A sharp agonising scream broke the silence in the training hall.
The nurses finger was now a bloody stump that was cradled through her agonised screams. Even Markus was startled awake and saw several doctors and nurses over him and a nurse screaming her lungs off.
General Ruben came down as some nurses ushered away the one missing a finger.
All the damage Markus sustained was repaired. If it weren't for his almost depleted elemental essence, you'd think the battle had not even begun. But it had.
There were even more medical staff tending to the other soldiers. Meanwhile Markus was looking at the doctors who were staring at him.
"What?" Markus asked
"You're fine?" The doctor asked, puzzled
"… it's a long story. But yes…" Markus replied
"Explain yourself boy." General Ruben ordered
"You were up there… who are you?" Markus asked
"Mind your manners young man. That's a four star general! General Ruben Gyld." The doctor said
"I see… do you… know?" Markus asked
"Yes. I was informed by her majesty herself." Ruben replied
"Do they?" Markus asked
"Yes. Now explain yourself." He said once more, softly
"… I have this energy that heals me. It is not a lot, but it's been enough to heal me from death's door." Markus said
"Interesting. Her majesty and you will have a lot to discuss. She expects you tonight." Ruben said
"What—" Markus asked involuntarily but the general paid him no mind and left
So Markus stood up and walked out of the training hall.
Only to run into a maid.
"Noe?" Markus asked surprised
"Welcome back, Lord Markus." Noe said with a curtsy
"Oh come on. It's just Markus—" Markus replied
"You are the same as always. I will take you to your room to clean up, rest and change your clothes ahead of your audience with Her Majesty." Noe said
"Lead the way." Markus said
Noe did as she said and Markus ended up soaking in a tub.
As he relaxed in the warm water, a voice resounded in his head.
"Just so you know, everything is a test in your upcoming conversation. Everything. Be truthful but do not overshare. Be respectful but do not be obedient. Last time she almost enslaved you completely but your time away resolved it. You won't have time away from her like you did until now. Therefore, you need to brace yourself if you still want to be you. If not, you can become her pathetic dog again." Anax said
'It is easier said than done, Anax.' Markus replied
"If you still had celestial essence you could have used it to resist… but it was all used to heal. But what if you gained more?" Anax thought
"How?" Markus asked aloud
"At the dawn of time there was only celestial energy. Dormant energy which floated through existence. Then this energy gained sentience. It gained a will. But its will was not unified. One wanted nothingness. Whilst the other wanted everything. These became Destruction and Creation, the primordial spirits. Creation wanted to make life, so it did. Destruction wanted nothingness, so it began to destroy everything its counterpart had made. Their will and power has clashed against its counterpart since that time." Anax said
'How do you know that?' Markus asked
"I asked the source itself. I asked Destruction." Anax replied
Markus' eyes widened as his soul grew a little more to accommodate a trickling of celestial essence.
"So learning about the primordials can help you. Very interesting…" Anax remarked
'So how do I… not get mentally taken over?' Markus asked
"By resisting. You want to live, so celestial energy comes to heal you. If you want to resist her mental effect, you must wish it from the bottom of your heart." Anax replied
Markus eventually got out of the tub and put on a change of clothes. It was a simple black tunic outfit with golden edges.
He then took a well deserved rest.
In the evening, Noe came in with a tailored court-style suit. A black suit with gold and silver patterns of the outline of the queen's face on the chest, right over where the heart would be.
'She's branding him.' Anax thought when he saw the suit
"Thank you Noe. I'll get changed and be out in a moment." Markus said
Markus put on the court style suit and looked at himself in a mirror.
'The back drapes would trip me up if I were to step back.' He thought
He stepped out from his room and Noe led him. Not to the audience chamber. Not to her office. Not even to the underground cells. She led him to the gardens. The Queen was sitting down on the grass looking up at the stars. Noe kneeled to the ground as she was five metres away from the Queen.
Markus forgot he had to completely kneel and was a moment too late before she turned her head and looked at him.
"No need. Come and sit next to me." Elizabeth said
Markus awkwardly shuffled and sat down two metres away from her.
