So, when the Denural presence in the region had thrown a spotlight on Pasadena, marking it as a potential hotspot for newly awakened individuals, Guardian Network agents were immediately dispatched.
The flare that erupted during the winter solstice had been unmistakable -a burst of raw, unrestrained energy that had lit up the aether like a solar flare. It was the kind of disturbance that made predators like the Denurals swarm.
Despite the Denural threat, Ash relished the challenge. She wasn’t just confident in her abilities -she knew she was capable. She had graduated at the top of her class, excelling not only in academics and combat training but also in energy manipulation and reconnaissance. Her lineage had equipped her with a natural aptitude for physical and metaphysical combat alike, and her unique heritage gave her an edge few others could match.
By all accounts, her pedigree was nothing short of extraordinary. Descended from an unbroken matriarchal line stretching back to the First Fall, Ash’s bloodline was a tapestry of pure ascendant unions, unmarred by human dilution for over two millennia. Unlike many lineages that bore the taint of the accursed -an infernal interference that left its mark on even the most powerful bloodlines- Ash’s heritage remained pristine. She was a direct descendant of the Angels of Solarium, a warrior lineage renowned for their strength, discipline, and unyielding resolve. These were not the serene, harp-playing cherubs of human imagination but the steadfast swords of their people, forged in the fires of ancient conflict.
And from an early age, Ash had been raised to follow in their footsteps. Her childhood was steeped in the traditions and teachings of the awakened world, where no aspect of her potential was left to chance. She was delivered into the tutelage of the Director and his council of guardians as soon as her abilities began to manifest. They recognized her innate talents -the ability to read and manipulate the planet’s energy lines with precision, an intuitive grasp of strategy, and an unrelenting drive to succeed. To the Director, she was a weapon to be honed, an asset to be wielded against the enemies of the awakened.
Her future within the organization seemed limitless. But for all her promise, she was still a rookie, and this mission was her proving ground.
The task was daunting. Because Los Angeles wasn’t just a city.
For someone like Ash, whose senses were so finely tuned to the planet’s energy, the confused maelstrom of chaotic power that are the ley lines of Los Angeles was beyond disorienting. Instead of the neatly arranged webs of aether that marked other places of power, the overlapping threads of energy were deafening in their intensity, a cacophony that threatened to drown out even the strongest signal.
It was as though some great hand had stirred the lines into disarray, leaving behind a mess that defied understanding. When Ash let her senses flare, it felt as though she were peeling back the skin of the world to expose something raw and dangerous beneath. The only way to make progress was to shut off her second sight entirely, a decision that left her feeling blind and vulnerable.
Despite her confidence in her abilities, she couldn’t shake the unease that came with every step deeper into this fallen city. The Denurals were out there, waiting, hungry. Like vultures circling an injured animal.
The Veil was the only thing separating the mortal population from the Denural threat, and it was getting thinner every day. Humanity has no idea the terrors that truly lurk in the dark -and for every newly awakened young power that falls to the Denural side, the threat to mortals grows stronger.
They were a dragonfly dancing along the water’s edge, blissfully unaware of the dark shapes hiding just beneath the surface, ready to ensnare and consume them should they venture too close. The illusion of mastery, the delusion of dominion -has blinded them to their fragility, to the precarious balance they so arrogantly disrupt with every careless step.
And now Ash felt nearly as helpless as the people she pretended to be a part of.
Turning off the Sight was more unnerving than Ash had initially imagined. The best way she could describe it was to compare it to losing two of the five basic senses at once. If you could still feel but were suddenly deprived of sight and sound, you might have a faint inkling of what it felt like to have the Sight extinguished. It wasn’t just the absence of perception; it was the absence of color, the vibrant, otherworldly hues that painted the veil beyond the mundane.
It felt like stepping from Oz back into the drab black-and-white of Kansas, the magic stripped away, leaving only the dull weight of mundane reality.
The void left behind was almost suffocating, an ache she couldn’t rub away. But she had no choice. The noise had become too much, the chaos too great, and Ash had to rely on her intuition and training to complete her mission. She trusted that when she found the nascent, she would know. The energy, the pull, would call to her in ways no sight could replicate.
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And so, it was entirely by chance -or perhaps the faintest brush of fate- that Ash had run into Dom and Nile that first day at school.
∞
Ash had arrived on campus early that morning. She endured the dull, predictable monotony of enrollment and orientation with the discipline her training demanded, but by noon, her patience was wearing thin. Class schedule and campus map in hand, she made a swift exit, her steps quick and decisive.
This was her first day, and while she was technically supposed to attend her scheduled classes, she saw no reason to waste her time. After hours of being subjected to the droning voices of the faculty and the shallow pleasantries of administrative staff, she felt she had earned the right to ditch.
The crowded confinement of the high school’s interior was stifling, a sharp contrast to the freedom she craved. Navigating the hallways with practiced ease, Ash moved as though she’d been attending the school her whole life. Her confidence turned heads, her graceful movements commanding attention.
