Opening his eyes, Kael was surprised to find himself lying on a soft, comfortable bed instead of the cold stone floor of the cell he had grown accustomed to. The sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing his face in its warm golden glow. The change of surroundings and the soft comfort of the bed were a stark contrast to the harshness of his previous experience. He lay there, momentarily disoriented, trying to make sense of this sudden shift.
Kael's heart skipped a beat as a soft clearing of the throat reached his ears, jolting him out of his momentary reprieve. The sudden movement sent a lance of pain through his battered body, causing him to wince in agony. As he slowly sat up, the source of the noise revealed itself to be the same masked man who had trained and tested him earlier.
The masked man's voice cut through the silence, his eyes fixed firmly on Kael, scrutinizing his every move. "Rule 81: know your surroundings at all times," he stated emphatically.
The man's voice took on a more formal tone as he continued. "Let me properly introduce myself. I am Owl, but from now on, you will address me as Master.”
Kael nodded, Owl spoke with a tone of sincerity as he handed over a new mask to Kael. "A name, Kael, is a sacred thing. From this day forward, I trust you to use it wisely and with care," he said, his eyes locked onto Kael's.
As he passed the mask over, he added, "Wear this at all times. It will become your new identity. It will mark your transformation into something greater, something more than you are now."
Kael's eyes darted down to the mask now in his hands. It was intricately crafted, its design resembling the face of a wolf. Except, it had only holes for the eyes, leaving the rest of the facial features concealed.
Owl elaborated further on the symbolism behind the mask. "The wolf is a representation of you, Kael. It embodies your unwavering determination to never give up, your resilience in enduring pain and hardships, and that swiftness in which you attacked with that blade," he explained, his finger gesturing towards the knife on the bedside table.
Owl's gaze fixed on Kael, his tone firm and authoritative. "Down the hall, you'll find a bath," he instructed. "I expect you to wash up and return to me immediately."
Kael nodded once more before pulling himself from the bed and making his way down the hallway.
Once Kael had washed and freshened up, he returned to the room where Owl was still waiting. As he entered, the masked man gestured for him to come closer, holding out a new set of clothes for him. As Kael drew near, he took the clothes from Owl's outstretched hand, noting the change in attire from his previous ragged and soiled outfit.
Kael inspected the clothes Owl had given him, noting how they were primarily composed of different shades of grey and black. The pants and sleeves of the top were both long, providing full coverage and practicality. The change from his previous state of dishevelment to this new outfit symbolized a significant change, as if shedding his old identity and stepping into a new one.
As soon as Kael had fully donned the new clothes, Owl reached out and held the mask up to him once again. "Put it on," he simply commanded, his tone still firm and authoritative. Without hesitation, Kael took the mask in his hands and secured it onto his face, feeling the cool, smooth material against his skin. The mask covered his features, hiding his true identity.
Owl's words echoed in Kael's mind as he assumed his new identity. "You are now Wolf," Owl stated, adding emphasis to the name. "Do not forget it." Then, gesturing for Kael to follow, Owl led the way out of the room and down the hall, expecting him to keep pace.
As they continued down the hall, Kael followed closely behind Owl. They eventually entered a large, open space, and Kael took note of the other masked individuals present, sitting around in silence and conversing with each other in hushed tones.
As Owl indicated for Kael to sit down, Kael followed suit and found himself seated among the group. Then, another masked figure turned to him, revealing a small stature similar to Kael's. Despite the mask covering the face, it was likely that they were around the same age.
The small, masked figure sitting next to Kael spoke up, introducing themselves in a soft voice. "Hi, I'm Sparrow," they said, holding out a small hand in a friendly gesture. "And I suppose you're Wolf?"
Kael extended his hand gingerly and grasped Sparrow's in return, replying softly, "Yes, I am Wolf." The words felt foreign, yet he managed to get them out. As he looked around at the others in the room, he asked, "What are we doing here?"
Sparrow shrugged, their mask concealing any facial expression that might reveal more information. "We're waiting," they replied simply. "They didn't say what for."
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Sparrow's voice was soft and pleasant, yet it didn't give any indication as to their gender. Their shaved head added to the confusion that Kael was experiencing, the lack of definitive characteristics making it impossible for him to tell if he was speaking to a girl or a boy.
He hesitated for a moment, debating whether to ask, but the fear of potentially offending or upsetting Sparrow held him back.
Sparrow continued to speak in a low whisper, inquiring, "How did you get here?"
Kael's response came in a soft, pained tone, the memory of his past surfacing in his voice. “I was taken from my village,” he replied, his voice cracking slightly as images of his father danced through his mind.
Sparrow nodded in understanding, a hint of empathy in their voice. "Me too," they said, their words carrying a note of comfort. "But don't worry, we will be okay."