Her golden locks were flowing in the breeze. Her own clothes were not unlike his own. She was wearing an outfit usually worn by men however she wore it like it was made for her.
Her golden eyes were looking up and down at Markus.
"You're magnificent." She said
"Wha—" Markus said, taken aback
"Even though you are just an expert, the world embraces you so well. You will be an elite before long." She said
"Thank you?" Markus replied
"And your soul is a lot more developed now. It's fascinating how quickly you can grow." She said with a smile
Markus just sat there, unsure of what to do or say.
"I have been difficult. And have asked a lot of you. But I will not apologise for it. It was the right decision, even if it was difficult for you to succeed.
What do you think about me? It's no use to lie." She said
"I think you're cruel. You made me kill. You influenced my mind. You threatened my life at every turn and put me through hell. I almost wish you had killed me when you met me. Almost." Markus replied sincerely, unleashing his most hidden thoughts
"I see. What would you do if I brought out a mind control crystal right now?" She asked
"I would use celestial essence to reinforce my mind and stop you." Markus replied
"And since when can you use celestial essence?" She asked, unsurprised
"Since winning the battle for the student council." Markus replied
"What else can you do with it?" She asked
"Heal a big instance of damage." Markus replied
"It will serve you well then. What has Anax said about this power and the primordial spirit?" She asked
"… it's not Destruction." Markus replied
"I suspected as much. You are an emperor of life then. Of the spirit of life, Creation." She said, not even asking
"I am…" Markus affirmed
"Very interesting. All of the other vessels are of Destruction. I can sense the malicious energy. But I didn't sense it from you. I thought it was because you had yet to develop but it was because I blinded myself to anything else. Your energy is warm. Almost like a protective canopy." She told him
As she did, a bit more celestial essence trickled into his soul.
"It grew? Does learning about this help you?" She asked
"It does- I think." Markus replied
"Very well. Now tell me how you became an expert." She asked
Markus retold the events before his trip to the death zone and the details of what happened in there, as well as what happened with the lesser spirit.
"That is the most difficult requirement for ascending to the fourth rank I've heard, for the wind user that is. It's intriguing.
Now onto why I have recalled you here, it was to teach you what you will need to succeed later in life. You have met General Ruben, he will be the highest authority for you outside of Enrique and I, in that order. He will assign you and train you. Once that takes place, you will be going on missions. Special operations with certain objectives in mind. Your primary task will always be to stay alive. Completing the mission comes second.
Is that clear, Markus?" She asked
"Yes, your majesty." Markus replied, looking her in the eyes
"Very good. Now one last thing, before I let you go for tonight. Have you thought about your wish?" She asked
"I have… I want to keep in contact with some friends from Tuatri, even when I am away." Markus replied
"Fine. As long as you do not reveal any information you should not, you can stay in contact with your friends. Helen and Amanda will be delighted that you write to them." She said
!!
Markus' eyes widened and then relaxed.
'Of course she knows. She knows everything.' Markus thought with an exhale
"You may go. Unless you wish to stargaze with me." She said
"I would like to go rest, if that's possible." Markus replied
"Feel free to. You are not a prisoner or slave here. You are free to do anything within the confines of the residential part of the palace." She said
Naturally was needed not be said was that he was not allowed to enter the public part of the palace where he could be seen.
Markus got up, bowed and left. Noe, who had been waiting far away, led him to his room.
He changed back into his tunic outfit and laid in bed.
'That didn't go too bad.' He thought
"At least she won't try to directly manipulate your mind through the crystals. But do not let yourself become her fool, Markus. Everything she does will be to gain your favour and make you loyal to her." Anax replied, warning him for the future
Meanwhile in the garden, Elizabeth was thinking aloud, knowing nobody was listening.
"The weapon is forged. He turned out better than I could have ever expected. Now all that remains is to sharpen the blade and make it an obedient one. But I have nine years for that. Plenty of time. For once, I think it is possible to win against them. The dukes will have to bend the knee or die for nothing." She said with a wicked expression on her face
It was the face of self assured triumph.
End of Volume 1: Forging The Weapon