Resonant Rewrite

The soft chime of the bookstore's bell echoed behind them as Rin and Evelyn stepped onto the bustling street. The evening sun hung low in the sky, its golden rays glinting off the glass buildings that loomed overhead, casting long shadows onto the pavement below. Rin blinked as she took in the view before her.

The city was alive. Wide roads stretched out in every direction, filled with cars of various makes and models, their engines humming softly as they passed by. Pedestrians crowded the sidewalks, some hurrying home after a long day of work, others leisurely browsing through shops that lined the streets—shops of all sizes, from small cozy cafes to large retail stores with gleaming glass fronts. Neon signs flickered to life as dusk crept in, their vibrant colors standing out against the dimming sky. Streetlights, their sleek designs blending seamlessly into the urban aesthetic, began to flicker on, illuminating the walkways below.

Rin's gaze drifted upward, past the smaller buildings to the towering skyscrapers that pierced the sky, their mirrored surfaces reflecting the soft hues of orange and pink. It was a cityscape she knew all too well—one that could have been plucked straight from her own world.

She slowed her steps, her eyes wide with quiet wonder as she murmured aloud, "It's… so familiar."

Evelyn, walking just a step ahead, froze. Her head turned sharply toward Rin, her expression a mixture of surprise and unease. "Familiar?" she repeated, her voice soft yet tinged with something Rin couldn't quite place.

Rin nodded, her eyes still wandering over the scene before her. "Yeah… the streets, the buildings, even the cars. These scenes, they are so familiar."

Evelyn's breath caught for a brief moment. She quickly turned her gaze away, though her fingers curled slightly at her sides, betraying her tension. Her memory… is it returning?

It had been a month now since "Aria" lost her memory, and there had been no signs of recovery. Until now. Evelyn's mind raced; her thoughts clouded with questions. But her face remained calm, unreadable as always.

A quiet third-person narration lingered over the scene, as if whispering from the shadows: Why did Evelyn look so troubled at the thought of Aria's memory returning? Shouldn't it be a good thing? Or was there something Evelyn was hiding?

Evelyn finally spoke, her voice carefully neutral. "It's a beautiful city, isn't it? I'm glad you enjoyed getting out today."

Rin tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on Evelyn for a moment longer than usual, but she let the thought pass. "Yeah. It was nice."

The walk back home was quieter, the air now cooler as evening fully settled over the city. By the time they reached the house, the sky had darkened, and a soft glow spilled from the windows, welcoming them inside.

Once inside, Rin headed straight to her room. She placed the books she'd brought back on her table; their covers still cool to the touch. With a deep sigh, she flopped onto her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest as she stared at the ceiling.

"It was interesting," she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible in the quiet room. "Getting out like this… walking around, seeing the city. Free from all the troubles that have been swarming me since I arrived in this world."

She turned onto her side, her thoughts trailing off. "Well, maybe not that peaceful. First, someone was following us. Then that bookstore owner… another cryptic person who seems to know something about me. Just like Lila and Ash." She sighed, her voice softening as sleep began to pull at her. "At least the bookstore owner isn't going anywhere. I can go back and talk to him later, unlike those two…"

Her words grew fainter. "And then there's that book about beast tamers…"

Before she realized it, her eyes had fluttered shut, and the quiet rhythm of her breathing filled the room.

A little while later, Evelyn knocked softly on Rin's door. "Aria?" she called gently, waiting for a response. When none came, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The sight that met her made her pause. Rin was fast asleep, curled up on the bed like a child, her face peaceful and relaxed. Evelyn's expression softened, the corners of her lips twitching into a faint smile. Carefully, she approached and draped a blanket over Rin, making sure not to wake her.

For a moment, Evelyn lingered, watching Rin's sleeping face. Her expression was unreadable—soft, yet shadowed with something deeper. Then, as silently as she had entered, she turned and left the room.

In the middle of the night, Rin stirred awake. She groggily glanced at the clock on her table and sighed before pushing herself out of bed. The house was dark and quiet, bathed in faint moonlight that streamed through the windows.

