The First Spark

I slowly opened my eyes, my vision blurry at first. As my eyes focused, I realized that I was in a hospital room. The walls were white, and the room was filled with the sound of beeping machines.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my body. I looked down and saw bandages wrapped around me, but after a quick look, I didn't appear to have any actual wounds.

Confused, I looked around the room, trying to piece together what had happened.

Suddenly, a nurse walked into the room, a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, Kane. How are you feeling?"

I tried to speak, but my throat was dry. The nurse handed me a glass of water, which I gratefully sipped.

"Your wounds have healed remarkably fast," she said, looking at my bandages in surprise. "It's like they were never there, but I suppose this should have been expected from a guardian."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked.

I shook my head , "I'm not a guardian," I said. "I'm just a Light-bearer."

The nurse looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Are you feeling alright, Kane? You were brought here by the Guardians after they found you unconscious in the middle of a battlefield. You were badly injured, but your wounds have healed quickly. We've been monitoring you for the past few days, and you seem to be in perfect health now."

My mind was spinning with confusion. How had I ended up on a battlefield? And why did the nurse keep referring to me as a Guardian?

And then, it all came flooding back to me. I remembered the battle with the metal ant, the intensity of the flames within me, and the exhaustion that had overcome me. But I also remembered something else, something that didn't make any sense.

How was I able to wield the light like that? I wasn't a Guardian. I was just a Light-bearer, and I had never even been trained in combat. And yet, something within me shifted during my fight with the ant.

I tried to make sense of it all, but my mind was still foggy. The nurse must have noticed my confusion because she placed a comforting hand on my arm.

"Don't worry, Kane. You'll figure it all out in time. For now, just focus on resting and recovering. You're lucky to be alive."

With that, she left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I still had so many questions, but for now, I would have to wait until I was strong enough to seek out the answers.

As I lay there in the hospital bed, my mind wandered back to the battle with the metal ant, and the flames that had burned within me. I knew that I had tapped into something powerful, something that I had never felt before.

I was still trying to make sense of it all when a figure entered the room. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a stern expression. He wore the uniform of a Guardian, his badge gleaming in the light. His broad shoulders that tapered down to a trim waist, giving him an imposing presence that demanded respect. His face was chiseled and angular, with a strong jawline and high cheekbones that gave him a rugged look.

He had a stern expression, with deep-set eyes that were a piercing shade of blue, like the ocean on a clear day. His hair was a deep, chestnut brown, cut short and slicked back, giving him a no-nonsense look that matched his face.

I couldn't help to have my eyes wander to his uniform. The attire was adorned with various pockets and pouches, each. A thick, leather belt cinched around his waist, which had a sword and sheath attached to it. He wore a pair of black combat boots, each adorned with a set of metal plates that protected his feet and ankles from harm.

As the Guardian approached my bed, I felt a surge of unease. I had never met a Guardian before, and I didn't know what to expect.

"Good morning, Kane," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "I'm Captain Rodriguez. I'm in charge of the faction that found you on the battlefield."

I nodded, unsure of what to say. I still didn't understand how I had ended up there, or why the Guardians had mistaken me for one of their own.

"I know you have a lot of questions," Captain Rodriguez continued. "And we have a lot of questions for you as well. But for now, I just wanted to check in on you and make sure you're okay."

I nodded again, feeling a sense of relief that he wasn't there to interrogate me. But as Captain Rodriguez turned to leave, I couldn't help but ask one question.

"Why did the nurse think I was a Guardian?"

Captain Rodriguez paused, looking back at me with a curious expression. "When we found you on the battlefield.... we found one of our own, as well as the rift boss dead." His expression was solemn after mentioning the guardian who died, and I remembered just how dire the situation really was.

"The only other living people on the scene were you, and a girl we found unconscious near by."

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the girl. Could it be Hina?

"Did you find out who the girl was?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Captain Rodriguez gave me a small nod. "Yes, we did. She's currently being treated in another wing of the hospital. Her name is Hina."

A wave of relief washed over me. I was glad that Hina was still alive.

But then, another realization hit me. Hina lived, meaning she may have seen me kill the ant somehow.

"Captain Rodriguez, did Hina...did she see what happened to me?" I asked, my voice unsteady.

Captain Rodriguez hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Yes, she did. She told as that although you're a light-bearer, she knows you aren't a guardian, so she doesn't know how you managed to kill the ant. It's...quite unusual for anyone outside the Guardians to exhibit that kind of power."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. I didn't know what this meant for me, but I knew that I needed to find out about what changed within me.