Kael could sense the reassurance behind Sparrow's words, and he found himself slightly reassured by the young masked person's optimism.
Kael's mumbled response, meant more for himself than for Sparrow, was interrupted by the unexpected opening of the doors. A tall figure, concealed behind a sheep-like mask, entered the room, drawing the attention of everyone present. Kael shifted his gaze to the newcomer, silently sizing up the imposing figure.
The masked figure, stood in front of the room and introduced himself firmly. "I am Goat," he stated, his voice authoritative. "I will be teaching your afternoon lessons for the foreseeable future. When you are with me, you will call me Teacher. Nothing else."
He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Now, no questions, and listen. I will go over the rules of which you will follow for the rest of your lives."
Goat's eyes roved over the room, taking in the sight of the masked individuals before him. He continued on for what seemed like an eternity, listing off the rules one by one. "Rule 1: Discipline is the foundation of survival. Rule 2: Never act on impulse – control every move."
His voice droned on until he reached the final rule, “Rule 100: Never assume you've seen everything. Always expect the unexpected."
With the final rule spoken, Goat issued a stern command. "I expect you to have those memorised by the end of the month," he stated firmly. "To fail is to lose, and to lose is to die."
He turned and left, leaving the room in an uneasy silence as the weight of his words hung palpably in the air.
Kael directed his gaze toward Sparrow, seeking some reassurance from the other masked individual. However, the lack of facial expressions made it impossible for him to determine whether Sparrow was worried or unfazed by the rules. Unable to discern their emotions, he found himself fixated on his own hands, which trembled unbidden.
Owl's firm grip on his shoulder startled Kael, pulling him out of his anxious state. "Let's go," Owl declared. "It's time for weapons training."
Kael nodded, his mind still reeling from the endless list of rules. He followed Owl towards what he assumed would be the training area.
Owl brought Kael to a rack filled with various weapons, gesturing towards them. "Pick one, I don't care which. You will eventually learn them all," he stated firmly.
Without another word, Owl stepped to the center of the courtyard and stood waiting, his masked face betraying no emotion. Kael's heart beat quickened as he scanned the array of weapons in front of him. What kind of weapon would suit him best? he wondered.
He reached out and gingerly picked up a long wooden spear, feeling its weight in his hands.
Owl surveyed Kael as he stood in the centre, spear in hand. "Tainted cannot use the blessings of the gods," he stated matter-of-factly. "Instead, we have to rely on ourselves, and to do this we sharpen our mind and our body until the world bends to us."
He then regarded the spear in Kael's grasp, offering a critical observation. "You need to sharpen your mind more. That spear is too heavy for you. You should use something smaller, like daggers."
As Kael was about to make his way back to the Waffen rack, Owl's firm command halted his movements. "STOP," Owl stated, adding, "Rule 23: Dependence is weak. Master self-sufficiency."
He then returned his attention to the heavy spear in Kael's hand, and asserted, "You chose that weapon. Now you will use it."
They sparred again, continuing the intense training as Owl refrained from hitting Kael. Instead, he focused on adjusting Kael’s stance, correcting his movements and guiding him towards improvement. Weariness began to settle in as Kael pushed himself past his limits, eventually struggling to stay upright.
By the end of the rigorous training session, Kael felt exhaustion in every fiber of his being. His arms burned from the strain, his hands were covered in bloodied blisters, and his back ached from the constant tension. He regretted his choice of picking up the heavy spear and harboured resentment towards his master for forcing him to continue using it.
Owl regarded Kael closely, his voice steady and authoritative. "Every morning, you will meet me here," he stated firmly. "Every afternoon, you will attend lessons with Goat. And every night, you will come back here to me. Do you understand?"
Kael tried to nod in acknowledgement, but a heavy, menacing force seemed to press down on him. "You will reply to me," Owl thundered from under his mask, the pressure seeming to increase.
With great effort, Kael looked up, meeting the unseen eyes of his new master. "Yes, Master," he managed to croak out weakly.
“Good,” Owl acknowledged. “Go back to the chamber you awoke in this afternoon. That will be your new room. Food and water will be provided there. You are only allowed to remove your mask to eat.”
Kael responded, his voice thin and weary. "Yes, Master," he complied once more.
Kael navigated his way back to the room, and found the food and water waiting for him. He tended to his battered body, cleaning the caked sweat and blood from his skin and eating the provided meal. Exhaustion now claimed him, and he collapsed onto the waiting bed, his body and mind spent.
If Kael had the energy left in him, he might have wept, but as it was, sleep claimed him before tears could flow. He let exhaustion wash over him, as he sank into a state of unconsciousness, feeling alone and afraid in the silence of the room.