"Hello. I am System #233," said a hollow voice as a pale sphere rolled off the low shelf and hit the floor.
Emmie stomped on it with a socked foot and giggled. "You talk funny."
System: Welcome, Temple Owner Candidate. Bind to activate.
Emmie dug a yellow talisman from the pile of offerings, held it up like a coin, and barked, "You sell cookies?"
System: Offering accepted. Activation requires signature. Please place talisman on core.
Emmie slapped the talisman onto the sphere. It blinked and unspooled ribbons of light that made the room smell faintly of old incense and printer ink. A list of prompts floated in the air like a cheap advertisement.
Emmie squinted. "You give money? Food? Pets?"
System: Tasks and rewards are issued upon binding. Rewards include land, funding, permanent skills, and temple-grade artifacts. Please select one primary reward.
Emmie tapped a line with a grubby finger. "I want food."
System: Food-summon skill unavailable. Random skill spin engaged. Please accept.
Emmie yanked the talisman off. "You can't make me pick anything."
System: Binding requires consent. Initiating negotiation protocol.
Emmie crossed her arms. "I can take it or smash it."
System: Smashing will void all offers.
Emmie clicked her tongue. "Then haggle, robot."
"What's the worst you can do?" she asked the quiet room. Her question landed like a dare.
System: Penalty is removal of binding. Reward pool resets. Spin will execute in three... two... one.
"Stop!" Emmie shouted and lunged to cover the sphere
