Chapter 18 - The Wolves of Mars

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Piper needed a gurney. An ambulance had arrived at the academy. Henryk sat on the edge of Piper's warcasket, engaging in conversation with her. The shock left her hardly recognizing her surroundings. Meanwhile, in Henryk's mind, a revelation unfolded—if he had struck a bit harder, he would have been a murderer atop a mountain of horrors. A scrimmage! What had possessed him to use his magic? The guilt weighed heavy, and as his gaze turned to the crowd, the onlookers remained unmoving, silent witnesses to his display of power.

The crowd pressed forward, and the houses looked on in shock and surprise. Even Logan, prideful and antagonistic as he was, felt a bead of sorrow in his gut. Now, in the green sofa of House Mercury, Henryk sat with Marcus and Lucas on the other end, while Margaret, Zephyr, and a grim-faced Zephyr stood nearby.

"Piper, is she going to..."

"She's stabilized," Margaret interrupted Henryk. Marcus covered his face with both hands, and Lucas stared at the table.

"What was that with you two," spoke Zephyr. "Why'd you outfit Henryk with more parts..."

Lucas turned and sneered. "Maybe it was because you guys were trying to use Henryk."

Silence settled in the room. "You did what," retorted Henryk, glaring at Zephyr. "What are you talking about?"

Zephyr sighed and leaned back. "Don't be ridiculous," he paused and turned to Henryk. "This was a scrimmage to test you, but we put you against Piper to hopefully light a fire under her."

Though Henryk's gaze sharpened, upon reflection, he found no reason to be angry. Piper was just an opponent they pointed him at. Did it really matter that she was in a rut? Yet, Lucas's next words challenged his perspective.

"Hold on for a moment. What was it that you said, Margaret, that Henryk was a mid-tier enemy, someone good enough to hurt Piper, but he..." Lucas sighed and nodded towards Henryk. "But look at you, countryman. You proved us all wrong. What was it you said before? You flew over the clouds."

Marcus nodded sternly in approval as he turned his gaze to Zephyr. Watching the departing orange sun, a bead of worry followed.

"Okay, Zephyr, a deal was a deal," and all eyes turned to Lucas. "It's time for the crowning. Congratulations, Henryk, you are formally a citizen of Mercury after this."

Lucas tried to smile, but his mind flashed toward Piper, and he gravely swallowed. "About that, Henryk..." and there was a pause.

"About what," Henryk said, planting his hand on his chest, a smile creeping onto his face. "It's time. It took a lot, but I am finally..."

"Henryk, as the president of House Mercury... a deal is a deal, but this deal is made out of words. And like words, they were once spoken, but they are gone to the void. The deal is done... you are not going to be allowed into the house."

Silence fell like a shroud over everyone. "What are you talking about, Zephyr?" Lucas demanded, rising alongside Marcus. Even Margaret took a shocked step backward from Zephyr.

"He cannot be allowed into our house," Zephyr stated bluntly.

Marcus glared at him. "Zephyr, you are going to commit something so dishonorable. A deal was a deal. At the academy, there are rules, ancient rules... you cannot break such a thing."

"Why can't I?" Zephyr retorted, pointing at Henryk. "He's lied about practically everything."

"What have I lied about?" Henryk asked.

Marcus sneered. "Are you talking about the party?"

Margaret's glare was intense. "So, you're acting dishonorably, and you're more angry at the rumors surrounding Henryk... than the fact that Piper was hurt in that duel. Jesus Christ, Zephyr, she can't see out of her eye!"

"Don't you think I don't know that!" Zephyr snapped, sighing deeply. "I will issue her a top-of-the-line prosthetic, heck, I'll scour the black markets if I have to. She'll be whole."

Margaret sneered. "You can't be whole after that," she declared, glaring at him again. "Let Henryk into our house. We already have the reputation of Clive, and now you're going to kick Henryk out for besting Piper... you wasted his time, and there are many that will shun you and even us for this."

Henryk's glare bore into Zephyr now. "Are you kidding me?" he spat, approaching and held back by Lucas and Marcus as he screamed. "We had a deal! A deal!"

"Well... a deal is a..." Zephyr's voice trailed off.

