The streets of San Marino glowed beneath the warm evening lights, their stone pathways echoing the footsteps of tourists and locals alike. Yet Jessica walked them with a calm but focused mind, knowing her path was far from ordinary. The keystone pulsed faintly in her satchel, a soft warmth against her side. She had kept its presence hidden from the world, even from those she cared about, for she knew too well that its light attracted shadows.
Jessica was not helpless. Her power—a rare gift allowing her to conjure barriers of shimmering energy—had saved her more times than she could count. She could raise walls of pure force, domes to shield allies, and even small, blade-like shields that could slice through steel. She had trained in silence, honing her skills for a moment she always knew would come.
And it came that night.
The air thickened suddenly, heavy with malice. The cheerful chatter of the streets melted away as the shadows lengthened unnaturally, slithering into serpentine forms. Black serpents, their scales gleaming like liquid night, crawled from the alleys and rooftops, their fangs dripping with venom. Their crimson eyes locked on Jessica, and she knew immediately why they were here.
"The keystone…" she whispered, sliding her gloves tighter.
With a hiss, the serpents lunged. Jessica's arm swept outward, and a translucent wall flared into existence, the creatures slamming into it with a deafening crack. The ground quivered, but the barrier held firm. She gritted her teeth, her focus unshaken.
One serpent slithered overhead, dropping behind her with startling speed. Without turning, Jessica spun a smaller shield into her palm and hurled it like a discus. It cut through the air and struck the beast with a sharp explosion of light, sending it writhing back into the darkness.
More came. Dozens. Their bodies tangled together, a tidal wave of black scales and venom. Jessica's barriers shone brightly, layer after layer appearing around her like petals of glass and light. The streets cracked beneath the weight of the impact as she held her ground.
But fatigue crept in. The keystone flared brighter, as though mocking her weakness. She fought harder, striking with her blade-shields, her energy sparks burning across the stone walls of San Marino. Yet still, the serpents pressed closer, surrounding her in an endless storm of fangs and coils.
Jessica stumbled, her barrier flickering under the assault. Her breath came sharp and fast, sweat streaking her brow. For the first time in years, fear threatened to drown her resolve.
And then—wind.
A sharp gust ripped through the night, scattering the serpents with a howl that carried the power of a storm. Jessica lifted her gaze, her green eyes widening as a figure descended gracefully from above. Cloaked in rushing currents of air, Varisa stood tall, her red hair whipping wildly in the gale.
"You look like you could use a hand," Varisa said, her voice calm but edged with determination.
Jessica nodded, pulling herself upright. "You take the skies. I'll hold the ground."
Side by side, the two unleashed their strength. Varisa's mastery of air carved through the serpents in furious blasts, sending them spiraling across rooftops, while Jessica's barriers bent and shattered under her command, slicing and shielding in perfect rhythm. For the first time, Jessica realized her shields were not just walls—they were weapons waiting for precision.
The black serpents, sensing their disadvantage, began to retreat, dissolving back into the shadows from which they came. Their hissing echoes faded into silence.
Jessica lowered her hands, her last shield fading into glowing embers of light. She exhaled shakily, her body trembling from exhaustion, but her spirit burned with renewed fire. She turned toward Varisa, gratitude flickering in her eyes.
"Who are you?" Jessica asked.
Varisa only smirked, the wind still curling at her feet. "Someone who knows what it means to carry a keystone. You're not alone anymore."
And for the first time since she received her burden, Jessica felt the truth of those words settle into her heart.