I'm drowning. I can feel the water suffocating me as it spread inside me. Keeping me from breathing. I try to relax my lung but it's no use, the water is everywhere.

Safe me.

Help me.

Please. Pl–

"Raven!" An external voice yells.

"Raven!" The same voice comes again and time with something as I feel cold water wash over my face, correction, splash on my face. My eyes snap open immediately and it connects with the old man's brown eyes.

The fuck.

I jump up and glare at him. "What the hell?" I scream at him. I can't believe he just poured a bucket of cold water on me.

He drops the metal bucket, causing the bucket to make a clanking sound as it connects with the cemented floor.

He stands straight, pulling his hands behind him. "I told you waking hours is five. Do you know what the time is?"

I shake my head. I'm sorry if I don't know what the time is, giving that I just woke up from a fucking ice-water bath. What sort of people are on this island? They are certainly not human.

"It's seven thirty. You are two hours thirty minutes late which just earned your second punishment," He tells me.

For the first in my life I made a decision that involves actual learning, even though it's not educational. And he pulled this shit on me? I think he is forgetting that I'm a willing students. I wasn't forced to go here, in fact I am glad to be here and I really want to learn, the earlier they start treating me like a guest, the better. The old man doesn't anything about me because if he did, he'll know I suck at following rules. And if care isn't taken I'll start responding to their bad hospitality with my worst, then he'll know waking me up with a fucking ice water is the worst way to wake me.

"How do you even know the time if you are not wearing a wristwatch?" I ask with a scowl. "And why did you say second punishment? I literally just woke up."

I might not be the best at studying things but I noticed that this Island is technology free.

"By looking at the sky," he replies. "And you woke up late."

What?

"You can tell the time by just looking at the sky?" I ask.

Is that even possible?

He nods. "Meet outside in ten minutes, if you–" I interrupt him.

"I can't be ready in ten minutes, see I need at least an hour to get ready," I inform him.

I need to brush my teeth, take a bath, and hand wash my clothes because I looked around last night. There isn't any washer or shower or a bathtub. I fucking hate this place.

"Which has earned you your third punishment. I told you never to interrupt me and never speak without being told to. Meet me outside in ten minutes." He orders and turns around like a robot, he marches out.

I should call his bluff, but I know he wasn't bluffing. Fuck! What did I get myself into? Why didn't Damian warn before hand? I would picked somewhere else, somewhere between, somewhere with WiFi. And I just remember that I don't have a phone. Double fuck.

With a permanent scowl on my face, I leave the bed and quickly take off my matching strips pajamas and rush into the bathroom. I brush my teeth. Frowning, I stare at the bucket of cold water in front me and swallow. I've never had a cold bath and with look of this water, I don't think I can do it but I have to.

I bend and reach to take a bowlful of water. I stand straight and try to move my gaze off the water but I can't. I can't stop staring at it.

It's nothing, Cami. Imagine it's warm water.

As if that ever works.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes before raising the bowl up and pour the water down my shoulder. I yelp as soon as the water touch my body.

Fuck no. I'm not doing this. I–

I can't not shower.

I drop the bowl inside the bucket and reach for my shower gel, pour some on my hand. I proceed to rub my face before putting the remaining in my armpits. Okay... It's cold water time.

Take of it this way, it's like swimming. Remember the time you and the guys played in the rain? It's just like that. Playing in the rain, except you have to shower yourself today. A voice in my head speaks like it's know better than me.

So I decide to try again. I take the bowl and close my eyes, raising my hand up with the bowl in my hand and pour the water down. I use the other hand to wash the place before doing the same to my other armpit. I wash my face and private part fast before pouring a bowl down. I snatch the towel I hung on the nail behind the door and wrap myself in it before rushing out.

I mutter, "cold, cold, cold, cold," on repeat as I get to my bag. I go on my knees and open the bag. Suddenly remembering that I didn't pack cream. Fuck! I look through the bag and take out a pink yoga bra and black tights.

I towel dry myself and change into my clothes with a lot on my mind. Thinking about things I want to tell the old man, starting with the situation with the cold water, I don't think I can survive bathing with zero degrees water. And then we'll have a very serious discussion about the condition of the room, the fact that it has nothing covering the window space and my bed is beside it.