Henryk only glared as he fought against them. "Henryk, relax," Lucas urged.

"Yeah, bro," Marcus attempted to smile, but Henryk brushed them off, backing away.

Marcus and Lucas exchanged looks. "Zephyr, Henryk is skilled, why are you doing this?"

Zephyr sighed deeply, rising from his chair and planting his hands on the table. "Okay, fine. If House Mercury allows Henryk Brown into their ranks... they will make an enemy of not only House Venus, but House Neptune itself."

There was a stillness in the crowd. "Holy crap," Lucas muttered solemnly.

Zephyr continued, his voice sharp and cutting through the tension. “They are saying they are going to beat our guys, kidnap our guys, interfere with our guild missions. Heck, they were even threatening to do a bit more if we really didn’t back off.”

“So, the question is to make either the honorable or the dishonorable...” Lucas began, but...

“Christ, you military world brats!” Zephyr exploded. “Your talk of honor is merely a construct of a bygone age made by the empire to promote a military subculture. A brutal concept that is one day going to be rendered extinct and democratized.”

Marcus slammed his hand down hard on the table, Henryk glaring at all of them. “Guys, come on, please...” All eyes turned to him.

He placed his hand on his chest, speaking from the depths of his being. “I know you don’t know me, but I come from some backwater world... we’re a bunch of slaves and refugees who were lucky to settle upon a world that the empire found and accepted into the fold. They dipped into the treasury for me to fund my tuition for all my years here... I am meant to be trained as a warrior. An ally to a house, someone ready to fight, someone ready to lead. I am meant to stand apart from the rest... look at what happened between me and Piper. Only I can fly above the clouds.”

A profound silence followed. Zephyr stared at Henryk as he breathed deeply.

“You’re right, Henryk,” conceded Zephyr. “You truly are someone that can fly high above the clouds. You saved Sirine and for better or worse, you’ve attracted the coming generation of generals, royalty, and leaders. You're special... and I don’t even mind that you’re a wizard. But you’re a risk... I can’t have another hot-blooded warcasket pilot around here. You’re a good pick no doubt, but you’d get us all killed by association.”

Henryk's face turned into a glare. He faced them all. “So, you support this decision?” he challenged. “Do any of you have any personal shred of honor left?” he demanded.

He turned his head toward Lucas and Marcus, their guilt evident in their eyes. “And what of you? You guys aided me in the fight, and now when I need you... now when that battlefield brotherhood is tested, you are going to deny what is rightfully mine.” Henryk spat on the floor. “Damn you all. I won’t forget this!” His final words echoed through the room.

Grabbing his rucksack, Henryk made to leave Zephyr’s office.

“Wait, Henryk...” Zephyr's voice reverberated down the hall. Henryk paused.

“What,” he spat.

Their gazes locked, Zephyr’s unwavering. “House Venus are a bunch of snotty rich pricks, but they’ll batter you with bruises. They like to keep things clean. Neptune is alike to that... for normal people, at times.”

“And for wizards?” Henryk inquired, gesturing to himself.

Zephyr’s gaze turned steely. “From what I know... they like to lynch their wizards.”

Henryk's eyes widened.

"Be careful, Henryk," Zephyr warned. "Logan is especially pissed, he’s fuming and it’s the type of fuming that he may risk doing something on academy grounds."

Margaret’s eyes widened. “They wouldn’t…”

“Don’t think they won’t,” Zephyr retorted. “You know how the Neptunians are with their genetic purity and such. Look at the way they dress. How they shave their heads!”

He pointed at Henryk. “Where are you going, Henryk?” questioned Zephyr.

Henryk paused. “House Mars.”

“Good then,” Zephyr said, clapping his hands. “Then run, the sun is setting… and while you have your time. I wouldn’t want the blue house of the dragon to come after you. They believe they are of the master race…”

Henryk sneered at that. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

And with that, Henryk whirled around, not even turning to say goodbye. There was no time for sadness, or grief, or honor. Henryk glared ahead as he opened the door leading to the outside. There was only the time to reach House Mars and nothing else.

He didn’t think as he started running, launching himself down the steps as he felt the biting of tears within his eyes. He couldn’t turn back, he couldn’t look back… those faces. Those damned faces!

