Chapter 21

A month.

A fucking month flew by in a blur of exhaustion, frustration, and exhilarating breakthroughs.

After two weeks of agonizing attempts, he’d finally managed to create a perfect replica of that damn sword, a feat that had earned him a rare nod of approval from the eccentric old shopkeeper.

“Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Now, let’s see if you can do it blindfolded.”

Julian had said, that smug grin of his making Mark want to chuck the blade at his head.

From there, things had only gotten harder. Julian had upped the ante with increasingly ... bizarre exercises — summoning multiple replicas at once, shaping void energy into complex geometric patterns.

Some of it had seemed pointless at first, but the more he practiced, the more he understood. Julian’s methods weren’t just crazy; they were effective.

Then came the sparring matches. No lightning, no brute force. Just Void. “Let’s see how you handle yourself when you can’t rely on your safety net,” Julian had said, tossing him into match after match.

He’d pushed Mark harder than ever, forcing him to think on his feet, to adapt, to anticipate.

It was humiliating at first, stumbling and flailing like an amateur, but gradually, he began to adapt. His blades became sharper, his barriers stronger, his control more precise.

He was using less energy now, the summons flowing with ease, the darkness inside him feeling less like a stranger and more like an old friend. And for the first time, he’d started to experiment—creating shapes, testing limits, finding new ways to wield the Void. Julian’s madness was working.

But the routine was brutal. Juggling training with college left him feeling like a battered punching bag most days. The first few weeks, he’d stagger home barely able to see straight, his body aching in places he didn’t even know could ache. Yet somehow, he was adapting. His body grew stronger, his reflexes sharper, his connection to his powers deeper.

Thankfully, Ria had been a rock. Supportive, understanding, and always there with a comforting hug, a warm meal, and a much-needed dose of perspective.

And in the bedroom ... she was equally as devoted, always more than willing to help him work out his frustrations.

His day kickstarted with her lips around his morning wood– what she charmingly called “breakfast blowjobs” – and that had become his normal. Not a bad way to start the day.

She was up for anything, no kink too crazy or off-limits. A real sex kitten, always game to experiment, to explore, to push their boundaries. She catered to his cravings, indulging every naughty whim and fantasy.

Damn, she’s a freak.

But so was he. And with her, he didn’t have to hide it.

He could be himself, the good, the bad, the dark, the dirty.

Just like she said. She accepted it all, embraced it all, and that, he realized, was the most intoxicating thing of all.

She was more than just a lover; she was his partner, his confidante, his best friend. He was grateful for her, for her unwavering support, her infectious laughter, the way she made him feel like he could conquer anything.

Mark sighed as he thought about her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. For the first time in a long time, he felt content, truly content, like he had finally found that missing piece of happiness he never realized he needed.

Life was good.

Complicated, exhausted, and definitely weird, but good.

Mark rounded a corner, heading towards his usual shortcut, when a voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the quiet afternoon air.

”Glacies__ obscura: Constringe!”

The air around him shimmered, the temperature plummeting as a cage of ice materialized, trapping him. The icy bars weren’t just solid blocks; they were intricate, twisted formations, like frozen vines woven into a delicate, but unyielding, prison.

He tapped one of the bars, the cold biting into his skin. Damn, that’s some fancy work.

Footsteps echoed, and three figures emerged from the shadows. Mark recognized the one in the center immediately.

“Alex?” What the hell is he doing here?

“Glad to see you remember me.”

“What’s this about, Alex?”

“Don’t play dumb. You know by now that Ria’s off-limits.”

“Still butt-hurt about her rejecting you ... Huh?”

“This isn’t about me.” Alex’s jaw tightened. “Ria has responsibilities. Important responsibilities. You’re a distraction. A liability.”

“Ah, ‘responsibilities.’ So, what’s the plan? Scare away every potential suitor until no one is left.”

“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.” Alex snapped, taking a step closer.

“Oh, I think I understand perfectly.”

“Stay away from her,” one of the men growled, stepping forward. His long hair fell around his face, obscuring his features, but Mark could see the anger burning in his eyes. “She’s not for you. You’re not one of us. Stay the fuck away from her, or you’ll regret it.”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Last time I checked, Ria was her own person. She doesn’t need you, or anyone else, to ‘protect’ her.”

The long-haired guy bristled, his hand rising. But before he could attack, Alex stepped in front of him, holding up a hand. “Ethan, stop.”

