Marco V. 5- Old Faces and Terrible Feelings (Pt 1)

Marco

A cold murky breath finally escaped through his partially opened mouth. Marco’s eyelids slowly flickered awake, his gaze quickly dispersed the haze away and revealed the inside of a dark, grey walled hollow chamber surrounding him.

A flood of memories instantly trickled back into his thoughts again, he remembered walking into the Gold temple, and the brief conversations he had there with that big breasted girl with dark hair. Then how he was led to that brilliant looking room covered in gold. And those four dazzling lights which materialised into guardians soon afterwards.

'So it wasn't all a dream then?'

Marco observed his body, quickly picking up on the noticeable changes in regard to his outward appearance mostly. His skin tone looked more paler, almost close to snowwhite even. Whilst he also felt a change in his centre of powers, there was a newfound deepness to it. As though there was now an unexplored depth of power inside of his soul. Marco had never felt anything quite like it, but as he remained seated in the lotus position. He retraced the memories of his youth, during the days he was still trying to sense the Qi of heaven and earth. The elders spoke of what one should be feeling once they had broken through to a new layer of power.

‘I should probably head back to the Azure feather sect soon, I need to understand these new powers of mine and just what level I’m at.’

Marco understood there was only so much he could understand by his own. He had spent most of his time on matters of the royals, the kingdom and completing his secret mission, that he never really dedicated all his time into himself. Realizing just how much he had grown in spite of those distractions, he felt slightly somber about it all.

‘Perhaps its time I started doing what I wanted to do now.’ Marco had always told himself becoming a Golden Ranked Knight would be the beginning to his life of freedom. He could finally remove himself from under the thumb of his father, Chief Razziel, the burdens of his past, and also the powers which he was **** to cosy beside along his journey. As of right now he might be able to scratch off possibly a few names off that list. But he was far from free, he knew that by the simple fact he was now required to stand beside the Queen of Luciens most fearsome band of Golden ranked knights.

Marco eventually rose up to his feet and proceeded towards the giant towering doors which were both shaped into two semi-lunar stone pieces. Sensing his arrival the two doors parted away from the centre, allowing the bright outdoor light penetrating through the shroud of darkness within the room.

He took a few steps forward. His eyes flashed open as he felt a wave of energies bombarding him all at once. A wry smile soon creased against his face as he was **** to stiffen his body slightly to brace his foreign body from all the changes around him

To help focus he slowly lowered his eyelids and just like a newborn learning how to walk, he started learning to embrace the changes within his body.

‘Master you’re awake. Belle was so worried.’ A cheerful and familiar voice echoed softly

‘Not bad perverted one. You have stood by the promise you made to me before we made an accord. The power I sense coursing through your veins is one of vast richness like the oceans.'

Kasumi’s sultry voice arrived dutifully afterwards as usual. Marco felt a warmness which he hadn't felt in a while comforting him upon hearing their voices.

“What of our newly acquired member?” He asked, purposely refraining from mentioning the name.

‘Hmm big big sister is sleeping right now Master. Belle thinks she will wake up once she is ready.’

Marco nodded his head at this, he understood the stronger the guardian the more time it would take them to integrate themselves with his own power. Although, he didn’t think belle was any weaker than Kasumi or any other guardian he had met thus far. And Belle was practically glued to him instantly.

‘Perhaps she’s unique being a guardian of desires. Never mind, ill find out more about this once I find time to return to the sect.’ Marco was even more determined to go back now, there was quite a few things he needed to take care of.

He walked casually along the spacious hallway where tall stained glass windows aligned on either side of the walls. There was a figure dressed in black and gold uniform standing at the end. She had a beaming smile across her round face, and of course her body was well proportioned and developed. Marco sensed she was waiting for his arrival by the deep desire evident within her gaze.

“Ah Sir Marco! You’ve finally completed it? Well done and might I add you look incredibly more handsome to boot. My name is Cindy, I am tasked with informing you that the meeting of the Golden Ranked knights has temporarily been postponed for now. Instead the Queen will be hosting a banquet for yourself in the next coming days to welcome you into her family.”

Marco stiffened a little hearing those lasting words being spoken. ‘Family?’ He mused to himself, the ramifications were evident now he had become a Holy Gear receiver. The Queen will be attempting to tighten the noose around his neck.

“That sounds wonderful, I’ll make sure my schedule is free.” He said with a faux smile. Cindy’s face beamed with delight.

