My Profession – Tattoo Artist of Stories

–What is this place? – Calcium broke the silence, finally deciding to talk about what was bothering her.

Elmar stopped and looked at her.

–This is the place where the followers of the ancient magicians once hid.

–You mean they were hiding... something to do with tattoos? – Calcium couldn't resist asking questions. All she cared about right now was the answer to the main question: what was behind her power?

Elmar sighed and continued on his way.

– They didn't just keep knowledge of magic. They kept the memory of artifacts that could change the world, or destroy it.

When they entered the depths of the forest, the trees hung above them like giant, dark guardians, their branches blocking out the light. The path ahead became increasingly narrow and gloomy. Only the sound of their footsteps broke the silence, swallowed by the green darkness. Calcium felt her heart beating in unison with her steps, and the tattoo on her palm glowed more and more brightly, as if something in this place responded to her presence.

Suddenly, Elmar stopped and waved his hand, pointing to a small cave hidden below, almost completely hidden from prying eyes. The entrance to it was covered with ivy and moss, which made it almost invisible to a casual glance.

Elmar took a step towards the cave and looked back at the Calcium: –This way.They're waiting for you here.

All she could do was nod. With every step she took, she felt her tattoo begin to pulse harder, and the air around her became thicker, as if pulling her deeper into this ancient cave.

[The magic pressure is increasing.]

[Energy absorption: 20%.]

[Overload: Danger.]

The flow of mana is getting more out of control. Every movement of her hands became heavy, and every thought seemed to be drowned in the thick magic that filled the space. Calcium clenched her teeth. She had to get to the end. She had to find out the truth.

– Inside, everything will not be as you think. – warned Elmar: – Not everyone who is here is friendly to us. Their knowledge is dangerous.

Calcium looked at him. His words couldn't scare her. The system, its power, its tattoo… It was her weapon, and she was ready to use it. She was ready to find out what was hiding here.

The cave entrance was dark and humid, the air filled with dampness, but when they stepped inside, the space cleared up a bit, as if they had entered an impenetrable void where time and space were distorted.

–I see you've come. – A voice rang out from the darkness, and a figure dressed in a dark robe with a hood appeared in front of them. Her face was hidden, but her magic could be felt. She radiated such power that she seemed almost tangible.

Elmar almost flinched.

–Are you... are you still here to help? – His voice trembled slightly, but the figure did not respond immediately.

–You brought her here. – The voice grew louder, almost menacing: – Why did you bring her? She must not know.

Calcium took a step forward, the tattoo on her arm lit up with a bright light. Everything inside her began to stir, as if her power was bursting out. She felt the system react.

[Warning: Enemy magic is activated.]

[Prepare to defend.]

She couldn't back down.

– I came to understand what kind of power I receive. I want to know how to become strong, and what awaits me. If you can help me, I will be grateful.

The figure approached, and the shadows in her hood began to move, as if she could summon magic directly from the air.

–You're not ready yet. But maybe… you will choose your own path.

A dark figure waved his hand, and a strange glowing line appeared in front of them, leading deeper into the cave. It was a kind of portal.

–Go through with it. Learn more than you can imagine. But remember, you always have to pay for knowledge.

Calcium did not hesitate. She stepped forward, and her power reacted instantly. The tattoo flashed with a bright light, and she felt her energy being absorbed by this portal, as if she were passing through a sometimes dangerous, sometimes inviting crack in space and time.

The shadows in the cave were thickening. There was more and more magic in the air, and Calcium realized she couldn't stop.

When Calcium took the last step through the portal, her body seemed to shrink, and the world before her eyes darkened and twisted. Thousands of thoughts raced through her head, each of which was a whirlwind, but she managed to catch only a few words from her inner voice: "I'm ready," "I'll find out," "I won't come back."

The magic around her was unimaginably powerful. She could feel it on her skin, waves of power that enveloped her completely, permeating every cell.

It seemed that her tattoo, still glowing with a bright blue light, was becoming not just a part of her body, but a living being that pulsated with her every breath.

Her heart started beating faster, and she froze. Everything around her was dark, as if she had plunged into the space between worlds, but the light... the light came only from her hand.

–You're here. – A voice rang out from the darkness, and Calcium turned quickly, feeling her magic tighten like an arrow ready to shoot.

A figure appeared in front of her – the same dark robed figure that stood in the cave. Her face remained hidden, but her presence was more powerful, as if she controlled the very magic of this place.

– You decided to go further. – The voice was almost emotionless: – Then be prepared for the consequences. Your knowledge will cost you a lot.

Calcium swallowed. Her whole body clenched with tension, but she couldn't stop. She longed to know more than she could have imagined. After all, there was more to her than just the path to power-it was the key to her own boundaries.

–What do you mean? – Her voice was firm, though she could feel her strength beginning to drain from her, draining away with every word that came from the strange figure.

The shadow in front of her slowly lowered its hand, and a picture appeared in front of Calcium. She saw herself, but not in this time, but in another. In front of her were ancient artifacts, words written on a tablet that seemed to emanate from the very magic she possessed. Forces that no one could control.

–You weren't born just for magic. You were born to...– the figure interrupted itself, as if realizing that something had happened, and then continued: – You were born to become something more than just a Tattoo Artist of Stories. You will be the one who can control the very stories that have been forgotten. The one who will rewrite the history of the world.

Calcium paled. These words were too much for her. She could feel the forces inside her starting to boil, and her tattoo was glowing brighter and brighter.

– Why? Why me? Why did this force choose me? – Her voice was subdued, but everything inside her was throbbing.

The figure was silent, but then replied in a low whisper:

– To those who understand all the rules, you can suggest writing them again.

//To be continued, please like and save.