Florence, Italy, 15th Century

Ezio fingers ached as he processed how every minute could be his last with only the slightest poor handhold as he scaled the side of the tower. Moonlight illuminated his cloak, a silver white against the grey mesh of stone. The climb was Hell even though there was no breeze or chill that could numb him. His gloves shielded the palms from most of the cold as it did the heat in the sunlight. Years of scaling the walls of their home with his brother made most climbs as simple as walking, the trick was to believe and know that there was always a way up.

His hand slipped and the world expanded in a vicious blur before his eyes before he recovered and clutched the wall again.

It's even easier to get down, if you're clumsy.

One of his brother's favorite jokes.

He smiled slightly at how the humor of it brightened his heart, but a darker stab of sorrow struck him as well. All these skills and weapons, they could only allow him a better angle from which to see his father and brothers hang. What little comfort he could attain would be dealt with through the scum who ruined his family. He had spent an hour surveying the guard rotations, no other sentries were in his area or think to look so high up, the charms moving without rope. The clink of metal on his wrist promised the rest would be well taken care of.

That was before he noticed the old man standing near the top, practically waiting for him.

Panic was replaced but a cold drive, he'd knock out the man before he could raise an alarm. He did not pay any mind to how the old man was not even panicked.

A cane slapped the right side of his face, Ezio's vision blurred and he swung, slightly aware how the old Assassin blade was extended with a hiss.

"Now, there's no call for that." The old man said, as if a tutor speaking to an unruly pupil. A slight clang as the hidden blade was pushed aside and Ezio's hood was pulled down over his head. He managed to stifle a grunt that would have alerted the guards before crashing to stone ground as the cane tripped him.

He expected at that moment to die. Instead, his hood was lifted and he got to see the old man more clearly. This stranger was clearly much older, with a long nose, gray hair brushed back, and eyes fiercer than a hawk. But his smile was disarmingly kind.

"Ezio Auditore," the man said curiously. "I'm almost embarrassed to see such a man so easily tripped up, must be early in your career."

Career, the word sounded strange to Ezio. He had been training at his Uncle's for months, before that escaping from his beloved's stubborn guards, but this man spoke as if this weren't the first time he'd be doing something like this. Yes, he killed the traitor of his father, but this would make him a seeker of vengeance… not an assassin. The old man continued to cryptically eye him.

"Hmmm," He said. "The way you carry yourself, with so few of your infamous armaments, am I to conclude this is the night you are seeking out another of your family's enemies and his worm of a brat, Viveri de' Pazzi, who dared to try and have his way with your beloved, Cristina." Hearing the name of that piece of slime made his lip twitch from the scar caused by that damned stone, the last true mark Viveri would ever make.

The way this stranger brought up so much which should have been hidden, it disturbed Ezio. Was this some spy, meant to keep an eye on him or could he be some specialist meant to kill him. The old man seemed to sense his anxiety.

"Now, now, no need to panic. I am no friend to the Pazzi family or an enemy to you. I am of a different profession, a Doctor if you will."

Now it was Ezio's turn to observe this… Doctor, and he found nothing to dispute this claim since the man had no weapons besides the odd-looking cane and clothes that were unfamiliar but did nothing to imply a threat.

"What business does a Doctor have in such a place?" Ezio looked about. "How did you come up here, without the Pazzi's permission?"

"Astute questions, my boy, well said." The Doctor looked quite pleased. "You see, I usually wish to keep a low profile and decided to climb the castle wall."

"You?" The old man was becoming a stranger conundrum by the minute.

"I can be quite fit when the occasion demands it," the Doctor said with an air of authority. "And as for my business, I suppose I am to here to ensure your continued health. To see you carry out what must be done."

Ezio anticipated animosity, even derision, so this sudden voice of support so far away from home disarmed him.

"You will not seek to stop me from committing murder?" The word cut like a knife, vile or not, Ezio had to accept that he was expected to be a killer tonight. To become a monster.

The Doctor's fierce gaze proved the term fit in his mind.

"My boy, I will now make my point as clearly as I can so there will be no confusion as to my stance on things. To me, murder is a heinous act. To take a life is to rob someone of the ability to become more, to rob another of choices to that could better their life and the lives of others."

