Chapter 17: The Mark of Fate
The three of them sat together, eating lunch that Morvak had conveniently brought to them. They had moved to a calmer spot near the beach since people started flooding the plaza.
Tyka was leaning against a nearby palm tree, basking in the shade as he ate his sandwich, completely relaxed. Meliodas sat a short distance away, his food untouched as he stared up at the sky, lost in thought.
Liora’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“I still can’t believe you’re a dual specialist, Meliodas.”
Meliodas shrugged lightly. “It just kind of happened.”
Tyka spoke. “Figures.”
“And a buffer too,” Liora continued, still shaking her head. “That’s what amazes me the most.”
She looked at Meliodas with a small smile.
“What I really don’t understand is how you’re only Rank Twenty-Two. You should be much higher. Way higher. Probably single digits.”
Meliodas looked at her and smiled calmly.
“I’m happy where I am,” he said. “A rank is just a number, after all.”
Liora frowned slightly. “You really believe that?”
“I do,” Meliodas replied. “And I’ve already told you my Straum capacity is average. That played a big role in my evaluation.”
Tyka tilted his head. “Still feels wrong.”
Meliodas shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich.
Liora spoke again.
“Now that I think about it… I didn’t see either of you at the evaluations. Where were you?”
Meliodas looked at her. She had removed her glasses and was carefully cleaning them, unaware of his gaze. Her eyes were lilac, beautiful, vivid, standing out softly against her hair of the same color.
After a moment, he answered.
“We didn’t arrive by conventional means,” he said calmly. “After all, the only dock with a direct connection to Archypego is Hollowreach.”
Liora nodded slowly, processing the information, then turned her gaze toward Tyka.
“I figured as much,” she said. “But why were you there, Tyka?”
Tyka shrugged. “Because I’m from Stonewake.”
“Stonewake?” Meliodas asked. “Where’s that?”
“It’s a small island a few miles southwest of Hollowreach, close to the mainland,” Tyka explained. “Big cliffs. Stone quarries. That’s what we’re known for.”
Meliodas frowned slightly. “Never heard of it.”
“Me neither,” Liora added.
Tyka grinned. “Doesn’t surprise me. It’s a calm island. Not much going on. River Monsters, stone, and more stone. Not exactly a tourist destination.”
“River monsters,” Liora said suddenly, eyes widening.
Tyka waved it off. “Yeah, those. But they’re not really dangerous. My mom used to scare me with stories about them when I was little.”
He smirked. “Once I got older, she started calling them weaklings.”
Liora pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Weaklings,” she repeated. “For a fully grown giant, maybe.”
Tyka laughed, Meliodas turned toward Liora.
“What about you?” Meliodas asked. “Where are you from?”
“Lilyvale,” Liora replied.
Before Meliodas could ask where that was, she continued, her words coming a little faster as her confidence grew.
“It’s a few miles northwest of the capital, close to the Eternal Rainforest. It’s not very well known, but our flower fields stretch for miles. You should definitely visit sometime.”
Both Meliodas and Tyka nodded.
Close to the Eternal Rainforest… Meliodas thought. That makes sense. That region is constantly drenched in rain, perfect conditions for plants and flowers to thrive.
“It’s still strange,” Liora said slowly. “You two should’ve taken the evaluations with the rest of us. It shouldn’t have mattered that you arrived through a different dock.”
Meliodas hesitated.
Before he could answer, he glanced at Tyka.
“Our evaluation was…” he paused, choosing his words carefully. “Well. Special.”
Liora blinked, confusion flashing across her face.
“Special?” she asked. “What do you mean?”
Meliodas began to speak, recounting how their evaluation had gone and what it had consisted of. At first, Liora reacted with confusion, then with shock, but she didn’t interrupt, allowing Meliodas to finish.
“…Wow,” she said once he was done. She looked between the two of them in amazement. “You fought actual monsters? Was it hard?”
“It was amazing,” Tyka grinned. “Nothing beats real combat experience, after all.”
“If it weren’t for the professor, we would both be dead,” Meliodas added flatly.
“Nah,” Tyka waved it off. “You would’ve figured something out, brother.”
“Not without killing myself,” Meliodas replied dryly.
“He’s right, Tyka,” Liora said, her tone serious now. “Straum decay is nothing to joke about.”
She turned her gaze to Meliodas, worry clear in her eyes.
“But… you’re okay now, right?”
“Yes,” Meliodas answered. “The professor took care of me. I’m as good as new.”
Before he could say anything else, Liora suddenly stepped forward, grabbing his arm. Meliodas stiffened in surprise as she quickly examined him, her hands moving with practiced precision.
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After a moment, she let out a breath of relief.
“You’re fine,” she said softly. “Everything’s normal.”
