~~This is more random bits of Michael's backstory. I will have a detailed and relevant explanation in Volume 2. This information just seemed like a bit much to put alongside what will be discussed in the main story. This will be narrated, any some from Michaels POV.~~
...Before the war started, Michael lived with his parents, Betty and Brandon, as well as his older brother, Finton. They lived in a decent sized home in the newer community of the Islands east coast. Betty had a family who was heavily involved in the military and had a strong financial background, affording her the luxuries she had grown accustomed to. Brandon came from a more modest background of entrepreneurs that had a successful small business based out of the Tradelands.
His mother, Betty, did not exhibit any spiritual abilities and felt very strongly that they were abnormal. She spent her time while the brothers were young, hoping that they would be "normal" as she was. She was always well dressed and groomed. Her charcoal eyes seemed to shine in comparison to her creamy blonde hair. She was brought up with a family who had strict values and had things decided for them from birth, including their future spouses.
His father, Brandon, had minor healing abilities and had a very calming aura. Brandon was assigned to complete small Water Unit misions, which were typically peace making missions with other territories or occasionally assisting in the medical wards. He had always hoped for the best for his sons, whether they had abilities or not, which led to many arguments between Betty and Brandon as the boys grew up. Brandon had contrasting featured to his wife, as he had ink black hair and almond brown eyes. While he was also typically dressed and groomed well, he had a more relaxed and easy-going attire and demeanor. His family, although small, was nurturing.
Since Finton has been old enough to understand, he has always been envious of his younger brother's strength and abilities. Finton didn't begin showing signs of his abilities until the typical age range of 12-13. Michael, on the other hand, started showing powerful signs of his abilities as early as 7 years old. Finton was naturally favored by Betty due to his less developed abilities and began exhibiting her negative and cruel demeanor. He also mire closely resembled her due to having charcoal eyes and light ash brown hair color. However, as he aged, Finton occasionally completes both Fire and Clan ranking missions in his early teens, which range from acting as a bodyguard to running errands. He was well respected in his own right, albeit he had quite the temper.
When the boys were younger, they would often visit and play with Wren and Diego. Wren being the youngest, Diego and Michael were the same age, and Finton was the oldest. Michael and Wren's parents were close due to their fathers working for the same company, and Betty felt a kinship to Gilbert as he also had limited spiritual abilities. The boys happen to accidentally run into Wren in a market one day. She had a disheveled appearance and was looking for food. After the boys told their parents about the encounter, Betty began to limit their interactions with each other. Betty did not like Wren as she began to show strong spiritual abilities around an even earlier age than Michael. Before his 10th birthday, Betty had already found a young girl in the Tradelands for Michael to marry when they come of age. Michael naturally disapproved as he wanted to be able to choose who he wanted to be with.
Soon after, the war began, and chaos ensured. Betty had alway threatened to leave Brandon due to his ideals and one day without warning, they left them to move back to the Tradelands. Michael and Finton were left at home while Brandon went to the office to help with the war. One day, he came home with a grim look on his face. "Now boys, I have some news. They found that little girls family dead in the Elders house, but haven't found her. With the amounts of her blood at the house, they are assuming she didn't make it. With her only being around 7 or 8, I don't think she could do much around a grown man anyhow." Michael, who was just a few years older at the time, was frozen in shock. "Hey, where's mom? Did she finally leave us like she always said?" A crude teen Finton was standing unfazed with his hand on his hip.
A year after the war started, a news report came across the TV, and it showed a gruesome scene of high class people who were brutally murdered because of their stance on the war. Their mother, Betty, was among those who had died. Both boys seemed relatively unfazed by their mothers' death, and they soon began seeing less and less of their father. Soon, he stopped coming to the house at all and would send office workers to check on them monthly. Another 2 years into the war passed like this, with the final message from the office staff informing the boys that their father died during an explosion at the facility. Soon after, Michael was sent to live with a relative due to being a minor, and Finton was left to his own devices. They were separated for many years and only ran into each other by chance a while after the war.
