In the royal transport to the Capital, Markus and Enrique sat in silence.
With the mighty transport vehicle of the royal palace, the trip was only going to last 5 days because they had to take breaks.
By the second day, Markus finally spoke.
"Why do we take so many breaks?"
"I'm not often away from The Capital. I like to take a break on the road and enjoy the atmosphere… it's serene. When you become an elite, you can no longer be ignorant of the problems in the world. Equally, you appreciate the peaceful moments." Enrique said in a melancholic tone
"I didn't even get to say a proper goodbye…" Markus said, thinking of how quickly he had left Tuatri.
"Then live. Survive. To see your friends again." Enrique said, almost as if giving himself advice
"Why couldn't I be left in Tuatri?" Markus asked
"You don't know what you actually achieved… do you?" Enrique asked
"What do you mean?" Markus asked
"In less than three years, you did what most cannot do their whole life. With enough training and discipline anyone can become a rank 3. But you… and those students at the academies— that became rank 4 before even becoming adults are exceptional talents. These academies are for the best of the best. And out of the millions of awakened people in that city, only a few hundred are experts. Maybe a hundred elites. And Tuatri has about 15 masters." Enrique said
"How many masters are there in the whole continent?" Markus asked
"Maybe three hundred. Maybe more. Three hundred out of a billion souls are masters. That's how exceedingly rare masters are to come across. And whilst we wield fantastical power, we still grow old. We are still facing the most peril. And the weight of the world rests on our shoulders. If you aim to become a master of the wind, you should keep that in mind." Enrique explained
"Do you not want me to?" Markus asked
"Strategically it would make sense. Realistically however, it is better you remain as an elite until you become emperor." Enrique said
"How do you know I can even ascend to rank 5?" Markus asked
'Because you're a Windbourne who reached rank 4 at 14 years old—' Enrique thought to himself
"Because your next step is to synchronise yourself with the wind. In other words, attuning yourself so deeply with the wind that the strain you feel during battle vanishes as your intentions are intertwined." Enrique said
"You could tell?" Markus asked
"I'm not wind attuned so I can't sense your essence shifting. But I am stone attuned. Your steps became heavier. You grew slower and your control was shaky. Those are universal signs of strain. If you can notice it in an opponent, you could force them to break." Enrique replied
"Understood." Markus said, going back to the transport
Enrique took in the sight of the radiant sunset.
'He's not ready… his heart is still open to the world.' Enrique thought as he glanced back
A few days later they were in The Capital.
Markus was not called over for an audience which was a relief for him. Instead, he was called over for an evaluation.
Jessica was in attendance with Enrique and a man wearing a military uniform.
Markus was in a training hall surrounded by twenty soldiers. They were all wearing combat suits and had uniform black hair and brown eyes. Most of them were rank 3 whilst two were rank 4.
"This is a simple evaluation of your capabilities. You are free to use anything in your power to win." The man in military attire said
"Including your movement technique." Jessica added
The other two glanced at her as she did.
'She's invested?' They both asked themselves
"Begin!" The man wearing the military uniform said
Markus who was in a combat suit and wearing his essence shell instantly unleashed his essence and dispersed all oxygen from the entire hall. Simultaneously he identified the experts using the resistance they put against his essence zone. As they realised what was happening, Markus' hair flared white as he stepped into the ethereal white paths and got right behind the first expert. He was a water expert.
Whilst his fluid movement allowed his to move and try to defend his back, Markus actually feinted him, expecting the expert to react faster. As the soldier turned, Markus used the paths once more to go around him and using the handle of his freshly conjured wind blade, whacked the expert.
The handle shattered against the ice shell the expert had on but he was still sent to the ground from the blunt force.
Markus dismissed his sword and extended his hand toward the expert sprawled on the ground.
"AAAAAARRRRRGHHHHHH"
Agonising screams resounded in the hall as whirlwind slashes tore into the expert soldier.
The other expert, a flame expert, looked at his comarades.
"Arrowhead formation!" He shouted
Markus increased the air resistance in the zone, making them slow. Although only ten seconds had passed since the battle began, Markus bid his time.
