November 27th, 1485.
ShohamBagnoasks:
"Dear Ezio,
I had some questions in mind I hope you won't mind answering. I always wondered when it was that you realized you can use the ability of Eagle Vision, and what matters you were under at the time.
Also, when was the first time you performed the leap of faith? Does it have any connection with the first subject I asked you about?
I am very curious to hear your answers. Thanks!
PS- I know my last name sounds Italian, but it happens to be in some other European language. Please don't jump into conclusions."
Shoham,
I did not jump to any conclusions. I do not mean any offense, but "bagno" would be a terrible last name for a lady. And I do believe your first name dispels any illusion of Italian heritage.
Eagle Vision… I never thought to call it that. Yet I suppose it is accurate- my eyes have always been an odd golden color. I cannot properly explain what my Vision is. Half of the sensation is sight, while the other is some basic instinct.
"The ability to sense another's intention." My father once defined it as such. Yet he told me he did not have the same Sight as I do, and I never did find out how he understood how I felt.
I first began to see intentions when I was nine years old, and it was a terrifying experience. I was playing with a group of friends when a former associate of mine, Vieri de'Pazzi, approached. He called my name, but when I looked up at him all I saw was a plume of red light.
As you can no doubt imagine, I responded with panic.
Not only that, but I could not find any way to 'deactivate' my Vision. My friends, whose words I could not hear, appeared as blue beacons. Everything else was dark and frightening.
I yelled at Vieri to stay away from me, and then I ran. Later, I was very unhappy about that decision. It was probably the only time I ran from Vieri because I was scared.
But I can remember every detail of that moment. My feet were beyond my control, and my heart pounded in my ears. Everything was black and frightening, and I began to cry out for my parents. Inevitably, I rammed into someone- a man carrying a light scarlet hue.
The red shade gripped my shoulders tightly, which only caused my terror to intensify. I remember shrieking, bucking- anything to get away. I don't believe I've ever felt a fear so forceful.
Somehow, the shadow was able to bring me to my father, who was a comforting yet bold blue stripe. I don't know how I recognized him amongst the other blue lights of my family, but I ran to him and cried.
It was when the tears began to role down my cheeks that my sight reverted to normal. I didn't know how to explain to him what had happened to me. And more than anything, I was afraid my friends would find out.
When I returned to my friends the next day, they told me what happened after I ran off. They informed me that Vieri had looked just as petrified as I had, because when I turned it was not the soft brown eyes of a child he saw, but the glistening orbs of a monster.
I do not know if this part is true, but I have been told that while I use my "Eagle Vision", my eyes take on an ethereal glow. I do not like to dwell on this thought, because the reality of it chills me to the bone.
Along the course of many years, I began to control my Sight. What puzzles me is that none of my siblings had it. I asked my father, but he seemed to know little more than me. He told me my great-grandfather also had the Eagle's eye.
I wish I could tell you more. But the golden color of my eyes is just as much a mystery to me as it is to you.
As for your second question- what a memorable experience! My first leap of faith took place on the fourteenth of February 1473, the day before my brother Federico's birthday.
It began as a race: the rooftops were slippery that day, due to ice. I complained to him about it, and he responded by insulting my abilities as a free runner. Somehow our argument devolved into a competition, which ended on with him victorious on the peak of Santa Trinita's (a church near the house where I grew up) bell tower.
After a good while's rest and banter, I asked him how he intended to get us down. He only grinned at me and pointed to a snow-dusted hay pile several feet below.
I will admit- I called him insane. I called him a great deal of things before he convinced me to try what he called a 'leap of faith'. I told him I was not prepared to lose everything for 'faith', but he seemed so confident… So in the end, I agreed.
He went first. My jaw dropped as I watched him flip through the air so gracefully. Federico landed perfectly, as though he'd practiced this move hundreds of times. After a moment, he popped out of the hayloft and beckoned me with a friendly shout.
I still remember the cold nip in my cheeks and the wind in my hair as I stared down at that hay pile. To this day, I believe my stomach still rests on Santa Trinita's tower, staring down at the ground too far below. My heart was throwing itself against the walls of my chest as though it had left something dreadfully important back home.
"Make eye-contact!" Federico encouraged me, "And remember to flip! Don't land head-first!"
Uttering a quiet prayer to God in case I did not live, I propelled myself from the ledge.
For about two seconds, I forgot to flip. I was too busy marveling at the fact that I was flying.I was soaring through the air majestically screaming with exhilaration. Then I remembered to twist my body so that my behind would make contact with the ground first.
Unfortunately, Federico did not instruct me on howto flip, so instead of landing gracefully, I landed like a fish. And I sported a broken arm as well.
But from that day forth I was no longer afraid. Well, I was nervous, I'll admit- but I was not scared. I spent the rest of that year perfecting the leap, until I was better than even Federico himself.
I hope my answers have satisfied you, signora Bagno. Thank you for the letter.
-0-
Yours,
Ezio Auditore.