Ezra and Richard embarked on their journey to Sol Sanctum, the atmosphere between them was tinged with curiosity and apprehension. As they walked side by side, Richard seized the opportunity to inquire about their destination.

"What exactly is Sol Sanctum?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Ezra glanced at him, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Sol Sanctum is the governing authority of our country," she explained. "It's led by a council of mages who oversee matters of magic and governance."

Richard furrowed his brow, pondering her words. "Are the most powerful mages the ones on the council?" he inquired, his tone laced with skepticism.

Ezra chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Not necessarily," she replied. "Becoming a member of the council is as much about political power as it is about magical ability. It's a complex system, to say the least."

As they neared the town, Ezra instructed Richard to wait while she fetched him some clothing. With a cheeky grin, she assured him it would be the least she could do.

Left alone with his thoughts, Richard gazed out at the devastation surrounding them, his heart heavy with concern. "What happened here?" he wondered aloud, his voice tinged with worry. "Could this be because of the pact I made? Did I cause this?"

Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself to stay calm, his eyes fixed on the buildings half-destroyed and the charred remnants scattered across the ground. His bracelet began to glow once more, a silent reminder of the power he wielded.

Soon, Ezra returned with a sack in hand, tossing it to Richard with a playful smile. "Top-of-the-line stuff I got you there, be grateful," she quipped.

With a grateful nod, Richard retreated into the trees to change into his new attire. Emerging a few minutes later, he wore a black long-sleeve shirt, grey trousers, and a blue cloak, the hood concealing his white hair.

The two continued their journey through the town in solemn silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Richard wrestled with the fear that he may have inadvertently caused the devastation around them, while Ezra grappled with the uncertainty of bringing him to Sol Sanctum.

Despite her doubts, Ezra steeled her resolve, determined to see their journey through to the end. With each step forward, she reaffirmed her commitment to guiding Richard safely to their destination, whatever the cost.

As they trudged through the desolate streets, Ezra couldn't shake the nagging feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. Richard's presence, though enigmatic, exuded an aura of raw power that sent shivers down her spine. With each step forward, she found herself grappling with a myriad of doubts and fears.

The weight of responsibility hung heavy on her shoulders, pressing down with each passing moment. Bringing Richard to Sol Sanctum was a risk she couldn't afford to overlook, yet the allure of proving herself to the council tugged at her resolve.

But as they journeyed onward, Ezra's mind buzzed with questions and uncertainties. Was Richard truly the harbinger of hope she desperately sought, or a harbinger of something far more sinister? Could his presence spell salvation for their world, or bring about its untimely demise?

Despite her misgivings, Ezra forged ahead, her determination tempered by the knowledge that the path ahead was fraught with peril. With each step, she grappled with the weight of her decisions, torn between duty and instinct, uncertainty and resolve.

Yet, amidst the turmoil, a glimmer of hope flickered in the darkness. Perhaps this encounter with Richard was fated, a chance to test her limits and prove her worth in the face of adversity. With him by her side, she felt a renewed sense of purpose, a determination to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.

As they trudged onward, the looming silhouette of Sol Sanctum on the Shroud served as a stark reminder of the trials that awaited them. With every heartbeat, Ezra steeled herself for the battles yet to come, ready to face the unknown with courage and conviction.

As Ezra spoke of the calamity that had befallen their world, Richard couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the people who had suffered in its wake. The betrayal of the Elder God, a being of unimaginable power and influence, sent shockwaves through the very fabric of their existence.

"Elder God?" Richard questioned, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Ezra hesitated, her expression pained. "Yes, I can't say more than that to you, you can understand, right?"

Richard nodded, though his mind buzzed with a thousand questions. Despite Ezra's reassuring demeanor, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within him. He was still a stranger in this unfamiliar world, his memories barely coherent, he knew not where they started from or where they ended.

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As the weight of responsibility lifted from his shoulders, Richard found himself grappling with a flood of conflicting emotions. Relief mingled with guilt, as he realized the extent of the suffering that had occurred in his absence. His thoughts turned inward, questioning his own motivations and morality in the face of such devastation.

"I'm not responsible for all this," Richard reminded himself, though the words rang hollow in his ears. "I'm glad," he added silently, the admission of selfish relief leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Frowning at his own thoughts, Richard couldn't help but feel a sense of dissonance within himself. Had he truly become so callous, so indifferent to the plight of others? The experience of the Shroud had changed him in ways he couldn't fully comprehend, leaving behind a soul struggling to make sense of the world around him.

But even in the face of uncertainty and doubt, Richard pressed onward, his resolve unyielding. For all his flaws and shortcomings, he remained steadfast in his determination to find his way back to his beloved sister, no matter the cost.

The more Richard thought about thigs the more panicked he slowly became, he knew this had to be real, The Shroud was not so forgiving that he would be able to feel emotions clearly and focused, no everything there was fleeting and at the same time never-ending

‘’Never again, I can’t go through that again.’’ Richard muttered gaining Ezra’s attention

‘’What can’t you go through again?’’

‘’What led me to where I am now, if I explained it you would think me crazy’’

‘’Well you were already naked and floating and talking about places I have never heard off.’’

‘’Ah Ah, I don’t see a point on saying more than I have too right now, think you can understand that.’’ Richard stated with a slight smile

If she was going to withhold information so would he, back home he may not have been the most intelligent guy but he sure was as sharp as Tac when he needed to be.

‘’Third time she has looked at the bracelet, maybe it’s more important than I know.’’ Richard thought looking at his wrist’’ A Artifact she called it.

Turning a corner they found their route obscured by four individuals’ three males and a female, the female was standing farther back than the rest.

