Lewis lingered at the edge of the glass display case, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, eyes fixed on the neat rows of Beast Talismans. The sunlight slanted through the windows, casting each delicate rune and animal-shaped calligram in a soft, golden glow. Jeremiah watched as Lewis leaned closer, his brow furrowing as he traced the looping, unfamiliar symbols beneath each card.

"Stars," Lewis murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "You weren't kidding, Jeremiah. These are… something else." He glanced up, his skepticism from earlier faded into shy curiosity. "What are they, exactly? I mean—" He paused, scratching at the nape of his neck, searching for words. "I've heard of magic scrolls before, but I always figured those were for fancy types up in Central, not regular folks."

Jeremiah smiled, sliding around the counter to join him. He opened the case with a practiced flick, careful not to disturb the neat rows. The faint scents of wax and parchment mingled with the sharper tang of ink and something wild, like fur after rain.

"They're called Beast Talismans," Jeremiah explained, selecting a few for display. He placed them on a velvet mat, each one humming faintly in the quiet. "Think of them as mini-magic scrolls, but each one's crafted with a little help from the animals here. Every talisman holds a touch of what makes its creature special." He lifted one of the talismans. On its surface was a runic calligram in the shape of a cat curled up under bright sunbeams. "This one is called Cat Nap. This kind of magic will drastically increase the efficiency of your sleep. It's simple, but with some creativity, they can all be really useful."

Lewis glanced at him, then back at the talismans. "This… this is amazing! Real magic items…" He hesitated, as if the glass was a barrier he wasn't meant to cross. "And… you're just… selling them? Anyone can just walk in and buy one?" His tone was thick with disbelief, and maybe a tinge of skepticism. "Even someone like me?"

Jeremiah set the card back in its place. "That's the idea. They're meant for everyone, Lewis. Especially folks who could use a little help."

Lewis put the talisman back with a careful touch, hesitating. "Huh. Magic for everyone…" He trailed off, his eyes still fixed on the array of talismans, but the light in them dimmed a little. "I dunno, Jeremiah. They're beautiful, and all, but —" He glanced away, rubbing his palms together.

Lewis's lips twisted into a crooked smile, but his gaze slid away. "But… I wouldn't know what to do with something like that. Magic's not supposed to be for people like me. Out here, you hear stories of folks getting a magic item or two in a lifetime, and that's supposed to be good luck. Maybe it's different in Central, but…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "Feels wrong, somehow. Magic is supposed to be for someone with real problems, not just… moving bricks and cleaning up messes."

He leaned forward, studying the neat, handwritten labels, the little stories tucked under each talisman. "They're pretty, though. Bet you could charge twice as much if you wanted."

Jeremiah's smile softened. "Not interested in gouging the people who need it most. If anything, I wish I could make more of them. Maybe someday, I'll find a way."

Lewis chuckled, relaxing by degrees as he lingered beside the display. "Too bad there's not one for Maddie," he said, glancing out the window into the courtyard, where Maddie rested on her branch, watching them. "After what I saw her do in the courtyard, a bit of that plant magic would go a long way. Should have seen her help yesterday when I was fighting the roots under the paving stones. She's got a talent for it. Never seen vines move like that."

He shook his head, grinning to himself, then glanced at Jeremiah, hope flickering in his eyes. "Maybe next time, eh?"

Jeremiah chewed over Lewis's comment, the idea settling like a pebble in his shoe, insistent, impossible to ignore. Why couldn't he get a Beast Talisman from Maddie? He'd never really questioned it, assuming the contract he'd forged with the Tangled Lynx made attunement unnecessary — or maybe even impossible. But as he turned the question over, he realized that the System had never said contracts and attunements couldn't coexist. It was just… an assumption.

His mind started to buzz. He glanced at Lewis, who was still tracing the runic lines of the talismans, then out at the sun-dappled courtyard, where Maddie lay sprawled across her favorite branch, half-lidded eyes following the drift of sparrows.

"Actually, Lewis…" Jeremiah's voice was thoughtful, edged with a sudden spark. "Come with me. There's something I want to try."

Lewis blinked. "Now?" But Jeremiah was already moving, his stride purposeful as he slipped through the back door into the courtyard. Lewis, confused, trailed after.

