Asuriel sat on the cement in the mansion's expansive gardens, her back leaning against the side of the beautiful marble fountain that marked the courtyard's center. Kismet lay peacefully beside her, and Vaerion sat on a bench nearby with his legs crossed and a bitter expression on his face.
She held the leather book that Elara had left her in one hand; in the other, she had Fatebinder in a firm but steady grasp.
When she and Vaerion finally decided to open the book, they discovered all the pages were blank except the first one. In handwriting that wasn't Elara's – Asuriel could only assume was either her birth mother's or father's – there was an explanation of the book's purpose. The parchment used to bind it was cursed, allowing her to use the Ink of Creation without fear of her magic going out of control.
Vaerion suggested she try to experiment with her newfound powers to grow more comfortable using them. He wanted to do it alone with her, but Kismet wouldn't allow it.
