The Awakening -
Deep beneath the earth, on the ancient borderlands of China and India, a discovery had shaken the archaeological world—an underground battlefield lost to time. A team of students from a renowned archaeology school had been granted rare access to explore the site, their institution "Excavation Academy" known for its groundbreaking discoveries.
Among them was Natasha Virschoff, a brilliant and determined high school scholar, with the team of experts. Upon arriving at the ancient battle field they started examining the surroundings. As others examined ancient relics, Natasha felt something off and felt something was calling her deeper into the ruins. She followed her instincts, breaking away from the group and venturing into a dark, uncharted cave.
Her heart pounded as she stepped forward, the dim glow of her flashlight was the only source of light there, she went deeper and deeper at the end she found a narrow passage and was thinking of renting to the group then she saw- a motionless figure. A man—bleeding, yet somehow alive—lay against the cold stone. He was naked but shadows seemed to coil faintly around him, as if reluctant to leave.
Despite her fear, Natasha hurried forward, pressing her fingers to his neck. A pulse—weak, but steady. Who was he? How had he survived in such a place? She hurried back to call for help, while thinking all of this.
The Hospital Encounter -
Hours later*
A dull beeping filled the whitewashed hospital room. The man stirred, his scarred face tightening in discomfort. As his eyes fluttered open, he found himself in an unfamiliar place, there was only the sterile scent of medicine and the hum of machinery.
Sitting beside him, arms crossed, was Natasha. She leaned forward, eyes sharp with curiosity.
Natasha: "You're awake!"
The man winced as he shifted, his body aching from wounds that should have killed him. He turned to Natasha, his gaze cold and calculating.
Varyon: "Where am I?"
Natasha: "A hospital. I found you in the ruins—bleeding out, half-dead. Now, I have a few questions. Who are you? And how the hell are you still alive?"
The man frowned. His memories were hazy. The last thing he remembered was betrayal—the sting of steel,shadowy figure watching as he fell. And then… darkness.
None of this made sense. What was this world? Why did everything seem so... unnatural? His instincts screamed at him to leave, to find answers, but when he tried to sit up, pain tore through his body, forcing him back down.
Seeing his struggle, Natasha sighed and pushed him back onto the bed.
Natasha: "If you want to do something, then first you must be capable of doing it."
The words hit him like a blade. He had heard them before.
A memory flickered in his mind—his wife, standing before him, a knowing smile on her lips. She had spoken those exact words to him long ago. The pain of that memory hurt more than his wounds. He decided to take this little girl's advice and recover from this mortal wounds. But still he remained silent and didn't answer the girl. After an hour natasha left the hospital saying to the man :
Natasha: I will comeback later, now I have to go.
The Police Inquiry-
The next morning, the police arrived to question him. An unidentified man in ancient-looking armor found in a cave? It was bound to attract attention.
Officer: "Can you tell us who you are and how you ended up there?"
The man studied them. He could sense their authority, but he would not be caged or controlled. However, he didn't want to reveal his identity—not until he understood this world.
So he did what anyone would do under this situation.
He lied*
Varyon: "I… I don't remember much. I must have fallen into the cave while traveling. Perhaps I was attacked? Everything is a blur."
The officers exchanged glances with his subordinates. His injuries were real but according to the doctor's report he was recovering faster than anyone at an unnatural speed, the report also mentioned his amnesia, believable. And with no records of his identity, they had little reason to suspect otherwise.
Officer: "Alright. But if you remember anything, report to us immediately."
Before they left, the man made one request.
The man: "There is someone I wish to thank. The girl who found me. I owe her my gratitude."
The officers thought something was off but eventually agreed. Later that day, Natasha received a notice from the school. The police would be escorting a mysterious man to meet her.
She wasn't sure why, but a strange feeling twisted in her gut. Something about him, the mysterious man she saved was... different.
The Truth Revealed-
The sun hung low over the school campus as Varyon arrived, escorted by police. Natasha stood near the entrance, arms folded as she watched him approach.
He had been cleaned up, dressed in modern clothes. Yet, there was something undeniably ancient about him—his posture, his gaze, the way he carried himself.
Natasha welcomed him and took him to the school's library.
As soon as they were alone, he wasted no time.
The man: "You wanted to know who I am, right?."
Natasha curiously replied.
Natasha: "Yes, I want to know your mystery "
The man: "You don't know who I am?"
Natasha remain's silent*
The man: "They won't let you know who I am"
She thought that may be the hospital report is ture of him having amnesia, she tries to calm him
Natasha: " I think you hit your head pretty hard, but -"
The man interrupts her, voice colder
The man:
"They forgot about me… History forgot about me."
His eyes darkened, and in a blink, he raised his hand. Before Natasha could react, the air around them shifted. A strange, almost unnatural force hummed in the space between them.
Shadows curled at his fingertips, coiling like living creatures. The ground beneath them trembled slightly. The effect lasted only a moment, but it was enough to steal the breath from Natasha's lungs.
Natasha (whispering): "What... was that?"
Suddenly the power fade and the man stepped forward towards her, his gaze burning into hers.
Varyon:
"I am Varyon, the king who once ruled the mighty kingdom, Vallancia, a kingdom that touched the heavens,a king who fought with gods and demons, and now, I have returned to reclaim what was once mine. And I need your help to find what remains of it."
Natasha's entire world seemed to shift. The logical, scientific side of her screamed that this was impossible. But the part of her that had seen his power firsthand—the part of her that had always believed there was more to history than what books told—knew otherwise.
She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.
Natasha: "If what you're saying is true... then history is hiding far more than I ever imagined. But why me? Why ask for my help?"
Varyon:
"Because you found me. And because in this world— I have no one else. "
A heavy silence settled between them.
Natasha knew she was stepping into something far beyond her understanding. But for some reason… she couldn't walk away.
Natasha:
"Fine. I'll help you. But you'd better start from the beginning."
For the first time since awakening in this strange new era, Varyon felt the stirrings of hope.
This was only the beginning.
To be continued.....