Embracing The Light (Arno Dorian x OC), an Assassin's Creed Fanfiction

Chapter 3 : A New Mission

A Week Later

Most of Arno's days were based on doing nothing very special. During the evenings however, he was spending his entire time at Louis' tavern, drinking, but not for the same reason as before. Actually, he wanted to see Rosalie. He could not always talk to her as she was very busy most of the time with the customers. But it was fine for him as long as he could make sure that she was not being disturbed by some drunkard while she was working. Sometimes, Rosalie refused him to pay his bill, saying that he was a friend and « friends do not owe each other money ». But each time, Arno insisted as he knew that she would get into trouble if Louis found out that she was offering him drinks too often.
In the dark night, the young man arrived to his house at the Île Saint-Louis, feeling slightly the effect of the wine he drank an hour ago. When he entered the estate, the maid Célestine walked in.
"Bonsoir (Good Evening) Monsieur." she said in a low voice.
Arno did not care to glance at her as he took out his coat with the help of the young maid.
"A man is waiting for you upstairs." she added as she grabbed it.
"This late ?" he frowned. "You should've sent him back to wherever he came from. And haven't I told you I don't want guests anymore ?!"
"I know Monsieur, but... he insisted, saying that it was important..." she answered, intimidated by the man.
Arno huffed with annoyance and climbed the stairs with a tensed face, leaving the maid behind. When he reached the top floor, he looked around but there was no one.
"He... he's waiting in your room, Monsieur." Célestine added from the entrance hall.
"Of course he is." The young man muttered to himself as he led towards his bedroom. When he opened the door, the room was weakly enlightened by the few torches on the walls and he could noticed someone sitting on his chair, looking through the window. The man seemed to ignore Arno, lost in his thoughts, which irritated him even more.
"Whatever you want, I hope it's worth the bother." he said dryly.
At first, the stranger slightly turned his head to show he remarked the young man's presence. Then, he stood on his feet and faced him completely. Arno's face relaxed as he recognized the Master Assassin, Guillaume Beylier.
"It has been a long time, Arno." the master calmly told him as he kept his hands behind his back.
The young man frowned at his ex-master for a few seconds.
"Why are you here ?" he coldly asked.
"Please, sit down." Beylier answered, showing with his hand the empty chair next to him before he sat back and looked at the landscape. Arno stared at the man as he slowly took his seat. He kept his gaze on him as if he was trying to decode him.
"How are you feeling ?" the master finally spoke.
"You obviously didn't come to ask how I am, Monsieur Beylier." Arno responded harshly. "So why don't just go straight to the point ?"
Beylier turned his gaze to look back at the young man who seemed more and more impatient. "I did not get the time to say this, but I am sorry for your loss." he sincerely said.
This time, Arno was the one to look away, keeping a straight face to hide how upset he was as he thought about Élise.
"But you are right." the master added. "I did come to see you for something else. I have a mission for you."
"I shall remind Monsieur Beylier that I am no longer an Assassin." Arno scoffed.
"I know and that's the reason why I have come to see you. This will be an occasion for you to return to the Brotherhood."
The young man let out a dry mocking little chuckle. "And who told you that I actually wanted to return ?"
"I'll be leaving France next year. For good." Beylier started.
"You're a lucky man."
"The Saint-Domingue Brotherhood needs my help. I wanted to wait until things calmed down here in France before I go back to my homeland. But I don't want to let my job here only half done." the master then leaned towards Arno. "Even though we have criticized your lack of wisdom then, none of us in the Council could deny the fact that you were a brilliant Assassin, Arno. You have shown it as well with Germain." The last remark made Arno briefly raise his eyebrows, showing how unconvinced he was. "And if someone had to replace me as a Master in the Council someday, I would want it to be you and no one else."
The young man turned his gaze at Beylier, keeping the same face.
"Look, I cannot force you to join back the Brotherhood." the master continued. "If you do not want to, just do this final task and you will never hear of us again. Do it for France's sake."
Arno was about to say something but his eyes stopped on Élise's portrait that was hanging on the wall behind the master. The young man had no more energy to fight for France, especially after everything that he had lost for it. But at the same time, this was what Élise had died for and if she were here, she would not have forgiven him for turning his back on this cause for which she gave her life. He had to honour her memory.
Once he was done thinking, the young man stared back at Guillaume and spoke."What is this mission ?"
The master leaned back and started. "The mission is in two parts. The first one is easy. You have to recover the manuscript of Condorcet that the Templars want to destroy due to the ideas promoted in it. The only problem is that, this manuscript has been stolen by someone else."
Beylier then took a notebook out of his coat and continued. "We've managed to acquire Dom Poirier's list, which indicates where you can find this manuscript. The second part of the mission, however, is quite delicate. We've spied Napoléon Bonaparte and his men recently and we believe that he's looking for an artefact hidden somewhere in Franciade. But focus on bringing us the manuscript for now. We'll take care of the artefact in due time."
"It seems like two seperate missions to me." The young man remarked.
Beylier ignored his comment and handed the notebook to Arno who took and started to flip through it until he found the page where the manuscript was mentioned.
"According to this list, the manuscript has been stolen by someone called Léon, who lives in an old red house in Franciade." Beylier added.
"Who is this Léon ?" Arno frowned.