Resonant Rewrite

The scene opens in near darkness. A faint, flickering light cast eerie shadows on the rough, reddish-brown walls. The ground was uneven, littered with small stones and cracks. Two figures were visible in the dim glow.

The first was a young woman with auburn hair that shimmered faintly in the light, her clear violet eyes betraying a hint of otherworldly energy. She sat on the ground, her posture composed but somehow unnatural. Cradled in her lap was an unconscious young man with raven-black hair, his face pale but serene.

The girl's lips curled into a wry smile. "Now, all of you must be wondering," she began, her voice carrying a playful, almost mocking lilt, "what am I doing in this dreary place? And who is this handsome gentleman lying in my lap?"

Her tone shifted, gaining a darker edge. "For that, we need to go back. Two months ago, to be precise. Back when all of this began."

She paused, her violet eyes glinting in the dim light. "Oh, right. I'm Rin. My soul was pulled into this world through a gate anomaly, and now I'm living as Aria Felstone. But enough about that—let's rewind to where it all began..."

Two Months Earlier

After deciding to inform Vera, the guild master, about the strange mark I'd seen on Evelyn, we returned to our room. The following morning, feeling considerably better, I insisted on accompanying Evelyn to the guild for the report.

"You don't need to come," Evelyn had said, her tone firm. "You're still recovering. It hasn't been that long since you left the hospital. You should rest."

I shook my head, determined. "I'll be bored if I stay behind. Besides, it's better if I explain what happened in person. A written report won't capture the details as clearly."

Evelyn sighed but relented. Together, they headed to the guild.

When Evelyn and I entered the guild's main hall, the lively hum of activity surrounded us. Maps were spread out on tables, adventurers were trading stories, and the scent of freshly oiled weapons hung in the air. Near the notice board, our team was gathered.

Mira was the first to notice us. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her expression soft but attentive. "Aria! You're here," she said, her voice warm and full of relief. "I was worried you might still need more rest."

I smiled at her, touched by her concern. "Thanks, Mira. I'm feeling much better now."

Kael leaned against the edge of the table, his arms crossed and his fiery eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, look who decided to make an appearance. About time, Aria. I was starting to think you'd gone soft on us."

Evelyn shot him a sharp look. "She's recovering, Kael. Maybe try being less of a pain for once."

Kael smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"

Garret chuckled, his deep voice carrying easily over the din of the hall. "Kael's just mad because he doesn't have anyone to argue with when you're gone, Aria. Welcome back." He gave me a friendly clap on the shoulder that nearly knocked me off balance.

"Easy there, Garret," I said, laughing. "I'm not quite at full strength yet."

"Sorry about that," he said with a sheepish grin. "Guess I got a little carried away."

Finn, standing slightly apart from the group, offered a shy smile. "It's good to see you, Aria. We missed you."

"Thanks, Finn," I said warmly. "I missed you all too."

Mira stepped closer; her expression thoughtful. "You're sure you're, okay? I mean, after everything that happened, it's alright to take things slow."

"I appreciate it, Mira," I said, meeting her kind gaze. "But I'm ready to be back. Besides, I'd go stir-crazy if I stayed in bed any longer."

Kael snorted. "Yeah, we'd go crazy too. You're bad enough when you're healthy."

"Kael," Mira said softly but firmly, a hint of disapproval in her tone.

"Alright, alright," Kael said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Welcome back, Aria. Try not to let Captain boss you around too much."

Evelyn sighed. "We're here to report to Guild master. What have you all been up to?"

Kael straightened up, his smirk fading into a more serious expression. "Training, as usual. We've been running combat drills to stay sharp."

Mira nodded. "I've been focusing on support techniques and refining my barriers. It's important to be ready for anything."

Garret added, "And I've been keeping things lively. Nothing like a little earth-shaking action to make training interesting."

Mira glanced at him with a small frown. "You mean you've been causing unnecessary disruptions during practice."

"Hey, it's called motivation," Garret said with a wink.

