The year is 2022, and mankind is fighting a war amongst itself like it's never fought before. Abandoned cities and homes, corpses, skeletons and ruins abound across the world, World War III leaving it's mark everywhere. A voice echoes in the room you're sitting in on an airship, telling the tale of your powers origin. "During the dark ages, some members of the human race could perform incredible feats, such as summon a sword from thin air or pull their sword to them after being disarmed, or even shooting fire from their own hands. This became known as magic and was the source of many great legends. However, a little known fact was these powers were gifted to humans who were meant to fulfill a special role in history. However, as time went on, these roles began to become scarce, with the "wizards" who filled them soon fading into myth as well. Myth became legend and legend became nothing as each tale was forgotten and man's need for the wizards vanished. Soon he became technologically advanced, gaining enough confidence that kingdom attacked kingdom, then country attacked country. For hundreds of years, this was the cycle, peace, war, peace, war; until the fights began on the home front. At first they were left alone, thought to be kidnappings and murders with a well learned criminal master mind. That was before the messages and video feeds from military units began pouring in, showing and mentioning strange soldiers that could do strange things, some reports even claimed superhuman things. One, however, stood out in particular. Specialist James T. Hitchcock, the 145th Infantry Regiment's Second Platoon's radioman was out on patrol in the area of Zimbabwe when a small group of the soldiers attacked them. The video will pick up just moments before the attack."

[quote]"-so I told the ass wipe to take it up with the Sergeant. He refused and we got in a fight." A man somewhere behind the Specialist said. Conversation like this proceeds as they watch their lanes of fire when a bird call comes from the right of Hitchcock, prompting the men and Hitchcock to look in that direction. Holding up a hand to stop the lines, he signals and all of the soldiers shift their aim towards the source-just as the call's owners attack. A small group of soldiers leaps out and tackles several riflemen, weapons appearing in their hands in strange flashes of light. The remainder of the platoon opens fire on them, and down several, forcing the remainder to begin attacking in earnest, shifting targets as quick as they could. One lunges at Hitchcock and knocks him over, his assault rifle clattering into the dark. As a clawed hand rose to strike for his throat, Hitchcock threw up his arms, sure it was his last moments as he squeezed his eyes shut. Through his shut eyes, he saw a brief flash of green light and felt the weight of the person suddenly fly off him, a sudden yelp of pain erupting from her. Slowly opening his eyes, he's surprised to see a spiked shield on his right arm, blood from the girls's wounded hand dripping from a spike. Looking at the girl, he noticed she was writhing in pain and blood was flowing profusely from the wounds. Without a second thought, the Specialist stands and leaps, slamming the shield onto the her head.[/quote]

The video ends and a man in a formal suit walks into view, the color of which reflects his aura, a deep blue. "You all are here because your aura's are pure enough to be of use to fighting the reemerging threat against us. After careful analyzing of Mister Hitchcock's body, it was discovered he had inherited, through a long line of medieval magicians to modern day soldiers, a pure green aura. Had he not, he would have joined his friends in death." He looks over each of you, his eyes measuring you and evaluating you. "Looking at some of what was described, we discovered that medieval wizards used not magic, but their auras to fuel their spells. Here, you will do the same." A large curtain removes to show a beautiful valley, forests and clearings and a lake and river coming into view as well; and at the end sat Northern Lights Academy, the place where you would learn to use your aura to fight back against other nations and even terrorist cells. "Welcome, to Northern Lights."

[hr]

Ryu stood at the end of the platform with the other second years who would be paired with a First year to help them adjust to their new lives in Northern Lights. He glanced to either side of him, noting that Jace, Kaerin, and Kevin had also been chosen. He'd arrived with all of them the previous year, but he didn't spend extensive time with them, especially Jace. The hot-headed Red and him didn't often get along. "Well guys, ready for another year?"