Guilt, shame, anger… and now oathbreakers. They surrounded him like fleas, and when he slept he could feel the enemies around him. He made his way slowly, wiping the tears from his features. He slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and looked at the sun.

“Damn,” sneered Henryk. “If only I had a watch or a phone, maybe…”

Yet, he looked at the sun. He guessed it was the late afternoon… he still had time! Yet, he knew that Uranus would not accept him, and Jupiter with their all-female roster, yet, it led to one person.

For a moment, Henryk remembered Ed’s glinting smile, a smile like a king's. He was a Knight of Mars, and through his tenure at the academy, he realized that there were things in this world that needed honor. Zephyr didn’t have honor, Logan didn’t have grace, Gerald was content, and the rest refused him. Yet, it was Ed who aided him selflessly to save Sirine.

He cut down a path, however, he failed to realize a group of five bearing the colors of Neptune walking. They were talking about something else, but the one with the eyepatch sneered as he saw Henryk pass.

They were within the center of the campus now. He had planned to cut through the shortcuts that he found. But he failed to realize that they had been there for years while he had been for months.

They nodded to each other as they separated in pairs while the eyepatch one went after Henryk, the others split in differing directions.

Henryk maneuvered through the shadowed twists of the campus grounds, acutely aware of the unspoken rules that governed their peculiar society. The facade of civility crumbled behind closed doors, unveiling the true nature lurking beneath.

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Within the campus streets, unpleasant memories loitered, like the echoes of the earlier beating he endured at the hands of the Neptune brutes. The party's aftermath, a brutal reminder etched into his flesh, a stark contrast to the constant struggle he faced as a mutant.

His senses sharp, he noticed a dip in the terrain. Approaching figures emerged, a girl adorned in the heraldry of Mercury and a boy donning the gray fatigues of Pluto. Their astonishment mirrored his as Henryk descended the small hill, rolled, and sprinted into the unknown.

Pushing through dense foliage, Henryk's footfalls reverberated over dead leaves, a testament to the fading summer. The last day loomed, a culmination of events that left Piper maimed, Zephyr's betrayal unmasked, and only Edward remained.

In the woods, a chorus of voices erupted, the word "mutant" cutting through the serene air. Henryk halted, eyes scanning the forest's edge, tense anticipation etched on his features.

"Mutant!" Another voice, a discordant symphony weaving through the woods.

"Mutant!" A feminine tone, a mocking dance in the twilight.

Henryk's hands scrambled for a branch, snapping it into a crude weapon. He surveyed its contours, a brief recoil of disgust crossing his features before determination set in.

Counting each step, he raced through the foliage, leaping off a river embankment. He knew he was close, minutes away from House Mars' sanctuary. The tactics he'd employ there, whatever it took to survive...

A club swung through the shadows, connecting with Henryk's back. He stumbled, falling to the ground. Jaicob, the bald assailant with eyes fueled by hatred, loomed over him, his uniform discarded, revealing a mysterious tattoo hinting at twin dragons on his skin.

Jaicob slouched forward, a wild creature in human form, and Henryk fixed his gaze on the approaching menace. A wry smile played on Henryk's lips.

"Quite a makeover you got there," Henryk chuckled, extending his staff and gesturing toward Jaicob. "Eyepatch doesn't really suit you."

Jaicob roared, an animalistic symphony that Henryk anticipated, closing his eyes for a moment, prepared for the impending charge.

"Briskia!" Henryk's voice cut through the tension. His left palm hovered, controlling the unleashed wind magic. A gust barreled forward, a weighty force colliding with Jaicob, sending him sprawling through the forest floor.

Breathing heavily, Henryk heard Jaicob's pained moans. "F-fucking Star Bloods!" Jaicob spat, resentment dripping from his words. "You're a damn affront to the universe. You and your ilk shall one day be purged!"

Henryk expelled a wad of spit. "Go to hell," he retorted. "Take your core world racist nonsense elsewhere." He leveled his staff at the struggling boy. "Do not make me ask you again or I will..."

Jaicob's strange smile revealed the tightness of the eyepatch. "Should've killed me when you had the chance."

As rustling in the woods intensified, Henryk turned to face three or four Neptune figures, clad in malicious smiles, wielding an array of weapons—bat, club, and knives.

