CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 216: [MORIA’S WEAVE] [3]

My eyes settled quietly, my gaze steeling.

’Could it be?’

I slowly thought inwardly.

Could the ’Architect’ really be the existence behind the system, and the one responsible fory Transmigration? If so, that would make some sense to all this after all...

A lump formed in my throat again, and i frowned, wiping the sweat that had gathered again off my face with the back of my arm and swallowed silently.

Somehow, as my thoughts reached this juncture, it felt like something important, something really important was about to click and make sense, but i was just a few more facts and assumptions away from it.

My lips parted open as i was tempted to suddenly ask Meta, but i knew better than to blindly rely on whatever response or ’truth’ the system might give me.

Before it was too late, i bit down on my tongue and restrained myself, when i heard Meta say.

[Indeed. You’ve also received a temporary, and one use Stigmata.]

"You mean this weird tattoo on my back?"

[Affirmative.]

I focused my gaze at the sporadic tattoo on my lower back. From all the complex and complicated circle, arcs, lines and markings in it, it closely reminded me of some kind of runic circle.

"Huh."

But it seems i was wrong.

Squinting closely at the mirror, i somehow tilted my head and got a better look.

"It looks like some kind of symbol actually."

It was honestly hard and complicated to get a decent look since the whole thing was etched onto my lower back for some reason, but the closer i struggled to manage to stare at it from my reflection in the mirror, the more it looked like some complex symbol rather than just a jumble tattoo.

Like some kind of insignia, or something.

There were some parts i managed to recognize. But just before i could, Meta continued —

[That’s the physical representation of the Stigma. It represents your Patron’s physical mark on your body.]

"Huh? Oh, i see."

I turned my head back and frowned into empty space.

"But, hey, isn’t this kind of overkill? Doesn’t that mean I’ll have to hide something so conspicuous on my body to avoid unnecessary questions?"

I was rightfully peeved. For one, i was uncertain about what all this meant, and although it seems like I’d received some kind of considerable power up or opportunity, i hadn’t asked for it.

The Stigmata wasn’t like the Devil’s Karma mark on my left palm which i could easily write it off as a birthmark or a scar.

This was a full blown tatto, taking at least one third of my entire back. It was too conspicuous and raised a lot of questions if the wrong gaze met it.

It wasn’t like I’d be walking around shirtless, but it just meant i had one more thing i had be careful of and hide again.

[It doesn’t have to be that way. The Stigmata could always be hidden as you wish.]

Meta suddenly said, and i blinked in confusion.

"Huh? Are you serious?"

I could make it disappear if i wanted?

My neck snapped backwards again as i turned my head to face the mirror with my back still against it.

I didn’t wait for any more sort of confirmation from Meta as i closely stared at the Stigmata on my back from my reflection to test that theory.

If i could really make it materialize and vanish at will, that would fo well to settle part of my unease...

The wide tattoo in my reflection met my gaze.

Amidst it’s intricate and complex designs, there was the depiction of two outreaching arms and arching fingers that i could vaguely make out. The arms were positioned opposite each other in a clasping position as if they both held something fragile or tender within. Or dared to reach out to something they desired or controlled...

But rather than that, strange symbols and overlapping markings formed three eccentric eyes in-between the arching fingers of the strange arms that seemed to be molding...or weaving around something.

The three bizzare eyes were formed of strange and different symbols, each giving different levels of surrealism and realism. It really felt like the gazes from them peered deeply into the world and my soul.

An uncontrollable shudder thundered through my body as the three eyes seemed to bore into me. My body froze, my muscles tensing and tightening as every hair on my body rose and prickeled with my skin crawling.

My jaws clenched, locking so hard that my head thrubbed and pulsed as my mind seemed to lag and go blank. Without realising, i forgot how to breathe, the oxygen stuck frozen in my lungs as my eyes shivered.

But then...

Before my trembling eyes, the curved and twisting lines of the Stigmata began to shimmer and glow — each arch, each curve and each overlapping symbols faintly vanishing one by one around the three eyes and and arms that seemed to be grasping the world.

An in time.

Even those, too, disappeared.

And i could breathe again.

"Heok...!!"

A deep gasp tore through my throat as the strength seemed to leave my knees, nearly sending me to the ground.

I quickly grabbed the sink for support, holding my trembling body in place as i managed to raise my head back to the window. My breathing was uneven as my chest kept swelling and falling, my heart pounding behind my ribs.

My eyes were almost bloodshot and i couldn’t stop my lips from trembling for the next couple of seconds. Something cold seemingly permeated my soul, making me feel sick.

"...Ack..."

’Fuck...’

In the end.

"Haaa..."

I managed suck in a deep breath and stared at my oale reflection.

Pushing back my hair that was now soaked with cold sweat and some point, i glanced at my lower back where the Stigmata had vanished from without a trace. But i could still feel my skin crawling.

"...What the hell..."