The Soldiers of the Church (1)

Just as he said his final piece, Malcom was ready to leave.

However, Maximo was totally offended. His blue eyes were wide open as he looked at Malcom with irrepressible anger. Maximo's thirst for blood was present.

Before he could get out of the room, Malcom felt immense pressure as if the world was swallowing him.

Instantly he knew that it was Maximo's gaze that made him feel that way. Malcom felt suffocated. He fought hard to not lose consciousness.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Jonah stepped into the room. Immediately, Malcom felt a lot better.

Because of Jonah, Maximo got back to his senses. Maximo looked at his shoes, hiding his shame.

Jonah looked at Maximo with disbelief, "What the hell is the matter with you?"

Maximo stiffened and refused to look at Jonah.

"Tsk," Jonah sneaked, not expecting any answer from Maximo. Thus he just grabbed Malcom and dragged the Marked out of the room.

Maximo was left in the room all alone. Yet, he could still hear the words of the young man ringing next to his ears. The words keep repeating themselves.

He looked at himself in the mirror. In truth, he was unable to understand why he felt so much anger earlier, he could not explain. It was an anger that he was barely able to control if it was not for Jonah interfering.

Jonah took Malcom out of that place. As they walked out, Malcom was still affected by the thirst for blood.

"So you know how to be quiet, eh?" Jonah asked, joking, as he looked at Malcom with interest.

Malcom pursed his lips before asking instead, "He is the most powerful of you, isn't he?" He was clearly trying to keep calm but, his voice still somewhat sounded terrified, as if his question in his mind was already answered.

Jonah raised a brow. He then snorted, "Well, he probably is. So what? As you know, it is not the only thing necessary to win a fight." He was smug about this comment.

Malcom came out of his daydreaming and looked at Jonah with curiosity.

The man laughed before he said with a smile, "The way you won today was amazing. I am not fooling around. I've actually been studying your fights. You're a smart kid!"

Malcom stared at him with a complicated feeling. The simple fact of Jonah being a Virtue made Malcom feel certain repulsion for him.

Still, his posture, his gaze, and the way he spoke gave him a different impression.

Malcom gave Jonah a firm gaze before asking, "Have you already chosen a successor?"

Jonah paused. He thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you know what the criteria to choose a successor are?"

Malcom shook his head, and paying attention, he listened as Jonah said, "It's very simple. They want the successor to be powerful, their bond with magic to be strong, and to have a huge reserve of magic."

"Skyler!" Malcom said with a smile.

Jonah smiled back before he leaned back against the wall. He nodded and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket. "Yes. She is the perfect example."

He lit the cigarette. While looking at the flame, Jonah added, "She, without a doubt, has the largest reserve of magic in the entire tournament. And her bond with magic is such that she can do level one spells. Anyways, she is very powerful."

Malcom remembered his battle with Skyler. He knew that even though his victory seemed simple, he remembered how difficult it was to escape from her terrifying power.

"Of all the people I have fought, she is the most powerful without a doubt," He commented truthfully.

"But you managed to still beat her!" Jonah retorted. He took a huge breath of air, and released it with resignation.

He then continued, "You are very intelligent and versatile, but your link with magic is not as powerful as hers, and your reserve of magic is considerably less."

Malcom shook his head, "I think even without the Mark, I would not be on the same level as her."

"It's good that you can accept something like that," Jonah smiled.

Malcom responded with his own smile as well.

Malcom completely forgot that he was talking to one of the Virtues for a moment in that conversation.

The Sacred Virtues, for him, represented the most terrible thing in society.

"I believe that the ability you have to accept your weaknesses is your greatest strength," Jonah complemented honestly.

Malcom watched with interest as the man pulled away from the wall and finished his cigarette quickly.

"This place is annoying! This system is just full of flaws," Jonah declared unhappily, which surprised Malcom.

Jonah sighed, then continued, "But to change it, we need people like you. We need people to see that power is not everything."

Malcom looked at Jonah with great interest. His ideas resonated strongly with the Marked, who had always thought that way.

The man looked him straight in the eye and said, "I already chose my successor!"

Malcom smiled at that news. It was not something he did not expect, but for the man to continue bitterly, "Still, I think you have a role to play."

"I have had a role to play since I was born," Malcom retorted. It was a fact that he genuinely believed in.

Jonah grinned at his response. "Yes! Yes, you are a Marked. So stop complaining that others imposed that role on you..."

Malcom pursed his lips and stared at Jonah stubbornly. What Jonah said was harsh, but the young man could understand what he was referring to at that time.

Jonah continued, "Don't let society dictate what you are ... if you want to choose a different role, you must decide for yourself which one it can be."

"And what alternative do I have?" Malcom asked reluctantly. He was feeling bitter but refused to give up. A part of him was also unable to accept that he looked like he was asking a piece of advice from a Virtue.

"I'll show you one. Well, if you want that, of course," As he said that, Jonah began to walk. He suddenly stopped and then offered seriously, "If you are willing to do it, I could help you."

After saying that, Jonah started walking. Malcom looked at his hands while he thought about what possibility that man could give him. What can a Virtue do for him?

His mind raced between fantasies he had never allowed himself to have. Malcom suddenly felt that some hope was born in his heart for the first time in a long time.