As dawn broke, heavy stone doors opened.
Initiates emerged into the outside courtyard—snow-covered, wide, surrounded by weapon racks and scroll alcoves.
The world looked different now. No longer a place of form and shadow—but of currents, tensions, echoes.
They processed new information like never before—overwhelmed but alive.
Five instructors stood in a line on the far end of the field. Each bore the Sentry insignia—an open eye inside a pointed arc.
Steward Caldreth Vire and Vanguard Kaelith Dravara also stood nearby, observing silently.
Sayan and Zavian spotted each other.
They walked slowly forward—drawn not just by memory, but by recognition in their altered senses.
Zavian observed his brother. He saw intent etched into his movement, space bending subtly around him. It was like Sayan no longer walked in the present—but just outside it.
Sayan, in turn, looked at Zavian. He saw his brother's thoughts stretch outside his head, bending the air with layered knowledge.
Zavian said softly:
"You're not present in the present anymore, are you? You command the space you're in."
Sayan replied, voice sincere:
"And you don't guess anymore. You think across time."
They smiled, and stepped toward the gathering.
Vanguard Dravara, clad in cobalt armour, stepped forward. Her voice was like still water cutting stone:
"Welcome to the grounds.
You have crossed the threshold. The Mark has chosen you. The Pulse has awakened.
But know this—this place will not praise your potential.
It will test your command.
Potential without will and effort is a waste.
This ground has trained Watchlords, Wardens, Vanguards.
It knows pain. It knows purpose.
You will either add your footsteps to theirs—or falter beneath their echoes."
Steward Caldreth followed:
"Before you learn to fight, you must first learn to endure."
"Each Sentry will guide you through the Foundational Trine—Flow, Pulse, and Mark."
"You will learn how to channel, perceive, and live alongside your Etherpath."
Then the five Sentries stepped forward and divided the initiates into groups:
Sentry Aelric Dawnmere – Mastery of Flow
Sentry Nyla Varen – Understanding the Pulse
Sentry Roneth Valei – Harnessing the Mark
Sentry Mira Kaen – Mental and Physical Synchronization
Sentry Daro Thorne – Field Adaptability and Reflex Control
Sayan was placed in Sentry Aelric's circle, to train in the structured art of Flow control.
Zavian was assigned to Sentry Nyla's group, to master perception and inner resonance.
Their journey as Guardians had now truly begun.
But before the training begins.
A last ceremony is due to be performed. The Ether Title ceremony. All initiates are gathered in the stronghold's auditorium.
Steward Vire speaks,
"Before the training begins, we will determine your Ether Titles.
Ether title is the foundational beacon for an initiate's long-term journey through ether. It reflects the identity, destiny and potential of an individual".
"Now, step forward and show your marks to Vanguard Dravara, she would note the names of the Ether Sigil and then we will match and reference these to the Etheric Response Log and determine the rankings and potential.
And do not be frustrated if you don not get a high ranking, it is just and indication of potential and not a guarantee".
Each initiate's title was recorded and then after a while the rankings were displayed.
The Hall of Echoes thrummed with ancient power. Every whisper, every breath echoed back tenfold across the arched crystal ceiling, the resonance lingering like memory. Silhouettes of the newly awakened initiates stood gathered around the Vowstone Obelisk, silent as the Marshal approached the dais.
Draped in a dark mantle stitched with Ether sigils, Marshal Veren raised a silversteel-clad hand. The torches dimmed in unison. All eyes turned to the obelisk as a rising light swirled within its core.
"By the judgment of the Ether Trine," Veren intoned,
"by the Stillbinding Flame, and the Pulse of your Awakening—
these are the ranks of your beginning."
A breathless pause.
Then—light erupted from the obelisk. Sigils danced in flowing succession, transforming into brilliant lines of glowing script that hovered above the chamber.
OFFICIAL RANKINGS – GUARDIAN CHARACTERISTIC TEST
🥇 1st – Zavian Vale
Mindweaver of the Third Veil
Etherpath: Mindweaver
Trine Index: 97.6
A ripple passed through the chamber like a shockwave.
"Who?" someone whispered.
Kaelen Thorne, standing in the shadows of a column, raised a brow. The name was unfamiliar. The boy—Zavian—was slight, dark-eyed, and looked more like a scribe than a threat.
But the Trine never lied.
Mindweaver…
Kaelen narrowed his eyes. He'd heard of the path. Barely. A rarity—cognition, illusion, perception, fracture.
Dangerous. Quietly dangerous.
