(Authors note: this chapter may be disturbing to read, younger audiences are warned to seek parental opinion before proceeding forward with this chapter and novel. All characters and scenarios are purely fictional and not intended to reflect any real world people or events.)
After two days of being kept isolated in the royal palace, Markus was all but completely exhausted. He had accepted Elizabeth as his new master but as a wind user, he yearned to be free.
The crystal took even that away. Markus was completely committed to the commands of his master. And Elizabeth had undisputed proof of it.
Markus was taken out bright and early to the torture chamber deep underground of the palace. Accompanied by Jessica Windbourne and Enrique Ballion, he delved into the paths leading to a dark crystal area which suppressed his powers completely.
There, in a metal cage, was a young man his age and an older woman. They were both chained, dirty and malnourished. Markus was repulsed by the sight.
Then someone appeared from behind a crystal wall. Her majesty had arrived.
Markus and the two masters kneeled and greeted her. Even the prisoners kneeled and pressed their heads to the ground.
"Here is a sword, Markus. Your task today is to prove you will do anything at my order. Inside that cage is another like you, an imperial vessel, and his mother. Our kingdom's laws demand their execution. The imperial vessel must die before it can ascend. And its mother must die to prevent her from birthing another. Today, you will be their executioner." she spoke with an eerie casualness.
"What..?" he asked, a sickening feeling coming over him.
"Take this sword and kill them. Do not fear anything, their powers are suppressed and they are too weak to resist. You must simply plunge your blade into them." she said simply, extending her right hand which held a black crystal sword.
Markus hesistated for only a moment before gritting his teeth and getting up, grabbing the sword and heading toward the cage. Enrique opened the cage and let him in.
The imperial vessel and woman inside, a son with his mother, were now trying to get up but their bodies were too weak.
"I'm sorry- I'm so sorry–" Markus said, his sword shaking and tears began to flow from his eyes.
As Markus approached the woman used all her might to rush toward Markus to stop him.
He panicked… his training kicked in…
As she rushed forward, he thrust his sword and cut right into her chest, deeply plunging it right into her heart.
Since she was taller, blood began to flow down the sword and on his hands. She died right there on his blade and her body crashed down on him.
He moved aside and let her body fall through. The crystal sword was so powerful that it cleaved right through her corpse, easily remaining in Markus' hands.
The boy crashed down… then with a blood chilling scream he wailed for his mother.
But a corpse could not respond.
Markus looked down and his vision became shaky and blurry, everything twisting and turning around him.
"Finish your task, Markus Windwave." the queen commanded.
His body moved before he realised. He approached the imperial vessel and to his horror… he raised his sword again.
"YOU! HOW DARE YOU KILL MY MOTHER– I WILL DESTROY YOU–" the boy shouted.
"Forgive me–" was all he managed to say before he swung his sword down at the boy.
Blood splashed Markus from hitting an artery on the boy before slashing his heart.
After the boy succumbed to his wounds… and Markus had taken his second life… an overwhelming feeling overtook Markus.
He turned away and wretched on the cage's flood. Dropping the sword which shattered into sparks, indicating the weapon was mismissed.
Vomiting everything that he could, Markus wretched and cried in horror at his actions.
"Clean this up and get him sorted." the queen commanded Enrique before leaving.
He bowed as she walked away.
After several minutes of wretching, Markus shakily got up.
Then an even more horrible feeling overtook him. Pride he completed his first task given by his master… he felt joy that his task was completed as ordered… that the will of his master was carried out- even at the cost of two lives. Even at the cost of his innocence and soul.
He was disgusted at himself. At what he did and how he felt after doing it. He wanted to feel bad for killing them but it was secondary to the happiness he felt for having completed the damned task…
'What the hell is wrong with me- I killed them in cold blood and I'm happy?! How screwed up am I– I… this is wrong… isnt it?'
Enrique placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It gets easier…" he said, giving the boy a pitying look before remembering his first kill. It was in the heat of battle- and it was at a much later age.
He was not in a place to question the will of his master, but Enrique was torn at this sight. It was an incredible burden to impose… but he then realised that the younger Markus got over it, the sooner he could kill on the queen's behalf without hesitation or remorse. Even so… it was not an easy sight.
Markus was escorted away and told to clean up.
'You're not saying anything, Anax?' Markus asked as he cleaned himself in a bathroom.
But the late emperor did not respond.
'I know it's wrong to kill- but it was either them or me! I did what I had to— to survive!' Markus thought to himself, trying to justify himself.
"Would I have made you do the same?" Anax asked
It was a simple question with a very unclear answer.
'I… yes! Don't act as if taking lives is new to you!' Markus argued with him
"It is not. Not even in cold blood like this. But you did not fight for survival. You executed them in cold blood. Even her most devoted dog was disgusted— yet here you are trying to justify it. You're now her royal dog- but you can still see how wrong it is- you just close your heart to it." Anax pointed out
'You don't understand! You never will! Shut up- leave me alone!' Markus shouted back inwardly and in anger
"You started to talk to me first but if you insist- let's not talk anymore. Not until you open your eyes." Anax said, fading himself away
An excruciatingly long hour later, Enrique knocked and walked into Markus' room, carrying a small box.
"What is it?" Markus asked
"A gift. Two gifts actually. One is a pendant, a protective charm. That is your reward for completing your first mission. The second… is your reward for advancing to stage three." Enrique informed Markus
"Ah right… I'll get a reward for every stage I advance. But the last one was… not very useful." Markus remembered and admitted
"It will be useful later on. Have trust in the plan of our master." Enrique told him
He also used the phrase 'our master' to signify he recognised Markus as a loyal servant to the queen.
"So… what is it?" Markus asked
"A favour. You may ask a simple favour of the Queen, so long as it is within reason and possible." Enrique informed him
"I wish to be free of the crystal's influence. I will obey the will of her majesty but I don't want to become a monster! I was happy when I killed them— I never want to feel that again!" Markus pleaded
"… I will relay your request… but are you sure you want to use your favour on this?" Enrique asked
"… I'm sure there is something more valuable I can ask for… but I'm not going to ever be human if I'm like this! I don't want to be like Anax who has no remorse about killing people in cold blood— killing people at all!" Markus exclaimed
"Okay… I will tell her. But for now I will take you to a secluded training area. Jessica will be training you." Enrique informed him, opening the door and leading the way.
A while later, in the royal office.
"Your majesty, Markus Windwave would like to use his favour?" Enrique said as he bowed
Elizabeth was sat behind a desk, dealing with paperwork.
Her desk was a dark brown oak desk with a matching high back chair. Behind her was a massive book shelf. The office did not have any windows, for privacy reasons.
The other three walls featured portraits of previous monarchs and above the door was the royal emblem.
"Already? What is it?" She asked, taking a moment from the paperwork to look at Enrique
He retold Markus' request and justification.
"Very well. It will increase his trust toward me and make him more obedient by his own will. Whilst slavery is good, loyalty is better. I shall allow it." She commanded.
Then with a snap of her fingers, on the other side of the royal palace a certain crystal that was always in close proximity to Markus harmlessly exploded in sparkling shards.