"Do you believe divinity comes with divine purpose?"
Pedro had asked him that once, back when the world was quieter. Ezra was still the type of boy who thought every question must have an answer. He remembers exactly how the words left the old man's liquor filled mouth.
Ezra almost smiling at the thought of the moment.
Then the world snaps back into place.
A chair scrapes across the floor. A heavy fist slams a metal table.
"kid" the interrogator says, leaning in towards Ezra, breath reflecting the cheap coffee he almost spilt slamming the table.
"Answer the damn question."
Ezra takes a moment.
" Remind me." He murmurs.
"What exactly was the question"
The interrogator grits his teeth unamused.
"How does a kid like you survive a neg-four distortion… alone?"
Oh. That one.
Ezra keeps his gaze at his hands. The cuffs are too tight, they're biting him and the room is so aggressively white every glare is blinding him.
He still doesn't answer.
Plane 0. The starting point of the axis. The only plane the world exist on being "real". But everything leaks- fear, envy, hunger, desires. Filth that burns from the soul corrupting everything around it. So the world rejects this ash sending it downards, layer by layer, birthing distortions.
Everyone knows this.
And yet, apparently Ezra surviving one is suspicious.
The interrogator flips a page from a thin folder, sharpening his voice.
" From your file: Joined the academy at age five, no talent in conversion sorcery. Average theory exam scores. Divine listed as ineffective." He taps the page.
"You were on track for a life of mopping my piss."
Ezra smirks " So not the greatest resume you've ever received."
"Sarcasm… cute. I'll ask them to add witty." The interrogator ticks his jaw.
" And yet I'm supposed to believe you single handedly killed an A-rank ashkin? Survived a neg-4 distortion? Walked out unscathed? Oh and vanished for almost two years? With your entire squad wiped out..."
Ezra sat perfectly still. No flinch. Not even at that last part. Eyes focused on his hands.
The silences stretches for too long.
The interrogator blows air out of nose like tired bull.
" Hostile energy isn't good for the soul sir." Ezra states passively.
The man drags a hand over his face, stands abruptly and walks over to the door.
" I'm taking a smoke break"
The door slams followed by the click of the lock.
Ezra exhales slowly, shoulders finally falling back.
Dammmit Pedro. How am I supposed to explain what happened without mentioning you? There's no way a kid like me could have survived something like that. Not alone.
He drops his head over the back of the seat and closes his eyes.
Missing for two years. I don't blame them to questioning it, they're not wrong .
A memory flickers- white ash drifting upwards like winter's snow, Pedros silhouette against a broken sky, wind screaming as if the distortion itself was trying to gasp onto air.
Pedro…
Another voice interrupts- older, smug and amused.
" it's simple really."
"Tell them it as weird distortion. One of those especially freaky ones that get time all muddled up." Pedro had said wiggling his hands around like some sort of freak magician.
Ezra groans softly.
That's not going to work. You damn old blind bastard…
The door slams once more.
The interrogator storming right back in. Flinging his cigarette to the floor before crushing it beneath his shoe.
He stays standing, looming.
" Finally ready to tell me what really happened?"
Ezra lifts his gaze for the first time.
There colour deep purple. Striking causing the intergattor to stiffen.
Ezra sees it. He always does.
Fear.
Ezra looks away.
" The truth," the interrogator continues to press.
"Your squad is dead. We need to know what killed them. We lost valuable exorcist. We need to know its still out there."
Ezra breathe lags.
Images flash before his eyes:
Lyla hand slipping from his.
A roar that felt violent.
" Keep moving kid" pedros voice, steady.
I wasn't alone
Ezra thinks
But I can't tell you who was with me. He said I can't mention his name. Plus I don't think I can physically explain all of it.
The interrogator again slamming his palms into the table.
"Ezra, answers me"
Ezra lifts his chin.
His voice soft.
"… I wasn't alone"
The interrogator freezes.
Ezra doesn't continue to elaborate.
He just sits there, purple eyes dimming the dying spot light.
And the interrogator suddenly, inexplicably steps back.
Then silence between grows heavy.
Then the door opens.
A new figure enters the room.
"Okay, that will be enough." The new comer saids gently
" I will take over now."
Ezra doesn't dare to look up. He's doesn't need to. The presence alone is enough to shake him to his core.