i got a tattoo

His sleepy gaze landed on the huge black snake coiled around his arm, its crimson eyes glowing ominously.

For a full second, his brain simply refused to process what he was seeing.

Then—

"Si…sir Jaeger…" Zed stammered, his voice cracking as cold sweat drenched his back. "Wh-what is this?! Why is there a s-sn...sna—"

His words caught in his throat. His breathing turned rapid. His hands shook. His body was preparing to do what any sane person would—

Scream.

Jaeger immediately raised a hand. "Young Master, please, for the love of all that is holy, do not scream."

"WHY NOT?!" Zed whisper-yelled, his voice barely contained. "There's a giant snake strangling my arm! I should be screaming right now!"

"Because," Jaeger said, forcing a calm smile, "if you scream, you might startle it."

"SO YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE SNAKE AND NOT ME?!"

"Of course, I'm worried about you too—"

"THEN DO SOMETHING!"

Jaeger exhaled and pulled out his sword with a smirk. "Alright then, hold still. I'll just chop off your arm."

Zed went pale. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?! STOP JOKING!"

Jaeger's grin widened. "Am I, though?"

"You absolutely are! Put that thing away before I pass out again!"

The snake, seemingly unbothered by their antics, flicked its tongue, tilting its head as if enjoying the show.

Jaeger sighed. "Fine, fine. No chopping off arms. But we still need to figure out what that thing is." He nodded toward the snake.

Zed gulped. "Y-you figure it out! I'll just stand here. Very still. And hope it doesn't eat me."

 Just then, Zed's eyes met the snake's.

The moment their gazes locked, a strange sensation crept through his body—his limbs stiffened, his breath hitched, and his mind screamed at him to run.

But he couldn't.

The snake struck.

Its fangs sank into his right arm, sharp and cold like steel. But instead of pain, a surge of pure energy exploded through his veins.

His entire body shook.

Rhu—dense, raw, and ancient—flowed into him, burning through his circuits like wildfire. His muscles pulsed, his senses sharpened, and his mind cleared as if he had just woken from the deepest slumber.

The snake's body shimmered and turned into dark liquid energy, seeping into his veins.

Then, it was gone.

The only trace left behind was a dark tattoo of a coiled snake, etched onto his arm.

For a brief moment, Zed felt amazing. Stronger, sharper—his very being felt refined, as if something deep within him had been awakened.

But before he could bask in that feeling—

A firm grip yanked his arm.

Sir Jaeger had rushed to him, gripping his tattooed arm tightly, eyes scanning it with sheer disbelief.

Zed blinked at him. "Uh… Sir Jaeger? Do you mind? I just got bitten by a snake and—"

"Do you know what just happened?!" Jaeger's voice was sharp.

Zed hesitated. "...A snake bit me, then turned into a weird tattoo? Which, by the way, not normal. At all."

Jaeger's gaze darkened. "Young Master… I have a theory, but I hope I'm wrong."

Zed's brows furrowed. "Try me."

Jaeger exhaled. "That snake… was actually the rusted blade you were holding."

Zed blinked. "Excuse me, what?"

"When I touched it, it drained a massive amount of my Rhu—so much that I had to let go instantly. But then, it used that energy… to wake you up."

Zed rubbed his arm, eyes narrowing. "Okay, that's weird. But what is this thing?"

Jaeger took a step back, his voice low.

"I think—no, I'm almost certain—that sword was one of the Seven Soul Blades."

Zed's stomach dropped. "Soul Blades?"

Jaeger nodded. "I don't know much about them. Not many do. But they're legendary weapons—each containing a nature spirit or an intact soul. Only seven were ever forged… and the blacksmith who created them died during the First Cataclysm."

Zed stared at the dark tattoo on his arm.

"You're telling me… I have a legendary weapon… inside me?"

Jaeger crossed his arms. "More than that. Soul Blades are made of 90% Rhu. They don't just exist as weapons—they bond with their wielders. They can merge into their user's body."

Zed swallowed. "Okay, so… which of the seven did I get?"

Jaeger shook his head. "That I don't know. There isn't much recorded history on them. The little I do know is highly classified. Not many even believe they exist."

Zed stared at his arm, watching the snake tattoo pulse faintly. It felt… alive. He exhaled sharply.

