Strange Air
The morning was hot with the sun shining high over the city, the clouds nowhere to be found. It was one of those days where it was too hot to do anything really. That was just how unbearable this heat was during the summer season.
Malik stood behind the desk, contently scribbling on a piece of parchment. Ever since the celebration the previous night, he was quite relieved that the threat as well as endangerment to the Brotherhood was finally disposed of; however, that did not mean that the war between the Templars and Assassins were over, also. This he knew for a fact.
A silent thud was heard in the courtyard, making the rafiq stop his actions. A hooded figure casually strolled into the Bureau, and he had guessed it be Altair, but it was not. The robes were not white like the ones of the higher ranked Assassins but the grey-colored ones almost similar to what the novices would wear. He was slightly shorter in height with a darker complexion like the townsfolk in the streets and a hard-to-notice stubble, or goatee, on his chin. By his overall appearance, he looked to be around in his early twenties.
The man placed a hand over his chest where his heart was located and bowed his head politely. "Safety and peace, Malik," he greeted, his accented-voice deep yet held a friendly tone about it.
"I did not expect to see you here, Ihtisham," Malik stated, watching the man approach his desk as amusement flickering his dark orbs. "Why travel this far to Jerusalem?"
Said Assassin turned so that his back was leaning against the edge of the counter and crossed his arms. "Reasons of my own," he replied. "I had decided to train earlier today to assist Rauf with teaching the novices how to wield the sword." He paused, shrugging. "Afterwards, I rode to Jerusalem in hopes of tending to anything that requires it."
The rafiq nodded his head. "Ah, I see. But I'm afraid there is nothing here that needs attending to. So, you practically wasted your time."
Ihtisham seemed disappointed, but brushed it off with a grunt. "Figured as much."
Malik stared at the Assassin, a ghost of a smile stretching across his lips. Ihtisham was a good man, always eager to help around in and out of the Fortress. It did not matter the weather condition, so as long as he is kept busy, he would not be so restless and throwing a fit. He knew his own limits, and if pushed too hard, he was not afraid to speak out heated profanities. But unlike most, his temper was quick to disperse and would be forgiven with many apologies. Besides the anger, the rafiq came to like the Assassin for his personality and his determinacy. An exceptional addition to the Brotherhood.
"Malik."
Said Bureau owner snapped out of his thoughts by hearing the call of his name. "Yes, brother?"
Ihtisham seemed deep in his own thoughts, the exposed lower half of his face from under the white hood set firmly, almost like he was contemplating. "I noticed a slight…change during this morning's practice."
The brunette placed his writing quill to the side of the motionless parchment then leaned forward against the wooden desk with his arm. "Tell me of this change." He was curious as to what was being said.
The young Assassin took a moment, carefully choosing his words. "I cannot explain it, but the air…It just didn't feel right, like something was off."
Malik listened patiently, eyebrows creasing slowly in wonder. "Perhaps your nerves, I suppose?"
"That was what I thought, at first." Again, he stopped before continuing while gesturing with his hand to help get his point straight. "But the air had a…a nip to it, something that was unexplainable." Ihtisham sighed and shook his head. "I am unsure if anyone else had the same feeling as I did."
As a matter of fact, Malik kind of noticed the air having a sudden change. After the death of Al Mualim, the celebration they held the previous night seemed oddly…out of place. It was like something was there, but had gone missing without him even noticing. He knew this from his own point of view, but he had yet to find out why. What could it be?
In response, the rafiq of Jerusalem shook his head. "I do not know what to tell you, Ihtisham."
Said brother grunted, sighing as he dropped his arms to his side and turned to face Malik, bluish-grey orbs glowing under the darkness of the hood. "Well, I must be going back, then. Hopefully, I'm not diagnosed with any skittish problem or paranoia of any sort," he joked on his way out of the Bureau.
"If that was ever the cause, Ihtisham, then we would have you locked away in a dark room for your safety," Malik joked back, a playful smirk appearing on his lips.
Ihtisham halted at the doorway to the courtyard then glanced over his shoulder, casting a genuine smile. "Then, I'd have you to blame, my friend."
"Go before you lure the guards in, novice, and you would be the one to blame!"
Said Assassin only chuckled, the sound reverberating within the room before scaling up the wall and out into the open. The smile on Malik's face lingered for a while before he picked up the quill into his hand. Just when he was about to continue his written work, he stopped.
Novice…
His brown orbs gazed down at the scroll as realization had hit him as that word repeated itself in his mind. There was only one he truly call novice. It was just him, and nobody else. Back at the Fortress, he did not even notice the man was there, which could be a possible reason. Could that be the cause of the certain feeling in the atmosphere he felt? When did he leave? Where did he go? Had he left to make himself nonexistent? Was that the feeling Ihtisham experienced that was similar to his? Questions would not quit its swarming tactics, leaving the rafiq to develop a bit of a headache. His hand released its grasp on the writing utensil to travel up to Malik's forehead then proceeding to massage his temple while deeply exhaling.
I have to wonder. Where is Altair?
*Vyxen's Note*
Sorry this had to be semi-short, and not the best. Had to do what I could muster. So busy procrastinating that I rarely had time to add another chapter to this. Yet, I am grateful that I finally did. Hoped this was good enough to continue it on. If you find any errors, but a friend and let me know, so I can correct them.
More will be on the way until the end!
