Chapter 129: Memorabilia

Marcus and Zoey landed at the living room inside the house in Estra.

No one was there. 

"Looks like they've left." Marcus has been in the Stone of Destruction for quite a while. 

Eva and Nexus had to visit the office and check if everything had been repaired. Emily and Erika were inside the Stone of Destruction to cultivate. 

Zoey looked around. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Still thinking that this is a dream?" Marcus chuckled. He thought that Zoey's reaction right now was not out of the ordinary, especially since she got introduced to the stone, and most of all, Lazula.

Zoey nodded. "At the back of my head there's something telling me not to believe in all this, and that I'll wake up soon."

"That's your mortal self speaking to you." Marcus began walking. He planned on visiting the school today.

Zoe followed. She tilted her head. "Mortal se-"

"Remember, the events that happened before, never happened. You are not to tell anyone about the things you saw. You are also not allowed to use the new magic that you learned when there are people who know who you are." Marcus cut her off. He didn't turn to look, his steps continued as he went towards his car.

"Mhm," Zoey nodded. "I won't tell anyone. If I did, no one would even believe me. Also, I have caught a glimpse of this magic's power. I don't want to trouble my family."

She knew that if the other families would see the magic Lazula gave her, it would be disastrous.

Marcus smiled as he opened the door of the front passenger seat. "Get in."

He too did this with Eva and Erika.

Zoey halted. She looked to the side and said. "I have my own car parked right over there."

Marcus shook his head. "Just get in, tell your father you're okay. You'll be living with us starting today."

Zoey blinked a few times, her heart skipped a beat. "What? What? What do you mean?"

Zoey found Marcus a bit too forceful, but something inside her soul didn't want to say no.

"You are going to be learning new magic and you will be needing a place to stay. The safest would be here, don't you think?" Marcus smiled.

Zoey nodded and went into the car.

Marcus closed the door and went to the driver's seat.

The vermilion car soon flew towards Estra University.

"Who are you, really?" Zoey broke the silence.

"Still not finished with the questions?" Marcus turned his head. "You are not ready for the answer to that just yet."

Zoey nodded, but she noticed that Marcus was still staring at her.

"What?" She asked. 

"You know you are one amazing person right?" Marcus casually spoke.

Zoey blushed at the sudden compliment thrown at her.

Marcus continued. "Not everyone can pass Lazula's trials, as strength is not the only basis for passing it, but also heart, will, and motivation to accomplish them."

Marcus has seen Lazula do similar trials when she was alive, though the price was not her knowledge of blood magic but just some weapons that normal beings in their realm would kill for.

Marcus continued. "I just wonder how you managed to do it." 

Zoey smiled, her cheeks still blushing as she lowered her head.

The car soon arrived at the university.

The two got off and separated. Zoey went to the third-year building while Marcus went to the main building. He was not here to attend class.

But, before Marcus proceeded, he took a turn and went to the place where Nedo and the others are having a class right now, under the heat of the sun.

He looked at the four of them for a few seconds. He chuckled and then left. Marcus didn't expect to have acquaintances, or so he calls them, here in the mortal realm. He had bonded with them for a bit, something he had never done in the past with people.

'Have I also changed after reincarnating?' Marcus thought as he made his to the main building. 

Marcus already planned on leaving Estra after dealing with a few unfinished businesses. His plan on making this his fortress was already removed, for the simple reason that he lost interest and he badly wants to rush to the heavenly realm. He didn't want to make a base in the mortal realm. Not yet, at least.

He also wanted to see what the Strongwald's are cooking. If he leaves now, it would be like admitting defeat.

Marcus walked into the hallway of the main building. When he came here the first time together with Nexus and Eva, he saw a door that had a sign on top that said 'Memorabilia'. 

Marcus turned the knob, opened the door, and stepped inside. He walked while surveying the room.

It had an area of around 500 square meters. There were trophies on the sides and photos that were framed on the walls. 

These were all the awards that Estra University received in competitions, and the photos were the students it had before.

Marcus looked for ones that had anything to do with the leaders of the Strongwald family.

Although no students would come here often, the room wasn't dusty. Everything inside was well maintained. 

He carefully checked every photo and looked at the names on the bottom. 

After a few minutes of looking around, he finally found a few.

One was pretty formal. It had all the Strongwald leaders lined up together with other students. He looked at the names below to match with their positions on the photo, as the instructions placed beside the entrance of the room said.

Merts, Vid, Pald, and Bong. They were all in the photo, all line up looking neat.

He then turned to another one. This one only had three of them, Vid wasn't present. He checked the rest and it was all the same.

"Does he hate photographs?" Marcus scrunched his brows.

"You mean Vid?" A voice came from the door.

Marcus turned his head and saw Dean, the dean of the university. 

"How did you know I was here?" Marcus asked. He already felt Dean watch him for a few seconds at the entrance. 

"Not many students come in here." Dean walked towards Marcus. "If one does, someone would immediately report it. When I heard it was you, I came down here."

Marcus nodded. "Yes, I was talking about Vid."

The Dean arrived in front of Marcus. "He's, how do I say this, not that good with people. Although he tries, interaction isn't his best suit, even with his family. He was also disdained by his family because of his weight. This is also one of the reasons why he hardly hangs out with them in any of the photos you see"

Marcus stayed silent as he listened.

The Dean continued. "What he is interested in are his experiments. He has won quite a lot of awards for this school a long time ago. His research on medicines and herbs has also proven quite useful. But rumor has it that he does experiments on humans and beasts too."

Marcus nodded after the Dean finished.

"However, I think he still cares a lot about his family. Blood is thicker than water after all." Dean chuckled.

He then walked to the door and said goodbye as he still had a few paper works to finish.

Marcus thanked him and looked at the trophy Vid has won for the school. 

"This should be the person I'm looking for. Now I just need to be a hundred percent certain." He mumbled as he began walking around the room for a few minutes before heading out.

He wasn't badly worried about the plan that the Strongwald is brewing together with Octopi. He was worried that it might slow down his plan with the creatures of the water. 

Now that he knew there was a weak link in the family leaders, he's going to try his luck. He's also going to offer Vid something else, which he hoped for Vid to agree to.

-----

Zoey sat in class, sleepy. She has yet to make a call to her father as she is still listening to the professor's discussion.

As for everything she has gone through the past 24 or so hours, she wasn't able to digest it yet. Dragons, a strange magic, a wooden house where she and the others could teleport to.

'I need to calm down.' Zoey thought. Her eyes were heavy as she had not received enough sleep. She still needs more time in bed for her mental and physical self to rest.

"Alright, class dismissed. Remember to pass those papers on time next week." the professor walked out.

Zoey sighed as she stood up. She then proceeded to the door and went out. 

Seeing that there aren't a lot of students nearby, she called her dad.

The two had a good talk, her father was, of course, worried about her. He had been calling Eva and Nexus a lot over the past hours asking where his daughter was.

Zoey told her father she was okay and would be staying at Eva's house for the time being. His father agreed and she then hung up.

Zoey arrived at the parking lot where Marcus sat in his car, waiting.