United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 35 - Marcus

Marcus looked up in confusion when a vivid light bled through the closed curtains of his window. He'd been sitting on his bed, using the dim light of the moon to read a book that supposedly told the reader everything there was to know about magic, but all the information Marcus had already read he'd known beforehand. When the bright light shone through the window, he looked up in confused curiosity, half closing the thick book. 

He knew for a fact that it wasn't even near morning yet. He and Ruby had gone to bed only a few hours ago, and it hadn't even been that late. The light shining outside couldn't be the moon - though the moon was still rising in the sky, it didn't grow much brighter as it did so - and it wasn't the sun, either - the light was much too brilliant of a white to be the orange rays of the sun. 

As the glare grew brighter, Marcus leapt off the bed in realization, throwing the book aside without caring if he woke Ruby. Whatever was going on outside, the light seemed almost like Shintaro's magic. Though Marcus had never seen Shintaro perform a spell like this, that didn't mean that Shintaro couldn't do such a thing. Marcus also didn't know what the spell was, but why would Shintaro be casting a huge, powerful spell in the middle of the night? Whatever it was, Shintaro definitely had a reason - but what was that reason? 

Ruby made an incoherent sound behind him, but Marcus ignored her and marched toward the window. The king and queen's bedroom was facing the kingdom gates, which meant that if Marcus could see the light from here, he might be able to see what was going on, as well. 

Marcus quickly threw aside the curtains, illuminating his whole room with light while his eyes scanned for a Shadowbeast or any other form of danger that would cause Shintaro to use this much of his Light Magic. But what his eyes caught on was not Shintaro's magic, nor was it any form of Dark. 

It seemed to be a falling space rock, and it was streaking straight in the direction of the gates. 

Marcus let out a startled cry of alarm, but he remained firmly rooted to the spot as the bright streak disappeared behind the tall gates. A moment later, a muffled crash boomed through the kingdom, and the light behind the gates vanished. 

Frantic, Marcus whirled around in a panic and darted for the bedroom door. He wasn't wearing any shoes, nor was he wearing an outfit fit for a king going into his kingdom; but he didn't care at the moment. 

As Marcus snatched the handle and sped out of the bedroom, he heard Ruby leap off the bed and hurry to catch up with him. "What on earth was that?" she asked frantically as they ran alongside each other, her voice quick and startled. 

"I don't know," Marcus replied shortly. 

Before they could reach the first flight of descending stairs, a bedroom door to their right flew open and Aaron emerged, his eyes tired but wide with confused panic. He jumped in surprise as his son-in-law and daughter whipped past him, but a moment later, he was sprinting after them as best he could. 

Out of the corner of his eye, Marcus saw Ruby throw a distraught look over her shoulder. "Dad, go back to bed! What do you think you're doing? You shouldn't be-"  

"Don't- tell me what you think I should or shouldn't do," Aaron spat breathlessly from behind them, his voice hard and final. "I'm your father, Ruby, as well as the former king. I'm- going to find out what that was, just as you are." 

Though Marcus felt his concern for Aaron growing, he knew he wouldn't win an argument against his father-in-law. Marcus said nothing as they continued to descend stairs and run through halls, without caring to keep quiet. 

Just before they reached the first floor, Falte skidded around one corner and joined them, his expression determined and panicked and terrified all at the same time. "Shintaro is still down there!" he cried to Marcus, who nodded his head without speaking.