I woke up to a cold, sharp pressure against my chest. My eyes snapped open. The snow. It was still snowing, but now I could feel it. Every single flake touching my skin sent an electric jolt through my body, like my nerves were alive in a way they shouldn’t have been.

I gasped and sat up, suddenly aware of something inside me-something foreign. A hum of power. The sword. Where was it? I wildly looked around, the sword lay beside me, relief flooded me, spreading through my body with a nostalgic warmth, but it was quickly diffused.

The sword spoke before I could get my bearings.

[So, you’re awake. It’s about time.] The voice sounded different now, more insistent, but strangely calmer, like it was satisfied with what had happened. 'What have I done?'

My thoughts were a mess, fragments of memories: not my own-flickered in and out of my mind. I remembered fragments of a battle, a room filled with smoke, someone screaming, people being killed, light surrounding me, being sealed... but none of it was mine. These memories belonged to the sword, and they were already starting to blur into my own, making it hard to differentiate between reality and a dream.

“What the hell is happening?” I muttered, rubbing my temples as a headache pounded against the base of my skull.

[You’re feeling it now, aren’t you?] the sword’s voice replied, the tone shifting as if it found pleased in my discomfort. [This is what power feels like. But don't you worry, you’ll get used to it. You have to.]

I staggered to my feet, my body trembling as the ground seemed to tilt beneath me. The air was heavier somehow, and colder. And the world felt... different. The trees around me were taller, more imposing, as though I could feel their presence in a way I never had before. Every little detail seemed clearer, sharper.

I closed my eyes and focused on breathing, trying to center myself. This was too much. My body was alive with energy, buzzing with unfamiliar power. The adrenaline from the binding still coursed through me, too wild to control.

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[Take a deep breath. You’re just getting started,] the sword instructed, its voice smooth like silk, but still cold.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw the damn thing away. But I couldn’t. Not anymore. The connection was too deep, the bond too strong.

"What happens now?” I asked, my voice raw and strained.

The sword didn’t answer immediately, and for a moment, I thought it had gone silent again. Then, a low chuckle echoed in my mind.

[You’ll have to learn to control it. The strength, the memories, the power. It’s all yours now-if you’re worthy and prove yourself enough to handle me.]

I clenched my fists, grinding my teeth together. “If I’m worthy? What does that even mean?”

The sword’s voice softened. [You’ll see soon enough. But for now, you need to figure out what to do next. It’s not just about survival anymore. You’ve got something far more valuable than life itself.]

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. I didn’t know whether to feel exhilarated or terrified. Probably both. The world seemed to be waiting, pressing in on me with every passing second.

I took a hesitant step forward, unsure of where I was going or what I was supposed to do. It didn’t matter. I knew one thing for sure: this wasn’t some random twist of fate. I was meant for something here. The sword had made sure of that.

The silence between us stretched, filled only with the howling wind and the crunch of snow beneath my boots.

“Where should I go?” I asked, my voice almost a whisper, though I knew the sword would hear me.

[The village,] it replied, the answer simple but heavy. [It’s a good place to start. It’s where you’ll learn what you need to know. And it’s where the path ahead will reveal.]

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. I didn’t have many options. The village was the only thing on the horizon, surrounded by a heavy fog, but it the only clue to whatever this was. I had to move forward, no matter how much it scared me.