Assassin's Creed: Youth

Chapter 3

12 years later...

Florence, Italy, 1461.

A young woman in a white hood sat perched on the edge of a rooftop, her dazzlingly green eyes scanning the horizon. Her shimmering hair was as black as night as she took a deep breath, ready to jump. But just before she was going to take a leap of faith, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
'Long time no see, Flora!' Said the voice cheerfully. Flora turned around. It was Giovanni. He was a strong man of 25, his hair still long and his eyes protuberant. He wore white hooded assassin tunic, with stripes of red, like blood in the snow.
'Well met, Giovanni. ' Flora replied. 'How are your sons?'
'Bene. Ezio is a curious toddler, always running about. Frederico is learning to read'.
'How sweet. How is little Claudia?'
'Still so small. Maria is taking care of her well. She keeps us up all night'. Giovanni laughed.
'That's good'. Giovanni continued to laugh, finding it hard to stifle his giggles.
'What? What's so funny?' Flora asked.
'Nothing,' replied Giovanni, finally controlling himself. 'It's just... You couldn't just go with the classic assassin robes, could you?'
Flora looked down at her tunic. It was a normal assassin tunic, with a few slight adjustments... For a start, she replaced the top with a light pink corset, tied up at the front. The assassin skirt was altered to have green and golden patterns. Her legs were laced up with leather, but at least she wore the ordinary assassin boots, although they were dyed grey.
'Well, I just thought the normal robe a little too boring, and this really help me blend in with the crowd, using colours civilians wear.'
Giovanni shrugged. 'I guess so. But I'm not the best person to ask about fashion. '
Flora let out a laugh. Giovanni was looking up at the Duomo. The Duomo was a beautiful cathedral, and one of the highest point in Florence. He then turned back to Flora.
'Tell you what,' he began. 'Let's have a race to the top of the Duomo tower'.
'I don't know,' replied Flora. 'You nearly pushed me off last time.'
'It was an accident! Come on Flora, let's go for old times sake.'
Flora paused, before replying. 'Alright then, but I'll get there first'.
'You wish!' Giovanni joked. 'Okay, on your marks, get set...Go!'
Giovanni ran off in a flash, his feet flowing across the roof tiles, as he jumped over a chimney on his way to the Duomo.
Flora made her way swiftly, free running across the scarlet roofs, overcoming any obstacles in her way. She forward-flipped over chimneys, dodges any booked and crannies in the architecture. She flew like a dove, climbing her way to the top of the tower. Her hands grasped the vermilion and sandy bricks of the Duomo tower, anchoring her feet on hair-thin ledges. She advanced her way up to the top, unaware of Giovanni proceeding on the other side. Her fingertips reached the top, and she pulled herself up to the roof. Just as her eyes met the landing, she saw Giovanni clamber up as well.
They both walked up to each other, arms by their sides.
'Haha!' Giovanni called. 'I got here first!'
'No, I did!' Flora protested.
'No way! I made it before you!'
'Did not!'
'Did too!'
Flora extended her hidden blade, and aimed it near Giovanni.
'How about we call it a draw?' Surrendered Giovanni, his voice high and scared.
'Fine, a draw,' Flora replied, retracting her blade. 'But next time, I'll beat you.'
'You're on!' Giovanni said.
An illuminating golden glow fell the hoods of the assassins. They both sat down, their legs dangling off the edge of the tower.
'Do you ever think about the old days, young children fencing underground?' Giovanni asked.
Flora sighed. 'They were the happiest days of my life. But look at us now! Running about with no where to go. What a life! But I wouldn't change it for the world'.
'I wouldn't change the world for this.'
'Bellisimo'.
Giovanni looked to the horizon, watching the glowing, liquid sunset melting in the distance. The sky was a light rose colour, stirred in the juices of a lemon tree.
'I should go home now,' Giovanni said, facing the sun, which was marking the dawn of dusk. 'Maria will be worried. She told me to return before it gets dark.'
'What is she, your mother?' Flora joked.
'No, but she's just as important!'
Flora laughed. 'Until next time, old friend'.
'Arrivederci'. Giovanni crouched on a wooden beam, and did a leap of faith into the haystack below.
It was at this moment that the skies grew dark, and Flora decided to head back to the assassin headquarters. She crept onto the wooden plank, and paused a moment to take in the view. She looked down at the maze of houses below, and the empty streets flooded with sunlight. She listened to the cry of the eagles circling above her, their calls sharp and high. Flora took a deep breath, before jumping into the haystack below.
After she crawled out of the hay, she ran off through the streets, disappearing into the night.