As the sun faded in the distance, the moon and stars lit up the village of Eretide. Hours had passed since the beginning of their new lives on Trillia. The tranquility quickly settled in the neighborhood where their residence stood, with the owls' melodies accompanying the dimming lights from the surrounding homes.
The Lost Ones spent the rest of their day pondering the true meaning of the events. Was it a dream? A distasteful joke? No, it was reality, and they had been chosen to defend countless lives. They bore the weight of a responsibility that words could not convey.
Yanis, on the other hand, had been diligently training, using numerous dummies to practice his martial arts techniques, powered by his unique ability. The ground where he trained was worn from his repetitive movements, indicating hours of rigorous practice. Jacob and Rogue had been watching him for a while, awed by Yanis's skill. He executed his techniques with such precision that it would leave world martial arts champions at a loss for words. Admiringly, the two teenagers approached him with a hint of hesitation. Jacob tapped him on the shoulder, saying, "Hey, mate."
Startled by their approach, Yanis halted and faced them, "Sorry lads, I can't remember your names. What were they again?"
"I'm Jacob Kalis, and this is Rogue Grimez. You're Yanis... Lagrand, right?"
"You got it."
"Do you think we could train with you? Honestly, we're bored out of our minds without phones and the internet."
"Ha, looks like I'm not the only one... Well, it depends, what do you guys want to do?"
"Maybe you could teach us some martial arts or something?"
"I don't think that's going to be possible."
"Why not?" Rogue questioned.
"For starters, it's not your forte. Secondly, it won't be of any use in this world. And thirdly, it takes a very long time to learn such things."
As the three teens were engrossed in their discussion, Yanis spotted Alora approaching them, her face illuminated by a radiant smile. Her unexpected arrival ended their debate.
"Boys, are you coming to eat? It's getting late."
"Don't worry, I noticed," Yanis replied.
"Gwendoline and I are waiting for you for dinner," she said in a kind tone, heading back to the house.
*
After fifteen minutes of preparation, the Lost Ones had gathered around the table to share their first meal together in this new world. The teenagers eagerly awaited the dish that Alora had prepared for them: a sumptuous meat dish accompanied by a plethora of vegetables. But before indulging, she took the moment to celebrate their new life with uplifting words. Raising her glass, she proclaimed,
"This is our first night here, friends. Let's toast to our new life! Let's aim to become close friends!"
"Speak for yourself; there's no way I'm celebrating this," Yanis grumbled.
"I don't understand you. We have powers, we're hailed as saviors, we have our own house, guarded by soldiers. And you're complaining! What more do you want?"
"Exactly, we even have a quest here!" Jacob chimed in.
"You guys don't get it! Every moment here is a chance for us to be killed!"
Yanis' statement plunged the table into deafening silence. No one dared to speak, only the sound of forks on plates could be heard. After an uncomfortably long silence, Jacob tried to shift the mood,
"So, what were you guys doing back on Earth?"
"I was in high school, and I'm honestly glad to be out," Rogue murmured.
"Why is that?"
"You know how "geeks" are treated in high school... Bullied, beaten, robbed..."
"I see..."
"So after school... I'd sit at my computer..."
In the hushed room, his voice, shaky and charged with emotion, rang out. Tears streamed down his cheeks, blending with the tabletop as he spoke,
"I'd run my hacking program, hoping to get back at them... But in the end... I never could bring myself to hit 'Enter'..."
The brief calm following his admission allowed his sorrow to wane. But just when everyone thought he'd moved past his sudden sadness, he uttered one last chilling sentence,
"I think if I hadn't been summoned here, I might've done the same thing as Gwendoline..."
Rogue turned a determined gaze to Yanis, gripping his utensils.
"So yes, Yanis! I'm glad to be here, even if it means risking death or suffering! I had nothing back on Earth! I can start anew here. And when I return, I'll be a changed man, having saved countless innocent lives, including my world!"
"Well said!" Jacob shouted.
"Listen, I'm sorry about what happened to you back on Earth... If you want to know why I'm not keen on staying here, it's because I have someone to avenge on Earth. Someone who took a loved one from me, and I'd give everything to do it!"
"Are you some street kid or an assassin, Yanis?" Alora questioned, shooting him a suspicious glance.
"Both, sort of."
"What?!"
"Why do you think I specialize in martial arts?"
Stunned and disbelieving, Alora was taken aback by Yanis' sudden revelation. She'd considered him a friend, never imagining he was, in reality, a hitman.
"Are you serious?! How could I have ever thought of you as a friend? You kill people?!"
"It wasn't my choice, Alora. For me, it's more of a curse."
"Explain then!"
"Are you sure? It might upset you."
"I want an explanation!"
Yanis set down his fork, taking a deep breath. His eyes, reflecting the depth of a man tormented by his past, focused on his plate.
"Alright..."
[France, June 19, 2008, Yanis's House]
Standing with Yanis was a striking woman - blonde with vivid green eyes. Her radiant beauty contrasted the martial kicks she was demonstrating to her son. It was unusual, seeing someone as lovely as her being so adept in martial arts. Both mother and son wore white taekwondo kimonos. She sported a black belt, while Yanis wore a red one.
