The night had been long for Ezra, not haunted by nightmares, but filled with an electric excitement that kept him awake, eyes fixed on the ceiling in the darkness. As the first light of dawn pierced the curtains, he had risen, unable to lie down any longer. After quickly freshening up and dressing, he had descended the stairs silently, careful not to wake the household.

Upon pushing open the kitchen door, the scent of freshly ground coffee and baking bread immediately enveloped Ezra. The cook, a robust and smiling woman, bustled about her stoves, a ladle in one hand and a spatula in the other.

– Oh, Ezra! What a pleasant surprise, we haven't been introduced yet. I'm Elizabeth Taylor, head cook, she said with a broad smile, her bracelets jingling as she turned around. The kitchen is my kingdom!

Ezra returned her smile, still a bit sleepy and disconcerted by the morning bustle.

– Good morning, he replied soberly, still trying to gather his thoughts.

– But what are you doing up at this hour? Even Mr. White hasn't come down yet! Well, he's been up since dawn, but he's cloistered in his office, exclaimed Elizabeth, waving her spatula.

– I was a bit hungry, admitted Ezra, feeling his stomach growl.

Elizabeth immediately abandoned her preparations and rushed to the refrigerator, pulling out various foods.

– Let me prepare something quick for you. Here, have some fresh milk, cereal, a loaf of golden bread, and a selection of jams. Oh, they're not mine, I haven’t had time to make jam recently...

– That's perfect, thank you, assured Ezra, sitting down at the kitchen table.

As he devoured his breakfast, a familiar voice resonated behind him. Ezra turned and saw Mrs. Seleth, an elegant and imposing woman, standing in the doorway.

– My dear Ezra, I see you're as early a riser as me, she said with a warm smile.

– Good morning, Mrs. Seleth, Ezra replied, a bit intimidated. I couldn't sleep.

– My boy, we have a lot to do today. It's a big day... Mrs. Seleth had a serious look, but her eyes sparkled with excitement similar to what had kept Ezra awake all night.

– I'm ready, he said, pushing his already empty plate away.

After taking a final sip of milk, Ezra stood up swiftly, ready to follow Mrs. Seleth. They quickly crossed the hall, their steps echoing on the plush carpet. Nimbly skirting the sofas, they headed towards the monumental fireplace that adorned the room.

With disconcerting assurance, Mrs. Seleth plunged her hand into the dancing flames. Ezra, astounded, watched the scene unfold as if it were a magic trick. When she withdrew her hand, a portal had appeared, shimmering with a strange glow.

– Follow me, she simply said.

Without hesitation, Ezra followed in Mrs. Seleth's footsteps and entered the circular room. As they moved forward, the wall behind them silently closed, sealing the passage they had entered through. The air was charged with a palpable energy, and in the middle of the room, a portal pulsed softly, illuminating their faces.

Mrs. Seleth turned to him, her serious expression softened by a smile.

– We're already in the first realm, but it seems wiser to plunge directly into the heart of the action! Consider yourself lucky, Ezra. We could have traveled this distance on foot, but, you know, I'm not as young as I used to be for such escapades. That's why using a portal is much more convenient. Mr. White has already set it to the appropriate coordinates.

Ezra nodded, feeling his heart beat rapidly in his chest. Anticipation knotted his stomach, but the thrill of the unknown outweighed his fear. He carefully observed the portal, a complex structure of intertwined lights and energies, forming a gateway to another place.

– Breathe deeply, stay calm, and especially hold onto your stomach, Mrs. Seleth advised, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Ezra took a deep breath, trying to calm his frantic heartbeats. He watched Mrs. Seleth walk towards the portal with an assurance that spoke of many previous crossings. When she stopped at the threshold, she turned to him and nodded, inviting him to join her.

Ezra stepped forward, then another step, his feet barely seeming to touch the ground. As he approached the portal, a strange sensation overtook him, as if entering a current of cold water. The colors around him began to blur and merge, forming a whirlpool of light and shadows.

For a moment, he felt as if he were floating in an endless void, sounds and lights mixing into a dazzling cacophony. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the sensation dissipated, and he found himself on solid ground, next to Mrs. Seleth, in a completely different place.

