The next day Markus got ready and went to the courtyard, waiting for Annie to appear and head out.
He saw three masters there, one of which was Jessica. The other two, were tall men with a dark skin complexion and black hair. They had short Afro hair and had hazel eyes. They wore black combat suits- similar to Jessica's. Markus meanwhile was dressed in a noble suit.
Eventually, Annie came out. She wore a simple golden dress with flower patterns rising from the bottom of the long dress which went down to her ankles. She wore a discreet pair of bronze sandals with golden socks. She wore a brilliant white necklace and gloves.
Markus and the three masters bowed.
"Lady Anastasia, are you ready to depart?" Jessica asked
"Yes. Good to see you, Markus Windwave. Are you ready?" She asked
"I am, your highness." He said, still bowing
"Please. Call me Annie. Or at least Lady Annie." She said with a giggle.
"As you wish." He said.
She headed toward a transport vehicle and stepped inside.
Jessica stood up straight and turned to Markus.
"If a single hair on her head is touched we're all dead- so you know- don't screw it up." She said with a tensed tone
"Relax- what could possibly—" Markus began to say before all three jumped forward and slapped their palms over each other to shut him up
"Don't say that!" They all said in unison.
"Superstitious much?" Markus said, stepping back
"Never say that— never!" Jessica said
"Go in and keep your mouth shut. Don't even think!" One of them said
Markus rolled his eyes and went in the transport.
"Hey Jess, am I crazy or is the kid a stage three? Guarding the princess? Have we reached the end of the line..?" The other said
"Just… hope nothing happens." She said, going into the trailing transport.
After an unknown period of time, they arrived at a massive city in the centre of which was a castle.
"So this is the home of Marquis Loren. They are one of the richest noble houses… and funded this city themselves." Markus said aloud, recalling the information he was given earlier
"Indeed. But don't say this stuff inside. It is meant to be casual you know. Also there will be some boys who will try to show off- don't anger them. We wouldn't want their families to investigate you." She said
"As you command." He said with a bow of his head
"Good. Now let's greet our host." She said
The transport drew into the castle and was welcomed by a legion of knights and a man in his 50s.
He was accompanied by lavishly dressed people, a woman who looked at least ten years younger, two children around the age of Annie and an older young man.
"We greet your highness. Welcome princess Anastasia." The man said
"Thank you for having me Lord Loren. This is my personal attendant, Markus Windwave. In my group there are three masters, Master Jessica Windbourne and Masters Gint and Fint of the Volcano Isle." She said with a bow.
"We are happy to welcome you all. But I must say it is quite intimidating to be in the presence of three masters- you're not perhaps here to demand the surrender of my house! Hahahhahaha!" He said with an awkward laugh.
Lord Loren only commanded a singular Master- and that was a master for hire. He was a businessman, not a combatant. So he bought protection rather than try to make a warrior out of a bloodline of businessmen. Although he didn't really have a bloodline trait unlike the ducal families so maybe he could—
Alas- he did not.
"My mother is merely over protective. If she thought there was imminent danger I would not be allowed to attend. And if she questioned your loyalty… well- she doesn't." She said, matter of factly
"If I have her majesty's reason to doubt my loyalty I myself doubt I would remain alive for much longer. The city would likely fall if only Master Jessica Windbourne were here- the famous Gin and Fin masters would just turn it to ash. But enough talk about violence, please come in." He said leading the way.
They were led to a lounge and were served tea and refreshments.
The young man of Loen approached Markus.
"I'm Dilan Loren, firstborn of Lord Loen. You're Markus Windwave right?"
"I am. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Markus said with a slight nod
"I want to ask you something. Could you introduce me to Master Jessica..?" He asked
"Sure I guess—" Markus said
"Master Jessica—" Markus said, approaching her
"Yes?" She said turning to him
"This is Dilan Loren. Dilan, this is Master Jessica." He said, before leaving the two alone.
Markus hovered around Annie who seemed to be talking with a bit and girl her age. It was all relatively tame. As the evening approached more and more people arrived and eventually the social gathering began properly, being relocated in the social room, a large circular hall in the castle.
There were a couple dozen young people there, mingling with each other and gossiping or talking about combat techniques. Markus hovered around Annie whilst the masters stood outside. He felt the overall level of the room and guessed that most of these kids were stage two learners, some stage threes, and a few stage fours. None posed an actual danger- the princess herself was only a stage two, as Crystal use was very dangerous for the body, being as volatile as whirlwind, until maturity— however her jewellery doubled as powerful enchanted artifacts given by her mother. Moreover her crystals were still exceptionally potent and could hold back even an expert- something quite inconceivable of a stage two. That just reemphasised the power of bloodlines.
Then Lord Loren made his way toward the door, as if sensing something. In walked a man which Loren recognised and he then turned to the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure to announce the presence of Lord Tillian." Lord Loren said, as a man walked in
The man had a pale complexion. He was tall and had deep crimson hair.
"Than you, my good friend." Tillian said with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.
Annie turned to Markus. Her necklace was vibrating meaning someone around her had killing intent.
