"What were you packing those smoke bombs for?" Matteo asked Natalia.
"I'm going on a mission." She briefly answered as she prepares her pack to bring.
"You are going to deliver a letter. It's not like you have to escape a conflict or what."
"You never know what's gonna happen. Better come prepared."
Natalia remembers every bit her mentor taught her, Signora Elena, a master assassin who taught most assassins of the church to carry out missions. She learned a great deal from her.
*MEMORY*
"You must never let your guard down! You are an assassin and an assassin must be well-rounded! Stand up and fight!" Elena is standing in a fighting stance and hits the young Natalia on her arm with her wooden stick several times.
Natalia tries to parry but misses horribly. "I cannot do this. I can't fight using a wooden stick!" She claimed as she holds her now painful, swollen arm.
Impatiently, Elena walked to her. "You can't do it. You simply can't. You are just a village girl and should be placed in the kitchen were you likely belong." She then walks past her. "I don't know what they saw in you, why did they even take you in?"
*PRESENT*
The memories of her are still fresh in her mind, with every word that comes out of Elena's mouth is a knife to her heart.
"Alright, but can I come with you?" Matteo gleefully asked her.
"No." She answered as she fixes her white robe and wore the hood on her head.
"Why not? I can handle myself. And I'm sure you're up to an exciting mission you just aren't telling me."
Matteo is also a church assassin under a different mentor. He had numerous missions mostly involving spying and reconnaissance. He and his team were told they were the Best Recon the monastery have.
"But I am just going to deliver a letter. Nothing else."
"Look, I also have a mission, meaning I have to come with you till I get near here and then we can part ways, sound good?" he said, pointing at the map he's holding.
Hesitant, Natalia was left with no choice. "Fine, but you must not bother me with your endless talking."
"Fair enough." Matteo nodded in agreement and smiled.
They were packing as they hear heavy footsteps approaching. "Are you leaving?" Signore Nestore came as he knocked at the open door.
"I am signore. But Matteo is coming with me."
Nestore approached Natalia and spoke in an almost hushed manner.
"Be careful." he said to her, looking doubtful at Matteo. "You must remember these words. 'It wasn't me who chose the king of light, but the king chose me.' It will help you when needed." he then leaves the room.
Natalia became curious. She hadn't an inkling what he meant with that statement.
"Well that's odd." Matteo said. "He whispered to you. Does he know I still heard him? Spy person here!"
"I wouldn't know. I'm just a village girl." Natalia said, with a bit of mockery as she remembers how Elena called her.
"Wait, what? What do you mean?"
She smirked at the sight of him curious.
Natalia and Matteo then brought their bags with them as they leave the monastery to the capital.