Chapter Text
The cold mist brushed up against Riley’s face as she darted swiftly through the grove. Her eyes swept over the terrain as she plotted her next move. The eyes of the trees followed her every step as she fled from the darkness, and shadows threatened to overcome her as she flew through the wood and back to Nether.
The Nether was a sanctum. All people who were there were under the guard of the Protectors; Riley was one such Protector, sworn from birth to only be devoted to the defense of the people. Riley Vega was the first Protector to have abilities; she was found in an abandoned grotto in the wood by Immunity, the oldest Protector. Immunity took Riley in and trained her. It was in one of their training sessions that she learned the true nature of Riley’s abilities.
Riley was late, as usual. Her face red from the exhaustion, and hair wild from running. Immunity glared at her star pupil as she attempted to suit up for hand to hand combat. As Riley reached for her knife, Immunity began rebuking her for her latest offense. Riley was known for her temper, but until now Immunity had never know the extent. As Immunity’s scolding grew more severe, the room grew hotter. Riley’s eyes began to change. At first the change was minor, a small flash perhaps; but then that flash grew and enveloped her irises, until her eyes were a sickening blood red.
The room was growing hotter by the second. As Riley’s temper grew hotter, so the room did as well; then a radiation of power expanded out from Riley’s body. Everything within the radius caught fire.
Immunity’s arm was severely burned. But she lived. Riley never trusted herself after that.
Riley sprinted harder as she remembered that incident. She ran past the village, with it’s tiny houses; and as she passed it, she vowed never to let herself tread there again. Flying past the hills and into the glade, Riley finally allowed herself to cry. The familiar sensation of radiating power swelled inside until it overwhelmed her. All grass surrounding Riley steamed.
Stop crying! You’ll destroy even more!
The tips of the meadow’s grass began to catch fire as Riley weeped.
Stop! Stop! Stop!
He’s gone. And there’s nothing you can do about it.