My eyes slowly began to open, heavy as if they had been shut for days. I felt the sunlight filtering softly through the window, its warm rays gently caressing my face. My body trembled slightly—my arms, legs, even my back were drenched in sweat. I slowly sat up on the futon, trying to steady my breathing. When I attempted to stand, my legs didn't respond properly. They were still shaky, as if the dream I'd had had drained all my energy.
Even so, I gathered my strength and managed to get up, though I was still a bit unsteady. I walked over to where my clothes were to change, but as soon as I picked up my sweatshirt, a wave of memories washed over me. That nightmare—or whatever it was...
I vividly remembered that horrifying being grabbing me, slamming me mercilessly against the ground, its grotesque and indescribable face looking like it had emerged straight from the underworld. I stood there, staring into nothingness with the sweatshirt in my hands, feeling how that memory still clung to me, refusing to let go.
Suddenly, the persistent tapping of a bird against the window snapped me out of the trance. I blinked a few times, coming back to myself, and took a deep breath. I put on some light clothes to train in the garden, hoping to clear my mind and leave the nightmare behind… though I knew it wouldn't be that easy.
As I walked through the temple halls, echoes of what I'd seen in the dream still haunted me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake it. That image stayed with me, clinging like a scar on my memory.
Turning a corner, I saw the girls entering one of the dojo's doors. All four looked focused, ready for their morning training. I stepped aside, giving them space so as not to disturb them. A bit further ahead, I spotted Tom alongside the old master. Both were training with other disciples from the temple. That image gave me a sense of calm. Despite the chaos inside me, the outside world kept moving forward.
I stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and tried to find some peace. Maybe training would help me forget—or at least understand—what I had seen last night.
I arrived at a small hill just outside the temple, a quiet spot where the sound of the wind replaced all distractions. It was the perfect place to train in peace. I took a moment to breathe deeply, inhaling the fresh morning air, and started with some light stretching to wake up my muscles. For at least ten minutes, I moved every part of my body, awakening my inner energy.
Once ready, I moved on to more intense exercises—sit-ups, squats, push-ups, lifting makeshift weights made from large rocks, and other movements that demanded strength and endurance. I trained for nearly an hour and a half without stopping, completely focused on improving myself.
When I couldn't push any further, I let myself fall onto the grass, lying on my back and breathing heavily as sweat streamed down my face. I slowly sat up and allowed my body to rest while my eyes got lost in the scenery before me. From that hill, I could see everything clearly: lush trees swaying in the wind, the distant temple standing tall and serene, and beyond that, the city of Kyoto stretching out like a mosaic of life.
It was a unique view—beautiful, almost unreal. For the first time, I felt truly connected to nature, to the world. The warm wind brushed over my skin, caressing my face like an invisible hand, and brought me peace, even if only for a moment.
As I lost myself in that moment, memories began to flow like an unstoppable river. I remembered everything I'd been through since that day... since that mysterious being in a white robe first appeared in my dreams. Before all of this, my life had been... dull, gray. Full of problems, yet without any real purpose. I had no clear goals, no strong reason to get up each day.
Getting into university had been a logical, practical decision. I wanted to make my family proud, to give them a reason to smile, but for me... it was just another step, another obligation. I did it without passion, without feeling it truly mattered. I just wanted a job to support myself, something to give me stability—but not meaning. Deep down, there had always been a void. A deep one. One I wasn't sure could ever be filled.
But everything changed. When I received this power... this gift meant to protect humanity and prevent the prophecy, my life took an unexpected turn. I stopped being just a shadow drifting through the world.
I met people I now consider my new family. Kaori, Masha, Sakura, Ren, and Tom. Each of them with unique abilities, with a mission, carrying a weight on their shoulders… and yet, they keep moving forward. Knowing I'm not alone, that I'm not the only one with these powers, makes me feel part of something bigger. Something truly worth protecting.
Now I know I have a duty. And if I have to give my life and soul to protect them... I will, without hesitation.
As I reflected on everything that had happened to me, a soft breeze—cold, yet strangely comforting—brushed against my face and slowly brought me back from the trance. That wind, like a whisper from nature itself, grounded me again. I inhaled deeply and began descending the small hill where I had been training.
As I made my way down, I observed the scenery around me. The trees let warm sunlight filter through their branches, casting dancing shadows on the ground. The gentle birdsong among the trees gave me a unique sense of peace. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I could truly enjoy the present—the little details, the beauty of life itself.
When I reached the temple entrance, I greeted the people cleaning and going about their daily tasks. To my surprise, many of them looked visibly relieved when they saw me and smiled warmly. A young girl, who was handling some duties inside the temple, rushed over to me and said with concern:
—Young Leo, where were you? Miss Kaori and the master have been very worried about you.
