There's No Escaping

As the early morning light filtered through the curtains, Charlotte stirred from her sleep. Slowly opening her eyes, she found Marcus lying beside her, already awake, gazing at her with a soft, unreadable expression. There was a moment of silence between them as their eyes met, and the tenderness in Marcus's gaze made her heart flutter.

"Good morning," Marcus said quietly, his deep voice carrying a warmth that seemed to chase away the remnants of sleep from her mind.

Charlotte blinked, still adjusting to the moment, and replied softly, "Good morning." She rubbed her eyes slightly before asking, "How long have you been awake?"

Marcus smiled slightly. "I just woke up myself," he lied easily, though in truth, he had been awake for some time, contemplating his plans. But that wasn't something Charlotte needed to know. He stretched slightly and added, "We should freshen up. I have training today, and I don't want to keep Principal Lucian waiting."

Hearing that, Charlotte gave a small nod, pushing herself up from the bed. "Alright," she said, her voice still a little sleepy. She reached for her clothes, while Marcus got up and began to dress as well.

The comfortable silence between them remained as they prepared for the day. There was no lingering tension from their conversation the previous night—at least not on the surface. Marcus had made sure that Charlotte felt secure in her place beside him, even if she was still grappling with the idea of his growing harem and his relationship with Professor Erza. For now, it was enough. He would keep her close, keep her loyal.

Once they were both ready, they headed out of Marcus's dorm room and made their way to the academy's cafeteria for breakfast. The academy was quiet in the early morning hours, with only a few students roaming the halls, most likely on their way to their own training sessions.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, Marcus ordered a hearty meal of steak, eggs, and bread, knowing he would need the energy for the day ahead. Hewas sure today's training would be more intense.Charlotte opted for a lighter breakfast of fruit, yogurt, and tea.

They ate together, but the conversation was light, almost casual. Marcus asked Charlotte how she was feeling, and she assured him she was fine. She didn't mention anything about their discussion from the previous night, and Marcus didn't push her to. They were both well aware of the changes in their relationship, but for now, there was an unspoken agreement to focus on the present.

After they finished eating, it was time for them to part ways. Charlotte had her own lessons to attend, and Marcus needed to head to the principal's office for his training.

"I'll see you later," Charlotte said softly, offering him a small smile before turning to leave.

Marcus nodded, watching her go. As soon as she was out of sight, his expression shifted, the warmth leaving his face. He had done what was necessary to keep Charlotte close, but now his mind was back on more pressing matters—his training with Lucian.

With those thoughts in mind, Marcus made his way to the principal's office. The air in the academy was crisp, and the distant sound of students practicing magic could be heard as he walked through the corridors. It wasn't long before he reached the familiar double doors of Lucian Silvermoon's office, and he paused for a moment before knocking.

"Come in," Lucian's voice called out from within.

Marcus stepped into the room, the heavy door closing behind him with a soft click. His eyes immediately locked onto Lucian, who was sitting at her desk, her hands gripping the armrests, and her sharp blue eyes fixed on him with an intense, angry glare. It was clear that she was not in the mood for pleasantries.

Lucian's expression was colder than the early morning air outside. Her usually calm and composed demeanor had been replaced by something far more dangerous—an anger that Marcus could practically feel radiating from her. He was no fool. He knew this was about last night, about what he had said to her in the cafeteria.

Without a word, Marcus stood in the middle of the room, waiting for her to speak.

___

Lucian had barely slept the night before, her mind consumed with the events at the cafeteria.

How dare Marcus propose to her? And in front of Erza, who he also has relationship with. It was outrageous. The thought of him dating his teacher and then having the audacity to lay his eyes on her—her, the principal of the academy—made her blood boil.

But as angry as she was, Lucian couldn't deny the confusing feelings stirring within her. For years, she had been alone, isolated after the tragedy that had taken her family. She had devoted herself entirely to her role as principal, distancing herself from any emotional connections. She had forgotten what it meant to be loved, to be seen as a woman rather than just a figure of authority.

Marcus's bold proposition had reminded her of those long-buried feelings. It wasn't just his words that had ignited something inside her—it was the way he had looked at her. He hadn't seen the principal of the academy, or a powerful mage. He had seen her, Lucian Silvermoon, the woman.

It angered her, but it also left her unsettled. She couldn't allow herself to fall for a child. Marcus was too young, too reckless for her to even consider such a thing. She had to maintain control, to keep her emotions in check. She was the principal, after all. And yet, when she thought about him, she felt… conflicted.

No matter. She couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment. She wouldn't let Marcus manipulate her like this. The fact that he could stand before her now, completely unafraid, without a trace of guilt or hesitation, only fueled her anger.

Today, she would teach him a lesson.

Lucian's gaze hardened even more as she leaned forward in her chair. "You're late," she said, her voice cold and sharp. "I hope you're prepared for today's training, because I won't go easy on you."

Hearing Lucian's sharp reprimand, Marcus thought inwardly, 'How am I late? If you want to beat me, just do it. Why are you making excuses? ' He barely restrained the smirk threatening to form on his lips as the thought crossed his mind.

"Sorry, ma'am, but I didn't know about the time. You just left yesterday," Marcus replied, his tone almost too casual for the situation.

Lucian's eyes narrowed, and a vein visibly popped on her forehead. Her anger was palpable, her icy control threatening to snap at his audacity. How dare he speak back to her like this?

Without another word, Lucian stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor with a harsh sound. "Come with me," she commanded, her voice low but laced with fury.

Marcus immediately regretted his choice of words. 'Why did I have to point that out? ' he thought, cursing himself for provoking her further. But it was too late to change anything now. He'd have to deal with whatever was coming.

Lucian led him through the academy halls in complete silence, her every step radiating controlled anger. They soon arrived at the training grounds, a special area only used for duels between professors or elite students. The place was designed for intense magical combat, with high walls and wards to contain even the most destructive spells.

As soon as they arrived, Lucian gave a sharp order to the nearby students and staff. "Clear the area. No one is to return here for the rest of the day."

The students immediately obeyed, scrambling to vacate the grounds, casting curious glances at Marcus as they left. He stood in the center of the now-empty training ground, watching them go. The quiet before the storm was unnerving.

'Great… now I've really done it, ' Marcus thought, bracing himself for the "training" that was about to begin. He had no doubt Lucian was going to make him pay for everything.

Lucian crossed her arms and looked down at Marcus, her gaze as sharp as ever. "Yesterday, you practiced footwork," she began, her voice cold and unrelenting. "Today, you'll be fighting me, and I expect you to put that footwork into practice."

Hearing this, Marcus inwardly sighed. 'I knew it ' he thought, already anticipating the brutal session that lay ahead.

He hesitated for a moment before attempting to protest, "Ma'am, I still need some practice with my steps."

Lucian's lips curled into a small, barely noticeable smile as she watched his nervousness. But her tone remained flat, almost mocking. "Don't worry," she said calmly, though her eyes gleamed with intensity. "This training is for exactly that—to make sure you can put it to use in a real fight."

Marcus felt a chill run down his spine. There was no escaping it now.