In the snowy evening of Thalvyn Hollows, at the corner of Ashfen Lane, lay a middle-class settlement belonging to the Vale family.Sayan, a dignified and charming young man with silver-white hair and emerald eyes, was reading a book on the Creatures of the Duskspire Range while sipping coffee at his study table.
Suddenly, the door burst open.Zavian stepped in, breathless and holding a newsletter in his hand."Brother," he said, panting, "the recruitment for the Aegis of Avareth has begun!"
Sayan turned his face toward his younger brother, a corner of his mouth curling up."Finally, after so long," he said. "We should apply tomorrow."
After the death of their father Darien Vale when they were young, the two brothers — who had idolized him as an honorary member of the Aetherguards — had always dreamed of joining the same order.The Aetherguards, the northern division of the Aegis of Avareth, guarded the Duskspire Range, defending against the monstrous Velcryn creatures that threatened to invade Thalvyn Hollows. Now, at 21, the brothers were finally old enough to apply.
The Avareth Kingdom was surrounded by four mountain ranges. The Duskspire Range in the North, bordering the forgotten lands beyond Avareth, guarded by the 'Aetherguards'. The Mournhollow Ridge in the West, where the Stone Cathedral of Elarion is present guarded by the 'Vowkeepers'. The Virenfall peaks in the East, which is the source of Avareth's water, herbs, and medicines guarded by the 'Veinwatchers'. Lastly, the Embercrown Range in the South surrounds Aurelith, which is the capital of Avareth, which accommodates the emperor and most of the noble families, and is the Centre for trade and commerce, protected by the 'Cinderveils'.
Sayan told Zavian they should inform their mother first.They went downstairs to the living room, where in the kitchen, their mother, Navira Vale, was cooking.
Sayan, as charming as ever, said,"Mother, the recruitment for the Aegis of Avareth has started, and both of us wish to apply."
Navira turned slowly, worry in her eyes."So the day has finally come…" she said softly. "Is it necessary for both of you to go? You could be alchemists or scholars instead. I'm sure it would be easier for you both — and you'd do well."
They replied in unison, "Mother, we have to go."
The room grew quiet.
Then Zavian added, trying to lighten the mood,"Ma, you don't have to worry so much. We're just submitting our applications. It's not even confirmed if we have the guardian characteristics, or if we'll even pass the tests."
"But still…" Navira said timidly.
Sayan looked at her. "Mother, this is what we want."
Navira took a deep breath and smiled faintly."All the best," she said gently. "May the God of Ether watch over you and keep you safe."
The three of them ate breakfast quietly. After a while, Sayan and Zavian headed out for the Aetherguards' Stronghold, their mother seeing them off at the door.
They closed the door behind them and walked to Hollowrest Square, where they took a public carriage — private ones were too expensive.Upon reaching the stronghold, Sayan handed six shards to the carriage driver and the two made their way to the entrance.
In the Kingdom of Avareth, shards were the smallest denomination of currency.Fifteen shards made one veil, twenty-five veils made one Aurel, and fifty Aurels equalled one oathnote, the highest denomination.
At the stronghold gates, two Aetherguard Protectors stood watch.
Protectors were the first rank in the Aegis of Avareth — physically elite, with the strength, endurance, and agility of top athletes.They also wielded specific powers through their unique Etherpath, which defined their identity and abilities.
There were fifteen known Etherpaths a new guardian could receive, once their core characteristics were revealed:
Ember Path, Stone Path, Veil Path, Myre Path, Frost Path, Ashen Path, Sable Path, Astraveld Path, Hollow Path, Umbracleft Path, Echowrought Path, Grimspire Path, Tesseract Path, Echoflow Path, and Mindweaver Path.
Etherpaths weren't just powers — they were destinies.And the stronger one's path, the higher they could rise through the ranks.
The current rank order of the Aegis of Avareth was:
Protector, Defender, Enforcer, Sentry, Steward, Vanguard, Watchlord, Warden, Sentinel.
