Meeting Isolde NightShade

Lieutenant Asher Graves led his team through the congested Neo-Citadel outskirts in response to a distress call from a nearby settlement, and the atmosphere was charged with tension. Maya Renard felt the weight of her obligations growing with each step as she marched with her allies, focused and resolute. Eager to establish herself in the field, she had trained diligently for this opportunity. She had no idea that fate had another surprise in store for her.

As the sun sank below the horizon, long shadows danced across the ruins of the once-vibrant neighborhood they were assigned to watch over. The stillness was broken by Asher's clear and firm commands. "Everyone, stay vigilant. The hot zone is what we're about to enter."

With their weapons ready, they advanced with caution, keeping a watchful eye out for any movement among the overgrown debris. Abruptly, there was a rumbling sound in the air, and then Asher heard the booming footfall of a Behemoth, which Asher swiftly recognized as a Grade-C. There was danger ahead; this was no ordinary patrol.

"Prepare for engagement!" As the squad set up a defensive perimeter, Asher yelled, adrenaline rushing through his body.

Maya's heart skipped a beat; this was her big chance. She focused on the surge of primordial energy that had always been there for her when she needed it, reaching deep inside herself. Sadly, though, she was unable to find it today. She was unable to change.

Panic threatened to take hold as the Behemoth charged into view, its massive form casting a dark shadow over the squad.

Emma, usually calm under pressure, let out an exasperated sigh.

"Great, Maya. Now's the time you decide to freeze up? We're dead if you can't do something!"

“Is this who you all were putting your hopes in? Bitch can't even transform” Emma added as she loaded her rifle with IN6 rounds.

“Calm down Maya, you've got this but now defend yourself” David yelled as he stepped in front of her, hanging her a loaded rifle.

Maya gritted her teeth, frustration mingling with fear. She couldn't afford to falter now. As the Behemoth closed in, its sheer size overwhelming, a sudden blur of movement caught everyone's attention. Isolde Nightshade, in his formidable humanoid form, landed gracefully before the Behemoth.

With swift precision, Isolde struck—a single blow that cleaved through the Behemoth's thick hide, bringing it crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust and debris. In that moment, he appeared as a savior, his prowess undeniable. Fear and confusion gripped Asher; his instincts took over, and he opened fire on Isolde, shouting to his squad, "Protect Maya! Now!"

Maya's mind raced as chaos erupted around her. Isolde's unexpected intervention had saved them, but it had also stirred conflict and distrust. She knew she needed to act, to calm the situation before it spiraled further out of control.

David Lee, swift and decisive, shoved Maya towards Liam Connor, shouting, "Cover her!" He turned swiftly, his weapon aimed at Isolde. "Open fire!" he barked, unleashing a torrent of bullets. Liam, Jenna, Ava, Noah, and Emma followed suit, their weapons roaring as they sought to fend off the imposing figure of Isolde.

Isolde met their assault with a smirk, almost playful in his deflection of their bullets. With a fluid grace that belied his massive form, he maneuvered through their gunfire, knocking them down one by one with precise strikes. Liam stumbled back, Ava and Jenna fell in a tangle, and Noah was swiftly disarmed. Emma's frustration boiled over into panicked shouts as she struggled to reload.

In the midst of this chaotic ballet of combat, Isolde closed in on Maya. His hands, large and gentle yet powerful, cupped her face, dwarfing her delicate features. Maya met his intense blue gaze with wide, pink eyes, a mixture of fear and curiosity swirling within her.

"It seems you're still a child," Isolde remarked, his voice low and resonant, carrying a weight of wisdom beyond his years. "When the time is right, you will come find me."

Maya felt Isolde's hands softly caress her face, causing her breath to catch in her throat. He was a powerful presence up close, seeming to emanate strength from inside as he towered over her. His wide shoulders trimmed to a trim waist, and he moved with purpose and fluidity in every motion. Sharp angles were softened by a sense of fragility in his expression, making his face a study in contrasts.

With sharp features framing penetrating blue eyes that seemed to hold a hint of grief mixed with wisdom from countless lifetimes, he exuded a sense of weight. Dark hair that had been tousled fell in strands across his forehead, enhancing his mysterious charm.

Isolde's pale, silvery skin had lines that appeared to sparkle in the low light, suggesting that he was a Beastkin, a creature from another planet. His touch was unexpectedly delicate, a stark contrast to the power he wielded so readily, despite the urgency of the moment.

Maya saw that she was pulled to him and that as she looked at his face, she felt a mixture of wonder and curiosity. There was a tinge of mystery in the half-smile on his lips, as if he knew far more than he was letting on. It was a face that could win people over and engender loyalty, but Maya felt something complicated beneath the surface that both fascinated and unnerved her.

“Just……just who are you?” Maya asked, forcing each word out of her mouth.

With a mixture of curiosity and fear, Maya's heart beat at the enigmatic words that hung from Isolde.

"Better the angel you know than the devil you don't."

Maya had more questions than answers after hearing his remark, which only served to heighten the mystery around him.

Summoning her courage, Maya pressed on, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.

"How are you like me? And how have you come to master your power so well?" Her curiosity burned bright, fueled by the need to understand her own abilities through the lens of someone who seemed to embody them effortlessly.

Isolde regarded her with an unreadable expression, his eyes flickering with a mixture of amusement and calculation.

"We are alike in more ways than you realize," he finally replied, his voice carrying a weight of shared experience. "As for mastering power, it comes with time and discipline. Some of us are born with it; others…..like you, must earn it."

Maya's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of Isolde's existence and their shared connection as Beastkin. "How many others like us are out there?" she pressed, her voice tinged with urgency.

A sinister smile tugged at Isolde's lips, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

"You ask too many questions, Maya Renard," he murmured, his tone teasing yet tinged with an edge of danger.

"The old Reddington mansion in Gales estate holds your answers."

Before Maya could respond, Isolde struck her chest with a precise blow. Instantly, Maya's form began to change, her body morphing into the powerful humanoid Behemoth form she had struggled to summon moments earlier. The transformation was swift but overwhelming, and Maya slumped forward, unconscious.

Isolde's form began to fade, dissipating like smoke in the wind. His parting words echoed in her mind, leaving her with a sense of both anticipation and foreboding as she laid in pain in the ground.