While back after he became an expert he realised how imperfect his oxygen exclusion zone was. Because his essence fluctuated, particles still existed in the area and this delayed the effect he wanted. Now however, he solidified his area of control. And as such—
When the learned and expert began a coordinated attack from their spearhead formation, they began to drop like flies.
The flame expert who held his breath tried to conjure flame but without oxygen he had to use his raw essence rather can use essence to combust the air and control said combustion.
As a blue fireball travelled toward Markus, he was already behind the soldier. Using a blade of whirlwind, Markus nicked his opponent on the leg and let whirlwind enter the soldier's body.
Resisting the wind, the soldier turned around with a leg swipe but Markus was already gone. This time above him, unleashing a whirlwind blast.
As he blast went off, all soldiers dropped unconscious either from the pain or from oxygen deprivation.
With a snap of his fingers, Markus dismissed the command and let oxygen return. He breathed heavily.
'Damn— it's really had to quickstep and hold my breath. I should've isolated the experts and cast the zone on the learned I think… oh well. It worked out.' Markus thought
The two masters and military figure were watching with stone cold expressions. Inside however…
'Not bad kid— not bad at all.' Enrique thought
'Your Wind's Path is sloppy— but I suppose you're like a child who's only learned to walk.' Jessica thought
'He is indeed talented and has what it takes. He just put one of my groups to shame.' The man in uniform thought
Markus looked up at them and felt a chill run down his spine.
'Here comes the captain of the group.' The uniformed man thought
A man in his mid twenties walked in. A flame elite.
"You're the one responsible?" The man asked
"I appreciate the confidence but I don't think I can fight an elite just yet—" Markus said, looking at the man but speaking with the masters
They remained silent
"Just f*cking great—" Markus mumbled
A sea of flames rose behind the man as he propelled himself like a rocket toward Markus.
He was fast. Impossibly fast for an unawakened human to react to. Even Markus barely processes the moment the elite was on him.
But he was now never alone. The wind guided his every step and the white paths were these before Markus even needed them
With a simple step he dodged the man but not before leaving a charged whirlwind blast.
The elite punched the air and was thrown upward, where Markus stood, conjuring a spear of whirlwind.
"Forgive me for not holding back—" Markus said as he shot forth his most devastating attack
The spear tore into the elite essence shell like a javelin into concrete. But whirlwind was chaotic— driven by force and speed.
So the shell cracked but not before the spear was engulfed in blue flames which shot off toward Markus with deadly accuracy and devastating power.
'Dammit if I get hit I'm toast—' Markus whined as he stepped through the paths to avoid them
As he moved however, his destination was a wall of freshly risen flames.
Not knowing how to stop or bail, Markus jumped straight into the flames and detonated his essence.
As he did, the flames that were meant to engulf him were sent away but not for long. Trails of flame followed him like serpents tracking their prey.
His spear too was struggling against the burning flames and trying to get through the tough essence shell.
'Screw it—' Markus thought as he commanded the essence in his spear to greedily consume more of his essence and draw more power and whirlwind particles
As it did, the force became so overwhelming not even the elite essence shell could withstand it. So it cracked and shattered completely, letting the spear tear into the captain of the soldiers.
"He sank his teeth into him and he's not letting go. Wise. Ivan would've decimated him the second he broke free from the spear." The uniformed man said
"Ivan is not letting go either. One needs to break soon or else they both will." Enrique replied
Markus meanwhile felt whirlwind sap his opponent's strength and attention.
'Dammit I don't want to get close— but that spear won't finish the job. I have less than half my essence left- say 40%. But I lose chunks when I use the movement technique over a longer range. So if I need to get away and don't have the essence, I'm toast. So then what the hell do I do!?' Markus wondered as he looked at the elite opponent
The captain finally had enough though.
He grabbed the spear of whirlwind with his bare hands and by augmenting his body, he exerted titanic force, shattering it.
"Uhoh—" Markus said involuarily
The elite got up and slammed the ground with his hands, shattering it and sending Markus in the air.
'He wants me in the air? Oh I'm about to be bombarded—' Markus thought before looking up to see a sea of blue flickers
Hundreds upon hundreds of flickers surrounded him from all directions.
