“Hey, champion, a second place isn’t so disappointing that you should be making that face.” When I raised my head toward where the voice came from, I saw my coach, the only important person still alive in my life.

  “They robbed me shamelessly, and you know it.” I had calmed down a bit after losing a fight due to a blatant robbery, but the anger was still bubbling inside me. “You know it. I deserved to win. I was clearly superior to him. Damn federation, they’re not willing to let their star lose to a rookie.”

  “I know, champion, I know.” I could feel desperation mixed with frustration in his voice. Suz was also upset, but he had known how this federation worked for years. “There’s nothing we can do. All that’s left is to accept that silver medal and prepare for next year.” He tried to calm me down—or perhaps calm himself—his voice carried clear anger.

  I resigned myself immediately upon hearing those words. I had hoped for even the smallest chance, but deep down I knew it was impossible to appeal or play any card at this moment. “Next year, huh? It’ll be a long year, but it’s decided. I won’t expect to win by votes. I’ll defeat him.” A fierce look formed on my face.

  Suz let out a restrained laugh, then after a moment his expression changed completely. “Champion, I can see your firm resolve, but I still feel obligated to tell you this. Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re the youngest person in fifty years to win a silver medal. Your talent with the sword has done nothing but bloom since the first time we trained together.”

  I stayed silent, waiting for his next words. After twelve years training with him, I already understood the rhythm of his conversations.

  “Your uncle and your parents would be very proud of the person you’ve become.” I could predict his actions, but not his words. Even though it was a phrase any coach might say to their disciple, it struck my soul deeply. My uncle had passed away very recently, and my parents when I was still a child.

  “Myke was a great man. He was always cold on the outside, but deep down he loved you like his own son. Before he died, he left this for you.” His words froze time.

  The news left me stunned. My uncle had always been a man of few words, he treated me like family, though never with the affection of a father. His favorite phrase was: “One fact is worth more than a thousand words.” I received the USB in shock, unable to process everything. It had been too much information in a single afternoon.

  “Thank you, Suz. You’re the only living person I truly cherish. I hope I can keep spending more time with you.” I saw his eyes widen and a smile form on his face. Even though I don’t usually express affection through words, I’m not as cold as my uncle was.

  “Hey, champion, are you okay? You didn’t take any damage thanks to the bracelets used in competition, but maybe you took too much mental damage.” His sarcasm was obvious, especially when he started laughing so hilariously.

  “Don’t look at me like that, don’t look at me like that—I’m joking. Thank you for those words, champion. I hope to live many years and see you become a legend.” My coach’s words lingered in the air.

  Become a legend? That doesn’t sound bad…

  “Pack your things. I’ll drop you off at home. We can have a proper celebration tomorrow.” He tossed my backpack at me, turned around, and left the room.

  “That was a very refreshing shower. It’s time to process everything that happened today.” I’m already at home. Suz dropped me off and left; I saw him as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn’t.

  I got second place in the most important fencing tournament at only twenty years old. I’m more talented than the current champion, but his experience prevented me from defeating him in the end. I surpassed him in skill and reflexes, but I lost completely in experience—that was the key point that took us to points and made me lose.

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  My uncle would be very proud. He was the one who pushed me to follow this path and supported me at every step. My chest hurts deeply when I think about his passing. If he had lived just two more months, he would have seen me win a silver medal—though he probably would have started a fight with someone from the organization.

  I miss you, uncle… now it’s time to see your final memory. Ever since I received this USB, I haven’t stopped thinking about its contents. Maybe these were the last words my uncle couldn’t say because of his nature.

  I’ve lost track of how many minutes or hours I spent crying after watching the video three times. THANK YOU, UNCLE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

  My head keeps spinning after crying so much. There was no way to calm the pain concentrated in my chest.

  I went out for a walk without direction and ended up entering a small bar. The beers helped calm the emptiness in my heart. I felt refreshed for a moment, but something heavier churned inside me. This time, thanks to the alcohol, I could move with its rhythm—I couldn’t control it, but I could follow its flow.

  “I think I’ve had enough to drink. It’s time to go home.” I would’ve liked to drink with friends, but I was never close to people my age. In school and university I had good classmates, but in the end I distanced myself from all of them to dedicate myself completely to training.

  “I regret being so lonely a little…” My uncle told me clearly in the video: start meeting people, beer tastes better with friends.

  “HELP! HELP! PLEASE HELP!” A voice echoed in the distance.

  Before I realized it, my body was moving toward the screams. It was fast—it was just a nearby alley. When I arrived, I saw two guys trying to rob a girl. My body reacted on instinct and I rushed in. The first one fell quickly with a blow to the head followed by a kick to the legs. Even though I’m not a professional hand-to-hand fighter, my body and mind are fully trained to handle situations like this.

  The second guy tried to back off and defend himself with a stick from the ground. I had to be more careful approaching him, but I managed to knock the air out of him with a blow to the stomach. I still got slightly injured in my left arm while blocking the stick.

  Without paying attention to the first guy and seeing the second vomiting from the blow, I approached the girl. “Are you okay? If you can move, it’s time to go and call the police.” She was in total panic, but she nodded and followed me as fast as she could. When we exited the alley, I saw two more guys approaching us—they must have heard her screams at the same time I did.

  I might have tried to say something, but I couldn’t. My body began losing strength, and I felt my consciousness fading. In my final moments before falling, I saw one of the two guys holding a large rock and the girl screaming. That bastard must have hit me in the head.

  I felt my body sink into the depths of a sea. All my memories were confused. I knew I shouldn’t be able to survive underwater for so long, yet I could breathe—even though I couldn’t move a single muscle.

  Who am I?

  Where am I going?

  Am I alive?

  I felt pressure growing deeper and deeper, yet it didn’t affect my body. In one instant I was staring at an infinite starry sky, in the next the depths of an abyss, then a light that blinded me for a long time.

  When I could see again, I didn’t know how much time had passed. The good news was that my motor functions were responding again. I still didn’t know where I was or who I was, so I decided to feel and wait. If I appeared in this place, there must be a reason.

  After a few seconds, I felt a presence behind me. I stood up and instinctively took a defensive stance.

  “Are you okay?” Those were the girl’s first words. I couldn’t explain why, but her voice

  “This time someone arrived with strong will. Usually people arrive already without the desire to live or completely broken inside.” I wanted to respond, but it was impossible. I feel my mouth moving without producing any sound.

  “You can’t speak in this place called Limbo. I can’t tell you my name, but I can give you some information and leave the final choice to you.” The same voice from before echoes again in my head.

  “You’re from a world completely different from mine. This place I come from accumulates power little by little, and when it reaches its limit, it brings someone from another world to give them a new opportunity. They are almost always good at heart or suffered unjust deaths. The only bad part is the journey between both worlds. By the end of it, they usually end up with their minds shattered or without the will to live. Only less than two percent arrive in conditions like yours.” I remain frozen, trying to understand each word one by one.

  “This proposal is only for that percentage. Do you want to reincarnate or assimilate into this world?” A question I never thought I would receive in my previous life presents itself before me, a new opportunity shining in front of me.