Markian's pov :

I am Markian Freeman and I am 28 years old. Right now I am in a situation where I live or die. I definitely know what is gonna happen, and I have to survive no matter what.

I choose katana as my weapon they do work perfectly for me. Thousands of eyes are on me, they are egarly waiting for their Sagar's arrival.

Within minutes he arrived at the scene, with his salt and pepper hair floating in air and was covered in a armour. That armour never suited a man other than him. With his hazel eyes he gives me a deadly stare and occupied his position in the stage.

Once he entered, the crowd stared to cheer by raising their weapons and shouting 'SAGAR WINS'. Yeah, they wanted their Sagar to be victorious, so was I once.

I admired him, he's one of the finest swordsman of all time. And I am his favourite, until I told him about my freedom.

I came to this assassin group when I am 18. I spent a decade here practicing the art of killing. We won't use our birth name here, the Sagar will give each of us a new name based on our abilities.

And I am called as 'FOTIA', which means fire. I was Sagar's favorite, he taught me many tactics in person. Many of the fellow swordsman don't like me since I was close with Sagar.

In this ten years I have killed thousands of mens, completed hundreds of assignment.

Can you believe it, Sagar once even told me that I could occupy his position in future. He liked my skills, he believed in me. But now everything is changed.

I came here with a single thought in my mind to be a great swordsman. Here I am a Fotia, named by the Sagar. I know a day like this will come. I knew it on the day I joined here.

Yes, it's easy to join in a group than to leave from it. I can leave this place only by killing one of the fellow swordsman in a combat. Yes, I am gonna leave this place either dead or alive.

None in the crowd know who's gonna be my opponent, so was I. I am egarly waiting to see who's gonna die in my hands.

I watch mens scampered making a way in the crowd, clearing a path for my opponent to enter.

My eyes were fixed on the path, I want to knows gonna fight with me. And I finally saw, Ohh No!!!!.

It's Olivia.

Why this has to be Olivia?. She's my friend. Now I should kill her to go home. This must be Sagar's plan, he's testing my emotions. Why everything has to be complected to me.

Olivia also known as 'Aeras'. Which means the air. Her movements are compared to the gentle blow of air, she does everything just like a gentle breeze. Sometimes people can't even see her sword, her moves were that fast.

Why not!! Can a cub born to lion become cat?. She's Sagar's daughter, his only living child. Sagar's son died two years ago. Even though Sagar's position is not hierarchy, everyone respected Olivia. She's one of the twelve finest swordsman of our clan.

Look at me, going to fight her with katana! She's the one who taught me how to master them.

This situation is really bad, I don't like it. How can I kill her!!!.

What should I do? Kill my friend or to get killed by her??.

Ok face the fact Markian.

She has chosen a Spartan sword.

...The aura around us was dark, everyone is waiting for my death. This is the moment of my life. Do it Markian....

As soon as the bell sound heard, Olivia began to swing her sword. Indeed they are true, her movements are unpredictable. I am mesmerized by her skills. All I did was to defend myself from her strike. I couldn't do it! I couldn't hurt her.

I wondered!! Am I this  emotionally weak.

On the other hand, her face looked completely calm emotion less. She's doing her job perfectly.

When I was thinking about these things without concentrating, her Spartan cut through my flesh making my left arm bleed.

Come on Markian!!! Snap out of it!!! She's not your friend anymore.

Do it.

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Both of them fought equally, the crowd couldn't predict who's gonna win. They couldn't even see the swords in their hands they could only hear the sound that was made by their sword against each other.

Markian did a move that made Olivia to stumble and fall to the ground. Then he grabbed her hand with the sword and placed it in her throat.

This is it! This is his freedom.

But he couldn't do it. He couldn't slit her throat.

"Are you not gonna kill me" asked Olivia.

"No I can't" Markian said, by releasing his grip on her.

"Why is that hard for you?" She asked as tear began to dwell in her eyes.

"Because you're my friend. You will be always" said Markian looking at her.

"No we are not. Not now" she said and within a blink she draw a short dagger from her boot and jumped over Markian and pierced it in his chest.

Before Markian make move she grabbed another dagger and made multiple cuts in his body.

Markian screamed in pain.

She then gestures the crowd to clear the way towards the dead pit. She grabbed him at his ankle and dragged him towards the pit.

Olivia grabbed his hair and made him to kneel before her at the edge. She took her dagger and slit his throat and kicked him into the pit.

She turned towards the crowd and raised her sword above.

The crowd should "victory for Sagar".

Markian pov:

I opened my eyes, so I am not dead after all. I touch my throat, it was not cut. So what's her plan?? Not killing me,huh. I am confused. I can't move my body. Every slight move caused pain in my body.

Where am I??, I turned my face and was shocked to see a putrified corpse next to me.

