Days passed, or so Lux thought. There was no sun or moon in this strange place. He was confined to that room, undergoing rigorous training at the hands of his new "companions." The gray-skinned man, who introduced himself as Veron, was an expert in hand-to-hand combat, teaching him brutal and effective moves. The armored man, Krom, instructed him on how to use advanced energy weapons Lux had never seen in his life. As for the blue-haired woman, named Celina, she was the leader. Her violet eyes watched his every move, issuing commands in her cold voice.
Lux gradually realized he was not on Earth. This was a terrifyingly technologically advanced world, yet it was steeped in darkness and gloom. The cities were towering skyscrapers that reached into the clouds, polluted by cold neon light. The sky was perpetually gray, and the people... the people were different. Some resembled humans, but many possessed strange features: colored skin, metallic limbs, or glowing eyes.
The "Shadow" organization was a clandestine group, operating in secret and carrying out illicit operations. Raven – his current body – was known as a cold, emotionless killer, responsible for many dirty deeds. The memories Celina had "implanted" in his brain flooded his consciousness, making him feel disoriented. They spoke of blind loyalty to the organization, and of vague goals related to "reordering the system."
As Lux trained, he began to notice something strange. There were flashes of his true memories, memories from his original world, interspersed with the implanted ones. His mother's voice, the smell of morning coffee, his friends' laughter. These flashes were brief and painful, but they were enough to make him wonder: Could he reclaim his true identity? And could he escape this evil body and this dark world?
One night, after a grueling training session, Lux sat in his room, contemplating his blood-stained hands (from training). Suddenly, he heard a faint sound from behind one of the walls. It sounded like crying. Curiosity surged within him, and he followed the sound. He reached a small, barely visible steel door, seemingly hidden.
He opened the door cautiously and found himself in a narrow, dark corridor. At the end of the corridor, there was another cell, and through a small window, he saw a little girl crouching, crying silently. She was wearing ragged clothes, and her light blonde hair was dusty.
Lux felt something strange. A feeling of empathy, something he hadn't expected in this cold body. "Raven" couldn't feel empathy. Did this mean his soul still controlled his new body?
He looked at the little girl, who suddenly lifted her head when she sensed his presence. Her large green eyes were filled with fear and tears.
"Hello..." Lux said in his gruff voice, trying to make it sound as gentle as possible. "What's your name?"
The girl looked at him with even more fear, then whispered in a barely audible voice: "Layla."
Lux didn't know then that this moment, and this girl, would be the key to unlocking the mysteries of this world, and a gateway to a journey where he would fight not only for his freedom but for something much deeper.