To investigate the signal, Dark Umbrella sent both the Lilly Moon and the military. Fiona and Sophie were of course there as well. After all, the Crows were necessary for the mission. Marcus and John Titor, the crazy scientist, were there too.
Sophie: "Wow."
Fiona: "Ugh...So this is what it was like...before the war?"
Sophie: "Hmm."
The kingdom was beautiful. A gigantic waterfall flowed through the water wheel, and the enormous water wheel gave the whole place a truly fabulous appearance. The houses were also beautiful. They were made of wood, stone, or even a mixture of both. There were many towers, bell towers, and even some completely ordinary towers. There were also many bridges connecting the different sides again and again. Several houses, then a bridge...several houses, then another bridge. Not to mention the railways and airships.
Sophie: "Wow..."
Viola: "Ughh..."
Siegfried: "Whoa."
Fiona: "Amazing."
Marcus: "So this is your first time here since the Heitelheimer War?"
Sophie: "Hmm?... Have you been here before too?"
Marcus: "I am half Weimarer and half Budapesz by heritage...I was born and raised in Weimarer, but I also lived in Budapesz."
Sophie: "Ohh...I didn't know that."
Marcus: "Yeah...Not many people know."
Fiona: "I see...Mysterious as always, aren't you, Marcus?"
Marcus: "It is not a huge secret...I only grew up here for five years, then I went back to Weimarer..."
Sophie: "So you come from two kingdoms that have experienced several wars...That's kind of sad."
Marcus: "Maybe...I don't know."
John Titor: "Hmm."
Sophie: "John, where are you actually from?"
John Titor: "Welsh...I am Welsh."
Sophie: "Oh...from Dukewood too, just like Fiona and Daisy?"
John Titor: "Yep."
They continued walking.
Marcus: "Just a warning, Budapest may look beautiful, but it also has some criminals...So..."
Rosika: "Hmm."
Fiona: "Rosika?"
Rosika: "I have to say, I remembered it differently. Maybe because I come from a time when there was a war."
Sophie: "Yeah, that's possible."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Rosika: "I know the black hole could be dangerous...but seeing my kingdom like this...where people are smiling...makes me a little happy."
Marcus: "Understandable...When I came here after the appearance of the largest black hole...I was surprised as well..."
Sophie: "I understand."
Under the bridges, there were several lakes.
Sophie: "A lake?"
Marcus: "That is Lake Gulasz...A very important lake here. The giant wheel, by the way...It brings the water into the kingdom. That is why Budapest is called the kingdom with the purest water...The water here is so pure."
He took a sip.
Marcus: "See?"
Sophie: "Oh."
(Splash!)
They tried it too.
Sophie: "Ohh...How refreshing! This is amazing."
Fiona: "Yes..."
Rosika: "Wow..."
Viola: "Ughh...You really cannot stop drinking it."
Brought some bottles...Fill them up with it...Believe .the water here is simply the most delicious. even forget about sweet drinks...Oh, by the way...There are drinks in Budapesz that use the water from Lake Gulasz and then add different flavors...Something like...strawberry or something. He recommended the cherry balls...They are balls with cherry flavor that give the drink its taste, and you can eat them at the end...They gently burst in your mouth."
Sophie: "Ohh...I want to try that."
Viola: "Yeah."
Fiona: "Why not...Where is it?"
Marcus: "Over there...It is even cheap."
They went there.
Marcus: "Please give us flavored water with balls...Cherry, peach and blueberry."
Seller: "Of course, sir...You have good taste."
She prepared it quickly.
Seller: "There...That will be 16 Coil."
Sophie: "What? So little?"
Sophie, Rosika, Siegfried, John Titor, Fiona, Viola and Marcus, and of course Herold, whom Marcus had counted too...Sixteen in total.
Sophie: "Oh...Mmmm...How delicious."
Fiona: "Ugh...Simply fabulous...really."
Rosika: "Mmm...So refreshing...So delicious."
Siegfried: "Ohh...This is really cool."
Seller: "I can gladly give you the recipe so you can take it with you."
Fiona: "Ugh."
Sophie: "That would be very kind. Thank you very much..."
Seller: "Of course..."
They took the recipe and then continued on their way.
Marcus: "So...you see."
Fiona: "Tell me...Can you actually speak their language properly too?"
Marcus: "Nope...Only a little."
Sophie: "Oh...okay."
Rosika: "I still don't understand what our job here is supposed to be."
John: "It is simple...We need to find out where the signal is coming from...According to the signal recording, it must either be in Budapesz or somewhere nearby...Anyway...we have to find it."
Rosika: "I have a question...Is it true that Mr. Marcus always keeps only one eye open? Why?"
Marcus: "To reduce my curse."
Sophie: "You know...Marcus's curse makes people feel uncomfortable."