“Here, this is an advanced spatial ring. You should find high powered body recovery potions inside, along with some helpful rations and pieces of higher tier armaments. Also, we’ve already helped moved your belongings to your new residence. It’s a mansion which is situated in the heart of the capital city, it has three floors, a dojo and its location was expertly chosen to ensure you’re receiving the highest amount of spiritual energy within the city whilst you’re there.”

Marco received the triangular iron token from the girl, he spent a few moments admiring what would be the key to his new home. He had never stayed within a mansion before, especially one that probably offered all kinds of benefits for a cultivator like himself. This would be the first time he would be staying in a place he imagined was twice as big as anywhere he had ever rested his helm.

‘I’ll have to setup a room for Winston. Best I keep him close if I want my plan to succeed, speaking of him, he’s probably beside himself wondering where I have gone during this time hehe.’ Marco wondered if he had made any more breakthroughs with the mind control potions, he felt a little giddy just imagining how many strong-willed beauties he was going to conquer very soon. His path to becoming King was unfolding at a steady manner.

‘I will also get bored...and horny. So I can now finally start the next phase of assembling my harem. Hmm Zia is basically dying to live with me so I can fuck her any time she wants. Threyja is basically mine at this point as well, I cannot see any other obstacles in making her my woman, although she still has pieces of her own will still intact. A few more meet ups and Belle applying her power over her should do the trick. Hmm...I need to play the field a little and see who else I can recruit . “ Marco still had every intention of making the Queen and others of a higher standing bowing down to him. But those monsters would certainly take a careful amount of finesse and poise to accomplish. For now, he was planning on subduing others like Threyja before aiming for the bigger prizes.

Cindy reluctantly left Marco alone. He still hadn’t changed out of his martial robes so his bare torso was out on show for everyone to see. Safe to say his newly developed body, coupled with his natural Elven beauty almost guaranteed all eyes would be glued to him. He even wondered if there was any Elf currently within the citadel who could hold a candle to his looks right now.

_‘Maybe I won't be needing those potions Afterall hehe’ _He sniggered whilst he avoided eye contact with the countless women gawking at him as he strolled through the Golden temple. Marco was heading towards the spacious front hall when his eyes suddenly caught wind of someone which sent a mixture of emotions spiraling through his body.

The woman in his view seemed to have felt his presence as well. She turned slowly on her heels, her lavishly long bright green hair danced with her graceful movement. Her almond shaped eyes slightly widened for a second before returning to their usual expressionless gaze. ‘Wh-what the fuck is she doing here?’ The woman in question was the last person he was hoping of seeing, she was clothed in a tightly fitted mage outfit, with high knee boots and a short, trimmed skirt.

Marco had been around many situations by now to understand how to properly handle his emotions. He kept his gaze slightly lower whilst he casually approached the familiar face, pretending as though her arrival before him after so many years was as casual to him as the birth of a new morning. Inwardly, he was in turmoil

“Well-well if it isnt my dearest elder sister. Madeline. And to what graceful Guardian do I owe for your arrival before me.” He said with a boyish grin. His elder sister brushed a small strand of emerald silk behind her pointy ears. Her face creased a slight smile before she softly opened her cupids bow shaped mouth. Only the words she spoke were not the kind of words Marco expected to first hear.

“*Sound Magic* Eltus-Requiem" She softly spoke. Marco suddenly felt the air around him beginning to distort, more specifically the atmospheric sounds were being filtered out, enclosing both he and Madeline into a formless ball which isolated just their own voices inside.

“Brother. So, the rumours were true then...Golden Ranked knight...Good for you.” Her placid look didn’t match up with her supposed words of praise. Marco was swiftly reminded up the temperament of his elder sibling and simply chuckled without paying it much attention to it. His focus was more on here actually being here.

“Thank you. It’s been what 10 years since you left the Azure feather sect? I imagine you’ve ascended to the realm of Godhood? Or was a Grand Magus the highest order in your world was it?” he said playfully

Madeline made a slightly ugly smile, she too sensed the sarcasm laced within her brothers words.

‘Heh if this was years ago, she would’ve never allowed me to get away with that! Hehe does she finally respect my power?’

