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Paul: Unlock powers? What are you even talking about, old man?
Ezra: Old man? Haha đ đ đ No one has ever called me that. I'm actually happy about it!
Paul: Hey, EzraâŠ
Ezra: Hmm? What is it, my king?
Waitâhow did you know my name?
Paul: I can see it on your head, like an arrow.
Ezra: You can see it? Even we, the Cosmos Beings, can't see our names. As expected from you, my king.
Paul: I think I heard you call me "king" twice now.
Ezra: Yes, my king. But first, like I said, we need to unlock your powers.
Paul: Okay. How?
Ezra: By training you.
Paul: Train me? Oh noâdon't tell me I'll be sleeping in a volcano!
Ezra: Oh my đ đ No, nothing like that. What we'll be doing is different.
We'll be unlocking your Spiritual Energy, Grace and Mercy, and your Mana Core.
Paul: Everything you just mentioned sounds like something a movie freak would say.
Ezra: I'm blessed by your words, my king.
Paul: How long will this training take?
Ezra: Thirteen years, give or take.
Paul: Thirteen?! That's too much!
Ezra: I knowâyou're just fourteen, my king. Probably your mother didn't unlock any of this for you.
Paul: My mom? What does she have to do with this?
Ezra: Oh my, she didn't tell you? Well, you're what we call a Creation.
Paul: I don't follow. Please explain clearly.
Ezra: You'll understand along the way. For now, let's start with the easiest elemental power â Universal Control.
(A black orb forms in Ezra's hand.)
Paul: Let's do this.
---
(TIME SKIP â FIVE YEARS INTO PAUL'S TRAINING)
Paul sits in the garden outside the castle.
Ezra: It's been five years now, my king.
Paul: Yes. I've learned all the elements. I know how to control my Grace and Mercy, balance my Mana Core, and draw Spiritual Energy from my surroundings⊠exceptâI still don't know how to be a king.
Ezra: Being a king doesn't mean you have to be perfect.
Paul: Yeah, I hear you. You said I'm different from other Creationsâthat I was made to conquer more than the realms.
Ezra: I've never put pressure on you, my king. Everything will come in due time. For now, focus and rule the way you think is right.
Paul: I know, but I haven't even faced a real enemy yet. I don't know what a real battle feels like.
Ezra: Is that so? Then how about a real battle? Why don't you travel to all the realms and announce yourself as the Ninth Creation?
Paul: Shouldn't they already know?
Ezra: That's the problem, my king. No one except the Cosmos Beings and the people of Aethoria know you're the Ninth Creation.
Besides, the Hierarchy is still looking for you.
Paul: Now that you mention themâ
Ezra: No, my king. You'd lose even to the last seatâSomoso, the 16th.
Paul: No fair! After all this training, I still can't defeat any of them in battle?
Ezra: Not yet, my king.
Paul: So, where do you want me to go again?
Ezra: Too Elyndor Realm.
Paul: WaitâElyndor has his own realm?
Ezra: Haven't you been studying those history books, my king?
Paul: Wouldn't say study... more like flip pages.
Ezra: Hmm. The Nobles rule there. Speak to them, make them swear loyalty, and pledge their support. Pleaseâno fighting.
Paul: Can't promise that. Besides, I need to get closer to death to unlock my greatest power yetâFuture Foresight.
Ezra: I'll give you one of two optionsâ
Paul: I'll pass on the other one. Well, I'm off on my journey.
Ezra: Please, take an escort with you, my king.
Paul: I'm fine going alone. I wouldn't want anyone getting hurt or dying because of me.
Ezra: Alright, my king. Safe journey.
(A portal opens to the Elyndor Realm.)
---
(PAUL NARRATING)
It's been five years since I began my journeyâŠ
(A girl screams in the distance.)
Maya: No! Please, don't take me! I don't want to die yet!
Paul: Okay⊠I wasn't expecting this. What the hell is going on here?! Stop! What do you think you're doing?!
Elyndor Knight: None of your business, stranger.
Maya: Please save me! I don't want to die!
Paul: What's your name?
Maya: My name is Maya Reyes..
Paul: Okay, Maya. I'll save you. Let her go.
Elyndor Knight: She's nothing more than a sacrifice to our Elyndor god.
Paul: Elyndor god? I thought Elyndor was a battle realm.
Aren't the Nobles the ones who make the rules?
Citizen: Please, don't oppose them if you don't want to get killed.
Paul: They're suffering⊠yet they still can't stand up for themselves. Sorry, Maya, I can't saâ
Maya: No, please! They took my sister before⊠now me!
(Paul descends from above.)
Paul: Take me to your Nobles. I want to speak to them.
Maya: No! [Crying đ]
Please⊠I'll offer you my life instead!
(Citizens look down sadly â another poor victim⊠a poor child.)
The Knights escort Paul to the Nobles' castle.
Paul: Hello, Nobles. I am Paul Kirman Stark, Grand Creation. I inherited power from Luke Stark, who has fallen.
Noble 1: We don't care! (shouting).
Paul: I have a request. Stop offering sacrifices to this so-called Elyndor god.
Duke Austin: I am Duke Austin, leader of the Nobles.
Paul: I seeâyou're the only one without a number. Must mean you're that strong.
Duke Austin: As I was saying, you can't just come to our realm and make demands, Paul.
Paul: Demands? No, I'm ordering you to stop. Your people are sufferingânot just them, but your entire realm. I've been funding aid for four years!
Noble 3: Look, Paul, we Nobles control this realm now. What have you Creations been doing for the last fourteen years?
Paul: Well, I was a child! Please reconsider your decision. Don't kill the girl. I don't want to use force.
Duke Austin: Force? Ha! Look at this insolent child.
Noble 7: Do not seek violence, Duke Austin.
Seeker: Excuse me, Creation.
Paul: Who are you?
Seeker: I am the Elyndor Seeker. I communicate directly with the Elyndor god.
Paul: I don't care. I was told not to fight, but you Nobles are really getting on my nerves.
Duke Austin: Continue the sacrifice, Seeker.
Paul: I won't repeat myself again.
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(TO BE CONTINUED...)