Even animals like wolves...As soon as they see Marcus, they run away. He was cursed by death and by Rumpelstilchen, and he even has an Arcane power...That is why Dark Umbrella only sends him on serious missions..."
Rosika: "Huh."
There was once a forest...where an entire army was stationed. Marcus came out of there alone...while the entire army was lying dead on the ground. But you have to know that these legends are actually true...Marcus was cursed by death itself. Marcus is also very strong, yes...but because of his curse, he has suffered a lot. He has not grown since he was fourteen, which is why he is so small. On top of that, his bones and organs have to break every year...He does not age, but he suffers every day."
Marcus: "Hmm...Hey...what are you waiting for? Hurry up."
Fiona: "Hmm...The thing about the army...was true, though."
it is not just a legend...That is why Tom Fog even said Marcus could be stronger than him. It is just that Marcus does not like this ability...He does not like killing people...You have to know...he is afraid of blood...But he is forced to do it."
Fiona: "A normal young man forced to be a monster."
(A few years ago)
Grazburg Soldier: "Hmm?...Someone is there."
Marcus came out.
Grazburg Soldier: "...Hahahaha...Just a boy...hahaha...What are you doing here, kid?"
He approached him. As soon as he did, Marcus ran straight toward him.
(Splash!)
Grazburg Soldier: "What..."
(Splash!)
Their heads were knocked away.
Marcus: "...Hmmph...Next."
Grazburg Soldier: "This is unbelievable...This...evil aura...What is this? This is not a normal human...This is a monster..."
Behind him was a dark purple light.
Marcus: "Hmm..."
He slowly walked toward them. They fired.
Grazburg Soldier: "Fire!"
He ran with his hands on the ground.
Marcus: "Hmm."
He dodged the bullets as quickly as a fox.
(Splash!)
(Splash!)
(Aaaaaaaaaaarghhhhhhhhh!)
(A few minutes later)
Dark Umbrella Member: "Oh, Master Marcus, are you alright...Ugh!"
He saw Marcus standing over a pile of bodies.
Grazburg Soldier: "Urkk."
(Splash!)
Marcus: "Hmm?...That was already getting boring."
He slowly walked down from the pile, keeping his eyes closed so he would not have to see the blood.
Marcus: "As soon as I get back, I want you to buy me the newest part of my favorite game...And a controller...Don't you dare forget it...Otherwise, I will have to...cry."
Grazburg Soldier: "Ugh...Sure."
He threw the soldier's head away.
Marcus: "Please just stop starting wars. Good grief...I am tired of getting my hands covered in blood."
Grazburg Soldier: "Ugh...Hah."
Marcus: "Hmm."
One of the Dark Umbrella members wanted to shoot.
Marcus: "No...enough with the blood...She does not have her weapon...Lower your weapon."
Dark Umbrella Member: "Sorry, I have to!"
Marcus: "I said: Lower your weapon."
Suddenly, he felt a strong pressure around his neck. It was Marcus's dark Arcane power.
Marcus: "I will repeat myself...We do not shoot young girls...She is not even eighteen..."
He looked at her.
Marcus: "Go to Weimarer. They will take you in there...And choose something else for yourself...The war is over...I know you did not want to kill an innocent person...so go."
She ran away.
Marcus: "Hmm."
(Meanwhile)
Rosika: "Ugh."
Marcus: "Mm."
He continued drinking. Sophie gently stroked his head.
Marcus: "Mmm."
Sophie: "But he is still cute, isn't he?"
Marcus: "Hey...Don't...Actually, go ahead."
He continued drinking.
Sophie: "Hmm."
Fiona: "Rosika...By the way...Marcus does not like being left alone like this...He does not like it. He is still a human being who has suffered a lot...and is sometimes forced to be like this."
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Rosika: "I understand."
Marcus: "Hmm."
Sophie: "Oh, ouch...I must have touched a branch with my finger."
Her finger was bleeding.
Marcus: "Hhmmm...Mmmm!"
He looked away.
John: "Hmm?...Hey Marcus, what is wrong?"
Marcus: "...Mmm."
(Memory)
(Splash!)
Marcus's Father: "Surely you despise me, my son, after I...murdered your mother and siblings in front of your eyes...Forgive me...but I do not want us to kill anymore...I want to free you from this suffering."
Marcus: "Huh."
(Splash!)
He hung there.
Marcus: "Huh...Dad?...Mom?"
(End of memory)
Marcus: "Mmm."
Fiona: "Marcus?"
Marcus: "Ughh!"
She stood in front of him.
Marcus: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
She looked at him.
Fiona: "Is something wrong, Marcus?"
Marcus: "...What...No, I am fine..."
Sophie: "Ohh...Luckily I had a first aid kit."
Marcus: "Mmm."
He looked at Sophie.