“No, not quite. Ascending the magus ranks isn't as easy as cultivation unfortunately. In fact, I have hit what would be the equivalent to that of a bottle neck in truth. Luckily, the range of spells I've honed are more than enough to handle a great number of Gold Ranked knights and Mages of a similar elk.” Her voice remained chillingly smooth at all times, Marco hated that about her. How she never showed any emotion, not when their mother died and not even now.

“There is a reason you’ve sought me out at this time id imagine? After all, I haven't seen you in ten whole years.”

“Fufufu little Marco still upset big sister abandoned him? Or is it something else...” once those words left her veal-coloured lips. Marco was slightly surprised to find she had closed the distance between them in an instant. Her face was dangerously close to his own, he could smell the sweet minty scent of the outdoor clinging to her clothes. Her warm breath brushed against his face and sent his desires into turmoil. A gentle feeling of peace and comfort washed over him. In a split second, Marco felt as though nothing else but this moment mattered. nothing but her...

‘MASTER! Snap out of it!’ Belles voice filled with alarm rung like a gong through his mental. Marco’s Qi surged wildly through his meridians. His veins bulged like worms beneath his skin. His eyes flashed open, as he instinctively struck forward grabbing the throat of his sister into a forceful grip.

“Wh-what the fuck are you-” he growled but his voice croaked upon hearing a sadistic cackle from behind him.

“Fufufu so strong...Ah little Marco refuses to let me bully him anymore. That turns me on...just a little.” Her voice appeared from behind him. By the time Marco had realised what had happened the figure in front of him had melted into a pool of wax. He turned around, visibly annoyed but found Madeline unbothered as she stood in his view with her arms crossed.

“Father sent me. He told me you were entrusted with a mission in regard to the betterment of our people. He merely wanted me to provide some kind of...motivation to ensure you remember your goals.” Her playfulness had all but gone, Marco still felt uneasy around her bipolar nature. It had always been a cause of worry since they were both so little.

He smoothed his temple in a bid to relax his mind again, ‘I’ve allowed her to stir my hear again...FUCK!’ It took him a few minutes to centre himself again. Once he finally lifted his sunken helm, his eyes were filled with the ruthlessness the high-ranking knights of the mainland had taught him.

“Tell Varriel it will be done.”

“Good... By the way, if you still plan on killing him, do make sure it’s taken care of in a manner which doesn’t point to neither one of us. I have my own shares of trouble right now.” Her eyes drifted away into the open air as she spoke those words.

‘Hm? So that’s why she's come back. Something must have happened.’ Marco didn’t waste time trying to draw blood from a stone by asking her, he understood his sister's demeanour better than anyone.

“Of course-of course, I still need him alive for now. But he will die for what he did to our mother. I swore an oath that won't be easily foiled. “

“Good-good. Which will mean you must also kill Chief Razziel and become the patriarch. Seeing your growth in person, I'm inclined to believe you might just have a chance of accomplishing it. Fufufu Little Marco has grown perfectly. Mmm I wonder if you’ll repay your big sister for all the things, I taught you.” A cold tingle prickled against the nape of Marcos neck in response.

The mask had been broken and he was well and truly visibly bothered by her presence at this point.

“Are we done here?” groaned Marco backing away from those feline shaped eyes which pierced into his soul.

“Fufufu we are. I’ll be seeing you around then...little brother.”

Before she scurried back into whatever hell she had crawled out from, Marco noticed a small not caressed in his palm without him knowing the hour it had arrived there. This made him frown, 'her magic was still so...cunning.'

He unfurled open the creased note, written inside was a message from Chief Razziel about a quest. Only the person he was set to explore with gave him both an idea and an opportunity he was surprised would fall against his lap so smoothly.

*******

Marco finally left behind the towering temple grounds and stood just before the rising steps descending towards the cobbled grey stone floors belonging to the citadel streets. His mood was still sour from his earlier interaction with Madeline, worst of all Marco felt deeply betrayed by the idea he was aroused by that sadistic encounter. ‘Now I have to find someone to take care of this...fucking Madeline just you wait. You’re also on the list of people I'll have to kill.’

Since his breakthrough and forging with the Holy Gear, he could feel a great change in how his body responded to the world around him. The air felt rich, and even his sense of powers had reached a height he was particular unsure he could ever reach.

