’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.

"Seeing as looking to speak me at this juncture. Could it be that the young prodigy is having second thoughts?"

"No" Ezra responds, flat faced.

"Okay. So what is the matter?"

"I want to offer you something"

"Go on"

Ezra hesitates, carefully choosing his words. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He couldn’t reveal the full truth—not yet.

"It’s an opportunity to grow stronger, faster... Let’s just say that it’s a source of strength that I’ve tapped into, one that has been a cornerstone of my growth"

Kovar shakes his head immediately. "I don’t rely on borrowed power, it always comes with a high price"

"Not this one. I can assure you about that-

"No" Kovar firmly states his intentions.

"Hmm...fine then. I respect your decision" Meeting Kovar’s gaze, Ezra shrugs and stands, extending a handshake. "It was a pleasure meeting you. This was my way of paying back your kindness, So I apologize if you’re offended"

"Not at all" Kovar replies, though the look in his eyes had most definitely changed.

With this Ezra leaves for the spacecraft that lay waiting for his arrival.

The few things he had for daily commodities lay securely stored in a sleek, silver space ring that glimmered faintly on his finger, a testament to his growing status as it was given to him by the clan head himself.

As he neared, the spacecraft lowers itself, opening a hatch from the backend of its left side.

At the entrance lay a familiar face.

Thalrok greets him with a wide grin as he entered. "Took your sweet time, didn’t you? Thought we were going to have to drag you out of here"

Ezra smirked, unbothered by the jab. "Had to finish a few things"

Aren, ever composed, raised an eyebrow. "Loose ends?"

"Just saying goodbyes" Ezra said simply. "Didn’t want to leave any regrets"

Thalrok regarded him for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. I hope you’re ready now?"

Ezra’s gaze hardened, his resolve clear. "More than ever"

With that, Ezra walks aboard the ship with all the clan members gawking.

Once inside, the hatch swiftly closes and the spacecraft lifts off.

It hums softly as it ascended, the world outside fading into a blur of crimson skies and rolling clouds.

Ezra leaned back in his seat, the leather-bound chair cool against his skin.

His mind wandered back to the Red Dragon Clan—Kovar’s firm refusal, the weight of unspoken words, and the gazes of the clan members watching him leave.

"Loose ends" Aren had called them. Perhaps she wasn’t wrong.

But loose ends or not, Ezra felt lighter somehow.

He had done what he could for Kovar, offering him an opportunity that might have changed his life.

Whether Kovar accepted it or not was no longer his concern.

The spacecraft’s intercom buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts.

Thalrok’s voice boomed through the cabin. "Alright, kid. Get comfortable. You’ve got a long ride ahead"

Ezra smirks to himself.

"Comfortable" wasn’t a word he associated with Thalrok, the hulking guardian who seemed to thrive on chaos and combat.

Aren’s more measured tone followed.

"Your quarters have been prepared. You’ll find everything you need there, from food to training facilities. Life at the clan will be much more demanding than whatever you have experienced till now"

Ezra stood, his silver space ring glinting faintly under the dim cabin lights.

He traced its surface with his thumb, reminded of his end goal.

—---------

As Ezra enters the lodging compartment, he was struck by its sheer size and luxury.

The section was vast, with polished floors, high ceilings, and walls adorned with intricate carvings of dragons in flight.

Staff members in crimson uniforms moved efficiently, carrying trays of food and cleaning the pristine halls.

The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meats and spiced tea, a stark contrast to the sterile atmosphere of the ship’s exterior.

Ezra’s gaze wanders, over the compartment’s many rooms, each one built identically.

"Impressive, isn’t it?" came a voice behind him.

Ezra turned to see a staff member—a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a professional demeanor.

"This section is designed to accommodate candidates from various clans. You’ll find everything you need here, including a training arena and private quarters"

Nodding his thanks, Ezra steps further into the compartment.

It wasn’t long before he noticed other individuals scattered throughout the space—young men and women, each bearing distinct features that marked their heritage.

Four of them to be precise.

One figure caught his attention: a boy with iridescent scales that shimmered like fire in the light.

As Ezra approached, the boy turns, his slit-pupiled eyes narrowing in curiosity.

