ASSASSIN'S CREED: VANGUARD

THE COLD SILENCE

Two days had passed since Ellie and I watched the horrors of the Cold War unfold beneath us. We hadn’t spoken much since then. There wasn’t much to say. The weight of what we’d seen, the brutality, the helplessness, hung between us like a shroud.

We were no strangers to death, to the cruelty of men, but this… This was different. It wasn’t just murder or battle—it was something more calculated, more detached, as if life had no meaning at all. We had always known the Templars were cold, but this level of disregard for human life, the way they manipulated nations and sacrificed people like pawns in a game—it made my blood boil.

The day was gray and overcast as we moved silently through the woods, sticking to the shadows as we approached the meeting point. Raphael and Trissia were waiting for us, along with Konstantin, one of the leaders of the Hidden Ones in the region. We were finally going to meet the larger Brotherhood, though there were still doubts about how much they could be trusted.

Ellie and I exchanged glances as we emerged from the trees and saw Raphael leaning against a rock, sharpening his blade. He looked up, his piercing green eyes softening slightly as he saw us.

“Did you see what you needed to see?” he asked, his voice calm but holding an edge of concern.

Ellie nodded grimly, her face still pale from the horrors we had witnessed. “We saw enough.”

Trissia, who had been sitting beside him, stood up and approached us. She placed a hand on Ellie’s shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze. “It never gets easier. But what you saw out there is the reality of the world we fight in.”

“I hate it,” Ellie muttered, her voice barely a whisper. “I hate that we have to just stand by.”

“You won’t always stand by,” Raphael said, his tone more serious now. “You’re being trained for a reason. But not every battle is fought with a blade. Patience is a weapon too.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “It didn’t feel like patience was doing much good for the people getting slaughtered out there.”

He gave me a hard look, but there was understanding in his eyes. “I know how you feel, Bella. But if we strike recklessly, if we show our hand too soon, we lose everything. The Templars have been doing this for centuries. They control governments, armies, even the flow of information. If we’re going to stop them, we have to be smart about it.”

I clenched my fists, biting back the urge to argue. I knew he was right, but that didn’t make it any easier.

Konstantin, who had been watching silently from the shadows, finally stepped forward. He was an imposing figure, tall and broad-shouldered, with a face hardened by years of conflict. His long, gray-streaked beard gave him the look of a warrior from an ancient time, and his eyes held the weight of knowledge and experience.

“You’ve seen the enemy,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly. “You’ve seen what we’re up against. Do you still want to fight?”

Ellie and I exchanged a look. We didn’t need to say anything; we both knew the answer.

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady. “More than ever.”

Konstantin nodded, though his expression remained stern. “Good. But remember, this isn’t a fight for glory. This is a fight for survival. You’ll be tested. You’ll lose people. And you’ll question everything you know. The Brotherhood is not a sanctuary—it’s a war.”

“We understand,” Ellie said quietly.

“I hope so.” He stepped back, glancing at Raphael and Trissia. “We’ve been watching you both closely. You’ve shown promise, but there’s more to this life than just skill with a blade. The Hidden Ones will want to see more.”