Outside the Palace Walls - The Rendezvous Point
The night air was thick with smoke from the burning warehouses.
The cries of the rescued elves filled the background, but near the lead carriage, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.
Elrond Leon stood staring at the palace gates. His hand gripped his sword hilt so hard his knuckles were white.
"Leave," Elrond commanded, his voice low. "All of you."
"Captain?" Amreth stepped forward.
"I'm going to find Markil," Elrond said, taking a step toward the palace. "He is taking too long. I guess he is in some trouble there."
Kalman blocked his path.
"Sir! Stop!" Kalman shouted, desperation in his voice. "Just get in the carriage! We have the time now! We can leave!"
Elrond glared at him. "Move, Kalman."
"I guess he hasn't won yet!" Kalman argued, pointing at the ominous castle. "I mean... what if he is dead? He was fighting Viper! An S-Rank Assassin! And the King's army!"
"He is human, Captain! He makes mistakes! If he fell, we cannot risk the safety of the rescued elves just to retrieve a corpse!"
Elrond's mood shifted. The air around him turned icy.
No... Elrond thought. He can't be.
He possesses the power of the Void. He has the eyes of a monster. He can't be defeated by a mere S-Rank. I am sure of it.
Elrond opened his mouth to shout.
"All of you—"
ZAP.
The air displaced violently. Dust swirled.
Before Elrond could finish his sentence, a figure appeared instantly in front of him.
"Yo."
The A-Rank knights gasped and drew their weapons.
Elrond stumbled back, shocked.
Markil stood there. His clothes were torn. His mask was gone. His hands were stained with dried blood—royal blood.
But his eyes... his eyes were calm. Cold.
"Markil?" Elrond breathed. "Hey... are you okay? Did you finish the job?"
Markil looked at his bloody hands, then wiped them on his pants.
"Yeah," Markil said, his voice void of emotion. "I did it."
"The King. Viper. All dead."
The Elite Knights stood in stunned silence. He said it so casually. Like he had just taken out the trash.
"Oo... so fast," Elrond muttered, regaining his composure. "Okay! Get in! We leave now!"
Elrond turned to the carriage.
"Elrond."
Markil didn't move.
"I want to request you something."
The tone was different. It wasn't the goofy Markil. It wasn't the killer Markil.
It was... vulnerable.
SHING.
Kalman's hand flew to his daggers. Arwen's eyes flashed, activating Tenmogan to scan for threats.
Elrond raised a hand immediately. "Stop. There is no need for this. All of you, stand down."
Elrond looked at Markil. "Speak."
Markil looked at the ground, then at the human city lights in the distance.
"Can... can you tell King Aelindor that I want to stay in this human society for some time?"
Markil looked up, his eyes pleading.
"But don't worry! I'll help you from anywhere! If you need me, I'll come!"
Elrond looked at him with seriousness.
I knew it, Elrond thought. I knew he would say something like that.
After seeing other humans... seeing the society... he must have a feeling. Why shouldn't he be with his own race? He has spent his time with us, then with Elves. He is lonely.
"Elrond," Markil continued, his voice shaking slightly. "If you give me permission... then I'll do that. If you will not give me permission... I'll not go. I will come back to the Spires."
Elrond's eyes widened. The other Elites looked shocked.
He is asking for permission? Elrond realized. He could just leave. He is stronger than all of us combined. But he is asking... out of respect.
"If you need any help," Markil promised, placing a hand on his chest. "You can ask me anytime. Anywhere. I will make everything happen."
"Just... just I am sorry. I know I am not following the deal I made with the King perfectly. But... I really want to stay with my own kind."
Elrond stayed silent, processing this.
"BUT YOU HUMAN!"
Kalman snapped. He stepped forward, his face twisted in anger.
"You made a vow! You—"
"I know," Markil interrupted softly. "But still. I want to."
"Your human selfishness!" Kalman spat. "You use us, and now you abandon us?!"
"STOP KALMAN!" Elrond roared.
