In the headmistress' office, Markus and Charlotte were… having a chat… of sorts.
"So you go to a social event for nobles and only when you show up, there is an attempted kidnapping, five masters get imprisoned for treason, a noble gets executed, Jessica Windbourne suffers a shameful wound and you managed to get possessed by the ghost of the late emperor… how is it that you always attract trouble?" Charlotte asked, rubbing her temples from the stress of hearing the end of Markus' experience in the central region, whilst she sat in her office behind her desk, looking at Markus who was sat opposite her.
"Couldn't tell you- but it's getting ridiculous don't you think?" He said with a sigh
"And now you bring it all back to my academy… any chance you want to finish your two years in the training forest? There isn't much you can attract there—" she said with a dry chuckle
"Doubt it. And no- I'm running for president this year anyway—" Markus said with pride
"… what..? Of the student council!? Oh the academy is doomed— please reconsider—" she said
"Sorry but no. Also do you know when Helen is coming back?" Markus asked
"Why would I know that? But if you need a training partner there is a transfer who just came in yesterday. You could show her around and befriend her- she is an expert and your age. Maybe you'll learn something." Charlotte said
"Maybe. What's her element? And name-" Markus asked
"Amanda 'Amy' Rilan. A wind user. And speaking of the wind, how goes your advancement?" Charlotte asked
"I've learned to use whirlwind. Although it's only raw attacks and enchantments at the moment- I will eventually learn to make constructs. My understanding and instinct on the wind has improved- I can… feel things better. Especially if they're moving. As for constructs and whatnot… I don't actually know- let's see." Markus said before beginning to manifest wind blades
One, two, three, four, five, six— wind blades were easily made.
Then he needed to focus.
A seventh appeared in his right hand. Then an eighth.
"Not bad… can you do more?" She asked, studying his steadiness.
Two more blades began to instantly take form behind him, forming an octagon between the handles which however, around him.
They were much weaker and unstable- but they were there! He could manifest ten independent constructs at once- eight of which did not need to make contact with him.
"Excellent. You are not far from being an expert- which within a year of actual training is an exceptional result." She said, a soft expression could be seen on her face
Markus exhaled and dismissed his weapons, but instead of letting them poof or explode, he reverted them back into essence and absorbed it within himself.
"…" Charlotte looked at him with a pale expression
"What? Neat trick right- I saw master Jessica do it as she showed me how you can chain whirlwind attacks and constructs to work together and after she was done, she just reverted the unused constructs back into essence and took it back. She told me to never try to do it with whirlwind until I reach mastery- but it works with regular wind!" Markus said proudly
"… Markus… elites can't do that… I can't do that— once essence leaves it becomes foreign to the body… only individuals with a high affinity to the wind can actually reabsorb their essence— and the constructs of others—" she said, a pale expression on her face
"I can steal essence from people!? Oh that changes everything—" he said
"It only works on people from lesser ranks. So you can steal the essence of a rank 2." She said
"What about their control? Say I use their sword against them- can I do it?" Markus asked
"Sure… but it will be difficult. And you'll need a volunteer." She said
"Hmmm- oh well. I'll get a chance eventually- but that begs the question- how much further until I become an expert? Time is sort of running out…" Markus asked
"You cannot rush this sort of thing. Even if you manage to use whirlwind constructs it may be a matter of time instead of a matter or learning. The wind is an element that shouldn't need constant influence and instead should enable you to do a lot of things instinctually. Maybe when whirlwind becomes instinct you will become an expert. Nobody can say for certain." She said with a sigh
"If whirlwind becomes instinct I should be an elite— what even is the requirement for an elite!?"
"Submission. Absolute submission, and humility." She said
"That's it?" Markus asked confused
"For a wind user? Yes. But it's not bodily submission- it's your soul which needs to submit- and a lot of people find it impossible to absolutely submit themselves." She said
"How so?" He asked
"You need to be willing to die. Are you willing to die on a dime?" She asked
"Oh… I see why it's hard then." He recognised
"Indeed. Now go- if you want to be student president then you have much to do now that you have returned." She said, dismissing him
"Do I have your vote then?" He asked
"No. I will vote for literally anyone else." She said, waving her hand to shoo him away.
After leaving, Markus went to his dorm.
"If I got attacked now in the middle of the night I'd probably blow this entire building up and my attackers with me…" he said, recalling when he was attacked and chose to fight instead of running.
Now he could actually fight and stand a chance at winning.
He refreshed himself, changed into his uniform and went to find this Amy Rilan.
To his surprise, he did not need to look long for her.
As Markus reached central campus of the academy, there seemed to be a knockout competition. A small tournament organised by an administrator for the students… and the leading fighter was non other than Amanda Rilan.
"Who will be next to try their luck against the calamity lady!" The announcer asked
"I'll do it-" Markus said
"Who— Markus Windwave, you are back…" the administrator said, seemingly recognising him
"You know of me?" He asked
"How can I not— you're banned from these events." The administrator said
"I'm what— why!?" Markus asked in protest
"Property damage. Apparently you're now considered a risk for academy property so you can only compete in events organised within the enclosed areas specially reinforced." He said
"How about it calamity Rilan? Care to entertain me with a sparing session?" He asked
"You are only a rank three… but if you are banned from open competition maybe there is more to you. Sure, Markus Windwave, I'll oblige you for a while." She said.
She had long black hair, a tall, lean frame and hazel eyes. Of course she was tall my comparison to Markus. Despite only being around 14, she was actually quite tall at 165cm for her age and still growing.
They went to the designated area and were soon allowed to spar.
"Begin!" The administrator instructed
Instantly Amy jumped upward and created a sky platform split under her feet to allow her to move. From up there, she shot forth several wind bullets toward Markus.
Markus extended his arm forward and created a whirlwind bullet which deviated the trajectory of her wind bullets and destroyed them, then he shot forth the whirlwind bullet seamlessly.
She lifted her feet and tried to block the bullet with the platform under her feet but whirlwind defied the rank difference and shattered her platform and released a powerful shockwave which threw her downward.
Markus calculated her trajectory and had a whirlwind blast forming where she'd crash.
Noticing the converging particles she shot a regular wind bullet right into the convergence and disrupted the rotation, dispelling the blast.
"Are you not using too much whirlwind? Confidence or luck- which is it?" She asked
"Both-" Markus said before creating several constructs around him. Three swords hovered around his waist, four tentacles from the ground beneath him and a sword in his right hand.
He shot forward like an arrow and began to wind up his swing before he hit something. A barrier— only it was not a wind barrier but actually converging whirlwind particles used to make a construct.
So when he struck his blade against them—
The barrier construct exploded, sending him flying.
Since it was only a half-baked barrier that had not yet completely formed with whirlwind, his body shell withstood the blast impact.
His psyche on the other hand
'I… I didn't even sense it— like one moment there was nothing and the next moment I hit it… can she converge whirlwind that quickly as an expert or did I miss something…' he thought, his expression growing grim
Moreover the blast destroyed his other constructs, wasting a lot of his essence.
"Is this all?" She asked, almost bored
His patience was wearing thin.