A Calm Heart

The stadium was bursting, and everyone was looking for their seats in haste because no one wanted to miss the show that was about to start .

That day, the tournament would start with two fights.

In the first of them, the favorite mage should win that event and be the new successor of The elemental Virtue.

The opening ceremony had taken place in the morning, and the thirty-two young men had been present, in front of Maximus Dorian, who was the leader of the Council of Virtues.

Maximus had dedicated a few words to them, and now he was about to announce the start of the first fight.

In one of the central stands, in some excellent places, which Malcom managed to find, was where Violet seated.

Her well-groomed black hair fell behind her as she watched in all directions. She could not help but glare at the people who kept on yelling and cheering for Skyler.

They all strongly wished that the young woman would win the first match in a spectacular way, but Violet's heart went up over the screams of the people for the concern she felt for her friend.

"Can I sit?" Someone suddenly asked.

The voice was unfamiliar, so Violet looked up at a young man in a white t-shirt and black shorts, smiling at her.

"Ben, is that you?" She said surprised before she stood up and hugged him tightly.

The mage returned her hug with an extremely large smile.

"What are you doing here? You can watch the fight from the front row, right? With the rest of the participants," she curiously said.

Ben scratched the back of his head and looked at her awkwardly when he heard that.

"Why? Is it bad to sit with you?" He asked unhappily, covering his shyness. He then sat next to the girl.

Violet snorted before playfully speaking, "It's not bad. But what do you want? Spill it before you get hurt."

"I just didn't want you to be alone! I did not expect my goodwill to be returned with threats," he said, not looking at her, "I know your dad stayed with Malcom's mother, and I wanted to keep you company."

The girl smiled, and the young man took a seat. The din of the people rose as the time to start approached.

"You spoke with him?" Violet asked, looking at Ben's face.

Ben nodded without taking his eyes off the platform.

"Yes, I asked him how he was doing, and he told me that he was fine. I asked him if he could win, and he said yes!" He said loudly, trying to be heard among the noise of the people. Since the match would be starting soon, the people were even livelier.

Violet smiled, and her hands tightened on her lap when she said, "That's excellent... So what? Did he discover that girl's weakness?"

"Yes, that's what he said," Ben replied casually.

The young woman waited for a second excited, but Ben did not continue speaking.

"So Benjamin! What is the weakness?" She forcefully asked with a frown.

With a resigned smile, Ben turned his face away. "He said her weakness was that she is… Too powerful," he said in a tone that gives away the fact that he also lacked understanding of what Malcom had said.

Malcom was in the hallway of the arena, ready for combat, everything was in order, and his strategy was ready.

He suddenly felt someone behind him. It was Skyler.

She walked towards him calmly, and when she was next to him, he could not help but ask, "What are you doing here? Your exit is through door A."

"I came to make sure you were here," Skyler replied expressionlessly. Her gaze fixed on the small platform where the Bio-Dimension was, not even bothering to look at Malcom.

The comment made Malcom laugh, and this got her attention. When she looked up to see him at last, Skyler looked confused.

Malcom was about to explain when Skyler interrupted him.

"Many times when they are in the tunnel, they get scared and leave," The young woman looked Malcom up and down several times and added, "You seem fine and different from the others. That's a surprise."

Malcom laughed again. He released a helpless sigh before he opened his mouth to speak.

Yet, Skyler stopped his words again.

"That's incredible. I have seen a handful of mages that are even more powerful than you sweating when they see me. Yet, you are incredibly calm," Skyler seemed to be praising him, but her expression was still bland.

Malcom frowned. He was looking at her unhappily. However, when he tried to speak, the girl interrupted him again.

"I think it would have been better if you left. It's the best in these ca-"

"Shut up!" Malcom finally snapped. His voice laced with annoyance.

Skyler was dumbfounded. She was unable to continue her words while looking at Malcom with widened eyes.

"What the fuck are you doing here, girl?" He questioned while scowling at her. Malcom opened his hands, letting Skyler see his palms, before he continued, "The time to fellowship passed. I'm not going to run! Don't worry, see you in the center. Now get the f*ck out!"

Skyler looked at Malcom with her mouth slightly open as he turned his gaze to the platform. She still thought about how to respond to him. But she was not sure how to deal with this type of situation.

Nobody had ever spoken to her in that way.

Her hands were subconsciously clenched into fists due to frustration. She could only walk away.

Skyler frowned deeply, her frustration evident. She really wanted to say something.

"By the way…" Malcom spoke again.

Skyler looked at Malcom, who was still staring at the platform.

"Don't be a fool!" He yelled with determination.

When Skyler heard those words, her temper changed, her mind clouded with anger.

'Me? A fool?' Skyler could not believe it.

"Fight hard, girl! I don't want this to end so soon," Malcolm continued.

"Well, too bad boy... This will end in a second!" Skyler declared coldly while looking at Malcom's back.

With those words, she turned her back on him and walked to her side of the corridor.

Malcom smiled when he was sure that she already left.

At that moment, he breathed a sigh of relief.

His plan was risky, but he had to move on. The only way to win this fight was to make her go for him with all her might.

Making her attack him with such force that she could not contemplate the counterattack to come, it was a suicidal plan. Still, if anyone could achieve it, it was himself, and the possibility of showing everyone that simple power was not enough excited him.

The crowd roared, but in those moments before their fight started, his heart was calm, all the predictions and all the possibilities had left his mind, and this was the moment he was waiting for.

The opportunity to prove that even a Marked could be admirable. Even though beating Skyler was not going to be an easy task, doing so would indicate that most people would begin to respect him.

Perhaps they would finally realize the terrible way they treated the Marked ones.

Smiling to himself, Malcom started to recall his absurd idea.

No one wanted to think about the way they were treated, but he would win this fight to show everyone that even if they snatched most of the magic from him, they could never appease his spirit.