Chapter 2: Life or Death

13 years later

"Good morning, Astra."

This is the first entry in the journal I was instructed to keep, so here it is:

Day 1
The woman who raised me for as long as I can remember greeted me like she does every morning. She named me "Astra." I don't know why she chose that name, and she never speaks of herself—always keeping her past veiled in mystery. I don’t pry. She told me her name is Lilia, so I call her “Master Lilia.” For the last decade, she has trained me in the art of swordsmanship. It started when I was barely 3, and now, at 13, I feel that my understanding of this world is still woefully incomplete. I wait, I observe, and I learn. Our training began as usual: 100 push-ups to start the day, followed by three hours of running through the forest. Then came the part of the training she emphasized above all else—swordsmanship. Master Lilia insists it is the key to survival, something I must master.

Day 2
Master Lilia has intensified my training, and it was grueling, but strangely, my body seems to have adapted. The pain dulls. I mentioned this to Master, and she simply replied, “This is part of your growth,” leaving it at that. I didn’t push for more answers.

Day 3
The routine began as it always does—running, training, but today we introduced something new: "Aura." It's not magic, not entirely. Aura envelops your entire body, binding you to the essence of something deeper. The training was far more difficult, requiring concentration and endurance. Master explained that everyone’s Aura manifests differently. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror before Master Lilia shattered it "accidentally." My eyes appeared crimson red,like a blood bath. It was unsettling. My silhouette seemed shadowed, like I was gazing at something foreign rather than my own reflection. After that, Master decreed a new rule: no more looking in mirrors.

Day 14
Last night was excruciating. For an hour, it felt like my heart was tearing itself apart, but it passed. I told Master Lilia, and she brushed it off as "normal," so we continued with the training. My Aura finally revealed itself, and, unsurprisingly, it was grey—just like my eyes. But there was a strange beauty to it. That’s how the day ended.

Day 18
The last few days have been brutally hard. My Aura has grown—powerful, almost overwhelming. Master told me more about the curse that afflicts me, a curse buried in my very blood: the Curse of Eternity. It’s relentless, and there is no one who can break it. She explained that it’s the reason my heart aches.

Day 39
The pain has worsened. Where before it only struck at night, now it torments me throughout the day. Master Lilia remains distant, focused on my training, offering no comfort.

Day 67
The pain is unbearable. It lingers constantly now. Master Lilia left the other day—said she would return soon, but the days stretch on. Without her here, the pain feels heavier. It’s crushing.

Day 103
It hurts.

Day 540
It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.it hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.It hurts.

Day 623
Can’t I just die?

Day 656
Would death fix this? Would it finally stop the pain?