The Council was enormous, and every time Ezra entered its vast halls, he felt a wave of awe wash over him. The Council Hall, hewn from the ancient white cliffs, was like the heart of the continent, where all power, authority, and tradition came together. The ceilings soared high above, adorned with detailed murals that told the stories of the Four Sects. Sunlight streamed through narrow, stained-glass windows, creating colorful patterns on the marble floors. As Ezra strolled down the hallway, the sound of his footsteps mingled with those of the guards, his tutors, and the quiet maids trailing behind him. Ezra found himself at the center of this little group, his eyes wandering to take in every detail of the hall. Tall banners lined the walls, each one representing one of the Four. The striking emerald green emblem of the Echelon sect stood out the most—a tree with branches that seemed to reach endlessly. It was displayed at every entrance, a constant reminder of the values the sect

As the warriors approached, Ezra noticed his family stirring. His siblings looked confused, but his parents had expressions that suggested they had anticipated this moment. Their eyes were filled with bitterness as they turned to Lorrin, who stared back at them with a blank expression."You... it was you?" Ezra's mother whispered, a mix of defiance and disbelief in her voice."Be quiet, woman!" Lorrin commanded, and a heavy silence followed.The atmosphere was thick with tension, broken only by the wind rustling the dry grass. Ezra felt the ropes digging into his wrists, binding him to the post. His sisters whimpered softly beside him, and his mother offered them a reassuring smile. Across the field, the executioners advanced, their weapons shining in the fading sunlight.Ezra's heart raced; he knew it was the end.In front of him stood the Archival warriors, a wall of armored men with cold, emotionless faces. At the forefront was a massive figure, the largest of them all, dragging hi

Ezra blinked. A twisted, bitter smile formed on his lips, lacking any real humor. He felt mad, completely losing his grip on reality. It almost felt like a relief to slip into a false dream rather than face the harshness of the real world. With fingers he didn’t want to move—but did—he mentally clicked "YES."The screen flickered, and suddenly, streams of light filled the space around him. Ezra recoiled, instincts warning him of danger, but this light felt safe. It enveloped him, warm and gentle, like a cocoon. Strange symbols danced before his eyes, transforming into grim options."Choose your path: Warrior. Berserker. Liberator. Mage."Ezra gazed at the options, each glowing with its own allure. Warrior seemed straightforward, a choice his father might have made. Berserker, with its fiery glow, promised raw power and destruction, a way to unleash the anger he felt. Mage appeared distant and intellectual, requiring calm and thoughtfulness—traits he no longer possessed.Then, he heard

Ezra hunched low, his fingers quaking while he scrubbed up and down against the cool marble floor of the chamber inside the palace. Above and around him came jeering tones. The young men of lower rank in the disciples sat in the lounge chairs in the room, as were other attendants of the palace.They threw bits of food and garbage on the floor, laughing as he scurried to pick it up. A stale bread crust fell to the ground, and instinctively Ezra reached for it."Look at him," one of the boys sneered. "The great son of the Echelon Sect, reduced to this."Another chimed in, his voice thick with sarcasm. "I bet his daddy would cry if he saw him now. Oh wait—he doesn't have a head to cry with!"The room exploded in a cacophony of laughter, the sound deeper than any blade. Ezra shoved the crust into his mouth, chewing mechanically, staring at the ground. The taste of ash and filth filled his mouth, but he swallowed without demur."You see how he eats? " Like a rat," the other said, kicking o

Master Lorrin stared at the young man with a flare of anger in his eyes and he let out a loud laugh.Ezra was unfazed as he looked at the mysterious yet evil-dominated Master Lorrin, but not his anger was now replaced with resolve.'Indeed my training has built me up greatly to the point where I can now, visually grasp my enemy without exploding into anger.' Ezra thought as he watched Master Lorrin.Master Lorrin walked onto the execution grounds with pride covering him like a cloak as he stared at the peasant standing before him."Alright, then I accept your challenge! I will slay thee before every one that is watching you and you will perish by my hand." Master Lorrin yelled as his palms beamed with unnatural energies.'I felt a change in the air the moment he said that and I knew that it was my time to show him whose boss had come.' Ezra thought as he gave a cold and expressionless look.Ezra unsheathed the sheen silvery katana and immediately accessed his system which gave him a b