The Red Dragon Clan’s grand hall was uncharacteristically silent as the final echoes of Ezra’s trial dissipated, the aftermath of the event weighing heavily on the gathered crowd.

The crowd, filled with doubt and skepticism, now watched with wide eyes, their expressions ranging from awe to unease.

Known as a prodigy for reaching nascent rank at a record high, Ezra’s actual combat ability had not properly verified untile now.

Facing Guardian Thalrok in an electrifying duel, Ezra unleashed a storm of power and ingenuity that left even the most cynical observers speechless, proving his mettle in a clash that defied all expectations.

The air still buzzed with the residual energy of the fight, a testament to the power unleashed by the two combatants.

Now, Ezra lay unconscious on the cold stone floor, his body spent but unbroken, his breathing shallow but steady.

Thalrok, his arm still visibly battered from the clash, breaks the silence.

His deep, gravelly voice reverberated across the hall, carrying a strange mix of triumph, amusement and a booming laughter.

"Well" he said, addressing the elders with a scary grin plastered across his face. "you certainly weren’t exaggerating about the boy. That was the most fun I’ve had in a good while"

When moments ago, he had been threatening to crush and kill them, the elders couldn’t help but feel displaced by his change of attitude.

Still. Being the clan leader, Asadon answers cooly and calmly, meeting Thalrok’s gaze.

"I am honoured that you recognize his potential"

Clan Leader Asadon inclines his head respectfully, his voice calm but carrying a note of pride.

Thalrok laughs, the sound booming and unrestrained.

"Potential? That’s putting it mildly! The boy is a natural-born monster." He glanced at the unconscious Ezra with something akin to pride. "If you hadn’t already claimed him, I would have made him a member of the Scarlet Clan myself. A talent like this? He would make waves anywhere"

Hearing such praise had the elders swallowing their saliva.

"Well" Thalrok remarks. "Being the one to inaugurate him into the clan isn’t too bad either"

Standing beside Thalrok, Guardian Aren’s expression remained neutral, though her sharp eyes betrayed a hint of intrigue.

"Raw talent is one thing," she says coolly, "but it’s meaningless without discipline. His power is volatile, unrefined. Left unchecked, it could just as easily destroy him—or those around him"

Thalrok waved her off with a chuckle. "That’s what makes it exciting. You don’t tame a dragon by clipping its wings. You let it soar and see how high it can go"

The clan elders exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Thalrok’s words sinking in.

While Thalrok’s praise was undeniable, the implications of Ezra’s rise would inevitably draw in trouble.

A talent of his caliber was as much a blessing as it was a threat, capable of drawing attention from allies and enemies alike.

But then, so what? They would damned if they refused to soar to the sky’s out of fear!

No matter how dire their straits, they were a clan of higher beings aiming for greater heights!

If after coasting through, and just surviving for so long they didn’t have the heart to leap for the skies when the opportunity arose—then they might as well just give up and become farmers.

Regardless of opinion, the members of the red dragon clan had the pride to never surrender and a timeless bond of loyalty.

"Now" Thalrok continues. "Out of respect for his performance. We will be waiting in the spacecraft till he recovers, inform us once he awakens"

With that, the Guardians turned to leave, heading back to reside in their spaceship.

This gesture thoroughly shatters whatever illusion might have been affecting some of the elders.

Because no matter how much Ezra was praised for being a talent, the ascendants wouldn’t stoop so low to socialize with the elders because of it.

...Which is why they blatantly decided to take refuge in their spaceship rather than be accommodated in the clans residence.

In short, nothing had actually changed, the guardians had simply become tolerable of the red dragon.

Asadon, being quick on the update, didn’t even try to persuade them to do otherwise, as there is little to be gained from doing such a thing.

With the guardians leaving for their humongous spaceship and star of the day taken to the medical ward, the gathered audience soon splinters into fragmented crowds, each one gossiping and murmurs about what an incredible sight they had just seen.

From a glance. One can tell that this event had been etched into the memories of many.

The consequences? Unknown.

—----------

Ezra awoke to a dimly lit chamber, the faint, sterile hum of the Red Dragon Clan’s medical wing a stark contrast to the chaos of the trial.

His body ached with every breath, a dull, persistent throb that seemed present in all his limbs.

In ways he hadn’t known were possible, his entire body screamed in exhaustive protest as he shifted slightly on the cot.

While he had reached of extended fatigue a good many time, this one felt much more debilitating than all the others.

This still, Ezra felt truly fatigued.

Blinking against the soft glow of the overhead lights, he tries to sit up, only to be stopped by a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Easy there" came a deep, familiar voice.

Asadon’s imposing figure came into view, his expression uncharacteristically neutral.

Ezra blinks in quick succession, his memories of the trial returning in fragmented flashes.

The blinding explosion, Thalrok’s laughter, the gasps of the crowd—it all felt like a distant dream.

"Take it slow" came a familiar voice.

Kovar’s towering form loomed above him as well, his stern features softened by a rare smile. "You’ve been through a lot"

In short, both the clan head and the vice lay on both sides of his cot.

"Did I-" he croaks, his throat dry. "Did I win?"

