Hiro’s hands were glued to the stone tablet, its green glow intensifying until the room seemed bathed in light. He gasped as a sharp, burning sensation shot through his palms. His attempts to pull away were futile; the tablet wouldn’t release him. Bck seal markings began to crawl out from the surface, twisting and spiraling over his hands and up his arms. The inky patterns moved with an almost sentient purpose, spreading across his chest, neck, and legs. He stared in shock as the intricate seals wove into arrow-like designs, covering his body completely.

  The light reached its peak, the seals now faintly pulsing with the same green glow. Hiro’s vision blurred, his body unable to withstand the overwhelming energy surging through him. His knees buckled, and he colpsed onto the bed. The st thing he saw before darkness consumed him was the tablet’s surface, now dull and inert.

  The next morning, Kaya walked into Hiro’s room, her usual calm demeanor repced with a growing sense of unease. She had knocked several times with no response. The sight that greeted her as she entered made her heart stop. Hiro y motionless on the bed, his skin faintly covered in seals that pulsed with a weak green glow. She rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she shook him gently.

  “Hiro? Hiro, wake up!”

  He didn’t stir. Panic rose in her chest as she shook him harder, her voice trembling. “Hiro, please wake up!”

  After what felt like an eternity, Hiro’s eyes fluttered open. He groaned, his vision swimming as he blinked at the worried face above him. “Kaya?” he murmured groggily.

  Relief flooded her features, and she sank to her knees beside the bed, pcing a hand on his forehead. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

  Hiro’s mind struggled to piece together the previous night. “The tablet... it was glowing,” he said slowly, his voice hoarse. “I touched it, and then... I don’t remember.”

  Kaya’s gaze shifted to the stone tablet on the dresser. She stood and approached it cautiously. Picking it up, she turned it over, her brow furrowing. The once vibrant crest on its back was gone, leaving behind a bnk piece of smooth, gray stone.

  “It’s... just a rock now,” she muttered, setting it back down. Her eyes returned to Hiro, who was trying to sit up. “You’re staying with me today. No arguments. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  Hiro wanted to protest but stopped when he saw the fear lingering in her expression. “Alright,” he said quietly.

  Kaya kept him indoors, assigning him small tasks to keep him occupied while she monitored him closely. Hiro swept the floor, helped with cooking, and even folded the younger children’s undry. Despite the normalcy of the chores, Kaya’s watchful gaze reminded him of the underlying tension. She barely left his side, her protective instincts heightened by the inexplicable events.

  By the end of the day, Hiro felt restless but didn’t dare compin. Kaya’s unease was contagious, and he found himself repying the events with the tablet over and over in his mind.

  The next morning, Kaya finally relented, allowing Hiro to step outside for some fresh air. “Stay in the garden,” she instructed firmly, her hazel eyes locking with his. “No wandering off. I’ll be watching.”

  Hiro nodded and stepped out into the sunlight, savoring the warmth on his skin. The garden was quiet, the gentle rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds providing a welcome contrast to the tension of the previous day. He wandered among the flowers, his mind still clouded with unanswered questions.

  A sudden movement caught his attention. From the trees beyond the garden, Chūta glided through the air, his small form cutting gracefully across the distance. The flying squirrel nded lightly on Hiro’s outstretched hand, chirping happily as if nothing had changed.

  Hiro smiled faintly, but the moment was interrupted by a sudden distortion in his vision. He froze, his heart pounding as a pulsating orange outline appeared around Chūta. The world seemed to tilt slightly, and then, as if from nowhere, a voice spoke in his mind.

  “Add Chūta as your summon?”

  The voice was ethereal and dylike, its tone calm yet commanding. Hiro’s breath caught in his throat. “What?” he thought, startled by the question. But the voice remained silent, waiting for his response.

  After a moment’s hesitation, Hiro answered in his mind. “Yes.”

  The voice returned, this time more resonant. “Summoning Link established.”

  The orange outline around Chūta fred brightly before fading away. Hiro stood there, his hand trembling slightly as he stared at the squirrel. Chūta chirped innocently, completely unaware of the surreal exchange that had just taken pce.