"Thank you for telling me," I said, my mind already racing with possible explanations. "I'll try to figure out what happened to me."

Rodriguez pulled a chair out, and sat in front of me.

"Kane, have you ever heard of awakenings?" He said, with a serious expression.

I nodded, surprised by the sudden change in topic. "Yeah, i've heard of them... why?"

Captain Rodriguez leaned forward, his eyes locked onto mine. "Sometimes, Light-bearers experience something called an awakening. It's a rare phenomenon that sometimes occurs when a person is pushed to their limits in a desperate situation. It's said that during an awakening, the light within a person bends to accommodate them better, and they are able to control their light like they've never had before, to the point where they're able to become guardians."

He leaned forward in his chair as he's speaking.

"Kane, we believe that you've had an awakening."

I sat there in stunned silence, trying to process what Captain Rodriguez had just told me. An awakening? Me?

I had heard of awakenings before, but I had never thought it was something that could happen to me. I was just a Light-bearer, after all. I had given up on the dream of becoming a guardian a long time ago because I couldn't wield the light well enough to become one.

But now, it seemed that something had changed within me. Something that allowed me to wield the light in a way that I never thought was possible.

"But...I'm not a Guardian," I said, my voice low. "I don't have the training or the skills to be one. The only reason I was able to kill the ant was because I brute forced my way through it."

Captain Rodriguez leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "We understand that, Kane. But to find out that someone had an awakening is something we can't simply overlook. Which is why I want to recruit you into my faction."

I was taken aback by Captain Rodriguez's proposal. "Recruit me? But I'm just a Light-bearer, I'm not cut out for this kind of thing."

Captain Rodriguez gave me a small smile. "I understand that you may feel that way, Kane. But your awakening suggests that you may have a potential that is yet to be unlocked. We could train you, help you harness your abilities, and turn you into a powerful guardian."

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. The idea of becoming a guardian had always been a distant dream for me, something that I had given up on a long time ago. But now, it seemed like it was within my reach.

"Think about it, Kane," Captain Rodriguez said, standing up from his chair. "We'll give you some time to rest and recover, but I hope that you'll consider joining us. I left our faction card on the desk... please think about it"

With that, he left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.

As I lay there in the hospital bed, I couldn't help but think about what Captain Rodriguez had said. Could I really become a guardian? Was it possible that my awakening had unlocked a potential within me..." I slowly get up, and call for a nurse using a button near my bed. Most of my pain has gone away, and I want to go home to think about all that's happened.

....

....

....

Finally, I was discharged from the hospital, and made my way home. I found myself hesitant to pursue Captain Rodriguez's offer. Becoming a guardian would mean leaving my family and everything I had ever known behind. It would mean dedicating my life to a cause that I wasn't sure I was ready for.

As I walked through the door of my family's home, I was greeted with warmth and love.

My mother rushed over to me, tears in her eyes. "Kane! You're finally back! We were so worried about you!"

I smiled weakly, still feeling overwhelmed by everything that had happened. "I'm okay, Mom. Just a little tired."

While trying to comfort her, Lily and Jack both ran up to me, hugging my legs and waist."

"Kane! You're back!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.

Jack chimed in, "We missed you so much! Are you okay?"

I ruffled their hair, feeling a sense of comfort and love wash over me. For a moment, I forgot about everything else and just basked in the warmth of my family's embrace.

Just then, my father walked into the room, a concerned expression on his face. "Kane, my boy, we were so worried about you. What happened? Are you okay?"

I took a deep breath, not wanting to worry him any further. "I'm okay, Dad. I was just in a little accident, but I'm fine now."

My father looked at me with a keen eye, as if trying to read between the lines. "Are you sure, son? You seem...different somehow."

"I'm sure, Dad," I said, forcing a smile. "I'm just tired. I think I'll go rest for a bit."

With that, I made my way up to my room, feeling a sense of relief as I closed the door behind me. I was glad to be home, but my mind was still spinning with thoughts of the awakening and Captain Rodriguez's offer.

I lay down on my bed, letting out a deep sigh. I knew that I needed to think about what I wanted to do next. Did I want to pursue a life as a guardian, or was I content with living a normal and simple life, one free with the dangers of being a guardian?

As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help but think about everything that had happened. My mind was racing with thoughts, and I found it hard to fall asleep.

