Re: World-Valencia

[Sydney Underhill]

The Armada Commodore visibly relaxed at the now-familiar sight of the Admiral, stepping back and staring at his face. Until now, she had presumed that he had always looked like that, but now she noticed the somewhat lifeless quality that he had taken on.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses had also 40 or so Dragoons standing behind him, as well as the Black and White cadres. All of them with their weapons prepared for battle.

Slowly, he turned to face the clockworks, drawing his dual rapiers. “Nolite dare clementiam. (Latin: No mercy to the enemy.)”Ulysses growled, “Today, we show those fools just what happens to those daring to oppose the Armada.”

He pivoted around again: despite his appearance, he was still surprisingly fast and energetic, as he was able to sprint cover the distance between his ship and the Marleybonean galleon (which had rammed into a large Armada ship that was no doubt Rooke’s flagship) via the gangplank, taking out all ten of the Red Coats that was standing on the deck within only a matter of seconds, while his clockworks had only taken the first few steps…

Another flash, taking Sydney perhaps twenty or thirty minutes forward into the future, to the main battle that was taking place on the main deck of Rooke’s ship.

In this part, Ulysses was dashing around the deck, his swords a blur as he cut down enemies with a speed a normal human would never have reached-

He charged right up to a Red Coat officer, striking him across the face with the pommel of his sword then quickly driving his weapon through the Marleybonean’s chest,  but instead of withdrawing his weapon, Ulysses ripped hard to the right with his weapon arm.

A jet of blood immediately doused the Admiral's face and uniform, as the enemy officer fell to his knees, a pool of scarlet red staining the deck.

[Sydney Underhill]

And now for the bloodlust that I know so well.

She laughed lightly, feeling the tingling sensation of excitement upon seeing the massacre and the swelling sensation of pride, pride for the Armada.

[Ulysses Septimus]

It wasn’t long before the Armada troopers cleared the deck of Red Coats. Once they did, the golden flash returned, taking her to another piece of memory, this time the final one.

In this one, Ulysses stood in a chamber much like Bishop’s lab, only much emptier; containing only one large table. Beside him were the sniper Servus Decimus and the female trooper Quintia Presidos, though they were all staring at the Admiral, who loomed over the long metal table with the Apple of Eden in Decimus’ hands, as Ulysses’ back was turned toward her.

Once Ulysses stepped back to pick up another tool, it became clear what he had been working on.

It was the clockwork musketeer, Albinus Crassus.

After adding the mask on, which immediately fitted onto him with a click, Ulysses took the Apple from Decimus, holding it over the prone form of Albinus.

“Raise, my creation, raise and serve your creator.”

Gold light in the shape of a snake slithered from the artifact, entering the clockwork’s “eyes”.

Click, click.

Albinus sat up, turning his blank mask/face to face Ulysses. “For the glory of the Armada, pater.”

[Sydney Underhill]

If she had not known that this was a memory, Sydney would have collapsed from shock right then and there.

It was just like Quintus, the very first time he had spoken...

But that was not how it had happened for her.

[Ulysses Septimus]

A minute later, she was brought back to the real world, where she was standing before the Armada admiral, her hand still on the Apple of Eden.

"Well..."Ulysses begun, "what exactly did the Apple want to show you?"

[Sydney Underhill]

"It showed me...your memories..." Sydney said, not exactly certain of how to proceed.

"About your initiation into the Assassins, about the battle of Tralfagar Vortex, about your wife..."

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses sighed, as if he had been expecting it. "I was foolish then."He placed the Apple back into his pocket, "I had allowed too much emotions into my heart, when I am supposed to be freed of such flaws... I had to pay, you see... But I have no regret in joining the Assassins."

The Admiral was secretly glad he had decided to wear the mask, because otherwise he would have worn the face of a young child caught with their hand in the candy jar.

"As for the battle of Trafalgar, that was when I finally learned... How my previous unpleasant past could be used for power."Ulysses could still remember that, as clear as day, "when I finally came to realize that anger and hate are my greatest allies."

He was quiet for a moment, "I guess... The Apple also showed you Albinus' past, didn't it?"

[Sydney Underhill]

"It did," she confirmed, nodding once. "It was fascinating, I must say..."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"It insisted that I do it."Ulysses explained, "the Apple gave me the blueprint as well, and allowed me to bring him to life..."

He was quiet for a moment.

"Would you like to join the Assassin Order, Sydney?"He suddenly begun, dead serious, "Mercilus' attack in the past is still injuring the Order... There aren't very many of us left, and virtually none as powerful as you are..."

