Resonant Rewrite

Rin leaned against the balcony railing; her eyes fixed on the shimmering city lights below. The cool night air brushed against her skin as she mulled over her next steps.

"First things first," she murmured, her voice firm. "I need to make use of my status. Being an S-class guide comes with privileges, and I'd be a fool not to take full advantage of them. Resources, connections, opportunities—I'll need them all to survive what's coming."

She glanced down at Aurelis, who had settled into a warm, golden curl at her feet. Onyx, ever-watchful, stood beside her.

"I also need to start using what I know about this world. The plot, the characters, the events—it's all information I can leverage. But that means finding the others, the main characters who can help me. Evelyn… she's my first priority. She's not just the protagonist; she's the key to so many threads in this story."

Her lips quirked into a wry smile. "Though convincing her might be tricky. For some reason, she's completely obsessed with me—Aria Felstone. It's flattering, I suppose, but also… concerning. And then there's her mark."

Her gaze shifted to the sky, her thoughts turning to the strange symbol that had appeared on Evelyn's arm.

"The guild's research team is still analyzing it," Rin mused. "Until they finish, there's no point in bringing up the idea of me moving out. Evelyn won't let me go until she's convinced it's safe—and maybe not even then."

She sighed, her breath misting in the cool night air. "For now, it's late, and I need to rest. Tomorrow, I'll start putting things into motion."

With a quiet command, she dismissed Onyx and Aurelis, their forms dissolving into shadows and light. Rin turned back into her room, her steps steady despite the weight of her thoughts.

The Next Two Days:

The following days passed in quiet recovery. Rin focused on regaining her strength, taking it easy while planning her next moves. Evelyn, ever-attentive, made sure Rin had everything she needed, though her hovering presence sometimes bordered on overbearing.

By the third morning, Rin felt ready to face the world again.

At the Guild:

The bustling halls of the guild were alive with activity as Rin and Evelyn made their way through the crowd. Adventurers of all classes moved with purpose, their chatter creating a constant hum of energy.

Evelyn walked beside her, her hair catching the morning light. "The guild master wants us to head straight to the research facility," she said, her tone brisk. "Apparently, they've made some progress."

Rin nodded, her heart quickening. "Let's not keep them waiting, then."

The research facility was a stark contrast to the lively guild halls. The air here was cool and sterile, and the faint hum of arcane machinery filled the space.

Inside, a group of people waited—a mix of familiar faces and strangers. Mira, Kael, Garret, and Finn, Rin's teammates, stood off to one side, their expressions a blend of curiosity and anticipation.

"Aria!" Mira greeted her warmly, her hair pulled back in a practical braid. "Glad to see you."

Kael, grinned. "About time you showed up. We were starting to think Captain had locked you away for good."

Rin managed a small smile, though her attention was quickly drawn to the other figures in the room—members of the guild's research team.

At the center of the group stood Guild Master Vera, her commanding presence as sharp as ever. Dressed in her tailored suit, she radiated authority, her sharp eyes sweeping the room before settling on Rin.

"Good, you're here," Vera said briskly. "Let's get started. Before we proceed, I'd like to introduce the research team." She gestured toward a group of individuals in lab coats, each standing by their respective consoles. "Head Researcher Alaric leads this team. They'll be assisting us in understanding the effects of guiding on hunters—particularly high-ranking ones."

Alaric, a man in his forties with sharp eyes and a professional demeanor, stepped forward. "Aria Felstone," he greeted, his voice even but tinged with curiosity. "It's a privilege to work with you. Your abilities are… extraordinary."

Rin inclined her head politely. "Thank you."

"And of course," Vera continued, gesturing to the hunters, "your team needs no introduction." "Evelyn, I need to discuss something with you. Come with me."

Evelyn hesitated, her gaze flicking to Rin. "Will you be alright without me?"

Rin nodded. "I'll be fine. Go ahead."

After a moment's pause, Evelyn followed Vera out of the room, leaving Rin alone with the research team and her teammates.

The Research Begins:

Once Vera and Evelyn had left, Head Researcher Alaric stepped forward, his expression neutral but professional, clipboard in hand. "Aria, we'll be conducting a series of tests to analyze the mark on Evelyn's arm and its potential connection to your abilities. Your role is simple: guide the other members as you normally would during a dungeon expedition. We'll observe and record the data."

Rin's eyes narrowed slightly. "You think the mark might be effect of my abilities?"

"It's a possibility," Alaric admitted. "We've never encountered a case like yours before—an S-class guide with abilities beyond the standard parameters. The mark might be a clue."

Rin crossed her arms, her mind racing. "And what do you hope to find?"

"Patterns," Alaric said simply. "Correlations between your actions and the mark's behavior. Anything that might give us insight into its origin or purpose."

Rin nodded slowly. "Alright."

"For this session," Alaric explained, "we'll simulate a dungeon environment using arcane projections. Your role is to guide your team through the scenario as you would during a real expedition. At the conclusion, we'll perform a detailed analysis of the energy signatures generated during your guiding process."

Mira crossed her arms, her tone light but curious. "So, basically, we're the test subjects?"