You've got to be kidding me…

His life was already a mess, but now? Now, it felt like the universe was actively playing a joke on him. He had come here expecting answers, but instead, Kaal had dumped even more mysteries onto him. A shadowy figure from his dreams had just given him a Cardinal—something that should have been impossible.

How can someone just hand over their genetic code for a Rhu Core? That didn't make any sense. Then again, nothing in this world ever did.

And the boon.

Kaal had given him something, but left out every important detail—what it was, what it did, how to use it.

Great. Just great. Another unknown power I have no control over.

His frustration bubbled over. He started pacing, running a hand through his hair.

"Haa… I'm losing my head here."

Jaeger, who had been quietly watching his outburst, finally spoke. "This is quite the meltdown."

Zed stopped, narrowing his eyes. "Excuse me?"

Jaeger crossed his arms, amused. "For someone who always acts like he has everything under control, you're really taking this hard."

Zed scowled, jabbing a finger at his arm. "You'd be panicking too if a snake bit you, turned into a tattoo, and merged with your soul."

Jaeger chuckled. "Fair point."

Zed ran his fingers over the tattoo, tracing the coiled snake. It felt oddly warm, almost like it was breathing beneath his skin.

Jaeger's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Young Master, what happened after I collapsed?"

Zed stiffened. A chill ran down his spine. Of all the things he could ask… He couldn't tell the truth. Not yet.

"That creature… it absorbed both our Rhu, then—" He paused, his mind scrambling for a believable story.

"Then what?" Jaeger pressed.

Zed swallowed. "Then… it exploded into light and blew the top off the ruin."

Jaeger narrowed his eyes. "And?"

"And… I don't know. I blacked out."

Zed turned his head away, hiding his guilty expression. Sorry, Sir Jaeger, but it's better this way.

Jaeger sighed. His face clearly showed his disappointment. "That's it?"

"That's it," Zed confirmed quickly. "Now, can we go? I have a lot of work to do."

He walked over to the horse, trying to climb onto its back. The problem? He was short.

Zed jumped once—failed.

Tried again—failed miserably.

"Damn my height… just a little more," he muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth.

Jaeger, watching the struggle, chuckled. Amused, he walked over and effortlessly lifted Zed onto the horse.

"Whatever you say, Young Master," Jaeger said, mounting up beside him.

Zed crossed his arms, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Jaeger glanced at him, his tone softer now. "I know you're hiding something. But whenever you're ready to talk… I'll be here."

Zed tensed. He didn't answer, choosing instead to bury his face against the horse's mane.

Jaeger just smiled. He'll talk when he's ready.

They rode through the wasteland, the steady rhythm of the rain against the cracked earth filling the silence. The cold wind bit at their skin, but neither seemed to mind.

Jaeger, guiding the horse through the muddy path, finally broke the silence. "Young Master, you mentioned having work. What was it?"

Zed, still annoyed at being made to sit like a child, huffed. "I'm planning to check up on all the barons and viscounts."

Jaeger smirked. "Ah, so you finally understood what I meant that day."

"Yeah, but there's something I don't get," Zed muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "Why do the other dukes' states run smoothly while ours is drowning in corruption?"

Jaeger's expression darkened. He exhaled sharply before answering, "Your father… was a kind and humble man. Too kind. And people took advantage of that—turned his kindness into his greatest weakness." His grip on the reins tightened. "I was with him through it all, but I couldn't do anything to stop it. Even now, remembering it makes my blood boil."

Zed tilted his head, watching the storm of emotions flicker across Jaeger's face. Then, with a sly grin, he asked, "If you had the power of law in your hands, what would you do?"

Jaeger blinked, confused. "Pardon?"

"Come on, Sir Jaeger, speak from the heart," Zed pressed, his grin widening. "If you could do anything—no restrictions, no consequences—what would you do?"

Jaeger was silent for a moment. Then, his voice dropped, low and sharp. "I'd chop off their heads and hang them at the entrance of their villas. Let the sight of their corpses serve as a warning to anyone who dares defy us."

Zed's grin froze. He looked up, expecting Jaeger's usual composed expression—but what he saw sent a shiver down his spine.

Jaeger's eyes burned with fury and unwavering determination.

"Well…" Zed chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood. "I wasn't expecting that from you, Sir Jaeger."

Jaeger said nothing. He simply rode forward, letting the rain wash over him.

Zed leaned back slightly, watching him. Everyone is a monster, he thought. Even the most righteous man has a darkness inside him—he just hides it better than the rest.