Oh no!! I am at the pit of dead. I found myself lying above pile of corpse. That nauseating smell began to fill my nostrils. I even saw maggots crawling from a corpse nearby. All these made me puke things out my mouth. I was actually covered in blood and dirt of rotten humans. I could hear buzzing made by flies around. Ew... it's disgusting.

I wish I was dead rather than finding myself alive here!!!.

I closed my eyes, I can't see this sight anymore. If I had a knife right now I would have slit my throat myself.

Darkness began to cover my vision, am I going to die here. I passed out.

(Several hours later)

I hear beep sound to my left. Still I am breathing. I tried to open my eyes but it seems to be very difficult, but I finally did. The light in front is so bright that made me close my eyes. After few seconds my eyes adapted to the surrounding, I found myself in the hospital.

How did I ended up here?!! I got up from the bed and took few steps forward, which made me dizzy and I fell to the ground with a thudding sound. Then a nurse rushed inside and helped me to get back to the bed.

"Sir you're sedated, so don't try to move. Just stay relax and take rest. Your attender will be here any minute" said the nurse and injected a medicine which I think is a antibiotic into my veins.

And who's this attender!!!.

"So you're awake??" I heard a voice from distance and I know who it belongs to. Olivia!!!.

"What have you done? If anyone finds out that I am alive, your life will be in danger" I said.

"Since when do you care about me" said Olivia with a chuckle.

"Shut up!! Sagar won't show any mercy even on his daughter. Don't you know that" I asked with anxious look in my face.

But Olivia was completely cool. She sat beside me and brushed my hair with her hands "don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Do you know how difficult it was for me to pierce your body without injuring the vital organs. And you weighted like a pig".

We both busted out laughing. Few hours ago I actually thought she was going to kill me.

"It must be a difficult job to get me out of Dolofonos Omada" I questioned her.

"Bet me!! There's nothing difficult for me".

She's indeed correct.

"Ok, do you need anything right now" asked Olivia.

"I just need a shower"

"What??".

"I think you heard it".

"A shower??? You'll never change. And sorry you can't have it. Not now. May be once you reach home" said Olivia and laid a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Take some rest. I'll come after dark. You are leaving Lasalga today" she said and left the room.

I have been waiting for Olivia over a long time. I am actually worried about her right now. Is she alright? There's nothing dangerous as fooling a group of assassin's. I don't want her to be in trouble because of me. Seriously she made a huge risk in savings my life.

As every minute pass, it's making me sink into terrific thoughts.

The door opens slowly and I saw Olivia enter the room.

"Why haven't you changed? " And that's the first question she asks to a patient with no money or clothing.

"Yeah, I have a lot of wearable that me difficult to choose one" I answered by raising my brows.

"Oh, I didn't think about that. Wait let me arrange something" she said and was about to leave but I stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

"Don't go".

"Why?!!".

"What if they found out I am missing and found you roaming in the roads of Lasalga".

"Well they'll know that I helped you to leave Dolofonos Omada" she responded casually.

"Why are you doing this? Why you are risking your life for mine? Why????" I asked her, even though I knew the answer.

"You know why" she said with a faint smile and left the place.

[Yes! She has a major crush on Markian ever since he came into Dolofonos. No wonder!!!  His ebony black long hair which extends upto his shoulder, his olive green eyes with a radiant look, his muscular silhouette, even though rare that dimple which appears when he smiles everything made him a perfect dream boy for girls. He can make any girl fall for him.

Every fellow men in Dolofonos hated Markian because he's a foreigner and he excelled as a swordsman. They're  always rude towards him, well we can't blame them completely. Markian has difficulty in making friends, he always remain silent. Anyone who see him for the first time will think him as a rough guy.

Yes! Smiling is a different task for him. For a decade he spent with Dolofonos he only had four friends of which George died last year, now he has Olivia, Daniel and Jonathan by his side.]

Within half an hour Olivia enter the room with a bag and handed over to me, "think it'll fit you, I'll wait at the back gate come fast".

I changed my dress and came out of the hospital, the wind is cold and the night is dark with no lights. It's totally difficult for me to see things, yet I managed to get there.

There was a truck with some goods, then I spot Olivia standing in the corner of the street, she's checking if it's clear.

I waved my hands in her direction without making any noise. She moves towards my direction as soon as she saw me.

"So ready to leave this hell".

"Lasalga is my second home, believe me I have seen worst place than this". Yes I have seen worst!!!!

"Oh really!!".

"Trust me Dolofonos are my brotherhood".

"Yaeh, and this is farewell party" she chuckled.

"Hey man here you go" she gave me a bag.

"What's inside?".

"Why don't you check yourself?"

I unzipped the bag and put my hand egarly into it, and found something which I think is a blade. I took it outside and saw. Wow it's Olivia's favorite dragon blade.