The brothers approached the guards at the gate.Sayan stepped forward and said, "We are here to participate in the Aegis Initiation."
The guards asked for their names and identification proof for age.After they gave their names, one of the guards paused and asked, "Are you related to the late Sir Darien Vale?"
Zavian answered in a sombre tone, "He was our father."
The guards exchanged surprised glances and then requested to see their documents. After verifying their identities, they nodded and opened the gate.
"You may proceed," one of them said.As the brothers stepped through, the other guard added quietly, "I didn't expect to meet the sons of the Vanguard of Thalvyn today."
Inside the gate, a large crowd had already gathered in a vast arena-like atrium, surrounded by towering grey pillars and dark amethyst walls. Several lanterns hung from the ceiling by long iron chains, casting flickering shadows across the stone floor.
At the far end of the hall stood a tall man with long, luscious black hair tied in a neat knot, silver streaks lining the sides of his head. He wore the deep-blue uniform of the Aetherguards, and on his chest was an insignia: a scroll flanked by leaves.
Upon seeing the symbol, Sayan whispered, "He's a Steward."
Zavian nodded slightly. "I wonder which Etherpath he belongs to."
Just then, the man raised his voice, addressing the hall.
"Welcome to the Aegis Initiation, young aspirants.I am Steward Caldreth Vire, guardian of the Duskspire Range for three decades.I have seen brave men rise and worthy ones fall. I know what it takes to stand against the dark.
Today, I am not your trainer. I am your witness.
You are here for the Guardian Characteristic Test.This test will reveal whether the Ether answers you.You cannot fake it. You cannot cheat it. And you cannot force it.If it lies within you, the Ether will respond.If it does not, you will leave unchanged.
Now, step forward. Let the stronghold see who you truly are."
With that, Steward Vire raised his hand, summoning orchid-colored ether flames that ignited the altar in the center of the hall. Fire burst upward, then slowly died down, leaving a single white ember glowing faintly in the center.
The steward began to call names.
One by one, participants stepped forward and offered a drop of their blood to the ember.If they held the guardian characteristic, the ember flared black — its size representing their raw strength, and its brightness reflecting the potency of their Ether affinity.If they lacked the characteristic, nothing happened.
Dozens failed. A few succeeded.
When Sayan's name was called, he stepped up confidently. He pricked his finger and let a drop fall into the ember.Instantly, the ember turned black.Its size barely changed — but the brightness surged so intensely that the entire room lit up, and the gathered crowd shielded their eyes.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
Even though his flame had not grown in size, the radiant brilliance caught everyone's attention.
Next was Zavian.
He repeated the process. The ember turned black, but there were no other changes — no brightness, no flare.Zavian looked down briefly, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. But then a small smile crept in — he had still passed.
By the end of the test, only fifty-one out of 1,300 participants had passed.
Among the top five were:
Elyria ThalvainKlein DrevarisSeliora MournveilVictor DuneHera Elrae
Sayan was ranked fifteenth, while Zavian ranked last.
Steward Vire stepped forward once more.
"Congratulations to all who passed.The number of successful candidates this year is unusually high — a promising sign.
But this is only the first step.The next test will determine your Etherpath — the power that will shape your path forward.
We will reconvene in three days.
Until then… may the stronghold remember your names."
With those final words, Steward Vire dissolved into orchid flame, vanishing from sight.
Sayan and Zavian exited the stronghold with the others, quietly making their way home.
When the brothers arrived at the house, their mother was waiting at the entrance, pacing in anticipation. Upon seeing her sons arrive, she asked, "How was it?"
Both of them answered in unison, "We passed." Navira smiled with a hint of wistfulness and welcomed them inside.
After washing up, they all ate dinner, and Zavian told Navira about the happenings at the Aegis Initiation in detail. Afterward, Zavian and Sayan went up to their respective rooms.
