I slowly wake up, feeling groggy and with my thoughts jumbled. As my body adjusts to a state of alertness, I try to make sense of everything I remember from yesterday.
Slowly, I go over all the information in my head. The names of the Furious Five, their faces. Master Shifu and his advice from yesterday. All the names of the places I was told.
It's quite a lot in one day, but little by little I assimilate it all in my head. If only getting my memories back was so easy.
Suddenly I remember Master Shifu telling me that I was to be ready when the morning gong sounded.
"Huh… I wonder if there is still time until the gong..." I had a somewhat restless night, thanks to the conversation with Tigress before going to sleep, so I decide to just get up and about.
Just as I am thinking about going out to get some air, a metallic gong sounds. Just a moment later, a multitude of steps and doors opening can be heard as the Furious Five quickly make for the door.
I follow a moment later.
"Good morning, Master Shifu!" Everyone but me says, surprising me with their coordinated greeting.
"Good morning, Master Shifu." I say a fraction later, earning me a small glance from him.
"Hmm… You woke up at the time you were told." Master Shifu says intrigued, as he strokes his Fu Manchu styled beard. It seems not many manage to wake up this early on their first try. "You will come with me to see Grandmaster Oogway. The rest of you, eat breakfast and wait for me here."
The Furious Five go to the kitchen while I follow Master Shifu outside. As we are nearing the exit of the barracks, a passing thought comes to my head.
"Now that I think about it… I woke up inside the barracks, so I never saw the outside of the Jade Palace." Though that is not completely true, since I saw it in the distance before collapsing.
As we exit, I stop a moment to take it all in.
There is a great courtyard, with buildings at its sides. A great red gate separates the palace from what I assume are the unending stairs I saw earlier in the distance.
There are also some beautiful gardens and trees surrounding the courtyard.
In front of the courtyard, a pair of stairs that go further up, with two statues of dragons decorating them.
And further up into the mountain, more buildings and stairs, all in traditional Chinese style.
As I stand there gawking like an idiot, Master Shifu finally grows impatient and tells me to move already.
We begin to ascend until we start getting closer to a peach tree at the top of a hill.
There I finally see who I assume to be Grandmaster Oogway. He is an elderly tortoise, his shell covered in a green cloak with a yin-yang symbol and he is carrying a staff.
"Now listen, and listen well, Human. Grandmaster Oogway is a revered master of Kung Fu, and highly venerated for his wisdom and knowledge, who has helped the people of this world all his life, so you better present him the respect he deserves." Master Shifu explains to me in a stern tone.
I nod my understanding and we go forward.
Shifu stops shy of reaching the tree and gestures for me to get closer. I step closer as Grandmaster Oogway stands from his meditating stance and turns towards me.
I bow as I have seen the others do, and salute him. "Master Oogway, I'm honored to meet you."
"Hello, child, no need to be so formal. Master Shifu has explained your complex situation to me."
That relaxes me a little, seeing as I won't have to explain myself again.
"Then Master, can you help me?" I'm sure my eyes are shining with the hope I'm feeling.
But the tortoise only shakes his head sadly, dashing the little hope I had in me, before speaking.
"I'm afraid there is no remedy, mystical or otherwise, to recover the memories. Only time is able to heal the mind." Oogway explains to me calmly, with a sad tone.
I feel as my chance of knowing something, anything of my past, is lost and shattered. Fear and hopelessness must be clear on my face because Oogway calmly reassures me.
"Do not despair, child. I know your situation must seem bleak to you right now, and that you must feel lost, but I think there are no accidents. Why don't you become a student here? While you fortify your body studying Kung Fu, your mind may recover with meditation and training."
His sagely tone and calm demeanor are soothing to me, making me feel like this is not over yet. Perhaps I am being too dramatic, even if it's something as serious as my memories there is no point in feeling depressed and hopeless. Only action will serve a purpose.
"Master, are you sure? We don't know anything about him." Master Shifu says in a questioning manner.
It seems he isn't completely opposed to the idea, but is doubtful.
"I think the universe has guided him to us for a reason. Tell me, young one, do you wish to help those in need? To better yourself?" His eyes search for something in me as he asks.