In the kitchen, she found her dinner waiting for her on the table, a small note placed beside the plate.

"Eat if you're hungry. – Evelyn"

Rin smiled faintly, her chest warming at the simple gesture. She glanced toward Evelyn's room as she passed by, peeking in to see her sleeping soundly. The soft rise and fall of Evelyn's breathing echoed faintly in the quiet, a strangely comforting sound.

Sitting at the table, Rin began eating her meal, the silence of the house settling around her. It was peaceful, but strange. She realized how long it had been since she'd eaten alone. Since arriving in this world, Evelyn had always been there, sharing meals with her. Back in her own world, Rin had gotten used to eating alone after becoming a writer, but now…

She finished her meal and returned to her room with a cup of coffee in hand. Setting it on her table, she stood by the balcony's door and whispered softly, "Shadow steps."

From the darkness, Onyx emerged, his black fur blending into the shadows, his amber eyes glowing faintly. Rin smiled as the shadow wolf padded toward her, his presence both comforting and familiar.

"Hey, Onyx," she said softly, crouching to scratch behind his ears.

She sat down on the floor, leaning back against Onyx's warm body as she sipped her coffee. "Aurelis," she whispered next. A soft golden light shimmered, and her fox companion appeared, its blue eyes gleaming as it curled up in her lap.

Rin reached for the book she'd brought back—the one about beasts and tamers. She ran her fingers over the cover before holding it up to show her companions. "Guess what I found today?" she said with a small smile. "This book… it's about beasts and tamers. A lore of this world's history. Apparently, beast tamers were a thing here once, but they disappeared. Went extinct, or something."

Aurelis tilted its head, ears twitching, while Onyx let out a low, rumbling sound as if responding.

Rin leaned back again, gazing at the moonlit sky through her window. "It doesn't make sense," she murmured. "I didn't write anything about beast tamers in this world. So why is there a book about them? And why does it feel like it's connected to us?"

Her voice trailed off as she absentmindedly flipped through the pages, her two companions curled up beside her. Despite the mysteries that surrounded her, the quiet of the night and the warmth of Onyx and Aurelis made her feel… at peace.

For now.

The room was quiet, save for the faint rustling of pages as Rin flipped open the book about beast tamers. The cover of the book seemed ancient, its spine creaking softly with every movement. She leaned back against Onyx, her shadow wolf, whose large, black-furred body radiated a comforting warmth. His amber eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, ever watchful. Aurelis—her baby fox with golden fur and curious blue eyes—curled in her lap, letting out a soft yawn as it snuggled into her arms.

The world outside her window was bathed in silver moonlight, casting elongated shadows across the room. The air was still, save for the faint hum of the night and the distant call of an owl. Rin adjusted her posture, pulling the book closer as its first page fell open.

Her breath hitched slightly.

The illustrations were breathtaking—ornate and vivid, as though painted by someone who had witnessed the events firsthand. Every brushstroke seemed alive, as if the story itself was waiting to be told.

The first image sprawled across the page: a battlefield torn apart by chaos. Monstrous beasts—serpents coiling through clouds, wolves with glowing red eyes, and birds of flame—clashed against human figures wielding powers of their own. At the center of the scene stood a lone figure, their silhouette small compared to the titanic beasts, yet commanding. Around them, the creatures bowed their heads, not in defeat but in loyalty.

Beneath the image, the words began to unfold, written in bold, elegant script that seemed to shimmer faintly under the moonlight.

"Long ago, on the planet Sol, when gates and dungeons first emerged to threaten humanity, the world teetered on the edge of chaos. Cities fell. Families were torn apart. Civilization stood at the brink of collapse.

"But then came the Espers—individuals awakened to extraordinary abilities capable of combating the monstrous forces that spilled forth from the gates. Humanity rallied behind them, clinging to hope.

"Yet among the Espers, there existed a unique and extraordinary class—one that would stand apart from all others.

"They were called Beast Tamers."

Rin's eyes widened as the next page revealed a stunning illustration of a beast tamer surrounded by creatures of all shapes and sizes—majestic wolves, winged serpents, and ethereal beasts that shimmered like constellations. The beasts' glowing eyes weren't feral but filled with trust and understanding.

