I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and get ready to train the new soldiers.
We have spent the last two years re-building our forces. We kept training them every day, trying to get them to match Mario's mercenaries.
No doubt Ethan has been training as well. I expected him to leave the country but a spy we sent to Manford told us he saw him inside the citadel last week.
We still don't know what he's planning and we could have been going for him in these past two years but our mercenaries weren't ready.
I have asked father multiple times to send me in and get it done with but he refused.
I walked inside the house after being done with training the new soldiers. My father was waiting at the table for me, accompanied by uncle Alex and Lucas.
"Ah, there you are. Come, sit." He motioned for me at the chair in front of him.
Lucas passed me some salame and bread, along with a cup of red wine.
"Grand Master will be arriving tomorrow morning."
"Is everything well in Rome? Why is he coming?"
"He wants to move on to the next step."
I looked at him surprised.
"But Ethan is still alive, probably still seeking revenge. What makes you think it's safe for him to come here?"
"It is not our place to question his judgement. We simply follow orders."
I nodded my head and went to go change.
I let my mind slip to the dream that I have had over and over again. What does it mean? And why do I keep dreaming about it? Why was that dream about my mother so important?
I was brought back to reality by a knock on my door.
"Come in."
"I just wanted to let you know that the sword you ordered from the blacksmith arrived today."
"Thank you, brother." I said as he put the sword on the table.
"Good night." He said as he left the room.
I let myself slip under the sheets and into a deep sleep.
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Year: 1788 , Age: 10
Firenze
I was running around town, trying to climb up on the rooftops. It wasn't easy, but I was definitely getting better at it.
I saw a boy around my age on the rooftop I was about to climb and I shouted at him.
He jumped in the haystack below, with such grace that I felt my mouth open in shock.
He chuckled and then walked over to where I was.
"How did you get up on the roof? And how did you do THAT?" I asked still in shock.
He chuckled again. It was such a cute thing to hear.
"My father taught me how to climb. And that, is called a Leap of Faith."
I nodded lightly, still in amazement and he looked at me with curiosity in his
eyes.
"Do you want me to teach you?"
"Can you do that?! I mean, can you teach me?"
"That's the whole point of me asking." He said between laughs.
He took a few steps back, thinking and looking at the ground, before he got close to me again.
"How old are you?"
"I'm 10. And you?"
"I'm 12. You're old enough to learn. And lucky you! Today I teach for free."
We both laughed as we headed towards a small building.
"Show me what you know so far."
I approached the wall and grabbed the ledge above me and pulled myself up. I got down and a bit farther away from the building in order to do a wall-run.
I started running towards the wall and used my legs to push myself up, just as I reached for the ledge.
"You're doing well. But how about a bigger challenge?" He pointed to the roof of Santa Trinita.
"You're joking right? It's higher than what I've ever climbed so far."
"I have faith you can do it. You just have to take a Leap Of Faith from time to time."
I laughed at his bad joke and he smiled. I liked this boy already.
"Wright. Where do we start?"
"From right here. On the count of three. One, two, three!"
I started running towards a building and put my hand on a rock that was sticking out of the wall. The wall wasn't smooth, which made it easier for me to find spots to put my hands into.
I kept climbing until I reached the root I didn't want to look for the boy because I already knew he was on the roof of the church.
I started running towards the end of the roof and jumped. It was a small gap but I was happy I made it across.
The next gap was bigger and looking at it made me back out and feel a shiver down my spine. I saw the boy signal and cheer form, telling me to do it.
"Do not let fear take control over you. Think of it and feel it like a cold fire, that starts in your chest and spreads out in your whole body. Feel it in every part of your body, your arms, you fingers, you toes, you neck. Use it to empower yourself, not scare you even more."
I took a deep breath and looked at the boy. He nodded his head and then I took a few steps back. I started running and just as I hit the end of the rooftop I jumped.
It felt like I was in the air for hours, but the impact with the church's rooftop made me trip and fall, not being ready to make contact with it.