I stop to consider for a moment.
My memories may be gone forever, and even if they aren't who knows when they will come back. These people have accepted and helped me, a stranger, without any more reason than the wish to help someone in need.
This sense of good and justice feels right in my heart. I don't know who I was in my past, but I know who I will become.
I look Grandmaster Oogway straight in the eyes and give my answer.
"Yes! I wish to better myself! I want to help those in need! I will become a Kung Fu master! And if I recover my memories along the way in my journey, then all the better!"
After a moment of deliberately looking at me, the old master gives me a huge smile, clearly pleased with my answer and with whatever he sees within me.
"Good! You will bring a good change of pace to this place. Now go, the first trial of many awaits you." With those parting words, the tortoise starts turning back to the edge of the hill to begin his meditation anew, before stopping.
"Hmm… If you are to train here, then you will need a name. We can't always be calling you a stranger, can we now?" The old tortoise muses with a smile while looking at me.
"Master, I will accept whatever name you think is right for me." Might as well be him naming me since I still haven't the slightest idea about my name.
"Oh, what great honor to bestow upon me. Very well, let me think for a moment..." He spends a moment rubbing his chin while looking at me.
"I know! From now on you will be called… Dong!" This old man clearly has lost his head if he thinks I would accept that name.
It seems he gets my thoughts on the matter from my expression alone since he goes back to thinking with an "Alright, give another moment…"
After a moment of consideration, he gives me a name.
"You will be called 'Albion' from now on. It's the name of a great warrior of the past. I hope this name guides you along your path safely." Without further ceremony, I am named by Grandmaster Oogway and the old tortoise goes back to his meditation.
My name is Albion. My identity going forward. I'm Albion, new student of the Jade Palace.
With those thoughts in my head, it feels like a part of me returns to my being.
"I will tell the servants to prepare your room for a more permanent stay. You have done well so far, but you will have to do even better in the future. As of now, you will be training here so you will address me as Master." We walk back while Master Shifu tells me all that.
"Yes, Master Shifu." He eyes me carefully as I answer.
"Good, tomorrow your training begins, so get plenty of rest today and prepare for tomorrow. Go back to the barracks and tell the others to come to the Training Hall." I bow while he walks away.
Well, with all that out of the way, I make my way to the barracks, planning to follow Shifu's order.
Master Shifu took me directly to see Grandmaster Oogway, so I'm pretty much starving. Once I tell the Five Shifu's instruction, I'll see about eating breakfast.
When I remember the food Viper made yesterday I can feel my stomach cry for food like a starving beast.
With that in mind, I make my way to the kitchen.
As I am approaching, I can already hear the chatter from the other members of the barracks.
"You think Grandmaster Oogway has finished messing with his head up there?" Says a voice that I think belongs to Monkey.
"Be more respectful of Grandmaster Oogway, Monkey!" Tigress exclaims with a stern tone.
"He is probably already on his way home." Mantis theorizes, ignoring Tigress' outburst.
"Of course not! I'm sure he would at least say goodbye to us before going." Never change, Viper.
"I don't know, he seemed pretty eager to gain back his memories..." A realist, that Crane.
Tired of their fantasy about me, I decide to enter the room to end the debate.
"Hello everyone, I'm back." Immediately everyone focuses their intense gaze on me. It seems I was an interesting subject of topic.
"Well! Don't leave us hanging, pal. Did you get your memories back?" Monkey can't wait anymore for the mystery to be resolved.
He isn't the only one, seeing as everyone else is looking at me with curiosity on their faces, some more hidden than others seeing as Tigress is pretending that she is not on the subject, but I can see her furry ears dedicate their attention towards my direction.
"I'm afraid Grandmaster Oogway was not able to restore my memories." I say without preamble and directly to the point. I can see some sad faces, from my predicament or from the unresolved mystery I could not say, so I hurry onto the next topic. "But! He offered me a place here. He said that if I train my mind and body, then I may be able to restore my mind and recover my memories. And if not, well, I don't have anything else to do anyway."
The first to react is Tigress.
"You? Train here?" She seems to oppose the idea, based on her tone of voice.
