I grew up on the lower-district streets of a bustling metropolis, an orphan driven to pickpocketing and minor burglaries simply to survive the pangs of winter hunger. My childhood was a blur of cold alleyways, narrow escapes, and the constant fear of the city watch.

Everything changed the night i broke into a seemingly wealthy traveler’s quarters, only to be effortlessly caught by an elderly ascetic. Instead of turning me over to the guard, the monk saw the desperate hunger in my eyes, bought me a warm meal, and offered me sanctuary at their mountain monastery. Under their guidance, my frantic street reflexes were honed into disciplined martial arts, though i never forgot the harsh survival instincts of my youth.