Darius paused for a moment as if contemplating the best way to explain the differences to me. He took a deep breath and began, his voice measured and deliberate.

"The Watcher pathway possesses a mental time power," Darius explained. "Theoretically their abilities revolve around perception and manipulation of time in the mind. They can peer into the past, gain insights into possible futures, and even slow down or speed up their own thoughts to enhance their intelligence and decision-making. The Watcher is the observer, the strategist who analyzes the threads of time to gain an advantage."

As Darius described the Watcher's abilities, I found myself nodding in recognition. The mental aspect of time manipulation appealed to me greatly, considering my affinity for knowledge and strategy.

"On the other hand," Darius continued, "the Porter path is a more physical time power. They can manipulate time in relation to their own body, allowing for incredible speed, agility, and reflexes. They can even momentarily step out of the time stream, effectively teleporting short distances. The Porter is the swift and nimble one, excelling in combat and reconnaissance."

I couldn't help but think of Fleur as Darius described the Porter's abilities. Her remarkable speed and agility during our encounter earlier seemed to align perfectly with the description. Perhaps she had already made her choice and embraced the path of the Porter.

Finally, Darius turned his attention to the third option. "And then there's the Keeper pathway, Elias," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of reverence. "The Keeper harnesses spiritual time power. They have a deep connection to the flow of time, able to sense disturbances, mend temporal rifts, and even manipulate the spiritual essence of others. The Keeper is the guardian, the one who ensures the harmony and balance of time."

As Darius spoke about the Keeper, I couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment. The concept of spiritual time power didn't resonate with me as strongly as the mental or physical aspects. It felt intangible, elusive, and beyond my personal interests.

“As you progress to higher tiers you will inevitably have more opportunities to new titles with more abilities, so keep in mind that once you chose a path to take, you can’t change and decide you don’t like what you picked.” Darius looked serious. It was clearly a decision not to be taken lightly.

I nodded, taking in Darius's words and the gravity of the decision before me. The choice of my path as an Arcanist was not one to be made hastily or without careful consideration.

Just as I was about to speak further, Darius raised a hand, indicating that he had more to share. He took another sip of his drink, his expression growing serious once again.

"There is something else you need to be aware of, Elias," Darius said, his voice lowering slightly. "With such power, there are always consequences to look out for. This power isn’t something to be taken lightly.”

My expression dimmed.

“There are things we have to give up to have these opportunities, this power,” Darius said. “Part of our humanity is naturally lost as a cause. We must obey the laws of this power, the law of causality, as either using too much of this power or exceeding the limits of our current abilities can have severe consequences on reality and itself."

I listened intently to Darius's cautionary words, a mix of apprehension and curiosity swirling within me. The weight of responsibility settled and I realized that the power I sought came with sacrifice and potential danger. Though it was expected, it was much more daunting than I had realised.

Darius sighed, in which I noticed his demeanour slip into melancholy. “I can’t let another journey down the fallacious path of fate once again.”

"I understand," I said, my voice filled with a newfound determination, not wanting to let him down. "I will make sure to exercise caution and responsibility. I will not be taking it lightly."

Darius nodded, his gaze fixed on me. "Good," he replied, a hint of relief in his voice. "I trust that you will make the right choice. Remember, there will be someone coming to teach you soon. They will go over these details more thoroughly with you. Oh and you are free to go, you’ve had a long day."

With that, Darius stood up, signalling the end of our conversation. I mirrored his action, preparing to leave his office and digest all that had been revealed to me. As I reached the door, I turned back to face him.

"I'll think about my choice and let you know as soon as possible," I said, a sense of purpose radiating from me. "Thank you, Boss."

With those parting words, I stepped out of Darius's office, the door closing behind me. Fleur was waiting just outside, leaning against the wall, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern.

"You look deep in thought," Fleur said, her voice laced with a genuine interest. "How did the conversation with Darius go?"

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Lost in a cloud of thoughts—trying to gather every piece of new information—I didn’t fully register what Fleur had said to me. “Yeah, uhh, sure.”

My response came out as a mumble as my mind was preoccupied with the weight of the decision ahead. Fleur's brow furrowed, her concern evident, but I brushed past her without giving much thought to her presence.

I walked briskly through the corridors of the Hunters Den, my footsteps echoing against the stone. My thoughts consumed me, swirling with questions and possibilities. Which path should I choose? What consequences would come with it? The choices felt daunting, and I couldn't shake off the pressure that settled upon my shoulders.

“How’d it go?” Jean asked with genuine curiosity.

Again I didn’t fully comprehend what was said. “Uhh, yeah yeah,” I replied.

