Hidden Away[Markus's B rank Exam]

Markus had not been in the guild hall much today. Instead preferring to stick to the forests outside of Magnolida. He had visited a waterfall again, as always it was peaceful,  a great place for him to think, to contemplate, to decide. Just as night started to fall Markus found himself back in the office building which made up the Guild Hall.

He had returned from a recent mission with the Starlight Maiden. It was, different, then his usual missions, though the outcome was expected, and they had completely their tasks. Which for mages was what mattered. If a Job said to kill, you killed, if it said to end a tortuous trade, you did whatever it takes.

Drinking a small club soda he was looking at job board when he heard his name. The black clad mage looked over at Rina, an Ace within the guild. She had beckoned to him, and seemed to have some information he needed to know.

Markus had not spent much time with the Ace, though he had seen her around the guild, and when the Dark Guild Basilisk Fang had came for their… visit. She seemed nice, kind, and open. Exactly what you would expect from a leader he guessed. Especially the Ace titled The Blazing Star, a leader whose role was meant to be a caretaker.

Markus did not speak much, instead he listened to the Ace as she informed him of his task. He wondered if she even opened the letter, or knew what task he was being given. In the end, Markus knew it did not matter. He took the letter from the female mage, and gave her a curt nod before heading straight out the door of the guild hall.

Actions spoke far louder than words in the end, he would complete his task and return once it was done.

---

Markus took a deep yawn, the travel had been hard, and he had made good time. He was certain to waste none of it, and only slept while on the road, finally however, his perseverance rewarded him. The black clad chaotic mage looked onwards, in front of him was nothing but white, white land, white sky, white weather. He had finally made it to the Silent Glaciers. They certainly lived up to their names. Both above, and below him he could see crags, breaks, and glaciers. The landscape was always shifting, and over the course of a year could be entirely different.

Glancing about he contemplated the best course of action. He had read the letter as soon a leaving the guild hall. The details were sketchy, yet detailed. From what he could tell the job was simple enough, he needed to get into the bandit's lair, find this brooch, and return it. Any way possible, no matter the risk.

This was the type of mission Markus lived for, as always he was better without needless limitations. Taking a breath, he started searching. Having a vague idea of what he was looking for, he knew how bandets worked and started searching for their camp.

In the end, it did not take him long to find them. In a place such as this, they had no real reason to hide, no real reason to fear. Who would be crazy enough to go searching for bandits in this cold. Markus grinned, as usual when he gets close to completing a mission. However, he knew not to get cocky. After all, the hard part was only just beginning.

Getting to the heart of the camp was almost too easy, that was the problem with caves. His magic reigned supreme in darkness, in shadows. The few bandits that he was not able to sneak past, were simple enough to knock unconscious. He went with the safest route he could think of. He knew he would need his mana for their leader, for this mage, and as such felt no need to waste spells on the grunts.

Looking onwards, he found himself in a round main chamber, about 30 meters in size. The bulk of the camp was here, as well as the loot. Suddenly however, Markus felt a pull, a string touching at the back of his mind. His eyes flared with chaotic energy. He knew he was losing control.

Suddenly, Markus froze. His mind had been embraced by chaos, he was no longer in control. He knew, if he was looking into a mirror, his eyes would be glowing with chaotic energy. He was unsure what was happening. He heard it, the same whisper that had given him his magic, the same dark calling that had spoken to him all those years ago.

“Eeend this… Fiiniiish themm. Theeeen… Comeee To Meeeee”, the voice was alien as ever, as if hundreds of people were speaking directly into his mind. Yet, it was soft, a whisper, a warning, a calling.

Markus did not hesitate. He took a step forward, boldly, slowly. All at once the bandits looked at him, studied him. He heard someone laughing in the distance.

“Ohh a little mouse has found its way into the snake den!” Markus could see the speaker, a man with long black hair wearing a dark robe. He was sitting, in his hands was a broach. “Kill him”

The entire room started moving at once, however, for Markus, time seemed to move slowly. It felt as if something had clicked in his mind… The room was thrusted into chaos. Markus exploded with swirling dark energy, his hair stood up on end, shadows literally streamed off his body. Markus was flooded with power, power he had never felt before. He knew now, just how vast Chaos was.

Markus raised his right leg, just as the first man reached him. The man hesitated, he did not expect this explosion of energy. Markus looked, glancing into his eyes, and smiled. Not the warm kind of smile, but the one at which a cat would give a mouse, before ending the chase.

Markus’ leg hit the ground. Death followed.

As the mage walked out of the cave, he looked behind him, his eyes glowing with chaotic light, a light smile upon his lips. The mage released his chaotic tracers, targeting the mouth and support structures. With a resounding crash the mouth closed, the ice breaking apart, forever entombing the carnage the mage had left behind. Forever hiding what had actually happened to the bandits.

As the chaos mage started walking, his eyes changed from their chaotic glow back to the blue/grey lavender that was their norm. Markus would not even remember what had happened. As far as he was concerned, he fought, and was lucky to make it out as the cave collapse.

The leader of the bandits, not wishing to lose, and refusing to give up had attempted to kill them both by destroying the cave network. It was time for the mage to return to the guild, return to the mans carrier bird. In his hands, Markus held the broach. Even in the depths of chaos, the mission always came first.

Notes: Ranked Exam, Word Count : 1,183 | Requirement : 1,000
Light Aversion: Positive +60% spell damage

Chaotic Power : +90% spell damage, duration 1/3
Avatar of Chaos : Linage ability, toggled on

Chaos Stomp : Signature, Cooldown 1/2

Chaos Tracers : Cooldown 1/3