After tens of minutes of the battle around him was finally coming to a close. And from the sounds of grunts and screams… his kidnappers were not doing well.
Whatever the Queen had done… whoever she had unleashed on the poor souls of these individuals… was there to execute her commands flawlessly.
All of a sudden Markus was raised by his throat.
"All of that power and potential is hidden in such a small and fragile body?" A woman's voice echoed
"Uhm— can you put me down..?" Markus asked as he was squirming whilst hanging from the throat.
"My orders are to bring you back to her majesty." She said as she walked off with him squirming.
Within a few days they had made it to the royal palace and Markus found himself still blindfolded, famished and dehydrated in a dark room in a torture chamber under the palace.
A familiar pace of footsteps approached.
"You have been receiving a lot of attention. Unwanted attention. It has hardly been more than two months since you've departed and yet you are raising such attention nobles within the walls of the capital have heard of the talented wind youth in Crimson. One that defies all odds and upsets the rules that govern the ranks." The queen, Elizabeth Crystallia, said straight forwardly
"… it was not my intention. Forgive me your majesty but I needed to become president of the student council to access the full resources of the academy and raise my rank. Everything thereafter was a necessity to achieve the task you set me… to become an expert soon." Markus said
"Indeed… I did set you such a task. And you were smart to use such methods— but you overlooked basic requirements. Your presence must be kept a secret. Your continuous public appearances and stunts go against such requirements. One cannot be a hidden blade if one is well known throughout the land." She said
"… then I have really bad news… we are challenging Crimson city next… and then the capital academy…" Markus said sheepishly
"… if you were to not participate it would only draw more attention. I shall cover up your mess but I would suggest you let others take the spotlight. Helen Aquabourne should suffice." She said, immediately analysing and resolving the issues
"Letting her participate won't resolve the issue! For the fourth stage I need to receive the whispers of the wind and follow this elemental ordained intuition— I cannot do it from the spectator's seat. I need to be there— exposed to such challenges." Markus plead
"One last try. You are prohibited from fully participating against the capital academy however you may compete against Crimson City." She said, giving him a chance
"What does that mean?" He asked
"In your battle against the capital's academy, you shall confine yourself to the standard capabilities of a rank 3, should you fail to ascend to rank 4." She explained clearly
"… as you command…" Markus said, powerless to refuse her order.
"Return to Tuatri. I will clean up this mess as usual." She said sighing and leaving
An escort was waiting for Markus as he was taken away from the capital.
Meanwhile in another chamber…
A golden crystal was enslaving someone's mind. The man who had kidnapped Markus and called him 'the prince'.
"You will deliver this report to your 'Lord'. You will attest to the fact that Markus Windwave is not who you suspected and that upon closer inspection he was not the heir to his dynasty. Should 'his grace' question such a story, you will do your best to convince him. Understood?" The Queen confirmed her commands upon his psyche
"By your will…" he said drooling mindlessly
She stood up and left. Meanwhile the man was let go to prepare the report and follow the command faithfully.
Whilst Markus was going through this, the stars of Gallion were trying to recover but in truth were facing substantial… criticism, whilst recovering in the infirmary.
"A whole rank below you! YOU LOST TO FIVE LEARNED!" The headmaster shouted as he had to vent his embarrassment and disappointment
"He had to be cheating! No learned can do such attacks! And he used a dirty trick at the end to finish us off!" The president countered
"A TRICK YOU KNEW ABOUT! The scout I sent to Tuatri told you about his essence zone! And despite it— you still fell to it! How is it possible to be so incompetent!" He shouted
"You don't know what it's like! He tore through us and we could only focus on defence! Essence was converging in every corner— his essence zone was another string in a wide net of attacks." The president countered
"It was my fault for expecting more than you were capable of producing. You brought shame to Gallion. You brought shame to your families. And you brought shame to me." The headmaster said before leaving the infirmary
A few days after his victory Markus finally returned. He was told on the way that his cohort were put in the transport and he had to tell everyone that they were so tired after the battle they passed out from exhaustion. As for why he was not with them— he had to say he felt as if he was about to have a breakthrough to the next stage and went to independently harness this feeling but ultimately he failed.
