Under his Mask: A Taboo Game

"Nathan! On your left!"

A loud shout echo followed by a loud crash. A blazing spear of fire tore across the arena.

Nathan threw himself aside without hesitation barely escaping a burn arm

BOOM!

An explosion roar along a tide of smoke as flames burst against the marble floor, scattering molten fragments across the training grounds.

A figure emerge from the smoke then a spell broke through.

"If you were any slower," Marcus called calmly, "you'd be charcoal."

Nathan wiped the sweat from his forehead his eyes on the blacken floor

"I hate when you're right."

The smoke had barely begun to settle before another student slammed both hands onto the ground. The opposing team is making another move

"Earth Spikes!"

A young dwarf casted and immediately something beneath began to move.

The arena shook violently.

Cracks raced across the marble as jagged stone pillars burst upward.

Nathan reacted fast his wind spell glided away from the sharp attacks.

Marcus was left to fend for his own but he didn't panic.

He watched and immediately calculated the incoming attacking.

'Three steps to your right.'

He analyze then his body moved to dodge.

"Where do you think your going Marcus"

The dwarf said as he wave his hand to manipulate his attack.

However Marcus simply dodge them.

"Easy there Goliath you don't wanna crush me with those spikes"

Marcus teased his opponent earning more rounds of pointy spears.

"Nathan retreat two steps to the back!"

Nathan obeyed instantly.

The spikes erupted exactly where he had been standing moments earlier.

The class watched in amazement.

"How did he—"

"He predicted it..."

The other students watch when a sudden heat slam into their faces.

The temperature suddenly raise abruptly scorching even the solid marble floor.

Marcus just gave the incoming spell a look before using his own spell.

A small flame floated above his palm.

Someone from the opposing team laughed.

"A basic Fireball?"

He smirk as his scaly tail wave to produce another scale of fire.

Despite the lesser dragon's remark Nathan just smiled.

He moved his arm and casted yet another spell.

"Gale."

Wind spiraled around the tiny sphere.

The harmless fireball suddenly expanded into a roaring vortex of flames.

The opposing team's fire spell crashed into it.

*BOOM!*

The explosion swallowed the arena in smoke.

For several seconds...

Nothing could be seen.

Then four silhouettes slowly emerged.

Still standing, ready to pull punches if needed. 

Marcus was about to lunge when the instructor suddenly clapped loudly.

"Enough!"

The smoke dispersed.

"Excellent." He comment looking at the two teams.

He was happy at their performance then he shifted his gaze and looked around the class.

"Power wins battles."

He pointed toward Marcus and Nathan.

"But coordination wins wars."

"I want you to remember that good teamwork can be a key player in battles"

Several students nodded thoughtfully.

Then the instructor clapped his hand again.

"Your practical evaluation is next week."

"Practice."

"And stop relying on strength alone."

The bell rang shortly afterward.

Class was dismissed, and like a tide a wave of students run outside their classrooms like prisoners gaining their freedom.

----

Nathan slung his practice bag over his shoulder then tapped someone by the shoulder.

"Same place after school?" He asked eager to win like they did in the earlier match.

Marcus just smiled at his enthusiasm.

"We're still too slow." Nathan added.

Marcus couldn't help but laugh, "I thought you'd say that."

"Lets practice tomorrow"

Nathan nodded gave his duo a hug then went to the door.

The two parted ways.

As soon as his silhouette disappeared the smile on Marcus' face melted like the setting sun on the background.

The splitting light and darkness reflected into shadows, in each halls of Ashfall Academy, slowly it was emptied as students returned to their dormitories.

Marcus, however, walked toward the oldest district of the academy.

His movements deliberately evading the crowd, his presence dissolve into the background he arrived at his destination.

Ancient walls covered in ivy. Weathered statues forgotten by history.

Few students dared come here.

At the center of the abandoned corner stood a stone warhorse.

Marcus rested his hand upon its hove.

He move it into another direction facing to the right, he did the same to the other hove.

When all were facing the same direction Marcus open his mouth and said.

"...Open."

Beneath the statue something stirred.

Soft blue runes awakened beneath centuries of moss.

The horse lowered its head.

Then a sound can be heard.

*Click*

Deep underground, ancient gears groaned to life.

The surrounding vines slowly withdrew, revealing a staircase descending into darkness.

Quietly he stepped inside.

Behind him...the entrance vanished as though it had never existed.

Only two people knew of this chamber.

Marcus And Olivia.

She looked up from an old book as he entered.

"Took you long enough."

He didn't answer instead he set two iced coffees onto the table.

"I needed to make sure no one followed me."

Olivia accepted one.

"Paranoid as ever."

"That is what you call being cautious."

She just smirked knowing he won't let her win.

"Fair enough."

Marcus leaned back, "I need your opinion."

Olivia blinked not expecting such words.

"That's unusual."

She put the coffee back at the table, her face resting on her hand.

"You normally ask after you've already solved everything."

Marcus gave her a look of annoyance, "I did."

"...Then why ask me?"

Marcus took a folder from his bag.

"Because every plan has a weakness."

"And you're annoyingly good at finding mine."

Olivia smiled.

"Now you've got my attention."

