章節 34: Hatred of a Marked

Leaving the ruins was easy as there were barely any creatures in their way. It did not take long for the exit to be presented before them after taking the jewel from the pedestal.

As Malcom advanced, the girl gasped as the poison slowly spread.

The healing potion worked but far from stopping the poison. Its effect barely could be controlled as it spread rapidly.

Malcom watched Skyler's face, and despite her pain, she slept in his arms. It was strange to look at such a powerful person in such a defenseless way.

Despite his own discomfort, Malcom had decided not to allow anything to happen to her.

He walked through the forest calmly. Malcom tried not to shake Skyler too much, who still was sleeping placidly in his arms.

Malcom kept his advance steady, and as the afternoon fell, his body weakened.

When the night reached them, he placed Skyler on the ground and made a bonfire. While Malcom was preparing something to eat, the young woman woke up.

Malcom looked at her. She smiled at him, to which he returned the same.

"It still hurts?" He asked with concern.

"Yes," Skyler nodded and then continued, "Although the cold is no longer a problem."

He sat beside Skyler to feed her while she tried to sit straight, but the pain intensified when she moved.

"As long as you have the mantle, you won't be cold," Malcom commented as he gave Skyler food, "It is one of its great perks."

"I see," Skyler replied while she held her abdomen. "I bet Mabel would be furious to see me like this."

"Who cares about Mabel?" The young man mockingly asked while feeding Skyler. The night was clear, and they both looked at the sky while the young woman, in constant deep pain, tried to stay awake.

"Do you think I will die?" Skyler asked with a joking tone, but her eyes denoted that she actually believed it. This showed the pain she had.

Malcom glanced at her with an unhappy frown, "I will save you, and you will not die in this place, I promise!"

Skyler heard those words, but for her, it was hard to tell if it was a dream or reality because she was slowly falling into another deep slumber.

Malcom took Skyler back in his arms and began to walk through the forest, his eyes trying to define which would be the best way.

Going back seemed the best option, but the magical field of the ruins had eliminated his ability to locate himself. Even if he managed to reach the transport, it would be impossible to turn it on.

Skyler was in no condition to pilot anything. She let out a groan of pain when she felt the poison spread.

The more the poison advanced in her body, the more pain it caused her. That made Malcom make a decision.

He took the young woman in his arms, and then he looked at the sky with concentration.

Skyler woke up. She felt how Malcom's arms pulling her closer to him. "What will you do?" She asked while still dazedly staring at his face.

She could not understand his intentions.

Malcom looked at her. Without hiding the doubt in his eyes, he explained, "You have seen me move at full speed and jump very high. That is due to my treasure, the boots. If I use all my physical energy, I can stay in the air for a short time. I'll do that."

The girl opened her mouth to protest, but a sharp pain silenced her.

Malcom, without wasting any more time, concentrated and rose into the air with such speed that in a fraction of a second, they had already left the forest and were suspended in the air.

Skyler looked around her and saw the entire forest shrink beneath her. She searched with her eyes for the mountain where the Maves landed. When she found it, she tried to point it only to see how Malcom directed his fall in another direction.

"The mountain is on the other side, Malcom!" Skyler yelled, despite her pain.

Malcom frowned. He was still in full focus on his task when he muttered, "I know."

As the fall increased speed. Skyler used her remaining strength to support herself, but it was Malcom who gently pulled her close to his body.

The fall was abrupt, but the young Marked held the girl to ensure that she did not suffer any damage, just to start a race at a good pace through the forest.

"Where are you going?" Skyler questioned in confusion.

"A merchant, the road on this side is closer, and I saw a merchant there. He could help us." As he said that, Malcom ran at maximum speed, his treasure was responding with increasing difficulty to his orders, his physical energy was diminishing, but he could not give up.

After a few minutes of walking, he managed to reach the road. In the distance, he saw the merchant wagon.

The Marked used what was left of his strength and quickly managed to reach him.

A jocular-looking fellow with several extra pounds was watching them curiously.

