Mark leapt out of the portal, landing on one hand and a knee. Sand scattered beneath him as he rose, brushing the dust from his clothes before making his way toward Zara and the girls on the shore.
"Hey, Jessie, you okay?" he called out, waving as he approached.
They were struggling with Jessie's shackles until Zara pulled a small knife from his pocket. With deft, practiced movements, he picked the lock, and the cuffs clattered to the ground in seconds.
Mark's brow rose slightly. A noble who knows how to pick locks that fast? Plus The last name Gin didn't ring any bells perhaps Zara hailed from one of the allied kingdoms. Either way, Mark realized he knew far less about his so called classmate than he thought.
Jessie rubbed her wrists, then looked straight at Mark. "Are you insane? You tried to fight those guys by yourself! Look, I know you're strong, but you're not invincible."
Mark's gaze drifted aside, his expression softening into something that looked like guilt. "Sorry… I just didn't want to risk everyone else getting caught," he said aloud.
But in his head, a different thought played. A little gratitude wouldn't hurt. I didn't have to save you. And if everyone had been there, I couldn't have gone all out I'd have been stuck watching their backs as well as mine.
Jessie's eyes blazed as she locked onto Mark. "Bend down."
Mark froze. "…What?"
Her cheeks flushed crimson, but her voice was firm. "Bend to my eye level. Now."
Still baffled, Mark obeyed, leaning down until their faces were level. What is wrong with this girl? he thought, already a little annoyed.
Without warning, Jessie grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss. Their lips met. Mark's eyes went wide, his mind short circuiting. No, no, no Jessie's sweet and all, but I'm here to build influence. I need someone with real power to their name… not another commoner like me! Ugh, what did I just get myself into?
He pulled away quickly, face burning.
"Wait what are you doing?!" Opal's voice cracked as she rushed in front of Mark, throwing her hands up like a shield. "You can't just kiss him out of nowhere!"
Jessie tilted her head, confusion in her eyes. "Oh, sorry… are you two together?"
"NO!" Opal's denial was sharp, her cheeks now nearly glowing red.
Jessie sidestepped her with ease, circling back toward Mark. "Then what's the problem? Unless… you are interested in him and you're just lying?"
Opal sputtered, unable to respond.
Off to the side, Zara pinched the bridge of his nose, watching the chaos unfold. Mark shot him a desperate help me look.
"You're on your own for this one," Zara said flatly.
Opal blurted out, "Yes! I want him. I've had my eyes on him ever since he saved me during the entrance test!"
Mark's expression stiffened. What the hell is happening? Jessie was suspicious of me when we first met… unless ah, that sly dog. She's trying to use me as protection. If people hear I'm strong and think we're together, they'll think twice about messing with her.
Jessie's smirk made Mark realized he was right. She was planning to use him but, it also looked like she wanted to use Opal's name as well "If you're interested in him too, we could share. That's what most nobles like you do, isn't it, Opal?"
Opal's face turned an even deeper shade of red. Share him? she thought. I mean… she's not wrong. My dad does have seven wives… but still… I want Mark to myself! Ohhh, what should I do?
Jessie had a plan one that could secure her comfort, protection, and influence for years to come. If she played her cards right, she could end up in a polygamous relationship with Mark, gaining the safety of his strength and the reach of Opal's noble family. And if she was really clever, she might even get all of them married and climb the social ladder with a powerful husband by her side.
Mark quickly caught on to what she was doing. he didn't mind. In fact, he liked the idea especially if it meant adding a few more noble girls to the mix.
Alright… so Jessie's more useful than I thought. Maybe I can cut a deal with her build a nice little harem, pull in as many noble families as possible. The more I have on my side, the better.
Jessie leaned into her role perfectly, feigning innocence as she toyed with Opal's kindness.
"Come on, Opal, you can't be selfish and keep him all to yourself. He did save me, after all. I'm not saying I'll hog him to myself you found him first after all ."
Opal's cheeks flushed. "Alright… we can share him. But only us two."
Mark's thoughts screamed in protest. No! At least three more!
Jessie slid in smoothly, her voice sweet but edged with suggestion. "But what if Mark gets close to another girl? Maybe we set a limit… say, two more besides us?" She leaned closer to Opal. "I mean… how many wives does your father have? Shouldn't Mark have more than two as well?"
Opal hesitated. Jessie had a point her father did have several wives, and two more wouldn't hurt. "…Fine. Two more max. No more after that."
In Mark's head, fireworks went off. Yes! Thank you, Jessie! And I didn't even have to lift a finger!
Jessie turned to him, giving a quick wink, as if to say, I've got you covered.
After Mark's little harem conference, Zara called out to him.
"Yo, Mark, get over here. I need to talk to you for a second."
"Okay."
Mark followed without protest, and the two moved a fair distance away from the girls. Zara's expression was unusually stern, his eyes sharp.
"I know you're planning something," Zara said, voice low. "I don't know what it is or why you're doing it, but"
"Don't worry, it isn't anything sinister," Mark replied casually, trying to defuse the tension. His tone was light, almost dismissive, as if hoping to keep Zara from digging further.
Zara grit his teeth, his gaze narrowing. "I can tell you're lying. I can see it in your eyes. What are you aiming for? Tell me and don't lie. I'll know."
Mark blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected this kind of intensity from Zara, of all people.
"Okay," he said slowly, "but before I tell you my plan… why don't you tell me who you really are?"
Zara's brows furrowed in irritation. "What do you mean?"
Mark folded his arms, watching him closely. "I saw the way you picked that lock it was precise, practiced. You're not some random noble. And your last name, Gin… I've never heard it before. It's not one of the usual noble families in Moonvale."
Zara's eyes narrowed, his usual calm replaced with a guarded edge. He had been keeping a secret too a big one. It was the reason he rarely shared anything about himself, why he was always the quietest in the group.
Locking his gaze on Mark, Zara finally spoke.
"Alright… we walk away. I stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine."
Mark didn't hesitate. "I agree."
With nothing more to say, the two returned to the group. The girls were already gathering their things, ready to set off. The tension from the private conversation lingered between them, but neither showed it.
Soon, they were all packed and prepared to leave the Jade Isles behind, and return to the Knights Academy.
Mark turned to Opal. "Hey, Opal, you know this place better than any of us. Got any idea how to get out of here?"
Opal nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. I remember my sister telling me there's a teleport crystal not too far from here, hidden in some old ruins. We can use it to get back to the entrance."
Jessie grinned and reached over to pat Opal's head. "That's our little princess always the smart one."
Mark caught the sly glint in Jessie's eyes. Zara noticed it too. She was clearly buttering Opal up, trying to win her over little by little. The funny part? Mark had never even agreed to this so called "harem" idea out loud they'd both just assumed he'd go along with it.
The group set off through the dense forest, their steps crunching over fallen leaves and moss. The air grew cooler as they approached the ruins Opal had mentioned.
When they arrived, a massive crystal stood in the center of a crumbling stone structure. It shimmered with a gentle, pulsing glow, the air around it thick with mana.
"All right… this is it, right?" Mark asked.
Opal nodded.
Mark snapped his fingers. A sharp crack echoed through the ruins as the stone prison encasing Rellana back at the lake shattered, the fragments dissolving into dust.
One by one, the group stepped forward and touched the crystal.
A surge of liquid mana swirled around them, weightless and warm, lifting their bodies off the ground. Light engulfed their vision as they were pulled upward, the world around them melting away
and in the next moment, they were standing in the main hall.