Charter 20: Those Who Guard Secrets

Calcium felt the tension in the air. Magic gathered around the dark figures, as if the night itself had come to life, obeying their will.

–Who are you? – Her voice was firmer than she'd expected.

One of the strangers took a step forward. His hood was so deep that even the lantern light couldn't illuminate his face.

– We are the guardians of the balance. – The same deep voice sounded: – And you, child of the Tablets, have crossed a line you shouldn't have crossed.

"Child of the Tablets?"

Calcium tensed up. No one but herself knew how her power worked. No one but the system.

But these people knew.

Lian gritted his teeth, clutching the amulet around his neck.

–Don't listen to them! They are not guardians, they are executioners! They destroy those who approach the truth!

One of the strangers slid his hand through the air, and the darkness around him trembled like an obedient wave. In the next second, something cold closed around Calcium's throat-not physically, but at the level of reality itself. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart skipped a beat.

–You weren't supposed to know. – The stranger's voice sounded flat, without emotion, as if he was just stating a fact.

The system flashed inside her mind, displaying a warning:

[Unknown magic affects he wearer!]

[Forced analysis… Mistake! ]

[Error! The power exceeds the acceptable level!]

"Damn. They're stronger than I thought."

Calcium gritted her teeth, feeling her tattoo begin to glow, trying to resist the magic of others. She felt that if she didn't do something right now, she would be at their mercy.

Lian, who had been frozen in fear, suddenly stepped forward.

–Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with it!

The figure holding the Calcium slowly turned towards him.

–Doesn't matter? – There was a hint of mockery in his voice: –Her Tablets can change the world. Her power is the key to what we're guarding. Do you think we're just going to let her exist?

Calcium clenched her fingers into a fist.

"They're afraid of my power. That means I can threaten them."

The system seemed to read her mind.

[Emergency awakening ability: Forbidden Tablet. ]

[Warning: use will have consequences.]

[Activate?]

She had no idea what it was, but she had no choice.

– Activate it! – Her palm flashed with a bright blue light. The symbols on her skin swirled in a frenzy, and in the next second, a Tablet appeared in front of her, but not the same as usual. This one was black, with pulsating blood-red writing.

–What?.. – The stranger's voice trembled.

Calcium didn't know what she was writing down. It was as if her body was writing history itself, and she could feel the world around her shaking with that power.

–You don't know what you're doing! – The figures staggered back, but it was too late.

The tablet exploded with a torrent of energy, sweeping away the darkness that shrouded the street. For a moment, Calcium saw the figures disappear as if they had never existed.

And then everything went quiet.

She was breathing heavily, standing in the middle of the street, burning from the blue flames of her magic.

Lian stared at her with wide eyes: – What did you just do? ..

Calcium looked at her palm. The tattoo has changed. Now a new symbol has appeared in its center.

–I wrote down their story. –She whispered. –And they can't erase it anymore.

Calcium was breathing heavily, her heart was pounding. The tattoo on his palm shimmered, pulsing with a mysterious blue light, and the new symbol in its center seemed to burn from within.

Lian looked at her in shock, but she hardly heard him.

"System, open my stats."

A transparent screen with golden letters immediately flashed in front of her eyes.

[Name]: Calcium

[Level]: 2 → 5 (Boost!)

[Class]: Story Tattoo Artist

[Mana]: 320/500

[Endurance]: 240/300

[Power]: 150

[Agility]: 190

[Special abilities]:

Tablet Creation (Active)

History Recording (Passive)

The Forbidden Tablet (????)

[Achievements]:

You have learned a forbidden secret (+500 experience)

This is the first time you've written a Tablet that changed reality (+1 level)

The Council of Shadows is afraid of you (????)

Calcium clenched her teeth.

"Three levels at once... and this new ability... what does 'Forbidden Tablet' mean?"

The system was silent.

Lian finally broke the silence: –They're gone... but it won't be for long. They'll be back, Calcium. You do realize that you're a target for them now, don't you?

She looked at him, then back at her palm.

But instead of fear, something else was burning in her chest. Interest

"If they're afraid of my strength... then I need to get even stronger."

Calcium squeezed her palm, and the flickering stats screen disappeared. Her mind was feverishly processing the information. Three levels at a time. That was more than she had ever received in a single assignment.

"The Council of Shadows… They are not just enemies. They're afraid of something. My power? Or the Tablet itself?"

– You look... strangely calm.– Lian muttered, watching her closely.

She grinned, running her fingers over the new tattoo.

–I just realized one important thing. – She replied, finally relaxing her shoulders: – If I have this power, I have to learn how to use it.

Lian frowned.

–You don't even know what kind of Tablet it was. What if it brings consequences?

Calcium thought about it. He was right – the system didn't give her an explanation. But she felt that the Forbidden Tablet was something special.

–Then I need to find out.

Lian exhaled and ran his hand through his hair: – And what are you going to do next?

Calcium looked into the darkness of the street, where the mysterious figures had disappeared.

– Search for answers.

The system flashed with a new message:

[New Assignment!]

[Title: Shadow Trail]

[Description: Learn more about the Shadow Council and their true goals.]

[Reward: 1,000 experience, rare artifact]

Calcium felt excitement flare up inside her.

"Well, the game has begun."

A cold wind ran through the streets, whispering something to the invisible witnesses of the night. Calcium stared into the void where the mysterious figures had disappeared a moment ago. Her heart was beating steadily, but a new fire was pulsing inside.

"The Council of Shadows… Who are they?"

The system was silent. Requests for information did not yield results.

–If they wanted to kill me, they had a chance. She said thoughtfully, more to herself than to Lian: – But they're gone. Why?

Lian frowned: – Perhaps they didn't expect you to activate this Tablet. Or…

He paused.

– Or what?

–Or they need more information about you now.

Calcium frowned. It made sense. They knew she had power, but they hadn't seen what she was really capable of until this moment. Now they got a sight that seemed to unsettle them.

The system flashed a new notification:

[Additional target updated!]

[Find the source of information about the Shadow Council.]

[Hint: "Somewhere in the city there is a person who knows more about them than he should."]

Calcium squeezed her palm.

–Looks like it's time to start hunting.

Lian sighed and ran his hand over his neck: –Do you even know where to start?

She smiled, excitement lighting up in her eyes: – We must look for where they like to keep secrets – in the shadows of this city.

//To be continued, please like and save.