"You’re the one from the Red Dragon Clan, aren’t you?" the boy asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and suspicion.

"I am" Ezra replied, keeping his tone neutral. "And you?"

"Ryen" the boy said, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "Vermillion Dragon Clan. Looks like we’ll be sharing this space for a while"

Before Ezra could respond, a girl with bluish green hair and golden eyes approached, her presence commanding.

"I’ve heard about you" she said, her voice sharp. "The prodigy who stood against a Guardian. I’m Yara, from the Spectral Fire Dragon Clan"

’Spectral Fire Dragon Clan?’ Ezra raised an eyebrow.

He hadn’t expected his reputation to precede him, especially among candidates from other clans.

"I didn’t realize I’d have company" he admits. "Also, you heard about me from who?"

Ryen chuckles. "You didn’t think you were the only one, did you? The guardians are dispatched to evaluate promising candidates from all over. We’re just the ones who passed"

"And we all heard about you from the staff"

Ezra nodded, the pieces falling into place.

Of course, there would be other dragons, each representing their respective clans.

The diversity of the group was a testament to the multiple variant branches of the Red dragon race.

—---------

The journey with the Guardians marked the beginning of a new Chapter in Ezra’s life.

Their transport vessel, sleek and imposing, cut through the skies with ease, its interior filled with an air of quiet tension.

Over the next few days, Ezra grew accustomed to life aboard the spacecraft, clearly noting it’s pros and cons.

For one, none of them were allowed outside the lodging compartment untill they arrived at the Scarlet dragon clan.

Still, it isn’t too bad, with the rooms being fitted with all the necessary items for cleaning up and books to read in case of boredom.

Though with universal communicators, their wouldn’t be much need for the books.

The lodging compartment was a hive of activity, with candidates training, and occasionally clashing.

Despite the luxury, the atmosphere was charged with competition, each candidate keenly aware of the others’ strengths and weaknesses.

Ezra found himself gravitating toward Ryen and Yara, their contrasting personalities providing a strange sense of balance.

Ryen was laid-back and sarcastic, his humor often masking a sharp intellect.

Yara, on the other hand, was fiercely ambitious, her drive pushing her to excel in every aspect of her training.

"You’re holding back" Yara remarks as they sparred in the training arena, conjuring multiple magic circles to shoot a hail of icicles at Ezra

Ezra shatters ever single one of her icicles, his expression calm.

"I’m conserving my strength"

Yara smirked. "Fair enough. But don’t get too comfortable. The real trials haven’t even begun"

Ryen, lounging on the sidelines, chimed in.

"She’s right, you know. This is just the warm-up. Once we reach the Scarlet dragon territory, things are going to get a lot more intense"

Ezra nodded, the weight of their words sinking in.

He had proven himself once, but he knew that the challenges ahead would test him in ways he probably couldn’t yet imagine.

But honestly, Ezra didn’t scared in the slightest, if anything, he felt excited for the possibilities, choosing to be optimistic.

After all, in the black dragon dragon cluster which didn’t have much activity, he had managed to score a lot of opportunities to rise high in a short time.

What then about the centre of the universe? Wouldn’t it have at least ten time more opportunities?

Ezra couldn’t wait to see how fast he would be able to grow when put in such an environment.

As for socializing with the other candidates, Ezra did this more as a way to procure information rather than anything concrete like trying to form an actual friendships.

Instead, his mind lay on how his skills—specifically his distance travelling skill such as gatemark and teleportion would be affected by his movement.

Would he be able to still utilize the gatemarks back the secret realms when at Crux Nebula?

These were the kinds of thoughts floating around in his mind.

Because just as he now been able to achieve his revenge against Khasavar, he also fully intends to carry out Zydrax’s revenge on those who had wronged him.

—--------

Away from all noise, Ezra stood by the viewing deck, staring out at the endless expanse of stars.

The silence is comforting, a stark contrast to the bustling energy of the lodging compartment.

He thought of Kovar, of the Red Dragon Clan, and of the path that lay ahead.

The weight of his choices pressed down on him, but he welcomed it.

Every step he took was a step closer to his goal—a goal that burned brighter than any star in the sky.

"I won’t fail" he whispered to himself, his voice steady. "No matter what it takes"