I gasped. The burning sensation in my lungs and the stinging of the sudden cold air I had inhaled made me cough violently.
My breathing was heavy and it felt like i had been lingering on the border between passing out and consciousness for a long time.
The clearing had sparse grass patches littered about and more boulders than the small clearing should have.
I sat up slowly.
My wrists hurt.
The sensation was the same as if i had been bound to a pike and hug by my hands for days. They hurt and moving my fingers made me yelp in pain.
Examining my hands revealed something that made my heart sink.
Much to my disdain, the area around my wrists had a heavy dark-purple bruising.
I couldn't fathom why I had such a bruise on both my wrists. Was I bound at some point?
If so, when?
And what did I do to deserve that?
My clothes were also torn and tattered not to mention my hair which was strewn about. My shoes were both missing and now my head hurt. The intense pounding behind my ears made even seeing straight difficult. Never-the-less my need to solve my immediate crisis drove me forward.
But without being able to use my hands to stand up, I can only shift my left leg under me attempting to stand.
Still I lost my balance falling flat on my face.
I could only rest until the pain in my shoulder and cheek resided to a manageable level.
I rolled unto my back. Breathing outwardly. A sigh that showed my frustration.
Questions.
They flooded my mind.
Simple things.
Things I should know.
Things like, my favorite meal.
Why did it hurt so much?
What was I doing before this?
Why does it hurt?
What is my name?
The pain…
Where am I?
…Who am I?
These questions chipped away at my resolve till nothing was left. Then when it was all gone tears came flooding in and the confusion, fear and pain made me a whimpering and sobbing mess.
Not being to understand my situation made me feel a type of vulnerable, that crippled my urge to move forward. Now I only wanted to lay in place.
To stay here forever till the anxiety in my heart fades.
No matter how long it takes.
I slowly cradled my hands. Putting them to my chest directly below my bosom, pulling my knees toward them as I sobbed.
I don't know for how long I did and when i could cry no longer I simply sat up and waited.
…..
"Finally! I thought I'd die waiting!"
A voice of someone with seemingly as much wisdom as his grey hairs and long goatee contained.
His eye held a serious wisdom which seemed daunting till his sudden and gentle smile washed it away.
He had been standing beside me and strangely enough I didn't notice when he'd arrived.
The strange old man seemed rather decorated. His clothes something an esteemed elder would wear, something far from what a simple old geezer would don. He wore loose fitting white pants and a black with white long sleeved robe almost covering his pants. It's sleeves ending with a light gold trim.
His likewise white boots leaving me envious.
The old man cleared his throat after a while. "Surely you've seen an old man before?"
Slightly embarrassed and bashful I nodded slowly before attempting to stand again but failing.
But miraculously I didn't fall. An incredibly large spool of threadlike substance catches me. Then almost as if it contained life it helps me up.
What is this?
Slowly after helping me up it faded as quickly as it appeared.
I knew the old man was responsible for it somehow but his methods eluded me.
"This?" The words came out in a small whisper.
"Hmm?" The old man mused before a dignified. "What's your name child?"
Child? I'm a child?
"Oh I see. The shock of transference seems to have distorted your memories."
He caresses his beard whilst in thought, eyeing me with curiousity. "Strange, even though it's small and fading you definitely have the source strength of a dragon. Now… why would a human possess such a thing?"
"Dragon?" I tried remembering but the only thing that came to me was a blinding pain that forced me out of thought.
I looked at the old man wearily after recovering. Unsure of how to answer.
The only thing I managed to remember was a single word. Enemy.
And so. "…Enemy?"
"Ho~?" The old man stated before chuckling. "That's right, I could be an enemy for all you know. "
"Well, as the void monarch once said to me, if you're ever confused or unsure of whose an enemy or not."
Suddenly he vanished appearing before me, but something was wrong. His ominous and sudden movement was accompanied by a frightening pressure.
The moment I tried stepping back, the force sank into my lower torso launching me backwards.
I tried rolling out of the fall but ended falling flat on my back.
My stomach hurt!
What happened?!
Suddenly he appeared beside me. Kicking me this time in my side! Is he trying to kill me?
Is he an ENEMY after-all??!
"The best way to determine friend or foe is always to let our fists do the talking!"
The old man calls as I roll to a stop, my body screaming from the pain.
I quickly lift myself up before moving towards him.
Ugh!
I'm gonna give this old man the ass whooping of a lifetime!
-Eh?-
-Was that me?-
-Was I always this aggressive?-
Despite my newfound resolve my attempts remained futile.
And my rage only grew each time the old man struck again before evading.
And again.
And again.
And …
"Enough of this shit!"
I ran over to him in an attempt to tackle him but he simply dodged.
"Stay still so I can catch you old man!"
I screamed probably appearing like a mad woman.
"Tsk tsk tsk! A young lady such as yourself with such brutish movements!" The old man sighed while dodging seemingly effortlessly. His seamless movements dazzling and flashy. "Such a pity, the marks on your wrists tell me that you have an immense talent for martial arts."
"Oh yeah?!" I shouted, now utterly pissed. "Then just stay still, I'm sure if you do then I'll hit you in a way that won't disappoint!"
He appeared behind me slapping my butt causing me to yelp. Before moving out of range again.
"Y…you dirty old man!!!"
Soon enough the sun started to fade behind distant hills and I had yet to catch him!
"Ok let's stop here for today!" He called.
This wasn't him giving up mind you.
While I, one one hand was battered and annoyed not to mention exhausted. He was still full of energy.
For an old man, his endurance appears limitless.
Out of breath, panting and sweating profusely I tried moving but my legs refused to obey.
"You… I'll catch you yet!" I tried between breaths but my hours of attempting to catch him had cost me.
"Sure~." He teased condescendingly. "I don't doubt it. But I'm sure you are as hungry as much as you are angry. Follow me I'll have my aid provide you a meal."
"No way!" I won't be following a perverted old man like you anywhere."
He chuckled again before. "Suit yourself!" And left like a gust of wind.
One minute there and the next, just gone.
I let out an exasperated sigh as I sat cross legged on the ground.
Through my hatred of the old man I had managed to regain some of my memories.
Was this his intention?
Even so it was still only partial.
I still had no idea how I got to this place.
Wherever 'here' is.
I took a look around, noting the area and surveying the tree line. The old man had really left…
Good riddance!
I exhaled, the bruising on my arms were now mostly gone and the part that remained carried the appearance of a sun.
A black circle with snaking tendrils along its perimeter. It looked ominous against my brown skin.
-I guess this wasn't a bruise…-
The pain in my fingers had also already faded. I clenched my fist while taking a deep breath.
I am… Era.
No longer of the dragon race or strength dragons.
A sigh escapes my lips.
I hadn't remembered much else. Except a strange cultivation method.
Was this memory?
Or instead an instruction?
Regardless, I could only give it a go.
As the method described in simple terms. I only need to circulate the residual pressure from a certain breathing method.
Easy enough.
And so, I began.
After five minutes, something strange happened. My senses became sharper and I could feel my strength increase even though not by much.
This was expected. I do remember having cultivating before. However this feeling.
This isn't hou…
What is it?
Unlike hou with its threadlike feeling. This was like a wave. It's consistency very mailable and profound.
It could be sharp as a razor or as blunt as a mace.
Slowly I lifted my hand, my index finger pointing at the biggest of the boulders littering the clearing.
Taking a deep breath I focused on its center.
Then exhaling and circulating the strange energy- "Release!"
Nothing.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Was this a dud afterall?
Suddenly the large boulder exploded not even leaving a small piece intact. The sudden explosion surprised me almost causing me to fall over.
I can feel a smirk slowly forming.