Jacob and Maria huddled together in the palace. Lidia was pacing around them with a concerned expression on her face.

"When was this? What is that mark you have on your arms?"

She suddenly got close to Jacob. Her face looked extremely angry, but more distraught more than anything.

"This is all your fault. Why did I think you could be trusted with my daughter?!"

Maria walked over and got in between them.

"Mom, it isn’t his fault. He was doing something really sweet and we ended up getting caught in something together."

Lidia’s breathing was irregular. It looked like she was holding back tears.

"But that mark... it just feels so evil. I’m just worried about you, honey."

"Me and Jacob will figure it out, but we just need some time. We didn’t even know that you guys could see it. Nobody else in the kingdom was able to."

Something connected in Jacob’s brain.

"Maybe it’s because they have powers."

Maria and Lidia both looked at him with curiosity.

"Think about it. Was there a single person we showed this mark who had a power of some kind?"

Maria thought to herself, remembering the family she showed and how none of them had showed a reaction to the mark.

"If this thing is tied to people with powers, what could that possibly mean?"

Jacob looked down at the ground, trying to gather his thoughts.

"Have I ever told you guys what I believe the origin of powers are?"

Lidia looked at him suspiciously.

"The origin of powers? What do you mean?"

"I mean that these powers are not what everyone thinks they are. My father and the professor know about it, but I think it’s only fair I share with all of you. I think it’s time the truth started spreading to the world."

Everyone around the room went silent, eagerly waiting for Jacob to continue. As he shared the information about the Sacred and Profane Trio, everybody seemed to be more and more shocked. Even Lidia seemed to have trouble processing everything.

"Destined to hold influence? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"No one really knows, but it’s the only pattern my professor was able to spot through his research."

"What an insidious power... to be able to give god-like abilities to people at will. That’s quite terrifying."

Cane decided to add a bit of his own thoughts to the conversation.

"If someone’s able to do that, does that mean someone can possess two powers at the same time?"

Jacob shivered at the thought, but came to a reasonable conclusion.

"I’m not sure human bodies would be able to handle so much stored power. We aren’t gods."

"I would be more concerned with the man who can take these powers away, especially since most of us rely on a power very heavily."

Maria started rubbing her head.

"Something still just doesn’t seem to add up to me. It’s been bothering me since we determined that power users are the only ones who can see the mark."

Jacob looked over at her.

"What is it?"

"If these marks are so closely tied to people possessing these powers, how were you able to be marked?"

The implications in Maria’s statement were clear. She was suggesting maybe Jacob was hiding something important from them, like a power of his own.

"I... I don’t know. I’m not sure if we know enough about the marks yet to understand."

"But Jacob, are you sure you don’t feel any different? Like a small part of your being has changed recently?"

Lidia started talking as well, hoping to get as much information out of Jacob as possible.

"It’s different for every person who receives a power. People most commonly find out what it is by accident."

Maria started blushing.

"The first time my power activated, I slammed Jacob on the stone street by accident."

Jacob started patting himself up and down, studying his breathing and even tried jumping a few times. His body felt the same as it always had.

"I truly don’t think I’ve gotten a power. It definitely would’ve made itself known by now... right?"

"Only time will tell, Jacob. However, since we don’t know, it’s better to just say you don’t have one for now."

"That just brings us back to square one with these marks."

Lidia took part of her dress, tore a long string of cloth off her sleeves, and handed them to Jacob and Maria.

"Tie this around your mark and make sure it’s tight. Don’t let anyone else know you have this unless you absolutely have to."

Maria turned away from the group to cover her mark. As she covered it, she asked Lidia a question.

"Mom, what if this mark makes us dangerous? What if we have to leave the kingdom?"

Lidia walked over to Maria and put her arms around her.

"Don’t say such things. We’ll figure something out."

Jacob was looking at the ground, clearly bothered by something. Lidia noticed and wrapped her arms around him too.

"What’s wrong Jacob?"

"Why am I here right now?"

Maria and Lidia looked at him a little confused.

"We’re just trying to keep you and Maria safe. There is no telling what’s happening out there."

A large shockwave rang through the palace, causing some people to lose their balance. Jacob looked out at the blood fighting the rain in the sky.

"I can’t just let people go out there and fight while I’m stuck in here. It just doesn’t feel right to me."

Maria held on to his shoulder.

"It’s okay, this is our only chance to overthrow your father. We just have to be patient."

"What if the citizens decide to fight, seeing their home under attack? How many would die before we get the opportunity to do that?"

A sound started echoing through the air. Jacob could just hardly make out the words.

"Fight. Fight. Fight."

He looked at Lidia, who seemed to have heard it too. She slowly walked up to Jacob and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Please Jacob. I know you want to help the people, but those masked men could still be in the street waiting for you. Let’s just bide our time here and stay safe. Please."

Lidia looked desperate. Even though Jacob wanted nothing more than to go out and help, he decided to stay in the palace with Maria. Lidia was right. Those masked men could pose a threat much larger than the king or his uncle could.

Jacob sighed and turned back to walk towards the group. He walked past everyone, up to his father’s throne, turned around, and took a seat. He rested his chin in his fist and looked forward with a menacing gaze.

"When that bastard comes back from this fight, if he ever comes back, I’ll be waiting for him to take what’s rightfully ours."