A Lot to Take in

My village was nice, we had a lot of people that we could rely on. My dad showed me a lot when it came to our powers though, that's where I learned how to truly use it.

A lot of people who had powers like my family were trained to use it for emergencies, but we really had no reason to use it. No real violence has occurred in hundreds of years, so this wasn't something that we thought we needed.

"Rika come with me." Dad says while walking down a dirt path.

"I'm right behind you dad." I reply while following him.

He was taking me to an ancient training ground that had been passed down through our family for ages. This place was the perfect place to get stronger, so he would always take me there.

"Don't you ever get tired of coming here Dad?" I ask while staring at everything.

It was mostly a bunch of stone structures with some ancient carvings on each stone. Most of them just speaking of the people who trained before us.

"Never, I was raised here most of the time. And I want my daughter to be strong and capable of defending herself." Dad says proudly.

Before we could even start, something was going on. A storm was coming that we didn't know very much about at the time.

"Who's that floating above the village?" I asked while facing the direction the village was in.

"I don't know, let's head back. Stay behind me Rika." Dad responds while beginning to run.

I ran behind him until we got back to the village, everything was in ruin and people were all screaming. Running from these creatures that had arrived here to terrorize our people.

"Rika go find your mother and remember what I've taught you." Dad says as scales begin to form on his hands.

"What about you dad?!?" I asked with fear in my voice.

"Just go!" Dad shouts while charging in to save someone.

At the time I didn't know what these things were, but after we all fought in the first gate, everything made sense. It was the corrupt legion that had attacked my home and many others when I was little.

Then when the Monarch was done, he sent them away and came in to act as some sort of savior.

But I rushed home and saw that the door was already opened, this was my first time seeing anything like this. A being of such cruelty, it had slaughtered my mom.

She was on the floor laying in her own puddle of blood, I didn't even know what to do.

Then out of nowhere I got the instinct to charge in at this thing without realizing it. My gauntlets formed to fight but they weren't as strong as they are now.

Pow!! bam!!

I didn't expect to win, I just wanted to avenge my mother. But to my surprise, I had killed the thing with the first two punches.

Thud.

"Mom... Mom!!" I began to shout as tears went down my face.

It didn't take long to hear my dad rushing in, but something was off with him too.

"Cough... What.. no.." Dad says weakly as he stumbles to make his way over to me.

Dad fell to his knees next to Mom and let out a few tears before falling over himself. He had taken a lot of damage from those enemies outside, I didn't know what to do.

"Rika, you need to run... get stronger and make sure you can always protect yourself..." Dad says as he struggles to breathe.

He had lots of wounds all over his body, it looked like sword wounds.

But before I listened to him, he gave me something that I'd never lose. A necklace that mom had made him before they had me..

I didn't want to go, but everything Dad did would've been in vain if I had stayed. But as I began to run away from the village I could hear the Monarch speaking.

"Those of you left have been given the opportunity of a lifetime. I've dealt with the enemies and I've got something to help you." The Monarchs voice echoed.

Some people actually believed him to be a savior of sorts, but he was no savior.

"I'll bestow systems upon some of you so you can go through these gates to avenge your families." He preached.

He went on to do this throughout the whole world, it didn't take long for his plan to go into play. This all slowly began to shift things over to the next part of his plan.

The creation of a group that would destroy the most powerful users if they interfered with the Monarchs plan.

{End of Story, Sevarian's POV}

"Why give anyone these systems then?" Kallista asks with a confused tone.

"To give people the idea that he is on their side." Rika answers with an upset tone.

"Is there more?" I speak up.

"Yes, but I'm not ready to share too much more than that." Rika responds while looking up at the sky.

At least I ended up learning more about her regardless of how much she decided to share this time around.

It helps getting to know everyone since I expect them to be in for the long run. I'm not sure if that's guaranteed, but I'll enjoy their company while it lasts.

"Thank you for sharing Rika." Elizabeth says with a cheerful tone in her voice.

Her expression on her face was even cheerful, I'm glad she can be so positive when the world is complete shit right now. I'm surprised I'm not more positive when I have this many people by my side and they are beautiful girls at that!

"You're welcome, who's next?" Rika says to take the light off her.

Snap!

Before someone could speak up, a branch broke around us. Someone or something was nearby.

"Everyone stand guard." I say while equipping my sword.

What the hell could it be this time?