🥈 2nd – Elyria Thalvain
Frostborne Whisper of Thalvyn
Etherpath: Frost / Echoflow (Hybrid)
Trine Index: 96.2
She stepped forward with grace, her white-bladed braid swaying like snow caught in wind.
She didn't smile. She didn't need to. Her presence was enough.
"Expected," Kaelen muttered to himself.
🥉 3rd – Sayan Vale
Tesseract Bearer of the Obsidian Spiral
Etherpath: Tesseract
Trine Index: 95.8
A slight grin tugged at his lips as he saw his name.
He hadn't topped the list—but he had made a mark.
He scanned the hall, searching for Zavian—his younger brother, now ranked first.
A mix of pride, and something else, stirred in his chest.
Across the hall, Kaelen watched him. His instincts stirred.
That one…
Tesseract Path. Spatial. Sharp.
Kaelen didn't know the name.
But he filed it away.
🏅 4th – Kaelen Thorne
Shadebound Warden of Duskspire
Etherpath: Grimspire
Trine Index: 93.5
Now it was his name.
Some flinched at the word Grimspire. Others shifted subtly—whether out of respect or fear, he didn't care.
Kaelen stepped out of the shadow without hesitation. The mark on his neck glowed faintly—a dark circle encircled by hooked runes, barely visible beneath his collar.
He said nothing.
But his eyes passed over Sayan Vale, and lingered.
Something unspoken.
He didn't know the boy yet.
But something told him—he would.
🏅 5th – Victor Dune
Gravetide Warden of Emberfall
Etherpath: Veil
Trine Index: 92.3
Victor barely moved.
He stood with arms folded, gaze unreadable.
The mark on his hand pulsed with a steady, dim glow.
No surprise. No boasting. Just presence.
Marshal Veren spoke again,
'With the rankings decided and the echoes of the hall still fading, the chosen ones are sent back to their homes- to ready their minds, bodies, and resolve for the arduous trials of training that lie ahead.
Listening to the announcement everyone left the stronghold.
Zaivan and Sayan returned to their home and told their mother about the events of the past four days.
She was very tensed while listening to the details of the awakening process. But she somehow steeled herself and listened attentively.
She was very happy and extremely surprised after hearing the rankings.
After talking for a while, they all ate dinner and went to their rooms.
While going to his room Sayan says to Zavian teasingly,
"First rank, huh?"
"Looks like I would need to catch up to you"
Sayan's tone turns serious, "Be aware this throne comes at a price, Now that you have the top spot you will be the centre of attraction and the centre of envy for everyone. Especially the nobles".
"But don't worry I have got your back"
Saying this Sayan turns around and enters his room. Zavian smiles at first but then began to think about what Sayan has said and also went to his room.
The next morning the brothers are all packed and prepared and are saying their goodbyes to their mother because the duration of the training period is long and uncertain and they would live in the stronghold for the entirety of training. Navira watches her sons wistfully and then hugs them both for the last time before they leave.
Navira watches while standing at the door as Zavian and Sayan head out in private carriage towards the stronghold.
They reach the stronghold and retrieve their belongings from the carriage. Then Sayan hands out one Veil to the carriage driver and both of them proceed towards the entrance.
The guards greet them again and after reciprocating they went inside.
After reaching inside they are escorted to the registration bench and collect their trainee identities and get assigned dorm room keys.
They got adjacent rooms. The rooms were surprisingly large. They were thrice the size of their rooms at home. The room consisted of two lanterns at the door, a study table and chair at the far-right end with an additional lantern. The area beside the right side of door was a mini dojo with fortified ground and weapons rack for training and the area to the left of the door was like a meditation area with a circular altar surrounded by Ether stones. There was bed at the far left of the room and each room had their own private bathroom.
After placing their belongings in the room and settling in they were instructed to get gathered at the training field at noon.
So, after settling in and wearing the training uniform issued to them. They both went out towards the training field.
The uniform issued to them was White in colour with black jackets and their names written on the badges on the chest pocket. The uniform made the vale brother look astonishingly handsome.
Sayan was quite tall and had silver-white hair which was shorter from the sides and emerald eyes with sharp eyebrows and defined jaw and cheekbones.
Zavian was shorter than Sayan but still taller than most people and had azure eyes and dark black hair that brushed against his neck and was slightly curled at the ends. His face carried the sharpness of the youth and proportioned features.
The uniform accentuated their appearance and made them look more dignified and charming.
The brothers arrived at the field and were separated to their respective groups.