INK BOUND

A hundred years ago, humanity awakened. Strange tattoos appeared upon people's bodies, each one carrying a power of its own. They became known as Tattoos, and those who learned to use them were called the Awakened. But humanity was not the only thing that changed. Animals mutated. Plants became deadly. Creatures appeared from the forests, mountains and oceans—creatures that could no longer be called beasts. Humanity fought back. Kingdoms were built around the strongest Awakened, and eventually, only seven kingdoms remained. Solvaris. Drakoria. Lunareth. Ignivar. Thalassor. Volthara. Elarwyn. Each kingdom was ruled by a monarch whose legendary Tattoo had become the symbol of their kingdom. But far beyond those kingdoms, in the dangerous wilderness known as the Outland, a child was about to be born. And his birth would change the world. Thunder shook the sky. A man stood outside a small stone house, his sword drawn. Blood covered his clothes. His breathing was heavy. His name was Kael. He was one of the strongest Awakened warriors alive. And tonight, he was surrounded. Dozens of warriors stood among the trees. People he once fought beside. People he once trusted. Now, they had come for his family. "Kael!" one of them shouted. "Hand over the child!" Kael tightened his grip around his sword. "You betrayed us." "We did what was necessary." Kael's eyes became cold. "You will never touch my son." A scream came from inside the house. Kael's expression changed. "Seraphina!" He rushed inside. His wife lay upon a bed, struggling through labour. Her body was covered with powerful Tattoos that were glowing violently. The room shook. Lightning flashed outside. "Kael..." she whispered. "I'm here." Another tremor shook the house. Then— A baby's cry filled the room. The midwife froze. Kael slowly looked toward the child. His breath stopped. The baby's entire body was covered in Tattoos. Hundreds of them. His arms. His chest. His legs. His neck. And across his tiny back was the image of an enormous dragon. Kael stared in disbelief. "What... is this?" Seraphina looked at her son. "Kairo." A faint smile crossed her face. "Our son." Then her expression changed. Her breathing weakened. Kael rushed toward her. "Seraphina?" She reached for his hand. "Protect him." "I will." "No matter what happens..." Her eyes slowly closed. "Protect... Kairo." Her hand fell. "Seraphina!" Kael shook her gently. Nothing. His wife was dead. But there was no time to mourn. The door exploded inward. The attackers had entered. Kael looked at his son. Then toward the darkness outside. He made his decision. Kael ran. His wounds grew worse with every step. But he refused to stop. Kairo was wrapped tightly against his chest. The warrior crossed the kingdom's borders and continued deep into the Outland. Eventually, he reached a small wooden house. He knocked. The door opened. A woman stared at him. "Kael?" Her name was Linda. Kael held out the baby. "Take him." Linda's eyes widened. "What happened?" "They found us." "Who?" "It doesn't matter." Kael placed Kairo into her arms. "Raise him." "Kael, wait—" "Whatever happens, don't let them find him." Then he turned and disappeared into the darkness. Linda looked down. "Kairo?" The baby wasn't moving. She touched his tiny chest. Nothing. Her face changed. "No..." She immediately activated her Healing Tattoo. A warm light surrounded her hand. She pressed it against Kairo's chest. Nothing happened. She tried again. Still nothing. "Kairo, please..." The healing energy faded. The baby was silent. Linda's eyes filled with fear. Then— Far away, in another world... A young man sat alone in a private room inside a brothel. He had spent the evening drinking and trying to forget the problems of his life. He was young. Perhaps too young to have already become so tired of living. He leaned back. His vision suddenly blurred. He frowned. "What's happening?" His chest tightened. He tried to stand. His legs gave way. THUD. He hit the floor. Someone shouted outside the room. But the young man's hearing was already fading. The ceiling above him became blurry. His heartbeat slowed. He tried to speak. Nothing came out. Then everything became silent. His consciousness began drifting into darkness. Am I dying? There was no answer. Until— A strange mechanical voice echoed through the darkness. [Target located.] The young man's eyes opened. "What...?" [Searching for compatible vessel.] He couldn't move. "What is this?" The darkness suddenly changed. Images flashed before him. A newborn child. A body covered in countless Tattoos. A dragon across the child's back. Then the voice spoke again. [Perfect vessel detected.] The young man stared. "Who are you?" There was no answer. Only one final message. [Soul transfer initiated.] Everything disappeared. Back in the Outland, Linda was still holding the lifeless baby. Then suddenly— THUMP. Kairo's tiny heart beat. Linda froze. Another heartbeat followed. THUMP. His chest rose. He inhaled. Then— WAAAAH! Linda nearly dropped him. "Kairo!" The baby began crying. Linda stared at him in disbelief. "You were... dead." Kairo didn't understand what she was saying. He only knew that something was terribly wrong. Where am I? He tried to raise his hand. His eyes widened. His hand was tiny. Very tiny. He stared at it. What the hell?! He tried to scream. "WAHH!" Only a baby's cry came out. Linda quickly held him against her chest. "It's alright. It's alright." But Kairo's mind was racing. Why am I a baby? Then the strange voice returned. [Synchronization complete.] [Host acquired.] [Beginning Tattoo Analysis.] Kairo stopped crying. For a moment, the room became completely silent. Then the countless Tattoos covering his tiny body began to glow. And deep within his mind, another message appeared. [Welcome, Kairo.] The boy who had died in another world had been given a second life. And the child born with countless sleeping Tattoos... had finally found his soul.