IMPERIAL ACADEMY

An Exorcism

"So… it's true. Klaus truly escaped the painting," Master Orion said out loud while Alex kept looking at him. The tension in the air further aggravated as Master Orion thought long and hard.

"Is it true that you want me dead?" Alex asked the older man and Master Orion frowned at him.

"Klaus told me that you wanted me dead. Tell me, Master Orion, Is it true?" Alex asked again. Master Orion crossed his arms while students passing by shot them glare.

"What else did Klaus tell you?" Master Orion asked Alex. Alex wasn't sure whether he should answer the question or not. He held Master Orion's gaze.

"Tell me!" Master Orion commanded him, and Alex exhaled.

"He said you are a hypocrite. That you allowed me to stay in the school because you want to kill me for something I did in my past life. Klaus told me I killed your wife-"

"The Dark Knight killed my wife…" Master Orion said to Alex with all certainty, but Alex shrugged his shoulders.

"It doesn't change anything, does it? The fact that you are not refuting anything means that Klaus was telling the truth. I will become The Dark Knight and destroy this world. Maybe you should just kill me and spare everyone trouble," Alex said to Master Orion.

Master Orion's heart was moved with pity while he looked at Alex. He sighed, and then took a step closer to him.

"Listen to me, Alex. We have the power to change our destinies if we want it hard enough. You are right. The thought did cross my mind of killing you on the spot when you first came to this school. But at that moment, I read your mind, and I realized that you were not how I envisioned you'd be. I believe you can change your destiny, Alex. I believe you can stop yourself from becoming The Dark Knight. That is why I haven't killed you yet," Master Orion said to Alex.

"Has it ever happened before? That someone successfully changed their fate?" Alex asked. Master Orion sighed and bowed his head.

"None that I know of. But that doesn't mean it's impossible. Besides, if I kill you, The Dark Knight will just reincarnate again. The secret to stopping that entity is to find a way to destroy him without killing you in the process. That is how we will take care of him," Master Orion replied to Alex.

"Can it be done?" Alex asked and sniffled.

"Only one way to find out," Master Orion replied. As Alex was about to ask about the dark magic that gave Master Orion longevity, a Sentry quickly rushed to where they were standing.

"Master Orion, we have found Mark!" The sentry said in a frenzy. Master Orion frowned while he received the news and then turned to Alex.

"Go inside your room. Now!" He commanded and walked away with the sentry. Alex looked at them departing and then exhaled. He obeyed Master Orion's words and quickly headed back to his room.

Master Orion followed the sentry while he led the way to the sentry's Barracks. The Sentries' Barracks, located in the northeastern wing of The Imperial Academy, provides humble yet functional accommodation for the elite guards, who protect the institution's esteemed faculty and students. Simple, sturdy furnishings and strategically designed common areas foster camaraderie and vigilance among the sentries, ensuring they remain ever-prepared to defend the Academy's sacred grounds.

"Where is he?" Master Orion asked the Sentry, who opened the door to a room. The sentry pointed inside the room.

"He's in there," the sentry replied. Master Orion stepped into the room and the sentry closed the door behind him after he followed as well. Master Orion saw Mark lying on the bed, grunting heavily while he breathed. His eyes were closed, he was drenched in sweat, and his mouth was wide open from which frothy saliva poured out.

Master Orion watched Mark closely as he carefully approached him.

"What is happening to him?" The sentry asked Master Orion as he looked around the room.

"He has been possessed. Mark is harboring an entity inside him," Master Orion replied to the Sentry. The sentry frowned.

"Can you tell what it is?" The Sentry asked Master Orion. Master Orion ignored the question and then proceeded to touch Mark's arm. He gave him a light shake, but Mark did not open his eyes. He kept breathing hard and fast.

"Mark!" Master Orion said sharply as his voice appeared to have layers. Mark suddenly opened his eyes, which were hollow and pitch black, and the other sentry jumped back in fear.

Master Orion let go of Mark's arm and watched him as Mark tried to say something. But his tongue was gone, and he just mumbled inaudible sounds while he cried.

"Help him. Please, help him!" The sentry called out to Master Orion. Master Orion stretched out his hand-over Mark and closed his eyes.

"Tu, nefasta entitas quae hunc hominem possedisti, dimitte eum statim!" Master Orion chanted and suddenly, Mark growled. His spine cracked as his chest pushed upward. His body tensed, and his veins became distended. As his hollow eyes continued to budge, Mark suddenly let out a loud groan and crashed on the bed.

"Hello, Orion…" Mark said in Klaus' voice. Orion frowned upon Mark.

"So, this is what you have resorted to, Klaus? Possession?" Master Orion asked Klaus.

"You gave me no choice. You've always wanted to undermine everything I do when you are also doing the exact same thing!" Klaus yelled. Master Orion exhaled.

"Get out of him. Now…" Master Orion warned, but Klaus chuckled.

"You can't save this one, Orion. The Sentry you knew as Mark is long gone. All that is left is just a carcass that I am currently inhabiting. I have already sent his soul to hell. Mark is no more!" Klaus replied to Orion. The other sentry charged at Mark, but Mark waved his hand and a powerful energy blasted the Sentry, crashing him against the wall. The Sentry lost consciousness immediately.

"I will destroy you now, Klaus. You have caused enough nuisance," Master Orion said, but Klaus laughed.

"Alex hates you now. Even if you destroy me, it changes nothing. I have already set things in motion and someday, Alex will take your life. And he will be The Dark Knight when he does it," Klaus said to Master Orion.

"That day will never come. Alex will beat his fate. I will isolate The Dark Knight and destroy it forever," Master Orion said to Klaus, but Klaus laughed.

"It's impossible to change one's fate. You of all people should know this," Klaus said to Master Orion. "Your beloved wife was fated to die at the hands of a powerful entity. I know you thought it was you at first. That is why you put so much energy into being good. But then, you realized that it was all for nothing. You can't change fate. You cannot change what the universe has written!" Klaus added, but Master Orion stretched out his hand toward Mark's body.

"You talk too much," Master Orion said, but Mark suddenly groaned again. And in the next moment, his neck snapped, and he died on the spot. Master Orion approached Mark as black smoke stealthily escaped Mark's body and got absorbed into the wall.

The smoke traveled along the walls, looking for it's next host. It traveled rapidly until Kevin's voice began to echo through the walls. The smoke stopped in Kevin's room and as it started to take form, Kevin looked back and screamed.