Marcus rolls his eyes "so let me guess, I was meant to kill myself ten years ago instead of running into a place that didnt exist on a map so I didn't know it existed."
Zandalor places a hand on Marcus' shoulder. "This is what was meant to happen." Zandalor then sends a vision to Marcus of him running the opposite way he had, and into a human town where he hid with a woman named Catherine, whom he later tells his secret to and marries.
Marcus places a hand on Arija's arm, "calm before you set my trousers on fire love. I've already tried."
Marcus looks up at Zandalor "well actually I was going to a quarry over this way to kill myself, then I would be in the same place as you."
Zandalor retracts his hand. "I have seen every version of what could have happened. That was the best case scenario."
Marcus raises an eyebrow "I had nothing to live for ten years ago after all my specialist training and a couple of missions. Black bloods killed all that i had left, directly or indirectly. This academy gave me a blank slate to start on instead of lying dead in a quarry."
"Yes, but in that version, you are also happy and given a new life, without Zhar being put through an all new kind of Hell. If this were the worst case scenario, he would have killed everyone except for you. Then where would you have been?"
Marcus chuckles "same place as I would be if I was dead and had depression. You can't win old man. Not with me "
Zandalor: "So you agree that the vision I showed you was best case scenario?" Zhar's body twitches slightly, before he speaks."I love you too, Ness....." (Illusion World) Zach looks at Ness, surprised. "Wow... I can't believe I am about to say this, but... Over the past few weeks, I have started to develop feelings... Feelings I've never felt before... They have developed because.... I love you too, Ness....."
Warren steps between Arija and Zhar's body. "Wait! You don't understand! I can see Zhar's illusion world, since I created it! It isn't how it sounds!"
Arija's hair turned into flames as her dragon mark appeared on her body glowing red. "STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!!"
Warren sends the images of Zach and Ness into Arija's head, showing what had been happening when Zhar said what he did.
In the woods, Warwick and Grim are still fighting, until both of them sense Arija's scream. Warwick grins. "I'm sorry, but I have to end this duel. I have a few bastards and bitches to teach a lesson to." Warwick vanishes. "I have to protect the Masters and the Master's love..." Grim turns to Raven form, and quickly flies off.