Echoes of Choices

Nero was sprawled out on the couch, Willy sipped juice from an armchair, and Troy cleaned his boots while listening to music on the radio. At the makeshift bar, Gideon mixed a few drinks, while Ezra, still adjusting to the environment, observed everything curiously.

"Even though this was your first mission with us, you did a damn good job, rune boy." Gideon laughed, giving Ezra a strong slap on the back. "If I ever doubted you, I regret it now."

"Yeah. Without you, we'd be screwed." Nero wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm, still catching his breath. "I hate running."

Willy, Troy, and Salen nodded in agreement, each showing approval in their own way.

Ezra blinked a few times, slightly flustered. He glanced at the faces around him, still trying to get used to the feeling of belonging. He wasn't used to being the center of attention, but now it seemed like he was starting to fit in. Something inside him, a strange sense of relief, made him feel like maybe he had finally found a place.

"Thanks, guys. Even with the screw-up... and that damn encounter with Apophis' Avatar..." He let out a sigh but quickly smiled, genuinely. "At least we made it out alive."

Khaz crossed his arms, sizing up Ezra for a moment before giving him a slight nod.

"Welcome to the gang. We're gonna need your help from now on."

Ezra felt a strange warmth in his chest, something different from the loneliness that always followed him. He looked at Khaz in silence before offering a small smile, as if, for the first time, he truly belonged somewhere.

"Come on, have a drink," Gideon said, pushing a glass toward Ezra. The young man hesitated for a moment before taking it, eyeing the amber liquid inside.

"What is this?" he asked, skeptical.

"Liquid courage," Gideon replied with a grin. "Or poison, depending on your tolerance."

Ezra let out a short laugh, still hesitant, but decided to follow Gideon's lead. He lifted the glass to his lips and took a sip. The taste burned his throat, making him cough slightly. "This is... strong," he muttered, staring at the glass.

Gideon laughed heartily, giving him a pat on the back. "You'll get used to it."

In the corner of the warehouse, Salen was helping Khaz wrap his wounds.

"You need to take a break from this life," Salen said, tightening the bandages around Khaz's torso. "We all know you're not just 'Cyrus.' And still, every one of us here would die for you."

Khaz took a drag from his cigarette, gazing at the warehouse ceiling, where the dark sky peeked through cracks in the structure. He remained silent for a moment, letting Salen's words sink in. Something about them struck a chord, but he wasn't sure exactly what.

"You should take this opportunity. Read Magnus' letter and just enroll in Divine Academy already. The exam is tomorrow."

Khaz remained quiet, exhaling the smoke slowly. He knew it was the path everyone had always suggested, but he never felt ready to truly follow it. The thought of leaving everything behind and starting over at the academy didn't seem as appealing as the dirty work he had always done.

Salen continued, his voice carrying a different kind of exhaustion. "We'll figure things out. And after today… after that bastard Avatar of Apophis, it's pretty clear we're just flies hovering near the fire." He let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "We've always hated those damn Avatars, those gods who never gave a damn about us, but without them… we're nothing."

He finished tying the bandages and leaned back against the wall, looking drained.

"I'm thinking about exploring other continents. Maybe trying to get into one of the other three major academies out there. Maybe the others will be up for it too."

Khaz rolled the cigarette between his fingers, his eyes locked on the sky. He didn't know what to think. The idea of leaving was tempting, but he wasn't sure if he was ready for that change. The weight of the decision was beginning to press down on him, and he wasn't certain which path to take.

"He's right. You all forget sometimes that this isn't our life—it's Cyrus' life. He has to decide, and his dream has always been to become an Avatar." Tian's voice echoed through Khaz's mind, low and firm. "Because of these reckless ideas, you all keep getting into trouble. The kid missed work today because of you. You harmed our entire body and nearly got us killed."

Khaz closed his eyes for a moment, feeling Tian's presence weigh on him, but soon another voice, more venomous, slithered into his thoughts.

"I'm not defending the big idiot, but I refuse to accept that little bastard deciding what we should do. Every time we take over, he just hides in the back of our mind and doesn't even interact." Nathanos' voice was sharp and bitter.

Khaz felt a lump in his throat. Tian and Nathanos' words tangled in his mind, a constant struggle for control. He knew the weight of the decisions wasn't just on him. It was on all of them.