"So it's between Clientele and Harmonised Summons then?" Tanya said to Assistant, over the hum of Ian and Mrs Eceer having their own conversation on the opposite sofa.

Assistant nodded slowly.

"Legacy Etching is a clear no," she continued. "Everyone I've given tattoos to is important to me in some way, and they'd have to die." She paused for a moment. Adder flashed into her head, but she couldn't disagree that he was an important link, regardless of her personal feelings about him.

Although everyone you've tattooed has Summons now? Assistant wrote.

"That's… true," Tanya mused. It still felt uncomfortable, this weight in her stomach, but she wanted to make the best decision for her and the survival of those she loved. People would be dying all over the place, and if some of those had tattoos, she would gain the Ability to share that Class around.

Thinking about the legacy aspect of that made the weight sit a little easier.

Assistant picked up the pencil again, and Tanya looked over.

We don't know if you would need access to their body.

"We also don't know how many have awakened. A bunch may be dead already or just have tattoos on them that never became summons." Tanya thought about it a moment longer. "I don't actually know anyone I tattooed before. I heard from Maria about using the plants, but…"

It felt like Tanya's perspective widened with a single thought.

"I shouldn't just be thinkin' 'bout this as a level up. This will be me final choice for me Subclass. I don't think that bein' able to turn dead peoples' Classes into tattoos would be the best option of these, but havin' any connection to that concept—or even just to folks I've given tattoos generally, that could be huge."

Assistant pulled up Tanya's interface. Your Class options will be linked to The Blink of an Eye, Passing the Mark, and whatever you pick now.

"We need a good third option."

Tanya walked over to the table, grabbing the map of the area. Was there anyone nearby she could check on and meet.

The map was much larger than even the last time she saw it, not only in detail but also size. They'd been adding bits and pieces whenever, along with new pieces of paper to expand the border. Looking closer, she could even see the different inks and subtleties of each of their styles. Her Interface turned on instinctively, and she could see the pop-up boxes go from squiggles into names as she worked out who was who. Mrs Eceer was the easiest—no one had handwriting as neat as hers. Boris was next. Then Ishita, who's was very neat but had that loopy cursive quality that made it harder to read.

Ishita.

Tanya swung round to Mrs Eceer.

"So which of these is most compatible with where you see yourself?" Mrs Eceer asked Ian. She looked up at the end. "Tanya?"

"Sorry, I—" she raked her hand through her hair. "I promised Ishita I'd go round to pay her back tomorrow, but that was before all this."

"Ah, yes, she left this for you." Mrs Eceer pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and passed it over.

Tanya,

I see you are deep in helping Ian. I wish you both the best of luck.

Come the next morning when you are free. Ideally, a full day and with full Attributes.

Ishita.

"She wants a big tattoo then," Tanya said, both to herself and also Assistant.

Mrs Eceer had already fallen back into her conversation with Ian.

Tanya turned back to the map. "I'll go meet Ishita tomorrow. For now, maybe we talk whilst we walk?"

Do you want me to get you the client files? Assistant wrote.

"Yes, wait—" Tanya thought about the paperwork and realised how clear the memory was. "I can remember it. Holy shit." She leaned over the table, pointing vaguely at where buildings would be outside of the paper map's range. "Todd was over here somewhere. 8 Gull Road. And Amy was another local… Here ish I think. Flat 5, 76 Church Street."

It felt like she could just read through the papers as if in front of her. "Woah… high Concentration is fucking insane."

Assistant wriggled in glee.

"Fuck it. Wanna go see if we can find one of them?"

Assistant nodded.

"Be back soon!" Tanya called, opening the door. Mrs Eceer and Ian were too deep in conversation and didn't look up. Tanya smiled; she got it.

Something about the thudding of steps made it easier to think. Tanya adopted her typical thinking pose on instinct, one curled finger on her chin. However, unlike the crossed arm she was used to, she held her other hand out to hold paper for Assistant. Someone had found Assistant a clipboard to place its paper on, which had made writing while out far more convenient until Assistant could learn to sign.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Legacy Etchin' could give me something else 'bout when things die—which isn't ideal, but if it went towards either turnin' Classes into tattoos or some way of helpin' everyone with me Summons it could be perfect."

Assistant started writing again.

That could bring Brand of Conquest back into use too. I'd worry about eroding identity, but perhaps that would give you some Subclass that gave more information on the monsters or utilising them.

"Hm, very true."

Or it could give something else risky themed around eroding yourself…

"Ugh, it feels impossible to know what is right."

Tanya noticed how much she'd sped up. She instinctively slowed herself back down to not get out of breath, but then realised she didn't need to.

"Oh. Oh."

Tanya sped into a jog. Before, she'd have felt her chest heaving for more oxygen within a minute, but one street passed and then another and Tanya felt no change at all.

"It's so fuckin' weird Assistant. I really am different than I used to be, not just mentally but," she indicated down to her body. "Physically."

She looked over to Assistant and could feel their second-hand happiness.

"Huh, you know what it feels like too, I suppose, from me memories."

They sped through the streets for a while longer. When a monster ran towards her from a side street, Tanya didn't bother to slow; she summoned Phantom Brand and killed it with a single slice while still jogging. The black ichor splattered over her boots. Being able to do that didn't feel normal yet, but she didn't panic this time—that felt like progress.