This would follow the recent pattern that he had been crazily seeking to raise his rank.
In the chambers of the student council.
Markus opened the wooden door only to find Amy there, waiting.
"Mark!?" She said from behind her desk before getting up and walking up to him.
"I'm back—" was all he managed to say before she tightly hugged him
"They all lied. They didn't fall asleep did they— nor did you get close to intuition— the staff with you lied!" Amy said
"…it is easier on everyone if we believe the lies Amy…" he said in a soft whisper to her, not wanting the guard outside to hear
"I… need to tell you something. Meet me in the dormitory gardens tonight." She said, letting go of Markus
"Okay..?" Markus agreed as she left
Then with a knock, the headmistress walked in.
She snapped her fingers and sealed the room.
"What happened?" She said
"… I've been bringing too much unwanted attention to myself. After our competition we went to get changed only to get drugged by something put in our uniforms. I woke up kidnapped by some group… they were taking me to someone named 'his grace' and called me a prince… not long after that 'her' forces appeared and got me back. Then I was taken to her and well… there's a chance in our competition plans. If we fight against the capital royal academy… I must act according to my rank." Markus recounted the recent events solemnly
"Thank you. Continue as usual and do not let it affect you openly. Also… I've taken notice you are close to your second and third. It is not my business but should something happen— you must not tell anyone the truth." The headmistress said her parting words of wisdom before unsealing the room and leaving.
'Something happen? The hell does that mean?' Markus wondered before shrugging
He went to his lessons for the rest of the day. Then the evening arrived and the students headed back to their rooms.
'I wonder what she wants to talk about?' Markus wondered as he headed toward the dorms
'For someone so adept with the wind and intelligent in its use— he is surprisingly stupid when it comes to this.' Anax thought
He arrived in his room and touched the walls.
"I wonder if I had the power I do now back then… how different things would've turned out…" Markus mumbled softly, a regret flashing in his mind
As the evening settled into night, he headed out still in his uniform.
He was not heading far but for some reason he felt uneasy.
'Now that I think about it something is going on… should I be concerned?' He thought to himself
Markus went to the gardens where he found Amy there sitting on a bench. She was wearing a dark crimson dress and earrings.
"Woah- where are you going?" Markus exclaimed as he approached
"Well— my family is in town attending some noble function. And uhm— I need to go but there will be dancing involved. And whatnot— and I'd really prefer to avoid unwanted attention from boys." She said quickly and flustered
"Uhh— what— do you want advice or something?" Markus asked
"…" Amy was temporarily speechless
"… ohhh— you want me to come with you?" He asked after eventually figuring it out
"Y— yes!" She exclaimed as he finally got the hint
"Well— fair warning I bright trouble. And I doubt they'll let me out… and I don't have any clothes for the occassion—" Markus explained
"I've already thought of all that. We will sneak out and I checked your combat suit for your size." She said
"You know— this is exactly how I was kidnapped—" Markus said without thinking
"What!?" She exclaimed
"Ahem— nothing. Well— if no one will find out… then I suppose it's fine…" Markus said
"Great! Let's go!" She said, grabbing his hand and leading him to the main entrance.
"We are going to an administrative conference on behalf of the academy as student council members." Amy said to the guard
It also just so happened to be the guard that got involved with Markus when the fight with over 20 people broke out a few weeks prior.
"Well— uhm. I'll need to check with the headmistress—" he said as he stammered slightly
"Seriously? You're giving me grief again?" Markus said teasingly
"Uhhh- forget I said anything. Please make your way." He said, allowing them to pass
After they passed Amy looked at him.
"You had an incident?" She asked
"Well- he had an incident. With me— completely different!" He said
"Ugh- come now. There should be a car waiting." She said
A black car approached.
"Did you know it is common courtesy for a gentleman to open the door for a lady?" Amy asked Markus as the car stopped
"Even I'm not that stupid— here." Markus said, opening the door for her and letting her sit before closing it and going to the other side to get in himself.
The car drove them from the edges of the city to its very centre. A tall building greeted them— city hall.
"Oh man— if I get caught I am so dead—" Markus mumbled as he realised how big the event was… and the possibility of receiving unwanted attention only increased