Well, this wasn't how Hyde expected things would turn out a month ago. The Hollow Night is starting in just a few minutes, Linne and Waldstein are nowhere to be found, and Paradox is setting her plan in motion at any moment. And to make matters worse, his right hand won't stop aching when wielding his red blade, Insulator. Honestly… How did things come to this?

Let's see…

One month ago, he just finished a study session with Orie Harada. She transferred to his high school about a year ago and the two became good friends. Hyde showed her around all sorts of places in the small city of Kanzakai from shops, cafes, and spots to just relax. Whether it be from study sessions, to cooking together at his house, to just hanging out, Hyde considers her someone close. That day was just like any other day. He saw her off at school and made his way home

That was when all hell broke loose.

Before he knew it, it was night already. The past few days, he had a sneaking feeling that something was following him, but did not see anyone in sight. And then what happened? He gets bit in the shoulder by some black canine creature. Hyde was left sprawling in pain and thought he was done for until someone came to his aid. A little girl in an orange hoodie wielding a knife and a longsword. Not something you see everyday.

Something else happened after that… Oh right.

She managed to kill one of the creatures but another one came to finish Hyde off. Before he knew it, the boy summoned a red blade from his hand and with his remaining strength, slashed the creature. The last thing he saw before passing out was the girl finishing off that creature.

After gaining consciousness, he learned the girl was Linne. Hyde was already acquainted with Linne a week or two ago. He thought she was a strange kid who seemed a lot more mature for her age but after learning about his weapon, the girl decided to come clean on who she is.

An immortal soul of Reincarnation that transfers to a different girl when her current body dies. Linne was known as the Princess of the Night Blade, a scattered organization whose purpose is to protect the people during the Hollow Night. Hyde then learned the blade he summoned has the power to kill an immortal. Linne said when the time is right, she wants him to kill her and finally end the curse she's been dealt with by taking over so many hosts for who knows how long. So now he had to bear the weight of taking a life as part of his tasks… Great.

Linne would also teach Hyde on what exactly is going on. During the night of a full moon, certain areas are brought to a different realm. Hyde was in that realm and was how he became an In-Birth, people who are bitten by creatures known as voids and obtain supernatural powers as a result. In Hyde's case, his power is summoning Insulator, a supposed mythical blade that is said to be very powerful. Linne told him he was lucky, if he didn't manifest his power, he would have turned into a void instead. While small parts of the Hollow Night can occur at random full moon nights, it has been consistent to appear in most of Kanzakai at the end of each month.

He also learned about EXS, the main power source that all In-Births carry. EXS varies for each person but one of the main perks is superhuman strength and a healing factor. So In-Births could battle each other and so long as the wounds were not fatal, could shrug off their injuries and carry on like it's nothing. Oh yeah, another effect In-Births carry, they are often drawn to one another and fight each other. That's something he should note down.

And lastly, Hyde learned about Organizations. He already learned of the Night Blade, but another organization with a similar goal is the Licht Kreis. The Licht Kreis was an all women organization who also wished to protect people from the Hollow Night but believes in hierarchy in helping people which differ from the beliefs of the Night Blade. The last and recently established organization was Amnesia. A group of powerful In-Births who wish to remove the Night Blade and Lich Kreis from controlling the Night and let the wielders do as they please under their watch. Hyde didn't have to think twice on why they are bad news.

And that was his crash course on what's going on. Not how he expected his Saturday to go.

The next month was hell. Linne would teach Hyde how to use his blade properly and he would also get acquainted with her guardian, Waldstein. A huge gray skinned man with sharp, metal claws. Intimidating to say the least. The two would crash at Hyde's place as he practices on being an In-Birth or Wielder as other people call it. His daily routine since then was School, Wielder Practice, Cooking, Cleaning, Rinse and Repeat.

He would complain, but not like that would change much.

And now he only dug himself an even deeper hole one week before the Hollow Night. The one person Linne warned Hyde to be involved with was Amnesia's leader Paradox, a mad woman who is a very powerful In-Birth. Her goal is to take his sword to open the Gate of the Abyss that lies in the center of the Hollow Knight to become something called a Re-Birth, a being much stronger than an In-Birth and supposedly immortal.

So yeah, try not to encounter her

…

He encountered her.

Hyde was just trying to get some groceries that night when he came across a little boy that reminded him of Linne. The boy tells Hyde to go to a manor after showing off an immense purple aura. At that moment, Hyde felt like the boy could have ended him in an instant, but just didn't. Deciding to listen to what the boy says, he heads to the manor and who does he meet? Paradox.

Well hell.

Now in a hostage situation, Hyde learns more about Paradox. For one, her real name is Hilda and her reasons for wanting to become a Re-Birth. To take over the Hollow Night and overpower those who wish to oppose her. Self Righteous crap, but not like he could say that to her right now. And to top it off, Hilda begins to taunt Hyde by saying the Princess of the Night Blade was traveling with an Unknown ally and begins to slowly bring up descriptions of Hyde. A second year High School student, brash, reckless, hot headed, she continued on.

Hyde knew he should have kept his composure but in the heat of the moment he had enough. He tried to summon Insulator, only for nothing to come out because it was not the Hollow Night yet.

Shit…

So now Paradox knows Hyde wields the Insulator. She could easily just detain him and wait for the Hollow Night to come but instead… She releases him.

What?

Hyde has no idea why she just lets him go. Must be the power going over her head. Paradox probably just wants to see him try to stop her and fail miserably.

"Well, if she wants a fight, she'll get one"

Hyde remembers what he said to himself. Sure he's only been a Wielder for 1 month, but the one thing he's learned about himself is that he adapts to things pretty fast. When he applied himself, he could keep up with Orie's study sessions, he could cook, clean, take care of himself, and he could adjust to things on the fly. Maybe it's one of things he picked up when living alone most of his life.

Which leads him to his current situation.

"Guess it's time. The 'Hollow Night' will begin soon" Hyde said as he could feel the area growing tense.

The 1 month of training he had from Linne and Waldstein was hell, but it was to prepare him for this moment. There was just one problem…

"Where the hell are they? Did they just take off on their own?"

They probably thought he was not ready yet. Maybe, but after encountering Paradox once, it now became personal.

"Damn it Linne, You'd better be waiting for me! That goes for you too Wald! Don't do anything stupid before I get there!"

With renewed determination, Hyde ran on ahead, hoping to find his two Night Blade allies and stop Paradox together.