Marcus: "Hmm."
Sophie: "Oh? Marcus, what is wrong?"
Marcus: "Nothing...I am fine..."
Rosika suddenly held his hand.
Marcus: "Ughh...What?"
Rosika: "Your heart...It is beating a little fast...Is that because of the blood?"
Marcus: "Mmm..."
He gently moved his hand away.
Marcus: "(Coughs)...I am fine...really..."
(Ding!)
Marcus's Mother: "Marcus."
Marcus: "Huh?"
He looked to the left.
Marcus: "Ugh..."
Sophie: "Marcus, what is wrong?"
Marcus: "Nothing. It must have been the wind."
Sophie: "That saying again, hehe."
Fiona: "(Sweating)...Okay."
Rosika: "Hmm, okay."
Viola: "Where should we go?"
Marcus: "To a hotel...We will sleep first...It is late and we are tired..."
John Titor: "Oh yeah."
They continued walking.
Marcus: "Hmm..."
Hotel Employee: "Hello...How can I help you?"
Marcus: "Two rooms, please. One for the boys and one for the girls."
Hotel Employee: "Of course...That will be about 3,000 Coil per day."
Marcus: "Sure."
He put the money down.
Marcus: "It is on me."
Fiona: "Wait, we have money."
Sophie: "Yeah...We can pay too."
They put down money.
Fiona: "Here."
She took one thousand coils and gave it to Marcus.
Marcus: "Mmm...If you say so, then."
John Titor: "Ohh...But I am hungry."
They went upstairs.
(A few hours later)
John Titor: "(Snoring)...Mmmm."
Siegfried: "(ZZZZ)..."
Marcus: "(ZZZ)...Hahhh."
(Splash!)
(Blood!)
Marcus's Mother: "Marcus...Hehehehe."
Marcus: "Huh!"
He opened his eyes.
Marcus: "Hahh...Mmm..."
He got up and went downstairs to buy something to drink.
Marcus: "Ughh...Hmm?...Sophie?"
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Sophie had a drink in her hand.
Sophie: "Yo, Marcus."
Marcus: "Why are you awake?"
Sophie: "No idea. I couldn't sleep."
Marcus put coins into the machine and got himself a drink.
Sophie: "Did something happen, Marcus?"
Marcus: "What do you mean?"
Sophie: "Marcus, I have known you since we were children...Did you really think I would not notice that you seemed a little out of it for a moment?"
Marcus: "Mmm."
Sophie: "Is the blood thing starting again?"
Marcus: "Mmm...I do not want to talk about it, Sophie...please."
Sophie: "...(Silence)...Okay."
They continued drinking.
Marcus: "How is your illness...I am sorry to hear about it."
Sophie: "Yeah...It happens..."
Marcus: "Hmm...Does it hurt?"
Sophie: "Yes...That is also why I could not sleep."
Marcus: "I understand."
He looked at Sophie.
Sophie smiled at him.
Marcus: "Ugh...How can you smile?...I do not understand."
Sophie: "Hmm?...Hehehe...Because I want to have positive energy and...because I am still me...whether I have an illness or not..."
Marcus: "Mmm...I consider smiling one of the most unnecessary things."
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Marcus: "Especially when the person is suffering inside."
Sophie: "Maybe...but I like smiling...When I smiled at you...your expression became calmer...As long as it works with people, I will keep doing it."
She slowly walked toward him.
Sophie: "You are worried...and that is okay...but I am fine."
Marcus: "Mmm."
Sophie: "You always have to keep moving forward and not give up...Nothing ever goes exactly as planned...That is why...you have to learn how to move forward...and not torture yourself...okay?"
Marcus: "Hmm."
Sophie smiled at Marcus again...Then she walked away.
Marcus: "..."
She walked past him, but before leaving, she gently stroked his cheek.
Marcus: "Mmm..."
She does not like it because he is used to people seeing you as some kind of killer monster... Sophie sees him as a person who has been through a lot...That is how she sees him . Fiona cares about him too because she feels that, out of all of us, he is the one who simply does not want to show his weakness the most..
Sophie . I do not understand that. We are human beings...We are weak and we cry...Do you think that because you are a boy, you are not allowed to cry?"
He did not say anything in fact he looked at her bored and like nothing changed not like Marcus do not have felings it is that he do not know how to show them as his family was trainet to kill and saw how is Father killed his mother and his siblings in front of him Marcus Hates Killing but what he hate more is weakness he is afraid if he shows Weakness Innocent People will die
Sophie: Then let me tell you something...Tears are in a boy's eyes for a reason too...If boys were not allowed to cry, tears would not be part of the human body...It is okay for boys to cry and show their emotions...Just forget that Schneider family idea of always being strong and never showing emotions."
She went upstairs.
Marcus: "Mmm...Maybe...perhaps."