Charter 7: Escape From The Night

Night shrouded the city in damp darkness as Calcium and Elmar stepped out onto the deserted streets. The air was heavy, as if saturated with an invisible anxiety. Calcium walked confidently, but inside she was seething.

"The system is hiding some information… Why? What is it not wanting to show me?"

She checked her mana reserves:

[Character Status]

Name: Calcium

Profession: Story Tattooist (Level 2)

Mana: 72/100

Active effects: Mild anxiety (minor decrease in concentration).

"Nonsense. The main thing is not to panic."

She took out the map and looked at the route to Lorden again.

–We need to get out of the city before dawn. –she said, putting the scroll away. –The sooner we get to the ruins, the better.

Elmar chuckled: –You say that as if you're confident that we won't be stopped.

Calcium chuckled, not looking at him.

–If anyone gets in our way, I'll just write them into a new history.

[Warning: Using the tablet to change history may attract the attention of unnamed forces.]

She froze. "What?.. What other unnamed forces?"

But the system added nothing else.

–Are you okay?– Elmar asked.

Calcium took a deep breath: –Full. Let's move.

And at that moment, the darkness behind them stirred. A figure in a long cloak slowly emerged from the alley. The face was hidden in shadow, but something about his posture made Calcium tense up.

–You're delving too deeply into the past a low voice said.

[New event detected: Unknown Stalker.]

Calcium felt a chill run down her spine.

"Someone already knew we were going to Lorden. And they weren't going to let us through just like that."

Calcium froze, staring at the cloaked figure. The feeling of unease was growing, but she forced herself to remain calm.

[Analyzing enemy…]

Error: Data unavailable.

"What do you mean, unavailable?" flashed through her mind. The system almost always gave at least basic information about the people she encountered. And now, nothing.

Elmar also tensed up, his hand slowly reaching for the dagger hidden under his clothes.

–Who are you? –Calcium asked firmly.

The stranger did not move from his place: –The one who warns. You are walking down a path that is better left untouched.

[Hidden event: "Voice from the past" has been activated.]

Calcium gritted her teeth: –I will figure it out myself, thank you for your concern.

She took a step forward, and at the same moment the stranger's shadow stirred. The darkness beneath his feet seemed to stretch, becoming alive, and the air around him vibrated.

[Warning! Magical anomaly detected!]

"Excellent. This is not just a person." Elmar, sensing something was wrong, grabbed the dagger more comfortably.

–We have to go. –he said quietly.

But Calcium looked straight at the stranger:

–You're trying to scare me, but I need to move forward. If you want to stop me, try.

The shadow shuddered, and the figure finally stepped closer, raising its head slightly. Two bright yellow eyes flashed for a moment under the hood.

–Then be prepared to pay the price.–And at that moment the shadow rushed forward.

[Fight has begun!]

Objective: Survive and escape.]

A shadow slid forward like an ink stain, spreading across the pavement. Calcium stepped back sharply, and Elmar drew his dagger, ready to attack.

[Fight has begun]

Opponent: ???

Status: Unknown

Objective: Survive and escape.

"Damn. The system can't even detect him."

Calcium clenched her palm, and her tattoo glowed. Options flashed through her mind.

[Available skills:]

— Create Tablet (60 mana)

— Read Hidden Texts (10 mana)

— Historical Record (30 mana)

"I need more information."

–Read Hidden Texts! –she mentally ordered.

Light symbols flickered around the stranger for a second, but then went out, as if something had suppressed them.

[Error! Data hidden by a higher-level power.]

"Excellent. This is definitely not a simpleton."

The shadow moved forward again, and Calcium barely managed to jump back.

–Calcium! –Elmar rushed forward, his dagger cutting through the air, but the blade passed through the enemy as if through water.

–Useless! He is intangible!– she shouted.

[Warning! The influence of an unknown force is suppressing your magic.]

"Damn it!"

The stranger raised his hand, and long dark ribbons burst from his fingers, writhing as if they were alive. They rushed towards Calcium, and she instinctively darted to the side, but one of them grazed her shoulder. A sharp pain pierced her body. As if something had torn out part of her strength.

[Loss: 15 mana.]

–Enough! – she cried out, clenching her palm. –Creating the tablet!

A blue light burst from her hand, forming a small tablet.

"Let this story be about our escape!"

The tablet trembled, and suddenly their surroundings changed. The shadow no longer moved. Everything froze. Time seemed to stretch.

[History recorded.]

[New entry: Escape from the night.]

–Run! –Calcium cried.

She grabbed Elmar's hand and they ran away, while the magic of the tablet held the enemy.

"I don't know who you are yet… but I will find out."

A hoarse laugh sounded behind her.

–You can't change all of history…

But Calcium wasn't listening anymore. She knew one thing – Lorden kept a secret worth fighting for.

Calcium and Elmar didn't stop until they were out of sight of the city. The night air whipped her face, her lungs burned from running so fast, but inside she felt relief.

[Event completed: "A Voice from the Past."]

Result: Successful escape.

Reward: +50 exp.

New status: Attention of mysterious forces (unknown consequences).

She gritted her teeth, thinking, "They won't finish. This stranger… he didn't just warn. He threatened."

Elmar walked next to her, breathing heavily: –Do you realize that we just encountered something… abnormal?

Calcium nodded, feeling the tension drain away.

–Yes. And I'm sure he's connected to Lorden.

She glanced ahead—the road went deep into the old forest, straight to the ruins of the city. The night had not yet given up its positions, but somewhere on the horizon, the east was already beginning to brighten.

[Mission objective updated.]

Reach Lorden and find out what happened to the city.]

Calcium looked at her hands. The tattoo on her palm shimmered slightly, and inside she felt tired from using magic.

"I need more power. If such encounters are repeated, I will not be able to simply run away."

Elmar came closer, looking at her suspiciously: –How did you do it? Was it a spell?

She wondered if she should tell him about the system.

"There is no point now. I myself do not yet understand all its capabilities."

–Just one of my tricks, I am a little fascinated by magic. – she answered evasively.

He narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

–Okay. Let's at least rest a little before the road.

Calcium nodded, but her thoughts were far away.

"Lorden. There is something important in this place. And it seems that someone does not want me to know this." She lay down on the grass, looking up at the night sky. Secrets lay ahead, and it was too late to retreat now.

The darkness over the forest was beginning to thin, but morning had not yet come into its own. The air was cool, smelling of damp earth and pine needles. Calcium settled down by the fire, watching Elmar check the blade of the dagger.

She felt how tired she was pulling herself towards sleep, but her consciousness did not allow her to switch off. Her thoughts revolved around the mysterious stranger and the words thrown out at the end.

"You cannot change the whole story."

// To be continued like and save.