Ezra slowly awoke, cocooned in the comforting darkness of his room. The twilight's taciturn light made its way through the thick curtains, casting ghostly patterns on the walls. His eyes fluttered open, senses emerging slowly from numbness, while his mind struggled against the remnants of sleep. After his exhausting morning ordeal, his body seemed to hover in a state of semi-consciousness.

Rising, each of Ezra's movements was marked by the stiffness of his muscles, protesting against the sudden awakening. Descending the stairs, each wooden step emitted a familiar creak, echoing his blurry thoughts. He felt strangely light, as if his sleep had erased not just his fatigue but also a part of his apprehension.

The butler, in a stoic and reassuring pose, waited at the bottom of the stairs. "Ah, Ezra, you're finally awake. Madame Seleth is waiting for you in the library," he said in a neutral voice, but his eyes betrayed a hint of worry.

Crossing the hall, Ezra was greeted by the characteristic scent of ancient books and polished wood. The library's massive wooden door opened with a slight creak, revealing a sanctuary of knowledge. Madame Seleth, as a pillar of wisdom, sat with an open book on her lap. Her benevolent smile evoked maternal warmth.

"Ezra, my dear, I didn't want to wake you earlier. You looked so exhausted after this morning's events. I hope you feel better now," she said, closing her book with care.

She stood up, her caring gaze fixing on him. "Yes, thank you, I feel much better," Ezra replied,  his voice still hoarse from sleep. "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened, but I suddenly felt completely drained."

Madame Seleth nodded understandingly.

"Don't worry, Ezra. For tonight, I've planned something less taxing. Follow me."

The young man followed her through the library to a large standing mirror at the back of the room. With a fluid motion, Mrs. Seleth slid the mirror along a hidden track, revealing a narrow and low door. She removed her ring and placed it in a carved cavity in the wood of the door, where it fit perfectly. A click sounded, and the door opened gently. She beckoned him to enter, bending down to pass under the low lintel.

They entered a smaller, more intimate room, where the walls were lined with ancient paintings and bookshelves. In the center, a varnished wooden desk, occupied almost the entire space. Curiously, there were no windows, and the only light source came from a lamp on the desk.

Mrs. Seleth locked the door behind them.

"We won't be disturbed here," she said confidentially.

She invited Ezra to sit opposite her and began:

"Do you remember our conversation this morning about the runes?"

Ezra nodded.

"Yes, you mentioned that they bond with their owner, offering unique powers, and that one can only choose one per realm."

A smile of pride lit up Mrs. Seleth's face.

"Exactly. But I haven't yet explained how one can obtain them. As you might guess, not all runes are equal. There are basic ones, always located in the same place, accessible to everyone. Others require passing certain challenges to bond with them. And finally, there are the unique runes, existing in only one copy, whose method of acquisition remains shrouded in mystery."

Ezra, intrigued, leaned forward.

"How will I know then which rune is right for me?"

"Unfortunately, the choice of runes must depend solely on your own discernment. That's why it's crucial to thoroughly explore each realm, so as not to have any regrets."

She paused, then continued in a more serious tone:

"But your case is a bit special... I observed your attempt to enter Inglorium, and something seemed to be preventing you from progressing. This could pose a problem for reaching the second realm."

Seeing Ezra's worry, she hurried to add:

"However, there is a rune in the first realm, atop the highest mountain, known as the Gate Rune. This rune grants the ability to travel freely in and out of Inglorium, even for a non-Ashvin. Usually overlooked by beginner Ashvins because its acquisition already requires the ability to penetrate Inglorium, it seems almost made for you."

Ezra's eyes widened, a glimmer of hope shining in him.

"But before we rush, we must make sure it is truly indispensable to you. That's why I brought you here. Come closer, Ezra."

She walked around her desk and approached a sort of small, extinguished fireplace. She whispered a few words, and the base began to glow with a soft light. Slowly, a shape materialized in the center: a creature of mist and light, floating slightly above the ground.

"Hello, dear Guardian," she said in a solemn voice.

The shape made a gesture.

"My dear, this is Ezra. Ezra, I present to you one of the first Ashvins of the earth, well, what remains of his spirit," she said more softly. "That makes him one of our oldest ancestors."

Mrs. Seleth watched for the reaction of her ancestor – or rather what remained of him. What she hadn't been able to say was that, in his lifetime, he was known for his horrible character, utterly unpredictable. Mrs. Seleth thus feared that she had come at a bad time, and her fear was justified: the fireplace became inanimate again. It really wasn't the right day to disturb him and introduce anyone, evidently, and even less so a request.

But Mrs. Seleth hadn't played all her cards.

"You may recognize him," he continued: "Ezra is the son of James Artoria."

She had emphasized the name. This time, the shape reappeared and turned towards the boy. The exploits of James were still etched in everyone's memory – even though the spirit had been dead for thousands of years, it had heard the stories. The shape seemed intrigued; it was necessary to take advantage of its attention.

"This young boy seems to have inherited the powers of the Ashvins," she said. "But for some unknown reason, Inglorium seems to be blocking his entry."

The spirit furrowed its brows, shrugged its shoulders, and shook its head. It seemed scandalized.

“My dear ancestor, you must trust us. I take full responsibility and have decided to support him.”

After a series of grimaces, fortunately, he could not speak directly... The spirit finally nodded in agreement.

She invited Ezra to come forward.

“Don't worry, just let him probe you.”

Ezra, hesitant but intrigued, approached the Spirit. The creature slowly turned what seemed to be its face towards him, and a feeling of calm and serenity overwhelmed him. He closed his eyes, allowing the entity to gently penetrate his mind, exploring his thoughts, fears, and deepest desires.

“I sense a duality in you, a shared essence,” whispered the Spirit in a voice that seemed to come from inside Ezra. “Part of you belongs to this world, and the other… it’s unclear. I see a conflict.”

Ezra remained still, he had never had a conversation inside himself!

“My mother was not an Ashvins,” he said inwardly, “is there a way to overcome this conflict?”

“The answer lies within yourself, and in the choices you will make in Inglorium. The runes, in particular, might help you to harmonize the two aspects of your being,” revealed the Spirit before leaving his body.

Madame Seleth watched the scene, a mixture of curiosity and caution in her eyes. “So what did the Spirit reveal?”  she asked once Ezra regained consciousness..

Ezra took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding.

“It was… a disturbing experience. But it confirms your suspicions, it seems that my mother's side is in conflict with my father's, and that the rune you mentioned seems necessary.”

After the interaction with the spirit, a mood of deep reflection had settled in the room. Mrs. Seleth, observing Ezra who still seemed to absorb the experience, slowly rose from her seat.

“That concludes our session for today, Ezra.” she said softly. “What you have learned is a lot to assimilate, and I think you need time to reflect on all this.”

She headed towards the door, casting a final glance at the altar where the spirit had taken form.

“Do not forget,” she added, turning to Ezra, “the quest for the runes is as much an inner journey as an outer one. What you discover about yourself will be just as important as what you discover in Inglorium.”

Ezra nodded, his thoughts still immersed in the spirit's revelations.

“Thank you, Mrs. Seleth,” he replied, his voice filled with gratitude and respect.

With a reassuring smile, she opened the door and left the room, leaving Ezra alone with his thoughts. He stayed for a moment, looking at the now silent altar, before getting up and leaving as well.