Every word echoed in his mind with the force of the hidden blade he had used to murder the first traitor of his family, right in public. Leonardo must have known what he had helped create, Ezio wondered if the clever artist would ever be able to forgive him.

"But there are things that must be done."

Ezio looked up at the old man, confused.

"Time is the one constant I shall believe in throughout its beginning, end, and everything between. Every soul must walk their path and yours, while etched in blood, carries its own virtue as well. Yours is not the first family to suffer the wrath of the powers behind this, but you will end these vile deeds."

"How do you know this?" Ezio eyed the way he had come, that climb felt less daunting if it meant being sparred the madness this old man spoke of.

"Consider me… a Seer if that helps you trust in my words. But know this, the man and his vile son are speaking with someone whom I am after. My target is telling yours how to destroy what little remains of your family. For their sake, that knowledge must not leave those inner chambers."

"And so, with time being of the essence, I believe uniting to be our most prudent maneuver. I shall contend with my foe, not to disgrace your skills but they are far too great a menace. The father and son, they must fall by your blade. Remember your training, have courage, and… well personally you've never made an account of the event so I'd assume the rest should come naturally. Now, my boy, let's see ourselves in."

Ezio had no chance to challenge anything said, the Doctor adjusted his strange coat and turned towards a nearby set of stairs. He followed, some inner echo of instinct made pull the hood back into place. When his eyes were shaded, confusion faded and the hands stopped shaking. The Doctor paid little mind, there seemed to be no hesitation in what was about to transpire, armed with nothing but a cane no less.

The stairs gave way to a balcony overlooking a small chamber built for reading at leisure. Three men were seated around a small wooden table. Viveri was easy to spot along with his father, but the third man Ezio had never seen before. A clean-shaven face and cruel eyes, but with an air about him that echoed the aura of the Doctor. His companion grip on the cane tightened. He heard the Pazzi's call the stranger by the moniker 'Master'.

The Master whispered something low, and both Pazzi men turned their attention right up to the balcony. The Father panicked, already charging towards the only other exit, clearly the space was so entrenched in stone that sounding an alarm required leaving the room. Ezio moved, seeing the image of his sister and mother on the gallows. The Father became far easier to see up close, the hidden blade struck without the young man realizing he had unleashed it.

Ezio turned, Viveri's face was pale with panic while the Master only smiled. The strange man stood, hands raised as if in surrender. Yet with one hand closed. It opened abruptly, the smile on the Master's face widened as something small and silver flew towards Ezio's eye. A wooden cane swatted the small blade like a gnat.

"My old friend," the Doctor said sternly, stepping forward, having made no noise from the obvious jump achieved. "This cruelty is unbecoming."

The Master appeared to disagree, pulling out a rather vicious knife. Both men charged forward and began to grapple, the Doctor somehow managing to pull them aside in such a small space. Ezio was alone with Viveri. His teenage nuisance no longer looked the same. Fear burned into a red rage as he drew an impressive sword. Ezio drew his but was pushed back against the wall by Vieri's rage, steel nearly striking his throat. He looked sideways to make sure the Doctor were holding up well, the man skillfully blocked swift knife stabs, and then pushed Viveri away.

The wretched young man banged into the table, his side injured but he didn't seem to mind. Violence burning in his eyes, looking more beast than man, Viveri charged with a roar with sword raised high. The move would surely break any defense, Ezio would die. Time slowed, allowing the portrait of malice to be fully visualized as if in a reddish hue. The Ezio looked beyond, seeing or feeling the reality that his family had not been the first to suffer or perhaps the last. The cruelty that fueled so much devastation, it blazed within Viveri's eyes. Hatred fueled this vile thing, and Ezio realized this would not be won by hatred. It simply needed to end.

Ezio Auditore stepped forward. Raising his sword, steel connected, but instead of blocking he pushed the weapons aside. The weapons cleaved only air. Viveri was inches away, confusion at no longer seeing Ezio's fury like their usual scraps. He looked prepped to speak but there had been too many words. Ezio's other blade struck. They recognized who death had arrived for.

Viveri Pazzi fell, Ezio guided his body to the stone floor. There was no purpose to being cruel. They exchanged some words, before all life left Viveri. Ezio remembered his Uncle's training, and said their family prayer after a deliberate kill. The task complete.