Finton had given up on Guard Unit missions and was working wherever he could to make ends meet. Michael, on the other hand, had quoted the reputation due to his skills and abilities. he has been placed within the Lightening Unit ranks and quickly moved up, even though he was still under 20 years old. Michael reluctantly agreed to have Finton move closer to his residence, and he was given a small position at the temple. For all the years that passed, Michael was under the assumption that Wren was dead. This assumption turned him cold and bitter. He would not interact with others unless the mission required him to do so.
As he was walking through the temple, he heard rumors of a new Priestess and that she was young and beautiful. He didn't pay it any mind as he was focused on completing his mission. "Hey, kid! The new Lord requests tour presence." A younger Cadman who was the main facilitator for the Lightening Units members yelled out as Michael was walking away. Michael stopped on the path and turned towards him. "Is it another mission?" He inquired with a blank stare. 'Sheesh, this kid...' "They didn't tell me anything aside from to clean you up and take you to him." Michael let out a short nod and followed Cadman to the temple after washing his face and changing clothes.
The war hadn't been over for long, but things were beginning to go back to their normal. Many people left the Islands in search of safety, but many stayed or came back after to help rebuild what was lost. As Michael made his way up the stairs, he was greeted by other temple workers. "Now ya better behave, kid." Cadman said with a chuckle as the temple workers opened the large wooden doors. There was an average size room with 4 other people already waiting. "Ah, this is the one? Finally. Young Sir, allow me to introduce your newest mission." Michael sighed and bowed his head, 'Looks like I have to escort another princess across territory lines. "This is our new Priestess. You will be her personal guard. Please allow me to -" "M-Michael..?" Michael was startled and quickly looked up after hearing a thud. Then it's as if his body wasn't his own. He immediately ran to Wren's side and hugged her. She was their frozen in her full ceremonial clothes, clinging tightly to him. It had been over 6 years since he heard the new and assumed she had died.
Everything around him seemed to fade away as all he could focus on was her warmth. 'Oh Wren... I missed you so so much..' He thought to himself as he gently leaned his head in the crook of her neck. 'I-I think I love you... I think that is why I have been so empty inside... because you weren't with me.' Happy tears ran down both their faces as everyone in the room eventually left. "Please don't leave me," she whispered almost inaudibly. He nodded and, after some more time, gently broke their embrace, helped her to her feet, and took her to a place where they cod fully catch up on their lost time.
As the years went on, Michael closely guarded Wren. They would do most everything together as they progressed in their lives. Both get stringer with time. There was a brief moment when Michael was easily stronger than Wren with his abilities, but after only a few short days of specialized training, she quickly surpassed him. "Hey, don't you think you're taking this personal guard shit a bit too..seriously?" Finton asked as he dug through their fridge looking for something to eat. "I mean, she has so many guards. Do you really have to stick to her hip like that? What about that broad mom hooked you out to all those years ago? Weren't you supposed to get hitch -" *BAM* "I am in no mood for you pestering Finton. Leave me br and drop the topic entirely unless you want to be bedridden." Michael growled before walking out the door. "Touchy touchy..." Finton mumbled before settling on some fresh fruit.
As the years passed and things returned to their former state, Michael continued to be the personal guard for Wren before finally creating distance and going on more solo and specific missions. He knew she was capable of handling herself, and he personally trained Cole, Thierry friend, and fellow Lightening Unit Member, everything he knew so whe. he wasn't around. He knew Cole would protect her. Just as time continued, so did his feelings for Wren. there was not an ine waking moment of his existence that he wasn't thinking about her, but he knew he couldn't have her. He needed to go to the Tradelands and inform the family and daughter that Betty arranged his marriage with that he wanted no part in it. He also knew that now, with Wren being a Priestess, she was even more out of his league, and he didn't dare cross that line.
They found themselves in precarious situations that made it hard to control himself, but he was always the one to break. Then, one day, he visited her as she was in the medical ward and expressed his feelings as she slept. Seeing her in a weakened state scared him, so he mustered up the courage and took the first move by kissing her one day. Then she initiated it the next time. After some months had passed, it became almost a routine of visiting each other in the night. Then one day she went missing and his world became a blur. This was around the time of the Haruki incident that caused Wren to be closest to death, which she has been in recent years. After this, he decided he was going to try and do things properly, but an unforseen set of events made him question if they would ever be happy.