Resonant Rewrite

The dimly lit chamber buzzed with an otherworldly energy, its walls adorned with ancient glyphs that pulsed faintly in rhythmic patterns. Darian paced back and forth, his boots echoing softly against the stone floor. His silver hair shimmered under the pale blue glow of the chamber's core, a massive crystalline structure that seemed to hum with life.

"Are you sure it was the right decision to send her back?" Darian asked, his voice laced with doubt. He stopped pacing and turned to the man standing near the core. The man's face was obscured by the hood of his dark cloak, but his presence exuded an aura of authority and calm.

"She's a Tamer," Darian continued, his frustration evident. "We could've taken her with us. Protected her. She's one of the last—"

The man raised a gloved hand, silencing Darian. His voice was deep and measured, carrying an unshakable conviction. "It's not time yet."

Darian frowned, his fists clenching at his sides. "Not time? She's out there, vulnerable, completely unaware of the danger she's in. Do you know what they'll do if they find her?"

The man's hood shifted slightly as he turned his gaze toward Darian. "She has work to do on the other side. Work that only she can accomplish. When the time is right, she will come to us. Until then, she must remain where she is."

Darian exhaled sharply, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. "And the book?" he asked after a moment. "The replacement—was it necessary? You took the book with the key from her so they wouldn't be able to track her, but won't she suspect something?"

The man's lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile, just visible beneath the shadow of his hood. "It will be like a dream to her," he said. "A memory that fades with the morning light. She will not question it."

Darian crossed his arms, his expression still troubled. "You're certain about this?"

The man turned back to the core, his voice calm and resolute. "The path she walks is hers alone. Doubt it if you wish, but this is how it must be."

For a moment, the chamber fell silent, the hum of the core the only sound. Darian finally sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Fine. But I hope you're right. She deserves a chance to survive this."

The man said nothing, his gaze fixed on the core as its light intensified, casting long shadows across the chamber.

Rin stretched, her arms reaching up as a yawn escaped her lips. The golden morning light filtered through the balcony, illuminating the room in a soft glow. Onyx's massive body was warm beneath her, his rhythmic breathing steady and comforting. Aurelis, curled up on her lap, twitched slightly in its sleep, its tiny golden fur shimmering faintly.

The events of the night felt distant, like a fading dream. She rubbed her eyes and muttered, "What a weird dream…" Her gaze fell to the floor, and her breath hitched. There, just within arm's reach, lay the book—Beasts and Tamers.

Her fingers brushed over the cover, and she frowned. "So, it wasn't just random imagination. It must've been this book," she said aloud, lifting it carefully. A small smile played on her lips. "Reading all those dark, dramatic stories about beast tamers before bed… no wonder my dreams were so wild."

She chuckled softly and stretched again, a wide yawn overtaking her. "Morning, System," she said, her voice light with teasing. "How are you doing? Got anything useful to share today?"

To her surprise, a soft chime resonated in her mind, and a faint projection of the System's interface shimmered into view. A small, animated face appeared—a simple design, but expressive. It raised a digital eyebrow at her teasing.

Rin blinked, startled. "Wait, what?" She leaned closer, her curiosity piqued. "System… did you just respond to me?"

The face made a mock pout, clearly unimpressed by her surprise.

Rin laughed, a genuine sound that echoed in the quiet room. "Well, this is new! I'm liking this update of yours. At least you're not staying silent anymore." She tilted her head, grinning. "That counts for something. You have no idea how frustrating it's been, talking to what felt like a wall all this time."

The System's face softened; its expression almost apologetic.

"Okay, okay, I get it. You're trying now. Progress is progress." She waved a hand dismissively, her grin widening. "Let's get back to the matter at hand."

She placed the book on her lap and tapped its cover thoughtfully. "The information I got about the history of beast tamers… it's a big step forward. It means my class—Beast Tamer—isn't an anomaly in this world created by you, System. It's a part of this world's framework. Though…" Her voice trailed off as she frowned. "It's almost extinct."

The System's face dimmed slightly, as if acknowledging the gravity of her words.

Rin leaned back against Onyx; her gaze fixed on the book. "So, to get the facts straight, beast tamers were a class that emerged when the gates and dungeons appeared. They were powerful—too powerful, apparently—and weren't affected by the corruption like other Espers. They didn't even need guides."

