The next day dawned with Janos dragging Kaiden back to the garrison’s indoor training centre for more rigorous training. However, unlike the previous day’s gruelling duel, Janos spent hours teaching Kaiden the fundamentals of sword and shield combat. He began by meticulously teaching him the basic stance, demonstrating how to hold the shield to protect his left side effectively while angling the corner of the shield to cover the right shoulder. His sword hand, meanwhile, was free to cover the right side or launch an attack.

After that, they moved onto guards – high, long, and low. Janos stressed the importance of correct transition between stances, illustrating how even a slight twist of the wrist would prevent the shield from obstructing his vision, allowing him to maintain visual contact with his opponent.

Aridan was also rigorously drilled; his father keen on sharpening his bow and dagger techniques that had dulled during his captivity. The general's insistence on precision was highlighted during their session and Kaiden was sure that even long after the motto ‘perfect practice makes perfect.’ Would resound through his head long after it ended.

After their training session, Kaiden and Aridan made their way to the tattooist’s house situated on the city’s outskirts. As they moved away from the higher class of elven society, the buildings transitioned from the elegant, flowing structures that resembled works of art, to rougher, more tightly packed structures. The homes were clearly smaller – Kaiden guessed that many were no larger than a single room. Despite the obvious economic differences, homelessness seemed to be absent in Elven society, a fact that Kaiden thought might be due to their unique method of construction. In a city where buildings could be grown directly from the trees, he reasoned that the cost would be significantly reduced.

As they continued walking, Aridan explained, “The city contacts companies to create these buildings. The contacts are awarded through a bidding process, with the lowest bidder typically winning. Unfortunately, to save coin, these companies often hire the cheapest labour available, which usually means elves who have basic classes and low-ranked skills.”

They entered one of the many apartment buildings in the area, it’s designed much simpler compared to the elegant residents of the wealthier sections of the city. The building encircled the trunk in a rough cylindrical shape, reminiscent of an old World War II German grenade. The corridors were dimly lit, casting long shadows that stretched along the floor and walls.

Finally, Aridan stopped in front of a nondescript door that was almost indistinguishable from its neighbours.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Kaiden asked, his voice echoing slightly in the cramped space.

Aridan looked to the parchment his father had given him, his finger tracing the line where the address was written. “it says unit 287,” he noted, pointing to the apartment adjacent to them. “We just passed number 286. This must be it.

Kaiden shrugged and rapped on the door; his knocks producing a hollow series of thuds that travelled down the dim corridor. Almost immediately, there was a loud crash from inside the apartment, followed by the sound of footsteps.

“What do you want?” An irritated voice demanded through the door.

Kaiden and Aridan exchanged a glance before Aridan responded. “We’re here to see Delger.”

“Well, I don’t want to see you,” the voice retorted sharply.

“Janos sent us,” Aridan added.

The sound of multiple locks disengaging followed Aridan’s words, and the door swung open abruptly. The man who appeared was around fifty years old, with weathered skin marked by sunspots that hinted at either a lot of time spent in the sun, or a lot of time drinking from a bottle. Intricate tattoos swirled in dark ink and bold patterns across his arms, stretching from his wrists up beneath his rolled sleeves. His hair and thick beard were peppered with grey, that framed his rugged face. Sharp assessing eyes, flicked from Aridan to Kaiden with a wary scrutiny.

What surprised Kaiden was that the man was human.

“Prove it,” the man demanded gruffly.

Aridan handed over the parchment from Janos. The man’s eyes darted across the paper, absorbing every word. After a brief moment, he gestured them inside with a grunt. “Hurry up, get inside.”

Stepping into the dimly lit apartment, Kaiden was immediately struck by the chaos within. The small room was crammed with a mix of books, scrolls, and various equipment, leaving no space unoccupied.

“Take a seat.” The man said.

Where? Kaiden thought looking around the room. Every chair and surface was piled high with items, except for a long wooden workbench at the back, which bore ink-black stains.

“That’s all right, I prefer to stand,” Kaiden replied.

The man shrugged and cleared a space on a cluttered chair, sending stacks of books tumbling to the floor. He then seated himself, his eyes scanning them with curiosity. “So, why is the General of the First Army sending you to me?” he inquired.

“I’m Aridan,” Aridan introduced himself, offering a hand that the man didn’t take.

“The general's missing son… I hadn’t realized you’d returned,” the man commented, a flicker of recognition crossing his features.

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“It’s a fairly recent development,” Aridan responded, his voice even. “You know who I am?”

“I’ve heard of you, yes. Your father is quite famous after all. Though you disappeared before I came to Emendel.” The man explained, leaning back in his chair, which creaked under his weight.

“And how exactly do you know my father?” Aridan asked.

The man raised an eyebrow. “I occasionally do work for the Army, your father is my benefactor here. In return, I’m allowed to live here and my research is funded.”

“What sort of research?” Kaiden asked.

“Why, enchanted tattoos, of course. Isn’t that why you are here?” Delger replied.

Kaiden nodded, while Aridan asked, “I still don’t understand why you’re here and not in the human empire with your clan.”

Delger scoffed, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Those narrow-minded fools are too entrenched in their traditions to appreciate my work. They declared my work blasphemy.”

Aridan’s brow furrowed in confusion. “But aren’t tattoos a central part of the nomadic tribe's religious practices?”

