Phoenix’s awakening

The smell of salt punctured my lungs as I learned how to breathe once again. I was in an abyss for far too long that I had forgotten what living felt like.

The sounds of waves clashing on each other, the feeling of water covering my bottom half and then quivering away and coming back as if it were a child's first time seeing a toy.

My eyes were closed though I could see everything. I could feel where I was. It was a beach. A red sun glared on the lands as palm trees swayed to the wind. The air seems to be crying…I can feel someone approaching.

I opened my eyes to see everything I felt before and jumped to my feet. I feel that person watching me…they're scared? Curious? They're experiencing a lot of emotions.

I turned around to look at them. They wore tattered clothes, it looked like a bunch of random cloth from different clothing was tied together in a bunch of knots. They looked anorexic and their lips dry from thirst.

After a bit of a staring contest they ran away stumbling.

I don't know where I am and there's something telling me I should follow whoever that person was to find out.

I tread before them silently so as not to alert.

Along the way, I saw the previously palmy and tropical scenery descend into a grey stoney and almost volcanic one. The air gradually became muskier and darker.

After a long silent trek with only tense breathing to be heard from the runner, I saw it. It was a large mine. Two towers with purple polygons floating on top guarded the entrance.

The runner disappeared from my sight. I tried to sense them, but there were too many people in the area, some far stronger and smelled of blood.

I walked towards the entrance. Behind the towers was a metallic fence reminiscent of barbed wire from my world, but different.

I took a step past the towers and felt that I had passed a barrier of sorts.

Sirens began to blare, and loud voices ensued. I felt the stronger people rushing towards the entrance. I sighed.

"Guess this'll be my first fight in this world…ugh…here goes nothing." I fixed my glasses and took a deep breath, engulfing every single strand of hair on my body in flames.

I looked at my clothes.

"Huh? Neat." They're able to withstand the flames. They must be made out of some sort of magical cloth.

"There's the intruder!"

I prepped up a ball of fire.

"False alarm everybody!" A voice came from within the tower.

I stopped my casting in curiosity.

A person stepped out of the tower and walked towards me with a smile. Their hand on their chest, where their heart would be.

"Forgive me lord, it seems you're not registered in the system…which house do you hail from?"

I raised my eyebrow. I was able to understand this foreign language I had never heard before, but what was even more confusing was.

"Lord?" I mumbled loudly.

"Are you perhaps a Draf? I've never seen such an esteemed noble species before my eyes! I go by Claw and I'm the second chief protector on this island."

The others, what I think are guards, let out mumbled wows as they slowly approached me with a sparkle in their eyes.

"What's all the commotion here?"

There they were, the strongest person I sensed ever since I came to.

Claw saluted, putting their fist on their forehead with their palm facing the strongest.

"Sir! It seems there was a false alarm caused by our esteemed Draf. I think that they're lost."

I felt like I had to bow so I did.

Gasps were heard all around.

"Please. Raise your head. We are mere guards of a slave camp, we do not deserve such an honorable greeting from the esteemed Draf. I go by Rox, what shall we call you my lord?"

"Phoenix"