Resonant Rewrite

The cool air brushed against Evelyn's skin as she stepped out of the research facility with Vera, her mind still lingering on the events inside. She had barely processed what was going on inside, before Vera had whisked her away, without explanation, into the quiet corridors of the guild. It wasn't unusual for the guild master to pull her aside for discussions, but Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"Where are we going?" Evelyn asked, her voice tight with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.

Vera didn't immediately answer. She simply walked ahead, her heels clicking sharply against the stone floor. Evelyn followed, her steps quickening as she tried to make sense of the situation. There was a tension in the air, one that didn't sit right with her. Vera's silence only made it worse.

"Vera," Evelyn pressed, her tone sharper now. "What's going on? Why did you pull me out like that? Is this about Aria?"

Vera slowed her pace, finally glancing over her shoulder at Evelyn. Her expression was unreadable, but Evelyn knew her well enough to detect the subtle shift in her demeanor.

"I wanted to speak with you privately," Vera said, her voice smooth, almost too calm. "About Aria's abilities. We need to discuss the next steps."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. Her protective instincts flared. "What about Aria?" she asked, her voice low, almost dangerous. "What are you planning to do with her?"

Vera stopped walking and turned to face her fully. "Nothing that should concern you," she said, though there was a sharpness behind her words now. "We're simply gathering data. We need to understand the full extent of her abilities. And, for that, we need her to guide other Espers. We've already seen her power in action, but we need to analyze it further."

Evelyn's chest tightened. "No. Absolutely not." Her voice was firm, her gaze hardening. "I won't let her guide anyone else. Not without me. You know how I feel about this."

Vera raised an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly. "You're being unreasonable, Evelyn. You're not the only one who has a stake in this. Aria is a part of this world, too. She's a hunter, just like you. And as much as you might want to keep her to yourself, the guild needs to understand her abilities. We all do."

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She had known this moment was coming, but hearing Vera speak so coldly about Aria, as if she were just another tool to be used, made her blood boil. "I won't let you use her like that. She's not just some weapon you can experiment with."

Vera's gaze sharpened, and she took a step closer, her voice lowering to a near whisper. "Why are you so protective of her, Evelyn? What is it about Aria that makes you so possessive?"

Evelyn's eyes narrowed, but she didn't back down. "She is my responsibility. She's… she's the only person I can trust in this world. She's not like, the others. She's special, Vera."

Vera didn't seem moved by Evelyn's response. Instead, she continued, her tone cutting through the tension like a blade. "And yet, you've kept so much from her. When she was dealing with the orphanage issue and got poisoned, you didn't tell her about it, did you? You kept her in the dark because you didn't want to stress her out, claiming she'd lost her memory. And now, you won't even let her guide anyone else."

Evelyn flinched at the words, but Vera wasn't finished. She stepped forward, her voice growing more intense with each word.

"If Aria hadn't noticed your condition, if Mira hadn't told her about your corruption rate before she collapsed, if Aria hadn't guided you when you were at your weakest, you would have been lost. You know that, don't you?"

Evelyn opened her mouth to argue, but Vera held up a hand to silence her.

"And after that, when Aria regained consciousness, you didn't let us investigate what happened in the dungeon. You didn't even tell her about the mark on your arm until she confronted you herself. And now, you're still trying to keep her from guiding anyone else."

Evelyn's mind raced. She had always known there was a reason she couldn't bring herself to tell Aria everything. She had wanted to protect her, keep her safe from the harsh realities of their world. But hearing Vera's words, so blunt and unyielding, made Evelyn realize just how much she had been holding back.

"I'm trying to protect her," Evelyn said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "She's been through so much already. I don't want to put her in danger."

Vera's expression softened, though there was no warmth in it. "I understand that, Evelyn. But you're not the only one who cares about her. You're not the only one who wants to keep her safe. Aria is part of this guild now, and she has a role to play. Whether you like it or not, she's a part of this fight. We all are."

Evelyn's heart ached at the thought of Aria being thrust into more danger, but she couldn't deny the truth in Vera's words. Aria had always been more than just a guide to her. She was a friend, someone who had proven time and time again that she was capable of handling whatever the world threw at her.

But Evelyn couldn't shake the fear that Aria would be hurt. That her innocence would be shattered by the cruel realities of their world.

"I just… I don't know if I can let her go through that," Evelyn whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't want to lose her."

Vera's eyes softened for a moment, but she didn't let up. "You don't have to lose her, Evelyn. But you can't keep her locked away from the world forever. Not when she's capable of so much. We need to understand her abilities, and for that, she has to guide others. Even if it's just this one time."

Evelyn stood there in silence, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She knew Vera was right. She knew that Aria's abilities were too important to be hidden away. But the thought of her guiding anyone else—of anyone else depending on her—felt like a betrayal.

