Markil sighed contentedly, sinking into the silk sheets of the royal bed. The adrenaline from fighting the King of Monsters was fading, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion.
"Finally," he mumbled, hugging a pillow. "I'm back. No demons. No death stares. just... sleep."
He closed his eyes, and darkness took him instantly.
The Next Morning
Sunlight streamed through the window, but Markil was deep in dreamland. He was dreaming about a buffet where the pizza never ended.
Knock. Knock.
"Mmm..." Markil drooled onto the pillow.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Mom... please," Markil mumbled, turning over. "Just 39 more minutes..."
BAM!
The oak door didn't open; it practically exploded off its hinges.
"I AM NOT YOUR MOTHER, YOU HUMAN BASTARD!"
Markil's eyes snapped open just in time to see a fist.
POW.
"OW!"
Markil flew off the bed, tangled in the sheets, and face-planted onto the rug.
Kalmen Solas stood over him, veins popping in his forehead. He looked like he had swallowed a lemon and chased it with vinegar.
"Get up!" Kalman shouted. "We have to leave! The sun has been up for an hour!"
Markil groaned, rubbing his cheek. He sat up, still wearing his dusty clothes from the portal adventure.
"Okay, okay! I'm awake! You didn't have to use an assassination technique for a wake-up call!"
Markil stood up, stretching his back.
Kalman narrowed his eyes, scanning Markil's attire.
"Why..." Kalman asked slowly, "did you sleep in your clothes? You look like you rolled in dirt."
Markil froze.
Oh crap. I forgot to change after killing Balor.
Markil flashed a fake, dazzling smile.
"Ooo, sorry! I was really tired, you know? The... uh... the bed was so comfy I just passed out. Forgot to change. Classic Markil maneuver."
Kalman stared at him with pure disgust. "Whatever. Just move."
They walked down the corridor. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Don't think," Kalman whispered, not looking at Markil, "that just because you defeated the Captain, you are stronger than me."
Markil raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"It was luck," Kalman spat. "Pure luck. You caught him off guard. If I were fighting you... you wouldn't see the blade coming."
Markil let out a low, fake laugh.
"Hehe. Sure, buddy. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
The Palace Gates
The morning air was crisp. In front of the massive white gates, a convoy was assembled.
Six massive carriages, reinforced with steel and magic, stood ready. Thirty-nine A-Rank knights stood in perfect formation.
Standing by the lead carriage were the Elites: Elrond, Amreth, Alith, and Arwen.
As Markil approached, Elrond turned. The look in the Captain's eyes had changed. It wasn't hatred anymore. It wasn't even tolerance.
It was respect. The kind of respect a warrior gives to the one who broke him.
But before Markil could say hello, a blur of silver hair rushed toward him.
"Markil!"
Melian stopped right in front of him, breathless. Her cheeks were flushed pink.
"Hey, Melian," Markil said, relaxing his posture. "How are you?"
"I'm fine!" Melian beamed, fidgeting with her dress. "Tell me, did you sleep well?"
Markil laughed. "Of course, why not? I mean, that luxurious room you gave me? Why wouldn't I sleep peacefully? It's better than my house."
Melian smiled, looking at her feet.
"I'm glad."
Behind them, the Elites were watching.
"Hey Amreth!" Markil waved.
Amreth, usually the joker, made a funny, awkward face, unsure how to act around the guy who nearly nuked the arena.
Elrond stepped forward. He walked with a slight limp, though his leg was fully healed—a phantom pain.
"So, you are here," Elrond said seriously. "I am still not able to believe that you defeated me."
Markil patted Elrond's shoulder.
"You are strong, Elrond. Don't worry about it."
Elrond looked Markil in the eye.
"Ooo, really?" Elrond narrowed his gaze. "While fighting you... I noticed something. You were holding back."
Markil blinked.
"What? Me?" Markil pointed at himself, feigning innocence. "No way! I wasn't holding back! I pushed my full self to fight you! I was sweating! Look, I'm still sweating!"
Elrond stared at him. He looked at the clothes Markil had slept in.
"Whatever," Elrond sighed. "The King told me everything. So now, get in the carriage."
Elrond opened the door for him. As Markil climbed in, Elrond watched him.
