Radiant Rebirth

Chapter One

It had been raining for three days straight, and Veridian seemed determined to drown itself in its own newfound fertility. Eryn swore under her breath as another cold droplet found its way down the back of her neck. Her hooded sweatshirt, once a comforting shield, now clung to her like an overly affectionate cat. Her jeans, heavy and sodden, felt like she'd wrapped herself in wet towels, and her shoes? They might as well have been flip-flops for all the good they were doing.

"Of course, it has to rain when I'm out," Eryn muttered, her steps squishing rhythmically as she navigated the puddle-ridden streets. It wasn't as if she was going to be late—her destination wasn't exactly on a tight schedule—but this weather had a way of stretching time, making a short trip feel like a trek through a swamp.

But tonight, it would be worth it. She kept that thought on repeat in her mind, a mantra against the elements. Tonight is my night.

As she reached the alley, she paused, casting a quick glance around. Not a soul in sight, which wasn't surprising—only the truly desperate or the slightly mad would be out in this weather. Confident she was alone, Eryn ducked into the narrow passageway. The alley was dim, the rainwater cascading down the walls in little waterfalls. At the far end, a chain-link fence loomed, topped with barbed wire that seemed more decorative than functional in a world where people could manipulate reality itself.

Dead center in the fence was a gate secured with a padlock that looked like it could double as a paperweight for a giant. Eryn chuckled to herself. "Someone's compensating for something," she thought, half amused.

She reached for the lock, her fingers curling around its cold, slick surface. It was a monster of a lock, all right, but Eryn had been invited. She placed her other hand over the lock, closing her eyes and letting her mind wander into the inner workings of the mechanism. The radiation, ever-present in Veridian, danced at her fingertips, waiting to be guided. With a gentle nudge, she coaxed the lock's innards to shift, the tumblers falling into place with an almost reluctant CLICK.

The padlock dropped open, and Eryn grinned, pushing the gate with a flourish. The hinges creaked in protest, barely audible over the relentless rain, and beyond the gate, a warm, inviting glow beckoned. Instead of the damp alley's other side, she stepped into a cozy room, where a fireplace crackled merrily as if to say, "Come in, dry off, you poor thing."

Eryn slipped through, pulling the gate shut behind her. With the flick of her wrist, the padlock snapped back into place, ready for the next visitor. She peeled off her soaked hoodie, even as it clung to her like a child to its mother. The warmth of the fire instantly chased away the chill from her drenched clothes.

Eryn sat cross-legged on the hardwood floor in front of the crackling fire, the warmth already beginning to seep into her bones. The orange flames danced and flickered, casting long shadows that played across the room's wooden walls. She closed her eyes and leaned back slightly, letting the heat wash over her. After days of relentless rain and cold, the simple comfort of the fire felt like a luxury she hadn't realized she was craving.

For the first time in what felt like ages, she allowed herself to relax. The journey through the rain-soaked streets of Veridian had been grueling, but now that she was here, she could afford a few moments of peace. She was early, after all, and she knew she had time to unwind before she needed to be more serious and presentable. The mere fact that this day had finally arrived still astounded her. In just under four hours, Eryn would turn eighteen—an age that held significance in Veridian.

Eighteen was the age all those gifted with the ability to manipulate radiation looked forward to with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. It was the age when the world, or at least the part of it that mattered, finally opened up to them. Eryn would soon have the opportunity to choose her apprenticeship, a decision that would define the rest of her life. She could either continue to hone her skills in her current field of expertise, mechanical engineering, or she could take on the daunting task of starting over, learning an entirely new discipline that would require a different understanding of the radiation that had changed everything.