Disclaimer: I don't own Gladiator and Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. All rights belong to their respective owner.

Hello and welcome back, dear readers. I've been alternating updating chapters between this story and my other story, please do check it out. So I think I update the stories biweekly or so. Anyway, this is the new chapter. Please enjoy!

Chapter 16: Many Talks and Secrets

Cicero arrived at Cloud Ruler Temple at morning when the sentries charged their shift. A sentry opened the gate as soon as he saw the mage banging it. Cicero went up the stairs leading to the great hall, and inside, he saw Martin sitting on his bench. There was no doubt he just spent the night trying to decipher Mysterium Xarxes.

Cicero walked to him as he put the rucksack down, "Martin, I'm back."

Martin looked up, feeling optimistic that Cicero's search for daedric artifact was fruitful. "Cicero, I'm so glad you're safe," he said, standing up. "Did you get the artifact?"

Before Cicero answered him, Maximus arrived at the hall, looking happy for his friend's return, "Cicero, you came back! That was quick, I take it your search was successful?"

The young mage smiled sheepishly, "Of course, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have it, now would I? Where was I? Oh, that's right, the artifact. It's right here."

He reached the staff that was strapped on his back and handed it to Martin. He hoped the heir to the throne would be grateful, but the react he got wasn't something he expected.

Upon seeing the ornamental rose on top of the staff, Martin felt his heart stopped for a second as his past came back to haunt him. "Stendarr's mercy... It can't be."

Maximus came closer to him, looking confused, "Is everything alright? Did he get the fake one?"

Martin didn't answer that question. Instead, he told them to follow him to his quarter. They went there and he told the guards to leave them, which they obeyed, because who dares defying the future emperor?

As he closed the door, Cicero asked him, "What's wrong, Martin? Is there a problem? Is it not enough?"

Martin sighed, realizing the day had come finally, "No, no, it's not about the artifact. It's not about the quest or you. It's about me."

He pulled up a chair and sat down in front of them. He looked at the whole room, trying to find a moment to clear his mind and gather the courage he could find.

"Do you remember when you told me about your past? Now I believe it's time for me to do the same. I haven't been completely honest with you," he said.

Maximus tried to comfort him by giving his support, "It's okay, Martin, we're your friends, you can tell us anything. No need to be embarrassed for something you did in the past. No one is perfect, including an emperor."

Martin chuckled in response, "That may be true for many people, but not for me. You have no idea what I did."

"Then why don't you tell us?" Cicero quickly cut in.

Martin closed his eyes, feeling defeated despite Cicero's success, "You may know me as Martin Septim, the heir of Uriel Septim VII, who spent his youth as a priest of Akatosh. But that's not true. When I was young, I was like any other young man, careless and impatient, traits that attract trouble."

He gazed at Cicero as he continued his story, "I already told you about how I studied in Arcane University. But I wasn't a good student. I was too impatient to achieve the result and I didn't want to go through the process to climb the ladder. So I finally looked for a help from outside, a man who introduced me to his friends. It turned out they were worshippers of Sanguine, the Daedric Prince of Debauchery."

Maximus and Cicero gasped at the shocking revelation. The future emperor was a cultist, just like Mythic Dawn. Then Martin continued as they froze and speechless, "I'm sure you know what they do in that shrine, Cicero. We did the same thing, we made ourselves drunk all the time in order to hear Sanguine. He would tell us to do mischievous acts for a reward. Some were given strength to fight three men with bare hands, others like me were gifted with powerful spells that you'll never heard of in Arcane University, like the one to seduce and charm people from opposite sex, to lure them to bed.

But that's not the worst. One time, we came back after causing mass panic attacks by turning people's food into alive mudcrabs. We made a commune with Sanguine and he gave us the same staff you brought here. One of my colleagues, being high on skooma, decided to try using it. The result was horrible, daedra were summoned from Oblivion and killed everyone in the shrine. I barely escape from that onslaught after diving into a nearby pool and stayed underwater until it was over.

