CHAPTER ONE

Eighteen years. Eighteen years was the age I would turn today, and eighteen was also the age required to enter into the arena. Not the combat arena, I had earned that right since I was eight. My name is Rekaya # 304, I once had a surname but it has long been forgotten, so my Master gave me 304.

This specific arena was built, well more like formed, for the specific training of time manipulation. My first opportunity to enter it was next week, I could feel the excitement welling up, but I ignored this feeling. I took note during my Master's lectures on how to and how not to behave inside the arena, any and all objects that are not protected to time travel must be left outside the arena. I own nothing, except my memories, memories of another dimension, and naturally another time; my childhood rests in these memories but they have long turned blurred and scattered.

I looked at my right hand and touched my seal. The fabric's soft texture was always interesting to feel. Stroking the fabric with the tips of my fingers I became lost in the feeling.

"Rekaya, it is time for you to return to your quarters, do not forget to return the gear to its rightful location." said a familiar voice. I turned around and there stood my Master. "Yes master." I said bowing and began putting away the training gear.

I spotted some blood on one of the swords and cleaned it off with a rag, blood. Many know blood as a red; I know it in other colors. Although foggy, I still remember being inside of a giant fish, not a normal fish but a demon. For five days I had to live off of the disgusting meals that this fish had swallowed, slowly dehydrating it wasn't until the fifth day that my brother found this demon and slashed it open the blood of that fish was a dark green. I can vaguely remember what he looked like, my brother; in fact I have little to no recognition of him. He my older brother, all I can recall is that he was a demon, and that he absolutely despised me, for the mere fact that I was human. My younger sibling on the other hand was just a child, his mind filled with thought of play, an innocent mind. Him I remember well, and yet my memories are still scattered and blurred, my Master had informed me that this may be so because of the inter-dimensional travel I went through as a child, that is how I ended up at this dojo.

I finished putting away the gear when I overheard someone in the hall

"Are you sure that all have gone to sleep?" said a voice.

"No, one is still awake but she is very obedient and will be headed toward her room at any moment to retire for the evening." said the voice of my Master. I wonder what they're talking about.

"Very well, lock all the windows and doors, tonight the beast will pass through." said the voice.

"Of course, I do not want any of my students to be harmed or for any to be exposed to the beast's aura." said my Master. As I heard this my curiosity began to form and so I decided to head back to my room, I glanced at my master and then turned and bowed to him, he bowed back and reached into his pouch. I made no notice of this until I was in my room and began to wonder why he had done so. I also didn't take note that there was no one else in the hallway other than my Master and I, who could he have been speaking to? I then recalled the conversation over some beast, the thought did not really catch my interest but of course my curiosity had sparked once again and I was out of my window before you could bat an eyelash.

It was rather dark outside the moon was covered by some trees so I could not see it, but as I gazed over the field nearby I saw its reflection on a calm pond, a quarter moon. My sharp hearing caught feet tapping on wood so I stealthily made my way to the calm pond. I hid between the reeds giving me a clear view of my surroundings all the while remaining well hidden. Not even a minute passed when I heard it. I looked around and there I saw it, a ... a beast? It was large and… and resembled a canine. I knew I've seen it before; I was just a couple years old when I saw it, and not long after my little brother was born. I suppose there could be a connection with this beast and I. I could feel fear, this emotion draining my power. I didn't move I remained motionless and still, but somehow it knew, it knew to come toward me. I heard a distinct sniffing and then I knew why, this was in fact a canine and it was coming toward me sniffing me.

I remained motionless yet the closer this beast got the more I shook. The reeds were not on my side as they made noise when I shook. It was then that the beast looked more alert and began to walk toward me much faster until it was directly in front of me. A creature of massive size, its eyes a red with blue and great bulging muscles its teeth mostly hidden behind its snout but I could still see its teeth as sharp as diamond. I backed away splashing into the water and falling in. The creature began to glow purple, the aura rose from its feet to the top of its head. I could not believe that in a matter of minutes I would be facing such a considerably large beast, I should've stayed in my room with the window shut and the door locked. I looked up at it but, the beast only looked at me and then the aura that surrounded it began to surround me!? I panicked and splashed around in the pond. WAIT! I am surrounded by water.

"Hydromosis!" I exclaimed as I lifted water and sent it at the beast engulfing the beast in water. I attempted to escape but the beast got ahold of my scarf and began to pull me back. I could not breathe the scarf was suffocating me, I released my power on the water as I did the beast released my scarf. I fell to the ground holding my throat coughing. My lungs begging for air I coughed some and took heavy breaths. The beast's aura was no longer on it, but surrounded me. I looked at my hands and saw claws beginning to take form, my hair color turned from a midnight black to a titanium white color. My glasses fell and I could not see anything, I franticly felt around the ground until I found them and attempted to place them back on my face with ineffective results. Befuddled by this, I felt my ears and realized that they were no longer there. I felt up higher until I felt something soft and furry, as well as floppy and sensible to me, not just with my fingers but as if what I was feeling was part of my body!?

I snapped my fingers and to my surprise I heard the sound perfectly and in fact very clear.

I placed my glasses on my nose and tied them to my face with string, I looked toward the beast; He had been patiently waiting for me to finish panicking. He walked closer to me but not in a savage, aggressive manner but rather formal and calm.

"Rekaya?! Rekaya where are you!?" shouted my Master. I heard footsteps, but not just heard them, I HEARD them! I could hear the direction and give an exact pinpoint on the distance and his acceleration. He broke out into a sprint and suddenly all I hear is a snap and fire surrounds the beast and I.

"You demons! Leave here at once, this is sacred land!" said my Master. Did he say demons? I am not a demon, I am human. I rolled around on the ground and into the water then looked toward him. I had never seen him like this, his eyes filled with an indignation and fortitude of a massive degree. This brought fear to me and then I could feel my power begin to deplete. I looked toward the beast, his fur ablaze and I could see the aching agony in his eyes. Within I felt sympathy for the beast and this turned into a need to protect him, he had attempted to kill me once before but deep within me instinct arose and took control of me.

Suddenly without a thought, I stood up and ran toward my master claws out, hair flying. I had targeted my prey and was going in for an assassination. As I got closer to him I could see in his eyes a calm feel, I could also see my own reflection.

I had yellow eyes raging eyes, with purple slash markings on my face was this why he had said demons?! I regained control again but before I could even think, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach that stabbed in then turned made and upward movement. My insides were ripped open by this and almost instantly blood began to spill and splatter. I fell to the ground with a knife in my stomach. Why did my Master do this, how could he? D-Did he no longer wish for me as a student? I saw him head toward the beast but before he could take any action the beast disappeared.

I lay on the ground clenching the knife, the pain wasn't a sharp stinging pain anymore, but a dull continuous pain that only got worse with every breath I took. I think my Master had been mistaken for who was, and so I opened my mouth and let out a low and weak "M-Master" as I say this he turns around rapidly wide-eyed and alarmed. I look at him and then look toward my stomach; I'm losing more and more blood at the second. I let go of the knife and let out a scream, the knife only sinks in more. I can feel warm tears running down my cheek, it isn't long before I black out and then nothing.

END OF CHAPTER ONE