Finally, Evelyn exhaled, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this is the only time. I won't let you use her like this again."

Vera gave a small nod, her expression unreadable. "I'll hold you to that."

Evelyn reached the observation room and paused outside; her gaze drawn to the window. Through the glass, she saw Aria standing in the center of the room, her hands faintly glowing as she guided the team—Mira, Garret, Kael, and Finn. The Espers stood around her, their usual sharp-edged tension replaced by a strange serenity.

Evelyn's chest tightened. The glow of Aria's guiding energy faded as the experiment concluded. Her team stood there, visibly at ease, as though Aria's presence had lifted a weight from them.

The researchers, gathered along the edges of the room, exchanged glances of awe and curiosity. Their hushed voices carried faintly through the glass. One scientist's pen hovered midair, forgotten, while another scribbled furiously in their notebook. But it wasn't just the researchers who were captivated—it was them.

Mira, Garret, Kael, and Finn weren't just standing there—they were watching Aria. Their gazes lingered on her with something Evelyn couldn't quite name. Respect? Admiration? Reverence?

A hot knot of anger and unease twisted in Evelyn's chest.

She hated the burn of jealousy that flared in her gut, hated the way her fists clenched at her sides. But no matter how much she tried to push it down; the feeling wouldn't go away.

The door opened, and Evelyn stepped inside, her expression carefully neutral. She met Aria's eyes first.

"How did it go?" Evelyn asked, her voice tight.

Aria turned to her, calm and composed. "The results are inconclusive," she said, her tone thoughtful. "They didn't find anything unusual."

Evelyn's brow furrowed, but she forced herself to nod. "We'll figure it out," she said briskly, her words clipped.

She gestured for Aria to follow her. "Come on. Let's go."

As they left the room, Evelyn's gaze flicked back to her team. Mira, Garret, Kael, and Finn were still watching Aria, their expressions unreadable but somehow… drawn. Evelyn's stomach churned. Why are they looking at her like that?

Her hands balled into fists again, but she remained silent. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to her own spiraling thoughts.

They walked in silence until they reached the corridor. Evelyn stopped and turned to Aria. "Go ahead. I'll catch up. I forgot to tell Vera something."

Aria hesitated, her brow furrowing. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Evelyn said, her tone sharper than she intended. She softened her expression immediately, guilt pricking at her. "Just go on. I won't be long."

Aria nodded reluctantly and continued down the hall.

Evelyn found Vera waiting outside the observation room, her arms crossed.

"This was the first and last time," Evelyn said, her voice cold and unyielding.

Vera arched an eyebrow. "I already told you—I agreed to that."

Evelyn's jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing. She studied Vera's face, searching for any hint of duplicity. When she found none, she turned to leave, but Vera's voice stopped her.

"Evelyn."

She turned back, her gaze sharp.

Vera's expression was calm, but there was an edge to her voice. "You're too close to this."

Evelyn stiffened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what it means," Vera said, her tone matter-of-fact. "Your connection to Aria is clouding your judgment. It's affecting you."

Evelyn glared at her, but Vera didn't back down.

"She's a Guide, Evelyn. She's supposed to be influenced by you—not the other way around. And yet, here you are, acting like she's the one in control."

Evelyn's fists clenched, but she said nothing.

Vera's gaze softened, though her voice remained firm. "This imbalance… it's not normal. And you know it."

Evelyn turned on her heel without another word, her heart pounding as she walked away.

Vera watched Evelyn go, her thoughts racing.

She's losing herself in this bond. Evelyn is one of the strongest Espers we have—an S-class. Yet Aria, an S-class Guide, is exerting a stronger influence on her than Evelyn is on Aria.

She frowned, her arms crossing tighter. Guides aren't supposed to be this powerful. They're supposed to follow the lead of their Espers. But Aria… she's different. And Evelyn doesn't even see it.

Vera's gaze lingered on the empty corridor. This bond could change everything. If Aria's influence continues to grow, it won't just affect Evelyn—it'll affect the entire balance between Espers and Guides.

Back at the Apartment

Both of them return back to the apartment in silence. As the night deepened, Rin finally slipped away to her own room. She flopped onto her bed, the faint glow of her system interface flickering into view.

"System," Rin said, stretching her arms above her head, "why is it that the mark appeared on Evelyn and not on anyone else? None of the others—Mira, Garret, Kael, or Finn—has it."

The system stayed silent, its interface flickering faintly.

"Ugh, don't be so typical," Rin groaned, rolling her eyes. "I know you're all mysterious and dramatic, but can you at least try to answer a straightforward question for once?"

Still, the system didn't respond.

Rin huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. Be stubborn. But I'm not dropping this."

