Charter 19: Potential History

The system didn't shut up. A thin metallic voice sounded right in her mind, echoing in the halls of her mind

[Quest received: Tablet of Change.]

[Goal: Record the first great story that will change the course of fate.]

[Reward: Upgrade "Tattooist of Stories."]

[Penalty for failure: Loss of some of the accumulated magical energy.

Calcium chuckled, examining her palm. The symbols that shone on her skin trembled as if they were alive.

"Record a story? So I need to find someone whose fate is about to change."

She felt an invisible force pulling her forward. A subtle magical vector lit up in his chest, like a compass leading to a goal. This feeling was already familiar—the system was guiding her like a guiding star.

Taking a deep breath, Calcium moved forward.

***

Her footsteps echoed in the narrow stone streets. Night had already descended on the city, shrouding it in a twilight haze, and only a few lanterns cast trembling reflections on the cobblestones.

Somewhere in the distance, the voices of merchants finishing the day could be heard, and drunken shouts from taverns. The city lived its own life, not even suspecting that fate was being hunted among the shadows.

Calcium listened. The wind whispered something, stirring her red hair. She felt like she was getting closer to something important.

And suddenly — a sharp jolt in the chest.

A magical vector flashed inside her, and her palm ached from the surge of energy. Calcium clenched her teeth. She felt it clearly. Someone here, in these alleys, stood on the threshold of change, and it is his story that must be recorded.

"Who?"

She slowed her pace, peering into the darkness.

In the distance, a figure was sitting on the steps of an abandoned temple. Shrouded in shadow, the man looked exhausted, as if the whole world had crushed him with its weight.

Calcium took a step forward. At that moment, the figure raised its head, and longing mixed with hope was reflected in its eyes.

Fate has already changed.

Calcium held her breath. Fate had already begun to spin its threads, and her tattoo felt it as much as she did. The thin lines of symbols on his palm flashed, feeling the presence of someone else's pain, someone else's choice that had not yet been made.

The figure on the steps rose. Now that he was in the light of the lantern, Calcium saw the young man. He was about twenty years old, with dark, matted hair and eyes that were filled with fear. His clothes were pretty shabby, as if he had been wandering the streets for a long time, avoiding something-or someone.

"Is he my target? – Calcium flashed through his mind.

She took another step. At that moment, the young man abruptly got to his feet, as if he was going to run.

– Stop! – Calcium's voice cut through the silence.

The guy froze, but not from fear, but rather from surprise. He looked at her as if for the first time he had seen something... strange.

–Did you... did you come for me too? – His voice was trembling.

Calcium frowned.

– What do you mean, "too"?

The young man looked around, as if someone could appear out of the darkness at any moment. His hands were shaking, but not from the cold.

–They're looking for me...What is it? –he whispered: – They want to take away what I've learned.

"They are?" – Her whole body told her that there was a story here that would change the course of events.

The system flashed in my head:

[An object with an unstable fate has been detected. ]

[Danger: high. ]

[Potential story: "The Secret of Stolen Knowledge."]

[Start recording?]

Calcium exhaled involuntarily. Everything was moving too fast.

"No, it's too early. I need to know more."

–Who are they?What is it? – she asked softly, coming closer.

The young man swallowed. A shadow of doubt flickered in his gaze.

–Are you sure you want to know?

" Her palm throbbed again. History has already begun to be written, even if she herself wasn't ready for it yet.

Calcium felt the air thicken around her. Fate itself seemed to be waiting for her next word, and her palm continued to burn with a faint blue light.

She said calmly: – If you have something to tell me, do it now.

The young man hesitated. His gaze darted between Calcium and the alleys behind her, as if he expected something terrible to come out of the shadows.

–You don't understand.– He finally exhaled: – There are things that can't just be told.… They're listening.

Calcium frowned: – Who is this?

–The ones who don't want the truth to come out. Those who rule this world, but remain in its shadow. I found out something I shouldn't have known... and now they want to silence me.

The system inside her flashed a warning:

[New Factor: Threat detected.]

[Danger: Unknown. ]

[Analysis...]

Calcium frowned. Usually, the system just guided her, but now she was hesitating, as if she couldn't figure out what was going on

herself.

–If you don't tell me, they will win: – She said softly, carefully watching his reaction: –I can write down your story. It won't disappear even if you...

The young man clenched his fists sharply.

– That's the problem! – There was anger in his voice, not at her, but at himself: – Do you think that stories are just words on paper? No! Stories are power! And my story… My story could destroy everything they've built!

The wind blew harder, and Calcium felt a surge of anxiety in her chest.

"A story that can destroy this world?"

Her palm lit up again. The symbols on the tattoo began to move, as if they had a premonition that something important was about to be written down.

–So tell me. – Let your story be heard.

The young man took a deep breath.

Determination flashed in his eyes.

–Fine! But after that, there will be no turning back.

Calcium stood motionless, feeling the tension thicken around her. The young man was breathing heavily, as if he was deciding on something that would change his life forever. Or maybe it has already changed.

– My name is Lian. – He finally said, meeting her gaze: – And I know the truth that no one was supposed to know.

Calcium didn't blink, listening intently to every word.

– They call themselves the Shadow Council. It's not just a cult or a secret brotherhood, it's those who move the world from the shadows. Their magic is deeper than that of the Supreme Magicians, their power is stronger than that of any king.

Lian looked around, as if expecting someone to appear at any moment to interrupt his story.

– They keep knowledge that no one should comprehend. I... I found one of their forbidden texts.

Calcium felt her palm begin to throb, as if reacting to his words.

– What is the text? What is it? – She asked, holding back her growing excitement.

Lian lowered his head.

–The one who reveals the secret of the Tablets.

She shuddered: –The Tablets? Mine?

– All of them.– His voice was full of bitterness: –The Tablets are not just stories. They are alive. They can change reality, rewrite destinies, and the Shadow Council... it controls those who are able to create them. They won't let you get stronger. Because every new Tablet is a threat to their power.

The system inside the Calcium flashed with alarming messages:

[Attention! Forbidden knowledge has been discovered.]

[Danger is critical.]

[Analysis...]

"Forbidden knowledge?"

Suddenly, the street was filled with an ominous chill. Calcium whirled around. A tall figure, wrapped in a dark cloak, stepped out of the darkness, followed by two more of the same kind. Their faces were hidden by hoods, but they exuded strength.

–You said too much, Lian. – said a deep, calm voice.

Lian paled.

Calcium gritted her teeth, feeling her tattoo flare brighter in response to the impending threat. The Shadow Council has come for its secret.

//To be continued, please like and save...