"It would appear so… your majesty." Markus said, kneeling before the queen and looking down at the golden carpet.
"I am pleased with your progress Markus. Within the last year, you have made leaps. Beginning your term as a mere apprentice with a corrupted essence reserve and finishing the academic year as maybe the strongest stage 3 wind user. Many would not believe it. I too held reservations. But from a glance it would seem it was true. Jessica, test him." Elizabeth commanded.
Instantly Markus was flung upward by an unspeakable force and Jessica appeared above him in a white blur slamming him into the ground.
Markus' essence instinctually formed a shell to protect him but it was shattered from the force.
"That's enough. I now have confirmation the wind is protecting him, even when he cannot protect himself." She said, waving her hand to pacify everything.
Markus was not only pacified but in agony. Several broken bones and torn muscles from the impact.
He grit his teeth to not scream and cry from the pain but his tears silently flowed.
"I want you to remember this pain, Markus Windwave. I want you to remember at a single whim I can inflict this upon you and never stop it. A single act of disobedience will spell your death. A single act of hesitation will cost you greatly." She spoke slowly and yet with such power that her voice bounced off the walls creating echoes.
The weight of her words sunk into his soul.
"What do you want from me?" He asked gritting his teeth.
She got up and walked down to Markus. Creating a crystal with a strange light, she approached him and showed him the item.
"I want you to grow powerful enough to never let a master do this to you. I want you to ascend and serve me. Swear your loyalty to me and I will make you the most powerful being in this world. What do you say?" She asked, her words being nothing more than noise over the entrancing crystal in front of him.
"… damn you!" He yelled in desperation and pain- but with great defiance.
His seed of hatred bloomed further. His will grew stronger but it seemed to be fading. The crystal floating above his head seemed to consume his soul.
"You're pathetic!" Anax shouted with all his might, sensing that Markus was quickly coming undone by the entrancing crystal.
"Shut up voice!" Markus shouted back in the real world.
"Oh? Is Anax displeased?" She asked, retracting the crystal.
"Who— the voice is… the last emperor's… Anax…" he spoke, realising why the voice had known so much history- conflicting history around Anax. It knew it because he was there!
"I suppose he would not be. After all, Anax wants you to mature independently and take your body when it is convenient. Being in my service would mean that should he succeed, he would die immediately." Elizabeth said, walking back to sit on her throne. Her white and gold noble suit leaves a golden trail in her wake.
"This is my daughter Annie." She said, looking at the young woman standing next to the throne.
'Who in the world is the father..?' Markus asked himself, thinking who would dare to lay with this maniacal woman for a queen.
"Greetings your royal highness." Markus expressed, he said mockingly from the floor.
"Upon your ascension as emperor, you are to marry her." Elizabeth said casually.
Markus' eyes shot wide for a few mere moments. The damned crystal was wearing him down to the point where he could hardly reply.
"What say you?" She asked, her words entering his very being and tying an anchor there.
"As you command." Markus said, failing to resist further.
"You pathetic creature." Anax scowled and berated him.
'Silence- you wretched excuse for a ghost— do not lecture me about failure when you yourself are one!' Markus replied wearily. His body is more obedient than his soul it would seem.
"Oh hoh- spoken like a true emperor. " Anax said with a laid back tone, realising there was still fight within.
The princess looked at Markus who was kneeling and ragged.
"He is going to become emperor? Maybe in a fiction story. A novel even- it would probably take a while." She said, with a repulsed tone
"Do not let comparisons rob your perception- comparing him to a master at this stage is a mistake. If he were to fight any stage three, he would win. I am certain of it. Therefore, the more he advances, we can confidently assume his true capabilities." The Queen clarified.
"I do have a question, mother. If you are interested in his imperial power, then why bother to make him advance the ranks of elemental ascension? Would it not be more logical to keep him safe until he ascends as emperor?" She asked
"In theory, yes. But what use is someone without experience. It is one thing to know how to use power and another to have experience using it. The battle experience and techniques will serve as the foundation of what is to come." The Queen spoke with calculated precision, having considered all of these factors long ago.
"I understand… thank you." She replied with a respectful bow.
"Then it is sorted. I shall leave his crystal with you, Markus. As my insurance that your body and soul are obedient to me and me alone. Take him away to the further most room in the residence and leave him there for a day or two." She commanded the two masters.
The masters did as they were told and the audience hall was now only occupied by the queen, her daughter and her sister.
"I want you two to stay away from him for the time being. I do not want any more attention than needed directed toward him. These months are to make sure he remains alive and safe from external interference. His advancement will be accommodated but not encouraged. Am I understood?" She asked, glancing at them both.
"Yes your majesty." They both replied.
"Dismissed." She said and they were gone.
Just like that the Queen was left all alone on her throne.
Markus meanwhile was thrown into a lavish room with the damned crystal.
"Anax— what do I do? This thing is killing me…" he said, looking wearily at the glowing crystal.
"Just focus on your will! Do not let yourself become her dog— there is no coming back from it kid! You hear me- you willingly bend the knee to her and your life is forefeit! You'll never be anything except a slave!" Anax shouted
"But… it's not so bad is it? A helping hand to allow me to become emperor? I'll be the strongest! How bad could it be? Even as a slave- she wouldn't be so bad… she's been tough but she has helped me!"
"No— do not even begin to trust that hag! There is nothing more pathetic than a slave trusting his master! She is only helping you because it is in her interest to! Wake up and realise you will be nothing under her!" He shouted pridefully and vexed at Markus' weakness.
"I will be nothing without her. She will just kill me you know… so what is worse? Being dead or a powerful slave?" He asked, truly torn and tired.
"… you can find a way to live! But as her slave- there is no way to escape… do not let yourself be deceived kid—" Anax warned but feeling his words fell on deaf ears
"The more I think… the more I don't see it as bad…" Markus admitted
"Because you are still young and gullible! Do not—"
"You're not any better than her. Are you? You're not saying this to help me- but to help yourself? So it's my choice then… who gets to use me. You… or her…" Markus said softly
"I suppose it is…" Anax said, more quietly than probably intended however he realised between a ghostly voice and a physical influence… he would never win.
Markus got up on the humongous bed and went to sleep.
And so, Markus Windwave took his last sleep as a free person. For when he would wake up the next day, he would no longer be himself. Bound in someone's plans and service for the rest of his miserable life…
The next morning.
"Well? What is your choice?" Anax asked Markus, who was coming back to consciousness.
"Shut up you failed emperor. I've had enough of you messing up my head. I know myself and my options. I am now… a true servant of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth Crystallia." He said out loud with an ice cold tone.
'What's the point of having loyal subjects when you can quickly enslave them… what treacherous descendants you've produced Gilead… although I suppose it's ironic your descendant is the one plotting to ascend an emperor- as opposed to you who plotted to dethrone one… how poetic.' Anax berated him.
It was settled in stone then… the queen had gained a new thrall. An imperial one at that. Markus Windwave.