His face lit up at Malcom's concern, and Malcom immediately knew that the next conversation would not be pleasant.

Gently he placed Skyler on the ground. He gave her another healing potion to drink before he turned to face the seller.

"Friend, we need help," Malcom said abruptly.

"May the Seven Virtues bless you, partner!" The man said with a bow, "Tell me how I can help you?"

Malcom ignored his greeting. He hated that greeting, but this was not the time for his whims.

He looked at the man and said, trying to control his urgency, "Her condition is very serious!" Malcom pointed at Skyler on the floor. "I need you to take us to the city as soon as you can!"

The Merchant shook his head, "I think you misunderstand my profession, friend. I sell. I don't transport."

Malcom felt a wave of anger creep up his spine, but he controlled it the best he could.

"I know that very well, but this is an emergency. If you don't help me, she might die!" He responded. There was already a slight desperation in his voice.

The merchant tilted his body to see how the girl on the ground was writhing in pain. He looked at the young man and said, "She certainly looks pretty bad, but what happens to her? Maybe something in my store could help."

"I don't think you have anything for that, man," Malcom said. His patience was running out. Through clenching teeth, he added, "I didn't even know that poison existed."

"You would be surprised what a merchant knows, my friend! Tell me, what attacked you two?" The merchant continued to question.

Malcom sighed heavily, he knew how that conversation would go, but he had no choice but to cooperate.

"We were attacked by a Guardian of the Sun," he gave up and answered truthfully.

The merchant looked at the girl again, and with a mocking smile, he said, "Don't be ridiculous, and the Sun Guardians do not poison."

"Yes! Yes, I also believed that but that's what happened," Malcom insisted. He raised his arm to point in the direction of where the fight was before adding, "He attacked us in the forest and hit her with the sword handle. Now her veins are crimson. We need help, friend!"

Since he raised his arm, Malcom's mark came into view. The merchant laid eyes on it.

With an infinitely more skeptical look than he had before, he said, "And tell me, friend, how did you escape from the Guardian of the Sun?"

Malcom glared at the man trying to control the rage he felt. A groan of pain from Skyler became loud.

"What does that matter now, old man?" Malcom demanded. His words were slow and slurred because it was the only way to speak without showing the anger that was growing inside him.

However, the man perceived it and said with a haughty attitude.

"It is vital, Marked!" The merchant said with total disdain, "Look, I know you want to steal from me, but I am interested in knowing what crazy story you will tell me about how you killed a Guardian of the Sun, you piece of shit!"

Malcom glared at the merchant, who was now laughing. Slowly, Malcom walked towards the merchant's wagon.

The anger of the young man was such that he could barely speak. Malcom was gritting his teeth to the point that he could almost taste his blood.

"What did you say?" Malcom asked coldly. He was giving off a murderous air.

The merchant must have felt the danger, as his smile disappeared, but he still continued to speak with complete disdain, "I know that this is a stupid trap! Do you think that a useless Marked like you would be enough to fool me?! Oh please! That shitty story you're telling, you should make something even more convincing! Asshole!"

And with those words, the merchant laughed triumphantly.

Malcom clenched his fists next to his body, and unable to bear the anger for another second.

"You fucking son of a bitch!" Malcolm screamed so loudly that his throat almost ripped open, "Don't you see how she is suffering?! You damn coward! You're going to let her die!"

But the unchanging man looked at him with contempt as he said, "I already told you, Marked, you can scream all you want! Now get lost fitly Marked!"

The anger and hatred in Malcom reached a point it had never reached before. He took the dagger from behind him and looked at the man with coldness, "I am going to kill you!"

"the same way you killed the guardian of the sun? I'm going to have to teach you a damn lesson, Marked!" The merchant retorted as he puffed out his chest with pride.

Malcom had made the decision to end his life.

He flexed his legs to attack and took the dagger with force, but just before advancing, the most powerful and terrifying roar he had heard in his life sounded in the sky.