Mark glanced around, noting the deserted hallway. They planned this, he realized, a flicker of annoyance running through him. A nice, quiet spot where they could ambush me without drawing attention.

“Look, I get it,” he said. “You’re concerned about Ria. Protective. But seriously, this is a bit much? Trapping me in a cage of ice? Really? Bit of an overreaction, don’t you think?”

“Show some respect,” Ethan snarled, his eyes narrowed. “You’re talking to members of the Crescent.”

“And I’m not some threat you need to neutralize,” Mark countered. “Ria doesn’t need a babysitter. She doesn’t need a bunch of self-appointed guardians.”

“You’re an outsider,” Alex said, his voice cold and dismissive. “You don’t understand our world, our traditions, our values. You’re a danger to Ria, whether you realize it or not.”

“You know, I’m getting really tired of all this ‘outsider’ crap.”

“You’re a liability, Mark,” Alex argued. “Your presence puts Ria at risk. It draws unwanted attention. It jeopardizes everything she’s worked for.”

“You think she needs protecting from me?”

“Yes, you may not get it. But just by being with you is very disastrous for her position.”

“I’ll only stay away from Ria when she tells me to. And trust me, Alex, that’s not going to happen.”

Before anyone could respond, Mark placed his hand on one of the icy bars, channeling his power, his lightning coursing through the frozen construct. The ice crackled, splintered, and then shattered, the cage collapsing around him in a shower of glittering fragments.

He stepped through the glittering shards of ice, lightning still crackling faintly around his fingertips.

“Alright,” Mark said, his tone sharp. “You’ve had your fun. But going full Saturday morning villain on me is bit much don’t you think?”

Alex didn’t answer immediately. He remained a few steps back, his expression calm but unreadable. The two men flanking him, however, didn’t bother with subtlety.

“Someone’s cocky,” said the stocky guy with a buzz cut, his voice dripping with disdain. “That was a cute trick back there. But let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Cute? You’re calling that cute? You should meet my grandma. She’d wipe the floor with you.”

Buzz Cut’s smirk faltered for a second before his expression hardened.

The other man, Ethan, stepped forward, his long hair catching the faint glimmer of light. His voice was low, measured. “This isn’t a game. You’re way out of your depth. Ria doesn’t need someone like you dragging her down.”

For god’s sake these guys are...

“Dragging her down? Pretty sure she’s the one keeping me sane. You guys, on the other hand? You’re not exactly doing her any favors by pulling this crap.”

“You don’t understand,” Alex interjected. “Ria’s position isn’t just about her. It’s about Crescent. The Association. She has duty. A legacy. And you? You’re a liability.”

“You know, it’s funny how all of you keep saying what’s best for Ria, but none of you have actually asked her. Maybe try talking to her instead of ambushing me in back alleys?”

Buzz Cut rolled his shoulders, a sly grin creeping onto his face.”We don’t need anyone’s permission to deal with asshats.”

Ethan stepped closer, his hands moving in subtle, practiced motions. The air around him darkened, shadows pooling at his feet. “We’re giving you a choice. Walk away from her now, or we’ll make you regret staying.”

Mark’s lips curled into a dry smirk. “Alright. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Ethan, made the first move. He muttered a few words under his breath, his hands moving in a series of intricate gestures- shadows thickened around, twisting unnaturally as a guttural growl echoed from shadows.

What the... Mark braced himself, sweat trickling down his brow as two shadowy wolves prowled out of the darkness, their glowing red eyes fixed on him.

Summoners.

He braced himself, his legs sparking with lightning as the wolves lunged. Their teeth snapped inches from his face as he darted sideways, his enhanced speed saving him from being shredded.

Mark dodged, his augmented speed allowing him to narrowly avoid their snapping jaws. He retaliated with a blast of lightning, aiming for Ethan, but the other guy, conjured a gust of wind that swerved the bolt off course, making it fizzle harmlessly into the air.

A summoner and a wind mage. Great. Mark’s mind raced, assessing his opponents.

The wolves circled him, their movements fluid and menacing, while Buzz Cut, that smug bastard, grinned, raising his hands.

The air around Mark swirled, pulling at his clothes and cutting into his skin with sharp gusts, becoming a miniature tornado that buffeted him, trying to knock him off balance.

Mark gritted his teeth, channeling his energy to enhance his strength. He planted his feet against the force, unleashing a bolt of lightning at the ground near Buzz Cut’s feet. The explosion of energy disrupted the airflow, sending the guy stumbling back.