I still like Clientele, Assistant wrote.

"Oh, man, that might give me something shop-themed as a Subclass," Tanya exclaimed. She spotted a monster in the distance and adjusted her grip on Phantom Brand. "I have no clue what Harmonised Summons would give me, but with one of the strongest Abilities of the set, I doubt it would be bad."

The hound-like monster snarled, leaping closer. Assistant rose higher in the air to write. Tanya defeated the monster with a lunge and slash of the blade and then looked over.

Something to control Summons better? It would probably be bigger than that. Controlling the allies with the tattoos? Controlling enemies?

"Hm, yeah, I hadn't thought of that angle of them bein' controlled together," Tanya said. "I was thinkin' like huge webs of tattoos connected across people. Though that still doesn't feel big enough for a Subclass. Maybe harmonising people somehow? Something like me and Mrs Eceer's Synergy thing."

Tanya was finally starting to feel the edges of breathlessness in her chest from running. It was a nice feeling somehow, even though she'd always avoided running wherever possible. Somehow it still felt very normal, human and comfortable.

She focused on the thudding of her feet on the ground, the conversation with Assistant circling her head behind the meditative movement.

A sign caught the corner of her eye. "I think we're almost there."

She could feel Assistant's caution without it even needing to write.

"This is Amy Li. I gave her a tattoo of a Chinese-style tiger."

Tanya gulped. She hadn't considered the exact tattoo in how she chose who to go for. Amy had been the second closest but wasn't far from another person, so she'd thought it was a better bet.

She couldn't decide if being a dangerous tattoo was a good thing because she could maybe help, or if she was hoping to find an easy rose tattoo.

"I think let's fuse," Tanya said, her nerves increasing.

Assistant floated down and grasped her arm, disappearing into it.

She wasn't sure if it was the Vitality returning to her or just knowing Assistant was with her, but it gave her the confidence she needed to knock.

In the limbo of waiting to see if there would be an answer, Tanya tried to recall everything she could on Amy.

She'd moved to London to study after spending her gap year in Singapore. Tanya couldn't remember if it was fine art or maybe fashion she was studying. Whichever it was, she could remember Amy's outfit. Something about the bold shapes of her fuzzy teal beret and thick yellow-framed felt like they'd fallen out of a gallery.

She'd be here by now, right?

Tanya knocked again, louder.

She heard a whimper inside. Tanya could have sworn it was "Not again."

"Do ya need help? I'm here to help!" Tanya yelled, hammering again.

"Go away!" The feminine voice inside yelled. Tanya assumed it was Amy. "No, no, please don't. Go back inside…" The rest of the words were too faint for Tanya to hear.

"I can help. Just let me in!" Tanya called, head pressed against the door.

The only response was a pained shriek, but one of just as much frustration as fear.

Tanya was starting to get nervous about the amount of noise she was making. She could handle the smaller packs of monsters around here now, but if she attracted something stronger, she might be in trouble.

She took a deep breath, steadying her voice. "It's me, Tanya Angelo—the tattoo artist from The Wyrm and Needle. Do you remember?"

"Tanya?" The hope in her voice was clear. "Get it off me! Get it off me! Fix it!"

"Let me in," Tanya called back, rattling the door handle. She doubted Amy could hear her over her own yelling.

She took a few steps back from the door and ran at it like a battering ram. Tanya dropped to her knees as a wave of pain flooded her shoulder. "Fuck."

Phantom Brand clattered to the floor beside her, glowing white as it ate the edge of the pavement tile.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Tanya murmured. She held it up to the door. "Eat."

The sound it made as it ripped the door off the hinges was reminiscent of crunching. She listened to the nails popping out. Wood curled in on itself with strength that even now, Tanya struggled to comprehend.

She pulled it away before it could drain too much of her Vitality, then climbed through the hole it had made. A loose plank at the bottom and one hanging off the hinge were all that remained of the door.

Tanya walked inside, looking from side to side. A mirror, and there was a door on her right to one flat and a staircase to the left, likely to another flat or two. The voice was bottom floor. Tanya ran to the handle. Again, locked.

"I'm coming in!' Tanya yelled. She didn't bother with Phantom brand this time. Turning to one side, she barrelled her sore shoulder into the door. It flew open.

Nothing prepared her for the sight inside. The tattoo skulked around the trashed room in gorgeous watercolour shades that almost seemed to glow in the low light. Its mouth was stuck wide, thick globs of saliva coating the fluff of its chin. Everything that wasn't smashed had huge claw rips in it.

Tanya spotted the body of an elderly man in the corner, on its back and surrounded by dead flowers. She didn't want to take her eyes off the tiger for too long, but she couldn't help it.

As the beast turned side to side, it looked like a trick of the mind—almost two-dimensional, as if it had come off an ancient parchment. What really made her stomach lurch was the sight of Amy behind it. She was skeletal. Tanya wondered when she had run out of food. Her blue-black bob was thin and greasy, her once round face now dominated by pointed cheekbones and a hard jawline. She curled in the corner, arms tight around her bloodied jeans, and looked up to Tanya with haunted eyes.

As Amy's gaze fixed on her, the tiger stilled. Its eyes followed.

Amy's gaze snapped to her at the same moment the tiger's did. They didn't blink.

"Help me," Amy whispered.

The beast's growl rumbled out on the same breath, as though the words had passed through its throat first.

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