Deep within the Redwood Forest, the Ironspring bloodline bore a heavy curse: only male heirs could be born. If a female child appeared, she would face a sacred ceremony beneath the ancient Mother Red Dusk tree on her 18th birthday, offering her life force to the forest that would come to be known as North America. For centuries, this curse had shaped the destiny of the Ironspring lineage.

King Onyx and his wife, Fern, had welcomed only sons into their family. By the time their fourth child was due, they eagerly anticipated the arrival of another boy. However, fate had other plans: when the child was born, they discovered it was a girl. To complicate matters, the infant bore little resemblance to her family; with pale skin and hazel eyes, she stood apart from her silver-skinned parents and siblings, who all had bright green or blue eyes.

Fern was thrown into a panic at the sight of her daughter, blaming Onyx for the girl's existence and the curse looming over them. After calming his wife, they understood their responsibility: they must raise Nerissa to embody the purity required for the impending ceremony. News of Nerissa’s birth sent ripples of excitement through the Fae community, who regarded her as a divine gift from the goddess, destined to ensure their continued prosperity.

As Nerissa grew, she was lavished with every luxury, spoiled beyond measure. Yet, despite the riches surrounding her, she felt a profound emptiness. Constantly told she was a blessing to the earth, Nerissa struggled to believe this notion. King Onyx kept her close during her formative years, and one day, he discovered her innate connection to Fae magic. While most Fae learned to control their powers gradually, Nerissa displayed a wild affinity for fire and earth. This left Onyx feeling torn, as he had hoped she would master the elements of water and air.

To nurture her potential, the King sought teachers for water and air, but Nerissa found herself frustrated, unable to master those elements. The pressure to conform weighed heavily on her, and as she turned 17, darkness began to creep into her dreams. Night terrors of the Red Dusk Trees haunted her, where the vines would constrict around her throat, as if the trees themselves reveled in her torment.

In a fit of desperation, she accidentally set fire to her room and part of her brother's, consumed by the need to end the nightmares. Fearful of her powers, her siblings and the people of the kingdom awaited her 18th birthday with trepidation. When that fateful day arrived, the sky darkened, and a blood-red moon loomed above. It was time for the ceremony, and as Nerissa made her way to the Mother Red Dusk Tree, her people cheered for what they believed would be her noble sacrifice.

With a heavy heart, she embraced her family one last time before entering the trunk of the ancient tree. The realm within was unlike anything she had ever seen, filled with a sea of crimson leaves. Deep inside, she found a pedestal holding a seed—a reflection of herself stared back at her. "It is your turn to give your life, Nerissa," her reflection urged. "Take the seed into your mouth and let the Red Dusk fill you." As she grasped the seed, a surge of control washed over her, dissolving her fear. But just as she raised it to her lips, she hesitated. "No," she declared, watching as her reflection morphed into a dark creature radiating malice.

Panicking, Nerissa fled the depths of the Mother Red Dusk Tree, emerging to a gasping crowd that had awaited her demise. "Run!" she screamed, but the dark creature followed, igniting chaos as the villagers' eyes glowed red, turning them against her. In a moment of desperation, Nerissa conjured a protective dome of vines around her home and sprinted toward the coast, not stopping until she reached what is now known as England.

In her flight, the seed she had taken became a source of unparalleled power. Unlike any Fae before her, Nerissa could command all elemental magic with the skill of an elder master, alongside the manipulation of light and darkness. Yet, to wield this power, the seed had to be in contact with her skin. To guard against her haunting nightmares, she fashioned the seed into a necklace.

As rumors of her kingdom's fall reached her ears, she began to believe she was the last of the Ironspring line. Choosing to sever her ties with the world of Fae, Nerissa sought solace among humans, hiding her true self as she navigated this new life.