"I'm sorry that you couldn't recover your memories, but you being a student here is fantastic! It's been so long since we had someone new!" Viper says cheerfully, mood lifted at the prospect of a new student.
"Well, some novelty from time to time is good." Even the reserved Crane seems on board with the idea.
"Hear that Mantis, we have some new victim for our pranks."
"I will never pass up a new drinking buddy to hit the bar with."
Each of them has an opinion on my joining of their ranks as a student of Kung Fu, but on average, it seems they are positive about my company here, excluding Tigress of course, who is looking at me like I killed her favorite potted plant.
That's nice, the feeling of being accepted.
"Oh, I almost forgot! I was given a name by Master Oogway!" At that comment, they all express surprise. I decide it's time for a proper introduction. I look at them firmly.
"I'm Albion, student of the Jade Palace under Master Shifu. I hope we can be friends moving forward."
It is now noon, and the Furious Five have finished their training. I have waited in the barracks in the meantime, given that I am still feeling somewhat weak.
Once they get back, I ask Viper to show me around the palace.
She immediately accepts with a smile, and we are now walking around the palace's grounds.
"And this is the Training Hall, where you will spend most of the day polishing your martial skills. I think it's better if I let Master Shifu show you the inside later."
I imagine I will get intimately acquainted with this place in specific, given time, since I don't think I know much about fighting at all.
"And that about covers it all. We have seen the Hall of Warriors, the Training Hall, the Arena, the students' barracks, and the baths in the mountain." I need an urgent visit to the last place mentioned.
My body feels dirty and I'm pretty sure that my clothes could be officially classified as pure filth.
"Thank you for the tour, Viper. It was pretty nice walking around and taking everything in."
"Don't get used to this relaxing pace. Starting tomorrow Master Shifu will give you no quarter in training." She speaks from experience, I feel.
As we are ending the tour and returning to the barracks, we encounter Master Shifu.
We greet him with a bow and exclamation of "Master Shifu."
"Ah Viper, I see you are giving our newest student a tour of the facilities. Good thinking." Shifu looks at me for a moment, a stern expression etched in his face. "Why don't you also accompany him to the clothes shop. I think his current clothes have expired their life."
Well, new clothes are always cool.
"Thank you, Master Shifu." After I say that, he turns around and keeps to whatever he is doing in the first place.
"Hmm… Let's see, how about we meet at the main door in an hour. I have to finish some matters. In the meantime, how about you take a nice soak in the bath I showed you earlier. I don't want to embarrass you, but you kind of need it." Viper tells me with a kind tone.
No matter how kindly you say it, Viper, it still hurts. Though she is absolutely right.
"Yeah, I better get to that. I honestly don't know when was the last time I took a bath."
With that in mind, I say goodbye to Viper and backtrack the way she showed me earlier.
On my way to the bath, I see Monkey doing some pull-ups in the courtyard.
"Hey Albion, going somewhere?" He greets me when he sees me, stopping his exercise for a moment.
"Master Shifu said I need new clothes, so Viper is taking me shopping. I need an urgent bath first though." I tell him while making a face about my current state of cleanliness.
"Sounds about right!" He gives a laugh while saying that. "Tell you what, Mantis and I will take you to the bar this weekend. You'll see some parts of the village, and meet some ladies if we are lucky."
I don't know about the prospect of ladies, given that I am a human. It feels kind of weird for some reason, though as far as I know, I'm the only human in all of China.
But it's always good to get the layout of the place you are going to live in, and making friends with Monkey and Mantis is a plus.
"I'll take you on that offer, whenever that weekend is coming since I still don't know what day it is today." I say goodbye to Monkey with that, while he answers with an "It's Wednesday today, dude!" as I walk away.
After finally reaching my destination, and taking a nice and relaxing soak in a hot bath for a good while, I start making my way to the main gate. It is almost time for my meeting with Viper.
Now that I think about it, it will be my first time going into the village, which makes me a bit nervous. There are probably nice people in the village, if only with the experience I had so far with all the servants in the palace and the Furious Five as reference.
As long as I behave myself and act naturally, like I belong, everything will be fine. Besides, Viper will be with me, so there is no need for anxiety.