The next morning, Sayan and Zavian woke up, ate breakfast, and went to buy clothes for their Etherpath ceremony. Upon returning home, while sitting in the living room, Sayan asked Zavian, "Which Etherpath do you want?"
Zavian answered instantly, "I want the Astraveld Path. What about you?"
Sayan replied, "I want Echoflow or Grimspire."
Taken aback, Zavian asked, "Why those two?"
Sayan answered, "Because I want strength and clarity."
Sayan then asked, "Why do you want the Astraveld Path?"
Zavian said, "I just want to know about the things that will happen in the future so I can always be prepared."
Sayan responded, "I never thought about it like that." He began contemplating and realized that his brother's choice was meaningful and well thought out, while his own choice had been rather simple. It made him smile because usually Zavian was the reckless and impulsive one, while Sayan tended to overthink and complicate things.
Seeing them talking about their path choices, Navira was reminded of her late husband, which brought little tears to her eyes. Zavian noticed and asked, "What happened, Ma?"
Navira said, "Nothing, I was just remembering your father and thinking how happy and proud he would have been to see his boys pass the guardian's test, if he was here."
Listening to this, both of them hugged their mother and consoled her for a while, then went to their rooms.
Three days passed. Sayan and Zavian were ready for their Etherpath ceremony. They left their house in the morning and arrived at the Aetherguard Stronghold by public carriage.
The same guards were stationed at the entrance. This time, upon seeing the Vale brothers, the guards greeted them. The brothers returned the greeting and went inside.
They arrived at the same atrium where the Guardian Characteristic test had been held. But where the altar once stood, there was now a pool of liquid ether, known as Veynewell, surrounded by 15 crystals.
This time, there was another female instructor beside Steward Vire. She had long auburn hair, a slender, tall physique, and bore the insignia of a forward-leaning spear through fire, depicting that she was a Vanguard. Sayan recognized her even before seeing her insignia. She was Kaelith Dravara, the strongest Echoflow path guardian of the Aetherguards—also known as The RainScour.
Vanguard Dravara spoke: "Welcome, aspirants.
The ether does not shout—it waits. In stillness, it sees you. In silence, it decides. Step forward, place your hands in the Veynewell, and offer nothing but truth. If you are chosen, you will feel it echo through your bones. If you are not—walk away knowing the world still holds purpose for you. Begin the ceremony."
Names were called one by one. Few passed, few failed.
Zavian knelt and placed his hands into the Veynewell. A faint spark glowed in one of the 15 crystals and merged into his chest. The pool changed to a silver-black hue—Mindweaver. Zavian was surprised but not disappointed. The Mindweaver path allowed users to choreograph battles and manipulate thought and instinct during combat. A sigil shimmered on the back of his right hand—his Ether Sigil.
Next was Sayan. He approached the Veynewell and placed his hands inside. The pool shifted to violet with silver fractals rippling like shattered reflections. It was the Tesseract Path. Sayan was thrilled, as it was known for granting immense strength early in awakening—but few ever possessed it, making it a mystery. A sigil etched itself onto his left hand.
The ceremony ended. Forty-five passed; six failed.
Steward Vire said, "Congratulations. From this point onward, you are no longer aspirants. You are Embermarked—souls etched by the Ether's will. From this moment, you will enter the Trine Chambers. There, over the next three days, your Etherpath will shape itself through your soul's truth. May your thoughts remain clear... your will remain strong... and your path, your truth, awaken in. full. Begin the Stillbinding. And let the stronghold seal your fate."
Sayan and Zavian were escorted to their isolated chambers.
"You didn't get the Astraveld path," Sayan teased.
Zavian grinned. "And you didn't get the Echoflow path."
Sayan warned, "Do not let your mind falter during the isolation. Keep your emotions steady. Be strong."
Zavian nodded. "You too, brother."
They were both escorted to their chambers, and thus began the period of isolation