Paris, France
September
1794
Tresses of red hair danced in the wind and her blue eyes matched the sky. As Arno Dorian took one step away, making the gap larger, just like all the times he'd done before. Leaving his heart open wasn't something he usually did, but he couldn't help but feel like it was in this moment. The moment to decide if he should follow her, or leave, heart still intact, she looked to the ground for a brief moment. She had the balance of an expert dancer and the master swordsman.
It was his eyes that stopped Élise de la Serre from running. Diamonds in hazel eyes peeked from under his navy hood. Thoughts began to swim in her head, for he wasn't the same man that she'd known her life. He was grown, blossomed, and strong. She couldn't say goodbye, not yet.
For in that moment as he sheathed his blade, Élise saw the clumsy boy he once was. She didn't imagine that it would all come to this moment, Templars, Assassins; what was fable was true. When 8-year-olds didn't notice other 8-year-olds, it all lead to this. She took a breath, severing the connection she felt and walked away. Leaving behind memories, tomorrow's future, and Arno's heart for him to take back. She couldn't think about his future. His future that was dangerous and the adversity he would face… Overwhelming.
She took one step away, quickening her pace away from the scene, but the stone of emotion that fell from her throat to her stomach forced her to turn around. To join him, to ensure his safety just like all the times before, but when she got back to the lamppost she froze. Arno was gone.