The forest had grown still in the early evening, its quiet hum broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. Wan sat at the edge of the village, his back against the cool stone of an old wall. The soft light of the dying sun stretched across the ground in long shadows. His body was sore from the hunt—every muscle aching, every joint stiff—but it wasn't the physical strain that weighed on his mind now. It was something deeper, something gnawing at him, something he couldn't shake.

He gazed into the distance, his thoughts wandering. What was he even doing here? What was the point of all of this? The trial, the training, the power he sought—it all seemed like a never-ending cycle. Was he truly doing this for himself, or was it because it was all he had left? Because it was the only thing that seemed to give his life direction after awakening in the mountains with no memories, no past?

His fingers traced the markings on his arm—faint scars from his attempts to control Shade. The energy had been powerful, yes, but it was like trying to hold onto a storm, something constantly slipping through his fingers. He had made progress, but it felt like nothing compared to what he needed to accomplish.

Why am I doing this?

The question floated in his mind, unanswered. Was it for the power? For the strength that would allow him to survive, to protect himself? Was he seeking validation from the Tenebri, proving himself worthy of their trust? Or was it something deeper? A search for meaning, for a sense of belonging? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that each day was a struggle—not just against the beasts and the harsh training, but against the growing emptiness inside him. It was as if something was missing, something important. Something that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall.

His thoughts drifted to the shadows that had become his constant companions, the strange energy that seemed to call to him in ways he couldn't fully understand. Shade. The Tenebri had told him that it was more than just power—it was part of the world's balance, part of who they were. But what did it mean for him? For someone who didn't even know who he was, or where he came from? Was he even meant to wield this power? Or was he simply trying to force himself into a role he wasn't meant to play?

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

A faint memory flickered at the edge of his mind—images, faces, whispers of a life before the mountains. They came and went too quickly for him to hold onto, leaving him with only fragments, like puzzle pieces that never fit together. He had no idea what his past had been, no clear understanding of who he was before awakening here. The only thing he could grasp was the feeling that he was missing something—a truth about himself that had been taken or forgotten, something that would explain why he was here and why he had been thrust into the Tenebri's world.

What was I before?

He wanted to know. He needed to know. The hunger for answers burned inside him, making the weight of his confusion unbearable. He closed his eyes, trying to reach into the shadows of his mind, to pull something—anything—into the light. But it was like trying to grasp fog. Elusive, fleeting.

And yet, despite the frustration, something told him that finding his past was part of this journey. Perhaps it was tied to Shade itself, to the power that seemed to call to him in ways that felt both foreign and familiar. Was mastering Shade the key to unlocking the truth? If he could control it—if he could truly harness its power—would that lead him to his past, to the answers he so desperately sought?

His breath slowed, the sounds of the village and forest fading into the background. He remembered Kai's words from earlier: "Control is everything." What did that really mean? Control of Shade, control of his body, yes, but perhaps more than that. Maybe it was control of himself—of his thoughts, his desires, his past. If he could control the shadows within, perhaps he could uncover the truth about the shadows that surrounded him.

The night grew colder as the stars began to emerge, casting their faint light across the land. Wan's thoughts settled for a moment, and he felt a small sense of peace amidst the turmoil. Maybe he didn't have all the answers right now. Maybe the path ahead was unclear, and the shadows would remain elusive for some time. But he had a purpose—one that wasn't entirely tied to the Tenebri's expectations, or the need to prove himself.

He was doing this to find himself. To reclaim the pieces of his past, and to understand what they meant for his future.

Wan stood up slowly, his muscles protesting, but his resolve solid. The stars above seemed to watch him, silent witnesses to his decision. He wasn't sure where this path would take him, or what would happen when he finally uncovered the truth. But for the first time since his awakening, Wan felt as if he was moving toward something—toward himself.