Chapter Three: Awakening

"If I was a man i would even fear you"

-unknown

I wake up with a sudden jolt, feeling a dark and purple aura surrounding me. My hands instinctively reach for the knife in my pocket, and as I grab it, the aura envelops the blade, enhancing it with a sinister energy. The monster, now charging at me, roars in fury. I grip the knife tightly and, with a surge of power, plunge it into the beast. The girl fighting the monster collapses to the ground.

Quickly, I rush to her side, checking if she's alright. She's unconscious but breathing. Relieved, I turn my focus back to the terrified monster. Fueled by adrenaline and anger, I charge at it, the knife gleaming with my dark aura. We clash violently, and after a fierce struggle, I manage to defeat the monster. As it falls, I feel my strength fading and faint.

I wake up again, but this time in a sterile, white room. My wrists are cuffed to the bed. A man in a lab coat grins at me from the foot of the bed. I try to escape, but the restraints hold firm.

"Oh, feisty," he says, still grinning. At the side of the room, I see the girl from earlier. Her presence calms me slightly.

Turning to look around the room, I ask, "Where am I?"

The man replies, "You're here after fighting an Umbra Claw. You're in a hospital, and I'm the doctor." He grins wider. As I try to wrap my head around his words, he asks, "How did it feel?"

Trying to remember what happened, my mind is filled with dread and darkness. I try to scream, but nothing comes out. Suddenly, it all cuts off, and I see the doctor with a flash in my eyes, his grin never fading.

"That was quite stable," he says. I attempt to speak but remain in shock. The girl walks to my side, her face cold but then she smiles at me.

"It'll be okay," she says softly. All of a sudden, I feel a sharp pain in my chest, my eyes widen, and the lights cut out.

---

The sound of running water fills my ears as my eyes open. I find myself sitting on a stone in a meditative position. A voice advises me not to move, warning of scattered meridians. I see an old, skinny man under a tree, his expression peaceful.

"How could I forget?" I think. This was my master in training, the one who helped me tame my spirit. Tears fall from my eyes as flashbacks of what happened flood my mind—being broken and left with this man to guide my mind and spirit.

He laughs gently. "You still have much to learn if this moves you to tears. But for now, you can find your way in the world of evil and chaos as a bright light that devours all darkness."

He stands up, turning his back to me. "A knife is a dangerous thing to own as a student. You'll have to show you're worthy to have it back." He turns and grins at me.

I smile back, feeling a sense of determination and gratitude. Then, without hesitation, I lunge at him.