Seizing the opportunity, Mark lunged forward, his fist connecting with Buzz Cut’s jaw. The man grunted but quickly recovered, retaliating with a blast of compressed air that slammed into Mark’s chest. He threw up a barrier just in time, the force of the impact sending him skidding back.

He turned just in time to see one of the shadow wolves lunging at him again. He sidestepped, the sharp whoosh of air too close for comfort, and retaliated with a lightning strike that crackled like a whip through the gloom.

The wolf disintegrated in a burst of dark smoke, but Mark barely had time to breathe before the second one pounced, its claws raking his arm. For fuck’s sake ... how many are there?

Pain flared like fire, but Mark gritted his teeth, his energy sparking to life in his hands and unleashed a series of rapid-fire lightning bolts, forcing it to retreat, its shadowy form flickering and fading.

His chest rose and fell, his breaths sharp as his gaze darted between Ethan and Buzz Cut. They moved like predators in sync, their attacks weaving together seamlessly—one pressing forward while the other prepared the next blow. It was like battling a storm with a shadow lurking at its edges. Block one, and the other struck twice as hard.

Buzz Cut smirked, his hands rising in a slow, deliberate motion. The air rippled around him, a low hum growing louder as a swirling vortex of wind spun to life. It shot toward Mark like a living creature, spiraling tighter, faster, pulling everything toward its center.

Mark planted his feet, gritting his teeth as the suction clawed at his body. Dust and debris tore through the air, slicing against his exposed skin. He couldn’t stay in one place—it would shred him if he let it. Lightning sparked along his legs as he darted sideways, narrowly escaping the vortex’s grasp. The whirlwind roared past him, tearing into a nearby wall, sending chunks of concrete flying.

Ethan didn’t miss a beat. His hands moved in smooth, practiced arcs, his voice low and guttural as the shadows around him thickened. Tendrils of darkness writhed like snakes, gathering into a growing mass that pulsed with energy.

Mark’s mind raced, formulating a plan. Break the rhythm ... Force them to react.

Electricity crackled around his fingers as he feinted a lightning strike toward Ethan. Buzz Cut’s eyes darted to the glow, his instincts kicking in. He raised a hand to counter, summoning a blast of compressed air, but Mark was already moving.

He ducked low, his body a blur as he shot forward, closing the distance. His fist slammed into Buzz Cut’s stomach, a crackling surge of energy reverberating through the blow. Buzz Cut’s eyes widened in shock, the air leaving his lungs in a violent gasp as he crumpled to the ground, the vortex dissolving into nothing.

Mark didn’t waste time. One down. His heart pounded, but his focus remained sharp.

Ethan’s chanting rose in intensity, the shadows around him coalescing into sharper forms—spindly, clawed figures that oozed malice.Their forms seemed half-real, their jagged edges flickering like static. Mark didn’t wait for them to finish materializing.

Lightning surged through his body, a visceral force that lit the space around him with flickering white-blue light. His veins burned with the power, and he unleashed it in a rapid barrage. Bolts streaked through the air, the crackling sound deafening.

The first strike pierced through a shadowy figure mid-formation, tearing it apart before it could fully materialize. The second struck the ground near Ethan, forcing him to stumble back, his chant faltering. The third hit its mark, slamming into his chest with a burst of blinding light.

The summoner cried out, the shadows around him collapsing into nothingness as he fell to his knees, clutching his chest.

Mark was about to finish him off when a sudden rush of air from behind prickled his senses.

Without hesitation, he twisted, narrowly avoiding Buzz Cut’s desperate lunge. The man’s momentum carried him forward, leaving him wide open. Mark’s fist snapped up, crackling with residual energy, and connected squarely with his jaw. The sickening crunch echoed in the space, and Buzz Cut crumpled to the ground in a heap.

Mark spun back toward Ethan, whose trembling hands gripped the ground as he hauled himself up. Blood dripped from his split lip, but his eyes burned with a furious intensity, refusing to yield.

“Hadn’t had enough?”

Ethan sneered, spitting blood onto the floor. “This isn’t over,” he hissed, his voice venomous.

Mark raised his hand, lightning coiling around his fingers, ready to end it. But before he could strike, the ground beneath him pulsed with an eerie vibration. A chilling emptiness crept up his legs, spreading like icy tendrils. His strength wavered, his energy draining faster than he could control.