Slowly, the dizziness in Blade’s head began to dissipate, but the haze clung stubbornly to his senses. What the hell happened? His eyes fluttered open as he tried to take in his surroundings. He was in an unfamiliar room, the air heavy with the smell of dust and something metallic, like rust or old blood. But whether the metallic tang came from the room or from his own wounds, he couldn't be sure. Chains bound his wrists and ankles, pinning him to his knees as their rough edges bit into his skin. There was also a cold metal collar around his neck, restricting his movements even further. So this is how they intended to treat him?

Ridiculous. Either someone wanted to mock him or someone was so terrified of him that they felt these precautions were necessary. Under normal circumstances, Blade could have broken these chains with ease. Right now, however, he felt drained, like his energy had been siphoned away, leaving him weak and vulnerable. He couldn't even feel the familiar dark energy of Mara stir, ready to consume him. It was as though someone had extinguished the fire within him. Blade's attention was abruptly pulled away when the door to the room creaked open. He squinted against the sudden influx of light, the brightness forcing him to narrow his eyes. As your figure stepped into the room, his mind raced, struggling to make out your silhouette.

He couldn't place you immediately, but there was something about your presence that tugged at the edges of his memory. Did he recognize you? He couldn’t be sure. As you moved further into the room, Blade’s jaw tightened, and a flicker of disdain crossed his features. He hated being put in this position—helpless, vulnerable, at the mercy of someone else. He watched your movements carefully, trying to figure out what you wanted from him. He was a Stellar Hunter, infamous for his crimes, and he could easily guess why he was chained. But who was he chained for? With his throat dry and voice rough from disuse, he managed to croak out, "Do I know you?"