I wince, the strange voice both beautiful and incredibly unpleasant. It feels like my brain is being tickled while my ears are being stabbed. “I’d very much like to be your friend but we can’t talk like this. Can you speak with less…” I don’t quite know how to say it.

Thankfully, the lueorale understands me. “oH!” Its wings vibrate, moving fast enough to become a blur as it turns a bright yellow. I believe that color represents embarrassment. Or an apology. They communicate visually as well as verbally. “Better?”

I sigh at the voice that reminds me of wind chimes. “Much better. Thank you, little friend.”

“Welcome, big friend!” Yellow to pink. “Now, now!” A chair materializes beneath the lueorale, a small golden throne with red cushioning. It sits with its legs crossed, folding its tail feathers and tucking its wings against its back. Pink to blue now. The color that represents calm. “Shall we begin, summoner?”

The unbridled cheer is gone, replaced by placid rationale. It seems I’ve made a good impression but emotion will not sway my prospective companion’s judgment. A relief, really. It’d be a problem if a few embellishments and a good spread was enough to trick it. Geneva, bring me one of the chairs.

My succubus obeys, setting the chair in front of the circle before retreating without a word. I’ve already ordered her not to get involved. The others are doing their best to ignore us and continue enjoying themselves. A contract is between a summoner and an elemental. There is no room for third parties.

“We shall. My name is Lourianne but most call me Lou.”

“Lou~ My traveling name is Rolling Hills Beneath a Sky of Dreams That Rains Water of the Heart.” It giggles at my expression. “I have the shortest name in my family, hehe.”

“I see…do you want me to call you that…every time?”

“Hehe, no, no. My name is the title of the story that is myself. Titles can be translated, as I have done for you to understand me, and they can be abbreviated. I leave it to you.”

I’m suddenly faced with an expectant gaze. Is this some sort of test? Ah, I’m not the greatest at naming things. “How about Rolly?”

“Roooolly.” The lueorale stares at me for a long moment. Then it shrugs. Actually shrugs. “Refreshingly simple. My last summoner heaped all manners of titles upon my head. Which can be fun but it gets boring after a few journeys.”

“I’m assuming you mean journeys to other realms.”

“Mm!”

“Have you been on many?”

Rolly kicks its legs like a child. “I’m the youngest and I’ve only started my journeys recently. Only have seventy under my wings.”

Many etiquette classes and practices with my father allow me to keep my expression neutral. Seventy, it says, like that’s a little. This creature has first-hand experience of seventy-different realms and speaks of it as if it’s nothing. “Well, you’ve got a lot of journeying left in you.”

“Mm! Which brings me to the contract.”

Oh, good. I was a little worried that Rolly would make small talk for the rest of the night.

“I’ve visited this realm before so I know about humans. You don’t smell like them.”

I smile ruefully. “I’m not human, no.”

“Mm, you smell like you’re going to live a long time.”

Eh? What does a long life smell like?

“That means I’d be stuck with you for a long time.” More kicking. “So you have to make sure it’s worth it! I don’t want to be stuck with a bore for years and years.”

I try not to be offended. “I like to think I’m not a bore. Besides, I have plans.”

“Oh?”

“What if I told you you could travel the realms without forming another contract?”

Rolly freezes. Then the creature bolts up, flying towards me. Its outstretched hands hit an invisible barrier at the edge of the circle, the air shimmering where it touches and its wings beating so fast they make an audible hum. “Are you serious?”

“If you’re willing to wait.” Once I’ve explored this world, seeing the other realms is the next logical step. “It may take those years and years.”

Rolly laughs, switching to a bright yellow while twirling back to its chair. Not sure what that color means but the elemental is clearly excited. “We’ve got nothing but time! A realm traveler who wants to journey without the Guardian’s blessing. Interesting, very interesting! It’ll make a good story. But…it’s not enough.”

I stand up and grab one of the wineglasses. Rolly obligingly moves toward the opposite end of the circle, giving me plenty of space to set down the wine. Once I’ve retracted my hand from the circle, Rolly approaches and drops into the glass, treating the drink like a bath. The creature trills, yellow skin shifting to a deep brown.

