Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 14 - Amelia

As Ezio, Amelia, and Mario led the small band of soldiers through the town gates, the villa bustled with new life. Soldiers and townsfolk gathered in the courtyard, their faces alight with a sense of victory and relief. Torches flickered in the fading light, casting long shadows against the stone walls, their flames dancing in celebration of the day's triumphs.

As the group entered, a cheer went up among the gathered men. Ezio felt a rush of warmth at their welcome, and even Amelia couldn't help the small, satisfied smile that curved her lips. They had struck a blow against the Pazzi, and for now, the shadow that had loomed over the town had lifted.

"And here he is! Our campione, champion, Ezio!" Mario's voice boomed through the courtyard, a wide grin splitting his face as he gestured for silence among the soldiers.

"All hail Ezio!" the soldiers cheered, raising their drinks in salute. Laughter and applause echoed off the stone walls, mingling with the sounds of clinking tankards and the chatter of excitement. Ezio couldn't suppress a smile as he moved through the crowd, clapping a few of the men on the back, feeling the tension in his chest ease just a little. But even as he shared in the moment, a part of his mind remained focused on the next steps, on the weight of the task still ahead.

Amelia watched him from the edge of the gathering, her expression a mix of pride and understanding. She knew well the burden that sat heavily on Ezio's shoulders. With a wide grin, she clapped him on the back, leaning in close enough for her voice to carry over the noise. "Enjoy it, Ezio. Victories like these don't come every day."

Ezio smirked slightly, catching her gaze. "I see you've wasted no time starting the celebration."

Mario let out a hearty laugh, stepping forward to guide Ezio through the crowd. "And why not?! You've done us a great service, nipote—nephew. With Vieri dead, la Toscana—Tuscany—will grow quiet once more. Do you know what that means?" His eyes sparkled with mischief, and he gestured toward the soldiers who gathered around them.

"Basta lavorare! No more work!" one of the soldiers shouted.

"Si passa tutto il giorno a bere! We can drink all day!" another chimed in, raising his tankard high.

"E a puttane! And with whores! What?! It's true!" a third added, prompting a roar of laughter from the crowd. Even Amelia had to stifle a chuckle at the good-natured camaraderie.

The cheerfulness was infectious, but Mario soon waved the men down, his expression turning more serious as he gestured for Ezio and Amelia to follow him. They moved away from the noise, walking toward the quieter edge of the courtyard, where the shadows of evening gathered around the old stone archways. Amelia walked beside them, her steps slowing as she absorbed the changes in Ezio's demeanor—how the tension in his shoulders seemed to return as they left the celebration behind.

"Come, Ezio. Walk with me," Mario said, his voice quieter now, more somber.

Ezio glanced over at Amelia, noting the steady determination in her gaze, and then turned back to his uncle. "Yes, uncle? The Pazzi answer to another; a Spaniard." He spoke the words with a hard edge, anger flickering beneath his calm exterior.

Mario's expression darkened, the warmth of the celebration slipping away. "He is Rodrigo Borgia, one of the most powerful men in all of Europe and leader of the Templar Order."

Ezio's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists. "Which makes him responsible for the murder of my brothers and her father," he said, glancing at Amelia, his voice thick with barely contained rage. Her eyes flashed with a brief, shared understanding of the pain that bound them both.

"Yes," Mario confirmed, his tone grave. "And he will kill you too, given the chance."

Ezio's face hardened further, a mask of cold determination settling over his features. "Then I must stand against him if I wish to be free... But not until every other Templar has fallen to my blade. Father's list will guide me."