Kalman froze.
"If you go any further," Elrond said dangerously, "you will have to answer to me. Do you understand? Just get back."
Kalman gritted his teeth. He looked at Elrond, then at Markil. He slammed his daggers into their sheaths and walked away, looking down.
Why? Kalman thought furiously. Why the hell is the Captain supporting him? Why does everyone trust this monster?
Elrond turned back to Markil. The anger vanished from his face, replaced by a gentle smile.
"Okay," Elrond said. "I give you permission."
Markil's face lit up. "Really?"
"Thank you, Elrond! Thank you so mu—"
"BUT," Elrond cut him off.
"You will not be in this Kingdom."
Markil blinked. "Huh?"
"Go to somewhere else," Elrond ordered. "Another Kingdom. Not in Solara. I don't want you here."
Markil looked shocked. "But... why not here? I just cleared the bad guys!"
Elrond sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Also... you will not break the promise to the King. You will help us if we need you. Sometime. Okay?"
"Yeah, sure, but why can't I stay here?"
"BECAUSE," Elrond explained, losing patience. "You see, people will be in a hurry now! The King is dead! Other Kingdoms will send troops here to investigate! It will be a war zone of politics!"
Elrond narrowed his eyes.
"And also... tell me. Markil."
"Have you showed the Prince your face?"
Markil froze.
He scratched the back of his head. He gave a funny, awkward reaction, looking anywhere but at Elrond.
"Well... actually..." Markil chuckled nervously. "I told him my name... Markil. And... uh... I kind of took off my mask? So... yeah. I showed him my face."
...
Silence.
Arwen's jaw dropped.
Amreth face-palmed.
Even the A-Rank elves looked at him like he was an idiot.
"YOU BRAT!" Elrond shouted, his cool demeanor shattering completely.
He gave a funny expression of pure disbelief.
"I TOLD YOU! You will NOT show your face to anyone! Do you have a brain made of rocks?!"
"Now it's impossible for you to stay here!" Elrond yelled, waving his hands. "The new King knows your face! The rumors will spread! Assassins will come! You have to go to another Kingdom IMMEDIATELY!"
Markil looked down, shrinking under the scolding like a puppy who chewed a shoe.
"Sorry..."
Elrond looked at the sulking boy.
His anger melted away.
Elrond smiled. A sad, warm smile.
Markil... Elrond thought. I wish that you were my little brother.
You are powerful enough to destroy the world, yet you make stupid mistakes like a child. You ask for permission like a family member.
But you are not my brother. You are a human. And your path is different.
I always wished for a little brother. And for a brief moment... you were really like one to me.
Markil looked up, seeing Elrond staring at him with soft eyes.
"Elrond?"
Elrond snapped out of it. He put on a fake angry expression.
"Don't look at me like that!" Elrond shouted. "Leave if you want! I will tell King Aelindor by myself! Just go before I change my mind!"
Markil smiled. He understood.
"Okay. Thanks."
Markil turned and started walking.
"I TOLD YOU RUN!" Elrond shouted, waving his sword sheath threateningly.
Markil laughed.
ZAP.
He teleported. Gone in an instant.
The spot where he stood was empty.
Elrond stared at the empty space. He lowered his hand.
He smiled.
"Goodbye, Markil."
"Hey."
A hand grabbed Elrond's shoulder.
Amreth leaned in, grinning.
"Did you make the right choice, Captain?"
Elrond sheathed his sword. "Yeah. Of course. That boy... he is having a bright future. We shouldn't chain him down."
Amreth poked Elrond's cheek.
"Captain," Amreth laughed. "You are really looking like a big brother right now! So sentimental!"
"Shut up!" Elrond shouted, his face turning red with embarrassment. "It's nothing like that! Get in the carriage! All of you! Leave it at once!"
Amreth laughed louder as they boarded the carriages.
As the convoy began to move, leaving Solara behind, Elrond looked out the window at the stars.
Be safe, Markil.
(Chapter 36 Finished)