In the aftermath of the battle, Martia diligently sought out and eliminated all the serpent's offspring found in the vicinity.
It was a necessary act, as it was forbidden to allow the population of magical creatures to increase unchecked, ensuring the safety of Mythralis and its inhabitants.
With that, Marcellus settled into a simple yet disciplined daily routine. Each morning, he dedicated half an hour to actively practising his breathing techniques. Following this, his mornings were occupied with two hours of mysticism lessons and an additional hour and a half dedicated to studying historical documents in High Valar.
After the midday meal, he embarked on his martial training, focusing on the techniques of 'Flow' and 'Arm Chop.' Among these, he displayed a natural aptitude for the Arm Chop technique and quickly mastered it.
The most significant part of his training came in the form of duels with Martia. Their connection had deepened after their victory over the Hollow Serpent, and Martia had taken a liking to him. She proved instrumental in his rapid mastery of the Arm Chop technique and also generously shared her expertise in two additional sword techniques: 'Lightning Draw' and 'Longsword of Absolute Silence.'
These intense sessions of physical combat not only honed Marcellus's skills but also further solidified the strong bond between him and Martia.
Once he had concluded his training for the day, if time allowed, Marcellus would make his way to Aulus's residence, which was conveniently located to the east of Mythralis. Here, he willingly undertook various menial tasks to assist Aulus and sought his mentor's valuable advice and guidance on rituals and ritualistic magic.
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In the year 1154 of the Ethereal Chronicles, also known in the annals as the 394th Year of the Draewyn Empire's reign, under the domain of the Anglia Kingdom, a tiny isle - Mythralis Island. It was during the Seventh Month, in the heart of its second week, and precisely at the zenith of the third day, that an unusual scene unfolded.
In a tavern, tucked away in a quaint alley west of the governor's mansion, Marcellus found himself engrossed in the intricate verses of a historical poem, penned in the ancient and revered High Valar tongue. The words danced before his eyes, whispering tales of old, of heroes and realms long past.
Then, in a fleeting moment that shattered the stillness, Marcellus jolted upright in his seat. It was as though an unseen, ethereal voice had pierced his mind, reaching into the very depths of his soul, beckoning him.
Shapeless murmurs resounded in his mind, causing his forehead to throb uncontrollably without rhythm.
Yet, the contents of the calling remained elusive, slipping away as quickly as they had come. In just two seconds, it was gone, leaving Marcellus in a state of bafflement.
Marcellus pinched his glabella and gritted his teeth, resisting the throbbing pain that seemed to be radiating deep within his brain. The intensity of the pain appeared to be increasing, and he struggled to maintain his composure.
Were these the elusive murmurings of unknown existences that Old Man Aulus had once mentioned?
A manifestation of my heightened spiritual perception?
It felt more like a symptom of the Fontenot diary, a dark and mysterious book that had become nightmarish to think about.
Thoughts raced through Marcellus' mind as he was suddenly confronted with a vivid tattoo on his left arm; a stylized star-like shape with eight distinct points, all converging toward a central, solid circular core.
The points of the star exhibited a variation in length, with four elongated and narrow points alternating with four shorter ones, creating a mesmerizing pattern around the central circle.
Upon closer inspection, it appeared as though this enigmatic symbol had been etched in black ink, and as quickly as it had materialized, it began to sink, dim, and ultimately vanished beneath the surface of his skin.
Marcellus' brows furrowed in bewilderment as his gaze fixated on the mysterious mark that had suddenly appeared on his hand.
A flurry of thoughts and theories swirled within his mind like a tempestuous storm. He was no stranger to mysticism, having honed his skills in mysticism, and now, he found himself yearning for answers.
With newfound confidence in his abilities, Marcellus resolved to put them to the test. He reached into his pouch and retrieved a small silver coin, a tool he had often used for divination.
Edwin, his mysticism mentor, had long ago instilled in Marcellus the art of divination. In the face of the unfathomable, employ the game of elimination, he had advised.
Coincidence is often not a good sign, Edwin would say. This mantra had become a guiding principle for Marcellus. It nudged him now, as he sifted through the layers of this latest mystery, to discern a pattern.
As he held the coin in his hand, he remembered Edwin's words about this method. It might not guarantee complete accuracy or reliability, with success rates hovering around the 50% mark, but it was the quickest way to unearth anomalies and uncover hidden truths.
As the coin gracefully spun through the air, Marcellus methodically eliminated one possibility after another.
It couldn't have been a result of the diary, he reasoned, nor was it connected to the dream-like ritual he had previously undertaken.
The undeniable fact remained: the strange mark had been etched onto his skin for some time now, a presence that had defied his comprehension.
It eluded any explanation he could conjure, leaving him in a state of perplexity.
However, his divination was suspect as the coin consistently landed on tails, and his confidence grew.
It seemed increasingly likely that this mark held the key to a deeper mystery yet to be unveiled.
Was my train of thought right?
I haven't noticed this mark on my left hand all this while.
This mark points to the sun domain from Edwin's teachings. I need to confirm this, haaah.
Marcellus came up with an idea and concentrated his spirituality on his left hand, and to his amazement, the mark reappeared.
It was a stylized star-like shape with eight points, a central solid circular core, and alternating long and short points around the circle.
The mark had a mysterious, almost otherworldly quality to it, and it seemed to pulse within his head. Each time he saw it, the mark left him with a sense of both wonder and unease, as if it held secrets waiting to be unravelled.