Shock was written all over my face. How could a single monster possess such raw, brute force? I stared at the sword, contemplating its power, but deep down, I felt a pang of pity for that beast—a mix of shock at what I had heard, sorrow for its fate, and rage at the despicable methods humans use to achieve their goals.
I turned to Emily and asked:
— "So, what happened after that? I want to know every detail of this story."
Emily let out a heavy sigh.
— "Sigh... I'm bored of just sitting here. How about I give you a tour of the Guild HQ while we talk? What do you think?"
— "Sure, I don't mind. I'm eager to learn more about this place and meet the other members."
Emily replied with a smile:
— "It's settled then. I'll leave you to change, and I'll go get ready myself... though I'm still a bit worried you might pass out again!"
— "Don't worry, it won't happen again. I'll be waiting for you, Emily."
— "I truly hope so. I'll be quick; the place is huge, and you'll definitely get lost without me."
The girl stood up, a trace of playful mockery on her face, and waved as she walked through the hallway to the door and left.
The Room and the Transformation
I stared intently at my tattoo after sheathing the sword. Many questions still lingered in my mind, but I resolved to set them aside for now. My mission was to move forward, discover myself, and be of use to Captain Grice.
Entering my assigned room, my eyes were immediately drawn to a mannequin wearing a long black outfit accented with deep purple. The design was regal and captivating; I couldn't fathom how they knew my exact measurements. As I began to change, I noticed the room was much larger than the infirmary—a wide, soft bed, white walls etched with glowing green patterns, and a massive wardrobe crafted from black and gold wood.
The floor resembled a chessboard, creating a striking balance between the ceiling and the furniture. It was a constant reminder that I was currently just a "pawn"—a soldier with no significant role—but I was determined to change that fate, no matter the cost.
I finished putting on the clothes, which were initially quite baggy, but suddenly! They shrank to fit my frame perfectly. It seemed to be a "magic suit" crafted from a specialized material.
The Encounter and The Revelation
I waited for nearly an hour until I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find a stunningly beautiful girl. She wore white attire, her black hair draped over her shoulders, and her eyes were a warm chestnut brown. I was speechless for a moment, my face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and admiration. Her voice broke the silence:
— "Are you going to stare forever? Let's go, there's a lot to see. By the way, those clothes look great on you. The black and purple really complement your hair and eyes."
— "Thank you for the compliment, but that won't make me forget how late you are!"
She rubbed her head apologetically. "My bad! It took me a while to change, and something urgent came up at work. Anyway, we're ready now, so let's not waste time talking. Let's head out!"
The Secrets of the Tattoos
As we walked through the Guild's vast corridors, filled with grand paintings and symbols, I asked about her abilities. She laughed and said:
— "Before I discovered my power, I almost killed someone with a scalpel just because he called me short! My family is obsessed with medicine, so they forced me to study healing to become a Royal Healer."
— "And what is your ability called, Emily? Can I see your tattoo?"
— "My ability is called [Thorn Princess]. It's a Mid-Tier 'Transcendent' type. As for my tattoo, it's a crown of thorns on my back—so don't even dream of seeing it!" she said with a threatening tone, though her eyes were filled with laughter.
Curious, I asked, "So, what are the different classifications for the Tattooed?"
She looked surprised. "Didn't Captain Grice tell you?"
— "He did, but I wasn't exactly in my right mind at the time."
Emily explained:
— "Tattoos fall into three main types:
Harmonizers: They wield the elements of nature and are the most common.
Contractors: Those who gained power by forming a contract with—or subduing—a powerful monster.
Transcendents: The rarest and most mysterious category. Their powers defy logic. I suspect you're one of them, Zack, since an hourglass tattoo suggests a connection to Time."
She continued, "My power allows me to summon a crown of thorns that heals those around me and attacks with poisonous spikes. Its only flaw is how quickly it drains my energy."
I asked, puzzled, "That's amazing! But why do we need healers if the Tattooed can heal themselves?"
She burst into laughter. "Who on earth told you something like that? They must live in a cave!"
I muttered sheepishly, "It was Captain Grice..."
Her face froze in shock. "The Captain?! Ahem... please, don't tell him I said that! But tell me, what exactly did he say to you?"
I told her the whole story—how my arm was severed and then grew back, and what the Captain had said. Her confusion deepened. She pointed a finger at me, her gaze sharpening.
— "The Captain lied to you for some reason... Zack, let me see your tattoo for a second."
She stared at the hourglass. "I see now... Zack, you didn't just heal. You've already awakened your power. Your tattoo turned back time!"
I cried out in disbelief— "I did WHAT?!!!"