The black mist exploded like a wave.
Not a fire explosion.
There was no heat.
But the air in the room suddenly felt heavy, as if gravity had changed in one second.
The masked man who had moved toward the desk stopped abruptly.
His hand almost touched the book.
But something held him back.
The mist flowing from the book page swirled around his arm like thin chains.
He tried to pull his hand back.
His movement halted in mid-air.
Lyra stared at that scene with sharp eyes.
"So that's what happens."
She murmured.
Kael still sat in his chair.
The pen in his hand had not moved again.
But one word was already written on the page.
One name.
The ink on the paper began to move by itself.
The letters Kael wrote changed slightly.
As if the book was... correcting them.
The mist in the room grew thicker.
The men standing in the corridor could no longer enter.
The doorway became an invisible boundary.
The masked man finally spoke again.
But his voice was not as calm as before.
"You don't know what you're doing."
Kael answered in a flat tone.
"Perhaps."
The mist swirled around the man's arm stronger now.
He tried to use the ring on his finger.
Faint light from that ring glowed.
The black mist trembled slightly.
But did not disappear.
Lyra observed this.
She spoke softly to Kael.
"The book is... binding him."
Kael did not look away from the page.
"For how long?"
Lyra shrugged.
"Depends on the artifact's rules."
The ink kept moving on the book page.
A new sentence emerged right below the name Kael wrote.
"Name accepted."
Several seconds later—
"Reader has used the first page."
Lyra sighed softly.
"Great."
She glanced at Kael.
"You just used something you don't even understand."
The mist in the room began to recede slightly.
But the masked man's hand was still held in the air.
He looked at Kael.
For the first time since appearing, his tone was not entirely casual.
"So that's how it works."
He laughed softly.
"That artifact writes contracts."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"It's worse than a contract."
She pointed at the book page.
"It's rules."
Kael finally closed the pen.
He looked at the writing on the page once more.
The name now looked clearer.
As if the ink had become part of the page.
The masked man finally managed to pull his hand back.
The mist binding him slowly disappeared.
He stepped back one pace from the desk.
Not hurried.
But clearly more cautious.
Lyra said in a light tone,
"I suggest you stop there."
The man looked at the book again.
Then looked at Kael.
"You know what's most interesting?"
He pointed at the book.
"Artifacts like that don't choose foolish people."
He paused for a moment.
"But they also don't choose cautious people."
Lyra sighed.
"He's trying to bait you."
Kael answered shortly.
"I know."
The mist in the room grew thinner now.
The street lamps outside the window became visible again.
The invisible boundary at the doorway began to weaken.
The masked man saw that change.
He smiled behind his mask.
"Seems the page's effect is not permanent."
Lyra immediately understood.
She turned to Kael.
"We have very little time."
Footsteps in the corridor began moving again.
The men outside were ready to enter at any moment.
The masked man walked backward toward the door.
But before leaving, he said one more sentence.
"You just drew the attention of many people."
He slightly tilted his head.
"And some of them are far more dangerous than us."
He turned and walked out of the corridor.
His footsteps slowly faded on the stairs.
Several seconds later—
the building fell silent again.
The mist in the room completely disappeared.
The book on the desk closed itself with a soft sound.
Lyra stared at Kael for quite a while.
Then said in a flat tone,
"Alright."
She pointed at the book.
"First bad news."
She raised one finger.
"That artifact is now clearly bound to you."
A second finger rose.
"Second bad news."
She pointed at the apartment door.
"You just made several organizations very interested in you."
Kael leaned back in his chair.
"And the good news?"
Lyra looked at the book again.
A thin smile appeared on her face.
"At least you're still alive."
She paused for a moment.
Then added,
"For now."