How did everyone like that double feature? Well, this will (hopefully) be lengthier than some of the others, and hopefully it'll progress a bit towards that final battle at Minx Castle (according to Mod Days) Which I am SO EXCITED FOR! *runs around screaming* Anyways, hope you enjoy chapter 9!

Three days had passed since Marthus' battle with the Knight, and his wounds were healing well, with help from the old healer. He had been continuing to spar, although not without some safeguards to prevent further injury. The Knight had not offered a rematch, nor had he spoken to Marthus since the duel. He was currently in the barracks, waiting for everyone else to wake up and start the day of incredibly difficult training. He smiled to himself, knowing that he wouldn't be in this hellhole much longer. I can still feel that spark. They couldn't shut me down completely after that fight. I have to see if I can contact the Sup Guys again. He concentrated, reaching out with his mind for the little presences that seemed so small, but hid a lot from him when he reached out.

Are you still out there? I need to escape soon. Something bad is coming. He spoke with his mind, straining to reach out into the compound.

Hi! How are you, person?

Marthus grinned. Even through a mental connection, he could sense the Sups natural cheerfulness, and it always brought a smile to his face. Even in his home village, where they were a rare sight, they were always greeted with food and drink, usually sweets, so that they would bring good fortune. But that was gone now. The grin disappeared from his face as he remembered what had brought him to Victubia, and what had started this whole mess. His face hardened. I need to get out of here. I have reason to believe that the person who keeps you all safe and happy is in danger. She'll need me to warn her.

Okay! We can gets you out, easypeasy!

Marthus sat up. The bedsprings squeaked, but he didn't care if anyone heard. He was getting out.

A few minutes later, all the preparations were made. Marthus had packed his few belongings in a small bag. He stood at the base of his bunk bed that he shared with another man. He simply sat on the floor and waited for the chaos to begin. In the top bed of the bunk next to Marthus, a man stirred. He was always the first one up. The man sat up in bed, and began to climb out of the bunk. He looked at Marthus in dazed puzzlement, not knowing why Marthus was already up, and then was laid out on the floor a moment later as Marthus delivered a light electric shock to his temples. Marthus dragged the man up to his own former bed, then drew the covers over the man so as to hide him.

Ready person?

"Definitely."

There was a flash of light, and Marthus stood outside the barracks. They were always locked at night, which was why Marthus needed the Sups. He saw the man that usually unlocked their door walking towards the barracks, which were about 10 yards away now. He moved stealthily, sneaking like a cat towards the sleepy guard. He quickly used a small bit of metal magic to melt the man's sword, and reform it in Marthus' hand. Oh, this is a bit more fair now.

"Wha-"

"Tell me where the weapons are kept, and I'll let you live. Don't think about doing anything, no one is around to hear you, and you'd be dead before you could anyways."

"U-um, I don't know where the keys are fo-for the weapons, b-but the armory is th-that building over there."

"Thank you."

Marthus clubbed the man over the head with the pommel of the sword, and the body crumpled silently to the floor. Marthus had no intention of getting caught early, so he dragged the body behind the barracks. Now to find my sword, and get out of here. But wait… Where's Jackson? I should rescue him, even if he is a traitor. No! He deserves to die. But will I ever truly convince myself that's true? Reina wouldn't lie, it wouldn't really serve her purposes. No, I'll find him and bring him back for justice in Victubia. He crept towards the armory. I need my weapon first. Then I'll deal with Jackson. People were beginning to wake now, a few guards were walking around the courtyard, going to get their breakfasts.

The lock on the armory shattered pretty easily, and the glint of weapons shone from inside. Marthus quickly walked inside, closing the heavy wooden door and walking down the aisles of weapons. Revolvers, tommy guns, crossbows, even explosives! These people have a LOT of weaponry. This looks like a full scale rebellion.

The baddie people have been doing this for a very long time… I think.

How long?

Many many many many days, too many for Sups to count.

I'll deal with this too. Marthus reached up for the familiar shape of his scabbard, and drew the shimmering blade. Nothing had been changed about it, as far as he could tell. He re-sheathed it, the slither of steel cutting the silence of the armory. He held up one hand, and formed a fireball in his hand. He walked out the door, and let it fall to the floor, where it stuck on the wooden boards. The dry wood caught quickly, and gunpowder began exploding as he walked away. Marthus smiled to himself. That was one less problem to deal with.

He quickly ran towards the entrance to the dungeons, only stopping to hide himself from guards who came by, heading towards the burning building behind him. I probably should have done that last… Upon reaching the dungeons, Marthus realized he had no idea where he was going.

"Hey Sup!" He whispered.

Yeah person? Do you need some helpy finding your friendy?

"Um… Yeah. Do you know where he is?"

C'mon! I can take you to him!

The sup popped out of thin air and began toddling inside. He/she/it moved quite fast for such short legs. Marthus could've sworn its feet didn't touch the ground sometimes. After heading through the dungeons for about ten minutes, the Sup Guy finally stopped in front of a door.

In here! Sup said before disappearing.

Marthus raised his hand, and the wood of the door disintegrated into chips on the floor. He'd leave that for the guards to clean up.

"W-who's there? I already told you everything!"

"It's me Jackson. Marthus. I'm bringing you back to the capital." Marthus said, peering into the dark room. In the corner, there was a huddled figure, hunched and gaunt, but unmistakably Jackson.

