Chương 11: Watching The Children Play (Epilogue)

The day after the Silver Haven rescue, on a quiet, rainy afternoon, Marcus sat in his dimly lit apartment with Constantine and Kento, who were currently busy packing his belongings into spatial rings to move them to the base. They didn't seem to get along. He smiled; in a way, he saw them as children – even Kento. What he told Constantine was no exaggeration; the Outcasts truly were his family. He looked at Constantine; the more comfortable he became around them, the less meek and nervous he became, and his playful, sarcastic personality started to shine through. He looked at Kento, his cold demeanor melting into irritation as he bickered with Constantine. However, Marcus could see the amusement in his eyes. For the first time in a long time, he felt hopeful for the future. "I wonder how Jane is doing," he thought. He felt guilty he hadn't told her about the mission but with her condition she was more of a liability than an asset and the mission always came first. He'd make sure to make it up to her later.

Marcus felt tired. Very tired. He's been doing this for a long time, and he had started feeling the weight of the years press on him. He should have retired into a less active role already, but he chose to stay in the field because he thought that's where he'd do the most good. Now, he caught himself wondering if Kento was ready to take his place. He would still plan missions; train the neophytes and he could go to the field if needed. "I could spend more time with Jane," he thought with a smile. As he watched the two young men trading insults, his mind drifted off to a half – sleep, memories of his former life resurfacing, memories of a simple, happier time; before he lost everything.

In the haze of his mind, Marcus found himself standing in a sun-drenched garden, the vibrant colors of blooming flowers giving him a sense of peace. He could hear the laughter of his wife, Eleanor, and the playful giggles of their toddler, Lily, as they played among the fragrant blossoms. He and Eleanor had eloped at 18 and moved to the countryside, away from their families and the expectations placed on them. They were both Unveiled, humans without powers who were exposed to the world beneath The Veil and had their perception altered, able to see the supernatural. The town they settled in was mostly populated with Unveiled and races that didn't want to involve themselves in the struggles of the world and chose to live in peace; it was a truly happy time.

However, destiny had other plans, and tragedy struck with merciless precision. Two small factions of mages had settled in the town and, in typical mage fashion, decided to wipe each other out to monopolize the region. It wasn't the mages themselves who had targeted Marcus and his family, but rather, they had become collateral damage in the crossfire of a conflict they had no part in. As they ran to escape, their home and most of the town already obliterated, a stray spell, unleashed in the chaos of battle, had claimed the lives of Eleanor and Lily, leaving Marcus shattered and alone.

Next thing he knew, Marcus woke up in a hospital after three weeks, his family already buried. The weight of grief pressed down upon him like a suffocating blanket, threatening to engulf him in an endless abyss of despair. He struggled to make sense of the senseless violence that had torn his family apart, the guilt of failing to protect them eating at him constantly. Then, a small miracle happened; on his 21st birthday, mere days after leaving the hospital, he awakened amazing powers, powers that would make killing the mages a reality rather than a dream. A brotherhood of people like him came to find him, inviting him into their ranks. They trained him to become a formidable weapon and his single – minded obsession with revenge helped him hone his skills quickly.

Not long after, on the anniversary of his family's deaths, Marcus returned to the town, now rebuilt, and mercilessly executed every single mage there. From their ledgers, he found their members who had left the town and hunted each and every one of them individually until none remained. He was harshly disciplined by the Outcasts after; they weren't Hunters, they didn't harm indiscriminately, and they didn't draw attention to themselves. But Marcus didn't mind; in his mind, no punishment was worse than the one life had already given him, and it was all worth it to bring the killers of his wife and daughter to justice.

Marcus' story wasn't unusual among the Outcasts; soon he was let back in the field. However, every Outcast has a Cost; a price they pay for their powers, affecting their psyche. Marcus' Cost was obsession. However, it wasn't obsession with revenge or with killing mages. He was satisfied with his revenge, having ensured that every single mage present in the town that day had died by his hand. His obsession was protecting innocents, like his family, from falling victims to the mages' plots, wars and influence. Instead of his grief breaking him, he withstood it and vowed to honor the memory of his beloved wife and daughter by dedicating his life to protecting others from the same fate. And so, Marcus embraced his newfound purpose, dedicating his life to the Outcasts.

Then, he thought of the day he had first met Jane, a bright-eyed, spirited young girl who he now called his daughter. A decade had passed since the loss of his family and Marcus' life was spent engaging in mission after mission. He still remembered that day; the sun cast long shadows as he stumbled upon Jane wandering the streets alone, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. He was responding to a possible Reality Break and, at a glance, he could tell it was her; her eyes were a deep crimson, a trait unique to Outcasts which was only visible while they used their powers. However, the color of her eyes was permanently altered. It was clear from the start that Jane was different; at just seven years old, she had experienced a Reality Break—a phenomenon that had partially awakened her as an Outcast.

She was unique among the Outcasts; every Outcast awakens on their 21st birthday. That was an absolute. Moreover, Jane wasn't a full Outcast either. She possessed aether and was immune to magic but hadn't awakened any abilities yet. To save her from growing up isolated as a research subject, or perhaps to redeem himself, Marcus decided to adopt her. Despite her circumstances, Jane possessed a fiery spirit and refused to give up, always meeting adversity with a smile on her face. It was then that the ice around Marcus' heart began to melt. He took her under his wing, offering her the love and guidance she so desperately needed. In return, Jane filled the void in Marcus's heart, bringing light and laughter back into his life.

He always feared for Jane's safety, knowing that her powers would eventually surge, sure that it would be anything but simple. But, also, the thought of her waiting for him, Kento, and now Constantine back at the Outcast base made him smile. Even though he knew she would chew them out, he longed to see her. He would do whatever it took to protect Jane, to shield her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows. He looked at Kento, still bickering with Constantine; he would protect them all. In a twisted way, and at a tremendous cost, Marcus was finally given the life he had always wanted. Work he could devote his life to. Someone he loved waiting for him at home. Himself, almost an old man, sitting in his chair in the living room on a quiet, rainy day.

Watching the children play.