Chapter 3: A New Life

The school day flew by in a blur. I attended my classes, trying to blend in and avoid drawing attention to myself. But my mind kept wandering back to my new life in this universe. I had so many questions, and I was determined to find some answers.

After my final class, I headed to the school's administration office to gather some information about myself. The secretary, a friendly woman with a warm smile, greeted me and asked how she could help.

"I'm trying to find out more about myself," I said, feeling a bit awkward. "I don't really remember much other than a few stuff, and I was hoping to get some information on my situation."

The secretary nodded sympathetically and began to tap away on her computer. "Let me see what I can find. Ah, yes. Here we are. Darius D. Newton, you are a student at Midtown High School, and you are emancipated. You live on your own and are financially independent, thanks to a trust fund set up by your parents."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A trust fund? What kind of trust fund?"

The secretary smiled. "It seems that your parents were quite wealthy, and they invested in several companies. You have shares in Stark Industries, Oscorp, and a few other notable corporations. You're a well-off young man, Darius."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I didn't have to worry about money, at least not for now. But I still had so many questions.

"What about my parents?" I asked, feeling a pang of sadness. "What happened to them?"

The secretary's expression turned somber. "I'm afraid your parents are deceased, Darius. They passed away in a tragic accident when you were just a teenager. You've been living on your own ever since, with the help of a trust fund and a monthly check-in from a mysterious aunt."

I felt a lump form in my throat. I had no memories of my parents, but the thought of them being gone still hurt. And what about this mysterious aunt? Who was she, and why did she check in on me once a month?

I thanked the secretary for her help and left the administration office, feeling a bit overwhelmed. I had a lot to process, but I knew I had to focus on my training and my template. I had to become stronger, no matter what.

Congratulation! Learn about your current situation. increasing template percentage by 5 %.

As I walked home, I made a plan. I would train in my personal gym at home, and I would find some dojos or training facilities that would allow me to make progress on my template. I would also try to learn more about my parents and my mysterious aunt, and see if I could uncover any secrets about my past.

When I arrived home, I headed straight to my gym and began to train. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to become stronger. I started with some basic exercises, testing my limits and pushing myself to my best.

As I trained, I felt my Ryu template increasing. I was getting stronger, and I could feel it.

Current Ryu Template: 25%

I grinned, feeling a sense of accomplishment. I still had a long way to go, but I was on the right track.

The next few days passed in a blur of training and research. I scoured the internet for information on dojos and training facilities in the city, and I found a few promising leads. I also tried to dig up more information about my parents and my mysterious aunt, but it seemed like they were determined to remain a mystery.

As the days turned into weeks, I continued to train and progress on my template while also maintaining friendship with Gwen, Peter, and Ned. I found a few dojos that were willing to take me on as a student, and I began to learn new techniques and strategies. I also started to explore the city, looking for new challenges and ways to test my skills.

And then, one day, I received a visit from my mysterious aunt, as soon as i saw who she was - Maria Hill. She stood at the doorway like a statue, her posture rigid, dressed in her signature dark tactical jacket. Even in civilian clothes, there was no mistaking the sharpness in her piercing green eyes, always scanning, always assessing.

Her long, wavy brown hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, a rare moment of softness. She smiled warmly, but there was a weight behind it a quiet sadness lurking beneath her professional veneer. "How are you holding up?" she asked, her voice calm yet carrying the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.

I tried to answer, but the strangeness of her presence left me grasping for words. Maria Hill wasn't exactly the type to drop by for family reunions. Whatever brought her here wasn't just personal it was important.