"No. No. This is a trick. You're dead. They told me. I saw you." Jackson stood up, and looked around like a trapped animal. Terrified, and with nowhere to run.

"I'm very much alive. And you're a traitor. I shouldn't be saving you, but I am. Count yourself lucky." Marthus walked over to Jackson and picked him up. Marthus was surprised at how light he was. "And now, I'm getting us both out of here."

"Wait, wait, I need to get something. It'll only be a minute."

"No, we're leaving now. I'm already risking my neck for you."

"You don't understand. I need it. We need it." Jackson tore himself free of Marthus and began scrabbling at the bricks on the wall. "Where is it where is it WHERE IS IT!?"

Finally a brick came loose, and a glinting object fell to the floor. On closer inspection, it looked like a talisman, with strange gems on it. Marthus touched it, and felt a strange sensation, almost like static on his skin.

"What is this? Jackson, answer me!"

"I don't know, but they wanted it, and I brought it, and then they told me what they were gonna do, and I di-" Marthus cut Jackson off in the middle of his babbling.

"Calm down. Stop babbling, this is important. Start from the beginning, and tell me what this is."

"I don't really know! It's supposed to do something with magic… I dunno, take it away or something. I think it disables a magi's ability to use magic. They're planning to do something with it, use it in an attack or something." Jackson's head drooped.

"We'll talk about this later. We need to get back to the capital. Did they tell you where we are? Never mind, I'll find a way."

"I swear Marthus, I didn't know…" Jackson seemed to pass out. I can deal with that later.

Marthus slung Jackson's limp body over his shoulder, and walked briskly out of the dungeons, his footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridors. If it really takes away magic, this could turn out terribly. Back in the days of the Rebellion, my parents only said we won because of the magical power we had. If this is somehow another uprising, they could win this time.

There were few guards, most of them likely out on the fields helping put out the fire that had spread to the barracks, or else searching the compound for the arsonist. Even so, it was only a matter of time before they noticed Marthus was missing, and then Reina would send either Raz or the Knight after him.

As he walked out a door, two men ran up to him, with a third man leveling a crossbow at his chest. He quickly dropped Jackson and his sword, and raised his hands. They obviously knew how to fight, they were probably some kind of elite guard. One man held his sword at Marthus's throat, while the other searched him. The crossbowman stayed back, keeping his distance.

"He's clear. No other weapons. The Lady wants him back as soon as possible."

Marthus smiled. He was obviously still of some value, or he would have been killed already. He made to pick up Jackson's inert body, and launched two blades of air at the men's knees. The first two fell to the floor, while the crossbowman launched an arrow. It hit Marthus in the left thigh, hobbling him. He quickly picked himself up, and launched himself, using a small burst of air, towards the crossbowman, who was frantically trying to reload. The man ripped a dagger from its sheath, and grazed Marthus' side. It can't be deep, but it hurts like hell. I'll have to deal with all of these soon, before I get too weak. The two swordsmen lay groaning on the floor as Marthus snatched his sword, and began limping out of the building with Jackson over his shoulder.

The fire had spread almost out of control, and was raging in many parts of the training compound. Marthus was disappointed to see that many buildings, while appearing to be made of wood, were actually stone inside, making the fire damage easily repairable. That's one waste of time. I should have headed straight for the dungeons.

He limped towards the exit. No one really tried to stop him, but they had to know that he was gone by now. As he walked, he didn't notice the shadows of the trees stretching towards him.

"You aren't leaving. You've made the Lady very, very unhappy."

Marthus lifted his heavy head. The shadow mage's helmet was right in his face. The man stepped back, and seemed to be waiting.

"I surrender. Seriously. Just take me back, but let Jackson go."

"I have some ideas first, to make sure you don't make any more trouble. No more fancy swordplay, for starters."

Marthus dropped Jackson and began lifting his sword halfheartedly. The helmeted figure raised a hand, and a fist of blackness knocked Marthus to the ground. Raz summoned shadowy chains, and held Marthus fast to the grass. An ebon blade formed out of the shadows nearby, and hovered over his fingers. "Any last things you want to do with this hand?"

"Hit you, but I don't think you'd like that."

"No, you're right. Your friend is trying to do someth-"

A detonation rippled through the area, deafening and powerful. Raz and Marthus were thrown like ragdolls, while trees fell like matchsticks. The two men staggered to their feet. Marthus touched his ear and found it was bleeding. He reached for the green spirits, and found nothing. Raz was obviously having trouble with his magic as well.

"So that's… what the gems do." Jackson stood swaying at the end of a smoking fissure, the talisman upheld. He walked quickly over to Marthus, and kept walking towards the exit. Marthus followed in a daze, staggering past Raz, barely staying on his feet. There was no sound in this world, his eardrums were probably destroyed.

Jackson was talking, but nothing was registering. Marthus felt a presence touch his mind, but he was too exhausted to resist.

I will take you where you are required. You are my avatar, and I have a responsibility for you now that you serve me. This next journey is for you alone, but know that I am watching over you. Goodbye, Marthus.

A flash of light. A blur of colors. A sensation of motion. And light, limitless light.

Much longer than I expected! I hope you guys enjoyed it, and I'll start work on the next chapter soon! Also, I apologize if the talisman doesn't work the way I portrayed it, but it will serve for now. If you liked, please leave a review! Until next time.