Dread gnawed at her with every step as she descended the debris-strewn hillside. Remnants of a once-advanced civilization littered the forest—twisted metal and shattered weaponry, echoes of the ancient war that had ravaged the land. The pre-dawn air hung heavy with the scent of fog, a familiar comfort that usually eased her mind during the arduous trek. But not today.
Sleep had eluded her, stolen by the chilling realization of being chosen. Each footfall was a struggle, her slim legs weary from the sleepless night and the burden of the four buckets dangling from the wooden yoke across her shoulders. Hunger gnawed at her, a constant reminder of the task she had to complete before sunrise. Reaching the creek and drawing water was her only chance to earn her meager daily meal.
Despite the hardship, she found solace in the solitude of the path, a brief respite from the villagers' scorn. Three more trips to the creek, and then she would be sent to Triumvirate, the three "gods" who ruled with an iron fist. Rumors of the chosen ones' fates haunted her – a single night with the Triumvirate, and then oblivion.
A small sparrow perched on her shoulder offered unexpected companionship. Its fearless presence and unwavering silence brought a sliver of warmth to her troubled heart. As she walked, she noticed an unsettling quiet – the usual dawn chorus of birds and animals was absent. Yet, she pressed on, focusing on the task to distract herself from the looming darkness.
Halfway down the hill, a towering figure materialized in her path. Dressed in dark blue, the middle-aged man was handsome, his dark skin and curly hair striking against the green backdrop. But his eyes, those unsettling yellow eyes with vertical slits for pupils, sent a jolt of fear through her. A hiccup escaped her lips as he extended a hand covered in black scales. Then, everything went black.
Kira's eyes fluttered open. "Just a strange dream," she thought, until she noticed the silhouettes surrounding her. Leaning against a tree near the creek, she was trapped in the gaze of six figures. A woman spoke, but the words were lost on Kira, her mind reeling with the terrifying realization that she had been taken by slavers. Panic surged, and despite her father's teachings about controlling fear, she could not stop the hiccups that wracked her body.
Then, she remembered her only shield. "I have been chosen by Triumvirate!" she screamed, hoping the slavers, or whoever they were, knew the law – harming a chosen one meant death for them and everyone they knew.
A woman stepped forward, her attire mirroring that of the man from her dream. Short and thin, yet with a strong presence, she extended her hand, covered in strange symbols that resembled rings. Her blue eyes, clear as the summer sky, held Kira's gaze as she spoke in a soothing voice. Kira's eyes were drawn to the woman's golden hair, radiant like the midday sun, and then to a symbol on her finger that vanished and reappeared on the back of her hand, filling one of seven empty circles. As the woman's hand touched Kira's chest, a gentle, healing pain spread through her, unlocking a flood of memories.
She relived the horrors she had endured – the loss of her family, the oppressive rule of the Triumvirate, the constant cruelty of the villagers. Amidst the darkness, there were glimmers of light – cherished moments with her family, stories from traveling strangers of a world before the war, tales that had sparked hope in her young heart.
The woman withdrew her hand, the symbol returning to its original place. Two more symbols –vanished from her fingers as she smiled warmly. "Now, you should understand us," she said.
Kira hiccupped. "Yes," she answered, her voice trembling.
The woman turned, and Kira noticed the two symbols had reappeared on the back of her other hand. A stunning redhead with fiery hair and emerald eyes approached. "Well done, Sena," she said her voice strong and confident. She was dressed like the others, her presence commanding despite her average height.
"Kira Narin, is it?" the redhead asked.
"Yes!" Kira responded, her voice wavering.
"Good," the woman continued. "We need your cooperation. If you do, we can save you from them."
"Huh?" Kira's brow furrowed in confusion. "But... you're not slavers?"
"No," the redhead smiled.
"Then who are you? Why did you take me? What do you want? Save me from whom?" Kira's questions tumbled out in a rush.
"A lot of questions at once!" chuckled a beautiful brunette with long hair and striking purple eyes. "We're here to hunt down the Renegades you call Triumvirate. They're the ones you need saving from."
Kira's gaze darted between them, her confusion growing. "Huh! But... they're gods! How can you save me from gods?" she stammered, the hiccups returning.
"Gaia's right, you know, we can," chirped a voice from Kira's shoulder. She whipped her head around to find the sparrow, still perched there, looking at her with intelligent eyes. "We're here to subdue them," it continued.
Kira screamed, swatting at the bird, which simply fluttered above her head in teasing circles.
"Selhob!" the redhead scolded.
"Sorry, Captain," the sparrow chirped before flitting towards the others. As Kira watched in astonishment, it transformed into a young boy with brown skin, crimson hair, and small black horns protruding from his head. His green eyes twinkled with mischief, and two tiny fangs peeked from his smile. He, like the others, wore a dark blue uniform with a distinctive symbol emblazoned on the left side of the long coat.