I went and got changed out of my full black uniform and back into my suit and accompanying sash, feeling the pleasant cleanliness of fresh clothes rather than battle-worn ones.

The sun cast a warm glow over the buildings of the bustling town as I stepped out of the Den and into the late afternoon, contrasting the constant cool chill of the winter air. The people filling up the street walkways as many were either leaving work, going to a late-night show at the theatre, or out to drink with friends.

As I navigated through the lively town, my mind slowly began to clear, allowing the vibrant energy of the streets to seep into my thoughts. It was then that a familiar uniform caught my attention among the bustling crowd. It was the dark-navy uniform of an enforcer out on duty.

Realization struck me like a bolt, and I cursed myself for forgetting about our arrangement amidst the whirlwind of information and decisions. How could I have let it slip my mind? It was tonight I planned to meet Samb and the other enforcers for drinks.

Not only would it mean I won’t be back at Caius’ place, but I could also learn more about the enforcers, the capital and possibly even some more secrets about this place too.

Determined to make it on time, I quickened my pace, weaving through the throngs of people until I made it to the bar I had been to a couple of times already, The Red Anchor. As I pushed open the door, the sound of laughter and animated conversations washed over me, the energetic atmosphere keeping me ready for anything and slightly tense.

Scanning the room, I spotted a group of enforcers sitting at a corner table. They were all wearing a somewhat more casual style of their regular military-esque uniform as I don’t imagine they were on duty all sitting in a bar. Samb, with his imposing figure with wavy hair, noticed me enter and waved me over with a welcoming smile. I made my way through the crowd, joining them at the table.

"Hey, all," Samb called out, his voice carrying a touch of excitement. "This is Elias. He's new in town, from up in the capital."

The enforcers turned their attention toward me, their gazes assessing yet welcoming. I nodded politely, pressing my palm against my chest, a small smile playing on my lips. As I took a seat among them, I couldn't help but observe each enforcer, silently forming impressions in my mind as they all introduced themselves to me.

To my left sat Zuzia, her piercing blue eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and determination. She exuded a quiet confidence much like how I see myself. I could bet she’s assessing me just the same way I was her right about now.

Sitting right across from me was Marcus, a seasoned enforcer with a grizzled appearance and a rugged charm. His presence commanded respect, and there was an air of authority about him that exuded years of experience in the field.

Next to Marcus was Elara, a younger-looking enforcer with fiery red hair, more pronounced than mine and a mischievous smile. Her energy was fiery, and I could sense a restlessness within her. I could already tell she would have a knack for mischief, which is unpredictable. Not someone I want to hang around.

On the other side of the table, there was Talon, a tall and muscular enforcer who radiated a calm strength. His stoic expression belied a deep thoughtfulness, and there was an air of reliability about him that inspired trust reminding me of my coworker Jean back at the Den.

As the conversation flowed, I found myself immersed in their stories, eager to learn more about the enforcers and their role in the grand scheme of things. It felt like a golden opportunity to gather information as most of it at the library had been ripped right from the pages of the very books I had tried to read.

Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I leaned forward, directing my question to the group as a whole. "Hypothetically speaking, if someone were interested in joining the enforcers, what would be the requirements? How would someone go about getting in?"

The group including Samb all looked at each other, fully comprehending what I was implying with that question. Obviously, I wasn’t going to try and join the enforcers just yet as I was already in a well-off position back at the Hunters Den, and the fact I was an Arcanist now I would have to keep a lower profile around the enforcers. Exactly what I was not doing.

Zuzia took a sip of her drink before responding. Her voice carrying a sense of wisdom as she spoke, his words carefully chosen.

"Well, Elias," she began, her tone measured. "Joining the enforcers is no small task. First and foremost, you must be a citizen of Goldeen. It's a requirement to have a certain level of allegiance and loyalty to this nation."

I nodded, taking mental note of that requirement. It made sense that the enforcers would prioritize those who had a stake in the well-being of the country. Thankfully Samb had mentioned I was from the capital so that wouldn’t be a hard requirement to pass.

"Furthermore," she continued, "there's a prestigious school, the Royal Academy, that plays a significant role in our recruitment process. It's not easy to get in, I'll tell you that. The academy only accepts a select few individuals each year for the top classes, whereas the rest get lumped in with the common folk."

I listened intently, my mind already formulating grand ideas farther ahead than what I was ready for. The Royal Academy seemed like a gateway not only to the enforcers but an even greater path that could potentially lead me to the very top. To live in the comfort and satisfaction I’ve always deserved and dreamt of.

Elara chimed in, “You’re not thinking of trying to join are you?”

Another smirk crept up my face. Oh, they have no idea.