Finn spoke up hesitantly. "I've been working on my lightning spells. I still have a lot to learn, but I think I'm getting better."

"You're doing great, Finn," I said, offering him an encouraging smile. "We're a team, and we all support each other."

Mira smiled gently at Finn. "She's right. You've improved a lot, and we're proud of you."

"Alright, enough heart-to-hearts," Kael said, his tone light. "You two go handle the important stuff with Guild master. We'll hold down the fort here."

"Try not to cause too much trouble," Evelyn said dryly.

"No promises," Kael replied with a grin.

After this, we split up. The others returned to the training grounds, while both of us made our way to the Guild master's office.

When we arrived, Guild master Vera greeted us with her usual warmth, though her sharp eyes quickly scanned me for any signs of lingering weakness.

"Aria," she said, a hint of concern in her voice, "thank you for coming, especially when you're still recovering. How are you feeling?"

"I'm much better," I assured her. "And I thought it would be best to explain this in person."

She nodded, gesturing for us to sit. "Go on, then."

I recounted everything: the moment I first used my Guide skills, the empathetic link, and the Purification Surge. "After I used the skill," I explained, "I noticed a mark on Evelyn. It wasn't there before."

She leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. "An S-class Guide..." she murmured. "It's been decades—no, centuries—since we've had one. There's little recorded history about your kind, which makes this... uncharted territory. It's possible the mark is connected to your abilities."

She paused, then added, "I'll relay this to the research team. They might find something in the archives that sheds light on this phenomenon. In the meantime, rest as much as you need. And thank you for bringing this to my attention."

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you, Guild master."

As we left the office, Evelyn lingered to handle some guild-related matters. She turned to me before heading in another direction, her tone firm but tinged with a hint of affection. "Don't overdo it, Aria. I mean it. I'll catch up with you soon."

I gave her a reassuring smile. "I promise, I'll behave. Just don't get lost in paperwork."

She rolled her eyes, a rare, softer expression crossing her face. "I'll try. See you soon."

With that, I decided to check on the training grounds. As I approached, the sounds of clashing weapons and bursts of magic filled the air. Watching the team spar and hone their skills was both comforting and inspiring. Mira was practicing her barriers, her movements fluid and precise as shimmering shields formed and dissolved around her.

Kael, always one for theatrics, was sparring with Garret. "You're too slow!" Kael taunted as he dodged a powerful swing of Garret's hammer. Garret smirked, countering with a sudden upward strike that nearly caught Kael off guard.

"Focus, Kael!" Mira called out, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"Yeah, yeah," Kael replied, leaping back with a grin. "I'm just giving him a chance."

Finn was off to the side, practicing his lightning spells. Small arcs of electricity danced between his fingers as he muttered incantations under his breath. Occasionally, Mira would glance his way, offering gentle guidance.

After watching them for a while I left the guild alone.

As I left the guild, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. Near the entrance, I noticed a figure standing in the shadows. His posture was tense, posture was tense, their movements deliberate but cautious. Something about them felt… off.

Cautiously, I approached. "Can I help you?" I called out.

The figure turned, and recognition struck me. It was one of the Silver Fox Guild members—the same one who had stood outside my hospital room during their formal visit.

"I was hoping to speak with you," he said, his voice low and deliberate.

"About what?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

"The dungeon," he replied. "And what happened there."

My pulse quickened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play coy," he said sharply. "Something happened in that dungeon—something unnatural. You felt it, didn't you?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Who are you?"

"Call me Ash," he said. "That's all you need to know for now."

"And why should I trust you, Ash?"

"You shouldn't," he admitted. "But you're in over your head. Whether you realize it or not, you're part of something much bigger than you think."

His words sent a chill down my spine. "What do you mean?"

Before he could answer, a sharp whistle pierced the air. Ash's gaze snapped to the side, his expression darkening.

"Stay safe, Felstone," he said, retreating into the shadows before I could stop him.

She stood there for a moment, her mind racing with questions. What had they meant? And why did their words feel like a warning… or a threat?