A memory flashed in Navia’s head. She was sitting on the floor in a room in the shape of a long rectangle surrounded by stone walls. The floor was made of wood that slightly bent under her. It was light and flexible, perfect for a sparring match where the fighters would throw themselves to the ground. She was in a loose gray robe tied by a black belt and loose gray pants. Under them, she wore a tight black shirt and pants. Navia’s hair was tied into a braid that barely reached her shoulders.

By the wall to both of her sides sat ten more people in the same robes as her. In front of them stood a man in silver armor and a teal cape. The man was bald but had bushy eyebrows and a thick mustache. His cape was attached to the armor by golden pins by his collarbones, the teal material was lying on his shoulders like he was wrapped in a blanket.

“Recruits. Today, we have a visitor from The Monastery. Master Liang will teach you about the gates.” The man was old, but his voice still held strength and superiority worthy of a commander. He stepped aside and revealed a short man who was even older looking than him.

Master Liang wore a loose white shirt and linen pants. A red robe falls on his chest and back, reaching beneath his knees. On his head, he had a straw kasa. His eyes were white, and everyone thought he was blind, but he proved everyone wrong as his head turned to each of the recruits to inspect them.

The master slightly bowed, and a few of the recruits returned the greeting while the rest looked a bit disoriented by this way of greeting. The man took a shallow breath and spoke, “Does anyone know what gates are?”

The young woman on the far right side raised her hand. Her skin was ashen, but she seemed like a lively person with pinkish hair tied into two buns. Master Liang bowed his head toward the woman, letting her speak. “Gates are our inner powers that currently lie dormant or, as we call them, Closed Gates. Each gate is different, but some people share similar powers.”

“May I know your name?” The master asked as he pointed his open hand toward the woman who had just answered.

She stood up and placed a hand near her heart. “My name is Marim Livanov.” Then, she sat back down with the rest of the recruits.

“Like Miss Livanov just said. Gates are our inner powers.” The master began walking in circles from one end of the line to the other. “In each of us is a gate that holds power behind it. When we need that power, we open those gates. No one knows how many gates are hidden inside us and what they hold inside.” He then stopped and looked at each recruit. “Now. Another question. How do we find those Gates?”

The recruits looked around in each other's eyes, hoping that they would find the answer in them. They then began to whisper to each other, which was quickly stopped by a firm stomp from the elder in the armor and his firm look that was enough to warn them from any more chatter.

“There is no need for that, Sir Prim.” Said Master Liang with an extended open hand toward the elder in the armor as if he was calming an agitated animal. “It wasn’t an easy question. I’ll give the answer you seek. There are two ways. The most commonly used is meditation. Entering your soul to look for the gate is like looking for a door in a sea of fog. You don’t know where to go and where you have already been. Sometimes, you even pass the gates unknowingly. Once you find them, there is another problem. They are often closed. There are many ways to open them. Some need a strong push, some have a puzzle instead of a simple handle, and some are more complicated than the rest. Testing if we are worthy of the power lying dormant behind them.” Explained Master Liang.

Without raising a hand, Navia spoke up, “What about the second way of finding a gate?” She asked while sitting with both of her hands lying on her legs.

Before Sir Prim could scold her, Master Liang lifted his hand, stopping the elder from whatever he was about to do as he barely made a step forward. Making the man flinch in surprise instead. “The second way is much rarer. We’re not meditating to find a gate or try to open it. The situation forces our souls to open the gate. It’s almost like a survival instinct.”

The whole memory flashed in a second, and the blade barely got closer to her throat. In her head, she could hear doors being forcefully busted open. The wound on her arm opened up, and the trails of blood ran into her hand, hardening and creating a dark dagger. Not questioning the situation, she threw the dagger into the barnacle’s leg, severing the muscles above an ankle. The monster lost its balance and fell to the side. No longer under pressure from the barnacle, Navia turned to face Sive, who was now without any pawns to use.

Raising her dagger to defend against the attack from Sive, she also lifted his sword. They were inches away from each other with their arms in the air. Before Sive could even try to think of a response, he got headbutted right in the face.

The hit was so strong he had to take a few steps back to not fall down to the ground, holding his nose that was bleeding while the short sword remained on the ground in front of Navia.

“Shi-” Before he could even finish cursing, he saw a flash of reflected light from Navia’s dagger. He took a step back, barely in time. The dagger cut deep into his already broken nose. Even more blood was pouring down from his face.

Sive was lying on the ground, both of his hands covered with his own blood. He tried to use his power to control the remaining barnacle, but when he tried to pull the invisible thread, all he could grab was air. Looking at the monster, he noticed a dark knife stuck in its head.

“I… I was chosen by the gods! They demand a tragedy! Tragedy to humankind!” Shouted Sive with a trembling voice as he backed away from Navia. He was terrified, no way of defending himself with powers. Looking like a rabbit cornered by a fox.

“They demand a tragedy? I’ll give them one… But… They will play the victims.” Navia threatened aggressively, but it barely felt like her words as if she read someone’s letter out loud.

“Is she… Also, a pawn? An actor in someone’s play?” That was the last thought Sive had before a dagger cut open his skull, red blood splattering on Navia’s hands and face.

After killing him, Navia felt her focus coming back, slowly realizing her current situation. “The people!” She shouted with frustration as she moved to the edge of the wall to check on the people. Around fifty of them were running up the stairs back to the shelter while a group of monsters was moving after them.