Markus went to sleep on Sunday, awaiting for Monday to return and for his efforts to be recognised.
However in his peaceful sleep, the voice spoke up again.
"Do not panic. She doesn't seem to have malicious intent." the voice tried to make him aware, more gently than usual.
Right then Markus felt a jolt and a clutching hand on his throat, lifting him up.
He panicked. However, due to his repeated training, he panicked in a violent manner.
Essence shot up to his throat, reinforcing both the muscle and creating a shell around the actual throat, posing some resistance. His eyes focused on Bailey who had a murderous and cold expression on her face. Horror overtook him, thinking he had been discovered as an imperial vessel.
His legs were reinforced by essence and he kicked her with such force that he went back and let go of his shell which remained in Bailey's grasp. Breaking free, he tried to take a breath but Bailey was already on him, kicking him through the wall of the cabin and sending him flying through the field. He turned around and fled, turning the tumbling and momentum into force. He sprinted with full force into the treeline, not daring to look back because he sensed the intense power coming from his instructor. As he ran, he saw a red aura whiz past him and manifest as Bailey.
He was planning to stop and turn again, but that would be too slow!
"I'll jump over her!" he thought aloud.
Retracting his enhancement and instead concentrating on his essence, he approached her at full speed and release a massive wind blast, sending him flying above her and continuing his momentum.
However, as he jumped past her, a hand grabbed his leg and slammed him down on the ground with brutal force. Had he not enhanced himself last minute, he could've broken bones.
Bailey summoned a fireball and shot it at Markus. However he himself was not going to take it- shooting with his own windblast which struck against the fireball and was meant to disperse it but it did not.
"She's an elite you fool! RUN!" the voice shouted at him.
Markus used a wind blast but this time on himself, sending himself flying backward and away. He avoided the fireball which would have scorched him alive but he still took a significant blow. Thankfully, since it was his own essence, there was nothing too serious but he was still worse off. Injured and growing more exhausted in both body and essence by the moment, he grew desperate.
'I can't outrun her! I can't outskill her! My attacks are meaningless! But why?!' he thought
"Wait! Why are you doing this!" he shouted.
She did not reply. Only walked up to him with a calm strength that made him feel more and more cornered.
He was doomed.
Her hand reached out to grasp him and his mind went blank. He was defeated in both body and spirit.
It was over.
"You did good, kid." she said as she patted his shoulder.
"Wha–" was all he managed to say in shock before she gave him a chop to the head and knocked him out cold.
"BAILEY!" a voice shouted at her.
"You want some too?" Bailey asked, sensing the person's intent.
It was none other than Headmistress Charlotte Windbourne.
"What do you think you are doing!" Charlotte demanded to know.
"We need to transport him out. I was just trying to knock him out for a while. It is 3am so I need to act now before he wakes up but it seems I've trained him so well, even when he's attacked in his sleep he can put up a fight." Bailey said, still on guard.
Charlotte seemed to relax at the response, fearing something worse.
"You could've just drugged his food at dinner. Did you not receive the departure pack?"
"Oh I did. But I just use those drugs to get some goodnight rest when I'm restless. Plus- I get to test them before they leave." she said with a laid back attitude.
"...I'm taking him back now." Charlotte said, approaching.
"My question for you is- why are you here?" Bailey asked, curious about her presence. The headmistress had not come for any other students before but she conveniently came for this one.
"Your role is to train them. Not to question me. Now stand aside and await your next instruction." she said with a cold tone, pulling rank above Bailey.
Although they were both elites, Charlotte was the headmistress of the academy whereas Bailey was a specialist contractor. A consultant at best.
"I find it curious. Why not humour an old friend?" Bailey pried.
The tension returned and could practically be cut with a knife.
"This is business. And although I trust you, this is something that should be kept to the chest." Charlotte tried to explain without detail.
"Come on- we've done much worse and told each other. Tell me what is so special about him?" Bailey playfully pried into the mystery around this situation.
"Stand aside." Charlotte coldly demanded one final time.
"Okay okay. Don't tell me. But just know- this is not over." Bailey said, backing away from Markus.
Charlotte approached and picked up the boy.
"I really am sorry that I can't bring you in. But there are some things bigger than the both of us combined. Please be patient." she said, trying to control the damage done to their relationship.
"You are turning into one of those stuck up nobles as everyday passes." she commented.
"I know…" she said.
Charlotte then activated it. The blood art of the windbournes- giving into her instinct, Charlotte stepped through the paths. Ethereal white paths appeared around her and she stepped through, gliding onto the path at inhuman speed. In leaps, she travelled several hundred metres in mere moments. She then kept a pace and stepped through the wind paths continuously until she reached a transport. Like a white spectre, she vanished from sight from Bailey's eyes.
"I'll get to the bottom of this- one way or another." Bailey said, returning to the cabin.
At 7am on Monday, Markus returned to the academy unconscious. He was placed in his dorm room and was left a note for when he'd eventually awake. The failure of the academy had returned.
But that title would soon be turned on its head.