The morning sun slipped quietly through the small window, spilling gold across the wooden floor.
Elowen stirred.
She blinked slowly, her hazel eyes adjusting to the light as she pushed herself up from her bed. For a moment, she simply sat there, listeningto the soft rustle of leaves outside, to the distant chatter of villagers beginning their day.
Then she smiled.
"Pippin…"
She hopped off the bed, bare feet padding softly against the floor as she rushed out the door.
The garden behind the cottage was still covered in dew, each blade of grass sparkling under the early sun. And right in the middle of it.
"There you are!"
A small pig looked up, snorting softly.
Elowen ran straight to him and threw her arms around his round little body, giggling as he wiggled in protest.
"I missed you," she said, hugging him tighter. "Did you miss me too?"
"Snort."
"I knew it!"
She pulled back, her short auburn hair catching the light as she beamed. Without waiting another second, she grabbed his tiny front legs and spun slightly in place, laughing as he squealed.
"Let's play!"
And so they did.
They ran through the garden, chasing each other between patches of flowers and uneven stones. Elowen tripped more than once, but she only laughed, brushing dirt off her dress as Pippin trotted proudly ahead like he'd won some grand race.
Time felt slow. Peaceful.
Safe.
"Pippin, wait !"
A sudden flash of light exploded between them.
"Ah !"
A sharp force pushed Elowen backward, knocking her off her feet. She hit the ground with a soft thud, the breath leaving her lungs as the world spun.
For a moment, everything went white.
Then Silence.
"El… Pippin…?" she called weakly, blinking as her vision cleared.
She pushed herself up, heart pounding, and looked around.
The garden was the same.
The sun still shone.
But something felt… wrong.
"Pippin?" she called again, louder this time. "Where are you?"
A small shape stood a few steps away.
Still.
Unmoving.
Relief flooded her face. "Pippin!"
She ran toward him but stopped.
"…Why aren't you moving?"
The pig didn't respond.
Didn't snort.
Didn't wiggle.
Didn't do anything at all.
Elowen hesitated, her small hands curling into fists. "…Pippin?"
And then
A voice echoed.
[System initializing…]
She froze.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't soft.
It was… inside her head.
[Compatibility confirmed.]
Elowen's breath hitched.
"…W-Who said that?" she whispered, turning in a slow circle.
There was no one there.
Only her.
And
[Host identified: Elowen Evercrest.]
Her heart skipped.
Evercrest…?
She had never heard that name before.
[System successfully bound.]
A pause.
Then, almost casually—
[Hello, Host.]
Elowen's eyes widened.
"…Pippin?"
The pig's head tilted.
And for the first time
It spoke.
[Correction: I am not "Pippin."]
A brief pause.
[…However, that designation is acceptable.]
Elowen stared at him, her mouth slowly falling open.
The world she knew—quiet mornings, simple days, a small garden—
cracked apart in an instant.
[Beginning tutorial.]
And just like that everything changed.