As if relenting to her complaints, the interface shimmered, and a new screen opened before her:

_________________________________________________________________________

Author Rewrite Status.

Author: Rin Calloway

Name: Aria Felstone

Progress: 0.001%

Skills:

Plot Correction Quests:

Continue…...

Characters:

Evelyn Ardane: Status [Active]

Continue…...

__________________________________________________________________________

Evelyn's profile was highlighted, glowing faintly in the corner.

"Oh?" Rin leaned forward, a teasing grin spreading across her face. "Giving in already? You're so predictable, System."

She clicked on Evelyn's profile, her curiosity piqued. The screen expanded, revealing detailed information about Evelyn's stats, abilities, and—

__________________________________________________________________________

STATUS WINDOW

Name: Evelyn Ardane

Class: Esper (S-Class)

Affiliation: Silver Phoenix Guild, Independent Team leader

Attributes

Strength: ★★★★★ Agility: ★★★★★

Endurance: ★★★★☆ Perception: ★★★★☆

Intelligence: ★★★★☆ Willpower: ★★★★★

__________________________________________________________________________

Abilities

Phantom Strike

Description: Evelyn channels energy into a devastating attack that bypasses physical defenses. Effective against both physical and magical barriers.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Ethereal Reflex

Description: Enhances reaction speed and sensory awareness, allowing her to perceive and counter threats at near-inhuman speeds.

Duration: 10 seconds Cooldown: 30 seconds

Corruption Resilience

Description: Grants resistance to corruption-based effects, allowing her to maintain mental and physical stability under extreme conditions.

Passive Ability

___________________________________________________________________________

Synchronization Rate

Primary Guide: Aria

Synchronization Rate: 85%

__________________________________________________________________________

Imprint:

Location: Left arm (Silver Hue)

Description A crescent moon entwined with flowing vines, adorned with shimmering leaves and blossoms, radiating a magical, ethereal glow.

__________________________________________________________________________

Traits:

Leadership Obsession: Aria

__________________________________________________________________________

Corruption Rate:

Current Level: 12%

Note: Monitor closely. High synchronization with Aria has been shown to reduce corruption progression temporarily.

__________________________________________________________________________

Affinities:

Combat Aura Manipulation

__________________________________________________________________________

Rin froze.

In front of Evelyn's profile was a small, glowing symbol, its design intricates and otherworldly.

The mark was a crescent moon, delicately entwined with flowing vines, radiates elegance in deep crimson red. The vines, adorned with shimmering red leaves and soft blossoms, wrap gracefully around the moon. The moon itself glows with a rich crimson hue, transitioning to a soft, darker shade at the edges, creating a magical, ethereal effect. The design exudes a dreamlike, cosmic beauty.

Rin's eyes widened. "Wait a minute… that's the same mark that's on Evelyn's arm."

She clicked on the symbol, and a new screen popped up. The image of the mark appeared in vivid red against the system's usual blue background. Beneath it, information was displayed in contrasting colors, the name of the mark written in bold:

IMPRINT

The description followed:

The Imprint is a unique phenomenon that occurs only between a Guide and their most compatible Esper. It signifies an unparalleled synchronization rate, marking the bond between them as absolute. The Imprint acts as a brand, a seal that ties the Esper to their Guide on a fundamental level.

Rin's jaw dropped. "What… the hell?"

She read the description again, her mind racing.

"This isn't normal," she muttered, sitting back on her bed. "Guides don't mark Espers. It's always the other way around. Espers are stronger, more dominant—they're the ones who leave marks on Guides, not the other way around."

Her gaze returned to the glowing mark on the screen. "But then again… there's never been an S-class Guide before. At least, not in my story. And Evelyn is an S-class Esper. Could it be that the usual rules don't apply when the Guide is this powerful?"

She frowned, her thoughts spiraling. "In my novel's world, synchronization rates were tested to determine compatibility between Espers and Guides. And sure, high synchronization was rare, but it always meant the Guide was marked by the Esper. It was like… proof of the Esper's dominance. But this…"

Her fingers hovered over the screen. "This is the exact opposite."

She narrowed her eyes at the system. "System," she said, her tone sharp, "is this your interference again? Or is this just how the natural order works in this world? Because I wouldn't know—there was never an S-class Guide in my story. You've already messed with enough things as it is."

The system remained silent.

Rin scowled, glaring at the glowing screen. "Of course you're not going to answer. Typical."

She leaned back against her pillows, her mind churning.

"This changes everything," she murmured. "If Guides can imprint on Espers, it flips the whole power dynamic. It means…" She trailed off, her gaze darkening. "It means my influence over Evelyn might be even stronger than I thought."

The screen flickered faintly, the glowing mark seeming to pulse once before fading. Rin stared at the empty space where the information had been, her thoughts tangled with both fascination and unease.