When I resurfaced, the only thing I saw was blood and body parts everywhere, on the bushes, benches and altar. I looked up to Sanguine's statue with burning hatred for taking everything from me, because my fellow cultists were the closest thing to family for me. I wondered in the wild for who knows how long, until I stumbled upon a wayshrine. I shouted to whoever the wayshrine was dedicated for and to my surprise, he answered me. The dragon god of time, Akatosh, spoke to me. He told me to leave everything behind and start a new life. I felt so dirty and unworthy for him, but I didn't want to go back to the evil path. So I become a priest and dedicate my life for Akatosh who saved me."

While Maximus saw Martin with newly found sense of honor and compassion,

Cicero stared at the staff with disbelief and dread. He never imagined there was such an evil thing in the world, resting in his palm. His hand were shaking by the power, but Martin quickly grabbed it.

"It will be safer for us if I keep this staff for now. I was trained to handle the dark power so I'll be fine," he said.

Now Cicero understood how Martin managed to read Mysterium Xarxes just fine and why Sanguine sent his regards for Martin. The man before him was not a saint, he was as flawed as anyone, perhaps more.

Cicero breathed in relief, "Thank you, Martin. I appreciate that. But there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it, Cicero?" Maximus asked him, seeing his friend being nervous.

"You know what? We must keep this a secret and take it to our grave. This conversation never happens, it cannot leave this room!" he said defiantly.

Maximus bewildered, he'd never seen Cicero acting like before, "What happened, Cicero? Something happened to you, right?"

Cicero exclaimed, "What happened to me is irrelevant. Look, do you have any concept of an ex-daedra worshipper emperor who rules a nation that revere completely opposite deities? No? Because it never happened before! The closest thing we had to this was Queen Potema. She was a necromancer who convinced his son to fight his own family over the throne, causing War of the Red Diamond, a civil war basically."

"That'll never happen here, Cicero. Martin is the only one left in Septim Dynasty. He has no other relatives. Besides, those days of honoring the daedra are behind him now. He's a whole new man. Can't you accept his repentance?" Maximus retaliated.

Cicero laughed, "Oh, Maximus, how little you understand about politics. The Elder Council may not be as forgiving as you. Once they know about his past, they will influence the people that their beloved emperor is a heathen. Then when the riot brakes and the people try to depose him, won't it be your problem, as a soldier?"

Maximus stared him while he processed his words. There was truth in there, but it felt wrong for him to deny someone over his past. Whoever he was, that wasn't Martin anymore. He had changed for the better.

"Alright, we'll keep it under wraps. But if anyone needs some convincing, I'll vouch for him. Besides, I'm the Hero of Kvatch. That's got to count for something," Maximus remarked as he put his hand over Martin's shoulder, assuring him support.

As he walked to the door, Martin called him, "Maximus, the Blades cannot know about this, especially Jauffre. They are sworn to serve me and my bloodline. Having a knowledge about my past will shatter their ideal and I don't want that to happen."

Maximus turned his head to him, "It's okay. I... We will protect your secret."

"And how about Hagen and Juba? Or your family? Will you tell them?"

Maximus was conflicted. He didn't like keeping secret from his family and friends, but Martin had become one of the closest persons to him. Betraying his trust was not an option.

"They will know in time. They're not ready yet," he answered him. "Can we get out of here?"

Martin smiled and chuckled, "Yes, of course. In fact, I have discovered the second part of Mysterium Xarxes, so I would like you to know." Then he said to Cicero, "You may come as well, Cicero."

Just as he reached the door, Cicero asked him, "Martin, I need to tell you something."

Martin raised his eyebrows, "Sure, what is it?"

Cicero closed his eyes before continuing, "It's about something Sanguine did to me. But you have to keep this a secret from Maximus and everyone else!"

Martin groaned and rolled his eyes, "Talos, help me! Is this give-me-your-secret day or what?!"