Only then did she seem to realize how close she was.
She stepped back quickly, her face flushing bright red. “S-sorry,” she added.
“Not at all,” Meliodas replied, watching her closely.
Liora looked… unsettled. Her gaze drifted away, her expression distant, as if lost in thought.
“Are you okay, Liora?” Meliodas asked gently.
She looked up and nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”
She picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, then shook her head lightly before glancing at both of them.
“I suppose,” she said with a sigh, “neither of you has a very good sense of self-preservation.”
All three of them started laughing and continued eating.
After a few minutes, Tyka spoke again, curiosity creeping into his voice.
“I’m still a bit confused though. How did they evaluate you, Liora? You didn’t have to fight monsters or anything ?”
“Heavens, no,” she answered quickly, almost startled by the idea.
“It was much simpler.”
She set her cup down and continued.
“First, they divided us into groups based on specialization. Each specialization had a different test. Spellcasters were asked to cast their strongest spells. Healers had to restore dying plants or treat injured people, and the more combat-focused students had to demonstrate one-on-one combat against Professor Kazzek.”
She paused, thinking.
“There were no monsters. No mixed teams. No survival trial.”
Then she tilted her head slightly.
“I always thought there was only one group evaluation… but now I see there were actually two.”
“Sounds boring,” Tyka said lazily as he leaned back, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders.
Liora looked at him flatly.
“…Wait,” Meliodas said slowly, eyes narrowing just a bit. “You said there were two group evaluations. What do you mean by that?”
Liora looked at him, clearly confused for a moment, before answering.
“Yes. There was the main group evaluation, the one everyone was allowed to watch,” she said. “And then there was yours.”
Lioara tilted her head slightly, genuine surprise in her expression.
“Honestly, I’m amazed you haven’t heard about it. It’s all anyone’s been talking about for the past few days.”
Meliodas thought for a moment. Maybe it has something to do with that Lucien guy.
He reached up, rubbing the back of his neck as he smiled faintly.
“We’ve been… rather busy these past few days,” he said. “So we don’t really know anyone here yet. Except you,” he added, glancing at Tyka.
Tyka shrugged but didn’t answer.
“Oh, right,” Liora said, realization dawning. “I forgot about that part.” she pointed at Meliodas, “You were recovering, and you,” she added, pointing at Tyka, “…well. You were just being you.”
Tyka grinned proudly.
“Sooo,” Meliodas said, hesitating for half a second before continuing, “does this second group evaluation have anything to do with… Lucien?”
He frowned slightly as he searched his memory.
“That was his name, right?” Meliodas asked. “The so-called hero?”
“…You really don’t know,” Liora murmured to herself.
She lifted her gaze back to the two of them and nodded.
“Yes, you’re right, Meliodas. The second group evaluation was Lucien and his two elven companions. They sparred against Professor Elowen.”
Her expression shifted, eyes brightening.
“The Thorned Rose herself. You should have seen her, she was brilliant.”
Liora paused, then exhaled softly.
“But I have to admit… Lucien’s group were monsters.”
She glanced between them.
“To no one’s surprise, Lucien took the first rank. His companions placed third and fourth.”
Meliodas went quiet.
The Thorned Rose…
He had heard that title before. The name stirred something in his memory, but he couldn’t quite grasp where. Before he could dwell on it, Tyka spoke.
“Really?” Tyka said, scratching his chin. “They’re that strong, huh?”
He looked at Liora.
“So who got second place, then? And what’s all this talk about a ‘hero’ anyway?”
Liora stared at him.
For a long moment, she genuinely looked like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“…I don’t actually know who placed second,” she admitted slowly. “But Tyka seriously?”
She shook her head.
“I know you’re from an island,” Liora said slowly, “but you really don’t know what the Chosen Ones are?”
Tyka shrugged, completely unbothered.
“It’s not like they’re that important,” he said.
Liora stared at him.
“…Not that important?” she repeated. “Tyka, are you serious right now?”
She turned sharply toward Meliodas, clearly hoping for sanity.
“You must know what they are,” she said. “Surely.”
Meliodas paused, thinking.
“My father mentioned them once or twice,” he said carefully. “But never in detail. I suppose my sister might know more, but… I haven’t seen her since she left for the academy.”
Liora froze.
Then she sighed, rubbing her temple.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered. “Not only do you two lack any sense of self-preservation, you’re naive on top of it.”
She shot Tyka a look first.
“I expected it from you.”
Then her gaze returned to Meliodas, sharper now.
“But you?” she said. “You’re a prince. You should know how the world works.”
She shook her head.
“I suppose there’s a reason people call those from Archypego… detached.”
Liora exhaled slowly, then straightened, steadying herself.
“The Chosen Ones are individuals blessed with power directly tied to the gods themselves,” she explained. “They appear only in times of great need.”
