Ezekiel's case seemed like a strange one.
There was no reason for the palace to take him in, especially not under Elvira's orders.
Could it be that she saw something in him?
To an extent, that was correct, but that wasn't the entire story.
Actually, Void Palace had been in the business of saving people for quite a while.
Though Ezekiel didn't know it, the Straea Clan had over ten hidden manors used for the same purpose as the one he grew up in.
When the war began, Damien and his people were unaware of these facilities, however, after accidentally uncovering one during a siege, they began to offer refuge to the young geniuses trapped within.
They'd been mistreated in every way possible. It was cruel, especially when considering that a lot of the kids in those places weren't even ten years old yet.
Void Palace had a lot of space to accommodate people, and more than that, it had an environment perfect for recovery.
Those who needed solace could find solace. Those who needed structure could find structure.
And those who needed revenge could find revenge.
Damien never intended to choose a path for these young geniuses.
They'd been controlled for their entire lives, so what he aimed to do was similar to what he did for the citizens of the Southwestern Region.
He used his resources to teach them how to live for themselves. Whatever decision they made from that point on was the one they'd have to live with.
Truthfully, most of the talents who were rescued decided to leave after recuperating.
They offered their sincerest thanks, sure, but they were not comfortable with joining another large influence.
What they did with their lives after leaving was none of the palace's business, but if there was one thing Damien made sure of, it was that none of them returned to the Straea Clan.
There was a relatively decent portion who decided to become servants so they could stay at the palace and live peacefully. As for those who joined the army, that number was by far the smallest out of all the categories.
The main problem was those who were too young to make such decisions.
The palace had taken responsibility for their education and growth for now, but whether it would stay that way or not was to be decided in the future.
Ezekiel's choice…
When he got to the palace, which was an experience in its own right, he saw a lot of things he'd never seen before.
The technology they used, the ability to move unreasonable distances in a matter of seconds, the strength of their armies…
It was all exciting and refreshing for him.
There were a lot of choices presented to him.
He could've lived peacefully. He could've become a wanderer who decided his own fate.
But he didn't choose either of these options.
For him, there was only one thing. One goal that made his life worth living. One thought that got him through his torturous daily life.
"I want to see the end of the Straea Clan."
That was what he told them.
And they understood his intent.
The best way to see that scene for oneself was obvious.
The best way to achieve revenge was a path Damien set up specifically for that purpose.
Ezekiel was a special case. He didn't need to develop freedom of thought, so he was able to make his decision far faster than anyone else.
He really only had one question for the man who asked him what he wanted to do from this point on.
"That emerald-haired woman…is she a member of your army?"
And the answer he got…
"Emerald hair…? Ah, you must be talking about Commander Moonwind. Not only is she a part of our army, she was an integral part of its creation and training process. If there was anyone who has been as involved in the army's development as the Young Lord, it would be her."
Wasn't that all he needed to hear?
That woman was strong, stronger than him and the instructors, stronger than anyone he'd ever seen before.
If someone like that was produced by the army of this place…
"...I want to join that army."
He wanted to grow stronger.
Not in a way that made him a tool, but in a way that made him a true fighter, capable of standing up for himself.
The man smiled, nodding his head.
"Very well. I'll have to do a few checks to make sure your information checks out, but we should be able to get you registered in the next few days. Until then, just rest and recuperate. Life in the Straea Clan…must have been difficult for you."
The man gathered a collection of files and departed, leaving Ezekiel alone in the room he was provided when he arrived here.
It was quiet.
'It's not the same though.'
When it was quiet in the hidden manor, it meant someone was about to try and kill him.
Here, the silence felt…secure.
He didn't know how to explain it.
'Was my upbringing worse than I thought?'
There was no way for him to know. He didn't have a standard to compare it to:
But from the way he'd been treated since the moment that woman called Commander Moonwind ordered her subordinate to take care of him, the life he'd experienced thus far was more than just a tragedy.
He'd been brought to this place and given a room with a bed for him to sleep on.
He'd been provided a bath and new clothes to change into.
His internal injuries, though not serious due to his insane healing factor, were completely removed through a variety of treatments.
Wasn't he practically being treated like royalty?
'There must be a reason they're doing all this.'
After all, nothing in this world was free.
'But as long as they can give me what I need to get back at those bastards, it's fine.'
In any case, this place was obviously leagues better than the one he just came from.
There was a lot of naivety in his thinking. His basic needs were met, and he suddenly believed Void Palace was a good place.
It, of course, was. However, who was to say that others didn't employ the same strategies to swindle people and lead them into the mouth of a lion?
Ezekiel was young. Moreover, his worldview was developed purely through imagination.
He had more to learn than just techniques that made him stronger.
But of all the children who were saved from the hidden manors, Ezekiel was the one Damien took a personal interest in.
Though the boy himself was unaware, the Young Lord of this very palace was watching him closely and had been ever since he set foot within the palace grounds.
It wasn't because of his mentality, nor was it because of his desire for revenge.
It was for a reason neither he nor the Straea Clan instructors who raised him knew.
A "talent" that only Damien could see.
And with Void Palace's army as the stage…
Damien planned to let that talent bloom to its fullest potential.
Well, that was if Ezekiel could even make it through the training.