The Blades great hall was filled with important people, eager to listen the next step to regain the Amulet of Kings. With everyone's attention on the table, Martin stepped forward to explain.

"Yesterday, our friend, Cicero came back with a daedric artifact, sufficient for our ritual, which I'm grateful for. Now I have deciphered the next item."

He stopped to see the anticipation among the crowds rising. "So, we need-"

His sentence was interrupted by a Blade who came running from outside. "Grandmaster! There's a bad news!"

Jauffre gave the man his threatening glare for barging in into the briefing, " This better be worth my ears, young man, or else!"

The Blade gave him a nod, as he told him the news with confidence, "It will be, sir. Bruma is in danger. An Oblivion gate has been sighted just outside the city!"

Blades and non-Blades murmured among themselves, fearing that Mythic Dawn had found them at last. But the Grandmaster wouldn't let them driven to fear.

"Silence! Are you sure about this, lad?" he asked the Blade.

"Aye, sir. Just go to the rampart and see for yourself."

They quickly got out of the building to the watchtower and saw a tongue of fire dancing in the distance. It was almost noon and yet the flame was quite visible, so that meant the gate could be too far.

The Blade also gave him a letter. He read it and folded it back before telling Maximus, "Maximus, come here for second."

He pulled the gladiator aside, "Listen, I've just received word from the Countess of Bruma that an Oblivion Gate has opened outside the city. It seems that the Mythic Dawn are putting their plan to attack Bruma into motion. Since you've dealt with this gate before, I'd like you to help the Countess's guard close this gate. Once they've seen how it's done, they should be able to handle any new gates on their own."

Maximus looked at those around him, the Blades, Cicero, Juba, Hagen, Claudia and Octavius. Their eyes said that they put their hopes on his shoulder.

"Alright, I'll do it. Who's the man in charge?" he asked.

"You're looking for Captain Burd, the captain of the city watch. He is waiting for you outside the Bruma city gate. He'll show you the Oblivion Gate. Although I doubt it will be hard to find," Jauffre commented.

He then added, "You should rendezvous with Captain Burd immediately. The sooner that gate is closed the better. And bring whoever you trust, you'll need them in there."

Maximus then approached his old friends who had been waiting anxiously with his family, "Jauffre wants me to help Bruma close the gate. I need your help."

Claudia shook her head and pleaded, "Can't he send other Blades instead? We can't lose someone as important as you, honey."

Maximus' heart sank when he heard his wife. He didn't wanna go, but thousands of people could be killed if he didn't, "You won't lose me, dear. He trusts me to do this. Besides the other Blades have no clue what they are supposed to do. It would be pointless to send them."

Then Juba stepped forward to speak, "I'll go with you, Maximus. Remember, I assisted you last time."

Cicero, too, offered himself, "I'll go too, Maximus. I've never gone into one of those gates and I need to learn if I want to help you stop them."

Seeing no reason to say no, Maximus ran with them to the hall to prepare himself. That was when he heard someone called, "Father, take me with you."

Feeling the worst had come, he turned around to face his son, "Son, listen to me. You are precious to me beyond anything else. So I need you to stay with your mother and protect this place."

"No, papa," he ignored his father, "I'm not your little boy anymore. I will not be sitting here, waiting for the enemy to come, while I can fight and do something for the Empire."

Maximus was stunned to see what his son had grown up to be. A man and a true soldier who reminded him of himself when he was younger, enthusiastic, full of passion and always looking for opportunities to serve.

He looked at his son standing proudly, "I can't tell you anymore what to do, can I?" Octavius said nothing to him as he stared him with determination and fire burning in his eyes. Taking the silence as a yes, he continued, "Get yourself ready, we leave in 30 minutes. And don't you dare disobeying me, soldier!"

Octavius smiled as he ran back to the hall, to take his armor and weapons. This would be the day his dreams started to come true, when he fought alongside his role model and personal hero, his father.