Boyhood: Book One of the Guardian of Gaia Series

Book One of the Guardians of Gaia series. Boyhood is one half of the first book written by Daryl Omar, the other half being "Youth". The story and world-building needed so much development that's taken over a decade to do as an independent self-published author.
Morgan Ellys is a child soldier raised by the military as a human weapon. Born an ether bender, a rarity in modern-day Gaia.
Colin Gregor has studied the mysterious, unstoppable power of celestial Guardians sent by God to protect Gaia. He learns if a mortal gives up their body to become a vicar, they will receive the power to fight an army stand-alone. Colin would have the power to conquer Gaia. So, Colin conspires with his best friend to take Gaia for themselves.
But when Ray Bradley Warren sees a boy crawling from the rubble of an earthquake he's created. Ray realizes he's made a grave mistake trusting Colin.
As much as Ray wishes to atone by raising the boy right. Ray fears he is raising the only person who can stop him and Colin's schemes. Is Ray raising Morgan as a messiah to save Gaia, or a monster to deal with his enemies?