated, her tail flicking once. ’Why not today?’
Silence fell over the secluded garden, Seyra went quiet, and Veyra watched her. The little girl lowered her gaze, apparently deep in thought.
Since bringing Seyra here, the Divine Guardian felt a peculiar tension settle over her.
"...You’re right."
Veyra froze as Seyra looked up with a bright smile. "Alright! Let’s do it! Let’s form the contract!"
’You... agree?’
Seyra nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! If we have to do it someday anyway, we might as well do it today!"
Veyra remained motionless, then, very slowly, she let out a sigh of relief. ’...You nearly frightened me to death, little one.’
"YOU CAN DIE?!"
’THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT!’
. . .
. . .
Then the wind circled them again.
A magnificent ring of silver light formed around the garden, its edges rising into a towering wall of swirling air. Ancient symbols appeared within the currents, rotating slowly like the celestial wheels carved into the oldest temples of Eshkaran.
The garden disappeared behind a veil of silver as Seyra stared in wonder.
The wind rose above them, forming a great archway of luminous feathers and silver ribbons.
Veyra’s voice echoed through the garden.
’I am Veyra, Guardian of Air with the blessing of the Twin Divine Dragons, I recognize Seyra Vaerun Veyrath as my chosen contractor and elemental partner.’
The wind answered her.
WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!
A colossal spiral of silver light rose into the heavens.
For one fleeting moment, the silhouette of a magnificent white leopard appeared among the clouds, its luminous eyes gazing down upon House Veyrath. The banners atop the estate’s towers snapped in the sudden gale, and the cedar trees bowed as though paying homage to an ancient sovereign.
Far away, the sacred flames of Eshkaran trembled and beyond the reach of mortal sight, six ancient presences turned their attention toward the little girl standing beneath the silver sky.
The contract had begun.
Veyra’s forehead blazed with silver radiance. A delicate sigil emerged from the light, turning slowly in the air between them. Its design resembled a crescent moon encircling a seven-pointed star.
Seyra watched it approach; the sigil stopped before her chest, hovering just above her heart. She looked up at Veyra, her violet eyes shining beneath the silver glow.
"...Is that going to hurt?"
Veyra’s expression softened.
’No, little one. You need only accept the bond.’
"Alright."
She placed her little hand against the glowing sigil.
"I accept you, Veyra."
The world fell silent.
A silver thread of light stretched between Seyra’s palm and Veyra’s forehead. It shimmered once, twice, before flowing into Seyra’s hand like a river returning to its source.
The sigil divided into countless tiny sparks, they circled Seyra in a magnificent dance, weaving around her arms and shoulders before disappearing into the depths of her violet eyes.
For the briefest instant, something stirred within her. Something vast and ancient.
Then the stream returned to its bed, the golden leaves drifted gently to the ground, and the bronze bells settled back upon their branches.
The magnificent veil of wind dissolved and the garden returned to its familiar quiet. Only Seyra and Veyra remained at the center of the fading silver circle.
Seyra looked down at her hands..
"...That’s it?"
Veyra blinked.
’What do you mean?’
"Where’s the dramatic transformation? The glowing clothes? The divine crown? The heavenly announcement? Shouldn’t there be at least one thunderclap?"
Veyra stared at her in disbelief.
’You just witnessed a sacred contract blessed by the Twin Divine Dragons. The entire estate may have felt the disturbance!’
"I hoped it would be like power rangers!"
Veyra’s ears twitched.
’...What kind of warriors are these?’
"The coolest kind!"
Seyra turned and began marching toward the garden entrance, swinging her little arms dramatically.
"A group of handsome warriors, each wearing a different color of sacred armor. They raise their weapons, shout their battle cries, and pose together before vanquishing an army of monsters!"
Veyra stared at her.
’They pose?’
"Of course! How else would their enemies know they’re important?"
The Divine Guardian fell silent. Seyra continued walking, apparently satisfied with her explanation, after a moment, Veyra followed saying,
’...That sounds like a scam.’
"They’re sacred warriors who protect the world!"
Veyra sighed and followed her beneath the cedar arches.
Above House Veyrath, the final silver sparks vanished into the evening sky.
The Guardian of Air had chosen her contractor, and the little girl had gained her first divine bond and somewhere beyond the mortal realm, six ancient Guardians had felt the disturbance.
The first contract had been formed and the story of the Unwritten Daughter had finally begun to change.