My mother, her name was Marie Boisjolie. A brave woman, she was a three-time world taekwondo champion and ten-time jiu-jitsu world champion. She was skilled in nearly all martial arts globally. And I admired her deeply for that.
"Alright, son, training's done for the day. Time to eat!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Yanis responded, his innocent smile shining.
Back then, I was innocent, like all children in the world.
After their workout, Yanis joined his family at the table, indulging in a simple meal of veggies and steak. Delicious in its simplicity, in the cozy abode of the Lagrand family. The head of the family, an imposing black man, looked remarkably like Yanis, nearly identical. The only differences were his shoulder-length hair and his aura that oscillated between arrogance and menace.
"So Yanis, did you enjoy the training?" his father, with a proud grin, asked.
"Yes! I love taekwondo. It's my favorite martial art!"
"I'm glad to hear it. This afternoon, there's a new combat type awaiting you!"
"Really?!"
Marie glanced at Jack, her eyes conveying her disagreement.
"Yes, you'll love it," Jack replied, seeming oblivious to Marie's concern.
Yanis, being an enthusiast of combat sports, brightened up thinking about the new learning opportunities that his father promised.
After the meal, Jack and Yanis met a group of burly, muscular men in the garden.
"Who are these people?" Yanis asked naively.
"Friends of mine. They'll assist in teaching you something very vital."
Leaning down to Yanis, his face stern and ominous, Jack whispered, "How to defend, and more importantly… how to kill."
Yanis's innocent grin faded instantly, replaced by evident worry and fear.
"But killing is bad…" Yanis protested weakly.
"You'll see, son. It will be handy."
My father was once a mercenary, an infamous hitman known worldwide as "The Silent Owl". Like an owl's silent flight, his moves were stealthy and deadly.
"Let's start!"
Years rolled by, pitiless and unforgiving. The familiar facade broke down, revealing a void, a dark cocoon under the cruel dominion of the relentless man. The Lagrand family had deteriorated into a sad tool for Jack to manipulate Yanis, who became unrecognizable.
On December 8, 2011, snowflakes settled upon the head of young Yanis, dressed in a mere undergarment meant for an 8-year-old. His eyes were devoid of emotion, the smile he once wore completely erased from his face.
He stood tall before his father and a group of highly-trained men, not an ounce of compassion in them. They were prepared to carry out a horrifying act at Jack's command.
"Today, son, marks the end of your training in defense and offense. You will challenge us, implementing everything I've taught you. After this, we'll move to firearms, and you will become the most powerful man on this entire planet!"
Following a brutal skirmish, where everyone was beaten down by Yanis, the 8-year-old beheld the atrocious scene he had effortlessly executed — the murder of the men, their bodies lying in the snow of the garden. Only Jack managed to survive the massacre wrought by his own son.
"Well done, my boy, I am proud of you!"
Struggling to his feet, the bruises and blood covering nearly all of his body became painfully visible.
"You have won! You're the best!"
With wounded arms, Jack embraced Yanis, in awe of what his son had achieved.
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Why is mommy crying?"
His son was pointing at his mother through the glass door, as she wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
"It's because she's proud of you."
Driven by a newfound pride, Jack got to his feet. Looking at his son anew, he felt a deep emotion stirring within his cold, dark soul.
"Tomorrow, I'll teach you all about weapons, and you'll become even stronger."
Having said that, Jack made his way step by step towards the house to meet Marie, his eyes still filled with pride for his son. As he opened the sliding glass door, his wife slapped him with such force that the sound echoed throughout the yard.
"You are a monster!" Marie screamed.
"What are you talking about?! Look at our son, he's a war machine, aren't you proud?"
"That's the problem! He's only 8, Jack! 8 years old! Look at him, he's emotionless, he talks like a robot! You think that's normal?"
"But Marie—"
Growing angrier by the second, Marie cut him off.
"No! Enough with the 'buts'! This time, you've gone too far. I'm leaving with my son!"
As Marie approached Yanis, ready to flee, Jack violently grabbed her arm. Her fearful eyes met his, expecting a blow.
"Who do you think you are? He's my son, I'll do with him as I please. I've decided he will become a killing machine, and that's final!"
Jack bent slightly, bringing his face close to Marie's, trying to establish dominance. The tension in the air was palpable. Yet, instead of escalating into violence, this moment stood still, a stark tableau highlighting just how cold and unhinged Jack was, wanting to turn his son into a killer.
"Am I clear?"
"Ye-yes…"
Despite his injuries, Jack was resolute, overpowering Marie in a tragic show of force.
"You should learn your place; after all, you're just a woman!"
Thus, until the age of 11, my father taught me to use every firearm on Earth.
As the days relentlessly passed, Yanis felt his soul growing darker. He mastered various firearms, from handguns to heavy-duty weapons that typically required rigorous training and immense physical strength to carry.
Then, the day arrived...