"Selhob's just playing," the captain reassured Kira. "Let me explain. I'm Kyra of the Tenth Spire, a marshal of the LastBorn. This is my team – we're Enforcers of The LastBorn Aggregate. We're here to capture those you call Vex, Malus, and Ordo. They defied our nation and broke our laws by invading your world. We need to capture all three at once, but only one remains here. We need your help to find the other two."
Kira was overwhelmed. Kyra's words confirmed they were like the Triumvirate, powerful beings from another world, yet they called themselves Riders, not gods. And they needed her help.
"What can someone like me do for... for beings like you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kyra's expression hardened. "Those three are no gods, and neither are we. We are Riders," she emphasized.
"But they are powerful! They destroyed the old world centuries ago. I saw them rain fire from the sky on a village that defied them, just like you're doing now. Look!" Kira pointed towards a distant crater. "That was once a mountain."
Kyra knelt before Kira, her voice softening. "They are powerful, yes, but that doesn't make them gods. Just because they have abilities you don't understand, doesn't mean they are what they claim."
Kira struggled to reconcile Kyra's words with everything she had been taught. "If what you say is true, can you really capture them? Can you save me?" she asked, a flicker of hope igniting within her.
"We can, with your help," Kyra replied. "And I'm not asking you to do it for free. I don't believe in owning Unawakened. Help us, and I'll give you anything you desire. So, tell me, what do you want?"
The question caught Kira off guard. "Can I even do what you ask?" she countered.
"Yes, or I wouldn't be asking," Kyra affirmed.
Kira knew her answer instantly. "Then I want you to bring my family back from the dead."
Kyra's face fell. "I cannot do that. Ask for something else."
"But a god could!" Kira protested.
"Gods!" scoffed a tall, blond man with a silver mask. His skin was pale, the veins visible beneath its surface. "Little girl, there are no such things as gods."
"Says who!" Selhob retorted. "CodeForger, don't force your beliefs on others."
"Selhob, don't push your luck," CodeForger replied sternly.
"Or what?" Selhob smirked. "Besides, haven't you TechKin denied the existence of the soul for eons?"
"We are scientists, and we take pride in it," CodeForger said. "Even if we're sometimes wrong, we're still better than ShadowWeavers, who do nothing but bicker."
"Enough," Kyra interjected calmly.
Selhob approached Kira. "Captain's a LastBorn," he explained, his voice playful. "She doesn't need your worship. She's not an Accursed, after all," he added, glancing at Gaia with a mischievous grin.
"I believe you're asking for trouble, Spikes!" Gaia warned.
"He's right, though," chuckled the man who had first appeared to Kira.
"You too, SnakeScales!" Gaia shot back.
"Stop it, everyone. Be reasonable," Sena pleaded.
"Huh! The whoolkin wants in too, eh!" Selhob teased.
"Spikes will always be Spikes," CodeForger muttered.
"BlighHide will abstain from this squabble," declared the grey-haired young man covered in intricate black tattoos. His green eyes, held a quiet intensity.
"Enough!" Kyra boomed, her voice silencing the banter. "You are no longer part of the SixOriginals; you are of the Aggregate now. So, act like it."
A tense silence followed, but smiles lingered on their faces. It was clear they were a close-knit group, despite their differences.
"Ask for something I can do," Kyra repeated gently to Kira.
Kira considered her options. If she could not have her family back, there was only one thing she truly desired. "I want to leave this place," she said with conviction.
A warm smile spread across Kyra's face. "I can grant that."
Kira returned the smile, realizing her hiccups had finally subsided. "So, what do you need me to do?" she asked, a newfound determination in her voice.
"CodeForger!" Kyra called. The masked man approached and handed her a necklace with a simple river stone pendant. Kyra placed it around Kira's neck. "Wear this at all times," she instructed, "especially in three days when they take you to the capital. If they ask about it, say it's a memento from your mother."
"That's it?" Kira asked, surprised.
"That's it," Kyra confirmed. "Oh, and one more thing – don't tell anyone about us," she added, placing a finger to her lips.
Kira nodded, a wave of relief washing over her. But as her fear subsided, a new worry crept in. "The villagers will punish me. How can I explain this? They won't listen to excuses!" she cried, her hands flying to her face.
"Don't worry, Daed completed your task for you," Kyra assured her, gesturing towards the tattooed man. "And Igniss got you something. Despite his gruff demeanor, he's a kind soul." She pointed towards a roasted deer not far from them, some of it already cut into pieces.
The sight of the meat made Kira's mouth water. It had been years since she had tasted anything but stale bread. "Can I really...?" she stammered, her eyes wide with hope.
Kyra nodded, the others looking on with kind smiles. "Thank you!" Kira breathed before rushing towards the feast. She grabbed a piece of the thigh and took a bite, tears welling up in her eyes as the savory flavor filled her mouth. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly happy.
After a while, she looked back to thank them again, but they had vanished without a trace.
Kira clutched the stone pendant, its smooth surface a comforting reminder of her newfound hope. As she continued her feast, she could not help but wonder what the future held, but for the first time, she was not afraid. The LastBorn had given her a chance, and she was determined to seize it.