She glanced toward Meliodas.
“Take Lucien, for example. He’s a Chosen One of the Holy Empire. Chosen by the God of Light, what the Empire calls the Holy Mother. Why he’s here at the academy is… unclear.”
She brought a finger to her lips, thinking for a moment.
“But in simple terms,” she continued, “they’re powerful. Terrifyingly powerful.”
Tyka thought about that for all of three seconds before waving a hand dismissively.
“So they’re strong and have fancy titles, don't know or care about the god stuff,” he said with a grin. “That’s the important part, right?”
He leaned back slightly, eyes gleaming.
“Can’t wait to fight him.”
Liora stared at him, utterly flabbergasted. Meliodas spoke before she could explode.
“I understand that they’re important,” he said calmly. “But you said Chosen Ones, plural, are there more of them?”
He paused, then added thoughtfully,
“And you mentioned a ‘great time of need.’ The world seems… relatively peaceful. Aside from monsters, I haven’t heard of any wars or calamities.”
Liora’s shoulders slumped.
“That’s the worrying part,” she said quietly. “There are eight Chosen Ones in total, that we know of.”
She looked between the two of them.
“They don’t appear during a catastrophe. They appear before one. When Chosen Ones start gathering, it means something terrible is coming.”
Her voice dropped.
“No one knows what. Only that… something will happen.”
Tyka, entirely ignoring the possible end of the world, tilted his head.
“Oh,” he said. “Is that why he’s got that weird mark on his neck?”
Liora blinked, then nodded slowly.
“Yes. Each Chosen One bears the mark of their god. I only know of two personally, Lucien von Lichtheim, and the Second Prince of the Western Kingdom.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“And both of them are currently enrolled here.”
Silence followed.
“Lucien is in our year,” she continued. “The Second Prince is a second-year.”
Then she looked directly at Meliodas.
“You should know about him,” she said. “The rumors say he’s… quite close to Thalessa.”
Meliodas nearly jumped at the statement.
“Wait, what?” he blurted. “Did you say he’s close to Thalessa? My sister? Impossible. That ogre?”
He shook his head hard. “I don’t believe it.”
Liora burst out laughing.
Tyka blinked. “Your sister’s an ogre, bro?”
“Yeah, yeah, she is,” Meliodas replied quickly. “She doesn’t look like one, but her behavior, damn.”
A chill crawled up his spine. He shuddered slightly.
“I don’t even want to think about it.”
All three of them laughed.
After a moment, Meliodas turned back to Liora, his expression settling.
“Do you know where they are right now?” he asked. “I haven’t seen anyone in the second-year plaza. Actually… I haven’t seen my sister at all since she entered the academy. I thought she’d be back home during the summer.”
Liora looked at him with disbelief.
“You really don’t know anything, do you?”
She sighed, then explained.
“The second-years are currently on their field test. They won’t be back until winter. Most of them don’t return home during summer anyway. They form teams in their first year and spend the entire break training for it.”
She paused.
“I heard your sister is in a team with the Second Prince. They spent the summer in the Black Oasis.”
“The Black Oasis…” Tyka muttered, thinking hard. “That’s the capital, right?”
“At least you know that, Tyka,” Liora said dryly.
“Well… that makes sense,” Meliodas murmured.
Liora studied him. “It doesn’t bother you? Your sister spending the entire summer in the capital, with a boy like that?”
Meliodas suddenly laughed.
“If anything,” he said, shaking his head, “I feel bad for the prince. My sister is… a handful.”
He grew thoughtful, then looked at Liora again.
“So the marks,” he said casually. “They’re different for each Chosen One, right? Like… could someone have a cross on the palm of their hand. Or on their back.”
Liora frowned.
“That’s an awfully specific question,” she said slowly. “But no. Each Chosen One has only one mark, and I’ve never heard of a god represented by a cross.”
Meliodas stiffened.
“So… he isn’t even that.” He said in a whisper
A shiver ran through him again this time sharper, colder. Distant memories stirred, heavy and unwelcome.
“You alright, Meliodas?” Liora asked. As soon as she spoke, a warm, steady presence stirred within his core, the unease dulling as if wrapped in soft embers.
Thanks, Owen, he spoke true their connection.
“Yeah,” Meliodas replied quickly. “Yeah. Just… bad memories.”
Tyka leaned back, stretching his arms above his head.
“Now that we’re done eating,” he said casually, “what do you say we go get a bit of exercise?”
Meliodas considered it for a moment, then nodded.
“I wouldn’t mind some light exercise,” he said.
Liora hesitated, then nodded as well. “Alright,” she said. “But just light. You two are still recovering.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Tyka replied far too quickly, a grin already spreading across his face. “Just light.”