Conversations halted mid-sentence. Girlfriends craned their necks, their eyes narrowing as they noticed their boyfriends openly staring at the unfamiliar beauty gliding past them. Even some teachers paused, momentarily forgetting themselves as they took in the sight of her. Ash reveled in it. A faint, knowing smile tugged at the corners of her Cupid’s Bow-shaped mouth, an expression of subtle triumph. She pretended to ignore the stares, keeping her gaze forward, intent on her destination as if the admiring eyes in her wake were beneath her notice.
By the time she stepped through the broad double doors leading to the quad, the bell for the end of the fourth period rang out. A tide of students flooded into the open air behind her, some pausing on the steps to catch a glimpse of the new arrival. Ash stood for a moment at the top of the steps, the soft breeze stirring her hair, her figure silhouetted against the sunlight.
She could feel their eyes on her, the energy of their collective attention brushing against her like a warm current. But she didn’t let it distract her. Her cool gaze swept across the quad, scanning the sprawling lawn dotted with clusters of students lounging under trees or perched on picnic tables. Her expression remained composed, detached, as she searched for a likely candidate—someone who could give her the lay of the land and help her slip seamlessly into the school’s social ecosystem.
For a while, no one seemed to stand out. But then, her eyes locked onto a pair of students sitting halfway across the lawn, their animated conversation drawing her attention. One was a girl with an air of effortless confidence, dressed in a way that suggested she was familiar with the edges of the social hierarchy. The other was a boy with a disarming grin and a relaxed posture, his easy charm evident even from a distance.
Dom and Nile.
Ash’s lips curved into a predatory smile, a glint of calculated intent sparking in her eyes. The girl, Dom, was exactly what she needed. From her attire to the way she carried herself, she practically screamed "gatekeeper," someone with one foot in the social pool and the other on the edges. Dom would be her social entry point.
As Ash moved toward them, her steps measured and deliberate, Nile looked up. Their eyes met, and the world seemed to tilt. A spark passed between them, invisible but undeniable, and Ash froze mid-step, rocked back on her heels.
Nile’s expression shifted to one of dumbstruck wonder, his breath catching as if he’d just been struck by a force he couldn’t name.
Ash’s mind raced. The intensity of the moment was like nothing she’d ever experienced. What was this? The phrase "love at first sight" sprang to mind, but she pushed it aside, shaking herself free from the unbidden thought. She couldn’t afford to get caught up in something so frivolous, not now.
Her training reasserted itself, anchoring her to her purpose. This wasn’t the time for adolescent daydreams or swooning over a boy, no matter how much he stirred something inside her. If she allowed herself to falter, to lose focus, she risked failure -and failure wasn’t an option. The Director’s disapproval would be the least of her worries if she failed this mission.
Steeling herself, she resumed her approach, closing the distance between her and her unsuspecting targets. When she reached them, Dom was the first to react.
Dom’s sharp eyes flicked up to meet Ash’s, her body language instantly shifting to one of defensive irritation. She leaned back against the picnic table, crossing her arms over her chest, her expression radiating disdain. The tension between the two girls was immediate, like the crackle of a live wire.
“Can we help you?”
The caustic tone in Dom’s voice was laced with venom, sharp enough to cut steel. Ash flinched inwardly, her composure faltering for just a fraction of a second. She quickly recovered, though, schooling her features into a warm, practiced smile. The wattage of her charm turned up to full, as though she hadn’t noticed the hostility aimed at her.
What did I do to deserve this? Ash wondered, genuinely puzzled. Was she wrong about Nile and Dom not being a couple? Dom's behavior practically screamed jealousy, a barrier Ash hadn’t anticipated encountering so soon.
“Hi!” Ash extended her hand with bright enthusiasm, ignoring the tension. “My name’s Ashleigh, but you can call me Ash. What’s yours?”
Dom opened her mouth to respond, but Nile interrupted her before she could more than a few words out. “None of your-”
“I’m Nile! Nice to meet you!” His voice was a mix of exuberance and nervous energy, and Ash barely managed to suppress a laugh at how eagerly he practically leaped over the table to take her hand. “Welcome to our boring little school.”
The moment their hands touched, a small electric thrill ran through Ash, surprising her with its intensity. Nile’s palm was cool against her skin, smooth and gentle, a sharp contrast to his nervous energy. She caught the wide, puppy-dog look in his eyes and couldn’t help but grin in return. He was disarmingly adorable, too cute for words.
“Nice to meet you, Nile,” she said warmly before shifting her attention back to Dom, whose body language was practically shouting her displeasure. “And…?”
Ash released Nile’s hand reluctantly and turned her focus to Dom, once again extending her hand in greeting. But Dom refused to acknowledge the gesture, her arms folded tightly across her chest as her jaw tightened.
Nile, sensing the rising tension, covertly kicked Dom under the table.
“Ow! Jeez, alright, fine!” Dom hissed, glaring at him as she reluctantly straightened her posture. She rolled her eyes before grumbling out a response. “I’m Random, but my friends call me Dom.”
After a long pause, she finally took Ash’s hand.
The moment their hands met, Ash felt it -an unmistakable current of power rippling through her, subtle but undeniable. Recognition flared in her mind like a spark catching dry tinder. She’s the one! The realization hit her like a wave. This girl was the nascent she had been sent to find.
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