A few days later after Amir joined the Brotherhood of Shadows, he was sent to a mission. However, Amir knew that this is not really a mission but more of a test for him.
As Amir walked through the dark halls of the Brotherhood's base, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his stomach. He knew that this "mission" was no ordinary task, but a test of his loyalty and skills.
The Brotherhood had always been known for their secrecy and their strict code of conduct. Amir had been warned about the consequences of betraying them and knew that failure was not an option. He had to prove his worth, not just to the Brotherhood but also to himself.
As he reached the end of the hallway, he was met with a door. There were no markings or signs, just a plain wooden door with a small keyhole. Amir fished out the key he had been given and inserted it into the hole.
With a click, the door opened and Amir stepped into a dimly lit room. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a table, two chairs, and a small chest. A man in a black robe sat at the table, staring at Amir with piercing eyes.
"Sit," the man said, gesturing to the empty chair across from him. Amir hesitated for a moment, but then complied. He knew that he had no choice but to follow the man's orders.
The man opened the chest and took out a small object. It was a silver dagger, with intricate designs etched onto the blade. He placed it on the table between them.
"This is your test," the man said. "Use this dagger to eliminate your target. You have until midnight tonight to complete the task."
Amir felt his heart race. He wondered whom is he going to kill. "I hope it is not someone powerful," Amir thought.
The man noticed Amir's hesitation and raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?" he asked.
Amir shook his head quickly, trying to hide his nervousness. "No, no problem," he said. "I'll get the job done."
The man nodded and slid a piece of paper across the table. "Here is the name and location of your target. You know what to do. Make sure no one sees you, and remember, failure is not an option."
Amir took the paper and read the name. It was someone he had never heard of, which made him wonder why this person was a target. Furthermore, the location written is the block in front of the sphynx.
Amir wanted to backoff, however, he knew that he couldn't.
He stood up and tucked the dagger into his belt. "I'll get it done," he said, trying to sound confident.
The man nodded again and gestured to the door. "Good luck," he said, his eyes following Amir as he walked out of the room.
As soon as he was out of sight, Amir's mind started racing. He had never killed anyone before, and the thought of taking another person's life made him sick to his stomach. But he knew that he had no choice. If he wanted to find his sister and protect her, he had to prove his loyalty to the Brotherhood.
He walked through the halls, trying to come up with a plan. He needed to find out more about his target and figure out the best way to eliminate him without getting caught.
Amir decided to head to the Brotherhood's library to research his target. As he walked through the dimly lit room, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his task on his shoulders.
He spent hours poring over ancient tomes and scrolls, trying to find any information about the person he was supposed to kill. But all he found were vague references and rumors.
Frustrated and running out of time, Amir decided to head out and gather some more intel on his own. He walked through the streets, trying to blend in with the crowd while keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity.
As he approached the block in front of the sphynx, he saw his target. He was an old man, dressed in tattered robes and muttering to himself. Amir couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at the thought of taking his life.
He followed the man for a while, trying to find the best opportunity to strike. But he soon realized that the old man was not alone. He was being protected by a group of men, armed with swords and daggers.
Amir could not help but think twice. "Is this not just an old man?
The more Amir thought of it, the more he was convinced that the old man is not an ordinary one.
Of course, no one would notice it. The old man and the guards that Amir saw have perfectly blended into the crowd. And if not for their eye contact, he would not think that they are together. Still, it was minimal that even Amir barely noticed it.
Amir knew that he couldn't take on a group of armed men by himself. He needed a new plan. He decided to tail the old man and his guards, hoping to find out more about their routine and perhaps find a weakness he could exploit.
For the rest of the day, Amir followed the group from a distance, keeping out of sight while trying to stay close enough to observe their movements. As the sun began to set, they entered a small alleyway, where Amir saw an opportunity.
He snuck up behind one of the guards and quickly took him out with a blow to the head. The other guards turned around in surprise, and before they could react, Amir drew his dagger and charged at them.
In the ensuing chaos, Amir managed to take out the remaining guards and corner the old man. He stood there, panting and with his heart racing, looking at the old man who was staring back at him with calm eyes.
"Why?" the old man asked in a soft voice.
Amir hesitated, unsure of how to answer. "I was ordered to," he finally said.
The old man nodded. "I see. And who ordered you to do this?"
Amir hesitated again. He knew that he couldn't reveal the Brotherhood's involvement in this. "I cannot say," he said, feeling a sense of shame and guilt wash over him.
The old man sighed. "I understand," he said. "But know this, young man. Violence begets violence. The cycle never ends. Remember that."
With that, the old man closed his eyes and waited for Amir to deliver the final blow. But Amir couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to take another life, especially not one as seemingly innocent as this old man's.
Instead, he grabbed the old man's arm and helped him up. "Come with me," he said. "I'll take you somewhere safe."
Seeing that Amir had decided not to kill him, the old man smiled. "Weakling!" the old man though with contempt for Amir.
"Kid, if you're going assassinate someone, make sure you don't hesitate."
The old man then drew a dagger hidden from his chest and aimed at Amir's neck.