Chapter 1: DREAM
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Pain shot through my knees as the guards shoved me onto the cold stone floor. My head throbbed, and the taste of blood lingered in my mouth. Purple and gold cloaks swirled around me.
"Move," one of them barked, yanking my chains.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, trying to clear my vision. Where was I? The last thing I remembered was waking up to metal fists pummeling my ribs. Now, I sat in some medieval throne room with fancy tapestries and flickering torches on the walls.
Something pressed against my face. I tried to reach up, but the chains restricted my movement—a mask.
Why the hell am I wearing a mask?
My gaze dropped to my clothes. Black fabric hugged my body, complete with arm wraps and a utility belt. Like something straight out of a ninja movie. This had to be a dream—too many late-night martial arts films before bed.
A grunt beside me caught my attention. Somebody hit the ground, chains rattling. He wore a full ninja suit—face covered, all in black, just like mine.
"This can''t be real," I whispered.
The guard closest to me cracked his armored fist across my jaw, dislodging a tooth. Stars exploded behind my eyes as my molar skittered across the floor.
Nope, definitely felt real. The pain was too sharp, too present to be a dream. But how''d I get here? My mind felt foggy, memories just out of reach.
The other ninja stirred beside me. I wanted to ask what was happening, but the guards'' grip on my chains tightened in warning.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber. My heart hammered against my ribs as I struggled to make sense of any of this. None of this, the medieval setting, ninja outfits, or brutal guards added up. Had someone
Maybe someone slipped something into my drink?
The chains clinked as another black-clad figure was dragged between us. My vision swam, head pounding with each heartbeat. Blood trickled down my chin.
Through the haze, a tall figure descended from what looked like an elaborate throne. A king, maybe? His robes rustled against the stone steps, and my stomach lurched as the room spun.
The king reached for the third ninja''s mask. Voices erupted in harsh tones—a language I''d never heard before. The words felt sharp, guttural. I tried to focus, but the pain kept pulling me under.
A flash of metal caught the torchlight. The figure from the throne thrust forward with something that looked like a ceremonial wand, ending in a wicked spike. It plunged into the ninja''s stomach with a wet sound.
But the ninja wasn''t done. His head snapped forward, spraying something into their attacker''s face. The scream that followed chilled my blood.
The ninja collapsed backward, his body going limp. His face bubbled and melted. Flesh sloughed off in thick rivulets. The stench hit me like a physical force—acid and burning meat.
Bile rose in my throat. I doubled over as far as the chains would allow, gagging violently. The smell of dissolving flesh filled my nose, my mouth. Someone still screamed.
Through my blurred vision, a streak of motion erupted beside me. The ninja who''d been still moments ago exploded into action, chains snapping like paper. His form shifted and warped, his skin crackling with flames, and he grew taller and more demonic.
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Heat blasted my face as the demon lunged for the king, trailing fire like a comet. Was I hallucinating?
Three dark shapes descended from the shadows, moving with impossible speed. Their black cloaks billowed as they intercepted the fire demon. Dark energy crackled between them, and the demon''s roar turned into a human scream. The flames died, leaving just the ninja writhing on the hard floor.
More voices filled the chamber, speaking that harsh language I couldn''t understand. My head spun as I tried to track what was happening.
Rough hands grabbed my face. Someone yanked off my mask, and I gasped at the rush of cool air. Through the fog of pain, I locked eyes with the captured ninja. His gaze burned with an intensity that made my skin crawl—literally glowing with remnants of that demonic fire.
My jaw screamed in agony as I tried to form words, to beg for help or an explanation. Nothing came out but a wet gurgle of blood.
The ninja''s eyes widened in recognition before the cloaked figures dragged him away.
The last thing I saw was an armored fist swinging for my temple.
***
I''m alive. I think.
The king figure stood before me. Suspended in the air and unable to lift my head, I only caught glimpses of gold chains and purple robes.
“How dare you come into my kingdom?” he snarled, spittle hitting my forehead. "Such a brazen yet foolish attempt to assassinate me. Who bribed you to kill me?"
I couldn’t speak. Kill? Even if I was able to talk, what was there to say? After all, I had to be dreaming. But the more I tried to wake up, the more bound and trapped I felt.
A fist slammed into my gut.
“Talk!”
Like a corkscrew, knuckles burrowed into my stomach. He hit me again… and again… each punch more intense. My shoulders and back muscles screamed, driven to their limits. Tasting metal in my mouth, the next blow forced me to spit blood.
Some text glitched in and out before my eyes.
Name: Ember
Tier: -
Faction: -
Before blacking out, I saw an Asian husband and wife smiling at a two-year-old with a mop of red hair. The child wore a fairy outfit and waved a wand with a silver star.
***
How long have I been here?
My entire body was stiff, caked in filthy sweat, blood, and, by the smell of it—urine. Glancing down, I saw a burlap sack covered my torso with a rope around my waist. More rope bit into my wrists and ankles, suspending me off the damp, bloodstained stone floor. A window with bars on my left lit the room. Drab grey stone everywhere else. An oversized wooden door with metal hinges stood to my right.
The text reappeared.
Name: Ember
Tier: -
Faction: -
Zii: -
Ignoring the distinct possibility I was having a stroke, I tried to concentrate. Or maybe I’m comatose in a bed at some hospital.
Metal clanking and heavy footsteps approached.
The door swung open, and two guards with polearms stepped in. They wore the same medieval armor and purple cloaks with gold tassels. Behind them, the king in robes entered. I noticed the bruises on his right hand. I hope it’s broken.
“Who contracted you to kill me?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I coughed.
He wound up to strike but paused after clenching his hand. He stepped back, but my relief was short-lived.
“Beat her,” he commanded.
The polearms rattled against the wall.
I screamed.
***
I regained consciousness, angry at my Japanese dad. All he did was give me the best life possible. Both my adoptive parents did.
I don’t deserve to have parents, especially those two.
I closed my eyes and felt tears roll down my cheeks.
***
I''m definitely dreaming now.
My eyes were drawn to my dead body, cold and pale, with a red, glowing coin covering each eye.
I stood on a foggy hill, the air thick with the scent of wet earth and something metallic. Around my corpse stood three old men. They ignored me. One wore a crown, its jewels glinting in the dim light. With a gaping hole where his left eye should''ve been, the second gripped a sword, the blade gleaming with a twilight sheen. The third was my father, his face twisted in an expression of sorrow I can''t break through.
I wanted to scream and tell my father that it wasn’t me—I wasn’t dead. I searched for something—anything—to say to get his attention, but the words stuck in my throat like a forgotten song.
The mist swirled, forming the shape of a poker card. It was red with an intricate pattern I''d never seen before. At its center was a heart symbol, different from any poker deck I knew—the card hovered, out of place in this grim scene.
Two fiery eyes opened within the card''s design. They locked onto mine—my heart raced. A flurry of text flooded my mind''s eye.
Name: Ember
Tier: -
Faction: -
Zii: -
Cards: -
Deck: -