Thal. Jakob
Marcus walked side by side with Neil, they were dressed in cloaks as to not gather attention. Everyone in Thal loved their leader and where ever he went people wanted to shower him with gifts, in order to avoid that they had adorned cloaks and moved through the busy market place of Jakob.
Today he was going to deliver Neil to Rowan, the brat wanted to go alone but Marcus had insisted on going. He had words he wanted to say to Rowan, their meet-up location was Sebastian's peace Café. The same Cafe he had murdered one of his subordinates at, the young man was surely mocking him.
But his pride had to take a backseat, there were more concerning matters at hand. The sun was about to set yet the market place was still busy comparable to midday.
Being vigilant as always he could not help but listen to the conversations of the passerby and the vendors, they spoke of a foreigner dressed like the foreign diplomats that usually came to their country once in a while to do business at his approval.
The foreigner they spoke of had to be Rowan, which meant he had arrived ahead of them. The café entered his field of vision, a sign on the outside indicating it was open. They took off the hoods of their cloaks and walked in, the doorbell giving away their arrival.
[System, scan hostile environment.]
[Initiating Combat Analysis...]
Scanning hostile environment ...
Processing… processing…
[one ]
Classification: Human.
Energy Source: System bearer
Recommendation: Take precaution.
His system alerted him as soon as he entered the café.
The Café was empty, the chairs were placed on the table upside down, which meant the owner was about to close. His eyes searched the place and at the back a table was set, a young man waved at them witha smile. They approached the table, the young man had smooth and delicate features with olive skin, white eyes and black hair.
He wore white gloves and a three piece stripped blue suit, his hair was combed back and his hat was on the side. He had a cup of tea in hand, regarding the two of them with a curious gaze.
"Even the great general made an appearance, I wonder what is the occasion?" the young man playfully spoke
"I thought we were throwing a tea party." Marcus replied sarcastically before sitting down
"Now tell me boy, what do you intend to do with my subordinate?" he asked staring right into young man's eyes.
The young man took a sip of his tea and smiled, "Oh this is amazing, you should try it."
His eyes drifted to Neil before returning to meet Marcus's intense gaze
"let's just say, I took a liking to him."
"Bullshit, kid you need to give me a reason why I should leave my subordinate in your hands or I shall kill you where you sit." Marcus threatened
The young man chuckled and shook his head, "Violence, violence Marcus, it hasn't been more than 5 minutes and you are already threatening me? I thought this is supposed to be a peaceful talk, what happened to diplomacy?"
"Traitors don't deserve diplomacy." Marcus responded
The young man's smile deepened, "A traitor is it? That is a fancy word Marcus, but do you know what it means? How can you label me a traitor when I have never betrayed all of my business associates?"
"By business associates do you mean the Conspiracy? Kid they will devour you, those things are monsters." He answered calmly
"Business is business Marcus." The young man responded
"What price did they offer, for you to betray your own kind?" Marcus asked after a long stretch of silence.
The young man shrugged.
"Ah, I see what you are doing Marcus trying to get a sob story out of me. I'm afraid there is no sad story or anything of that nature, like i said it's just business."
Neil who was quiet all along finally spoke.
"What kind of business Rowan?" he asked
Rowan's attention shifted to Neil, he regarded him with a sharp eye.
"Oh he speaks, and we are on a first name basis too?" Rowan answered playfully
"Cut the crap and answer the question." Marcus intoned
"Alright, let's see. The kind of business where one trades something in exchange for power." his response reeked sarcasm
"Such a simpleton." Neil smiled
Rowan's smile faltered, "What?"
"Do not be insulted, I meant that as a compliment." Neil responded
Rowan shook his head and turned to Marcus, "You may leave us."
Marcus nodded and smiled, he got up and wore his cloak before making his way towards the exit. At the exit he looked back at Rowan with a calm gaze
"If anything happens to him, you will be answering to me."
Rowan smiled.
"Have a good trip Marcus, and take your Deadmen monitoring me with you."
Marcus pushed open the door and left the café, by the time he stepped out it was already dark.
"Deadmen, disengage." He spoke into his watch
He stayed at the door of the café for quiet some time, sighing he looked at the sky. Lightning arcs danced in his eyes.
[System, engage.]
⟡ SYSTEM ONLINE — DIVINE PATH: Lightning ⟡
Resonance Detected: Caelistrix , God of the sky
Core Synchronization... Stable (95%)
Attribute Surge Active:
→ Strength +250%
→ Speed +500%
→ Endurance +400%
→ Mana +400%
"System, Deploy skill branch Thunderstep."
Skill Deployed: [Thunderstep]
→ Mana -50%
— Your body becomes lightning. —
Marcus exhaled, he took a step forward and vanished from the café a lightning arc flashed in the sky and then after a few seconds thunder followed.
....
Thal, Grand Cathedral
In the early hours of the evening, within a clear sky a lightning bolt descended outside the Grand Cathedral's grounds leaving a man where the bolt landed. The ground was charred, and the grass burnt with smoke rising.
Marcus walked out of the smoke, there was a person waiting for him at the door of the Grand Cathedral.
"How long did it take you to arrive?" Noctalis asked.
"3.5 seconds." he responded
"How the hell are you getting even faster in your old age?" Noctalis's expression was a curious one
Marcus shrugged.
"My physical appearance looks old, but ability wise i am at my peak. Anyways tell me you have a signal?" Marcus asked eagerly
Noctalis regarded him with a poker face and then he broke into the most unsettling smile that Marcus knew too well.
"Nerd."
"Freak."
They shared a laugh then retreated inside the walls of the Grand Cathedral, on their way towards the Underworld Marcus turned to Noctalis and asked
"How is the suit reacting to him?"
Noctalis shook his head slowly, " it is not a matter of how it's reacting to him, instead it's a matter of how he will react to the suit. The success of the synchronization between the suit and our agents depends on the mental psyche of the wearer.
The suits are empowered by the hearts of the Conspiracy and the main materials I use for crafting the suits are from the Conspiracy, now we have found out from our agents that the suits have a remnant pysche from the creature and in most cases it's not strong.
But when we take materials from Conspiracy of the high abberant class then we are in a completely different domain, but I believe that boy can resist the remnant psyche and make full use of the suit and all of its capabilities.
Unlike the standard suit that boast physical stats only, this prototype is league's ahead. It can utilize some of the powers the Conspirer had. " Noctalis answered and also gave a detailed explanation of how the new prototype he had built for Neil worked.
Marcus nodded, having roughly understood the man.
"What about the Mesa, do you think he will be able to deal the finishing blow if the situation demands it?" Noctalis asked
"Honestly I do not this so, which is why I wanted you to come up with a contingency just in case things go south." He answered
"Regarding the girl Edmund brought with him, what is your assessment?" Marcus asked
Noctalis remained silent, for a moment he thought the man must have not heard him but then his response came
"First of all that thing is not a girl, secondly my assessment is that it is dangerous. Very dangerous, I would suggest for us to dispose of it and rid ourselves of a potential problem." He responded in a calm yet urgent voice
Marcus remained silent, his gaze was distant and unreadable.
"She is a product of system breeding, it is not her fault she was born that way. And besides I do not think she will go ballistic, she is being taken care of by well kept kids. But if she ever threatens the cause, I promise you I will lay her down myself." Marcus reassured Noctalis.
"Oh you really don't get it, huh? Well nevermind."