The Fall

Someone once said, "The essence of beauty is unity in diversity." Well, at least, I think that's how it went.My point is you're about to start a story of an already diverse planet becoming over-diversified. See, growing up, my father told me stories of Samurai, Knights, Witches, and other things I would never have thought could ever exist. All the stories I heard were true; they all became a reality one by one.For centuries, samurais have been revered as honorable warriors. However, it wasn't until the 12th century that they truly began to rise to power. As they formed clans and villages, each was assigned a leader known as a Daimyo. Eventually, they expanded their influence and conquered much of Asia.Knights, on the other hand, have existed since medieval times. Their technology has advanced unimaginably over the centuries, and their government holds power over various parts of Europe.Finally, there were rumors of witches. My father was always fascinated by them and had many stories to tell. Apparently, they used to live among us in the past, but after the traumatic witch trials of the 1960s, where any alleged witch was executed, the practice of magic became illegal. Those still practicing it chose to hide their abilities and integrate into society. No one has seen or heard from them since.But let's not get too ahead of ourselves. That will come later. For now, I'll tell you how the fate of this planet - and my own life - were forever altered.My name is Lilith Hirsch, and I'm a freshman in college. I live in Nebbia, a city in the Southwestern region of The United Nations. Our planet is known as Terra; the year is 2124. We live in a time when a new race, known as the 'Skyborn', is trying to find their place in a world that was on the brink of experiencing peace.The date was August 14th, 2106, the day I was born. It was on that day that the superpowers of the world finally decided to sign a peace treaty ending the conflict between the United Dynasty (China), United Federation (Russia), United Empire (Europe), United Republic (India), and the United Nations (USA). Everyone was glued to the TV. Then, just minutes after the treaty was signed, the skies were eclipsed by many colors as if the northern lights spread throughout the whole planet.My mother was giving birth as it happened. At first, the people didn't realize that the pretty lights were a sign of looming danger until beaming, fluorescent orbs started falling from the heavens. In that instant, all hope of survival was lost - even before I had the chance to experience life, or so it was believed.While falling, the comets seemed to avoid any obstacles in their path with precision. Dad had a theory that they were being directed toward a specific landing spot, carefully avoiding potential dangers. And even more incredible is that eyewitnesses claim the comets never touched the ground. Instead, they hovered briefly before disappearing into thin air, leaving behind a brilliant display of colors that matched the stunning lights that once filled the sky.After that, things took a turn for the worse. My dad explained how, just a few days later, bizarre incidents were being reported worldwide. Frantic calls flooded hospitals, with people describing strange symptoms in their loved ones - even children weren't spared; some claimed it was a terrorist attack. Words like horns, fangs, fire, and explosions were used to describe the chaos. Healers and Blue Guards, the UN's doctors, and law enforcement were at a loss, unsure what to make of these unprecedented events and their effects on people.Eventually, these unsettling events hit close to home. On my 13th birthday, a snake lunged at me right in front of my house, and I ended up having a seizure. My mom, a Healer, and my Grandmother were both bewildered by what had happened. They checked for any venom but found none. However, what came next was even more shocking. Like the clearest ocean waters, my deep brown eyes became piercing blue, and my jet-black hair turned stark white as snow. That day marked the worst experience of my life, not because of my physical changes, but because it was also the day my father was tragically killed at work.The details of his death were kept under wraps, but my mother's close friend who worked with them was able to uncover some information. According to her, when the comets fell, the government discovered a baby boy born to a woman who had not been pregnant before that day. The boy was found to have 100% genetic changes, unlike anyone else at the time, who only had partial genetic changes of about 50%. Sadly, the mother passed away within days of giving birth. Before the Blue Guards could intervene, the government took custody of the child and the mother's body.The boy, who was the same age as me, managed to escape and brutally murdered my father. It shocked everyone, especially since my dad had always been kind to him.After years of speculation, the government finally disclosed information regarding the strange lights in the sky. It was revealed that these lights were the origin of a genetic anomaly that resulted in physical mutations and supernatural abilities in humans. To make matters worse, it was discovered that unborn children were also affected, displaying different levels of partial mutations while their mothers remained unscathed during pregnancy.Despite the government's efforts to contain the global pandemic, it rapidly spread out of control. To distinguish between regular humans and those affected by the mutation, they coined the term "Skyborn." Any Skyborn caught or willingly joined had to wear a mechanical bracelet inscribed with a pentagram, preventing them from using their abilities and effectively neutralizing them. This also meant they would be automatically registered under the Sky Registration Act (SRA).Anyone listed under the SRA must disclose their abilities and undergo a basic assessment to obtain authorization for any job. They must also surrender their powers unless they have a permit stating their specific use and purpose or if their employers give permission for work-related tasks. In those cases, their inhibitor bracelets would be temporarily disabled until the job is completed.Eighteen years had passed since the incident, and another five years since my father's death and my transformation. During that time, society had taken a turn for the worse. Discriminatory beliefs became commonplace, with bigotry, paranoia, and xenophobia spreading; this hatred was directed toward the new breeds. Not all Skyborn favored the new legislation; many had to conceal their true identities to survive, while others succumbed to the law to live a semblance of a normal life.