Re: World-Valencia

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses, this time, he barely blocked it. "Good! Use what your opponent never expected! Good"

He sheathed his sword, smiling ever so slightly under his black hood. "This is only the beginning, and already you are becoming strong... Just imagine how much damage you can do once you are fully synchronized."

[Sydney Underhill]

"So this power shall only grow?"

Sydney sheathed her sword as well, feeling quite energetic now.

That certainly sounds nice.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Yes, it will grow until you become as strong as I am."Ulysses confirmed. "Just imagine how you will make the foes of the Armada cower with that power..."

Once that happens, the Admiral was sure, the Armada would be even closer to the completion of the Grand Design.

One step closer to completely crushing the Resistance, one step to creating a perfect Spiral where Kane and his clockworks rule supreme.

[Sydney Underhill]

And nothing will stand in my way then...

"Excellent. Then I take it that this 'bleeding' of memories was a success?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Indeed it is."Cristobal held another disk, this one bearing red lines, "I've chosen this memory for tomorrow's training; I believe Lord Ulysses would like to show you something."

The admiral nodded, "Yes, it is called the Leap of Faith, something which you would have to perform to complete your initiation into the Order, once you complete your training."

Ulysses lead them up to the top of a high tower over looking Sivella, and in front of them, a chunk of the balconey's railings had been removed to allow place for a platform to be built, jutting out over the buildings, about three feet in width and supported by steel beams.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney stepped out onto the platform, aware of how high up they currently were, yet unsure of how to proceed, although she had somewhat of an idea.

"And this...'Leap of Faith'...how exactly does one go about with this?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"You do not have to do it now, but Lord Ulysses will still show you how it goes."The Engineer made a gesture for her to step back for a moment, "and notice the haystack down below... That is an important part."

Ulysses stepped onto the platform, all the way to the end. He stood there for a moment, drinking in his surroundings and letting the wind rippling his black robes: this... Wasn't much different from when he first performed this so many years ago.

The human Armada admiral gazed downward, mentally noting the location of the haystack... Then opened his arms like eagle wings... And jumped.

Wind ripping at his robes and hood, Ulysses performed a flip through the air, landing on his back safely in the haystack.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney grinned, visibly impressed and excited at the thought of speeding through the air, whatever the direction.

"And this will be done once my training is fully completed?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Yes, as part of your initiation into the Order."The Engineer folded his drafting compass, placing it into his satchel. "I think this is enough for today... Why don't you come back tomorrow, Commodore?"

[Sydney Underhill]

"I suppose that is a good idea." Sydney took several more steps back away from the ledge, internally pleased with the progress that she had made, yet not daring to show it on her exterior.

"In the meantime...are there other matters that we must attend to?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Nothing, though I do have to return to my workshop soon: you will not only need new weapons, but new armor as well."Cristobal peered over the edge, watching as Ulysses climbed back up the tower to join them once more.

The Armada Admiral gave his mentor a nod of respect and acknowledgement, then locked his eyes on Sydney. "Commodore, I think we should return to the ship for now, because the Apple... I heard it again."

[Sydney Underhill]

The Apple?

"Of course. Let us return then, immediately."

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses lead them back out through the same way; out of the side of the throne room, through the hall and up to the secret staircase. The doors closed behind them once both officers had exited, the Valencian Assassin symbol glowing for a single second before fading so it looked no more different then the designs on the door itself and the building it was built into.

Passing a few unicorn scholars, there were a few that pointed to Ulysses and muttered, barely audible but enough for the Admiral as well as Sydney to pick out a few words, words such as "Assassino" "Kane's mindless slave" "Crazed Killer"

Septimus suppressed the laughter in his throat at the last two names they had oh so gratefully given to him: he would not deny the fact he was wrong in the head, nor that he was Kane's personal favorite, little puppet, it was the sheer stupidity in the thought that he wouldn't hear them discussing about him that made him want to laugh. 

