Radiant Age, Winter, 1115
When I woke up, I was in a flatbed and dark room. The room was warm, and the intimidating man was sitting beside me. My arms were tied up and I started to panic.
"L-Let me go!"
He released the ropes around my arms and motioned me to calm down.
"I had to bound you child. Take a deep breath and calm down…"
I closed my eyes and did as I was told. After a bit, he spoke up.
"How do you feel, child?"
I touched my shoulder that was attacked by the beast earlier. There was so much blood before, but it was gone like a miracle.
"…I'm okay, I guess."
I was a tad confused as I looked back at him.
"You've rested for a long time. It's been a few days since you've come to. You must be hungry."
The man handed what looked to be dried meat and a cup of water.
I didn't know how to respond so I accepted the food and looked away. He was still scared to look at and the unknown had my heart racing. Awkwardly, I ate as he watched me like I was a wounded animal.
"Thank you, sir."
I thanked him once I finished. He took the cup from me and looked to the side.
"Before we proceed, could you do me a favor and try to open this box?"
In his hand was a dark box. I stared at it. It was unrealistically dark. When I touched it the blood in my body began to rise. As if my blood was attracted to this object, parts of my body were going numb as I curled my hands around it. I put my hand on the top, but it wouldn't budge.
"It's not opening…"
"I see."
He took the box back from me and sat it on the nightstand beside the bed.
"One day you'll be able to open it, child. So, do try whenever you have the time."
From the side of the bed, he lifted a large blade. It was a silver katana that shined in the moonlight.
"I will have to teach you how to survive in this world. One day... when I decide you are ready, you will wield this blade, child."
It looked too big for me to hold. Instead of handing it to me, he set it next to the dresser. I gazed at it for a moment before his cold voice trickled in my ear.
"But for now, please meet me outside."
He stood up, nearly towering close to the ceiling of the room. Slowly, he walked outside, leaving me in bed alone. The room was dark, and my mind was a tad hazy. So, I stood up and rushed outside alongside him.
My feet were cold on top of the frozen dirt. After a while he finally came to a stop at a bag that was sitting under a tree. He turned around and opened a bag next to him. There he tossed a pair of shoes my way along with a small jacket and socks.
"Put these on child, we're going to be out here for a while."
I did as I was told and faced the tall man once more. The clothes were warm…and it made me smile just a little thinking about this gift.
The wind blew against us as we stood in a clearing. The moon was above us as we faced one another. It was the next night when he woke me up. I slept all through the day and now was his time to show me how to survive in this world.
"You child, are a vessel of the dark spectrum, just like me."
Coldly, he spoke in drawn-out words. But they felt warm to me, despite him being so firm.
"Yeah, I am a dark vessel."
"We are cursed, you and me. We are born with the dark blood going through our veins."
"Cursed?"
He took his hand and pulled off his skull mask. Underneath was a vile face with horrible scars around his eyes. It frightened me as I backed up slightly. I wanted to run far away from the monster suddenly before me. But as fast as he showed me, he covered it back up. I…was grateful for that.
"You…experience night terrors every time you sleep, child. I witnessed how horrible they are."
"…Yes."
I held my shoulders, trying to comfort myself. The cold wind blew on my exposed legs making me shake.
"You must learn to live with your curse if you wish to survive in this world."
If what he was saying was true, I'll always be tormented by those creatures in my dreams. I faced him as I slowly approached.
"C-Can I not be cured?"
I begged, but the only response I got was a shake of his head. He was firm, resolute, and stoic with his answer.
"Now, you must learn to defend yourself and the night is your greatest ally, child."
As if the night became darker around him, his body faded into the night. My heart raced, I was suddenly alone as I looked about, searching for him. The trees rustled around me, and the winter snow descended around the forest.
"W-Where did you go?!"
I yelled, afraid that he would abandon me. A cool touch of his frozen hand seeped into my shoulder. When I turned around, his tall body lingered over me.
"Mister… you're back."
I smiled. He tightened his grip on me then he tossed me to the ground. My face went into the cold dirt. It was a shock how fast it all happened.
"W-Why did you do that?!"
I pulled the dirt into my nails as I got on my knees.
"Because you need to learn how to always be ready to defend yourself…"
"I… don't know how to defend myself."
I begged. My head weighed to the ground, waiting for his response. But as I sat there like a stone, he kicked my stomach, causing me to roll over into a nearby tree. My back slammed against it, pushing the wind out of my lungs.
"I… was never taught how to defend myself. Everyone was too afraid of me to help me! I don't know what to do!"
I looked at the sky as the flakes of snow melted on my cheeks. My eyes were already watering from the pain. The shadow of his tall body loomed over me as I laid there, hopelessly.
"This world will always be suspect around you. You are a creature of the night, a dark vessel. You are the only one you can trust from here on out, child."
He lifted his hand high above his head. My eyes widened as it registered what I was seeing. The glistening shine of that hatchet that saved me the other night.
"It's the only way to live."
The blade reflected off the moon, ready to cut me down.
"Nggg…"
I could feel the blood in my body grow warm as my heart started beating faster. The hatched swung down towards me. On instinct, I closed my eyes, praying silently that I wouldn't be killed.
The skull faced man brought down his hatchet, effectively destroying the tree I was lying under. Purple darkness erupted in the snowy forest. His cold blue eyes turned towards me. In shock, I backed up, unsure what happened.
I was standing in the distance, watching this all unfold. A purple aura faded away from my body. Unsure of what was going on, I looked up at the man, slowly approaching me.
"How… what happened?"
I shakily asked.
"You wished to survive, to escape my assault… and your blood granted that wish."
He walked over, leaned over me, and nodded firmly.
"You showed me that you wished to live, even if only for a little longer, child."
He held my shoulder and with his freezing sapphire gaze, he spoke.
"And I will grant you the power to live… if even just for a little bit longer, child."
In the snowy field, we stood in, I looked up at the man. My stomach twisted but the blood in my body boiled with a new sensation.
"What is your name, child?"
"Feodora… Feodora Cicer."
I heard a cold chuckle resonate from his lips, hidden under his death mask.
"You can me call Maxwell."
He pushed his hatchet into the ground, declaring his name with force. Though he was colder than the snow that fell around us, his words were blazing hot as captured my soul.