"You don't have to" I am really feeling guilty right now.

"Look there's still things inside".

Then I found two boxes inside it. I opened first box and there are sai knife inside it. "Dany want to give them to you" she said. Then I opened the next and found dozens of shuriken inside it. "So I guess it's from John" I asked by raising a brow.

"Yup, and they wanted to say that they're going to miss you, so will I" said Olivia as tears fill her eyes.

"See you are going to travel in this truck, it'll take you upto Desagai from there you're going home by vehicle of your choice" she said by giving me a role of money.

"Ok, from Desagai I'll take" before I complete my sentence Olivia place her hand over my mouth.

"Don't say me where and how you're going" she said, which made to leave this place heavy heartedly.

She then helped me to get in the truck.

"So I guess it's good bye then" I said while she was busy in removing her hoodie.

"Here take his, you'll need this" she handed me her hoodie.

Before I was about to thank her she spoke "Markian".

"Yes".

"One last time" she said by grabbing the collar of shirt. Before I question her actions, I found her lip against mine. She kissed me!! It's very light and delicate. It made me dumbfound. I must say she's not a good kisser.

"FAREWELL FOTIA"  said Olivia and waved her hand as the truck began to move and she vanished from my sight.

"Farewell Fotia" I said to myself.

Markian pov:

Finally arrived, everything changed over a decade except the name board saying GATEWAY SPELL.

I touched the board with my hand, it remind me of the day when I first came to this small town. Memories, some make our hearts warm while other make heart ache.

There are many tall buildings along the road which once was a playground. Yes, the playground were I used to play. There will be a swing in the corner of the ground, where I used to spend most of my time when I didn't to go school.

The clouds become dark suddenly and  stated to drizzle. I made my way towards my home, my memories can wait.

On my way, I came across this place and my legs stopped without my knowledge.

Eventhough there are changes everywhere, this place never changed. 'Mamma's choco hut'. It was one of my favorite spot in Gateway Spell, even now I remember the taste of choco truffle that's made here, my taste buds are begging for them right now.

But I should hurry before heavy rain.

So finally reached my place, couldn't wait to see my family. I didn't inform them about my arrival just wanted to surprise them, its been a decade. Really excited!!!!.

I pressed the calling bell, I could hear the sound echoing inside the house. I also heard someone approaching towards the door.

The door opened revealing that someone. It's Adrian!!!. Look at him, my little brother is now a teenager.

"Hey Adrii !!" I said by taking steps forward and was about to hug my brother.

All I expected was a warm welcome but instead Adrian pushed me back.

"Who are you?" Adrian asked me, which made me confused.

"Adrii it's me Markian".

"Which Markian? I don't remember".

"Come on Adrii stop kidding, Markian your brother" I said by touching his shoulder.

"I don't remember having one" said Adrian by pushing my hand from his shoulder.

"Adrii" before I complete my sentence he slammed the door in front of my face.

I knocked the door again and again but there's no response.

It began to pour heavily. I don't know where to go. I walked through the streets blindly and found myself near Mamma's hut and was completely drenched.

I pushed the door and entered the shop. The place is not much changed but I couldn't find Mamma there. She used to sit in the corner. There are many new waiters.

I find myself in a empty table. Am I changed that much to become unrecognisable by my brother?.

"Brother Markian?" I heard a voice of a young girl behind my back.

I turned and saw a teenage girl with apron, holding a tray having a piece of choco truffle cake. Her round shaped spectacle made her brown eyes look bigger and  her chestnut brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. And yes!, I know her.

She's Lydia!!, My cousin sister.

"Lydia" I said and her lips curved into smile.

"Ohh brother, is that really you?" she said and hugged me.

I felt warmth which I longed for.

"Brother when did you came here? Why didn't you inform us about your return? How's your studies? And why didn't you call me for these past years?" And she even continued to ask questions without giving some break.

"Lydia stop that's a lot of questions and I'll answer it later. So tell me how are you? And what are you doing here?".

"I am doing a part time job here. You see I have to take care of myself, I can't depend on my father always".

I do know about her father Richard. He's not a kind and caring father. I know he wanted a son badly but he couldn't. So he's always hard and rough towards Lydia.

She's living with her grandparents. So she might be doing these kind of jobs to reduce the burden to her grandparents. Poor girl.

"How did you recognize me?" I asked Lydia while tasting my favorite choco truffle.

"You see, I can ask the same".

"Well you haven't changed that much" I answered.

"So was you" her reply began to bother me. Then why can't Adrian recognize me.

"How's the cake?".

"Best as always".

"Uncle Sam and aunt Mary are out of town. They'll be coming by tomorrow. But Adrian is there he will be very happy to see you".

But I don't think so. I think he doesn't like my return. He knew me.

Does Adrian hate me that much? But why? What have I done?.