"Incinerate him." The captain said
The world itself became agitated and furious at Markus' existence. Then all the flickers exploded and launched toward Markus like a meteor shower across the sky.
'There's no safe paths!? What the hell—' Markus said as he unleashed all his essence and tried to use it to shield himself from the onslaught
Even though he was not yet hit, he was sweating.
'I feel like I'm being boiled alive—' he whined inwardly as he tried to resist the attacks and withstand the heat
His very blood felt like it was coming to a boil. And that was because it was.
'Wait- if he's so good at conjuring, maybe I do have a chance in close range!' Markus thought as he took a path right to his opponent
Using his shell like a last line of defence, he took on what hits he couldn't avoid and appeared in front of the captain
Markus swung with a blade of whirlwind right for the captain's torso as he proudly stood straight. Then his blade shattered against the essence shell.
Before he could even move once more, the captain grabbed Markus' throat
"~Unhand me~!" Markus shouted with an absolute hatred and desperation from so deep within his soul that the very area vibrated
Markus hit the ground, still feeling the hand around his neck.
The captain's hand was around Markus' neck but his actual arm was now a stump.
The wind listened to Markus' voice and executed an action it deemed fit.
"I've never seen an expert pull off vocal commands. Truly impressive." The man in the military uniform said from the observation room
The elite looked at his stump which spurt blood and his own anger boiled over. The stump was set on fire, cauterising the wound. Markus however was in deep shit.
A debilitating heatwave struck him, dehydrating him instantly and making his thoughts nonsensical. He was delirious from the heat!
And without the ability to think— he was a sitting duck.
With his intact hand, the captain punched down, making full contact with Markus' skull, shattering his cheekbone and caving his face in with every subsequential strike after that.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
As he swung in for a fifth time, the masters shared a look and the man military attire spoke plainly: Halt.
With mere millimetres from Markus deformed purple face, the elite captain held himself still.
"Mission completed. Go receive medical attention. Dismissed for the day." The man said
The captain stood up, saluted with his remaining hand and left.
"Is he still alive?" The man in military attire asked
"Barely." Jessica replied
The medical staff rushed in.
"Oh spirits—" one of them said as they wretched from the view
Markus had been near pummelled to death whilst having his flesh and brain scorched
When the healing waters were applied, a distinct sizzle was heard.
"Is there a reason you delayed your command? General Ruben?" Enrique asked
"Yes, Lord Enrique. I aimed to push the boy to his limits. I thought he could do more but I was wrong." Ruben replied
"You expected a newly ascended fourteen year old to break free from an onslaught prepared by a seasoned elite?" Jessica asked
"I was told he would be a soldier, not a prince. A soldier needs to face his enemy and win or face the consequences of losing. If you do not allow me to train me the way I know how, then he has no place in the special corps you intend me to assign him." Ruben said
"Then consider him a special soldier. He is an asset, not another number in your corps." Jessica said
"So this is a babysitting assignment?" Ruben asked with a scoff
"Your assignment is to teach him discipline, obedience to the crown and to keep him alive. So long as you fulfill all three, that is enough." Enrique said
"Enrique—" Jessica said
"That's enough, Jessica." He said as he took his leave
Jessica looked down at the medical staff.
"His skin is burned— it's charred and crumbling apart. There's little we can actually heal here— the boy is permanently deformed and scarred." The doctor said
"It would be a mercy to kill him." A nurse said, trying to stabilise Markus' broken bones
As they worked on Markus however, a strange phenomenon was taking place.
'Took it long enough-' Anax quipped as he sensed the celestial energy course through Markus
His crushed bones protruded through the flesh and were restored. Then the nerves in his face were reconstructed and so was his brain. The tendons and skin followed suit. With a faint cyan hue, his entire face was healed extremely quickly.
"This is a miracle…" the doctor said, kneeling before the sight in front of him
"What is this—" a nurse said, using her index to touch Markus' skin
The celestial energy latched onto her finger
Although it was a small amount, it was too much for a non-vessel to tolerate. So her finger vibrated and exploded.