Beside him was a figure cloaked in a flowing mantle of mist emerged, her presence calm yet formidable. Her skin bore the sheen of moonlit water, translucent and smooth, as though sculpted from a glacial spring. Her eyes shimmered with the quiet tenderness of deep lakes and the unpredictable fury of storms.
The third stood firm and unyielding, a presence carved from the heart of the earth. Her form was strong and statuesque, with moss draping over her broad shoulders like a ceremonial cloak. Her eyes, dark and steady, held the silence of ancient groves — deep, knowing, and enduring.
And the last shimmered faintly, hard to focus on, as if the wind itself had taken form. His figure shifted with every glance, hard to hold in place. His hair fluttered though there was no breeze, and his cloak billowed gently, stirred by invisible currents. His presence carried the scent of distant skies, and his eyes held the restlessness of gales and the freedom of open air — a guardian of the in-between, both nowhere and everywhere.
Evelyn folded her arms loosely.
Evelyn: "I see… your temper is as hot as ever, Ignis."
The fire spirit flared with offense.
Red figure (snorting): "Hah! I see your memory is still as bad as ever, little witch. It's not Ignis—it's Irfin."
He raised his hand again, fire crackling between his fingers. The water spirit sighed and touched his arm, and the flames died down with a sharp hiss.
Water Spirit: "She remembers well enough, Ignis—" pauses, a teasing glint in her eye, "—cough, I mean Irfin. You just never change."
Evelyn: "No, really, it's not my fault. It's his name's fault. Come on, Ignis sounded so much better. Why'd you have to pick Irfin anyway?"
Irfin scowled, sparks flickering at his temples.
Irfin: "Because Ignis was too common. I wanted something more refined. Regal. Mysterious."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "You mean pretentious."
The wind spirit laughed—light and melodic, like windchimes stirred by a breeze. His form shimmered, barely held together, hair flowing like mist.
Wind Spirit: "Still bickering like old times, I see. Little one, you haven't aged a day in sarcasm."
Evelyn gave her a fond nod. "And you haven't changed either, Aeros."
Aeros spun once in midair, his translucent robes billowing as though caught in an unseen current. "Of course not. Wind never settles."
Beside him, the earth spirit stood silent, unmoving. Moss covered her shoulders, and small flowers bloomed along her arms and collar. She opened her eyes slowly—deep and brown like fertile soil after rain.
Earth Spirit: "…It's been a long time, Little one."
Evelyn stepped forward, her voice softer.
Evelyn: "It has, Terra. You look… just the same."
Terra blinked slowly. "Earth does not shift so easily. But you… you feel different."
Irfin folded his arms with a snort.
Irfin: "She's weaker. No question about it."
Evelyn shot him a sharp look, but he only grinned.
Irfin: "Humph. How many times have I told you not to summon us all together?"
Evelyn: "Why not? They're not saying anything."
Water Spirit: "It's not that we never said anything—you just never listened."
Aeros, the wind spirit, drifted in with a teasing sigh.
Aeros: "Honestly, little one, you're as stubborn as the mountains and twice as reckless. At least Terra listens when I scold her."
Terra gave a deep, quiet chuckle, moss still clinging to her shoulders.
Terra: "That's because I don't start fires every time someone summons me."
Irfin rolled his eyes. "Hah! That's because you're all boring."
Evelyn stared at them—at the elemental embodiments of nature itself.
The mighty guardians. The timeless spirits.
One rolling his eyes like a sulking child, another brushing moss from her shoulders with calm dignity. The water spirit quietly chiding like a weary elder sister, and the wind spirit spinning in lazy circles above them, clearly enjoying the chaos.
Evelyn blinked, her arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Evelyn (deadpan): "...How did any of you end up as the mighty elemental spirits again?"
Aeros smirked, wind curling playfully around Evelyn's hair.
Aeros: "Because we're fabulous."
Irfin smirked, flames flaring at his fingertips.
Irfin: "Because i burn brighter than anyone else."
The water spirit, Neris just sighed.
Neris: "Don't ask questions you already regret."
Terra: "Because the world needed balance… and chaos, apparently."
Evelyn shook her head slowly.
Evelyn: "...I'm starting to think I was better off summoning one at a time."
All four spirits answered at once—too loud, too fast, and completely in character:
Irfin: "Coward!"
Neris: "Wise."
Aeros: "Boooring~!"
Terra: "Finally, some sense."
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Evelyn (muttering): "And to think I prepared a summoning circle for this."
Irfin narrowed his eyes, arms crossed again, a flame twitching behind his ear like an irritated spark.
Irfin: "So, why'd you suddenly remember us after eighty-nine years, huh? Got bored of playing queen in some stone castle?"
He crossed one leg over the other, his tone laced with sarcasm. Then, without waiting for her answer, he jabbed a finger toward her.
Irfin: "Let me tell you beforehand—I'm not doing a damn thing without a contract."
Neris (softly): "Me neither."
Aeros: "No freebies this time~"
Terra (nodding): "Even the earth doesn't move without purpose."
Evelyn only lifted an eyebrow, calm and amused.
Evelyn: "I knew you'd say that. That's why…"
She stepped back slightly and gestured to the intricate pattern etched into the earth—now softly glowing, threads of golden, blue, green, and red light weaving through the circle like veins.
Evelyn (coolly): "This time, I made a contractual spirit circle."
All four spirits turned their gaze toward the ground.
The once decorative-looking pattern now pulsed with power and precision—ancient bindings layered into each symbol, each quadrant woven with the essence of their own elemental realms.
A moment of silence hung in the air.
Then—
Terra: "She wasn't playing this time."
Neris: "The balance is perfect."
Aeros (grinning): "Ooh… tricky little witch. I like it."
Irfin (clicking his tongue): "Hmph. Fine. Whatever."
The circle pulsed once—bright and blinding—before settling into a steady glow. But the power didn't sink into the ground.
It moved to her.
One by one, the spirits stepped forward— to bind themselves to her.