A New Beginning

So, Mr… what's your name?" Ezra asked between bites, finally slowing down enough to glance at the man.

The man raised an eyebrow, setting his tea down with a soft clink.

"Eli," he replied simply, his tone calm but firm, like it was all Ezra needed to know.

Ezra chewed thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded.

"Cool. Thanks for the food, Eli."

Eli gave a small, smile, watching Ezra with that same unreadable expression.

"Don't mention it."

Eli waited patiently, sipping his tea in slow, deliberate motions as Ezra gobbled down the food like it was his last meal.

After a while, Eli pulled out his phone, the device buzzing sharply against the quiet of the room. The screen lit up repeatedly, but he remained calm, his fingers gliding over the screen as he replied to messages.

Every now and then, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, subtle but noticeable.

Ezra, finally curious enough to pause mid-bite, glanced up.

"What's that?"

Eli didn't look up, his tone casual as he typed.

"Just replying to some messages."

After a final tap, he slipped the phone back into his coat pocket, his eyes lifting to meet Ezra's.

"Finished eating?"

Ezra let out a loud, satisfied burp, then blinked in mild embarrassment.

"Yeah. Excuse me."

Eli chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. Without another word, he pressed a button on the wall.

Moments later, two waitresses entered the room, dressed in crisp uniforms, their expressions polite but curious as they briefly glanced at Ezra before focusing on Eli.

With his usual calm demeanor, Eli pulled out the same sleek black card from his pocket and handed it to them without a word.

The waitresses nodded in understanding, swiftly gathering the empty dishes and clearing the table with practiced efficiency.

Within moments, they disappeared as quietly as they had arrived, leaving the room spotless and silent once more.

Eli stood, adjusting his coat and casting a glance at Ezra.

"Get ready. We're leaving."

Ezra quickly scrambled to his feet, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before following Eli out the door.

As soon as they stepped back into the bustling hall, the atmosphere shifted again.

All eyes were on them.

Conversations halted mid-sentence, and the familiar hush fell over the room like a thick blanket. Ezra could feel the weight of their gazes, heavy and unrelenting, as they moved through the space.

"Is that the boy?" someone whispered from a nearby table.

"What's he doing with the Captain?" another voice murmured, low but not low enough.

The waitresses returned, moving with the same quiet efficiency as before. One of them handed Eli the sleek black card, her gaze briefly flicking to Ezra with curiosity before they both slipped out of the room, leaving the two alone once again.

Without wasting a moment, Eli turned on his heel and headed for the door.

Ezra followed, trying to match his pace as they navigated through multiple corridors, the sterile walls blurring past them. They turned corner after corner, the fluorescent lights overhead casting sharp shadows along the narrow halls.

Finally, they reached a set of large glass doors. As they pushed through, the outside world greeted them.

The air hit Ezra instantly—fresh, clean, and crisp. It was a sharp contrast to the artificial coolness inside. He paused just for a second, taking a large exhale, letting the cool air fill his lungs.

It felt like the first real breath he'd taken in days.

In front of them stood a large, sleek luxury SUV, its black exterior gleaming under the sunlight. A uniformed driver stood by the vehicle, his posture straight and professional as he opened the door without a word.

Eli gave him a short, acknowledging nod before sliding into the back seat with effortless ease.

Ezra hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed behind, climbing into the vehicle.

The interior was spacious and immaculate, with plush leather seats and a faint scent of polished wood and expensive upholstery.

The soft hum of the engine was barely audible, and the tinted windows gave the inside a sense of quiet privacy, separating them from the bustling world outside.

Ezra sank into the seat, feeling the unfamiliar luxury envelop him. The soft hum of the engine was barely audible as the door clicked shut, and the SUV glided smoothly onto the road.

After a few moments of silence, Ezra finally spoke, his voice tentative.

"Where are we heading?"

Eli, staring out the window with his usual calm demeanor, replied without turning his head.

"Oh, right. Pardon me—I forgot to explain." He paused for just a beat before adding, "Blackspire Military Academy."

Ezra's head snapped toward him, eyes wide with disbelief.

"What?"

Eli finally turned to meet his gaze, his expression calm but edged with something more serious.

"You see, not everyone deems you as… safe." His voice was steady, almost too casual given the weight of his words. "You saw how they looked at you in the canteen."

Ezra's mind flashed back to the piercing stares, the hushed voices that seemed to follow him like a shadow.

Eli continued, his gaze drifting back to the window. "It took a lot of convincing on my part to make sure they didn't… take other measures."

Ezra felt a chill crawl up his spine.

"The safest option," Eli went on, "was to send you to Blackspire." He gave a faint, almost amused chuckle. "Don't worry, there are a lot of kids your age there."

Ezra's pulse quickened, his thoughts spiraling.

""But…" Eli added, glancing at him with a raised brow, "I am a bit concerned about how you'll catch up. It's already a quarter through the first year."

Ezra frowned, his mind still stuck on Eli's earlier words.

"Who's 'they'?" he asked quietly, though he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

Eli didn't hesitate.

"Nexus HQ."

The words landed like a stone in Ezra's chest, heavy and suffocating. He opened his mouth to ask more, but Eli glanced at his watch, cutting off the conversation before it could begin.

"I suggest you get comfortable," Eli said, his tone shifting back to casual. "We've got around two hours until we arrive."

He gestured toward the sleek interior of the SUV, his voice dropping just slightly.

"There are some snacks and water in the lower compartment if you're hungry."

Ezra stared at him for a long moment, then shifted his gaze out the window, the landscape blurring past as his thoughts spiraled.

It took longer than expected, the smooth ride interrupted by stretches of unexpected traffic that slowed their progress. Ezra spent most of the time staring out the window, his mind a whirlwind of unanswered questions.

Eventually, the SUV pulled up to a set of large, sturdy gates, towering and imposing, flanked by armed soldiers in pristine uniforms. Their expressions were stone-cold, their eyes following the vehicle's every move.

For a moment, the car idled as the soldiers checked credentials, the tension in the air palpable. Then, with a low mechanical groan, the gates creaked open, revealing the sprawling grounds beyond.

The SUV rolled forward, gliding past rows of carefully maintained grounds and imposing stone buildings.

Finally, the car came to a stop, the engine humming softly before falling into silence.

Ezra stared ahead, his heart pounding as he took in the massive structure before him.

Blackspire Military Academy.