A photograph slid onto the table.

A girl wearing Ashfall Academy's elite uniform.

She was beautiful and elegant however beneath the precious appearance is undeniable arrogant.

"Natalie Lenigrad's."

Olivia immediately recognized the face.

"The academy bully."

Marcus nodded.

"Daughter of House Lenigrad."

"They own half the western trade routes."

"And?"

Marcus lowered his voice.

"I confirmed a rumor."

"Her father maintains a hidden treasury."

Olivia's playful expression disappeared.

"...Are you certain?"

"I've spent three months confirming it."

None spoke both trying to read each other's gaze, silence settled over the chamber.

A treasury that officially didn't exist.

Enough wealth to fund an army. One that can change the balance of power.

Olivia folded her arms.

"So."

"You intend to rob him? That will be difficult their security is too tight, and worst we don't know where his treasure is."

Marcus shook his head.

"No."

"I intend to make him reveal it himself."

A grin slowly appeared on Olivia's face.

"There he is."

"The Marcus I know."

Marcus continued.

"Natalie believes money can solve every problem."

"So we give her a problem."

"A public one."

Marcus nodded.

"When House Lenigrad begins losing influence..." 

Olivia interrupted, "No."

Marcus looked at her as if questioning her sudden interruption.

Olivia ignore his reaction, she leaned forward then said.

"If only Natalie falls..."

"Her father won't touch the treasury."

"He'll just abandon her."

Marcus frowned not liking how he didn't thought of that.

Olivia tapped the folder.

"You attack the daughter."

"You lose the daughter."

"You attack the family's reputation..."

"He risks losing everything."

Marcus stared at her analyzing the meaning in her statement.

Then...

A slow smile spread across his face.

"I knew I'd overlooked something."

Olivia lifted her coffee.

"That's why you keep me around."

The two cups gently touched.

A toast for the upcoming heist.

They have one target, one operation.

And a fortune waiting to be stolen.

Before the night could even deepen ..

Marcus left the academy and returned to Diliman Estate.

A place that you needed a dark forest to venture before finding. 

A sprawling manor nestled between towering mountains.

Its white stone walls reflected the golden evening light while servants hurried about preparing for dinner.

Marcus dismounted from his horse.

"Jim."

The elderly butler stepped forward.

"Take Frada to the stables."

"At once, Young Master."

The elder servant took the horse while Marcus entered the manor.

Warm light spilled from the grand hall.

"I'm home." He announced.

Several servants bowed.

"Welcome back, Young Master."

"The Mistress is already waiting."

Marcus nodded, "Thank you."

He soon arrived in the dinning hall.

Lucy looked up from the dining table.

"You're late."

Marcus smiled apologetically.

"Training ran longer than expected."

Before he even sat down...

Lucy quietly poured him a cup of tea exactly the way he preferred.

Marcus accepted it without thinking.

"...Thanks."

Across the table...

Alyannah reached over and stole a slice of roasted meat from Marcus's plate.

Marcus laughed then like a practice habit his hand went to mess with her hair.

"Again?" he teased.

"It tastes better from yours."

"You've been saying that since you were ten."

"And I'm still right."

Cassie walked behind Marcus on her way back to her seat.

She paused as if something suddenly bothered her.

Without a word...

She straightened the slightly crooked collar of his academy unifo

"There."

Marcus glanced upward.

"...Thanks."

None of it felt unusual.

To Marcus...it had always been like this.

When everyone is already seated they began nibbling into their meal.

Dinner drifted into casual conversation.

It drifted from Lucy's upcoming performance, then Cassie's latest missions and finally to Alyannah's magic lessons.

Marcus listened quietly.

Then he began to speak...

"I've been thinking."

Three pairs of eyes immediately turned toward him.

"...I want to spend more time outside the estate."

No one replied a total silence permeated the air.

Sensing the stillness Marcus scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Trying to sound as softly as he could.

"I've lived here my whole life."

"I should experience the world while I'm still young."

There was a quiet tension he couldn't indentify even the servants felt it.

No one managed to speak until.

Lucy smiled.

"I suppose that's true."

Her voice never changed.

Marcus could only calm down seeing her like that.

'It seems she is not the least worried' he thought so.

Yet as Lusy reached for her teacup...

The porcelain softly clicked against the saucer.

A tiny tremor, yet gone almost instantly.

Marcus didn't sense the hidden irritation under that action

Cassie lowered her gaze.

"...You'll still be home for dinner?"

Marcus laughed.

"Of course."

Alyannah let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding

"Good."

The conversation resumed, laughter returned.

The atmosphere became warm again like the previous pressure didn't happen.

Marcus never questioned why everyone had relaxed so quickly.

He never noticed Lucy glancing toward his empty chair whenever he stood.

He never noticed Cassie unconsciously tracking his movements around the room.

He never noticed Alyannah smiling more brightly after hearing his promise to return home each evening.

To him...his was simply family.

His thoughts had already moved elsewhere.

Natalie Lenigrad.

House Lenigrad's hidden treasury.

The first move of the game.

Marcus believed he was carefully setting his plan into motion.

He never realized...

Something had already begun changing inside the walls of his own home.