1 A NEW BEGINNING

***

As I turned around, I saw a figure standing in front of me. Their face was shrouded in darkness, and I couldn't make out any features. They spoke with a voice that was both menacing and cold.

"You were too naive to think you could defeat me. Sorry it had to be this way," the figure said, drawing a weapon from their cloak.

I raised my guard, unsure of what to do. "How did you find me?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"I refuse to disclose such information. Here and now, you will face the consequences of your actions. Farewell, One," the figure said with a chilling finality, lunging at me with their weapon.

***

As I awoke from yet another bad nights rest, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and let out a deep sigh. Three nights in a row, the same ghastly nightmare had been haunting me. I couldn't figure out why, and the lack of answers only added more to my distress.

Suddenly, my mother barged into the room, her radiant blonde hair capturing my gaze. "Hana, you're up early today!"

I tried to muster up some enthusiasm in my voice. "Yeah, I guess so." But her next words took me aback.

"You spend too much time cooped up indoors. You are 14 years of age Hana! Why don't you go outside and make some friends?" My mother's frown revealed her concern, but it also annoyed me.

"I'm not a lazy kid who hates exercise, Mom," I protested. "I just prefer being indoors."

"Sure, sure," my mom said with a smile. "But I still want you to go outside and get some fresh air. It's good for you. Go get ready now, okay?"

Once I was dressed and ready, I stepped out of my cozy cabin and into the boundless world. The blazing sun beat down on my soft, nougat skin, filling me with warmth and a sense of adventure. It was a breathtaking day. The lush trees around me swayed in unison with the melodious birds chirps, whilst the gentle breeze tousled my mid-length blue hair. I followed the cobblestone pathway that led from my cabin and soon found myself on the outskirts of a vibrant town. The diversity of races was fascinating to behold: centaurs trotting alongside humans, and the occasional dwarf making an appearance. It was a bustling community, full of energy and life.

As I walked deeper into the town, I took in the sights and sounds of the lively community. The bustling shops and lively crowds kept me entertained for a while, until I found myself on the outskirts of a dense forest. The forest was shrouded in a peaceful stillness, and I couldn't resist the urge to venture further in. Soon, my eye was drawn to an outdoor palaestra, where hoplites of all ages were engaged in intense training sessions. The sight of their fighting techniques and battle formations filled me with a sense of familiarity, as if I had witnessed it all before. I approached the hoplites with curiosity, ready to ask them a question, but before I could speak, I was suddenly interrupted.

"Hello there, young man! I can see you're interested in our training academy," a deep, booming voice called out. I turned to face a towering figure, roughly 190cm tall, with a thick stubble on his face. It was clear that he was the boss around here.

"Uh, yeah," I replied, feeling a little out of my depth.

"I don't see any harm in giving you a chance," the man said, handing me knee pads and gloves. "Are you ready to give it a try?"

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over me. "Are you really sure that I should fight so soon?"

"By all means, give it a try," the man responded with an encouraging grin.

Nervously, I put on the gear and was led to an area where several other young people were gathered. The boss introduced me to a boy who appeared to be around my age, and suggested that I spar against him.

"A spar already? Without helmets? That's quite extreme" I exclaimed, my apprehension growing.

"Don't worry, my friend. It's more of a tradition around here for newcomers. It's an opportunity for you to show your skills and let others know that you're not someone to be trifled with. Besides, your sparring partner will go easy on you since you're new," the boss reassured me with a warm smile.

The boy introduced himself with a friendly grin. "Hey, I'm Alexandro. Nice to meet you! I'm excited to see what you've got!"

We both strode towards the center of the ancient stone circle, a silent understanding between us. Once we reached the center, we each took our position on opposite sides, our eyes locked on each other, ready to begin the fight. The circle was eerily quiet, as if the stones themselves were holding their breath in anticipation of what was about to happen.

I had never faced a skilled fighter before in my life, so it was no surprise that my heart thumped wildly in my chest. The sound was so loud that I was sure Alexandro could hear it from across the platform.

I tried to calm my nerves and focus on the task at hand, but my mind kept racing with thoughts of what could go wrong. Would I be able to defend myself? Would I be able to land a hit? As I stepped into the ring, I knew that this was a fight that I could not afford to lose.

With his knees bent and his torso upright, Alexandro assumed a low squatting position, his feet positioned parallel with both pointed straight ahead. As a southpaw fighter, he kept his right foot in front of his left, ready to deliver powerful strikes with his dominant hand.

Uncertain about my own stance, I opted to mimic Alexandro's posture, hoping it would give me some advantage.

I attempted to adopt Alexandro's stance, but it didn't feel quite right to me. It was familiar, yet awkward and unnatural. I knew I had to find something that suited me better. After shifting my weight around, I finally settled on my own stance. I positioned my feet shoulder-width apart, with my left foot slightly in front of my right. I made sure to keep my weight evenly distributed and my knees slightly bent, ready to move quickly if needed. It felt more comfortable, and I hoped it would give me an advantage in the fight.

Alexandro looked at me with a mixture of surprise and respect. "That's a good stance," he said, nodding. "You sure you've never done this before?"

A feeling of surprise and disbelief overcame me as I looked down at my feet, seeing that I had somehow copied his stance without even thinking about it. "I don't know how I did that," I said, shaking my head. "I've never seen that stance before, but it just felt... right."

"Well, let's see what you've got then," Alexandro said, his friendly grin turning into a competitive smirk.

As soon as the bell rang, Alexandro rushed at me, throwing a flurry of punches that I barely managed to avoid. I tried to counter with a few of my own punches, but Alexandro easily dodged them and responded with a swift kick to my side, knocking me off balance.

I stumbled but quickly regained my footing, trying to keep my guard up as Alexandro kept attacking. I tried to mimic his movements, but I was still too slow and too inexperienced to keep up with his speed and precision.

I knew I was in trouble. I was breathing heavily and my body ached all over, while Alexandro looked as fresh as when he had started. But I was determined not to give up.

Despite still taking blows, I was beginning to see through Alexandro's movements, I was beginning to find openings in his defense. I started to land a few punches on him, and even managed to catch him off guard with a roundhouse kick to the right side of his head.

Alexandro seemed surprised at my sudden burst of energy, but he quickly regained his composure and resumed his attacks. However, I was no longer just blocking his hits - I was starting to counter and dodge them as well.

I was beginning to feel confident I could win, however it was clear Alexandro was not going to just let that happen. He unleashed a devastating bombardment of attacks, forcing me to retreat and switch to defensive.

I tried my best to adapt again, to keep up with him, but this time the gap was clear. Alexandro delivered a fatal uppercut to my jaw, forcing me to collapse to the ground. I lost the fight.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, shouting Alexandro's name as he stood victorious over me. I tried to get up, but my body was too weak to move. Alexandro walked over to me, extending his hand to help me up.

"Good job, kid. You've got potential," Alexandro said, a rare compliment from the fierce fighter. I accepted his help up, my body still sore and aching.

As we walked out of the ring, the hoplites crowded around us, offering words of encouragement and advice. I felt both proud and disappointed - Alexandro was levels above me correct, but there was a feeling deep within which told me I could've done better.

I analyzed the fight in my head, trying to figure out what I could have done differently. I realized that I had made some critical mistakes, like leaving my guard down at certain moments and not reacting quickly enough to his movements.

I realized that my complacency had been my downfall. I had become content with mediocrity, with just getting by. But now, as I stared up at the sky, I felt a fire ignite in my heart. I vowed then and there that I would never settle for less than greatness. I would push myself to new heights and never give up until I reached the top of the world. Even the gods would look down upon me in awe.