Rael walked home slowly, letting the cold morning breeze brush against his face, wrapping around his thin frame. Each step felt heavy as if his movements were weighed down by the emptiness that bound him to life in Pariah. Here, everything felt the same. Faded buildings stood rigid along narrow streets, cracked and dusty, while the sharp scent of metal had become an inseparable part of the air they breathed. But something was different this morning—something was waiting at his doorstep.In front of the old, creaking wooden door, a silver envelope caught his eye. The early morning light, still tentative, cast a faint glimmer across the envelope's surface, making it stand out among the dust and scraps of rubbish scattered on the worn wooden floor. Rael eyed the envelope suspiciously, his brow furrowing with questions.He bent down and picked it up carefully, his fingers brushing against the smooth, thick surface. The letter felt different, as though it didn't belong in Pariah—elegant, luxurious, and beyond reach. Rael's eyes studied the emblem engraved at the top of the envelope, a symbol he had recognised since childhood, though he had only ever seen it from afar or heard about it in whispers carried by the wind. It was the symbol of the Holy Council: two crossed swords beneath a golden crown.Elegant patterns adorned each corner of the letter, exuding a cold pride reserved for those at the highest ranks in Dominion. Rael's eyes were fixed on the emblem, his mind racing, "Why is this letter here, at my door, in the Pariah district?"A nervous yet curious feeling stirred in his heart. He took a deep breath, trying to steady the erratic beating of his heart. With a careful motion, he opened the envelope, letting his rough fingertips touch the paper inside—a paper that felt expensive and smooth to the touch.Inside, he found a few lines of brief yet direct text. Each word seemed carved with chilling precision, firm and uncompromising."The Holy Council hereby informs you that you have been selected to join the Dominion Elite Academy. Attendance is mandatory. Prepare yourself. The future of Dominion depends on those with courage and resolve."Rael read the words over and over, each letter piercing deeper into his core like a dagger. "The Dominion Elite Academy?" he whispered, almost in disbelief. The place that had always seemed like a mere dream for those living in Pariah, a place that felt more like legend than reality. It was where the Dominion's protectors—those blessed with extraordinary talent and strength—were trained to fight against the Gloomspawn beyond the Aegis Wall."Why... me?" he wondered, but no answer came. All he knew was that this summons could not be ignored.He stepped inside, still staring blankly, his heart pounding. Inside, his mother sat at the old wooden table, her weary eyes gazing out the window. When she saw Rael enter, she turned her gaze to him, frowning at the look of shock on his face.Rael handed her the letter with trembling hands. She took it with a puzzled look, but as she read its contents, her expression changed. Her hands shook slightly, her eyes widening with a shock she struggled to conceal."Rael... is this really a letter from the Holy Council?" Her voice wavered, as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing.Rael only nodded, his eyes meeting hers without a word. He still couldn't fully believe it."The Dominion Elite Academy..." she whispered. "You're going to leave Pariah?"Once more, Rael nodded slowly, trying to process the reality before him. "It seems... they've chosen me, Mother."She stared at him for a long moment, a glimmer of pride in her eyes, though tears began to well up. Yet behind that pride, Rael could see a deep shadow of worry, a fear that was difficult to put into words."Out there... life isn't like it is here, Rael," she murmured, her voice hoarse. "They will train you to be a warrior, but life there is full of challenges, full of sacrifice. Not everyone endures..."Her words hung in the air, adding weight to the heaviness already pressing on Rael's chest. He took a long breath, attempting to calm the growing sense of urgency. The image of the great Aegis Wall rose in his mind, a shadowy barrier separating Dominion from the perilous world outside. Perhaps, he thought, this was his chance to find answers to the dreams that had haunted him, dreams that felt so vivid and terrifying."I'll be fine, Mother," he said, trying to smile even as his heart still quaked. "Besides, this might be our only chance for a better life."She looked at him with a hard-to-read expression, filled with love and worry. Slowly, she pulled him into a warm embrace, holding him tightly as though she didn't want to let him go. Rael felt the faint tremble in her hands as she stroked his back. Her lips formed a smile, but he knew deep down, she was afraid.After a moment, she released him and looked at him gently. "Alright, Rael," she said, her voice filled with soft determination. "If this is your destiny, face it with courage."Rael's final days in Pariah passed quickly. Each neighbour who heard of his selection offered their congratulations, with a mix of admiration and envy. Rael tried to memorise their faces, the people who had been part of his world, living lives of simplicity and fatigue.On his last day, before his departure, Rael walked towards the Aegis Wall, close enough to feel the chill of its shadow on his skin. He looked up at the towering structure, the fading white walls with cracks that made it a symbol of strength that seemed eternal, yet was slowly aging.This wall was the boundary of his life. The barrier that separated him from everything beyond—those terrifying Gloomspawn, dark shadows prowling in the night, creatures he had only ever heard of in the whispered stories of Pariah's older residents.Rael couldn't tear his gaze away. Part of him felt curiosity, and another part felt fear. Where does the real world lie? he wondered. Out there, or within this Dominion that has confined us?A voice called his name from afar. He turned to see his mother standing amidst the bustling market, beginning to stir with the day's activity. She waved, signalling him to come back.Rael took one last look at the wall, as if silently speaking to something hidden beyond it. Perhaps, he thought, this is the beginning of everything. With renewed resolve, he turned away, leaving the wall behind, along with all the dreams and hopes that had filled his life in Pariah.As he walked home, Rael felt his heart filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. The world of the Dominion Elite Academy awaited him—a world that might change his life forever.