The two men had froze within their struggle to observe Ezio's actions. The Master looked disappointed, and while the Doctor was not pleased he did appear content.

"I suppose we are now accomplices to this murder," the Master said indifferently. "Tell me, Doctor, can you endure being party to such history. Would you not wish to change it?"

"That's the problem with how you view history," the Doctor said. "Acting as a king when we're merely travelers. No good can come from these actions, my friend, stop this foolishness now!"

The Master looked at the Doctor sadly.

"So, I must educate you further. Until then."

The stranger then released his hold on the Doctor before leaping through the window, laughing as he went. Ezio had never seen such deliberate desire for self-destruction. He walked to the Doctor's side as he peered into the darkness.

"Is he?"

"He didn't land in a cart of hay if that is your question." The Doctor said bitterly.

"Then he's d—"

"Determined to be a nuisance again at some unseen time, most likely." The Doctor answered with a sigh. Ezio had no idea what to make of that information. All he knew was that… perhaps the purpose of this task had become a little more important.

"I must thank you, Doctor, you have saved my life. If there is ever a time when I may be of service, seek me out and I shall honor it." He offered his hand in gratitude and the Doctor took it firmly.

"While a favor from Ezio Auditore will one day be quite the offer, I don't believe it is necessary. Instead, I believe knowing I have helped you is enough. I must now return to my tasks, and I wish you the best in your endeavors. Farewell." The Doctor then started to walk away, as if escaping the compound simply demanded being stern, perhaps for him it did.

But a question hunted Ezio's mind.

"Doctor," to his surprise, the man stopped. "I cannot pretend to understand how you knew what would occur. No man should know his future. But… will my family be avenged? Can this path bring me peace?"

The Doctor's shoulders tensed. There were clearly things that could be told, truths that would alter his very story. Destruction through words alone, how could anyone endure commanding such abilities?

When the man finally turned to face him, Ezio now recognized one who could.

"What has occurred here tonight will carry you to far-off lands. There will worse foes to fight, but you will make allies inspired by your skills. I have no doubt, Ezio Auditore, that your success in these endeavors shall honor all of the Auditore bloodline and beyond. As for peace, I'd recommend never forgetting that it is the man, not his weapon, who truly has value. The task is nothing if we lose ourselves to it."

Such words can only come from experience, Ezio believed.

"But all in good time, my boy," the Doctor said. "For now, I suggest we leave the way we came, less questions need to be asked that way."

A nearby ladder allowed them to scale up to the balcony. Ezio assumed that was how the Doctor had gotten down so quickly. The older man agreed, it would have been far easier that way. They continued the remainder of their journey in silence, the young assassin processing just how strange the world might truly be.

The night was still young with the moon shinning down on all that had occurred. Ezio looked about and saw a hay cart which would serve, after he climbed down a bit. The Doctor didn't appear interested in the ground. That was when Ezio noticed what appeared to be a large blue cabinet.

"Seems she couldn't wait for me," the Doctor said as he ran a hand along the wood. "I suppose our paths part ways here, Ezio, it has been an honor to see for myself the commitment that would shape your world. Farewell."

The old man then opened his cabinet and entered it, Ezio could actually hear footsteps going further than they should have. Those sounds grew louder as the Doctor stepped back to the door.

"Just a bit of advice," the Doctor said while leaning out of the cabinet. "You're going to be able to survive far greater drops in the future. In case you were concerned about the drop."

The Doctor shut the door with a smile. Ezio watched as a sudden groan was followed by the blue cabinet literally vanishing before his eyes. The young assassin found himself alone on the cold tower.

It was at that moment that, the name followed processed itself in Ezio's mind. Beyond what Uncle Mario had taught him during training, to truly experience the decision to end this cruelty tonight, the name finally connected. The purpose. The Mission. The Faith.

As he heard the commotion of guards discovering that they no longer had maters to serve, Ezio no longer felt afraid. All that came to mind was how much distance resided between the roof and the haycart below. He processed the distance in less than a minute while both feet found firm placement on the castle side.

Ezio imagined the cry of a hawk as he soared without fear.

Not for the first time, and now definitely not the last.

There was work to be done.