After firmly condemning her behavior and waiting for a moment, he heard her speak again.
"You can turn now. Sorry, but my clothes can't follow me when I'm inside a shadow.
He turned, noticing her tight suit, and rolled his eyes. But he knew they enjoyed this type of clothing on Earth, unlike the embroidered dresses of this world. Therefore, he shook his head and focused on their business.
"Point where the mark is. I'll try to remove it now."
An excited glint flashed in Anya's eyes. Without waiting, she extended her trembling right shoulder. The shadows parted, revealing a deceiving butterfly tattooed on her supple skin in a vibrant mix of colors. Disturbing eyes peering into the onlookers' souls graced the lifelike wings, making a sense of unease wash over him for a second.
His face hardened, and his brows creased in a focused frown the next, as he placed his palm above it.
Mana danced between his fingertips and her skin for a moment, and his eyes glowed like two bright torches as he used Elara's spell.
A stream of information flooded his mind. The butterfly changed form, decomposing into its magical components.
'Tier five slave mark cast by four adepts and combining as many elements.'
Anya's voice cut through his thoughts, forcing his eyes to her hopeful smile.
He didn't answer, refocusing on his analysis. To erase the mark without leaving a lingering trace of its effects, he lacked mana and proficiency. But altering it?
With a thought, tiny mana needles sparkling with a distinct element appeared above the dreary butterfly. With utmost precision, he burrowed them into the mark. For a moment, his mana resonated with its properties before the tattoo swirled into a vortex as if alive.
As the prickles turned into pain, Anya's mouth parted, a cold dread running through her shoulders.
However, he beat her by a second. With a relaxed tone, a baffling question echoed.
"What kind of tattoo do you like?"
Her eyes enlarged, pushing the pain out of her thoughts.
"What do you mean, why? For the style points, of course!"
He shook his head. Wasn't it obvious? She would be stuck with the tattoo anyway. So, she might as well make it beautiful or reflect her personality instead of that horrible butterfly.
"Since I can choose, I want a ferocious bear, with glinting fangs!"
Upon hearing about the animal he hated the most, he almost messed up with the slave mark and tripped to the ground.
"No! Chose anything but bears!"
Surprised by the heated reaction, her eyes enlarged. Then, she frowned, pondering.
An awkward silence lingered for a second, only disturbed by the distant noises of pickaxes meeting the hard rocks.
After three minutes, her eyes sparkled.
"I want a moon crescent resting on flowers!"
Before her words' echo could dissipate, he manipulated the swirling mark, shaping it into a stylish and faithful depiction of her demand.
Then, he gazed at his work, nodding in satisfaction as he added colors to make it lifelike. Finally, his elemental mana engulfed the adepts, replacing it.
"Congratulations! You are no longer a slave to the Cassia kingdom."
The noise of his clapping resounded, making her smile broaden to reach her eyes.
She clutched her shoulder, gazing at the beautiful tattoo, melting in delight.
However, he shook his head, a bitter taste filling his mouth.
"I couldn't erase it, so instead... You are somewhat my slave now..."
His voice trailed off, a pang of guilt striking at his soul. Even if it was better for her, he hated the idea of enslavement. Therefore, before her expression could crumble entirely, his sharp voice cut through the air.
"My first order for you."
She shivered, a knot of dread forming in her guts.
"Is to do whatever you want. Refuse any demand you don't agree with. This order shall take priority over any other and can't be erased."
The mark brightened on her shoulder, making the moon glow in the dark tunnel as a forceful sensation Anya usually hated dug into her being. Yet, this time, she almost jumped in joy after hearing the command.
"You can leave now. Live your life as you wish," he said, his leather boots echoing against the ground. "Oh. And be careful in this world. They won't accept your clothing and teasing tone."
She gazed at his departing back, a complex mix of emotions distorting her face before resolve subdued them all.
She dissolved into a shadow and slithered towards him, reappearing a second later. Then, she jumped onto his back.
"What slave leaves its master in a dangerous place? Let me guide you!"
Her cheerful voice pierced his ears. However, she continued before he could answer.
"You can't differentiate east from west. You'll lose yourself in the complex, half-collapsed galleries before seeing a beast's shadow without me."
The initial refusal he was about to voice died in his throat as a calculative glint flashed in his eyes. Company didn't annoy him, on the contrary. What he dreaded was the danger they would face when following him. After all, tier-four and five magical beasts would crush them with physical might before the attack registered in their eyes.
He tucked his fingers around his chin.
She could hide in his shadow with her abilities when they faced danger.
"Alright. You're in. Always prioritise your safety no matter what. If I'm about to lose, flee on your own."
He offered a satisfied nod before a ring resounded in their ears.
[Shadow scout Anya joined your party.]
[Primal Weaver Adam accepted you into their party.]
"There is a party setting?"
His brows shot up at the discovery.
"You didn't know? How do you think we divide experience points in the tower for example? Wouldn't it be unjust for the healers and melee fighters not to get anything?"
Anya explained, wondering how he didn't know about it. Then a realisation dawned on her and her voice cracked.
"D-Did you really conquer the tower's first three floors alone? Wait. Does it mean you really want to hunt tier-four beasts? I thought you would just search for their discarded materials like skin or hair!"