Outside, the early afternoon heat shimmered over stone and moss. Jeremiah glanced around and nodded in appreciation at Lewis' work. Amani had cleared out the courtyard and made it useable, but it had still felt… wild. Like walking into a forest clearing. Under his groundskeeper's hands, the courtyard had transformed into something far more welcoming, with neat stone pathways and tidy trimmed plant life. It still had a wild feeling about it, but for only half a week's work, Jeremiah could understand why the QTM had rewarded Lewis so generously.

The heart of the courtyard was dominated by the old ash tree, gnarled branches reaching skyward, roots curling through the flagstones like a clutch of sleeping serpents. Jeremiah was almost certain the massive tree had grown even larger since moving in, even if that was ridiculous. Maddie lounged in its crook, her mottled coat dappled with green and gold shadows, eyes glinting with lazy suspicion as they approached.

She watched Jeremiah with a predator's stillness, tail swaying in slow arcs over the bark. Lewis shifted his weight uncertainly beside him, the soft scrape of boots on stone drawing Maddie's gaze. Jeremiah raised a hand in greeting, careful, calm.

"Hey, Maddie," he said, pitching his voice low and warm. "We want to ask you for a favor. Nothing major, I promise."

Maddie's ears flicked back. Her gaze narrowed, but she didn't bolt — not yet. Jeremiah drew a slow breath, centering himself as he reached for the delicate threads of his attunement sense. He remembered what had happened the last time he'd tried to force a connection — the raw backlash, the lashing panic in her mind, the sharp rush of alien emotions that had left both of them reeling. He would not make that mistake again.

He stretched his awareness out, not as a spear, but as an open palm. Not pushing. Just… knocking.

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The System chimed in his mind, crisp and precise:

——————❇——————

Warning: Contract detected with Target - Maddie (Tangled Lynx). Forming an Attunement will establish a secondary bond and require an Attunement slot. Proceed?]

——————❇——————

He hesitated only a moment, then pushed forward. Yes. He reached out, letting the feeling roll from him — an invitation, not a command. Gentle curiosity, respect, even a little apology.

Maddie's reaction was instant. Her ears flattened, her body tense. A low, warning hiss curled from her throat, the fur along her spine lifting. She remembered, as clearly as Jeremiah did, the clash of wills during their first meeting. The sudden, jarring invitation nearly broke the tenuous trust they'd managed to build as Jeremiah felt the attempted attunement warble and strain. Maddie's tail lashed, vines curling tight around the branch.

Lewis took an instinctive step back, uncertain, but Jeremiah didn't withdraw. He stood his ground, hands open at his sides, and spoke out loud as much for Maddie as for Lewis.

"It's okay, Maddie," he said softly. "I'm not going to force anything. Just… asking, that's all. If you don't want this, we stop. But I think it might let me make something special. For Lewis." He turned, gesturing to the man at his side, who still looked thoroughly lost. "Lewis has been working his tail off around here. I thought… maybe you'd like to help him, in your own way."

Maddie's growl softened, her eyes narrowing as she took in Lewis — his honest confusion, the dirt still crusted beneath his fingernails, the wary hope in his stance. The lynx's tail slowed, vines easing their grip on the bark.

Jeremiah let his presence press no further, holding his request in that silent, vulnerable space between them. He thought he might have miscalculated, that the old pain would outweigh any curiosity, when suddenly,

A feeling brushed the edge of his mind. Not the abrupt snap of a forced bond, but a subtle, reluctant shift, like a door easing open just enough to peer through the crack. Maddie's wariness didn't vanish, but the sharp edge dulled. He felt her skepticism, her grumpy suspicion. But also a flicker of grudging trust.

The System's voice chimed again, softer this time, almost pleased:

——————❇——————

Attunement formed:

Maddie - Tangled Lynx

Connection: Weak

——————❇——————

Jeremiah sucked in a breath, exhilaration and relief flooding his chest. He sent a ripple of gratitude through the new link, careful not to press too hard, letting Maddie set the pace.

"Thank you," he murmured, both aloud and in the quiet language of their bond. Maddie flicked her ear, snorted, and turned her face away as if embarrassed to have been caught caring.

Lewis watched the silent exchange, brow furrowed. "Jeremiah… what just happened?" He looked between Jeremiah and the lynx, wonder, and apprehension mingling in his gaze.

Jeremiah smiled, a little breathless. "Just made a new kind of agreement, I think. With Maddie's help, we might be able to make something new. Give me a moment."

Maddie's eyes met his again, the faintest glimmer of pride shimmering behind the wariness.