"Logan sends his regards, Star Blood," the girl sneered, approaching Henryk. He backed away, shifting his focus to the encroaching group.

"Leave me alone!" Henryk shouted, his voice echoing through the expanse. Jaicob rose to his feet.

More sounds enveloped him, and Henryk turned with a flash of realization. Now, he was the prey encircled by predators.

Enter Logan of Neptune, armored in standard metallic plates, a trident in hand. His ocean-blue eyes devoured the scene as he flashed a charming smile to the Neptune ladies.

"Yo, Henryk!" Logan called, waving casually. "Long time no talk. How about you give me a moment of your time?"

Breathing hard, Henryk cast a spell toward an advancing Jaicob. The wind carried Jaicob, spinning him into a tree, and he crumpled to the ground. Someone hurried to check on the fallen adversary.

"Oh, no need for that," Logan drawled, and Henryk wiped a bloody trickle from his nostrils. "Your space witch powers have no dominion over us, Henryk. We'll rise again, as we always have. Harder, stronger, greater than before... these are the words of Neptune, Henryk."

Henryk tilted his head, scanning his surroundings. "Well, it sounds like racism to me!" he snapped, a defiant edge in his voice.

He surveyed them all. "What?" he lashed out. "You feel real proud of yourselves for the way you treated me, the way you beat up on Tyson!" He shouted, a raw intensity driving his words. "I am not afraid to fight you, and I am afraid of using what I am to deal with you."

Raising the wooden stick defiantly toward Logan, the boy chuckled and leveled his trident. The weapon emitted a strange musical note as it danced through the air, a blade adorned with clear diamond jewels and teal plasteel design.

"My trident... or your hick staff," Logan proposed, pausing to survey the room. Laughter rippled through the group. "Hick staff," he repeated, chuckling along with others. "You're a real dowsy, Henryk. Henryk the hick, Henryk the hick with his little dumb staff... you fancy yourself a wizard, you dumb hick?"

Henryk sneered. "I favor myself more as a pilot. Don't you remember, Logan, how I saved your life out there when Piper was busy aiding Ed and Sirine? You owe me for saving your life!" he shouted, defiance in his eyes.

Logan glared. "I don't owe you anything. Maybe, within the feudal worlds of the empire, this talk of honor and words would mean something, but us midworlders are more sophisticated."

"I didn't realize sophisticated societies do ethnic cleansings," Henryk spat.

"The strong must do what it takes to survive," Logan declared, his gaze filled with intensity. Henryk smirked, pointing at the unconscious Jaicob. "Is that your supreme being—the ideal human? Well, he's knocked out cold, and I'm right here."

In that moment, Henryk shed the identity of a mutant and became the ace pilot that could reform the trident. He sneered at the inherent cruelty, knowing the strong must be strong, and the weak can't taint the batch.

"You've disrespected us so many times, Henryk, disrespected me," Logan seethed.

Rolling his eyes, Henryk retorted, "I didn't realize you placed such high value on me."

Logan growled. "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer... but you're right, Henryk, you're an anomaly, and that's another reason." Pausing, Logan glared at Henryk, rising his fist, a palpable hate emanating from him.

"You tried to assault Jace's sister..."

"I didn't do such a thing!" Henryk shouted, a surge of emotion. He steadied himself. "I never had a father... I was raised by a mother and had two half-sisters. I would never commit one of the worst and most horrible crimes imaginable on a human being. Please, I've never met Jace's sister before that..."

However, Logan's glare held Henryk in its grip. Unwavering, unyielding. He didn't listen; he didn't care. His purpose was clear – to read Henryk his rights and hang him on a tree.

"You disrespected Jace at his own party... went into his tournament and engaged in that melee. To top it off, you had the nerve to fight him after..." Logan accused.

Glaring back, Henryk retorted, "You were there, Logan of Neptune!" His voice echoed through the forest, a defiant resonance that left them all in shocked silence as he continued.

"I was in the bathroom!" he shouted. "I had no idea what occurred during that time. Our build and whatever else is merely circumstantial. But you were there, Logan of Neptune. You saw what Jace was trying to do to..."