"Participants," Alaric corrected, though there was a faint twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth.

Garret leaned toward Rin with a grin. "Don't worry. We'll try not to mess up too badly."

Rin smirked faintly, though her focus was already shifting inward. She hadn't guided anyone since her first dungeon expedition with Evelyn—a memory that still felt raw. But there was no time to dwell on it now.

"Alright," Rin said, her voice calm but firm. "Let's get started."

The research team moved efficiently, setting up their equipment while Rin's teammates took their positions. Mira, Kael, Garret, and Finn seemed at ease, as they prepared to follow her lead.

The Simulated Dungeon

The researchers activated the arcane projection system, and the room transformed. The walls shimmered and shifted, replaced by the illusion of a dense, misty forest. The air grew cooler, and the faint sounds of rustling leaves and distant wildlife filled the space.

"Take your positions," Rin instructed.

The team fell into formation without hesitation. This wasn't their first time working together, and their trust in Rin was evident in their smooth coordination.

Rin stepped forward, drawing a steady breath as she prepared to initiate her guiding ability.

"Alright," she said, extending her hands. "Everyone, hold hands."

Garret raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Again, with the hand-holding?"

"Just do it," Mira said, rolling her eyes as she grabbed his hand.

The team complied, forming a circle with Rin at the center. She closed her eyes. She activated her ability, calling out, 'Purification Surge', focusing on the energy within her. It started as a faint warmth in her chest, growing steadily until it surged outward. The room bathed in shimmering golden light.

Purification Surge

The golden light emanated from Rin, spreading outward in radiant waves. It was pure and ethereal, illuminating the room with a brilliance that seemed to chase away every shadow. The glow was warm, comforting, and alive, filling the air with a sense of serenity.

Mira

The light reached Mira first, wrapping around her like a protective cocoon. Her usually sharp and practical demeanor softened as the glow enveloped her. She stared at Rin, her blue eyes wide with awe.

"It's… incredible," Mira whispered, her voice barely audible, over the hum of the energy. For a moment, her usual no-nonsense attitude gave way to something more vulnerable, as if the light had touched a part of her, she rarely let others see.

Finn

The glow extended to Finn next, and his reaction was almost childlike. His mouth fell open, and his amber eyes sparkled with wonder as the light surrounded him. He let out a soft, nervous laugh, the tension in his shoulders melting away.

"It's so… warm," he murmured, his voice tinged with amazement. He held Rin's hand a little tighter, as if afraid the connection might slip away.

Kael

When the light reached Kael, his green eyes glinting with amusement. "Whoa, Aria," he said, his lips curling into a playful grin. "You've been holding out on us. If I'd known you had this kind of glow-up in you, I'd have asked for a demonstration ages ago."

He tilted his head, letting the golden light play across his features, and gave an exaggerated stretch. "Feels like I'm in some kind of spa treatment. Should I be expecting a bill?"

Despite his teasing, Kael's confidence radiated as much as the light itself. His grin widening. "Seriously, though, this is impressive. You sure you're not secretly a goddess or something?"

His playful remarks lightened the atmosphere, drawing a few chuckles from the others. But even Kael, for all his mischief, couldn't hide the awe in his eyes as he glanced at the golden glow around them.

Garret

Finally, the light reached Garret. For once, his irreverent grin was gone, replaced by a look of quiet astonishment. He stared at the shimmering glow around him, his brown eyes reflecting the golden light.

"Well," he muttered, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "That's… something else."

The usual edge in his tone was absent, replaced by genuine awe. He glanced at Rin, his expression unguarded for the first time in what felt like forever.

The light seemed to dance around them, casting soft, shimmering reflections on their faces. For a moment, the room felt suspended in time, as if nothing else existed but the bond they shared.

Finally, the light began to fade, the golden waves retreating back into Rin. The room returned to its normal state, though the air still seemed to hum with residual energy.

The Results

Head Researcher Alaric stepped forward; his eyes fixed on the data displayed on his tablet. "Fascinating," he murmured. "The energy output is consistent, but there's no sign of any anomalies. No marks, no irregularities—nothing to indicate any lingering effects."

Rin frowned slightly. "Nothing at all?"

"Nothing," Alaric confirmed. "It's as if the mark never existed."

Her teammates exchanged puzzled glances. Mira's brow furrowed; Finn bit his lip nervously. Garret scratched the back of his head. Kael, however, leaned back casually, crossing his arms with a smirk.

"Well, I guess that settles it," Kael said, shrugging. "No creepy marks, no weird side effects. Just a lot of sparkles and good vibes. Maybe you should start charging for this, Aria. 'Guiding with Style'—I can already see the branding."

Rin gave him a flat look, but a faint smile tugged at her lips.

Evelyn Returns

When Evelyn returned to the room, her gaze immediately sought out Rin. "How did it go?"

Rin met her eyes, her voice calm but thoughtful. "The results are inconclusive. They didn't find anything unusual."

Evelyn's brow furrowed, but she nodded. "We'll figure it out."

Rin glanced at her team, their expressions a mix of awe and curiosity. Whatever was happening, it was clear that this was only the beginning.