At the border of the tiger kingdom the line was long. Most of the people are merchant while others are travelers. Mark and mukhoko was little uncomfortable.
The demons or rather the horn people was among to the line. There are some look like a sinister demon wearing a human's clothes and some look like humans but a horn came out from forehead or head. Few of them have wings or tail and mark was thinking if these people are really a demons.
From their perspectives the demons are ruthless monsters that attack city and destroy the civilization, but the demon in front of them was not on the demon he knows and no demon will wait in line while showing his full form in board daylight.
'Looks like I have to look for the library'
As the line getting shorter it's mark's group turn. They didn't have king's seal but mark do knows how to entered legally.
"You're pass?"
"Sorry I don't have"
The guards look frown, but mark didn't erase the smile on his face.
"Then why are you in line? You know our rules right?"
"Yes I know that is why I request the muktar trial"
Mark who boldly spoke those words felt confident. The muktar trial is a trail that allows to entered the city as fighters. The demi human tiger was a fighter kin and to entered they have to fight the demi human kin and if he win he and his group will pass but if not he will still pass but he will be follow the wish of the winner.
In other words his freedom was in stake to the trial. The people on he line knew what's muktar trial but they didn't dare to fight the demi human tiger because they knew that they lose.
As the guard look dumbfounded, he regain his sanity and smile sinister making people on the line felt shiver.
"Oh a muktar trial ha, it's been a while since someone take the trial"
The guard look to his comrades and nodded. One of the guards left the gate and in few minutes as big muscle demi human tiger came out from the gate.
"Ha a Challenger"
His voice was rough and his fur was the same as the white tiger, his way taller than mark and mark felt nervous.
"Now then let's begin"
The muscle man quickly grab mark and throw him in the open field. Mark's group was shock and the people in line begin to watch. Mark didn't know what happened but he knew that his in different level.
"Am Wagner the captain of the border will defeat you and turned you as my husband"
Mark widen his eyes and mukhoko felt chill on his spine then mark ask.
"Wait you're a man right?"
"No am a woman"
Mark look at the demi human tiger and the demi human tiger evade his gaze.
'I see so she wants to get married'
Wagner was a single woman who devoted to become a warrior but the cost was she remain single. She felt envy to her fellow woman. Unlike other woman she look like brick and most male demi human tiger was avoiding her unless it's about fighting.
Although she didn't get one, she will have one on the muktar trial so she keep waiting until she finally found him..
Mark was scared, he heard the news from his brother Morgan of how salvage they are in bed. He remembered of how he look like a dry vegetables from his appearance.
'If i didn't win then this woman will suck me dry'
He curse Schmidt from the bottom of his heart. If he knew that this will happened he won't participate on the muktar trial. He through that it's a fight between the guard and him but he didn't expect that he will fight a captain that looks par from mukhoko.
Mark like woman but he didn't like woman with muscles so if he lose then it's over for him. Mark's determination was went to maximum and Wagner felt thrilled on looking mark.
"Mukhoko who do you think will win?"
Rose look at mukhoko and mukhoko think of this deeply.
"Young prince was strong but he never fought strong opponent before so I say he will loss"
Mukhoko make a prayer for mark and the other male people did the same. Mark who saw their action gritted his teeth. He felt like he was betrayed than cheering from him. Although he was unhappy.
He fight strong opponent before and in front of him was more stronger than the opponent he face. Wagner make a strong step and charge mark. She didn't drew her sword yet but mark quickly evade her.
Clank
Mark block Wagner's quick draw. The sword from mark's hand was shaking but Wagner didn't let him rest. She then swing the sword in quick movement making mark push back but he observe Wagner attack.
As he saw the opening he then swing his sword with strong force.
Clank
The sword was stop on half way and Wagner was really happy.
"Nice swing but you're posture was little off the mark"
Mark was been thrown in mid air after she grab mark's arm and shoulder then use his body weight to make a momentum.
Mark use his strengthen skill. His legs became his support so he won't fall on the back to the ground. Thanks to the strengthen skill, he then throw Wagner big body to counter attack.
As she thrown, she then landed with her two feet. Mark looks exhausted but a will to fight.
"Nice, if you're slow you lose but I think it's time to be serious"
Wagner use her mana to her legs and quickly charge. Her speed was way faster than before and mark was surprise because she already in his face after blinking.
Mark make a back step but Wagner was faster, she then kick mark on the back and with a combination of kick to the chin sending mark flying. Although his strengthen skill didn't make him loss consciousness the body pain was screaming to him.