Her tone grew colder as she continued. "And they were eliminated. Not because of the corruption, but because they were too strong. Espers benefited from their downfall, and their history was erased. Convenient, isn't it?"

She let out a bitter laugh, her fingers drumming against the book's cover. "Humans… greed, envy, fear—you can't underestimate them. They've caused power struggles in my own world too. Wars, ruined empires, betrayal—it's always the same story, just different stages."

Her voice softened, though the steel in her words remained. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Espers did this. Not even a little."

The System's face flickered; its expression unreadable.

"That's why I need to make sure my ability as a Beast Tamer stays hidden. At all costs." Her grip on the book tightened. "I won't end up like them."

Onyx stirred beneath her, letting out a soft growl as if sensing her resolve. Aurelis nuzzled her hand, offering silent comfort.

"It's a good thing there's no record of beast tamers anymore," Rin continued. "Otherwise, I'd have been discovered the moment I took the class retest. When my Esper abilities were marked as unidentified…" She paused, her mind replaying the memory. "That shimmering indigo with gold I saw—it wasn't random. It was proof of me being an Esper-Tamer."

She exhaled slowly, her determination solidifying. "This world may have erased beast tamers, but I'm still here. And I'll make sure no one finds out until I'm ready."

The System's face brightened slightly, a flicker of approval passing through its expression.

Rin glanced at it and smirked. "You agree with me now? Guess you're not all-knowing after all."

The System's face rolled its eyes, and Rin laughed again, the sound filled with both amusement and determination.

"Alright, System. Let's see where this path takes us."

She leaned back on onyx, her fingers brushing against the edge of the book she had been reading the night before. Her mind whirred, piecing together fragments of the information she had uncovered.

"Well, an Esper-Tamer and an S-class Guide," she mused aloud, her tone laced with dry humor. "What a combo. When the book said Tamers don't need Guides because they aren't affected by corruption, it makes sense. I've been using my Tamer abilities, and there's no sign of corruption on me. Not even a hint."

She paused, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling. "And to make things more confusing, I'm both an Esper and a Guide. Well, typically, it's impossible to be both. It's like defying the very laws of their system and the structure of how they exist in the first place. System," she said, turning her attention to the screen, her voice lowering, "how is that even possible? What exactly have you made me? I'm a walking contradiction of this system."

The System's face remained silent, its expression unreadable, but Rin didn't miss the flicker of something in its gaze. She sighed and continued, her tone softening.

"If we think about it, Tamers could be an entirely separate class from Espers and Guides. But honestly, what can I do about it? Worrying won't change a thing."

Her smile faded slightly as her thoughts turned serious. "Through this, though, it's clear what I shouldn't reveal to others thoughtlessly. I need to be careful about what I share, especially when it comes to gaining information. The dual-class thing? Sensitive doesn't even begin to describe it."

She sat up straighter, her brow furrowing. "And then there's the reverse imprint issue. I need to collect as much information as possible. How long has the S-class Guide been missing from this place? How did they disappear? What were their abilities like? And anything about imprints between Espers and Guides—whether there's a way to remove an imprint or if there's any record of incidents involving them."

Rin sighed, rubbing her temples. "There's so much to research. And since my dear System can't tell me anything because of its restrictions…" She shot a mock glare at the screen, where the System's face blinked at her innocently. "Until my leave is over and I progress in the dungeon, the info I can get from you is limited, right, System?"

The System's face nodded in acknowledgment; its expression neutral but firm.

"Thought so," Rin muttered. "All right, then. To get the info I need, I could visit the Central Archives. Evelyn mentioned it, but she also said there are restrictions to enter that place. A guild-issued pass or special permission is required."

She frowned, tapping her chin in thought. Then her eyes widened as she remembered something. "Wait a second! The card! Guild Master Vera gave me that card after I joined the guild. It has special permissions for S-class Guide as a guild member."

Her face lit up with excitement, and she pumped her fist in the air. "HOORAY! Joining the guild turned out to be super useful after all. Sure, it's come with its share of problems, but hey, this is great!"

She glanced at the System's face on the screen, smirking. "System, your decision to make me join the guild is really paying off. Kudos to you."

The System's face smirked back, and Rin burst into laughter again.

Rin plopped back onto Onyx, the book still in her hands. She glanced at the System's face on the screen, her expression thoughtful.

