Chapter 1
Every Story Has A Beginning
Long ago, in a time far beyond that of our own, the Earth was known as the land of Symphonia. The world of music, beauty, grace, and love. Though Symphonia was to be said of so much peace, many wars and bitter rivalry had transpired over the years. Symphonia was a wild and untamed land where nature did it's bidding where it wanted. The tribes who lived in Symphonia suggested that banning together would allow them an easier task at staying alive. Thus, several tribes began to conquer other tribes to become a part of a new profound kingdom. These imperialistic days were known as the Brother's Recruit War. As the battles soon began to cease, seven large regions were split among the seven largest tribes and each lived in peace for many decades to come. Among one of the seven regions was Cadenza (cay-den-za). Cadenza was the largest kingdom of all the land of Symphonia and was ruled by King Larsel (lar-sell) in the Sixth Age. The kingdom of Cadenza had recently undergone a Civil War, where terrorists had tried to overthrow King Larsel and lead Cadenza into a full-scale war against all the Kings of Symphonia. Ruthless battles were fought and casualties reached numbers in the hundred thousands, but King Larsel's army seemed to be victorious in every battle. In an attempt to emotionally break the King, terrorists surprised attacked the castle, and assassinated the Queen of Cadenza. The King was devastated and soon his army began to lose the tide of the war. Endless days of fighting and death soon overshadowed the kingdom, which was known in history as "The Musicians' Massacre"
Finally, the King of Accelerando (a-sell-ler-an-do), King Holst (hole-st), and his generals met together with King Larsel at the meeting to become known as the King's Treaty. The kingdom of Accelerando was a neighboring country and the third most powerful region in Symphonia. The two mighty powers always kept peace among themselves and depended on each other for trade. The meeting was held in the Crescendo Valley and an agreement was made that when the Accelerando army helps rid of the rebels, the King's only daughter, Princess Luna (loo-nah), be wed to King Holst's only son, Prince Aska (as-ka). King Larsel was hesitant but added a clause that the Prince of Accelerando must be at the age of twenty and the princess must willingly wish to be betrothed to the prince. King Holst agreed and the papers were signed. The Prince was seven at the time, whereas the Princess was six.
Days passed, but in the end the rebels were overwhelmed at the Battle of Flutiest River. Survivors were thrown into the dungeon, where they never saw the daylight again. It was said that some resistance fighters were not captured but had fled and would soon return to begin another civil war.
Months passed, as the broken kingdom began to rebuild itself and signs of another uprising were yet to be seen.
Years passed and finally, the Prince turned twenty, the Princess nineteen, and the beginning of our story slowly unfolding.
The night was cool and ominous as the nocturnal insects cricketed and squeaked small songs of the night's harmony. The stars shone brightly with the moon, which gave the kingdom of Cadenza a grayish white marble look. The princess sighed looking out from the balcony of her room. The Princess was a beautiful young woman, taking after her mother. She had long blonde hair that fell a little past her shoulders and wore a long pink dress, which showed off her slim and delicate figure. She was a medium toned tan color, which matched her eyes. Her mouth was small, though she often spoke her mind. She was blunt, sarcastic, and cold, but she was very obedient and kind to the servants in the castle and those she respected. Though she was so hard to speak to without receiving a cold remark once or twice, her voice was rhythmical and soothing like a piano composition. Her voice was lyrical and gave people hope, but her voice was off key this day as she stood upon her balcony. The princess sighed and looked down at the sleeping city surrounding the castle, though separated by a large moat and an eight-foot thick concrete wall.
"All this will soon be yours." A voice said from behind her, "And probably more."
The princess sighed again, "Maybe I do not want to have it." Princess Luna replied,
"Do not say such nonsense. It is in your blood my daughter." King Larsel told her, "What would your mother think if you just threw this all away?"
"Do not bring up mother, please father. She would've wanted what I thought was right."
"But my princess you have not even met the prince and you already wish to push him away?" The king asked,
"No father, I do not need to meet such a man. I've read the books and news of his doings. He is a no good spoiled prince who believes he can receive anything he wishes." Luna huffed and crossed her arms,
"My dearest daughter, Prince Aska is a worthy man to take as a husband. Not only is he descending from royal blood, he has won many battles in his lifetime. Some generals call him a military genius -"
The king was cut short with the princess saying, "Excelling in war is no great feat! Only fools and blood lusting men seek such hatred and violence!"
