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Chapter 5: Hidden Meanings

"f'épebhyreMjA4MTA2MzA=." The numbers which were etched into the demons skin and the tattoo which had been preventing you from getting a smooth sleep. After reporting back from patrol, the tattoo was sent off to be deciphered by tomorrow. Thinking that would ease your mind, you fell into your mattress with the intention of allowing sleep to take you away it did...but only briefly.

"f'ép..eb..hyre?..MjA4MTA2MzA=." You spoke out slowly, thinking that maybe repeating the set of numbers and letters would somehow spark an idea. But sadly it only confused you even more. What might seem like a language to others simply looked like random letters and numbers suck together to you. It was not like it was rare for demons in the Overworld to have tattoos but this one seemed different. Maybe it was the fact that it was the last thing to disintegrate or the fact that it just screamed suspicious to you. No one would have a random combination of letters and numbers permanently inked onto their skin without a reason.

You allowed your hands to slam down onto your mattress in frustration before turning over to lay on your right side. You knew you would not be getting any ounce of sleep until your curiosity was fulfilled. You found yourself eyeing the device sitting on your nightstand with annoyance, the second hand seemed to tick ever so slowly only when you watched it. The time was six in the morning. The morning birds were now out and about and the rising sun peeping through your blinds. You watched the second-hand past by rising numbers until a louder tick echoed through the silent household.

A groan left your mouth once again as your tongue glided across your inner cheek. Only a minute had passed. Finally giving up on the idea of falling back asleep, you lifted yourself off of your bed and decided to wake up early and head to V.I.R.T.U.E  for early training. You had gotten home at two o'clock last night and now you were awake four hours later. 

You sat at the edge of your bed and lazily placed your hand into your bedside table, in search for your large framed glasses. Once your fingers wrapped around a cold metal object you placed it onto the bridge of your nose. It didn't help much with correcting your vision as you still felt sleepy and everything around you was still slightly fuzzy. 

Sluggishly, you dragged yourself into the bathroom just outside your bedroom door and stared at your reflection blankly. It was until you finished rubbing your eyes did you notice the crows nest that had formed overnight on your head. You had to hold back another sigh. It must have been the result of your constant tossing and turning. 

After taming your unbelievably knotted mane whilst simultaneously brushing your teeth, you swiftly tied up your hair into a ponytail. You allowed your bangs to fall gently on the side before mindlessly making your way out of the bathroom. 

"f'épebhyre." You muttered again. It was like you had a new high school crush on the tattoo. It has been plaguing your mind and it didn't intend on leaving. 

Was it a code?

Scanning your room for a certain rectangular device, your eyes landed on your desk. Walking over, you cringed at how messy it was. Your laptop sat in the middle, lid half closed. Whilst it was surrounded by messy notes and printed pages. At the top of the desk stood your most prized possession, something you struggled to see through the mess. Finding your phone on the top of a pile of papers, you turned it on with the hope of finding maybe a message about the tattoo. But to your disappointment there was none.