Asadon’s lips curved into a faint smile. "You didn’t just win, Ezra. You proved yourself in a way few ever could. Even Thalrok acknowledged your strength"

Ezra’s eyes fully opens, the weight of the clan leader’s words sinking in. "So, I passed...Good"

But rather some grand expression or the expected joyful tone, his words feel bland, his tone reminiscent of an expected outcome, much to the surprise of the two heads.

After all, was he not being far too casual about the achievement?

You’d usually expect someone to jump for joy with a pleasurable smile.

Right now though, the only thing they felt from Ezra—is relief.

The boy’s stoic reaction to his monumental achievement was unusual. This was a moment that should’ve been celebrated with exhilaration, yet Ezra treated it as though he’d simply ticked off another task on a long list of goals.

"Relief, huh?" Kovar asked, breaking the silence. His gruff voice carried a note of curiosity as he leaned forward. "You just bested one of the Guardians in combat. That’s no small feat, Ezra. Why do you seem... unmoved?"

Ezra turned his head slightly, his gaze distant but steady.

"Because it’s only the beginning" he murmurs.

His voice was hoarse, yet there was an undeniable resolve in his words.

"Winning this trial doesn’t mean I’ve reached my goal. It’s just one step forward in a much larger journey"

Then... *Pam

Kovar lands a solid knock on his noggin.

"Ouch" Ezra responds, rubbing his aching head. "Why did you do that?"

Looking up, he sees Kovar staring at him with a most serious gaze.

"Learn to be grateful" he says. "Else you will end up growing arrogant, conceited and inevitably miserable"

"There are thousands upon thousands that have either failed it or died trying to reach the heights you have attained very easily. Don’t become an ingrate that thinks everything good that comes his way is deserved"

"But I don’t think that" Ezra protests.

Here, Kovar grabs his head and violently ruffles his hair.

"Then smile. Rejoice, celebrate. You won’t always be winning"

Hearing this, Ezra’s expression drops low, the fatigue he had been masking now clearly evident.

"I will do that" Ezra responds, his tone tired as he reclines into his cot with as his chest heaved ever so slowly, a smile sprouting on his face.

Seeing that his words seemed to have resonated, Kovar and Asadon glance at one another and take their leave.

—------------

Having moved far from the Red Dragon Clan to avoid blotting out their skies

Thalrok and Aren sat in the command chamber aboard their sleek transport vessel, facing one another as they mentally reviewed the data from Ezra’s trial.

Thalrok’s busted hand lay encased in what looked to be a technologically advanced jar, whose insides are filled with a glowing green liquid, as its exterior is translucent.

Because they hadn’t expected much from a contestant originating from such a place anyway, neither him nor Aren had bothered to bring along equipment to record the duel.

Which is why both of sat facing each other rather than any holographic projection, reviewing the battle in meticulous detail.

"I still can’t believe it" Thalrok mutters, leaning back in his chair. "That concealment technique—where did a boy like him learn something like that?"

Aren, ever composed, brought attention to other details.

"It’s not just the technique. His strength, energy output, speed—everything about him defies conventional limits. He’s an anomaly"

"Moreover" Aren continues, bringing up a holographic tab that showcased the noted details about Ezra. "From our information, he’s supposed to be a first step nascent"

Her tone turned chilly towards the end.

Thalrok’s nodded in affirmation to what she was eluding to.

"Most definitely not"

The his grin widened. "An anomaly, huh? I like that. Makes things interesting"

"Anomalies are dangerous, Thalrok," Aren replies, her tone sharp. "If we mishandle this, he could become as much a threat as he is an asset"

Thalrok waved her concerns away with a laugh. "Relax, Aren. That boy has what it takes. I’m betting on him"

Aren’s eyes narrowed. "Let’s hope your gamble doesn’t cost us more than we’re prepared to lose"

"That depends on those old geezers, not me"

Then, something else popped into his mind.

"Eh, what are we going to do about the lack of footage though?"

Aren stares back at him incredulously. "Sir, as the nominated commading officer of this flight, I leave that task for you to solve"

In response, Thalrok almost falls out of his seat.

"Sir???" he panicks! "Hey! You can’t just abandon me like this!"

To this, Aren gives no reply, pretending to not hear as she walks away.

—--------

Back at the Red Dragon Clan, Ezra’s recovery is swift resolved, thanks to the clan’s advanced medical techniques and his own resilient body.

With ascendants waiting, the clan didn’t even blink before using their resources to nurse back to full health as fast as possible.

Within two days, he is back on his feet, though the fatigue from his trial lingered like a shadow.

The clan members treated him differently now, their attitudes a mixture of reverence and wariness.

Whispers of his duel with Thalrok spread like wildfire, each retelling more exaggerated than the last.

Ezra, however, paid little attention to the rumors.

His focus remains on the journey ahead.

After all, he would be leaving this clan for a better one situated far, far away.

Such rumours were like dust particles in his eyes, soon to fade away before people moved on to talk about the next interesting topic.

With this another section of his plan had reached fruition.

From here on out, he would be heading to a new place with new people and most importantly, new rules.

Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about what Kovar had said.

’Be grateful huh?...I needed to hear that’

Thinking over those words over the past two days also provides him with an insight.

’I should do this before I leave’

So just before Ezra would leave with the guardians, he decides to have one last conversation with Kovar.