The boy helped me up and then smiled at me.
"I told you you can make it."
"Easy for you to say! You're faster than anyone I have ever met."
He chukled again and then looked at the tower on the root.
"This way."
"What are you doing? That's way too high."
"Is it? What did I say about fear earlier?"
I sighed and then proceeded to climb up the tower. Before I reached the top I felt him reach a hand out to help me but I shrugged him off.
"Oh, so you're an independent one. I like it."
I smiled and then sat down next to him, with my back against the cross.
"So... what's your name?" I asked looking at him.
"Felix. Felix Auditore. Pleasure to meet you."
I froze and looked at him in fear and shock. He noticed and got up fast.
"What's the problem?" He asked confused.
"You- You're an- You're an Assassin."
I never stutter. Oh God, this is bad.
I was a bit afraid of him now, remembering that the Brotherhood killed my mother.
He took a step towards me. "How do you know that? The Brotherhood is a secret organization."
I swallowed hard and then took a step back to make the distance between us bigger.
"Because- Because l- um... Because I'm a Templar."
He took another step closer to me and I took another one back.
"What's your name?" He asked with hate in his eyes.
"Helen Valencia Jasper."
He took yet another step towards me but when I tried to take a step back, I didn't feel the roof below my feet and I fell.
I grabbed the ledge of the tower in an attempt to not fall and Felix kneeled in front of me.
"You're no Templar. They're not being trained in climbing."
"We're not?" I asked.
He saw the confusion on my face and finally decided to pull me back up.
"No, you're not supposed to be trained in climbing. What makes you so special?"
"Father wanted me to learn how to climb, so I tried to teach myself."
"Who's your father?"
"Hendrix Will Jasper."
He took a step towards me again but this time I didn't take any more back, knowing I could fall again.
"You're not going to kill me, are you?" I asked, scared. He took a few steps back, shocked.
"Kill you? No, God no. I like you so I'm not going to do that. Yet. I was just trying to scare you."
"Go fuck yourself!"
"Oh, you know big words!"
He laughed and then sat back down while motioning me to sit besides him.
"I don't wish to kill unless I have to, unless there's no other way."
"But you're an Assassin. The name says everything."
"That is true. But..."
He stopped, looked out at the view and sighed and then looked back at me again.
"Don't tell anyone I've told you this but, I wish for life where the Brotherhood and the Templars can finally make peace, so that we can be free."
I started laughing but after seeing the serious look on his face, I stopped.
"You're serious? We've been at war for centuries, how do you think that's possible?"
"Tell me, Helen. Have you ever killed anyone?"
"No, I haven't. Why?"
"Killing isn't something you want to do for a living. The Brotherhood hunts you and other Templars down, and kills you and vice versa. It's nothing but a sick game in trying to mantain control. Do you know what it is the Templars seek?"
"Peace, among all."
"Exactly. That's what the Brotherhood wants as well. If that's not a good reason to give up on this stupid war than I don't know what is. Killing each other isn't going to help us create a better future. We could create that future by working together. Unfortunately, either one side is too stubborn, or both."
"I have never seen it like this. I guess you have a point."
"Do you want us to be friends?" He asked after a few moments of silence.
"I would like that. But my father would kill me if he knew I was making peace with an Assassin."
"He doesn't have to know." He smirked and then winked at me.
"Alright then... But we have to have our own spot so that they can't find us."
"Do not worry, I already have the perfect spot."
"You do? Where?"
"You're sitting on it."
I smiled and then looked out at the view. The sun was setting and the sky was a warm color of orange and red. It was beautiful.
"Nice pick." I said.
"I should probably head home. Father is expecting me for dinner. See you here tomorrow morning?"
"What for?"
"Your climbing lesson idiot."
I chuckled and then started climbing down. Before jumping in the hay cart below, I heard Felix call for me.
"Well I guess I could teach you to master the Leap of Faith."
"Not even in your dreams." I said without looking at him.
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