Logan clicked his lips, turning his head away dismissively. "What a man does with his bride is of no concern to me," he declared.

"They are not to be married until the Headmaster's demise!" Henryk shouted back.

Logan chuckled. "...and I bet you've got that knowledge locked down. Don't you, Henryk?" The others joined in the laughter.

Fuming, Henryk felt the urge to hurt Logan then and there, but he had already cast multiple spells. The world moved on a rigid axis for him, blood streaming from his nostrils and lips. He coughed, feeling his knees go wobbly.

"Ah... your magic is running out, little wizard," mocked Logan.

Henryk's breath grew heavier, the world spinning, blood leaking, and the strain of the magic and the duel pressing hard. All he craved was a warm bed, a great luxury at the academy.

Trying to balance himself, he faltered. "What are you doing in our woods?"

The voice, heavy and laced with malice, cut through the tension. A sharpened blade against a chalkboard. All eyes turned toward the sound.

Past Logan, even he turned around with shocked eyes. On a small hill, about eight feet high, Ed's leering smile stretched from ear to ear. Henryk breathed deeply, black stars biting at his vision's edges. Yet, he discerned Ed's form and the others behind him.

They wore armor, catching the setting orange sun in steel grace. Bronze, teal strands, and matte black finishes adorned them. Among them, Ed's plate looked the most noble.

His armor gleamed in chrome steel, golden bands weaving intricate tales along its lines, though Henryk stood too far to discern the full story. Ed's hair danced in the breeze, his triumphant smile casting a shadow over the sons and daughters of Neptune below. His left arm cradled his helmet, while the other rested casually on the pommel of his sword.

By his side stood Arthur and Axel, both donned in armor, though unlike Ed, they remained shrouded. Their armor bore resemblance to old European Knight or Crusader Era suits, but with Martian enhancements evident. Unique packs adorned their backs, humming with power, unlike anything Henryk had seen before.

"Now, I ask again. What are you doing in our woods?" Edward's question hung heavy in the air, catching everyone, including Henryk, off guard. His narrowed gaze pierced through the Neptune ranks. "You better give me a good reason for why you're here. After what you pulled with Tyson..."

"You're lucky you're even allowed to draw breath!" Arthur's voice thundered, his glare piercing through his battle gear, armed with a formidable two-handed longsword. "We warned you what would happen if you trespassed on our lands again. We warned you and your president!"

"A deal is a deal, Logan," Ed interjected sharply. "Do you really want to report another conflict with House Mars?"

Jaicob's groan echoed into the void. "That's real rich... this new House Mars thinks they can make threats, like they still have the strength to throw their weight around."

Ed turned to Jaicob, then back to Logan. "They're my brothers, Logan. Not just my guys. They're the ones I'd die for, the ones who'll have my back in battles and guild missions."

Logan scoffed. "Guild missions? You believe you'll still be allowed after your shaming?"

The words struck a chord, silencing Ed. Jaicob seized the opportunity to continue, his tone laced with disdain. "Once the greatest of the houses," he paused, spitting onto the forest floor. Laughter rippled through the group, but Henryk remained unmoved, a subtle tension brewing among the Sons of Mars. "Do you feel no shame? Protecting a mutant... an abomination."

"Who cares?" Arthur's voice boomed with a triumphant laugh, reverberating through the tense air.

Ed's smile widened, and he nodded, turning briefly to Logan. "I like to call it aiding a friend in need," he said, his tone confident.

Henryk observed the exchange closely, noting the subtle dynamics at play.

Arthur gestured to the crowd. "Who cares if Henryk can cast spells? You do. But it's his business," he declared, his words resonating with conviction.

A feminine voice rose from the throng. "He's a mutant! An affront to us all!" she exclaimed.

Axel removed his helmet, drawing all eyes to him. His finger brushed the skin beneath his left eye. "He's a mutant... then what the hell am I?" he challenged.

A voice from the crowd responded, its tone measured yet firm. "You merely bear the genetic changes of Venus," the speaker, wielding a club, explained. "You are a son of the floating islands... such changes from the sun."

Axel nodded thoughtfully. "We've all undergone mutations, even you Neptunians," he remarked, prompting a collective introspection among the group.