– Welcome to Pyrenea, she announced, the real Pyrenea, houses like Mr. White's are sadly not representative of this place.

– Thank you... Where exactly are we? asked Ezra, struggling to keep his breakfast down.

– Underground. Pyrenea is mainly composed of tunnels, immense caves dug deep, underground rivers..., explained Mrs. Seleth, pointing to the frenetic activities below.

Ezra watched, fascinated, as workers bustled around wagons filled with a glittering substance.

Suddenly, a siren sounded, followed by an alarming announcement.

"Rampant Skreech detected on the south bank, shockwave imminent! Please stabilize!"

The walls around them began to deform, revealing handles to grasp.

– Why are they saying that? What's imminent? Ezra cried out, trying to cover the deafening sound of the siren.

– Hold onto the handles! Quick! Mrs. Seleth shouted.

Before he could ask more questions, a shockwave spread, throwing Ezra against the walls. Mrs. Seleth ran to him, helping him up just in time for the second jolt, more violent than the first.

After a third jolt, the siren stopped.

"Threat averted. You may resume work."

Ezra, his left shoulder sore, looked at Mrs. Seleth, bewildered.

– What happened? What was that?

– Nothing serious, she replied calmly. They had to eliminate a creature from the caves. Those things are always hostile.

After a moment, they resumed their path, venturing into a labyrinth of underground tunnels until they found a secluded space.

Ezra looked up at Mrs. Seleth and smiled.

– I believe you're ready, dear Ezra. You will accomplish great things for us and for the world, I'm certain of it.

Ezra gazed at her, surprised.

– Where do we start?

– You start, I stay here, she said with a hint of emotion.

The young Ashvins took a step back, frightened.

– You're not coming? You're not accompanying me? But how will I manage? I... I don't know where to go! I...

– You'll manage perfectly, Mrs. Seleth cut in soothingly. Alas, I would have liked to accompany you, but it wouldn't make sense. You would no longer be following your own path, and I'm sure destiny has many things in store for you!

Ezra, feeling slightly anxious about continuing alone, looked at Mrs. Seleth with a hint of worry.

– But you're letting me go just like that? he asked.

Mrs. Seleth sighed slightly, a smile that was half exasperated, half amused, forming on her lips. With a wave of her hand, she made something move under Ezra's T-shirt. He then felt his pendant, the round artifact bequeathed by his father, lift against his chest.

– Ezra, you're already incredibly well-equipped, she chided gently. That pendant you have around your neck, you've almost forgotten about it, haven't you? It's an invaluable artifact, far more precious than ordinary family treasures. With that, you need nothing else.

Ezra grasped the pendant, which he had become so accustomed to wearing that he had almost forgotten it.

– This artifact can transform into any object you need, Mrs. Seleth continued. A map, protection against the cold, or even a source of light in the darkest places. You just need to think about what you need.

Ezra held the pendant,

– But what am I supposed to do, once I get there? he asked, his focus returning to his mission.

– Live your first journey, you must find the door rune as we agreed, at least you have a goal, usually novice Ashvins don’t even know what their first rune will be! Have a good journey, my boy.

Ezra exchanged a final sign with Mrs. Seleth, who faded into the darkness of the corridor. She hesitated for a moment to turn back, not knowing when she would see the boy again, or even if he would survive. Inglorium is a cruel world, she knew, but alas, only his own destiny can lead him where he wishes. She thought quietly to herself, "James, protect him."

Ezra, standing in the darkness of the galleries, whispered hesitantly, "Light." The pendant around his neck lit up, emitting a soft glow that grew, illuminating the dark walls. Fascinated, Ezra watched the luminous sphere, attached to his neck, floating in front of him, lighting his way.

Intrigued yet cautious, he followed the path lit by his pendant to a round, imposing metal door. After an unsuccessful attempt to turn the crank, he brought the pendant close to the lock. To his amazement, the artifact thinned into a needle, inserting itself into the crevices, the door emitted a metallic rumble before loudly splitting into two halves. The sound echoed through the galleries, mirroring Ezra's disbelief. "I was thinking more of a key," he muttered, observing the two halves of the door lying on the ground.

