“I can draw the design,” I said. “But I won’t be able to do it on the wrist. The design is too big and detailed for that.”
“Where can you put it?” Veronica asked.
“It needs to be much larger, otherwise I can’t guarantee that the lines will be accurate.”
“Could you do it on my back?” Veronica asked. “I would like it there; it would feel like a protection to me.”
“Yes, that would be a large enough area.”
“Will the tattoo still work the same on Veronica’s back?” Amelia asked.
“I have as much idea as you do,” I said. “I don’t see why not, but I haven’t tried tattoos on other body parts before. Other than on Mistress Blossom’s. . . uh, lower stomach. We don’t know exactly what this tattoo does, anyway.”
“If it’s anything like the other tattoos we have,” Amelia responded, “It should be the base rune. As it is, it should simply allow her to generate lightning on her hands. But if you were to add a spear augmentation, Veronica would be able to throw lightning projectiles.”
“I don’t think I would be comfortable trying any augmentations right now,” I said. “Not until we’re certain the base rune works as it should. One thing at a time.”
Veronica nodded, her eyes wide.
“Don’t worry,” I said, laying my hand on hers. “I would never try anything that might put you in danger.”
She smiled and grasped my hand. “Thank you, William. Very well, shall we begin?”
“Yes, let’s,” I said. “It will be best if you lie down.”
“Sit yourself there, dear.” Mistress Blossom pointed to one of the benches. “Let me just get you a towel to lay your head on.”
Veronica sat down, removed her leather breastplate, then began undoing the straps holding her tunic together at the back. It didn’t seem as practical having a tunic that needed to be tied together, but then again, I’d never found women’s clothing very practical. Perhaps this style of tunic was more common where Veronica came from.
The Mistress came back with a towel and laid it on the bench beside Veronica. “Don’t you worry, that’s one of the clean towels. We never used this for anything ... scandalous.”
Veronica recoiled.
“I promise,” the Mistress insisted. “This towel is totally clean.”
Veronica held it up suspiciously and inspected it. Satisfied, she laid it down again at one end of the bench.
“Could you help me with these straps, William?” she asked me.
“Of course,” I said, sitting down beside her. “Amelia, could you grab the Lightning Core from my pack and prepare everything for me?”
Amelia nodded and fetched the Core. She laid it on the bench near me, with the parchment next to it. After a few tattoos, she was getting to know the routine as well. We worked well together as a good team.
I untied the straps at the lower back of Veronica’s tunic. Underneath, her olive skin was paler, where it hadn’t been exposed to as much sunlight.
Veronica slipped the tunic off, revealing the smooth curve of her strong but supple back. A strap was tied together across her shoulder blades, securing a leather garment that concealed her firm round breasts. She laid the tunic on another bench nearby and lay down with her face to the side against the towel.
“Uh, I’ll need to untie this strap as well,” I said carefully.
Veronica reddened slightly. “You can do that, as long as I can keep this on at the front.”
I undid the straps and carefully laid each one to the side. If I looked down, now that the garment was undone, I’d probably be able to see the side of Veronica’s breasts, but I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
I sterilized the tip of my tattooing dagger with a small flame from my forefinger, as before, then reached for the Lightning Core. The surface was smooth and slick under my fingers, yet somehow pliable. It was silvery purple in color, and inside the Core I could see a thick violet liquid moving. I felt the end of the Core with one finger, seeking for the thin spot which I knew would be there. When I found it, I raised the sterilized tip of the dagger and carefully punctured the Core. Light flashed and flickered for a moment as the tip of the dagger drew the magical liquid up from the Core into the inkwell, ready to begin the tattoo.
I could feel a strong pull from the ink, attracting my Mana.
“Can you sense the Core, Amelia?” I asked.
Amelia nodded. “After yesterday, I can sense the Cores more clearly. It’s becoming easier to manipulate my Mana too.”
I looked down at Veronica. “I want to know if you can sense it now, Veronica.” I held the Core not far from her.
She focused her eyes on it. “I don’t think I can feel anything.”
“It will be a clear sensation when you feel it,” I said. “It will beckon you, straining your Mana, almost trying to suck it out from you.”
I held the Core a bit closer to Veronica’s head and tipped it, so she could see the ink moving within it.
She focused again. We waited in silence, her deep, steady breathing the only sound. Even Jacques, interested in what was going to happen, had come back over to join us.
Suddenly, Veronica’s eyes widened, and she sucked in a quick breath. “I can feel it. It’s pulling me toward it.” She raised her head slightly. “This is... this is incredible.”
I handed the Lightning Core back to Amelia to hold for me, took another look at the design on the parchment, and got to work.
I laid one hand on Veronica’s back. Her muscles were tense.
“This will hurt a bit,” I said.
Veronica nodded, her long, straight hair rustling against the coarse fabric of the towel.
I took a deep breath, reaching for that light trance state that always accompanied the tattooing process. My awareness of my Mana increased and, without me intending it, I felt the Mana slip from my pool to my fingertips, ready to aid me in the