[Sydney Underhill]

"I would be honored," Sydney said, "to be of use to the Assassin Order."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Good... Then let us pay a visit to Cristobal my old Mentor: an Assassin is nothing without a decent set of weapons.. Something which he would provide."Ulysses looked toward the helm and snapped an order to Sentus Optimus in Latin.

[Sydney Underhill]

"Yes, I remember seeing Cristobal in your...memories."

[Ulysses Septimus]

The Interceptor sailed into Avernus skyway, so for a moment there was some more than loud wind roaring in everyone's audios.

"Ah yes, he was there at my initiation."Ulysses confirmed, "he was also the one who provided me with my second Hidden Blade, as well as this-"He tapped on the wrist of his left hand, "after the incident."

The Interceptor had entered Aragon skyway, toward Sivella academy.

Once they docked, Ulysses hopped off the ship, and turned, waiting for her to follow.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney followed suit, brushing the dust off her coat before taking her place beside the Admiral.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses lead her to a hidden door at the very west side of the Academy, a doorway so tiny that no one could have noticed it if they did not examine it closely.

The Admiral placed his hand upon the marking on the door, which immediately glowed light blue and slide open.

It revealed a flight of stone steps leading downward, to an arched open tunnel lit by torches.

(The Valencian Assassin Marking)

[Sydney Underhill]

Trying to mask her amazement, Sydney descended down the staircase after the Admiral, taking note of how treacherously steep the stairs were.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses stepped off the last step, and strided through the torch lit hallway until he reached the end it.

At the end was a pair of wood and metal doors, with a white robed Assassin guard on either side.

"Ave, Grandmaster Ulysses,"they saluted him like clockworks would have done.

Ulysses nodded in acknowledgement, and made a gesture for them to open the doors.

[Sydney Underhill]

As she watched, the guards pulled the double doors back in unison, revealing an extremely large, but dimly lit room, exactly identical to the room in the vision that she had seen.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Except for that this time, the dias didn't hold the brazier, instead, it bore a golden throne melded to bear the Valencian Assassin Symbol on the back.

Ulysses ignored that, and walked over to the door opposite of them, knocking three times on it.

A man in his forties answered: he had a full beard and mustache the color of rust, and a pair of goggles much like Bishop's answered. He was in the outfit of an engineer though he also had a sword strapped to his side.

"Grandmaster Ulysses!"He bowed slightly, "how may I be of service today?"

"Mentor,"the corners of Ulysses' lips twitched as he suppressed a smile, "allow me to introduce you to Commodore Underhill here... She will be joining the Order and requires new weaponry."

Cristobal Auditore de la Faiz turned his attention to her, offering a classic Armada salute, "Commodore, it is an honor to meet you."He stepped to the side, letting the two officers into his workshop, which was filled by half constructed weapons and finished projects, "Grandmaster, you came just in time too, I have recently completed a new project and several other new polearms, as well as a new suit of armor."

  <-Cristobal Auditore de la Faiz, engineer and mechanical genius of the Assassin Order.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney immediately returned the snappy salute.

"Grandmaster, it is an honor to meet you as well. I ensure my dedication to the Assassins."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Excellent, then I'm sure you will become one of our elites,"Cristobal smiled, "and now, Commodore, would you like to have a look at this?"

He picked from the pile of completed projects what appeared like a pair of normal black boots... That is, until he placed a hand inside and flexed it, like someone was stretching out their leg.

Immediately, a wicked looking blade extended from the toe of the boot, a blade about 7 inches in length and crafted from the same alloy used to make Sydney's chestplate.

[Sydney Underhill]

Her eyes lit up with pleasure and wonder at the sight, but she refused to let herself show any further emotion.

"That is a beautiful blade..."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"The Concealed Blade, a small variation to the Hidden Blade,"the engineer explained, "used primarily for kicking attacks: imagine the woe it would cause for our foes if in the hands of the right one!"

Cristobal placed the boot back down, went to the corner of the room and picked up what looked like a part of a polearm's shaft.

Click.

The rod in his grip extended to the height of a normal poleaxe, while the axe blade unfolded on the top. Now he held a normal poleaxe, the blade looking sharp enough to cut through anything.

[Sydney Underhill]

Looking the axe up and down, Sydney found that it was almost exactly the same size as the poleaxe she was currently holding, yet it all fit into a narrow, compact rod.

"That is rather convenient..."

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