I tossed and turned, trying to make sense of everything. The idea of becoming a guardian was tempting, but it also scared me. It would mean leaving everything I had ever known behind, and dedicating my life to violence and bloodshed within the rifts.

I couldn't help but think about everything that had happened. My mind was racing with thoughts, and I found it hard to fall asleep.

I tossed and turned, trying to make sense of everything. The idea of becoming a guardian was tempting, but it also scared me. It would mean leaving everything I had ever known behind, and dedicating my life to a cause that I wasn't sure I was ready for.

But at the same time, there was something within me that was calling out, something that was urging me to take the leap and become a guardian. It was like something within me was attempting to spark.

I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of panic wash over me. I didn't know what to do, and the thought of making such a life-altering decision was overwhelming.

But then, I thought about Hina. I remembered the way she looked at me with admiration and awe when we first met, the way she seemed to see something in me that I couldn't see in myself.

And then I thought about the metal ant. I remembered the way it had towered over me, ready to strike at any moment. And then I remembered the way the flames within me had surged to life, how they had consumed me and given me the strength to fight back.

I realized then that I had a choice to make. I could either continue living a simple and safe life, or I could take a risk and become something more. I could become a guardian.

The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating. But as I lay there in bed, I knew that I had to make a decision. I couldn't keep living in limbo, wondering what my future held.

I lay there, my hand hovering above me, as I watched as gentle flames illuminated the room. The warmth of the flames felt comforting, almost like they were a sign of what I needed to do.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I knew what I had to do. I had to take the first step towards becoming a guardian.

As I opened my eyes, the flames above me flickered and danced, almost as if they were celebrating my decision.

I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. I was ready to become a guardian, to protect the people I cared about and to fight against the dangers of the rifts.

I slowly drifted off.... as I think about what the future has in store for me

....

....

....

My eyes slowly flutter open, as I woke up much earlier than I usually do, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and determination. I quickly got dressed, and I take a look at myself in the mirror.

I saw a different person staring back at me, someone who was ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

I made my way downstairs, finding my family already up and about. They looked at me with concern, wondering if I was feeling okay.

"I'm fine," I said, my voice steady. "I've made a decision."

My family looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue.

"I want to become a guardian," I said, my voice firm. "I want to protect people, protect those who can't protect themselves."

I felt a sense of excitement coming from Lily and Jack as I them about my decision to become a guardian. Their eyes lit up with enthusiasm, and they hugged me tightly, jumping up and down.

"That's amazing, Kane! You're going to be so cool!" Lily exclaimed.

Jack added, "Yeah, you're going to be like a superhero!"

But as I looked towards my parents, I could see the concern etched on their faces. They knew the dangers that came with being a guardian and didn't want their eldest child to be put in harms way.

"Children, please leave the room," my mother said, her voice filled with concern.

Lily and Jack looked confused but left the room obediently, still brimming with excitement.

My parents sat down with me, their faces serious. "Kane, we understand that you want to become a guardian, but do you truly comprehend what that entails?" My mother said.

I nodded. "I know it's dangerous, but it's what I want to do. I want to protect the people I care about."

My father let out a sigh. "We're scared for you, son. We love you so much, and we don't want to lose you."

My mother added, "We'll support you no matter what you choose to do, but we just want you to be safe. So please, think about this carefully."

I understood their concerns, but I knew that becoming a guardian was my calling. I promised them that I would be careful and do everything in my power to stay safe.

After much discussion, my parents finally gave me their blessing. After which, I take out the faction card that he left on my desk, and take a look at the faction.

The card had a symbol of an ornate crown, surrounded by a sword and shield, with the words "Silver Crown," emblazoned beneath it.

I knew that joining the Silver Crown faction was a big decision, but it was one that I was ready to make. I picked up my phone and dialed the number on the card, ready to take my first step towards becoming a guardian.

After a few rings, a voice answered on the other end. "Silver Crown faction, how may I assist you?"

"Hi, my name is Kane. I'm interested in joining your faction," I said, my voice steady.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Kane, we've been expecting your call. Captain Rodriguez told us about your awakening."

I was taken aback. "He did?"

"Yes, he did. We're glad that you've made the decision to join us. We'll send someone to pick you up and bring you to our headquarters. Are you ready?"

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Yes, I'm ready."

"Great. Someone will be there shortly. Welcome to the Silver Crown, Kane. We're excited to have you on board."

As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for me. But one thing was for certain - I was ready to face it head-on, as a guardian.