Finally, I reach the gate, and I see Viper waiting for me already.
"You look much better now! Those clothes still need changing though." She says with a small laugh.
"Shall we go change them then?"
With that exchange over, we begin our descent into the village proper.
It truly is an unending amount of stairs. I literally can't see the bottom.
Thinking about it, the fact that Tigress managed to carry me all the way up here with me on her back is pretty damn impressive. I know for a fact that I'm not a lightweight.
After what feels like an eternity, we reach the bottom of the stairs. As I thought, everywhere I look, animal stares return my gaze.
It seems I truly am the anomaly.
"Are you feeling well?" Viper asks concerned, having noticed my obvious discomfort at all the stares.
"Yes, just a bit uncomfortable with all the staring." I say in a low voice.
"How about you all mind your business. He is a student of the Jade Palace!" Viper immediately barks, without any mind to their thoughts.
The change is instantaneous, everyone returns to their business. And those that don't have any quickly make themselves one, intimidated by the fierce serpent warrior.
"Thank you, Viper. You really are a good friend." She seems happy at my words, or my change of mood.
"It was nothing, really! Now, let's go shopping for clothes. I know a good place. It's owned by a good friend of mine!"
Both of us in a better mood now, we make our way into the village looking for the shop of Viper's friend.
Still, everywhere I look truly reminds me I am in China. I don't know why but I can identify the elements around easily.
The paper lanterns, the outfits, the architecture. Everything, including the animals, gives me that feeling. That must mean that somewhere in my head there is something still working, identifying things I could recognize on a subconscious level.
Once we reach a small-looking corner shop, we enter inside. As we enter, a little chime sounds. While we wait for the personnel of the shop, I discern my surroundings.
It is quite a mess, with many cuts of cloth everywhere in the shop. The counter is empty of employees, with many tools typical of the trade laying around.
A distant "One moment!" is heard, so we keep waiting.
Finally, an animal exits the back of the store. It is a wolf with gray fur, a woman by the sound of her voice before and her features. She is wearing a simple blue-colored Hanfu.
Her eyes are a warm brown, and she has a friendly expression on her face.
"Hello and welcome to- Oh Viper! How good to see you!" Saying that, she goes around the counter and hugs Viper. She eyes me for a moment before going back to her conversation with Viper.
"It's been so long, Viper. How have you been? I know you must have been training hard as always."
"It's good to see you too, Luna! I hope everything's been going well?" Viper says while returning the hug. "I am here today with a friend."
She turns to face me.
"And who is your friend? Never have seen anyone like him."
"I'm Albion, nice to meet you. I came for some new clothes and Viper recommended your shop." I offer her my hand to shake while I am saying this.
She looks at me for a moment before taking my hand and introducing herself.
"My name is Luna Fang, any friend of Viper is a friend of mine. Even better if you have come to spend some coin." She says with a wolfish smile.
She clearly has a merchant's mind.
After exchanging some more pleasantries and some catch-up talk with her friend, Luna finally makes it to the main topic.
"Well, I can see why you need new clothes. Even if I have never seen a design like that, it's clear they are all torn up. Let's go to the back. I need to take some measurements to see if I have anything that fits you." She takes my hand and guides me to the back of the shop, Viper following shortly. "I think I have some clothes that may fit your build."
After taking me to the center of the room, she tells me to strip to my underclothes. Afterwards, she leaves for her tools.
"Hmm… I think I better leave..." Viper starts slithering away with an embarrassed expression, before I stop her.
"Actually, I would appreciate it if you stay. I'm not feeling confident in my judgment for clothes." I really don't know about clothes to choose something for me and, while I don't really mind, I'd rather look good in whatever garb I get.
After slipping out of the rags I was wearing, only leaving my underclothes on me, Luna comes back with her tools to take my measurements.
I notice Viper staring rather intently at my back, but I don't know why.
"I see you are a warrior as well, Albion. Are you going to study in the Jade Palace?" She asks while working.
She sees I'm a warrior? Why? Because of my build?
"Well yes, starting tomorrow actually. If you don't mind me asking, why do you say I'm a warrior?"