"There's no perfect or pure race among the solar systems," Axel continued, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. "Look at the Innworlders of Uranus."

Some sneered at his words, their whispers reaching Henryk's ears. "We are pure," they asserted confidently. Logan's gaze remained fixed on Ed, though he made no move to intervene. The voices continued, their words tinged with fanaticism. "We are the chosen," one proclaimed. "It is within us to bring retribution, to purge humanity of its impurities and achieve perfection."

For a moment, Henryk's mind drifted to the pages of an old history book from his high school days. His thoughts lingered on Jaicob's peculiar dragon tattoo, its angular lines reminiscent of an ancient symbol he'd once read about.

Axel approached, surprising everyone, including Henryk, who struggled on the ground to stay awake. Axel's possession of a gun widened Henryk's eyes. It was unlike any firearm he had ever seen – not an old Earth rifle or a Neptunian submachine gun. This was something entirely different, defying any pattern Henryk had encountered before.

The firearm in Axel's hands resembled an assault rifle, elongated and formidable. It lacked a stock, an oddity considering its size, and featured vents along the barrel. A massive magazine and a grenade launcher attachment completed the ensemble.

Logan, like Henryk, took a moment to grasp the gravity of the situation. His gaze shifted between the weapon-wielding Ed, the downed Henryk struggling to stand, and Axel aiming with precision. A subtle smirk crossed Logan's face. "You're lucky, mutant," he uttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Today is your day. Enjoy the luxury of breathing another miserable breath into your abominable life."

Henryk's glare met Logan's snicker. Logan turned away, addressing the Sons and Daughters of Neptune. "You win, Mars!" he shouted, waving his trident. However, his departing words carried a venomous warning. "Next time, they won't be around to protect you, countrymen. When you're alone, your ass is ours."

As the Neptune group retreated, relief washed over Henryk, his fatigue evident in the breath he expelled. The Sons of Mars swiftly approached, concern etched on their faces. Ed, kneeling beside Henryk, offered a hand. "You alright?" he inquired.

"I'll live," Henryk responded, accepting the hand. As he stood, the others circled around, keeping a watchful eye on the departing Neptune stragglers.

Ed, sensing the weight of the encounter, probed further. "They hurt you or anything?"

Shaking his head, Henryk felt the weight of the unrealized danger. "More like what they were going to do to me," he admitted.

Ed's eyes widened briefly, followed by a sigh and a roll of his eyes. "People of Neptune are an old bunch. They believe in dragons and purity."

"Dragons and purity?" Henryk snorted. "I've heard about the futuristic living of Neptune. Are you telling me people who cure diseases and drive sky cars believe in dragons?"

Ed responded with a shrug. "Some do, some don't. But sadly, more often than not, it's the former. Logan of Neptune – ever heard of his family?"

"No?" Henryk questioned, glancing around. A glimpse of blond amidst the green caught his eye.

"He's second in line, a second son," Ed explained. "Neptune may have technological wonders, but they are very old school. His older brother will inherit and rule the planet."

Henryk's eyes widened, and his legs grew wobbly.

"I-I... made an enemy of someone who is going to inherit a planet."

His stomach churned, and the queasiness overtook him. Ed reached out to steady him. "Ay, relax," Ed stated, gripping Henryk's arm. "Are you..."

"I exhausted my well," Henryk gasped. "...casting all those spells gravely exhausted."

"That's real interesting and all," Axel's voice cut through the air, his glare fixed on Henryk. He slung his rifle over his shoulder, adding an edge to the tension.

Henryk steadied himself, gently pulling away from Ed's grip.

"Ed, I want to talk to you."

"Well, I'm listening," Ed chuckled.

Taking a deep breath, Henryk forged ahead. "Before we fought together, you witnessed my skills. You know what I am capable of."

Ed fell into a thoughtful silence, wrapping his arms around himself, nodding for Henryk to continue.

"I am here because all the other houses have refused to accept me based on a rumor. I have lost prospects due to my beliefs, but right now, on the cusp of expulsion, Edward, I wish to become a member of House Mars."

A moment of silence hung in the air. Then, Arthur cracked a smile.

"Oh, how interesting," Arthur mused under his breath. Casting dark brown eyes along the unfolding scene.