He followed the man out of the room, only to be immediately met with rows of soldiers. They stood in rigid formation, some positioned behind defensive barriers, their weapons trained directly on him.
Ezra's heart pounded in his chest, his pulse roaring in his ears. But before he could react, the man in front raised two fingers.
In perfect unison, the soldiers lowered their weapons.
Ezra stared, confused, the tension still coiled tight in his chest.
He managed to stammer out, "W-What…?"
The man's voice was calm, almost casual.
"Stand down. He's safe."
Ezra blinked, still trying to process.
"Huh?"
The entire floor was lined with soldiers in defensive gear, each one eyeing him warily, their grips still firm on their weapons.
"You know," the man began, his tone light but edged with something unreadable, "the whole floor was sealed off because of you. Gave the majority a hell of a fright."
He chuckled, walking forward as the soldiers parted to let him pass, the tension in the hallway still palpable.
"Boy from nowhere suddenly bursts into flames, kills something that was beyond his power level…" He shook his head, the amusement clear in his voice.
He stopped a few paces ahead, glancing over his shoulder.
"You coming?"
"Uhm… yeah." Ezra stuttered, his bare feet clattering against the cold floor as he hurried to follow.
The man must have noticed. His frown deepened before he snapped his head forward, his voice sharp as it echoed through the hall.
"Get the boy some shoes."
The command was sharp and immediate. Soldiers scrambled, and before Ezra could fully process what was happening, a pair of shoes were thrust into his hands.
Moments later, he was wearing the most comfortable shoes he'd ever owned. Each step felt like he was walking on clouds, the contrast to the cold, hard floor almost surreal.
The man glanced back, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Comfy?"
Ezra nodded, still dazed. "Yeah."
"Good."
The man continued walking, his arms folded behind his back, taking long, confident strides. As they rounded a corner, his posture relaxed slightly before he pressed a series of buttons on the wall.
Ezra had been too overwhelmed to notice his surroundings before, but now, as the wall slid open, his breath caught in his throat.
They were high up in a skyscraper, towering over the sprawling city below. The hallway opened into a room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering a panoramic view of the metropolis. Lights glittered like stars in the distance, while sleek, metallic buildings stretched toward the sky, their edges sharp against the dark horizon.
The man beside him chuckled softly, noticing his reaction.
"Welcome to Arkanis."
The door slid open with a soft hiss, and they stepped inside. The man moved to the control panel, pressing a few buttons without a word.
Suddenly, the floor lurched beneath them, and the enclosed space began to ascend smoothly but swiftly.
Ezra yelped, instinctively clutching the man's sleeve, his heart skipping a beat.
The man arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"What? Never been in a lift before?"
Ezra rolled his eyes, releasing his grip, but his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
The man let out a small, amused laugh, his eyes gleaming with quiet amusement as the elevator continued its smooth ascent.
"I thought District 5 would be a bit more advanced by now," the man remarked, his tone light but probing. "Things are meant to change gradually, no?"
Ezra shot him a sidelong glance, sensing the underlying curiosity in his words.
The man chuckled softly, tilting his head slightly as if sizing Ezra up.
"Yes, but you speak as if you're from there."
The man's brow furrowed. "Who said I wasn't?"
The words hung in the air, sharp and unexpected.
Ezra stood in shock, his mind racing as he stared at the man, the reply replaying in his head.
But before Ezra could respond, the elevator gave a soft chime, and the doors began to open.