Shattered Blade

As the martial arts class dispersed, Hwak felt the weight of curious stares following him. The other students regarded him with a mixture of confusion, suspicion, and in some cases, newfound respect. To them, he had become a mystery—the charity case who had somehow bested one of their own.

But to Hwak himself, the mystery ran deeper. There were gaps in his memory—moments when his consciousness seemed to start and abruptly end, with nothing but confusion in between. He remembered Harry's foot on his chest, the pain spreading through his ribs, and then... nothing clear. Just a fragmented sensation of movement, and suddenly Harry was the one on the ground.

*They probably think I'm crazy*, he thought, avoiding eye contact with his classmates. *Maybe I am*.

The academy day had come to an end. Students streamed toward the gates, many climbing into luxury vehicles or forming social groups that pointedly excluded him. Hwak walked alone, consumed by his confusion. Today had been different from any previous experience. He had been losing the fight badly, and then somehow he had won. How? The question tumbled endlessly in his mind.

His body ached from the beating he'd taken before his mysterious comeback. Normally, he would have visited the medical room, but he had no points to spend. The academy's system awarded points based on performance, which could be exchanged for medical treatment or other necessities. Until tomorrow, when his performance in today's match would be tallied, he would have to endure the pain.

Lost in thought, he almost didn't notice Leena until she was directly in his path. Something shifted inside him—a subtle but profound change that he wasn't conscious of. His posture straightened, his walk became more confident, and when he spoke, even his voice sounded different.

"Hey, cutie. Missed you in class today," he said, casually positioning himself beside her.

Leena startled at the familiar tone, something in his voice triggering a memory. She turned to find Hwak standing there with an expression so unlike his usual self that she almost didn't recognize him.

"You're lucky you managed to trick Harry," she replied, recovering quickly. "His brutality is legendary around here."

"I wanted to talk to you about that," Hwak said, his confidence unwavering. "You owe me a dinner date, remember our bet?"

Leena's brow furrowed. "What date? What bet?"

"When you lie, your nose does this little twitch," he said, smiling. "It's actually adorable. I'd die to see that cute look on your face."

"And about the date—it's happening, whether you admit to remembering or not."

Something about this interaction felt strangely natural to Leena. Despite her usual guarded nature, she found herself bantering with him as though they'd known each other for years.

"Whatever," she said, her curiosity piqued. "Let's see what happens. What is it about you that brings out this confidence in 'lesser Hwak'?"

"Hwak is for everyone else," he replied with a cryptic smile. "For you, I'm Romeo."

Leena rolled her eyes. "Ugh, what a cheap line."

"See you tonight," he said with a wink, walking away.

She watched him leave, finding herself smiling despite her better judgment. After a few seconds, reality crashed back in.

"What am I doing?" she muttered to herself. "Getting caught up with that... that nobody. I'll teach him a lesson someday he'll never forget."

As Hwak approached the academy gates, the confident persona slipped away as suddenly as it had appeared. He paused, disoriented, trying to piece together what had just happened. Fragments of conversation lingered at the edges of his memory, but nothing concrete.

*I must have some kind of short-term memory loss*, he thought worriedly. *If I tell Papa, he'll only worry. Medical treatment for memory disorders would cost more than we could ever afford. Better to keep it to myself. I won't let anyone know—they might kick me out of the academy if they discover I have some kind of condition.*

He was halfway to the settlement when a sleek car pulled up beside him. Ramon leaned out of the window, waving enthusiastically.

"Oh, my friend Hwak! I missed you!" Ramon called. "I skipped academy today, but I didn't want to miss you. I heard you defeated Harry! So powerful! But he's my best friend too, and he's really depressed about it. What should we do?"

Hwak found the interaction strange—Ramon had never shown genuine interest in him before—but the word "friend" disarmed him. No one had ever called him that before.

"Maybe we could have a rematch tomorrow?" Hwak suggested hesitantly. "I could lose..." Though he had no idea how he'd won in the first place, or if he could replicate whatever had happened.

"He can't wait until tomorrow," Ramon said, his voice cracking with emotion. "He's so depressed. What if he does something terrible? Besides you, he's my only other best friend. I can't lose him."

The desperation in Ramon's voice struck a chord in Hwak's heart. He thought of his father's words about giving people chances.

"I'd go now, but I can't go home looking like I've been in a fight," Hwak explained. "My father would worry too much."

Ramon brightened. "Don't worry about that! I can get you access to the academy's medical room. It's the least I can do for a best friend."

The words "best friend" echoed in Hwak's mind, filling an emptiness he hadn't fully acknowledged. He climbed into Ramon's car—his first time in such a luxury vehicle. The leather seats, the automated features, the smooth ride all mesmerized him. For a moment, he allowed himself to feel the happiness of acceptance.

Back at the academy, Ramon led him toward the training grounds. In the distance, Harry stood waiting, his posture rigid with anger.

"He's all yours," Ramon said, pushing Hwak forward.

Before Hwak could process what was happening, Harry's fist connected with his face. Another blow landed in his stomach, doubling him over. Kicks followed, merciless and precise. Harry grabbed Hwak by the hair, yanking his head up to face him.

"Because of you, my reputation is ruined," Harry snarled, punctuating each word with a punch. "A settlement rat who can't even complete Level 1 training somehow defeated me? Do you know what that's done to me?"

Blood poured from Hwak's nose and split lip as Harry continued his assault. This time, no mysterious transformation came to his rescue. No confidence emerged to save him. He remained painfully present for every blow.

Finally, Ramon stepped in, grabbing Harry's arm. "Enough. That's sufficient."

Harry backed away, his anger temporarily sated. Ramon helped Hwak to his feet and guided him to the medical room, activating the healing pod. As the mist enveloped Hwak, Ramon spoke through the intercom.

"Don't take it personally. Harry needed this to restore his status. You understand, right? That's what friends do for each other."

Two hours later, Hwak emerged from the pod. His body was healed, but the memory of the pain remained raw and vivid. He ran from the academy, knowing he was terribly late. His father would be worried—he usually arrived home by five, and it was already past seven-thirty.

When he finally reached their hut, his father's relief was palpable. Before questions could be asked, Hwak preemptively explained his lateness.

"Sorry, Papa. I got invited to a restaurant by a friend. That's why I'm late."

He described the imaginary meal using details he'd overheard from other students talking about their dining experiences. His father smiled, clearly pleased that Hwak was making connections at the academy.

"I'm glad you're making new friends, son."

Lying in bed that night, Hwak berated himself for the deception. It was his second lie since starting at Neonspire—something he would never have done before.

*Am I changing?* he wondered, staring at the ceiling. *Am I becoming someone different? Am I on the wrong path?*

What he couldn't know was that the changes ran deeper than mere moral choices. Somewhere within him, another personality was emerging—one that took control in moments of stress or in Leena's presence, leaving Hwak with only fragments and gaps where continuous memory should be.

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