“Good stuff?”

“Yeeeeahhh.”

“The food is just as good.”

One of Rolly’s closed eyes opens a fraction. “And what will you ask of me for all this bounty?”

I chuckle. “I ask for your company and your loyalty.”

“Sounds simple but details? From the looks of this circle, I can tell you know enough about my kind to know I won’t fight for you. And I’d rather not be a jester again. I love theater as much as anyone else but entertaining people night after night gets a little exhausting.”

“You don’t need to fight. I may ask you to put on a performance every now and again, within reason. Mainly, I want you for your knowledge. I and my companion need training. I’d also like your opinion on a few matters I’m researching, including other summons.”

“You’re quite greedy for elementals. Are you one of those? The kind that can’t get along with their own race and makes friends with anything that’ll have them? I’m not judging. It’s all fine as long as you aren’t having conversations with things that don’t talk back.”

“I get along with humans just fine. There’s two behind us.”

“Are there? Oh, yes. Very nice.”

I preen as if I’m the one being complimented. “You have an appreciation for female beauty, huh?” As expected of my circle. Drew a perfect companion. “We should compare notes.”

“Eh, you need a little more experience. I like ‘em with at least six arms.”

Wow. What would that even…a conversation for later. “You can show me some time. Over a few very strong drinks.”

“Hehe. So? Equal partnership?”

The casual question holds a hint of a demand. I want to oblige but I can’t. Suppose it’s time to be a little unfriendly. “Subordinate contract.”

“Lou, you meanie. I thought you said you wanted to be my friend.”

“I do…as long as I’m in charge.”

“Hm? Are you one of those? A top? Like to crack the whip and make people squirm? You should keep that stuff in the bedroom.”

I swallow a laugh. “More of the opposite. Well, suppose it depends on the mood? Either way, the bedroom’s got nothing to do with this. Come on. Be my subordinate. I’ll treat you well.”

“That’s what they all say.”

“Say your conditions. I’m not unreasonable.”

“Hm. No ordering me to harm myself or others.”

I frown. “I know that you can’t trust every summoner but I want you to know that I’m the kind of person who’s offended you had to say that out loud. Of course I won’t. Next.”

The brown gains traces of silver. That wasn’t in the record. “You must care for me. Food, drink, lodging, and protection.”

“Nope on the protection. You’re more than capable of protecting yourself.”

“You’d let a delicate maiden like me brave this harsh world alone?”

Oh, she’s a girl. Or at least claiming to be one. I’m not sure how to tell. “You won’t. I’ll protect you but I’m not making it a condition of the contract. The last thing I want is to be rendered to ash by the Guardian because you injured yourself flying into a tree.”

“I wouldn’t!”

“Just an example.” I have the distinct feeling she’s pouting despite her face being nothing more than swirling colors. Still hard to look at without feeling dizzy. “Anything else?”

“No keeping me locked up. I journey to explore and see new things. I don’t want to be chained to your side.”

“That’s a bit of a problem…how about a vacation? One month every year you can do what you want. I get to say when.”

“Ehhh? What’s the point if I can’t choose myself? What if something interesting is happening and I miss it?”

“Like I said, I’m not unreasonable. If I don’t need you, I’ll let you run off. You don’t even have to take the full month off in one go. But, if I need you, I need you. I can’t compromise on that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be forming a contract with an elemental.”

“Cheh. You need to work on your trust issues.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

“Stingy summoner.”

“Any more conditions?”

“I want to record this journey! Everything about you! And I want to tell the story.”

That could be problematic. “Record what you want but no telling the story until I say.”

“What? What if you never give me permission?”

“I will but not now. It’d be problematic if too many people learned my secrets.”

“Hmm. Fine, but you can’t let anyone else tell your story.”

“It’s not like I can stop them…”

“Just members of my race. And those—" I wince at the sound Rolly makes. “Boring bastards. Most of their stories are stolen from us, you know. I’ve ten siblings they’ve stolen from.”

“I can do that.”

“…you promise you’re going to other realms?”

“Eventually.”

“…mm. Then, this is too good an opportunity to waste! You’ve got yourself a contract, Lou.”