Mark quickly avoided the incoming fist with his arms and send flying to the other side. His arms have bone fracture and it's visible to the naked eye, but he wants to keep moving forward and charge. He ignore the broken arm and hold tied the sword handle.
Clank clank clank
Mark continues to attack and Wagner was a little surprised. She thought that she will win after than attack but he didn't gave up.
Wagner was indeed moved from his determination but she has to end it. As she saw the opening she then make a palm punch on mark chest. Mark felt his armor make a dent and his heart stop for a sec with that reaction his movement became slow. Wagner hit mark on the back of his neck and mark fall to the ground.
As victor was announce the people cheer including mukhoko. The determination of the prince was indeed a inspired to warriors including the elves and Alice look happy while holding blacky.
Mark and the group has a right to enter the border but mark's fate was sealed on Wagner's wish.
At the fort mark was having a lot of body pain. In front of his a happy big demi human tiger was looking at mark on her desk. Mark felt scared and look for the others help but it was in vain. Everybody was busy eating and chatting. Mark felt like being abandoned and Wagner speak.
"Well that was fun, it's been a while for someone to challenge me"
As she spoke happily mark ask.
"Did someone challenge you in muktar trial?"
"No, not in muktar trial but in academy school"
As she spoke happily she continued.
"Anyway since I won I have to make a request for you"
Mark became afraid, he really didn't want to married especial that his father punish him. If his father knew this, he will exile for sure.
"I want you to find the gardener named Einstein"
As mark confuse he then ask.
"Einstein? Not marriage?"
"Oh you want me to married you badly?"
As Wagner's joke, mark felt it wasn't a joke. She was seriously going to marry him before but he regain his calm and ask.
"No but why Einstein?"
Wagner look at the elves and mark finally understood why.
"Einstein stole the world tree branch right? He brought it in the fort and since the kingdom doesn't allow a suspicious items, it was banned but he smuggle it and being chase by the kingdoms army. We didn't know where he was but since his part of the tiger kingdom, obviously that the elves aren't allowed in the kingdom because of the rules"
It's not because the tiger kingdom won't allowed it, it's just they are warriors to the elves who like peace. The demi human tiger loves fighting to the point that the tiger and lion kin always fight. Elves do the same, they dislike fighting but they willing to kill for the village.
While the elves understood, Wagner continued.
"Einstein was on the wanted poster and we didn't know why he steal the world tree branch, so I ask to captured Einstein alive before the others do"
"Other?"
"Yes, he was being chase buy Siberian tiger kin, fang king, warrior kin and so on. The reason was he steal other trees and magic materials. Those kins are eager to beat him up and the king can't do anything about them"
Mark imagine of how very angry demi human will chase one person even in hell.
"That's my request, anyway about our engagement I'll postponed it because I have a feeling. You're going to be a delicious man that worthy to me"
Wagner's eyes was like a hunter who found his pray, making mark felt chill to his very soul. Wagner wasn't satisfied at mark, although Wagner likes his determination mark was weak, she have a feeling that mark will accomplish his goal as a warrior.
Mark was really afraid to Wagner. His brother told him that they are ferocious beings that willing to fight for a man.
Wagner look at Alice who was rubbing blacky's stomach. She felt like Alice will be her rival but she didn't know what will happened to the future so she wasn't motivated.
"That is all"
As the meeting finally ended, mark and his group was outside the fort. Their are 30 km away from the city. They didn't have a ride and blacky can't carry them because he will be mistaking as monster attack.
"So what are we going to do?"
Mukhoko look at mark. Mark also didn't know what to do too. He was send here in the middle of nowhere. He can't ask the elves since it's their first time in the other kingdom.
"For now we need direction"
As mark was about to ask, Alice Ask at the merchant. The merchant was a halfbreed demon man guarded by halfbreed and demon like soldiers. The caravan was big carrying a grain, flour, salt and sugar.
Mark who saw Alice with the demons felt shiver but if he wants to accomplish his goal, he must be friendly to the locals.Alice wave her hands and mark with his group went to Alice.
"Mister Moss said he will glade to take us a ride in exchange for guarding"
Mark look at mid 30 fat man wearing a low quality clothes. He was a halfbreed demon and next to him was his son in the age of 20. Mark felt nervous but as a leader of the group, he has to be brave and never fear from his heart.
"Hello mister Moss, am mark thank you for giving as a ride"
Mark bowed to the halfbreed demon and Moss look satisfied.
"Then mark I hope me and my group get along with you"
As they both smiled they went to journey together for the very first time.