As Valerian set his silverware down, everyone followed suit right after. Elena nudged Markus on the elbow, prompting him to follow suit.
When the Emperor is done with his meal, it generally means that the lunch service has concluded, regardless of whether anyone has not finished their food or not.
"Markus, take Rosa with you for your palace tour later, get to know each other better before your tutoring assignment begins," Valerian patted Markus on the shoulders, not as an Emperor but as a doting parent.
Obama led the touring group out of the dining hall, bowing as he excused himself from the Emperor.
Rosalind walked step-in-step beside Markus, chattering about the various sights within the palace.
"The tilework was reminiscent of ancient Islamic art that father admired when he was young. Every piece was hand-cut to fit into these complex geometric stars. There are no images of people or animals here; in Islamic art, infinity is represented through geometry. If you follow the pattern with your eyes, you'll find it never truly ends."
"Give me a moment," Markus said, stopping in his tracks. A moment of epiphany struck; it was as though he was looking down at a lower dimension of space, the stars beneath his feet as if he were a higher-dimensional being staring at the lower dimension below.
[Law of Space: 60%]
'Who would've known, ancient artistic styles passed down through generations, could invoke the understanding of unique laws of the awakeners.'
'Did ancient architects and philosophers discover or develop this before the mana apocalypse? How did they end up with these conclusions?'
More and more questions emerged from the depths of Markus's mind.
Elena noticed the density of space around Markus, gaining a more profound depth, and she shielded Rosalind with a small barrier to prevent any accidents from occurring.
"Thank you, Headmistress. " I have everything under control." Markus took a deep breath. "Thanks for waiting, Mr. Obama." We may proceed with the tour."
"Now, we step out into the light. This is the Court of the Myrtles."
"Look at the pool. See how the water is perfectly still? It acts as a massive mirror for the Valerian Palace."
"Let's head over to the annex building. This is where you will be staying during the period of my tutoring assignment."
"Look up! That wooden ceiling contains over 8,000 cedar pieces, representing the seven heavens of the Islamic cosmos. It is as if you are standing under the universe itself."
Another stroke of epiphany struck Markus, rooting him in place.
The dimensions of space are depicted on the ground and in the skies.
How many layers of space are there within the infinite cosmos?
It seemed as if Markus was on a busy highway, with streets below and the skies above. The different layers of reality depicting the space around him.
[Law of Space: 62%]
Markus's eyes regained their clarity. "Your Imperial Highness Rosalind, have you awakened your element?"
"Yes! But it's a unique one, probably the first of its kind!" Rosalind exclaimed, extending her palm, focusing the elements into a small orb.
A translucent grey sphere condensed above her palm, floating in mid-air.
It felt as though it was rejecting everything around it.
"Father calls this the null element; the researchers call it the void element."
"It rejects everything that it comes into contact with; that's why father has been worried about my future as an awakener."
"This element, without proper control and training, could hurt me and the people around me."
Rosalind released the energy of the orb, dispersing it into mana particles.
[My son, that is the element of Void, it is the antithesis to existence itself.]
[Before you were born, Gaia was at the forefront of holding the void beasts lurking outside the universe.]
[Your father and I held the line, preventing them from invading our lands.]
[It seems that the boundary has been weakening, allowing mortals to sense and awaken the properties of the void from beyond.]
[It may not necessarily be a bad thing; if awakeners could wield the power of the void, we too can use it as a weapon against them.]
[You can guide her fundamentals, but for her to master the elemental laws of the void is a path she has to tread alone.]
Markus nodded, "I have a general idea of how to guide you, but your unique circumstances require a ton of patience, not just from my end but yours as well."
The revelation of Rosalind's element sent a ripple through Markus's spatial core that even the palace's ancient stone wards couldn't dampen. To the researchers, it was a "Null" element—a scientific anomaly. To the Primordials, it was the breath of the end itself.
Rosalind nodded, filled with determination, excited about the days to come; she could finally practice without restraints.
"We will start after the inter-academy friendlies," Markus decided, his voice regaining its usual clipped, professional tone. "I have to uphold the reputation of the finest academy in the East."
"The Interschool Friendlies," Elena added, stepping forward as her earthen barrier dissipated. She looked at Markus with a mixture of pride and wariness.
"The Emperor has given you the keys to the kingdom, Markus, but don't forget you still have a trophy to win for me."
"I haven't forgotten, Headmistress."
The tour concluded at the grand obsidian gates of the palace annex. Obama bowed one final time, his white-gloved hand over his heart. "See you soon, student Markus. It has been a pleasure to be of your service this fine afternoon."
"I'll be watching every second from right here, Markus! Good luck!" Rosalind chirped, waving so hard her whole arm shook.
The Swiss guards escorted Markus and Elena back to the outer palace, where Elena could use her Earthen lotus freely to transport them back to the Academy.
The lotus touched down on the Academy's front lawn with a soft thud. Markus stepped out, the familiar scent of the campus gardens a stark contrast to the sterile, ancient perfume of the palace.
The "Monster" had returned home, and the Academy had no idea how much the world had changed in a single afternoon.
Markus stood in the center of his dorm room, the air humming with a newfound weight. The dorm room felt small—strangely fragile—after the vaulted heavens of the palace.
He had much to do: organize his new gear, check on the Bloodhound loot, and prepare for a tournament where he was essentially a wolf entering a playground of sheep.
Tomorrow, he would have to pretend to be a student again. He would have to hold back his strength so as not to cause any unfortunate accidents.