Jeremiah's focus slid inward, eyes glazing as the System's new entries unfurled across his mind. For a moment, he just stood there, turning over the feeling of Maddie's bond. Edgy, raw, alive with thorns and wild breath.

The menu shimmered into view, and the first words made him blink in surprise.

——————✴——————

〖Beast Talisman Shop〗

[Maddie] - [Tangled Lynx] - G Rank

[Quantum Marks]: 119

—✦—

Minor Floramancy

Rank: G

Keywords: Plant Magic, Utility, Nature

Description: "The tangle of wild roots answers the silent call of those who know their language."

Channel the subtle plant magic of the Tangled Lynx. For up to ten minutes, the user gains a minor affinity for plant magic and may cause small plants, vines, or roots within a ten-foot radius to grow, move, or entangle at will. These effects are subtle but limited only by the user's creativity. Cannot create plants where none exist.

Uses: 3

Requirements: Presence of living plant matter in the area.

Cost: 8

—✦—

Hunter's Camouflage

Rank: G

Keywords: Stealth, Survival, Defensive

Description: "Blend into the tangled green, and vanish from prying eyes."

The user's appearance subtly shifts, blurring colors and outlines to match the surrounding foliage, bark, or shadows. For up to one hour, the user gains greatly improved stealth in natural or overgrown environments, leaving behind almost no scent or tracks. Sudden movement or loud noise may break the effect early.

Uses: 1

Requirements: Must be used outdoors or in a location with moderate vegetation.

Cost: 7

—✦—

Silent Step

Rank: G

Keywords: Mobility, Stealth, Support

Description: "Where the lynx passes, not even leaves dare rustle."

For the next thirty minutes, the user's footsteps become utterly silent, even on dry leaves or brittle twigs. In addition, minor vibrations are muffled, making it much harder for creatures to detect the user by sound or tremors. Ideal for sneaking, hunting, or escaping pursuit.

Uses: 2

Cost: 5

—✦—

Tangle Ward

Rank: F

Keywords: Defense, Nature, Trap

Description: "No predator survives long without a good escape plan."

Creates a quick barrier of thorny vines or brambles around the user (or across a doorway/entrance) that lasts for five minutes or until broken. The barrier is dense enough to block small projectiles and as strong as braided rope. The effect is stronger and more persistent if there are natural vines or brambles nearby, but may still function (though weaker) by conjuring the plant material.

Uses: 3

Requirements: Can only be cast on natural surfaces or open ground. Must have an affinity for plant magic.

Cost: 15

——————✴——————

These talismans were nothing like the ones he'd crafted with Sissy or even Milo. Those had been, in their way, comfortable — soft magic for everyday troubles, quiet and steady, like the pets who inspired them. Maddie's were another breed entirely. Their descriptions seemed to pulse with restless energy, every line sharper, hungrier.

He scrolled through the entries, taking in their names and effects. Even the keywords felt untamed, the descriptions dripping with the promise of teeth, shadow, root, and briar.

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, Jeremiah thought, half-smiling. At the end of the day Sissy, Milo, and the puppies were domestic animals.

Maddie was a wild thing. A predator who'd carved out her place with tooth and vine. Of course, her "toolkit" would be about survival first, comfort a distant second. He found himself wondering what kinds of challenges these talismans were meant for, and what stories Maddie could tell — if only she spoke.

A nervous cough snapped him back. Lewis shifted from foot to foot, clearly anxious after witnessing the tense attunement. "Everything all right, Jeremiah? You look like you saw a ghost."

Jeremiah grinned, letting the unease fall away. "Better than all right," he said, voice steady. "Actually… let's see how this works." He flicked his attention through the System shop and selected Minor Floramancy, spending eight marks without hesitation.

For a heartbeat, nothing happened — then, with a faint shimmer, a talisman materialized in midair before him. Unlike the simple talismans he'd received from Sissy or Milo, this one seemed almost alive. The "paper" was thick, textured, almost like cured bark, and accented with intricate floral patterns at the edges. The runic calligram on its surface wasn't just inked, but seemed to be pressed in relief: a proud lynx kneeling before a single blossom, eyes narrowed with a hunter's focus.

Lewis's jaw dropped. He stared, awe and a touch of envy warring in his eyes. "Amazing…"

Jeremiah turned the talisman over, marveling at the cool, living feel of it against his skin. "Tell me about it," he echoed, wonder creeping into his tone.

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