Rallaa's posts

Almost all of Zane's early childhood was a blur to him. He can only recall the feeling of being unwanted, as if he were a burden or curse upon his parents. He spent his days trying not to meet their gaze until 'They' had found him. The Leader's eyes and ears had sought out for children who contained the spark within them. Finally, Zane had felt wanted, and he gladly went together with them to become a part of his new family. For a time, it was bliss.
They helped him to tap into the spark and channel it, helped him to grow his powers. He thought he would become a member of high standing if he continued to excel, but his purpose for being brought in was not truly for his benefit. Unbeknownst to Zane, he was chosen to be a sacrifice. He was to be fattened up, and his power siphoned for the dark machinations of The Leader.

They taught him to not rely on his eyes, to 'see' the world for what it really was, to be one with it and nature. Through this, along with other harsh lessons, he learned to manifest and control flames, bending them to his will. He could see and feel the fire dance and spin through the air, licking around him with warm radiance. It was euphoric.
But his power grew stronger than his capability to control it, and in his teens, when he was told that he'd be nearing the end of his lessons, he fully lost himself while basking in the warmth of his flames.
Zane lost what control he had over his power, and it lashed out wildly around him. The many tents around, charred along with those inside. With the last of his energy fizzling out, he stood alone in a charcoal wasteland.

((More to be written/edited, but thought I'd post this to get your response on it.))

Zane was abandoned by his mother, foisted into the foster care system around his third birthday, not that it was, or ever would be celebrated. His earliest memories are of days he spent being passed around within the system that was unable to care for him. Due to his peculiarities the foster workers found him off putting to be around. That is until [Headmaster] found him, seeing the spark of his talents. And so Headmaster took Zane into the fold of his community, a place for those with great potential.

Through his childhood and adolescence within The Community, with the tutelage of The Headmaster, Zane began to feel out and cultivate this strange power within himself. He gained the control over flames manifested from his mind, and the physical dexterity for precise control of edged implements.

But his time in this family was not without it's own problems. There were strict rules and rites one must follow, and Zane did not find himself behooved to behave by them. On several occasions he had found himself on the receiving end of the Headmaster's ire. Each subsequent reprimand coming with greater chastisement, until one day in his teens, during a penance in isolation, he snapped.
Zane had developed great power, but little self control. And so, as if to mock Headmaster's own words, "You will remain in isolation until you *open your eyes* to the truth of this world," he cut them out, and burst from his cell wielding the force of his pyrokinesis, rebelling with all his might.
After his rampage and escape, he realized he could still 'see' the whole time thanks to another form of his innate talents, and what's more is that his eyes began to heal over the coming days of his aimless wandering. These eyes represented the control of the Headmaster, and he wanted them gone...

Abandoned child, and adopted into a cult because the leader could see the spark of abilities within him
With the leader's dark guidance, he developed pyrokinesis and a regenerative ability.
Has some mind of body dysmorphia or body integrity disorder, causing him to destroy his own eyes. (Or, I'm imagining a scenario where the leader gives some sort of lecture and punishment to Zane saying "and you'll remain in isolation until you *open your eyes* to the truth!", and so Zane rebelled in the most extreme way he could.)
Can see due to another supernatural ability, despite his self afflicted blindness and use of blindfolds.
Fascination with knives. (possibly cut out his own eyes)
Grew up rebellious and free spirited despite the influence of the cult's leadership, and left the cult as a teen.
Never gave much thought to the nature of his abilities, views them neither as a gift nor a curse. They just were as they were.
As an adult met Detective Morgan, felt a connection with him, began dating. Morgan's investigations into the cult had lead him to finding Zane.
(Perhaps Zane cooperates with Morgan by giving info on the cult, causing breakthroughs in the investigation? A possible future lore development?)