The awakening of mike

Mike woke up to the sound of his alarm blaring in his ear, the memories of the fierce fight with the Pawn of the Dark Empire still etched in his mind. He slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed, testing his weight on his bruised muscles.

As he made his way to his first class, he ran into his friends, including his best friend Alex. "Hey, man, what's up?" Alex asked, clapping Mike on the back.

Mike winced in pain, but managed a smile. "Not much, just a little sore from...uh...working out last night."

Alex raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the issue. Instead, he nodded towards a girl sitting across the room. "Hey, have you seen that new girl? She's pretty cute."

Mike followed Alex's gaze and saw a girl with long, curly brown hair and bright green eyes. She was smiling at something on her phone, and Mike felt a sudden jolt of curiosity.

"Who is she?" Mike asked, trying to sound casual.

Alex grinned mischievously. "I don't know, but you should go talk to her. I'm sure she'd love to meet you."

Mike hesitated, feeling a sense of trepidation. "I don't know, man. I'm not really in the mood."

But Alex was relentless. "Come on, Mike! It'll be good for you. You've been cooped up in your room for too long."

Mike sighed, feeling a sense of resignation. "Fine, but if this ends in disaster, I'm blaming you."

He took a deep breath and approached the girl, his mind racing with possibilities. "Hi," he said, trying to sound confident. "I'm Mike. I was wondering if you're new here? Would you like a tour of the campus?"

The girl looked up at him, a smile spreading across her face. "My name is Aura," she said, her voice musical. "And yes, I'm new here. I would love a tour."

As Mike smiled back at her, he felt a sense of excitement and nervousness. He had a feeling that this chance encounter might just change everything.As they walked through the campus, Mike showed Aura the dormitories, classrooms, labs, and offices. They chatted effortlessly, exchanging stories about their high school days.

Mike found himself opening up to Aura, sharing memories he thought he'd long forgotten. He told her about the days he was bullied, and how Alex had defended him, becoming his best friend in the process.

Aura listened intently, her eyes filled with empathy. "I know how that feels," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was bullied too, in my old school. But I learned to stand up for myself."

Mike's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? What happened?"

Aura's expression turned somber. "Let's just say I had to learn to defend myself. But I'm glad I did. It made me stronger."

As they continued their tour, Mike asked Aura about her life outside of university. "So, where do you live?" he asked.

"I have a small apartment near campus," she replied. "And I work part-time at a coffee shop downtown."

Mike's eyes lit up. "No way! I love that coffee shop. What's your favorite drink to make?"

Aura laughed. "I'm actually a big fan of archaeology, so I'm studying that here. But I do love making lattes."

As they walked, Mike's mind began to wander. He couldn't believe how much he had in common with Aura.

But then, a voice whispered in his head. "Mike, she's the Shadow Warrior. The Dark Emperor's chosen champion."

Mike's eyes widened in shock. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

Aura looked at him concerned. "Mike, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Mike tried to compose himself, but his mind was racing. What did it mean? Why was Aura the Shadow Warrior?

As they approached the university's main square, Mike's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any signs of danger.

But for now, everything seemed normal.

Aura smiled at him, oblivious to the turmoil brewing inside Mike's mind.

"I had a great time today, Mike. Thanks for showing me around."

Mike forced a smile, his heart heavy with foreboding.

"No problem, Aura. I'll see you around."

As they parted ways, Mike couldn't shake off the feeling that he had no choice but see her as an enemy!!

To be continued