"Hmm? Well, because your skin tells a story! You have quite the numerous scars across your back and arms, and even your torso!" She says like it is the most obvious thing in the world.
What.
I didn't notice while bathing, probably due to the steam, but it is true.
Now that I start to scrutinize my body, I notice all the small discolorations, typical of scars, marking my body.
Huh. Another mystery for the box.
That must be why Viper is looking so closely at my back. It must be quite the picture.
"Do I have more back there, Viper?"
"… Well, you have quite a large one across your entire back. It must have been painful." Viper says with difficulty. Now I am curious.
I will have to get that mirror again when I get back to the palace.
"Don't you know your own body?" She asks with a small laugh, finally done with the measuring.
"Oh Luna, he actually is kind of a special case..." Starts Viper, before I cut her off.
"Sorry, I lost my memories recently. I didn't know about them."
Luna looks aghast before she speaks quickly again.
"Oh! I'm truly sorry, I didn't know about your condition." She sends a pitying, remorseful look my way.
"It's quite alright, I decided to start a new path. If I recover my memories along the way, then all the better. If not, then I can't miss what I don't know, I suppose." I say with an optimistic air.
She exhales an "Admirable…" before going to the mountain of clothes that is in the room.
After looking for a while she takes some items from the pile and presents them to me.
Viper quickly moves and discards all the clothes she must have thought wouldn't look right on me, leaving me with one choice.
The fabric is soft and pleasant to the touch, flowing like water between my fingers. It is a deep black ebony color, giving an air of elegant refinement. Adorning the edges are intricate patterns of vibrant red color. The robe is tied with a black sash, to finalize the look.
It is honestly quite striking, so I immediately change into it.
The impressions are very positive.
"My… You look quite dashing with this black Hanfu. It compliments nicely the color of your eyes and your silver fur." Says Luna, while looking all over me.
"I agree, you wear it very well. Albion, you should get it." Viper's comment seals the deal.
"Alright, I'll take this one."
"Good! You can take that one for now. I will prepare you a few spares with your measurements as well. I take it I should bill the palace for this one?" This last question is directed at Viper, which she assents.
"Oh, before I forget. Here are some sandals and socks. These are free of charge! For making such a big purch- I mean for being such a nice guy!" Careful, Luna, your merchant colors are showing.
I'm glad for the sandals though. It is starting to feel weird going around shoeless.
The sandals are quite unremarkable. Just a pair of sandals. The socks are white and soft to the touch.
After getting everything and chatting some more, we start to say our goodbyes to Luna and begin our way back home for the day.
The sun is starting to go down, soon it will be time for dinner and then sleep. A big day awaits tomorrow. Clean and with new clothes, I feel now ready for whatever Master Shifu throws my way.
"Good thing I left everything almost ready for dinner before we left." Viper, as always, thinking of her friends.
"Are you the only cook in here?"
"Well no… But I like to cook, that is why I normally am the one doing it."
"If you ever need help be sure to tell me. I also would like to help and learn."
With a cheerful "Sure!" we continue our walk home.
After a good dinner, courtesy of Viper, some nice conversation about our day with Crane, and joking around with Monkey and Mantis, I make my way into my room.
They have plenty to say about my new outfit, and what to expect tomorrow.
But, just as yesterday, Tigress is waiting for me in the hallway, next to the door to my room and in front of hers.
"Not one day and you are already breaking your promise." She says coldly to me, while looking intently into my eyes.
I think for a moment about what she means. I'm certain it's the "leave tomorrow" part of the promise I made to her yesterday.
"The situation changed. Nevertheless, I can still keep the other part of the promise unbroken." I say in a stern tone. It is starting to make me feel frustrated the way she is treating me.
She isn't giving me even one chance to prove myself.
"For how long? I don't think you belong here. I think you overstayed your welcome."
I ignore her and start to enter my room, but not without leaving some parting words for her to chew on.
"I don't think that is for you to decide."
The look of rage on her face as I close my door is terrifying, but I will stand my ground on this matter.
I prepare myself for bed, leaving my new robe nicely folded next to my bed.
Soon, I start to drift to sleep thinking about today's events, and the words of Tigress.
"You don't belong here."
Those words chain my thoughts until sleep claims me.