Charter 17: Expanse

Suddenly, a huge ancient door appeared in front of her, decorated with heavy engravings, and on these engravings, one could make out symbols familiar to her – these were the same symbols she had seen on her tattoo. They changed as if alive, casting a blue light.

The system activated again, but now her voice was... strange. Revived.

[Attention. The entrance to the forgotten world of magic]

[ Entry requires fulfillment of obligations. ]

[Sacrifice for new knowledge: The Inevitability.]

–The inevitability? – Calcium muttered, slightly startled. What does it mean? But she didn't have time to think.

The light from her tattoo became blinding, and the door shrank in a restraining manner, as if a living maze stood in front of her, demanding her personal participation. Something told her that there was something important behind that door. But it also became clear to her that this place would test her not only for strength, but also for her willingness to face the consequences that might be too hard for her.

A mysterious force squeezed her heart. In this world, she couldn't just be an observer. She was supposed to be a part of everything.

Her gaze was getting clearer by the second. There was more than just the unknown behind the door. There was something more there-some ancient knowledge, secrets of the world that she might need, but which could turn her life inside out.

Taking a deep breath, Calcium touched the door. She immediately felt her energy being transferred to her, as if the entire world inside the door was responding to her presence. The door swung open. And with it, a new world opened up.

Calcium stepped into the darkness outside the door, and at that moment, the world she knew turned upside down.

The fog around her was dissipating, revealing strange and bizarre structures that couldn't just be called buildings. Everything was intertwined, as if magic itself had created these shapes, refracting space. The floor was unstable, as if it were vibrating, and the air was filled with unearthly scents – a mixture of magic and something completely unfamiliar.

The system reacted again, but this time her voice did not sound like an ordinary notification, but like a whisper that spread through her mind, as if the very power of this world was alive, and she intended to talk to her.

[Warning: A new dimension of magic has been opened.]

[The commitment activation process is complete. Calcium is now becoming a part of this world. The limits of the old reality no longer exist]

Her heart skipped a beat. This meant that her abilities were no longer just related to her body and tattoo. She absorbed the magic of this world, becoming not just a part of it, but also a map by which she could navigate.

Calcium looked around. In these vague forms, she felt the breath of antiquity, as if the very magic of this world was waiting for her to reveal secrets that had been held for centuries. But what awaits her? What should she find here?

–Are you looking for knowledge, Calcium? – A voice rang out, and this time it wasn't part of the system. He was familiar. It was the whispering of a shadow that entered her mind, as if someone was standing behind her, but she couldn't see anyone.

Startled, Calcium instinctively grabbed her palm, her tattoo blinking in response to that voice. The very light that had engulfed her earlier was now in her control. She could control this world like a puppet, but...

– Who are you? Calcium whispered, feeling the life of this world shrink around her, forcing her to focus.

Silence. She felt her consciousness being freed from all restrictions, as if she was absorbing the magic of this place, exploring every element of it. After walking a few steps, she saw a giant crystal in front of her, like a polished diamond, which pulsed with blue light, just like her tattoo. He was not only an artifact, but also the key, most likely, to the very secrets that she was looking for.

Calcium came closer, and suddenly she felt her palm begin to throb even more than usual. Inside, all her thoughts merged into one thing – she understood that this place was certainly connected with her tattoo. The crystal wasn't just a source of power, it was her mirror. With every time she touched him, she felt doors opening in her mind, doors that lead to unprecedented knowledge.

She touched him.

At that moment, her body literally jumped with excitement, as if the whole world around her was shaking. The light from the crystal gushed inside, and Calcium absorbed it into herself. She felt her mind open up to this flood of knowledge. This crystal was the last step on the path she had chosen. Now she could see things that had previously been inaccessible. New horizons opened up before her, and each of them led into the unknown.

Her tattoo was responding to the knowledge she had gained. She began to change, now her light was even brighter, and her symbols became cooler, more complex and full of new energy flows.

[The magic of the world has been activated.]

Now she realized that her path had just begun. She knew that this was only the first test. The magic she absorbed opened up huge possibilities for her, but it all required sacrifices. This world was painful, and there was not only knowledge, but also danger. He burned out those who were not ready.

Calcium felt a gust of wind behind her, and this wind seemed to take her gaze into some alien world. She couldn't help but notice how her steps were now filled with even more confidence.

Her path became clearer and clearer.

Calcium stared into the crystal, which was now completely absorbed by her magic. The feeling that she was absorbing his light was gradually giving way to a cold shadow. The air around her grew thicker, as if her own power had begun to imprint itself on this world. She felt reality tremble from her presence, and she stood on the edge, ready to enter the unknown.

The tattoo on her palm spread at that moment. The drawing became more complex, snaking across her skin like a living thing. In its light, she saw not just symbols, but whole stories beginning to intertwine. They were so real that Calcium could feel their pain, their joy, their suffering. All these emotions were woven into her perception, and she couldn't separate them from herself.

–You're becoming a part of this world, Calcium. – The same voice said again. Don't think you're controlling him: –You're just following the path.

–What do you mean? – Her voice was hoarse, as if she had just woken up from a long sleep. She wanted to understand what it meant to be a part of this world. She was ready for anything, but she didn't know what was waiting for her.

– You have become a part of the system, but each system has its own law.

The voice sounded farther away, as if space was now spreading out around her. You don't just get power. You're making a commitment. Every task, every step, will have consequences: – You will be the one who will rewrite stories, but keep in mind that there will be a price for these stories.

//To be continued, please like and save.