‘I can feel...so much.’ Before Marco could only sense powers within a certain radius but things had changed so much. Unlike before he felt like a beacon able to sense numerous high density Qi’s dotted across the citadel. Marco finally understood what it meant to be a fish swimming in the rich exotic seas filled with strong beasts. The citadel was almost littered with hidden experts. From merchants, to beggars, to the old drunk and simple fellows who enjoyed feeding the small ducks perched by the river banks. His eyes were filled with an understanding of whom these fellows were all of a sudden.

There was a solemn look etched across his gaze.

‘So this is the world of the experts? The world of the strongest folk.’ He thought to himself.

Marco allowed his eyelids to fall and drank in the rich air filling his nostrils whilst he breathed in and out with a steady rhythm. One by one he allowed his body to feel the powers around the citadel. Each fellow held its own Qi signature. Unique to their own self. ‘Wait...is that.’ By chance Marco felt someone familiar amongst the crowd. An aura which knew since his days upon the blue mountain.

‘Th-threya?’ His heart surprisingly skipped a beat once he sensed her presence , but that was quickly overshadowed by the lecherous thoughts swarming into his mental. His cock started throbbing as he recalled it had been a while since he had a good release.

“This will be a good time to officially make her my woman too, hehe Kasumi...void step”

*Swooosh*

Other POV

“Fuck sake! Another dud! Grrrr back to square one!”

Winston scrunched up what would be the fifth advanced tier magical formula. Ever since Marco had disappeared into thin air leaving him with all the work to do. Winston developed a new hobby for himself to stay busy. He titled the project...exploding paper bombs. He had attempted to re construct an already existing magical formula with a similar composition. Only he discovered a great problem he wasn’t quite yet sure how to overcome. There was an imbalance between the runes he had drawn against the parchment. The lines were reacting to quickly, causing a combustion which exploded way too earlier than he wanted them too.

“If this continues, I'll end up burning this entire house down.” he sighed to himself wondering if it would be cheaper to build a workshop exclusively for this project in the middle of the forest somewhere.

“It’ll also afford me peace and quiet again. Ah-how I long for those good ole days where nobody knew who I was.” he of course was voicing his displeasure to the fact Zia would continue to appear at his front door after not hearing from Marco for a few days. On one hand it helped Winston gain some much-needed field research about the effectiveness of the love potion he had brewed. But on the other hand, he was sick and tired of having to repeat the same thing to her, each day.

“Fuck it, let me begin drawing the blueprints for a new home already.” Winston started fishing for a new parchment and quill this time, when he heard light taps against his wooden door. He froze in his movement, cursing whichever guardian thought it would be funny to send that crazy bitch to him whenever he thought about her.

“Alright-alright calm down I'm coming.” He said shuffling through the cluster of his things he had scattered around the room. Part of him was hoping it wasn't Marco returning from whichever rock he had crawled under for so long. Although he was starting to miss him a little.

‘He’ll never let this go if he sees me in this state...Fuck!’ Winston wasn’t familiar with any quick fix spells neither, resigned to his fate he walked towards the door and opened it wide.

“Huh? W-who are you?”

It was neither the familiar faces he had been seeing for the last few months pestering him. But a new face had appeared at his front door. One with round boyish features, short silky black hair and the most peculiar set of scarlet eyes Winston had ever seen.

‘In fact, what kind of eyes are those. Humans don’t have eyes like that...do they?’

“H-hey stranger two things. Why are your eyes red? And secondly what do you think you’re doing disturbing me at work hm?”

Winston was used to the general public reacting harshly to his forwardness. But surprisingly enough, he received a reaction he wasn’t expecting.

“Hahahaha-one thousand apologies. My name is Vox...and I’ve come...well I’ve come to eat you all up aha. Say, you’re not expecting anyone else today are you?” the stranger with red eyes asked him with a suspicious look drawn against his childish face. It took Winston a few moments to make sure he was hearing correctly.

‘Is this child lost?’ he asked himself.

“Never mind. Edna! Come out”

Winston moved his gaze beyond the strange boy, this time he saw a girl dressed in skimpy leather clothing slowly walking towards them. She had short reddish hair and freckles. But then something started to change, the girls form begun to distort and in seconds she had completely turned into something else...’w-wait is that...me?’

Alarm bells started chiming inside of Winston, he instantly reached towards the medallion tied around his neck, but just before he could clasp the protective gear. He felt something sinister falling on top of him rendering him completely immobile.

“Don’t make this difficult. I’ve simply decided it’s time for your chapter to come to a close...this is my story...after all.”