Lyla was absolutely ecstatic. After working so hard, it was finally time to embark on her way to Beacon Academy. The moment was bittersweet for the young girl, as she'd also be saying goodbye to her family on Chalice. Before she boarded the boat, her mother Ivy ran to her, wrapping her daughter in a tender hug. "Make us proud," she whispered, as Lyla got aboard the boat.
The boat ride wasn't very long, as Chalice was only about fifty miles off the coast of Sanus. From the shore, it was a short walk to where the Beacon airships were loading. As she climbed aboard the airship, she sat near the front, not bothering much with the view. Lyla knew that nothing could beat the view from Chalice's mountains. So instead, Lyla took the time to reflect on herself.
Lyla was born and raised on Chalice Island. She never really knew any other home in the world. She lived a normal and happy life there until she was four. On her fourth birthday, her father Aster forcibly unlocked the girl's aura. He believed that as he was an esteemed Huntsman, fighting would be in her genes. What he wasn't counting on was the nature of her Semblance. The little girl suddenly developed a migraine and started hearing voices swirl around inside her head. She could feel every emotion of her father; she was bearing all the pain he ever bore at once.
It all proved too much for Lyla to handle. As her situation worsened, she slipped into a coma. She wouldn't awaken for a year. During that time, her mind was able to wander, so she delved deep into her own subconscious mind to further understand herself. She realized that by a physical touch, she could feel other people's emotions. She spent the time mentally training herself so that she wouldn't break down again. To her, everything during that time felt like a lucid dream.
She was finally able to wake up a year later, having mentally trained herself in the use of her Semblance. However, things weren't the same when she woke. Her first sight upon awakening was her mother, but she seemed different. She was ill and appeared bloated. That's when Lyla received the news. During her time comatose, her mother got pregnant. Soon, Lyla would have a new baby brother.
Lyla was absolutely elated at the news. Time seemed to fly until the fateful day her brother was born. Aster and Ivy gave her the opportunity to name him. She came up with Ash, since the hair on the baby's head was a bright gray. Lyla would end up growing up with her newly expanded family for the next several years.
On Ash's sixth birthday, Lyla's family decided to take him on a journey. They were going to climb Mount Orchard, the tallest mountain on the island, together. The ascent was uncomplicated, as many climbers had etched out a path into the through the groves. But, disaster struck on their descent. As they climbed back down the mountain, a ledge broke loose, and Ash fell onto a platform below. The family went down to rescue him as quickly as they could and sent the boy to a hospital. He had broken both his legs, and would need prosthetic replacements. The family was too poor to afford them, so Ash was bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Lyla couldn't help but feel that what happened that day was her fault, even though in reality it what nothing more than a freak accident. From that day forward, Lyla vowed to protect people. She figured the best way to do that was to become a Huntress. So, her family enrolled her in Signal Academy when she was old enough. She was never the brightest student, but she did well enough. While she was at Signal, she developed a crush on a short blond goofball, but never had the courage to talk to him and learn his name. Lyla graduated in good standing at Signal, and was invited to extend her training at Beacon when the next school year starts. She went home to Chalice to spend one last summer with her family.
Now, as Lyla sat on the airship, she wondered where her life as a huntress would take her. She gazed toward the back of the airship when she saw his face. It was the boy from Signal. Hopefully, she'd finally have the guts to talk to him.