Delger sighed and stood, picking up an ink-stained tool from his table. “indeed, tattoos are sacred, seen as divine gifts that enhance our attributes for those deemed worthy by the gods. Those who fail the tattoo ritual are considered unworthy and are exiled from the tribe.”

Kaiden, intrigued, leaned forward. “That’s fascinating. How much could a successful tattoo boost an attribute?” he asked.

Delger shrugged. “It varies greatly from person to person. The higher the level of the tattooist the greater chance of a successful enchantment. Boosts can range from a modest increase of one attribute to adding several levels worth. There are even tales of legendary tattoo’s that have granted the wearer a percentage increase to attributes.”

Aridan furrowed his brow in confusion. “If tattoos are part of your religion, why were you exiled?”

Delger’s expression darkened. “I proposed the idea of tattooing skills onto individuals, to see if we could not just enhance but actually bestow new abilities. The elders view this as blasphemous, an affront to our traditions and gods.

“That would certainly be powerful, a tattoo granting someone an additional skill,” Aridan remarked. “Have you been successful?”

A flicker of frustration crossed the tattooist's face. “No, however, I did stumble upon something else in my research. I figured out how to manipulate the appearance of one’s status screen to others.” He paused, studying them. “I believe this may be why you’ve come here today?”

“What makes you say that?” Kaiden said cautiously.

“It’s not uncommon work for the Army to send me,” Delger explained.

Kaiden nodded. “Can you hide my race?”

“Sure, how is your race displayed on your status?” Delger asked.

Kaiden hesitated, uncertainty washed over him. He hadn’t confirmed it, but he suspected due to his unique circumstance his race might appear different to that of a typical half-human half-dragonborn. He had been meaning to discuss his origins from Earth with Aridan, but the right moment never seemed to arise. Now, under Delger’s piercing gaze, surrounded by the musty smell of ink and old paper, Kaiden felt the weight of his secret more acutely.

“Is that really necessary?” he deflected, voice tinged with unease, unsure how much he could safely reveal to the eccentric tattooist.

Delger, his expression intense eyed Kaiden. “Inking and scarring your skin with permanent enchantments is an intricate process,” he explained, his tone irritable and firm. “It requires hours of precise work, costly materials including specialized ink, and a significant level of skill. Even then, there’s still a risk of failure. The more information I have, the better I can tailor the enchantment to you. But if you’d prefer a generic solution, I can do that – though it won’t be optimal and will increase the risk of failure.

Realizing the importance of disclosure, Kaiden quickly jumped in. “No, no, I’ll tell you. I just wasn’t sure why you needed it.” He paused and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “It comes up as Dragonborn Human.”

“Don’t you mean Half Human / Half Dragonborn? Remember, precision is the key,” Delger asked.

“No, it specifically lists my race as Dragonborn Human.” Kaiden clarified.

Delger blinked, his surprise evident. “Fascinating. I’ve never encountered such a case.”

“Will you be able to make an enchantment to hide it?” Kaiden asked.

The old man stroked his scraggly beard thoughtfully. “I can’t see why not. I’ll design a personalized enchantment for you. Tell me your entire status precisely, and make sure you notify me if you level up before we start tattooing. The more information I have, the higher the likelihood of success.”

Kaiden grimaced, feeling vulnerable as he disclosed his status; it was akin to stripping naked. Nonetheless, he proceeded, aware that any omission could jeopardize the tattoo's success.

“Alright, likely take me about two weeks to design, and the enchantment itself will take a week of tattooing. Delger informant him.

“That’s longer than I expected,” Kaiden remarked.

Do you want me to rush this?” Delger asked sharply, his irritation palpable.

“Uh, no, take your time,” Kaiden quickly replied.

“Good. Now get out of here; you’ve given me plenty to do.” Delger said dismissively, waving them off with his hand.

Kaiden and Aridan exited, leaving the tattooist engrossed in his sketches. Once in the dimly lit corridor, Aridan turned to him, an eyebrow raised inquisitively. “So, is there anything you want to tell me?”

Kaiden paused, his breath catching slightly. “I’m not originally from this world – I came from a place called Earth,” he confessed, his voice low and hesitant in the dimly lit corridor. He watched Aridan’s face closely, feeling the nervous tension of finally sharing his secret with someone.

Aridan's expression shifted dramatically from curiosity to sheer astonishment. “From another world?” he echoed, the concept taking a moment to sink in. “Holy gods, you’re a traveller,” he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief.

“Now that I think about it, that actually explains a lot, but how did you end up here?” He continued, curiously.

“It’s… it’s a long story.” Kaiden replied. Realizing something, he added, “Traveller, you’ve heard of people coming from different worlds before?”

Aridan glanced around cautiously, ensuring no one was within earshot. “Yes, but I thought it was something from stories and legends, I never believed it was possible.” He murmured. “Come, let’s discuss this somewhere more private,” he suggested, leading the way.

That night, in the security of Aridan’s home, they stayed up late in conversation well into the early hours of the morning. Kaiden shared his unexpected journey to this world, and the differences of Earth – its vast oceans and bustling cities with enormous skyscrapers. Aridan hung on every word, his curiosity boundless as he bombarded Kaiden with questions about Earth's technologies, customs, and cultures. As the conversation eventually turned to his family and the life he had left behind, Kaiden felt his sense of loss ease slightly. Sharing his secret not only lifted the weight he had been carrying but also brought a sense of closure. Drained but content, Kaiden finally succumbed to sleep.