"Come again—" Markus asked, flabbergasted.
"Are you deaf? I, Amanda Rilan, offer to join your council for the student body." She said formally
"Yeah I got that— why!?" Markus asked
"… we have a common enemy. And then you'll owe me one. From what I heard, everyone here is loyal to you because you helped them. You will be loyal to me because I'm helping you. At a certain point, I will call in a favour and you have to honour it." Amy said
"…" Markus considered it in silence
"We need her. She is an expert and we won't find anyone else. Fin would've made sure of it." Helen quietly advised
"Fine. I agree to our deal." Markus said with a deep sigh
"The deal stands even if we lose—" Amy said
"We won't lose." Markus said
"If you say so." Amy said with a shrug
They waiting for the injured members to finish getting initial medical attention that could be provided by the infirmary. Once everyone was more or less able to go, Markus stepped forward.
"Are the rest of you well enough to move now?" Markus asked the stage 2s.
"Yes sir." They replied
"Then let's go before we're too late." Markus ordered
They all left and headed to Haroldson's office.
"Markus Windwave— I was wondering if you were going to show up. Just in time as well- I was about to turn in for the night." Haroldson said
"We're here. Here are my council candidates and my certificate of leadership qualification." Markus said, presenting the council and his certificate.
"Very well. I acknowledge your formal place as candidates for student council. You will have to deliver a speech at the beginning of the tournament to gain the ascent of the student body to run for presidency. Once you have received this, your group based combat will begin and the victorious faction will become the leadership of the student body. However, failing to gain the ascent of the student body will mean disqualification." Haroldson explained
"Just tell me when and where." Markus said
"Central campus open area. 10am." Haroldson replied
"Very well. See you tomorrow." Markus said before leaving with his group.
"So you made it after all." Fin said, waiting outside the office
"Naturally." Amy replied
"If it isn't the half baked expert. Does your daddy know you're playing with peasants? What would he say?" Fin mocked
Markus approached Fin.
"Something to say, peasant?" Fin asked Markus
"You've got a pretty face don't you Fin? Wouldn't it be a shame for it to be reconstructed with my fist?" Markus asked
"It would not. But you're jumping the gun- first you have to catch me tomorrow." Fin said
"You're the first one I'm going for." Markus replied, turning to leave.
As they left, Helen and Amy breathed a sigh of relief as Markus did not start something. He was not known for his patience.
"Are you alright Mark?" Helen asked
"I'm going to wipe the smug look off that bastard's face even if it's the last thing I do."
"By the way, Markus, how do you plan to beat Fin?" Amy asked
"What do you mean?" Markus asked
"He is stronger. Faster. Has a higher rank and quality of essence. And knows how to play on your strings. If you want to win you'll need at least someone else but me and Helen here will be busy with the other experts. And the rest will have to hold their own against people on the same rank or higher. We are substantially disadvantaged in the fight." Amy explained
"No. We're not. Every stage three and below will just have to delay and endure as much as possible. Once we win our fights we can help them finish the rest." Markus said
"So 9 of our members play defence whilst us three go on the offensive against them?" Helen asked
"Pretty much." Markus said
"Which brings us back to the first question— how do you plan to beat Fin. On paper he has you beat in every category. And if he wins it is safe to say everything else will crumble. Think about it." Amy said
"… if the leader falls then everything crumbles… fine. Then you two will fight the experts. And the nine of you will fight Fin." Markus recalled
"Are you stupid!? You want to fight nine people yourself?" Amy exclaimed
"Yes. You're right- Fin does have me beat. But the other nine don't." Markus admitted
"You're insane—" Triss said
"Just go with it. He's not changing his plan again." Helen said
"Your funeral." Amy said with a sigh
"Then it's settled?" Jacob asked
"Yes?" Markus said hesitantly
"I must say— of all the people we decided to follow— this one is the most insane—" June admitted
"Great… more wounds…" Spence said
"I do like the plan of nine of us fighting one person." Vern admitted
Kal and Latham were just standing around and nodding, not wanting to add anything.
"Then let's get some rest— we'll need it." Markus told them
Everyone split up and went to their rooms to rest. By tomorrow they would either become the new student body council or would see the inauguration of a different council from the hospital.
