It was Saturday morning in Adam's small apartment in downtown Boston, and the sun had just risen on a Memorial Day Weekend. The light that shone through the window slowly woke the man peacefully sleeping on the bed.
Adam, who was previously enjoying his weekend sleep, woke up excited for the day ahead of him, turned off his alarm before it could go off, and started his morning routine a bit differently. Today was special, as he had to drive 4 hours to get to the next city for the world-open martial arts championship tournament.
Adam had been a martial artist and had trained in different martial arts styles since he turned 10. Even though he had always felt disconnected from the world, practicing martial arts was the only thing that brought him closer to feeling like himself.
Adam started training in weapon martial arts when he turned 13. His first weapon of choice was a spear to train in. However, he later discovered that he was very talented in using swords. Therefore, he shifted his focus more on learning how to wield a sword, and he even, at one point, tracked down a Japanese sword master who lives in the U.S. to train under him.
He entered this tournament with a falchion because, lately, he has been focusing on learning European-style swordsmanship. His weapon of choice is a Katana, a traditional Japanese sword with a curved blade. However, he was trained to use all kinds of different swords and even sabers for a short while. Now, he wants to see the fruits of his labor.
Adam stood under the freezing water of the shower, shivering as it hit his skin and sending chills down his spine. He quickly dried off, feeling the rough towel scrape against his skin, and went to the kitchen to make himself a breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs. The smell of the eggs sizzling in the pan filled the small apartment, and Adam's stomach growled in anticipation. After finishing his meal, he carefully packed his falchion sword into its leather sheath, feeling the weight of the weapon in his hand as he secured it in his suitcase. Finally, he grabbed his keys and headed out the door, feeling the cool morning air brush against his face as he stepped outside. He could feel something different about today, leaving him with a sense of mystery.
Besides his martial arts hobby, Adam has been working in a corporate office as a financer for a bit over 2 years now. Although he finds the work extraordinarily mundane and boring, the pay is excellent, and he has had 2 promotions so far. He was lucky to find an internship in the same company that hired him full-time. He graduated from college two years ago with good grades.
In terms of his social life, Adam was once very active during his college days. However, nowadays, he seldom gets a chance to hang out with his old friends since most of them have relocated to different parts of the country. Nevertheless, he does manage to socialize with his colleagues from time to time. But Adam's true passion lies in his swords, which he practices in his free time. He can usually be found either at the dojo or in his basement, perfecting his techniques and sharpening his skills.
As Adam drove out of the city, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw that it was his mom calling.
"Hey, Mom, what's up?" he answered.
"Hi, Adam; I just wanted to check in on you and see how the tournament is going," his mom said.
"It hasn't started yet, Mom. I'm still on my way there," Adam replied.
"Oh, I see. Well, I called to check in on you and say to keep your eyes out for any nice girl at the tournament," his mom asked.
Adam let out a sigh. "Mom, not this again. I'm focused on my martial arts right now. I don't have time for a girlfriend."
"But Adam, you're not getting any younger. You need to settle down and start a family soon," his mom insisted.
"I know, Mom. But I'll find the right person when the time is right. Right now, I just want to focus on the tournament," Adam said.
"Alright, alright. I won't push it anymore. Just make sure you call me and let me know how it goes," his mom said.
"I will, Mom. Talk to you later," Adam said before hanging up the phone.
Overall, he was content with his life since he had a good-paying job, a comfortable house, a supporting family, and martial arts. However, if you asked his mom, she would tell you he is falling behind in his love life.
Adam comes from a relatively traditional family where his parents hold strong opinions on who he should be with. They never approved of his ex-girlfriend and made their feelings known throughout their relationship. Despite their warnings, Adam, like many other 18-year-olds, chose to ignore their advice. Unfortunately, his decision led to him discovering his ex-girlfriend hooking up with someone else at a house party, leaving him with trust issues that lingered long after their breakup. Their relationship lasted four years before it ended just a year ago. Since then, Adam's mother has been urging him to find a good girl and settle down to start a family. Despite his reservations, Adam knows that his mother only wants the best for him and hopes he will find someone to prove her right someday.
Adam didn't need to hurry to his destination on the sunny weekend morning since the tournament wouldn't start until the next day. Wanting to take in the beauty of the day, he chose the scenic route, which would add an extra hour to his drive. Rather than the usually crowded highway, he drove down a road that weaved through a dense forest for over an hour, enjoying the peacefulness of nature.
DIINGG!!!
As Adam drove deeper into the forested area, civilization's sounds faded. They were replaced by the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves. Suddenly, a loud piercing rang through his head, causing his skull to vibrate.
As this happens, he feels a static energy in the air, and then everything starts to shake. Around the same time, he sees a tree falling ahead of him on the road. His heart racing, he slammed on the brakes to bring the car to a jarring halt. However, he ended up crashing into a tree trunk by the side of the road. Moments later, he looked around, disoriented and confused; strange words materialized before his eyes, floating like apparitions in the air. Adam blinked rapidly and shook his head, hoping it was just a hallucination. Still, the words continued to follow his gaze, sending shivers down his spine.
[Initiation of the System is confirmed. Preparing ...]