“Aaand, you may be?” asked Udania, glancing at the man.

  “Marcus Nightwood. Pleased to meet you, the Heart of Ice,” he responded smugly.

  Marcus gently kissed her right hand.

  “Yeah… don’t use that name in public,” the woman replied, distancing herself.

  A subtle smile drew on her face.

  “Hey, you were talking about how you couldn’t use elements till you turned thirteen. Could you use mana via techniques? What happened to you when you started using elements?” the youth remembered.

  Marcus took a deep breath before answering the question. Laudis took notice of it. It was as if it were a heavy story.

  “If you don’t feel like it, don’t answer—”

  “No, I’m fine. I’ve had to remember it. As for the first question, I didn’t know anything about magical techniques at that time. When I attended school—”

  “You attended school?” the boy barged in.

  “Yes, I attended one. In the Silvalisian Republic, education was free of charge. That was until they merged with Pontusia to create the fecking commonwealth. I understand it was created to protect both nations from the Vampire Empire, but still…”

  Nightwood’s hands tightened and started shaking vigorously. It was hard to tell whether it was caused by his drink at the tavern or the genuine disregard for the union. Yet one was for sure, the odour coming from him wasn’t pleasant to say the least. It made the conversation hard, especially for Laudis.

  “Coming back to the main topic. They didn’t teach us anything about other forms of sorcery besides the core seven elements. About how I developed my element…”

  The scene flashed in front of his eyes. The sight was blurry, but he caught some glimpses of that day. At least a dozen people were killed in three different locations. All of them were pierced by his summonings. Three families were executed by one boy. Despite that, he didn’t feel sorry, even for the infants he had killed. He had been renouncing the memory since the incident, but he kept one thing for himself. All of his actions were justified. Marcus glanced at Laudis with a subtle smile.

  “My brother was caught by a group of mercenaries. They demanded a ransom for his life. We didn’t have much money, since our Father had been dead for six years. I barged into their hideout, rescuing him. I didn’t control my power, so a few were killed in an accident.”

  “Oh, sorry for making you bring that up…”

  “Nah, it doesn’t bother me,” he muttered, waving his hand.

  “By the way, what’s your element?” wondered Udania, reconnecting with them.

  “Fire, my element is Fire.”

  “Oh, that’s unexpected. I thought you were an Earth or Plant sorcerer, because you’ve mentioned the Silvalisian Republic as your fatherland, is that right?”

  “Yeah, but my mother is from Terminara. My Father was also born in a mixed family; my grandfather is from Luxaris. My genes are diverted to say the least.”

  “Oh, that’s… nice, I guess.”

  “The union was signed in 573 V.E. That’s twenty years ago. How old are you, then?” the black-haired recalled.

  “Yes, you’re right, it was twenty years ago. Regarding my age, I’m thirty-three years old.”

  “Huh?!” the woman gasped, staring at him.

  “Hm?” he replied, confused by her reaction.

  “How are you, thirty-three, looking like a twenty-year-old? I’m turning thirty soon, but you couldn't tell that. What’s your secret?”

  She came closer to him, standing a few centimetres before him.

  “You know, old stuff. I use a moisturising cream, I follow a diet, and train a lot… I also have a particular magic item. It makes me age five times slower…”

  “Huh? Give me it!”

  “I can’t…”

  “Why’s that?”

  “It regards my manhood…”

  “Oh… Sorry…”

  They travelled to the hotel in silence. When they arrived at the spot, it was already sunset. The group entered the apartment.

  “How was your shopping?” asked Gladius, looking at the door.

  “Who’s that?” the knight continued, looking at Nightwood.

  “He’s going to Piscaria. We can take him for—”

  “No, we cannot take a layman into this. Go away.”

  “Listen, he may be looking like a normal man, but—”

  “Don’t make me repeat myself, Laudis.”

  “Right…”

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  “Listen, I may not be the strongest or the smartest. But I am the only one, Marcus Nightwood!”

  “Yeah, go away, drunkhead,” said Solisia, waving at him.

  “Drunkhead? Listen, I’d take you, without using my hands!”

  “Huh? Are you for real? You think you can defeat me?”

  “Indeed. If I win, you’ll take me on your ship. If I lose, I’ll pay you 1,000 golds,” the man muttered.

  “Deal!”

  They shook their hands, arranging a contract.

  “Solisia, I am your supervisor. You can’t make decisions on your own.”

  “Loosen up, old man. Let her have some fun,” stated Dantenium, coming to the room.

  “Whatever. Udania, if she breaks the leg again, don’t heal her.”

  “Okay…” the blue-haired responded, nodding.

  The two challengers stood in the hotel’s backyard. Gladius stayed in the apartment. Like he had said, ‘I’ve got better things to do’. Udania stayed on the watch because illegal fights were prohibited in Seebadeen. Alongside a few cities, it had greater autonomy. Therefore, their rules were vastly different from Zachirian ones. Dantenium was the self-proclaimed referee, standing between them. Laudis sat next to a wall, observing the scene from ten metres. The scenery was pretty nice for a fight. Three somewhat straight walls defined the rectangular battle arena. The ground was surprisingly enough strengthened with gravel and grey filling. Solisia stretched before the fight. On the other hand, Marcus sat down, waiting impatiently for her. His legs were slightly twitching on their own.