Seriously? He thought to himself, who did they think I am? Did they really believe I would not hear those words they mumbled about me?

Shaking his head slightly, Ulysses boarded the Interceptor and went straight for his cabin, reemerging with the Apple in his hand to meet Sydney on the deck of the large Armada frigate.

[Sydney Underhill]

It was obvious from the stares that were directed at the both of them as they had left that the scholars of Valencia did not have much respect for them, yet she did not have any feelings in reaction other than mild distain.

Not that they mattered, she thought, walking towards Ulysses as he emerged from his cabin.

[Ulysses Septimus]

The human Armada admiral held out the glowing golden sphere toward her, his blood red eyes locked on the mysterious artifact.

This time, the memory was set obviously several years after the initiation, and before Ulysses was chosen as the supreme leader of the Assassin Order-

Ulysses, clad in white robes--slightly longer than the set he had worn at the initiation--and a set of plate armor along with all of his weapons, made his way up the side of a building with the help of a Hookblade attachment on his arm.

Once he reached the top, he slipped one of his Hidden Blades into the gap between the windowpanes, wiggling it around until the window opened with a click.

After Ulysses slipped inside, the golden flash appeared, taking Sydney with him, though several minutes into the future, when Ulysses stood over the bloody body of one of his latest targets.

"Success!"The Assassin mumbled, sheathing his sword. 

Here's when things started to go wrong...

A dark figure snuck up behind Ulysses, a heavy claymore in one hand. But he didn't bring the weapon down to kill, the figure simply struck the Assassin across the back of his head hard with the pommel of the sword.

With a nasty thunk, Ulysses collapsed onto the ground unconscious, allowing the figure to emerge from their hiding spot.

Atticus Mercilus.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney stepped forwards towards the Admiral on instinct, but stopped when she remembered that this was, once again, just a memory.

Even so, she couldn't stop herself from feeling a burning hatred towards the rouge assassin, and her hands itched to strike, but she could not strike a vision that only existed in her mind at the current moment.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Mercilus chuckled darkly, tracing the back of Ulysses' unconscious form with the tip of his sword. "Not so high and mighty now, are you, Septimus?" He sheathed his sword, easily picking up the other Assassin and slinging him over his shoulder like he weighed nothing.

Once more, the flash of light appeared, changing the memory-

Ulysses forced his eyes open, a streak of dried blood running down the front of his face. He had been stripped of his armor and all his weapons, save for the Hidden Blades and the multiple attachments on his bracers.

The Assassin raised his frame to a standing position, since he was in a kneeling one before he recovered from the blow on his head.

He glanced around, a scowl riddling his face when he realized that he had been thrown into a dungeon, both of his arms and legs chained to the wall behind him by thick iron manacles that could have easily restrained a Dragoon.

"Well isn't this brilliant?"Ulysses muttered.

That was when footsteps begun to echo from outside the door in the hall leading to his cell.

Atticus Mercilus appeared minutes later, the smugest smirk there could be plastered to his face. "Hello, Grandmaster Ulysses... Didn't expect this, did you?"

"Mercilus,"Septimus growled, angry, "you dirty, spineless traitor! Why don't you unchain me and fight me face to face if you want me to die so much?!"

[Sydney Underhill]

That snake.

Sydney clenched her fists at her sides, wanting nothing more than to strangle the vision in front of her, to rid the spiral of his cowardice and lack of honor.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Mercilus' hand darted out, clamping down around Ulysses' throat. "If I do, why would I bother to bring you down here?"

The other Assassin spat at the traitor, snarling, "Dishonorable coward!"

"Thank yourself for this, Septimus."Mercilus traced the outline of the other's face with a knife he had drawn from his belt. "You stole the throne of the Assassin Grand Master from me, thus, you will pay."

He punctuated his words by cutting a gash in Ulysses' neck with his blade, not enough to kill, but enough to draw out blood.

