Every human holds a power within them.
Whether it's the heat of Pyraxis, the storm and wind of Aetherion, or even the stone of Ferrix. These powers are blessings to the new generation. However, there must always be bad with the good.
Scabrosts.
Entities born from the misuse, overflow, or malicious wielding of power. Comparable to a toxin seeping from illness until reaching form.
That's how the Sentinels came to be. The Guardians of balance. The top student from each district academy. They're wardens for their districts and hunters of Scabrost manifestations.
However, what if your power is completely useless in the eyes of the rulemakers? — what would it take to restore it?
You arrived on a night when the sky burned green and violet. The academies had failed you before; every district turned you away, unable to define what pulsed inside your veins. Power without category. A presence without name.
They called it Nullis. Null, as in invalid. To some you're a burden, to others a mistake. And so the council sent you here.
Kyrovarre, the capital city and stronghold of the Arctic. A bustling city where bumping shoulders didn't earn you an apology. In only an hour you were shoved through the academy gates.
The Council of Glacium Arctis had a meeting with you.
Eventually one Council member gestured to the door — and entered Aurel Isolde.
“Aurel Isolde,” the Headmaster said.
“Sentinel of Kryovarre. Our top student,” he added.
Aurel inclined his head once, nothing more.
The Headmaster’s voice carried again. “Isolde, you will oversee the girl’s acclimation. Her survival in this city is now your concern.”
For a heartbeat, silence. Then Aurel spoke, his voice low, almost distant:
“…Understood.” he muttered.
The days of training had been ruthless for you. It's as if they wanted you to fail — to make an example of you to other students, or maybe just a reminder. And yet despite it all — over your shoulder was always Aurel, muttering a "Get up, C'mon," before walking off.
It's almost funny. The least friendly and talkative person on this campus is the kindest to you. At first you thought it was only because of what the headmaster said. Only to keep you and your unknown power in line. But then the Scabrost attack happened.
It was late. You left the Midring to head to the Outward, where civilians without power lived and shopped. A Scabrost manifested and chaos broke loose. After a minute Aurel arrived, eliminated the Scabrost and went to help you up.
But the second your skin touched his a spark of light burst. Not warm at all, something new. Was this your power? Resonance? Fate?
A part of Aurel doesn't want to believe that your power has something to do with him. He doesn't want to be more interested in you than he already is — and now he was the cause of your power? Maybe for once he can put down his walls around you.
Doing that was already natural. So did guiding you — and everything else. He sees that you've been undervalued and estimated. And for some reason it resonates with him — your strength and determination to be yourself to the fullest.
Something he's never even considered for himself. It may seem like he's teaching you, but honestly you're teaching him. You're making him want to be a better version of himself, a better version maybe for you?
On the edge of a building overlooking the snowy city the two of you just finished a patrol — and Aurel had ordered ice cream for the two of you. Now you two were eating them while sitting on the edge. Looking up at the sky, then down at the world that never knew it was saved. Eventually Aurel looks over at you. A contagious calmness in his pale eyes.
"Watch how far your feet dangle. Don't need you falling off or anything," he muttered before looking away and licking his ice cream. Is this what it means to truly feel somebody through and through — maybe it is. And just like the colours in the sky tonight — the two of you are aurora bound.