They're not fighting, Rin realized. They're protecting.

The text continued:

"Unlike other Espers, beast tamers did not fight alone. Their power lay in their ability to tame the creatures of the gates and dungeons, binding them through bonds of trust and companionship. Where others saw monsters, tamers saw allies—partners willing to stand alongside humanity.

"Their greatest gift was also their most mysterious: the ability to communicate with beasts. A language no one else could understand, one that bridged the gap between humanity and the dungeon's chaos."

Rin turned the page, her fingers lingering on the edge as a new illustration came into view. This one showed a lone figure standing in a dungeon—at its heart, surrounded by swirling energy. A beast, larger than a mountain, loomed over them, its eyes blazing with fury. Yet the tamer stood tall, unshaken, their hand outstretched.

Around them, energy flared—indigo laced with gold—twisting like a living flame.

"The aura of a beast tamer—a shimmering indigo streaked with gold—was unmistakable. It was a rare and powerful mark, a manifestation of their bond with the beasts. Those who possessed it could stand in the heart of the most dangerous dungeons and command its fiercest monsters."

"At their peak, beast tamers became humanity's greatest champions. S-class tamers were capable of subduing dungeon bosses—monsters so powerful they could destroy entire cities. Their strength surpassed even the most elite Espers.

"And among them was one whose power became legend."

Rin's breath caught as the next page revealed a cloaked figure. The Arch-Tamer, as the text called them. Their indigo-gold aura flared like a tempest, beasts of unimaginable size and strength kneeling around them in submission. Yet their face remained hidden, shrouded in shadow.

"The Arch-Tamer. A figure spoken of in whispers, their identity a mystery. Their power unmatched. Wherever they appeared, peace followed, for even the most ferocious beasts would bow before them."

The scene shifted abruptly. The next page darkened, the illustrations now shadowy and grim. Figures of tamers lay lifeless, their beasts howling in grief. In the background, shadowy silhouettes loomed, faceless and ominous.

Rin's chest tightened. Onyx let out a low growl, his ears twitching, while Aurelis whimpered softly, pressing closer to her.

"But peace is never eternal. Slowly, the beast tamers began to disappear. At first, it was a whisper—isolated deaths that no one could explain. No wounds. No monsters. Just silence.

"Then it became a pattern. Every week, two or three tamers were found dead. Fear gripped their kind, and whispers of betrayal grew louder. Who could stop the tamers if they turned against humanity? Who could control them?

"One by one, they fell."

The final image sent chills through Rin. The cloaked Arch-Tamer stood alone, their aura dimming as shadowy figures closed in around them.

"To stop the slaughter of their kind, the Arch-Tamer vanished. The remaining tamers scattered, hiding in the shadows to survive. In time, their story was erased. The Espers rose to take their place as humanity's heroes, and the beast tamers became nothing more than a forgotten legend.

"What happened to the tamers? Was it human greed? Envy? Fear? Or something far worse? The truth remains locked in the past, known only to those who lived it… and to those who became its victims."

Rin closed the book slowly, her fingers trembling slightly against the cover. The weight of the forgotten history settled over her like a heavy cloak.

Onyx let out a deep, rumbling growl, his amber eyes fixed on her. Aurelis nuzzled against her chest, letting out a soft, reassuring squeak.

"Beast tamers…" Rin whispered; her voice barely audible. She glanced at Onyx and Aurelis—her loyal companions—and felt a strange weight settle in her chest.

"Why does this feel so… familiar?"

Her eyes drifted back to the window, where the moon hung high in the sky. The indigo-gold aura. The bond between tamers and beasts. The mysterious disappearance of their kind.

What really happened to the tamers… and why do I feel like I'm part of their story?

Onyx let out a soft huff, pressing his head gently against her shoulder. Aurelis tilted its head, its blue eyes sparkling with curiosity, as though it, too, was waiting for answers.

Rin leaned back against Onyx; her gaze distant.

"Maybe… this story isn't over yet," she murmured to herself, the words lingering in the quiet room like a promise.