Charter 3: It Was The Shadows

Calcium felt the tattoo on her palm respond to his words again, pulsing stronger and stronger. Instinctively, she placed her hand on the table, and a light, barely noticeable, flickered in her palm. This man's story—his fear, his pain, his desire to hide—was alive, it was here, right in front of her.

Unable to believe her feelings, Calcium felt her mind filling with his experiences, his desires. He was ready to give his life for the opportunity to remain safe. He was ready to hide his story, to hide his truth.

Task: Help a man hide from pursuers.

Calcium did not know who these pursuers were, but she felt that this case was important. Maybe it was not accidental. Like her meeting with the woman who warned her about hidden threats. Everything was starting to come together.

– Okay, I will help you. – she said, not giving herself the right to doubt. – But you must tell me everything. Who is hunting you?

The man exhaled heavily and began to speak quietly.

– These… these are not people, not really. They… they are called "Shadows". They hunt those who know something. And I… I learned too much. I hid the truth, tried to forget, but they do not let me go.

Calcium sighed, her palm began to pulsate again, and she felt that she could not retreat. Her path was now connected with this man. She needed him to understand more about her power, and maybe about who or what was behind all these threats.

– We are leaving here. – she said. – You will not stay here.

The man nodded, rising with difficulty from the floor. He was ready to follow her. She felt her hands begin to shake. Everything was so uncertain, everything was happening too quickly, but now she knew one thing: she could not leave him.

She realized that her journey was not just a search for gold or power. It was a path where she had to make decisions that could cost her life. And now she was ready to take that risk.

Not knowing what was waiting for her ahead, Calcium took a step to lead the man out into the dark streets of the city. Her tattoo glowed brighter and brighter, and her heart - more than ever - was full of determination.

Calcium quickened her steps, pressing the man to her, hiding him behind her body, as if trying to eclipse his existence. It seemed that right now she realized that her tattoo was not just magic, but something much more important. It was connected to what was happening around her, to what she did not fully understand. The feeling grew, like an invisible shadow, ready to swallow her.

The city at night was quiet, but uneasy. The streets, seemingly empty, were full of hidden threats. There was a strange silence in the air that made everything else more distinct, even the slightest rustling echoed in her ears. She quickened her pace, trying not to attract attention. Her heart was heavy with the feeling that something was wrong here, that they were not alone. And that there were ears and eyes everywhere.

– You said that they are called Shadows… what does that mean? – Calcium asked, trying to distract the man from his fear as much as possible, hoping that the conversation would help them hold out a little longer.

The man pursed his lips, looking ahead. His face was contorted with pain and fear, and Calcium felt her tattoo respond to his emotions. She could tell he was having trouble speaking, but his words were becoming more important with each passing moment.

– I don't know how to explain it… They're not human, exactly. You might not notice them, because they seem to dissolve into the shadows. Their eyes, their gaze, everything is hidden, but their presence is felt. When you encounter them, you understand that they are not simply looking for you. They are trying to take your memory, your history, as if it belonged to them.

Calcium slowed her pace, her breathing became deeper.

– Take your memory… – The phrase, something about it left an unpleasant feeling in her chest.

It was all connected to her own power, to the tattoo. It couldn't be a coincidence. These Shadows, as they were called, could probably learn something about her gift. - You say that they take away memories. But what do they want from you? Why you? - she continued, trying to keep the conversation going.

He fell silent, his eyes dimmed. There was some kind of inexpressible pain in his eyes, something heavy that pulled him deep into himself.

– I... I was part of the same circle. We studied ancient texts, artifacts, magic... I was with them for too long, and one day I discovered something I should not have seen. It was them, the Shadows. They are hunting us. Those who know too much. And now they will not let me go until I forget everything. Until I forget what I saw. But I can't forget. I can't.

His words were full of despair, and Calcium felt her tattoo respond to his torment. She felt that his history, his pain had now become a part of her.

As if his experiences were intertwined with her power. And that tattoo on her palm was a key, and perhaps a curse, for everyone who came into contact with her.

They walked faster, avoiding alleys and following wider streets. But she could still feel invisible eyes watching them. They might not be visible, but their presence was keenly felt. A slight shiver ran down her spine as she caught a movement in the dark corners of the streets.

– Stay close to me. – she said, grabbing his hand. – We can't waste time.

They walked in the shadows, avoiding the lit streets, increasingly certain that their pursuers were close. Calcium noticed how her tattooed arm began to glow a little brighter as they entered deeper alleys. The pulsation was stronger, as if her tattoo was trying to find the source of the threat. And at some point, she realized – something was approaching.

It was the Shadows.

It wasn't just a feeling, it was reality. A misty figure appeared before them. Tall, almost unimaginable, its form seemed to stretch across the entire horizon, but no one could tell exactly where it ended. It was as if it were cut out of the night. And its eyes, yellow and ruthless, burned in the darkness like two fires.

– You shouldn't have interfered. – the voice sounded, as if the air itself swallowed the words, not letting them escape into reality.

Calcium clenched her fist, her tattoo responded instantly, but it was not enough.

The shadow stood before them, motionless as fog. It was not just a shadow, it was an entity, or perhaps several beings fused together.

– I will do everything to stop them. – Calcium whispered under her breath, but her fear was clear. She felt that this moment, this step, was decisive. It was impossible not to make a choice, it was impossible to turn away.

// To be continued like and save