"I am here for you, Princess Anastasia. Do not attempt to run. I have five masters outside fighting against your four masters and elites, meaning your group will eventually lose. Nobody needs to shed blood here." He said
"Tillian… this is not a funny joke—" Lord Loren said
"I'm sorry old friend." Tillian said before snapping his fingers and setting Loren on fire.
Loren's clothes caught ablaze- he used his authority over water to extinguish the fire however the shock to his skin knocked him out cold. The fire burned hotter than any flame Markus had seen and it's impact was clear.
"Come to me." Gillian said
Annie did not hesitate and took a step forward but Markus yanked her back.
"I'm dead if you get taken. So I might as well die before you get taken—" he said, stepping forward.
"Don't be an idiot- he just set an elite on fire and he's out cold!" She said, struggling against him
"What can I say— the beatings i got never took." He said looking at the man and stepping forward
"I'm not in the mood to kill a kid. Step back-" Tillian said
Markus activated his shell and immediately enchanted it with whirlwind
"Fine—"'the man said- snapping his fingers and turning Markus to ash
Only— it was his shell which turned to ash and exploded from the whirlwind enchanted.
"Oh? Clever lad. How many times can you do it before you run out of essence I wonder." The man said snapping his fingers again
Markus did not have time to make another full shell but he suspected it was an invisible hot projectile sent to him- so he gambled.
Markus created a whirlwind bullet right in front of the man's fingers and as luck would have it- the whirlwind particles exploded in a blue explosion as the invisible projectile collided with them.
Normally, a stage three could never harm a master. But a whirlwind flame explosion?
"Aaargh!?" The man exclaimed as he felt his arm charred slightly from the blast of his own making which was amplified by whirlwind.
"You really are a piece of work kid—" the man said before leaping toward Markus at inhuman speed and grabbing Markus by the neck and hoisting him up.
"What's your trick for this?" He asked, crushing Markus' neck, stopping blood flow from reaching his brain and equally crushing his windpipe.
Markus instantly shot a whirlwind blast at point blank range but all it managed to do was tear the man's clothes revealing an enchanted combat suit underneath his noble suit.
"Anything else?" He asked Markus who's face was getting visibly blue
That's when Annie shot forth a crystal toward Tillian and crystallised his face.
But being blind did not weaken his grip.
Instead his face got heated and melted the crystal right off.
"What else should I expect of kids— time to die I suppose—" Tillian said crushing Markus further
'Anax… I think this is my end— ' Markus thought, his consciousness fading
"For crying out loud— you're an imperial vessel are you not?" Anax asked
'…s..o..?' Markus thought
"(Sigh) surrender control to me- I'll get you out of this. But you owe me for this." Anax said
Markus felt an overwhelming feeling to sleep. It was not death… but more akin to sudden exhaustion hitting the body.
When he came to, he was in the royal palace, bound in crystals.
"What the hell…" he said, groggily looking around
Jessica was there, a burn scar on her face.
"What happened..?" Markus asked
"Is that animal gone?" She asked in a cold tone
"Who..? Anax?" Markus asked
"I suppose he is. Never let him take control again. Or next time it will be you dead." She said, turning away to leave
"Who died..? Where are you going!" Markus shouted
But he was left alone in the underground cells, bound in the cold darkness. Eventually later the Queen arrived.
"Do you know what he did?" She asked Markus straight away
"Your majesty— no! What happened!" Markus asked in desperation
"… what was that power he used?" She asked
"I have no clue. That bastard- Tillian was chocking me one moment- then Anax said he'd help me out and next thing I know is that I'm here! Please- your majesty- you must believe me!" He pleaded
"… Anax triggered your imperial power… somehow. You syphoned Tillian's flames and burned a master with their own flames… and Jessica too. Anax was not keen on you returning… so he fought until I had to restrain your body." She said, snapping her fingers and destroying the binding crystal.
"Get yourself cleaned up and get ready to return to Tuatri… you know the basics of whirlwind and the academy staff are returning. You have a year left until you need to become an expert, I suggest you do not waste time." She said turning away to leave.
Back in her office.
Enrique entered.
"I overheard what you told him. Why did you lie… your majesty?" Enrique asked
"What else was I meant to say? Anax tore your throat out, replicated your skin, blood vessels and tendons with wind shell and proceeded to run away like a coward? I knew that snake prioritised survival over everything but that was extreme even for him." She said
"But why can he not know the truth?" Enrique asked
"If he hears that whenever he faces a strong opponent even an emperor runs away- what hope can I have to ensure he pushes himself to fight stronger foes? It is better to make Anax infallible in his eyes and allow him to aim to be as infallible as Anax. And that damned imperial ghost is too proud to say he ran away and got caught anyway—" she said with a chuckle.
"Your wisdom truly shines. Also you should reward Jessica. She defeated Tillian and protected the princess at the cost of her own injury. A serious injury on a windbourne is a great shame- the masters of movement and the skies and they got brutally struck- it speaks volumes." He said
"Get it arranged then." She said before dismissing him
The next day, Markus was in a transport back to the Tuatri Academy.