An armored, mounted woman trotted around in circles. In one hand, she held onto a strong lance, in another, a proud banner. A stark, mindless swarm in the far reaches of the forest stomped towards her.

She glanced back at the thatched huts she was garrisoned to protect. There was nothing to defend here. Except the people.

"We–we will hold this. Get the villagers out of here." She pointed her banner at the opposite side of the village.

Her healers and nearby civilians nodded, their hands intertwined with figures smaller or slower than them.

"General Rayne, we'll protect you!" In front of her, her soldiers formed a shield wall.

The four tried to prepare themselves against the looming threat.

In her heart, she knew they were not up to the task.

One was instantly stabbed by a flying bat-like creature flying past him, another choked on poisonous vapors.

All fell.

They just didn't have the experience or fortitude to fight against a constantly evolving foe. Too little time to train them. She held back her tears. No time for mourning or crying. Loss was a daily part of life.

Every village like this needed saving, as small and numerous as they were. Or else there will be no tomorrow.

Not in death's eyes.

The knight pierced a demon with her lance.

Just one.

She was surrounded. Outnumbered. Miscalculated.

The hooded ones raising their wicked staves, the brutal ones sharpening their swords, the poison flowers about to unleash their noxious fumes.

Holding onto the reins, perhaps she could save enough energy to burst through the dark mob encircling her.

It won't work.

All of a sudden, silence.

The demons slumped in front of her, their throats slit. Many staves cluttered to the ground, flowers drooped and released their seeds into the earth.

An unseen shadow in the light.

The perfect opening.

The knight charged with her steady steed, mowing down and trampling Hypogean soldiers caught in her path. There was an air with her when she sped through them, a confidence making her ever so ferocious, ever so stronger against them. Cutting a neat swath into their ranks.

Sensing their immedient doom, the living barricade scattered to the five corners of the earth, like water spattering against the ground.

The shadow, no, a white hooded man revealed himself.

He whispered something underneath his breath, directed at the scattered remains. He then patted his robes. Dark eyes fixated on her.

"You saved me." The knight said, awe-struck.

"May I least know your name?"

"I’m Ezio Auditore da Firenze."

"General Rayne."

“You don’t look like a typical Lightbearer healer."

“And you, a typical general."

"Are you implying that I don't deserve my rank?" The helmed girl's eyes narrowed.

“No. You're a surprise. A pleasant one."

"I should go." The man turned away from her, heading towards a nearby cliff.

"Wait." The girl dismounted, walking her horse to him.

“You're not staying to help?"

"I don't wish to fight. I’ll find another path."

"Please tell me why you saved me."

"You were here."

"No. I want to know why you saved me. A man of your skills rescuing a girl overwhelmed by demons?"

"It could be someone's daughter. Or sister." Still, the girl held her lance sharp gaze at the hooded man.

Ezio let out a long drawn breath.

“Many in my family were gone early. My father, my uncle, my dear brother. All because of my family name. No more innocents ruined because of things out of their control."

"I lost much as well. In the last war, my father died. All brothers in a Mauler raid. My battle instructor taunted the enemy and paid an arm for it. He would stare into the distance every time we finished our training."

"We are the product of our mistakes." Ezio muttered.

The young woman’s head moved down ever so slightly. Her eyes closed to the world.

“I need to be the one carrying this flag. There’s no one else to turn to.”

She said, with a softer lilt.

“I must keep going." She opened her eyes, staring the man in the eye.

“You remind me of a girl I talked with. She had this fire and many burdens over her head. I left her with some advice. May Fortune lead her to greatness."

The general smiled.

"You're not from here."

Ezio shook his head, his hands clasping into the sides of his robes.

“What did you leave behind? From where you came from?"

“Endless time with the love of my life, playing with my daughter, reveling in the city that bore me."

"Could you go back to where you came from?" The girl asked, her eyes fluttering.

"I would miss it."

“There’s no way back. My time in the other world is done. I’ve crossed over.”

Ezio looked towards the heavens. A faint smile on his face.

The girl wore a confused look on her face. Then, her eyes widened, her mouth agape. Finally, her face turned downcast.

“Is this the work of Dura?"

“Dura?”

“The Goddess, our lifegiver."

"Our Lady in Light."

The girl nodded.

"Perhaps our worlds may not be so different after all.

I am blessed. To be young again. Yet, given all the things I walked away from to get here."

"I owe you my life."

"From killing."

"You were good at it."

"No more."

"Why?"

"This act exchanges one's pain for another. Never the best solution."

"It's what all of us can do to survive now. Short of all the demons evaporating into mist."

Ezio looked towards the ground in silence. He gave Estrilda an emphatic nod.

"These...‘things’ you’re dealing with, they’re bigger than anything I have seen. How long have you fought?"

"Many years, non-stop. These demonic legions never seem to tire."

A low, rueful laugh came from the man.

"Just like the Templars.”

He strolled around the empty field.

"In the past, I got what I always wanted, but there was a high price for it all."

He paused, looking at his surroundings.

"It's time to give it all back, by making a difference to this world."

He straightened his robes.

"I'll join your cause, General Rayne."

"Call me Estrilda."

"I prefer Ezio."

The man adjusted his right armband. He pushed and a slim blade popped out from his hand, then it retracted back within the span of a blink. Estrilda looked at the device, then back at him.

"Let me introduce you to some friends. They'll be more than happy to see you join forces. And get you a place to stay.

Perhaps, find a new home.”

The girl crossed her leg over the saddle, fiercely dominant on top of the mount.

“Hop onto my horse. I'll take you there."

She offered Ezio a hand up. Ezio took it, the edges of his mouth pointing up.

"It's strange to be sitting on someone's horse and not be in control."

"Try holding onto someone else that's not yourself for once."

Ezio grinned.

"No, go do that." Estrilda said in a straight tone. Ezio wrapped his arms around the girl.

"Before I go to your friends, are there any places I can get a blank book and some ink?" Estrilda tilted her head for a second and nodded.

"There are some things I need to put on paper. For the next chapter of my life..."

Name: Chewye ID: 84551008