This boy... Elrond thought. He is something I have never seen. He lies as easily as he breathes, but his power is honest.
"Sir, come get in," Kalman grumbled, pushing past Markil to sit in the corner.
Elrond nodded and climbed in.
Outside, Alith leaned over to Melian.
"Hey, Princess," Alith said stoically. "Don't worry. We will not do anything to him. Unless he does something stupid."
Melian smiled, clutching her chest.
"Thank you, Alith."
Her heart was beating so fast she thought it might explode.
Arwen, the Scout, watched Melian closely. She leaned against the carriage wheel.
"By the way, Princess," Arwen smirked. "Why are you so scared if anything happens to him?"
Melian's face turned the color of a tomato.
"It's... it's nothing! Just... he saved me! That's all!"
She turned and ran back into the palace as fast as her legs could carry her.
Alith blinked. "What? Why did she run away like that?"
Arwen chuckled. She reached out and pinched Alith's arm.
"Ow," Alith said flatly.
"You will understand when you grow up," Arwen teased.
Arwen climbed into the carriage, glancing at Markil who was arguing with Kalman about legroom.
I have to say, Arwen thought, looking at his sharp jawline and purple eyes. He is really handsome.
The Journey Begins
The convoy began to move. The carriages rumbled over the cobblestones, heading out of the Silver Spires.
Inside the lead carriage, it was cramped.
Markil sat next to Elrond. Opposite them were Kalman, Amreth, Alith, and Arwen.
Markil looked out the window as the landscape rolled by.
So, we are going now.
His mind drifted back to the forest dimension.
Yesterday... fighting Balor.
He clenched his fist secretly. He could feel it. The inventory in his soul was heavier.
Warfer, the Sword of Judgment.
Krowes, the Stealth Magic.
Kareno, the Eyes of Time.
Lightning Manipulation.
And that insane durability.
Markil suppressed a grin that wanted to split his face.
Ooo, so much fun. I can turn invisible now. I can see the future. I can drop lightning storms.
I guess I'm really stronger now.
He turned his head forward.
He immediately locked eyes with Kalman.
Kalman was staring at him. No, he was glaring at him. His eyes were burning with a mix of irritation and murderous intent.
This useless human brat, Kalman thought, gripping his dagger hilt under his cloak. Why do we have to babysit him? Just because the King said so? Ooo fuck the King. I don't care. I want to kill him right here. I want to carve that stupid smile off his face.
Markil gulped.
Ooo fuck, Markil thought. Why is he looking at me like I kicked his puppy? If looks could kill, I'd be dead three times over.
Markil coughed awkwardly. He looked at the others. Everyone else was pointedly looking out the window, avoiding the tension.
"Hmmm..." Markil hummed.
"Hey, Elrond," Markil asked. "Sir Elrond? Can you tell me how much time it will take to get there? Sorry, but I don't even know where we are going. Is there a brochure?"
Elrond turned from the window.
"You can call me just Elrond," he said calmly.
"And yeah, it will take 3 days."
"Three days?!" Markil groaned.
"We are going to the neighboring kingdom," Elrond explained, his voice growing dark. "The Kingdom of Solara."
"There is a mixed population there. Humans, 40% Elves, and 10% Dwarves."
Elrond clenched his fist on his knee.
"We have got Intel that the King of Solara and his Royal Family... they are capturing female elves. They are being raped. Tortured. Sold."
The air in the carriage dropped twenty degrees.
"Everybody says it's 'legal' there," Elrond whispered. "But we are going to change the law."
Markil's playful expression vanished. His eyes darkened.
Rape. Torture.
He remembered his mother crying. He remembered the bullies.
So... that's the mission.
"So... it will take 3 days," Markil muttered.
Ooo fuck. I can't wait, Markil thought, the purple geometric crests in his eyes spinning slowly. I really want to meet this King of Solara.
Elrond noticed Markil's face paling slightly—probably from the motion of the carriage.
Elrond leaned in close. His S-Rank aura flared just a tiny bit.
"And yeah," Elrond said, giving Markil a death stare that rivaled Kalman's.
"Be careful. If you try to vomit in here again... I will kill you."
Markil shrank back into his seat, the fear real this time.
"Yeah, yeah! I won't! I promise! I took a pill! ...Mentally!"
(Chapter 27 Finished)