The door opened quickly ,Mr Mark was standing at the door with sleepy face showed very surprised expression “ what happened to you boy do you need something?”

Austin gave him 2 silver coins “1 health potion please .”

“ Ok but tell me what happened.”

Austin made up a story on the spot ' a bad excuse is better than none’ Austin thought. “I was walking home when I saw a black Cape guy killing huge man and he found me out so he kicked me hard that I ended up crashing into the wall. He was going to kill me but listening to the sound of guards he ran away. And I ran to your shop to get some potions to save my self.”

“Oh so that’s what happened don’t worry report it to the guards tomorrow you will be safe.” Saying that Mark turned his head but he failed to hide his smirk from Austin. Something clicked in Austin’s mind as he drank the health potion quickly and moved towards the potion rack ignoring the magical phenomenon happening in his body. His mind was in chaos as he saw that smirk Mark was a mage after all. ‘dose he knows something, what does he want with me? Should I kill him too? But he is a mage will I be able to kill him?’ thoughts kept popping up debating with himself Austin finally just made up his mind and got ready to do or die.

Austin said, “ Drop the act boss what do you want from me?” Mark stopped and didn’t move for a while. Drops of sweat formed in Austin’s forehead he moved this hands over the poison bottle. Before Austin did anything Mark laughed.

“hahaha.. you are really brilliant. Will you listen to my part my part of story?..... I was peacefully making potions until I heard a high pitch scream. I used hast spell and ran towards the scream only to find you battle a guy twice your physical capability without an ounce of fear. I quickly created barriers to so no one disturbs my show, I even helped you cleaned up the mess you made by helping you burn his body faster. But you don’t know that do you? I enjoyed it a lot and returned only to meet you with a cover story of yours sloppy but acceptable. Haha you are very interesting unlike any other kid. But how did you suspect me? Don’t be very tense and put back the poison u picked and hid in your sleeves. You will die without knowing how if I really wanted to kill you.”

Austin knew what Mark said was true at least the last , he listed out all points he had been ignoring till now.“ You opened the door too fast , wore to many cloths for a man sleeping at night, the fresh damp mud in your boots .I ignored all that but seeing you smirk I concluded you don’t want me to live?” Austin asked as he gulped and got ready to throw poison bottle and pounce on Mark. But Mark’s strange response confused him.

Mark sat in pensive position realising errors he made .“ I really was very careless or may be you are too observant, such an abnormal child.. anyway don’t jump to conclusion kid. My conclusion is that I will help you learn magic.” Said Mark as he looked at Austin with smile but Austin couldn’t help but feel a shiver going down his spine.