Three weeks until the assessment.
In the library of the academy, Markus and Helen were studying side by side with a mountain of books in front of Markus.
"Leadership is not only about leading but also about aptitude. Lead your people based on their strengths and only then will you succeed." A book chapter read
"So make the task suited for the person… like asking me to be patient… or Amy to fight in close range combat without constructs… or Helen to stand still and endure… everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses." Markus mumbled to himself as he kept on reading in the library, a mystical room to him.
Another chapter he found later read
"A leader need not be strong. He need be wise. Strength will follow from wise choices."
"What a load of crap— what use is wisdom when you have supreme power?" He mumbled again then caught himself
"That's… the imperial mindset isn't it..? Why care for your people when you can force them to obey… strength is a weapon again the enemy and wisdom… is a quality for the people then?" He thought
A later chapter.
"Mercy is a skill. A foe turned ally is more useful than a corpse. Death is the ultimate weapon which shouldn't be used blindly."
'… so why did I have to kill that imperial vessel and his mother… couldn't they be turned to allies? Were they even foes!? Maybe the queen should read this—' he thought angrily, the sorrow of taking lives gripping his young heart
He spent the week learning ideas of 'good' leadership.
And with the test quickly approaching- he needed to go over harder principles.
"A leader should put the lives of the group above their own… but equally he should protect his own life even if at the cost of his subjects. In a war soldier casualties are a heavy burden for the leader but a leader's death is an unbearable burden for the soldiers. You must be both selfish and selfless- a hard balance to achieve." The chapter read
"… do you understand any of this Helen?" Markus asked her, reading the chapter aloud
"… put it this way— say you and me die in the upcoming battle. That's the executive leadership gone. In that position would the rest be able to continue? Would they even want to? The people that they wanted in charge are gone so for who exactly are they fighting? All of them are doing it because the owe you but with your death- that debt is gone. You are not just an organiser but their inspiration and purpose." Helen said
"When did you get so wise?" Markus asked sarcastically
"I didn't- that's just what my grandfather said… a long time ago. It's stuck with me ever since." She said
"Words from… the patriarch of Aquabourne? Huh…" he said, pondering on what she said
"Point is- if you die more people die. If you remain alive- less of your people will die." She summarised
"I see… I think… but when is it right for a leader to die for his people? When he can spare them the risk of death?" He asked
"I… don't know. According to this yes… but even if the leader sacrifices themselves their values are still within the people. And values are just as dangerous as leaders- if not more. Values do not die unless everyone who holds them is dead…" she said, sombrily.
"This is turning really grim. What you're saying is that if that bastard Fin decides to kill us- he won't just stop at me and you— he'll kill every single member of the cohort to rid of the entire notion of us and what we're trying to achieve." Markus said
"Essentially. And speaking of… what exactly do you want to achieve as president? Beside getting yourself stronger? You'll have to explain yourself to the student body if we win… and if your reason is not good enough… we won't be able to be inaugurated…" Helen explained
"Shit… just what I needed!" He said, scoffing
Markus didn't really have a wider reason for wanting to become president outside of getting himself stronger through the resources which would be available to him. What could he offer the student body in return?
"You can be mad about it but it's your duty. You didn't think as president all you had to do was be strong and do whatever you want… right!?" She asked, realising maybe it was exactly what he thought
"Ahem- of course not!" He said embarrassed
Another week and several days had passed, time spent training the group and studying for his leadership test. Eventually the day Markus had to take the exam was almost upon them.
Markus and Han were training in the evening in an official training ground where they could use their essence. Han was an apprentice but he was slowly getting the hang of things.
Still, he struggled with one thing which prevented him from ascending to stage two.
"I just don't get how to surrender. Elemental energy is a tool— why would I surrender to a tool that belongs to me?" Han asked
"You need to trust the tool Han. You swing the hammer but you need not have an iron grip. You need to be balanced and trust you won't hit your other hand— something like that…" Markus tried to explain with a metaphor
"I just… don't get it… why trust when I can ensure…" Han asked
"I… don't know… it's just the way the wind is— I suppose." Markus replied, only knowing that the more he fought the wind the more he struggled.
The others were all faring much better- which only vexed Markus as he thought he was doing something wrong. Still- he did not force Han down a certain way- he knew it was not easy to surrender.
His preparation came to an end and he had to take the exam on the very last day of the sign up period. It was a verbal exam, contrary to popular belief that it had to be written. Organised by Deputy Headmaster Haroldson.
Markus walked into Haroldson's office, greeted Haroldson and sat down when he was offered a seat.
"Let's begin. Name one quality which you have that a great leader does not." He said
"… so something I have which great leaders do not… I suppose it would have to be impulse. I will not stand idly by analysing the situation but instead will jump in head first into it- working it out and adapting as I move." Markus replied
"Do you not think this is a poor quality? You're more likely to make mistakes." Haroldson asked
"It is a poor quality only if I make mistakes. If I do not then it's all the same." Markus replied
"Bold. Confident… reckless. I see. Next part then— how far are you willing to go for the academy?" He asked
"… without the academy I… would be worse off… it means too much to me to lose it. To see it fall apart would be… so I'd go as far as I need to protect it." Markus replied
"… what if you had to sacrifice the students for the academy itself?" Haroldson asked
"… I don't understand. The students are the academy. The building is just that. It only has meaning due to the people inside. If I sacrificed the students it would be the same as forsaking the academy… which I just said I wouldn't do." Markus replied
"Good." Haroldson replied blankly
Markus nodded
"Last question then. What do you have to offer them? What do you want to achieve as student body president?" Haroldson asked
The dreaded question which had to receive an answer. Markus was trying to think of something in the silence. After a while Markus broke the silence.