I had trouble going to sleep last night because I was constantly thinking about everything that's wrong with this room and I kept watch for bugs, cockroaches, spiders and rats. There is no electricity except the ancient lamps and lanterns.

How are people surviving in this hell hole?

I tie the lace of my canvas and stand up. I look around absentmindedly for mirror but it's not there. Pulling my hair in a ponytail. I run out of the room. I still don't know where outside exactly because there is a lot of space outside. He should have been more specific.

I walk out of the building I slept in and stand still. I look around for clues. Last night was noisy, it was like some people were celebrating or something but this morning, it seems like there is no one here. "Are you just going to stand there or move closer?" I hear his voice.

I look forward to see him standing not far away. Right. I nod and approach him. As I move closer, I notice him standing inside a circle. Stepping inside the circle, I move to stand in front of him.

"We'll discuss your punishment later. Before we start training, there are some ground rules you need to follow, always. Rule number one"–he he walks around the circle"–in no circumstances should you step out of this circle." He uses his hand to make his point.

I nod in understanding and raise my hand up.

"What?"

"Can I say something?" I ask.

He chuckles. "By all means."

"Why the circle?" I know the battlefield aren't always space segmented.

"The circle will help you know your fighting surroundings well," he explains, which also explains a lot of things in an odd, cryptic sort a way.
"Okay, about my–"

"Heads up," he warns and throws something at me.

I can't explain how it happened but I feel something sharp hit my head and I could sworn I heard a crack. I wince as the steel hit my forehead. "Oww, what the hell was that for?!" I scream in pain.

He smirks. "You talk too much and weren't concentrating. I warned you. I said heads up,." He walks towards me.

"Does your idea of training mean killing, sticking a knife in me?"

He shakes his head. "You'll heal, hold still, this is gonna hurt," he says. Without warning, he places his hand on my shoulder and removes the knife stuck in my forehead.

I close my eyes as I feel the cells, tissues and bones in my head repair themselves. I can feel myself healing.

I open my eyes when everything is all healed up.

"Rule number two: always be prepared for an unexpected attack. Take out your sword Raven." He orders.

I'm still a little high from my almost death experience. I blink twice before finding my voice. "I didn't bring a sword," I reply.

I know he's old but he's not blind.

He goes to stand at the other end, and releases his entwined hands, revealing a sword. My lips parts in surprise because I didn't see him hold one earlier. "Bring out the Elsword, El-Sah-El, and defend yourself. I won't take it easy on you."

I have feeling he's being honest. Except I don't exactly have the sword. I've been curious about it since it disappeared. I'm just wondering how he knows about the sword. I never told him about it. "The Elsword? Who told you about that?"

"Damian."

That bastard. He just disappeared on me after spilling everything to the old man.

"Well, he clearly forgot to mention that it's not with me. The sword is gone. It disappeared and he was there when it did."

I don't get why he told the old man about it. He saw the sword disappear.

"I don't think you heard me clearly. I said bring out the Elsword."

"And I don't think you understand me. I can't just bring out the sword at the snap of my fingers." I counter.

He hums. "Have you tried snapping your fingers?" He asks.

Is he fucking serious?

"Didn't you hear a word I just said?"

He shakes his hand and takes a fighting stance, pointing his sword forward. "Do you feel any pain in your wrist or arms?" He asks curiously.

I frown and shake my head. "Why?"

"The first rule of sword fighting is to be physically okay, you need to be in a good and fit physical condition especially your back and abdomen."

He goes on and on about the rules and steps of sword fighting. It makes me feel like I'm taking a reading class in sword fighting. He should have just told me to bring a book and pen to jot down some pointers.

"Lastly, is to be cautious of your opponent, don't underestimate anybody. Now that we are done, we can start your training. I will not say it again. Bring out your sword." He says and charges at me without giving me a moment to prepare.

I jump out of the way because I'm afraid of the speed he begins with. He stops right in front of me, looking angry as hell. He stands straight and faces me with a glare, he looks down at me and there is something about his expression that tells me that he is not happy with me on the ground and it's not just anger.

"Running is not survival, you stand and you fight! You look pathetic kneeling on the ground like a worthless fool," he says and I wince at his harsh tone. "You insult your family's legacy by kneeling, El bows to no one and they don't run from a fight. Stand up and defend yourself like a proper warrior."