Charter 2: In Search Of Truth

Calcium stood before the dead old man, feeling the tremors running down her spine and into her arm where the tattoo pulsed. She had just completed her first mission, one of many she would undertake, but it was so unlike anything she had expected.

Her palm, which had that strange magical mark on it, still glowed, as if he was still there. A deep sigh. Calcium looked at the old man, his eyes were closed, but there was something in them that made her doubt what she had done. Was he… content? Or had he simply fulfilled his destiny as he should have?

"I can't just leave this like this," she thought, as if the decision had come to her on its own. "What should I do with this knowledge?"

The tablet had disappeared from her palm, but his story remained in her mind. She couldn't throw it away. It wasn't just a memory. She saw that his life was full of pain, regret, loss. But it was his story that gave her this strange power, which was now her own.

The system was silent. She made no signals, gave no new instructions, but her hand still felt that strange warmth, as if she had just pulled something alive out of that death.

After briefly welcoming the silence of the night, Calcium looked around. The alley was empty, but she couldn't help but feel that someone was watching her. There were shadows far down the street, and while there was no immediate threat, something inside her told her to be on guard.

"What if someone notices?" Calcium glanced at her palm again. The tattoo was still there, only now it glowed a faint blue.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from around the corner. A woman, walking quickly, dressed in a simple but elegant dress, as if she had no interest in the world around her. But her eyes, yellow and slightly sinister, immediately caught her attention.

She stopped when she saw the old man, with his eyes closed, and seemed to understand what had happened.

Calcium sat up straight. It wasn't that the woman looked dangerous, but there was something in her expression that suggested unusual strength.

– You… what did you do to him? – Her voice was soft, but there was an underlying threat in it.

Calcium felt her palm throb slightly again, as if the tattoo were responding to the woman's presence. She couldn't shake the feeling that something important in her journey was just beginning.

– He was old. And his time had come. –Calcium replied, trying not to let the worry show in her voice. – What do you want?

The woman looked her over carefully, then stepped closer, but not threateningly.

–You don't understand what you just did. This man was part of what is called 'unstoppable fates.' You somehow disrupted the course of his life. You didn't just record his story, you became part of it.

Calcium felt her heart skip a beat.

– I didn't... I didn't do anything wrong. I just did the job.

– You don't understand. These powers are dangerous, especially for someone like you. – The woman smiled softly. – You have a gift, but you don't know how to control it yet.

Something inside Calcium clicked. She was angry, but at the same time, her intuition told her that the woman was telling the truth. She couldn't just ignore her words. Even if her instincts told her to stay away, there was no turning back from this meeting.

The woman continued.

– I can't help you right now, of course, but if you want to understand your power, you need to be careful. You are not alone in this world, and there are those who will hunt you.

Calcium felt her palm begin to glow more and more, but she clenched it into a fist.

– Who are you? Why should I trust you?

The woman bowed her head slightly, her yellow eyes flashing.

– I can't say that I am your ally, but I know that you will not be safe. – She took a step back.– But you can find answers. If you want. If you can survive in this world.

With that, she melted into the night shadows, disappearing as suddenly as she had appeared. Calcium stood in silence, puzzled and even more worried.

Quest completed.

Profession: Tattooist of Stories.

Reward: 10 gold coins. +10 mana. Experience point.

Spent: 1 unit of energy.

"She's right. I can't stop. And I can't believe in coincidences. I have to find out more."

With every step, Calcium felt her life changing. This first experience was the key to something much greater, and despite her fear, she could not give up on the path that was just beginning.

A few days had passed since Calcium received her tattoo and completed her first task. But her life had not become easier. On the contrary, the world around her began to seem much more complex and dangerous than she could ever imagine.

The wind whistled in the empty streets of the city, where she hid from prying eyes. She had time to learn caution. Trying not to attract attention, Calcium chose one of the most secluded areas to hide from prying eyes. She took a job in a small shop that sold magical items and amulets, since this was the best place to not attract unnecessary interest, although it was here that she also hoped to learn more about her power.

Calcium sat behind the counter, endlessly sorting through magical artifacts, trying to drown out the thoughts of what had happened to her tattoo. Sometimes she tried to contact the system, but no new tasks came. Everything was quiet, but it was this silence that disturbed her.

Every time she touched something ancient, old, with her palm, her tattoo seemed to respond to it.

Her hand began to pulsate, and Calcium felt how all the energy in her body was concentrated in this small area of skin, as if she could write down any story, even if no one asked her.

"If this is a force that can change lives ... Why do I feel like all this is just the beginning?" – she thought, pressing her tattooed palm to the cold glass of the display case.

But her thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected crash. A man flew into the door of the store, breaking the glass. It was a young man in a cloak, with hands covered in ulcers and burns.

A desperate fire burned in his eyes, but he could barely stand on his feet. As if his whole life was in danger.

– Can you help me?– his voice was strangled, and he was obviously losing strength.

Calcium assessed his condition, unable to ignore the pain and fear that emanated from him. She didn't yet know who this man was, but something in his voice made her heart stop. Perhaps now she was faced with something that would change her path.

– Who are you? – she asked, coming closer despite her wariness. – What happened?

The man looked up with difficulty and exhaled, panting:

– I'm being followed… They're watching me. I don't know what to do. My story… it's dangerous for me and for everyone who finds out about it. I… I have to hide. Save me!

// To be continued like and save