‘’Hand over your valuables and we might let you see the morrow, otherwise slit your throats and save us the trouble of doing so ourselves.’’ She said authoritatively, at her words, the men pulled out swords that seemed to be glowing a sickly green.

‘’Magic type support Armament, would I be right to assume that’s poison on those blades?’’ Ezra stepped forward putting herself between Richard and the would-be robbers

‘’So you know your magic, good for you, will you comply or will you die’’ The men took steps forward, Ezra smiled, reaching into her boot she pulled out a knife, just as the first assailant charged at her.

His sword came in straight for a stab at her chest, which she sidestepped to her left, pushing her right hand straight into his chest, her blade going through his leather armor like it wasn’t there.

Dashing forward, she used the momentum of her movement to free her blade, causing even more damage as the man crumbled to the floor, blood quickly pooling around him, her next target tried to take a step back to create space after a quick dash but it was too late, she shot her arm straight towards his right eye, swiftly he brought his sword up to parry the strike, however, his feet were not properly set so he stumbled after parrying.

‘’That’s the wrong way to block that’’ Ezra said with a grin as she bent low stabbing her blade into his thigh before spinning behind him and cutting across his knees, as he collapsed to the floor she kicked at his head with such force Richard was sure the man might be dead.

‘’I know more than just about magic, if you would like to find out what else I know, we can continue or you can tend to your wounded make your decision quick’’ The mage frowned this was no ordinary traveler or mage, no magic she could see had been used by her, but the way she moved it was as if she knew exactly what was going to happen!

‘’Forgive us! We are only trying to get by, only trying to survive, you can pass we will trouble you no more’’

‘’Let's go Richard’’ Ezra called out as she walked away from the scene, Richard quickly falling into step behind her.

Just as he passed the second downed opponent, the man sprung up with incredible speed and swung his blade, Richard’s eyes widened, he couldn't block this or dodge it, as the blade neared his torso he felt energy flow from his brain all through his body, unknown to him he had reflexively uutilized the power of the echo which had merged with his soul, the blade passed right through him as if he was never there.

Instinct took over, his mind was clear and sharp, and his right arm lashed out gripping the blade wrist of his assailant, he wrenched the blade from his hand and proceeded to grab a hold of his head and bring it to his knees, putting his opponent out of commission.

The female leader threw a pellet on the ground the whole street was covered in thick black smoke, which cleared very quickly.

‘’Well, It seems she also could heal as well, a mage who can use two types of support magic, either she trained very hard or was just blessed from birth.’’ Richard did not respond to her, still in shock from what had just taken place.

‘’That Guy tried to kill me! That blade went right through me!’’ He yelled

‘’And yet here you are in one piece!’’ Ezra laughed

‘’There is nothing funny about this, we need to leave they might come back.’’

‘’I doubt that.’’ I will relay the situation here to the mages nearby, a sorceress like that could be dangerous especially if she is preying on the weak.

‘’I thought all mages were part of Sol Sanctum’’

‘’Yes all mages are but like I said, there are academies that rain potential mages, those who fail become local law enforcement, small-time healers, and others might go into criminal activity. Rarely some mages leave Sol sanctum on their own for many reasons thus they become sorcerers and sorceresses’’

Ezra explained as she hid her blade once more.

Richard couldn’t help but admire how she looked, he had never seen a woman fight like that and not have a single bit of sweat on her face, not even a professional mixed martial artist moved the way she just did, Amazing.

‘’Thank you for the compliments but we must keep moving, there should be an inn a very soon, we should not be on the roads when the night comes, unless we want ,more of such incidence’’

‘’You could read my mind all this time! You shouldn’t be doing that it has to be against some privacy laws’’ Richard said as he matched strides with her

‘’It is actually against protocol for mages to do so.’’ She smirked at him

‘’Technically I didn’t read your mind, you were broadcasting your thoughts via magic.’’

‘’How long have I been doing this?’’

‘’since you woke up.’’

‘’I see.’’ Richard felt shame, shame beyond shame, pulling his cloak up to hide his face.

Ezra sighed ‘’That was space manipulation magic, that’s not something anyone can just learn, that’s God tier magic, I don’t think any of the elder mages have access to it.’’ Ezra took a glance at Richard who still had his hood up.

‘’God tier Magic, God tier relic, Magical pools that feel steeped in the Shroud, coming from a different world isn’t does not sound so strange anymore.’’ With a shake of her head she banished those thoughts, she had to teach him something he would need.

‘’If you want to shield your thoughts, focus on whispering in your mind, well trained mages can build barriers to prevent thoughts from escaping but you may not be able to learn that before we arrive so focus on whispering your thoughts, it is one of the first things we are thought as apprentices’’ she offered her knowledge to him.

With his potential he most likely would be able to learn how to construct barriers in his mind, but it would be foolish of her to teach an unknown such a technique. Her former master would chastise her for that.

‘’So I just whisper in my mind?’’ Richard asked concentrating on doing just that

‘’Yes, that’s basically it, just keep trying to do that and eventually you will get it to tone down? ‘’ Ezra paused in her stride and looked at him, purple eyes stared at blue with shock.

‘’Am I getting it’’

‘’Yes, not all the way but keep trying.’’ The pair resumed their trek

‘’I can’t hear his thoughts anymore’’ Were her thoughts, the realization that walking beside her was more than just a novice with potential but rather a individual who might have experienced the Shroud and also possess an echo clicked in her mind, yet she was still puzzled.

‘That doesn’t explain the artifact, the more I dig the more questions I find.’’

‘Just what are you Richard Blue.’