Ezra entered a gigantic station, where an atmosphere both rudimentary and futuristic reigned. Creatures of all shapes and sizes, dressed in heavy suits, bustled about, stacking enormous bags. In the center, impressive tube-shaped machines filled with a violet liquid seemed to power the entire structure. The ambiance was strange, blending magic and technology.

Suddenly, a dull noise announced the arrival of a train, similar to those in old coal mines, but clearly more sophisticated. Its arrival raised sparkling dust, as the creatures busied themselves filling its wagons in a constant ballet. Silhouettes embarked, hurried and silent.

Before this spectacle, Ezra, driven by curiosity, rushed aboard the train. The interior was dark, lit by dim lights with constant ticking, revealing passengers with tired faces, wrapped in their thoughts, their gazes lost. He couldn't help but feel sadness for these people. He had heard from Mrs. Seleth that lesser peoples worked in Pyrenea, but he didn’t imagine it to be so harsh. Ezra sat down, his heart pounding, wondering what mystery this train was leading him towards.

After a seemingly endless journey, a violent shock shook the train, throwing Ezra forward. He clung to his seat with all his might, feeling his body dislocate under the impact, but not letting go.

As the train slowed down, Ezra prepared to discover this new place. He stepped out into a warm, dusty environment, permeated with an acidic odor. Men in gloves and transparent masks unloaded bags of purple stones into a crackling machine. On the other side, a violet liquid was pumped into enormous pipes. Ezra observed, realizing the immensity and complexity of this world. Although he didn't fully understand the purpose of the extracted violet liquid, it was evident that its extraction was a critically important operation.

Ezra approached a man covered in violet liquid. "Excuse me, can you..." he began. The man raised his tired gaze, wiped his hands, and removed his mask. Then, in a strange and rough language, incomprehensible to Ezra, he grunted something, looking at him with mistrust. Baffled, Ezra sighed and walked away, understanding that he would find no help here.

He wove his way among the workers, along a central conveyor belt that snaked through the vast structure. The place was a labyrinth of machines, pipes, and vats, bathed in a strange light emanating from the violet liquid. Each element seemed part of a complex and mysterious mechanism.

Looking up, Ezra spotted a high observation post, guarded by armed and vigilant figures. He shuddered at the thought of being spotted and cautiously approached the edge, observing the giant vats below.

Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet began to vibrate. With horror, Ezra saw the floor divide into two massive plates that slowly parted, like shutters of a window opening to an abyss. He slipped, desperately trying to find a grip.

In a final effort, Ezra jumped, extending his arms to cling to a bar between two vats. His heart pounded as he swung above the void, the plates now vertical beneath him.

Suddenly, a roar of engines sounded, and a wave of violet liquid poured out, sweeping Ezra in its impetuous flow. He struggled, gripping the bar with all his strength, but the power of the current was relentless. Letting go, he was sucked into the vat. Everything turned black, burning, his skin tingling in the chaotic tumult. After a vertiginous fall, he landed with a dull thud on a hard floor. He heard the mass of liquid crash above him. Gathering his last strength, he rolled to the side, narrowly escaping drowning in this violet deluge.

Ezra opened his eyes to the light that was seeping in. The artificial light painfully stabbed his body. As he tried to sit up, a grimace of pain distorted his face, as if every bone in his body was fractured. With what seemed like superhuman strength, he managed to stay seated, but the idea of standing up was unbearable. Where am I? he wondered, lost.

He remembered his fall, which could have happened several days ago. The memory of the violent impact against the ground was still vivid, as was the memory of his desperate struggle to avoid being engulfed by the water. The bones in his leg, broken from the shock, cruelly reminded him of his vulnerability. "At least I'm alive," he sighed with a relief tinged with bitterness.

Suddenly, Ezra noticed the ropes around his neck. A knot, hanging like a macabre necklace, whose end traversed the dark room and disappeared behind the door. He lifted his head, his eyes adjusting to the gloom, and discovered a strangely arranged place for prisoners, with walls of dark stone, embedded with crystals emitting a faint glow, and chains hung at regular intervals, testifying to the recent captivity of its occupants.