  ‘Average alcoholic,’ thought Laudis, disregarding the man.

  After a while, the Star of Piscaria stood up rapidly.

  “Are you ready, drunkhead?”

  “Whatever you say…”

  “At my command, you’ll fight. Do you understand?” stated Dante, glancing at them.

  The challengers nodded.

  “Fight!” The crimson-haired declared, jumping backwards.

  Nightwood took a steady stance, putting his hands behind. He sent her a provocative smirk. The girl caught the bait and rushed at him, taking a swing with her flail. Fwoosh! The steel missed him. The man jumped five metres into the sky. The Crusaders didn’t believe their eyes. The jump was inhumane to say the least; the jump was impossible to occur. Marcus had slightly bent his legs, making it impossible for him to jump this height. There was only one logical answer — magic. And, of course, that was right. Marcus had used sorcery in that moment, yet only Dante caught that. Microscopic shards of glass reflected the nearby light of paraffin lamps.

  “Glass? That’s a very unusual element. The synthesis of Sand, diverting from Earth and Fire. It’s hard to tell if it was even possible for them. I doubt even with two elements I could pull something like that. Maybe some unborn demigod could do it, but I can’t tell now. After all, they’re all long dead…’ thought Dantenium, engraving the scene in his head.

  The projectiles flew with the smallest wind. She felt an odd sensation in her forearms. It wasn’t pain or irritation, but rather a grand discomfort.

  ‘I can’t tell what he did to me, but that feeling isn’t good. I have to finish him fast.’

  “Aura of Hare activare—”

  Nightwood appeared in front of her in seconds. No one could tell when he moved from place to place. Laudis caught an image or two before he was in front of her. The man kicked her flail away with one shot. The weapon flew in the air, crushing a part of the brick wall on impact. She glanced at him and threw a punch at his stomach. It was pointless. The attack did no damage to him. The girl felt as if she were punching solid wood. The man prepared to deliver a finishing blow, raising his right leg. Phoo! The kick was stopped by Dante, marking the end of the clash.

  “That is the end. Marcus won the battle,” the crimson-haired declared.

  “Right… I guess you’re stronger than I thought…” she muttered, feeling depressed.

  “If you had battle experience as I have, you’d give me a hard time,” the man replied.

  Nightwood helped her stand up.

  “It wasn’t the right time for you. I can see that you’re new to fights, and that’s alright. No one is born as a warrior. I’ll await our next battle,” he continued, extending his right hand.

  “Yes, maybe you’re not wrong…”

  The girl faintly shook his hand.

  ‘That’s… nice. She’s maturing. If only she were like that from the start, I’d be happier. Still, it’s nice she’s trying,’ thought Laudis, standing up.

  “By the way, how old are you?” asked Solisia.

  “Thirty-three.”

  “Oh… Thirty-three?! You look more like Laudis than the old man.”

  “Hey! I’m still here,” responded Dante, but no one seemed to care.

  “When you bear an artifact, you’d look like me, too. But I’d rather age normally and live a normal life…”

  “I see.”

  The Crusaders and Nightwood came to the opening, meeting Udania.

  “Is it over already?” the woman asked, surprised by the short time of the battle.

  “Yes, I’ve already won,” murmured Marcus, grinning at her.

  “Yeah… I think Gladius left the hotel, so you have to wait for him in the apartment for a while.”

  Nightwood started wobbling uncontrollably.

  “Alright, but if I fall asleep…”

  He fell to the side, but Laudis caught him in time.

  “He fainted…”

  “So I won?”

  “No, he was drunk, and now he exhausted himself even more. I’ll take him with the boy; you can go upstairs,” replied Dantenium, giving the youth an extra hand.

  The women went there as they were told to. The two men had problems carrying the semi-dead body of Marcus. Despite being a few cenitmetres taller than Laudis, he weighed at least fifteen kilograms more. The lifting process was tiresome and monotonous for them. Every step felt like hell.

  ‘Five floors. One-hundred steps… I hate my life,’ thought Laudis, growing more tired with every second.

  As soon as they entered the apartment, they fell to the ground. The three men were lying on the floor next to the entrance. Only Dante stood up after a while. Laudis fell asleep. He was in the Room of Destiny. Only one man was beside him. The limbless figure with water prosthetics and turquoise-glowing eyes. His presence made the youth slightly uneasy, but he bore it. After all, he was the only Marked One present in the room.

  “Aamir and Con sacrificed themselves for you, isn’t that right?” the man asked.

  “Indeed. Where is the rest?”

  “Will allowed them to preserve mana, skipping your meetings. I was advised to do the same. I didn’t listen to them. Do you know why?”

  That simple question made Laudis wonder about his actions. Not even for a minute did the youth want to defeat the Vampire King. That was the only desire that every Marked One fantasised about.

  “...”

  “So you can’t answer. I understand. I’ll give you some free time to think about your deeds.”

  “Can I ask you a question?” the boy said, lowering his head.

  “Go ahead”

  The figure extended his open right hand.

  “What is your name, mister?”

  “My name… I didn’t say it for a long time. It’s Jonathan Starlight, but you can call me Jon. See you soon, Laudis.”

  “Farewell, Jon.”