First Pulse

My forearms were held rigid in a defensive cross. A sudden warmth stirred within my chest, breaking the stillness. I lowered my guard by a fraction and pressed one boot firmly against the blue pedestal beneath me. It responded. Leaning forward, I reached out and tapped the wooden surface of the table with the tip of my gauntlet. The light impact produced a clear, solid resonance. My stance remains steady, but I am now alert and awake.