"Do you believe divinity comes with divine purpose?"
Pedro had asked him that once, back when the world was quieter. Ezra was still the type of boy who thought every question must have an answer. He remembered exactly how the words left the old man's liquor filled mouth. Ezra almost smiling back at the thought of the moment.
Then the world snapped back into place.
A chair scraped across the floor with a heavy fist slamming the metal table— crashing Ezrs back into reality.
"kid"
The interrogator leaning in towards Ezra— breath thick with the cheap coffee he almost spilled slamming the table.
"Answer the damn question."
Ezra took a moment to regain his sense on surrounding, trying to shake of the ringing in his ears.
" Remind me…what exactly was the question."
The interrogator grit his teeth unamused. He charged back and forth before leaning back over Ezra.
"How does a kid like you survive a neg-four distortion… alone?"
Oh. That one.
Ezra kept his gaze at his hands. The cuffs were too tight, they were biting him and the room was so aggressively white every glare was blinding.
He still refused to answer.
Plane 0. The starting point of the axis. The only plane the world exist on being 'real'. But everything leaks—fear, envy, hunger, desires. Filth that burns from the soul corrupting everything around it. So the world rejects this ash sending it downards, layer by layer, birthing distortions.
Everyone knew this. Yet apparently Ezra surviving one is suspicious.
The interrogator flipped a page from a thin folder, sharpening his voice.
" From your file: Joined the academy at age five, no talent in conversion sorcery. Average theory exam scores. Divine listed as ineffective."
"You were on track for a life of mopping my piss."
Ezra smirked.
" So not the greatest resume you've ever received huh."
The interragator rolled his eyes.
"Sarcasm… cute. I'll ask them to add witty."
" And yet I'm supposed to believe you single handedly killed an A-rank ashkin? Survived a neg-4 distortion? Walked out unscathed? Oh and vanished for almost two years? With your entire squad wiped out..."
Ezra sat perfectly still. No flinch. Not even at that last part. Eyes focused on his hands.
The silences stretching for too long causing the interrogator blow air out of nose like a exhausted bull.
" Hostile energy isn't good for the soul sir."
The man dragged a hand over his face, standing up abruptly and walked over to the door.
" I'm taking a smoke break"
The door slammed followed by the click of the lock. Ezra exhaled slowly, shoulders finally falling back.
Dammmit Pedro. How am I supposed to explain what happened without mentioning you? There's no way a kid like me could have survived something like that. Not alone.
He dropped his head over the back of the seat— his eyes.
Missing for two years. I don't blame them to questioning it, they're not wrong .
A memory flickered—white ash drifting upwards like winter's snow, Pedros silhouette against a broken sky, wind screaming as if the distortion itself was trying to gasp onto air.
Pedro…
Another voice interrupts- older, smug and amused.
" it's simple really."
"Tell them it was a weird distortion. One of those especially freaky ones that get time all muddled up."
Pedro had said wiggling his hands around like some sort of freak magician.
Ezra groaned softly.
That's not going to work. You damn old blind bastard…
The door slammed once more.
The interrogator storming right back in. Flinging his cigarette to the floor before crushing it beneath his shoe.
He stays standing, looming.
" Finally ready to tell me what really happened?"
Ezra lifted his gaze for the first time.
There colour deep purple. Striking causing the intergattor to stiffen.
Ezra sees it. He always does.
Fear.
Ezra looked away. He still can't control it. His divine eyes.
" The truth,"
The interrogator continued to press.
"Your squad is dead. We need to know what killed them. We lost valuable exorcist. We need to know its still out there."
Ezra breathe lagged, Images flashed before his eyes:
Lyla's hand slipping from his.
A roar that felt violent.
" Keep moving kid" pedros voice, steady.
I wasn't alone
Ezra thought.
But I can't tell you who was with me. He said I can't mention his name. Plus I don't think I can physically explain all of it.
The interrogator again smacked his palms into the table.
"Ezra, answer me."
Ezra lifted his chin.
His voice soft.
"… I wasn't alone"
The interrogator froze.
Ezra never continued to elaborate.
Just sat there, purple eyes dimming the dying spot light.
And the interrogator suddenly, inexplicably stepped back.
Then silence between grew heavy.
Then the door opened.
"Okay, that will be enough." The new comer saids gently
" I will take over now."
Ezra didn't dare to look up. He's didnt need to. Their presence alone was enough to have shook him to his core.
The man stepped into the interrogation room, the air shifting around him. The fluorescent hums of lights even bending around him.
Hair golden. Eyes golden. His fair skin almost glowing. He didn't look like an interrogator, he was too elegant. He looked like a sunrise over the winters snow. Intimidating, yet refined the way king might be.
" Let's start over." he says.
" my names Sonny."
Ezra looks up-
The room dissolved into snow….