"This book also mentions the Tamer's ability to communicate with beasts," she began, tracing the edge of the book with her fingers. "But I don't seem to have that ability yet. Does that mean I can talk to Onyx and Aurelis eventually?"

The System's face tilted slightly, its expression unreadable, then nodded.

Rin's eyes widened, a mix of excitement and disbelief lighting up her face. "Wait, seriously? I can talk to them? Like, actual conversations?"

The System's face remained neutral, but it blinked once in confirmation.

Rin leaned back, letting out a low whistle. "That's wild. I mean, I've always felt connected to them in a way. Onyx especially. But talking to them? That's a whole other level. Can you imagine the sass Onyx would throw at me?" She chuckled, then paused, her brows furrowing.

"But why don't I have that ability yet? I've been using my Tamer abilities for a while now and my Bond Level with them is also above sixty percent. Is it locked or something?"

The System's face shifted slightly, and a small line of text appeared on the screen: "Ability progression: Level required."

"Ah, so I need to level up as a Tamer," Rin muttered, nodding slowly. "That makes sense. Still, it's frustrating. Talking to them could be so useful. I mean, what if Aurelis has some ancient wisdom locked away in that oversized brain of his? Or what if Onyx knows stuff about the dungeons that I don't?"

The System's face tilted again, this time with a faint smirk, as if amused by her rambling.

Rin sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Okay, okay, I get it. Patience is key. But this also means that there's more to being a Tamer than I realized. Communicating with beasts isn't just about commands or bonds, is it? It's deeper than that."

The System blinked in agreement, and Rin's gaze grew distant as she pondered.

"If Tamers could talk to their beasts, that means they were more than just partners in battle. They were… equals, weren't they? Allies in the truest sense. That's probably why they didn't need Guides. Their beasts weren't just tools or weapons; they were companions who could think and act independently. That kind of bond would make them unstoppable."

Her voice softened as she continued. "I wonder… what would they say to me? Would they be proud of how I've handled things so far? Or would they be like, 'Rin, you're a disaster, get it together?'" She laughed, though her eyes shimmered with a touch of emotion.

Can I truly trust and make the same kind of bond with them? I didn't have this kind of luxury in my own world.

The System's face shifted, its expression unreadable again, but Rin caught the faintest flicker of something—sympathy, perhaps?

What am I thinking? We're talking about the System here.

"Anyway," she said, shaking off her moment of vulnerability, "I guess this means I need to focus on leveling up as a Tamer. The sooner I can unlock this ability, the better. Communicating with Onyx and Aurelis isn't just a cool perk; it could be a game-changer."

She glanced at the System again, her lips quirking into a small smile. "Thanks for confirming that, System. Even if you're cryptic half the time, you do come through when it matters."

The System's face rolled its eyes in mock exasperation, and Rin laughed, the sound light and genuine.

"All right, then," she said, standing up and stretching. "Time to prepare. The Central Archives await, and who knows what secrets I'll uncover next?"

Rin pondered her next steps as she headed to breakfast. She needed to figure out how to convince Evelyn to let her visit the city without raising suspicion.

As she sat at the table, munching on toast, Evelyn's communicator buzzed. Rin watched as Evelyn read the message, her face shifting from calm to thoroughly annoyed. She groaned softly and cast a glance at Rin, who was innocently chewing her breakfast.

"What's wrong?" Rin asked, tilting her head.

Evelyn hesitated before muttering, "Aria…" She stopped herself.

"Aria?" Rin repeated, curious.

Evelyn shook her head. "I have to go to the guild. There are some matters I need to deal with."

Rin blinked in surprise. "But you're on leave too, aren't you?"

Evelyn shrugged; frustration evident in her tone. "It's urgent. It can't wait." She glanced at Rin, her expression softening slightly. "But I don't want to leave you here alone."

Rin waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, don't worry about me. If you have to go, you should go. I'll be fine."

Evelyn frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. "But…"

Rin studied Evelyn's expression and thought, Look at her. She looks like a clingy child who doesn't want to let their parent out of sight for even a moment.

After a moment of consideration, Rin smiled. "I have an idea. How about this: I'll leave with you and look around the city while you finish your work. When you're done, you can pick me up. How about it?"

Evelyn hesitated, her brows knitting together as she weighed the suggestion. Finally, she sighed and nodded. "Fine. But don't wander too far, okay?"

"Of course," Rin said brightly. Internally, she cheered. Yay, victory. Now on to the Central Archives.