The next morning they got dressed however it was in their combat suits rather than regular school uniforms. Combat suits were made from a special cloth-like material that could be harvested from caves. This material was refined and channelled with elemental essence to fit the wearer and act like a skin-tight armour. These suits absorbed damage as much as reasonably possible for the quality and did not restrain the wearer but they were quite expensive.
They met up by 9am in front of the dormitories.
"Are we ready?" Markus asked
"Yes / Yep / ready as well as I'll ever be I suppose" they replied at the same time
"Then let's go win this thing." Markus said leading them forward
By 9:30am they were waiting on central campus where a grand stage was set up. Markus found Haroldson.
"Are you prepared presidential candidate Markus Windwave?" Haroldson asked
"No. But I'm not going to be any more prepared so I suppose there's no time like the present to do this." Markus admitted
"Your readings have impacted your outlook on things." Haroldson remarked
"Something had to stick, I suppose. The term starts in a few days right?" Markus asked
"It does. That's why most students are back to get an early start on their independent studies and also to elect the new council." Haroldson said
"I'll be with my group. Who's going first?" Markus asked
"It is in order of certification— so Fin." Haroldson admitted
"Alright."
Before long the students assembled before the stage and Fin and his group stepped up.
But Charlotte Windbourne would deliver the opening speech.
"It is my pleasure to welcome you back to our Tuatri Academy. I hope you've all had restful and productive summer breaks and are ready to tackle the upcoming academic year, as well as your extracurricular activities with enthusiasm. Today is a momentous occasion for the year as today, the new student body council will be established. This year, we have two competing groups led by Fin Topher and Markus Windwave, your presidential candidates. You will hear from both of these young gentlemen and only with your support, can they compete against each other to pick the most powerful council which will represent the academy. Without further ado, we will first hear from Fin Topher." She said, stepping aside from the middle of the stage to let Fin and his group take the central stage.
The student body clapped for Fin and his group as they walked up. Well— everyone except Markus and his group.
"Friends, students, Crystallians, lend me your ear. I humbly ask for your support in allowing me to represent us. We are a powerful academy who deserve only the best representative. One who will not just fight for you, not just remain loyal to you, not just listen to you— but serve you wholly for as long as you oblige me with the privilege. I offer you the service of a wind expert supported by two other experts and nine learned elemental wielders. We are the most advanced group and pledge our talent and skill to you. That is my offer and pledge. Thank you."
The crowd burst with applause and cheers. They were extremely persuaded for after all the bastard used rhetoric to persuade their hearts. Integrating himself with them then despite being superior he offers his service to them— and not just his service but the service of the cream of the crop. Who wouldn't want the best and strongest at the helm?
It was now Markus' turn. He and his group stepped forward and up to the stage as Fin and his group were descending.
"I do wonder how you'll top that— failure." Fin said under his breath as he passed Markus
Markus took centre stage.
"Greetings all… I am Markus Windwave. Like you, I am not the strongest at the academy. I am— as my group has made it abundantly clear, inferior to Fin in every metric. And yet here we stand before you, willing to fight for our dream anyway. We do not offer the same level of skill or elitism as our competitors— but we do offer you this. We offer you hope and a guarantee. A guarantee that no matter how stacked the deck is against us, we will never back away from a fight. I recently read that a losing battle is only lost when you give up on winning. Well- we won't give up. Even when we have nothing left to give, we will never give up the fight worth fighting. Topher offers you the moon and stars but he's never once promised to never relent. Today we will win. One way or another we will come out victorious. So what say you— will you allow your fellow to take a shot at the cream of the crop?" Markus said
That was what he told Haroldson when he asked what he had to offer and what he would do. He would relentlessly fight to win and never cease until he did win. He offers the academy hope. Even when all is doomed, there is one last chance for victory. And that chance rests with him.
The crowd was silent. Fin had after all spent three weeks poisoning the well against Markus. But something he said resonated with them.
There was a slim chance of victory… but they wanted to see if someone who was ostensibly not from an elite background to contend against someone who was.
It was a battle of the underdog against the dominant. And the common person could not help but root for the underdog— for they saw more of themselves in the underdog than in the dominant faction.
So with this in mind, the poison broke down and the crown erupted in applause and encouragement for Markus and his group to defy all odds and win. With both groups having received ascent… it was time for the group battle