"You didn't deserve the throne."Septimus hissed, "to be the leader, power is essential, which you had none and had to retort to means of cheating to win your way through the tournament. I fought my way through."

"Shut up."Mercilus delivered a punch into the imprisoned Assassin's solar plexus, effectively knocking the winds out of him. "Do you think I care now? I have you exactly where I need you to be." He leaned in, until his face was no more than a few inches away from Ulysses. "I will break you, Septimus, I will shatter your body and your soul like I've done to all those clockworks you so loved before."

Up till then, Ulysses had been able to keep a rein on his rage... He snapped at the mention of the Armada, which he indeed so loved and valued. "You goddamned matris futuor!"He roared, "pray that you have put distance between us when I get free, or your insides will plaster the walls of Monteriggioni!"

[Sydney Underhill]

He destroys perfection, Sydney realized, and that was what made him so unworthy of existance. Instead of striving to match the beautiful perfection of the Armada, he would attempt to bring them down to his level - down to nothing.

[Ulysses Septimus]

The rogue backhanded Ulysses harshly, "You might want to watch that tongue of yours, Septimus, or else I may be forced to cut it out." With a deft swipe of his blade, Mercilus ripped open the front of Ulysses' white robes to reveal his pale chest. "Now... Where shall I start?"

"I will not bow to you, nor will you break me, I swear that you dishonorable, spineless traitor."Ulysses swore, glaring defiantly at his foe.

The rogue sneered, "Really? How about this then?"

He reached out with his blade, slicing a piece of flesh from the once flawless skin that was about the size of his hand.

Ulysses allowed no sound from his lips, not even a groan of pain. He just stood there, enduring it all, taking it like a clockwork would.

He would not give his foe the satisfaction of seeing his pain.

[Sydney Underhill]

The Armada Commodore found herself admiring the Admiral's impressive pain tolerance level, knowing that she herself was almost hypersensitive when it came to pain.

He would not give in, but there was no telling how far Mercilus would take this torture.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Still trying to be a hero?"The rogue mused, cutting out another piece of flesh, "how far can you go then, I wonder?"

Ulysses glared back at his foe, still refusing to show pain on his face. He couldn't have, anyway, since all of his stamina and will was directed at taking the torture.

Mercilus threw the knife away, "I think I want to try something different now." He lifted a nasty looking whip that was once coiled at his side: it was leather with bits of barbed metal on the length of the rope, ending in a almost intimidating hook.

Letting the whip unfurl, he stepped back and allowed the tool to crack through the air, tearing gashes through Ulysses' frame.

Again, and again he cracked the torturous instrument, until the once white robe was almost completely red, dyed by the blood the Assassin had shed.

Even then, Ulysses stood, strong, defiant, unwilling to submit.

"Is this all you got?"He rasped.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney was shocked now, as even most clockworks would have shown some kind of reaction by now. Quintus certainly had, she remembered.

But then again, he had willpower, just as all human beings did, and that was maybe the one advantage of a mortal, emotional being. Willpower was an almost unmatched drive, and once that was combined with extreme intelligence, the result would become almost unstoppable.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"This is only the beginning, Septimus."Mercilus replied coldly. He turned, facing a long table of neatly lined up instruments, picking up a large syringe filled with a silver liquid.

Before Ulysses had a chance to twist himself away, the rogue injected the liquid right into his neck.

"How strong are you when pitted against your worst fears?"The rogue smirked.

Ulysses' head lowered for a moment, then slowly rose back up, his eyes shut tightly as he made attempts to fight off the images his addled mind forced on his eyes. His lips trembled slightly, but that was the only reaction he allowed himself, as bead of sweat rolled down his face.

His ruby eyes opened a moment later, triumphant. "What else?"

Atticus Mercilus almost screamed in rage, only barely holding back when he seemed to have been struck by an idea. He hefted another tool, a saw.

"Then I will completely break your body."He growled, placing the instrument on the wrist of the Assassin's left hand.

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