I froze, confused by her words. Worried? Why?
—B-but… —I stammered nervously— I just went to train on the small hill nearby this morning. Did something happen? Is there a problem?
She looked at me with wide eyes, her expression shifting from worry to surprise.
—This morning? —she repeated, incredulous— But it's already six in the evening, young Leo...
Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water. Six...? I stared at her in silence, trying to process it. How could that be? To me, it had only felt like an hour and a half of training. Where had the whole day gone?
Still dazed, I replied:
—Wow… I'm a bit confused, but I'm here now. Please, don't worry anymore.
The girl nodded with a faint smile, though there was still a trace of concern in her eyes. She returned to her tasks while I wondered if they were genuinely starting to care for me… or if they already saw me as an important part of this place. It was a strange feeling—but not an unpleasant one.
I carefully opened the temple door. The interior was completely silent. I took off my shoes at the entrance, as usual, and began walking down the wooden hallways, hoping to find someone. But everything seemed empty.
I headed to the kitchen, hoping to find Kaori, the master, or maybe one of the other disciples—but no one was there either. The place was so quiet, I could hear the dripping of a poorly closed faucet. Before leaving, I poured myself a glass of water from a clay jug and drank slowly, letting the cool liquid soothe my dry throat. Then, I left the kitchen, still wondering what had happened with time… and why I felt so strange since that nightmare.
I walked almost the entire temple, passing through silent corridors and empty rooms, without finding anyone. Yet, I came across some people helping with tasks around the temple, and without exception, they all said the same thing:
—Where were you, young Leo? Everyone's been looking for you.
Their faces showed genuine concern. Eventually, I stopped in front of an older man calmly sweeping one of the side entrances. I approached and asked:
—Excuse me, do you know where the master and the others are?
The man looked at me with a kind smile and replied:
—They're in the masters' garden, young Leo.
—Thank you —I said, bowing my head slightly.
As I made my way to the garden, my thoughts kept circling back to time. How could the whole day have slipped away like that? I looked up at the sky and noticed how the sun was already setting behind the mountains, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. The sunset wrapped the landscape in a melancholic, almost magical beauty.
When I reached the garden, I saw them all there. The old master, Tom, Ren, Masha, Sakura… and Kaori. They were gathered in a semicircle, seemingly discussing something serious. Their expressions were hard to read—a mix of worry, fear, and distress. The tension in the air was palpable, visible in their postures, in their lowered gazes, in the way their voices were low yet urgent.
I stepped closer and raised my voice slightly so they'd hear me:
—Hey, what's going on? Why is everyone looking for me?
As soon as they heard me, all heads turned my way, and their expressions completely changed. The relief was immediate. Kaori was the first to react—she ran up to me and hugged me tightly. For a moment, I thought she was crying, but when I looked at her, I realized she wasn't… or at least not visibly.
The others quickly approached. The old master stepped forward and spoke with a grave but kind voice:
—Young Leo, where have you been? We were very worried. This morning, when we went to look for you, your futon was soaked… as if you had been sleeping in the depths of hell.
I stood still at his words, not sure how to respond. Was I really in that bad of a state? Before I could say anything, the old man continued:
—Also, Kaori told us that during the night she went to check on you and found you sweating profusely. Your face, your hands, your feet… even your back was completely wet.
—It was like you were trapped in a nightmare —Tom added seriously.
—Were you nervous about something? What happened to you? —Ren asked, clearly curious.
I opened my mouth to respond, but Kaori spoke first, her voice filled with concern:
—Tell us everything, Leo. When I came to check on you at dawn, you were breathing heavily… like you were in the middle of a battle. Your hands were trembling. I tried to wake you, but you didn't respond.
Those words hit me hard. I lowered my gaze and started to recall the dream… or whatever that was. That dark and grotesque figure that tormented me… how could I explain it to them? What if they thought I was losing control? What if, after hearing me out, they pushed me away? Fear of rejection began to take hold of me.
But then, Masha stepped forward and said with a gentle smile:
—Leo, you're not alone. Tell us what happened. We're here for you—we'll help you. Just have faith in us.
Hearing those words, I felt part of the burden I'd been carrying begin to lift. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and said with determination:
—Alright… I'll tell you everything that happened.
They all nodded, not pressuring me, but clearly eager to listen. Together, we returned to the temple in silence. We headed straight to the kitchen—the only warm and quiet place where we could talk without interruptions. There, surrounded by the aroma of freshly brewed tea and the gentle crackle of wood, I prepared to tell them what had happened during the night… and what I had seen in that all-too-real dream.