The king stopped for a moment, knowing war had taken the life of Luna's mother he quickly changed the subject, "Why not meet the boy? Give him a chance. He might not be as bad as you think he is."
"Father, I would not waste my time with such egotistical, selfish, and corrupt men." Luna replied plainly,
"Luna," seldom did the king call his daughter by name, though when he did, it was often because it was important, "the prince arrives in four days. I will allow you to try to make your mind up then, but please try to just bear with him for one dinner." The king placed his hands on his daughters' shoulders, "Do it for me. Once you find that your theories about him are correct, you can call the wedding off and as soon as he came, he will go." The king looked sympathetically at the princess, "Will you do this for me?"
The princess sighed heavily and replied, "Yes father, but only one dinner." She emphasized the word "one" and walked back inside to her room and out into the hallway. King Larsel watched her walk away and took the princess spot at watching over the city.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the castle, new servants lined up at the edge of the moat, beginning to wait for the bridge to be lowered.
Sixteen new servants and cooks were lined in a straight line, but unknown to them, they were being, secretly, watched. In the dark brushes and trees, three figures approached the servants. They were all dressed the same: black tunics with black masks with had a slit in the middle for the eyes to be seen. Each carried knifes and one carried a large sword that hung closely to their back.
"The last one in line looks like an easy target." One of the black figures said,
"Kill her, grab me the clothes and rid of the body." Another figure said. Two of the black figures moved silently towards the servant standing last in the line. Secretly, in thick bushes nearby, one figure grabbed the servant from behind, covering her mouth, and as soon as she was pulled into the bushes, the other slit her throat, to avoid screaming. The blood of the first innocent was shed that night, which would lead to thousands or more innocent victims to succumb to such violence and horror.
The last figure to speak grabbed the clothes and exchanged them with hers. She was a medium built woman, with short black hair that only reached to her neck. Her cheeks were meaty and rosy red and she smiled sinisterly. "Finally, after eighteen years, I can complete my father's work and overthrow the rule on King Larsel!"
"What exactly do you plan to do Ammi (amm-me)?" another figure asked,
Ammi finished changing and placed a knife in her back pocket, "I plan to rid the King with poison that will be delivered to me by you two. I shall need to infiltrate the castle and make sure the princess trusts me."
"Why would the princess need to trust you milord?" the same figure asked,
Ammi sighed, "Because when her father is deceased and cast into the ground where the maggots and worms eat away at his decaying body, she will need to be wed to a prince within three months of her father's death or the rule of the kingdom shall be passed onto another. Unless she herself dies."
"So you plan to kill her as well?"
Ammi sighed heavier this time, "Yes I do, and I shall forge her will stating that the kingdom shall be belonged to me! The faithful, loyal, friendly, servant to stand by her when her father died. Though it wasn't enough, the depression caused her to commit suicide and the rule of the kingdom placed into my hands! Now Mai (meh-aye), tell your brother to stop asking such idiotic and ignorant questions!"
The figure that had not spoken made a signal for her brother to be silent, "We need not have to worry for details my brother Torrid (tore-id); we are the assassins. We do what we are told."
"Yes sister Mai." Torrid replied,
"Hark! The servants now enter the castle! I will bid you both farewells! Wait for my messages at dawn; I shall keep you updated on what I have in store for you both."
With that Ammi left the two assassins and headed for the end of the line where the servants were checked in and entered the castle.
"Sister Mai," Torrid asked, "why is it that the castle brings in their servants at such a late hour?"
Mai sighed, "To prevent men and women like us from sneaking into the palace. Each time new servants are brought into the castle, the report time is always different to avoid attacks on the place. This was how the rebels were able to infiltrate the castle and assassinate the Queen of Cadenza."
Torrid nodded, "You know many things of the palace my sister. How is it that you –"
He was cut short, "I know because it is my job to know. Do not ask so many foolish questions brother Torrid, it is unwise and unprofessional."
"Yes sister." Torrid nodded,
"Come, we must return to the Assassins' Creed and retrieve supplies for the upcoming weeks." Without another word they disappeared into the darkness and fled into the night's harmony.
