Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 48

He brought the iron close to the index finger, and pressed the two halves of hot metal to the base of the finger.Flesh scorched by the iron, and the smell of burning, but Ezio did not flinch.Antonio quickly removed the soldering iron and put it aside.At this time, the assassins took off their hoods and surrounded them.Uncle Mario patted him on the back proudly.Theodora produced a glass vial containing some kind of thick, transparent liquid, which she then applied to the circular burn on Ezio's ring finger. "It will ease your pain," she said. "We're so proud of you."

At this moment Machiavelli stood before him and nodded meaningfully to him. "Welcome, Ezio. You are now one of us. This concludes your initiation - and then, my friend, we have important work to do!"

After speaking, he looked over the edge of the clock tower.On the far ground, several bales of hay were stacked in various places near the clock tower—the fodder for the horses to be sent to the Governor's Palace.It seemed to Ezio that no one could land on such a small target with such precision from such a height, but Machiavelli jumped, his cloak flying in the wind.His companions jumped down as well, and Ezio watched them land perfectly on the hay with a mixture of horror and envy, then gathered and looked up at him with what seemed to be an expectant look on their faces.

He has leaped from rooftops in the past, but never faced a leap of faith at such a height.The bales of hay looked the size of cornflakes, but he knew it was the only way to get back to the ground, and the longer he hesitated, the harder it was to succeed.He took a few deep breaths, jumped into the night sky, raised his arms high, and made a swallow-like posture.

The fall seemed to take hours, and the wind blew past his ears, ruffling his clothes and hair.Then the bale of hay came rushing toward him.At the last moment, he closed his eyes...

...and crashed straight into the dry grass!He couldn't breathe for a moment, but when he stood up staggeringly, he found that his body was intact and his mood was full of joy.

Mario stepped forward, Theodora by his side. "I said he would agree, what do you say?" Mario asked Theodora.

That night, Mario, Machiavelli, and Ezio sat at the wide trestle table in Leonardo's studio.The sacred object held dear by Rodrigo Borgia was placed before them, and they all regarded it with curiosity and awe.

"It's charming," Leonardo was saying, "so charming."

"What is this, Leonardo?" Ezio asked. "What is it for?"

Leonardo said: "Oh, I have no idea at the moment. It holds a huge secret, and if I ask you, its design is different from everything on earth-I must have never seen such a complex design... I can't explain to you any more than I can explain to you why the earth revolves around the sun."

"You should mean 'the sun revolves around the earth'?" Mario said, looking at Leonardo with strange eyes.But Leonardo continued to study the instrument, turning it cautiously with his hands, and at that moment some sort of dim light emanated from it.

"The substances that made it should logically not exist," Leonardo continued in surprise, "and this is obviously a very old device."

"It's clearly related to the pages of the ancient tome we have," Mario interjected. "This description is about it. The ancient tomes call it a 'Piece of Eden.'"

"Rodrigo called it the 'apple'," Ezio added.

Leonardo looked at him sharply. "The apple from the tree of wisdom? The apple that Eve gave Adam?"

They turned to look at the thing again.Its light was brighter, and it had a hypnotic effect.Ezio felt a growing urge to reach out and touch it, but he didn't understand why.He couldn't feel any heat from it, but along with that allure came a lingering sense of dread, as if touching it would send electricity through his whole body.He couldn't feel the presence of anyone else, as if the whole world around him had gone dark and cold, as if nothing existed but him and that... thing.

He watched his hand reach forward as if it were no longer a part of him, as if he had lost control of the hand, which finally pressed firmly against the smooth surface of the holy object.

His initial reaction was shock.That "apple" is made of metal, but it feels warm and soft to the touch, like a woman's skin, like some kind of living thing!But he didn't have time to think about it, because his hand was suddenly thrown away, and the next moment, the light emanating from the inside of the device suddenly changed into a kaleidoscope of dazzling colors. O saw some shapes.He barely looked away, looking at his companions.Mario and Machiavelli turned their heads away, their eyes were troubled, and they covered their heads with their hands, whether it was out of fear or pain.Leonardo stood still, his eyes wide, and his mouth opened in awe.Looking back, Ezio saw the figures begin to merge into one.A sprawling garden emerges, overrun with grotesque creatures; dark cities ablaze, mushroom clouds larger than cathedrals and palaces; an army is marching, but it's an Ezi Armies that O had never seen, nor imagined; starving men in striped uniforms being herded into brick houses by men with whips like dogs; spiraling stars and planets; strange armor people whirling in the black space—another Ezio, another Leonardo, another Mario, another Machiavelli, and many more writhing helplessly in the air, It turned into a plaything of a strong wind, and at this moment, the strong wind seemed to really roar in the room.

"Stop it!" someone yelled.

Ezio gritted his teeth, then grasped his right wrist with his left hand - although he didn't know why he did this - and forced his right hand to touch the thing.

The wind stopped immediately.The room was also restored to its original appearance.Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay.Nothing moved.Leonardo's glasses are still on the bridge of his nose.The "apple" was also well placed on the table, and it looked so featureless that few people would even give it a second look.

Leonardo spoke first. "This thing must never fall into the wrong hands," he said, "it can drive the weak of heart mad..."

"I agree," said Machiavelli, "and I could barely resist its force—it's unbelievable." Carefully slipping on his gloves, he picked up the "apple" and put it back in the box , then close the lid carefully.

"Do you think the Spaniard knows what this thing does? Do you think he can control it?"

"Never let him have it." Machiavelli's tone was extremely firm.He handed the box to Ezio. "You must take over the box and protect it with the techniques we have taught you."

Ezio took the box carefully, and nodded.

"Take it to Forli," said Mario, "the castle over there is walled, protected by cannon, and controlled by one of our strongest allies."

"And who is that ally?" Ezio asked.

"Her name is Caterina Sforza."

Ezio smiled. "I remembered... She is an old acquaintance of mine, and I would be happy to catch up with her."

"Then let's get ready to go."

"I will go with you," said Machiavelli.

"Thank you very much," Ezio said with a smile.He turned to look at Leonardo. "And you, my friend?"

"Me? When I finish my work here, I will go back to Milan. The Duke of Milan has been very kind to me."

"If you go to Florence again, and if you have time, you must come to Monteriggioni again." Mario said.

Ezio looked at his friend. "Goodbye, Leonardo. Hope we can meet again someday."

"I believe there will be such a day," Leonardo said, "if you want to find me, you can ask Agnello of Florence and ask me where I am going."

Ezio hugged him. "Goodbye."

"Here is a parting present," Leonardo handed him a little packet, "for the pellets and powder for your little firearm, and a large bottle of good poison for your dagger. I hope you don't get a chance to use it." These things, but in my opinion, it is always right to be prepared."

Ezio watched him moved. "Thank you—thank you for everything, my dear friend."

(End of this chapter)