School is just starting now. I can't believe it's already September...I had decided to take a year of general studies to brush up my academia skills before going abroad for school again. My advisors on both sides of the Atlantic agreed that it would be in my best interest to see how things go for this school year.
So as I step through the doors into the library, I find myself glad that I decided to only do a couple of courses in the General Studies category to settle back into school. Especially since it has been some thousands of years since I attended school in any traditional sense… Learnt things? Oh absolutely. I learnt plenty. Attend school? No… No, I did not. While, it is different from my original plan to study abroad again, it has made it possible to take an entry level history class. The prof told us today that she expects us to be thinking of a topic to write on for the term, with mini-assignments bearing the intention of guiding us through history essay creation little-by-little. Which is great for me because while I may have written art history papers before… A: that is a completely different kind of history. And B: it's been a while since I wrote anything other than my personal journal.
Introductory history also happens because it was never really an interest of mine… And now? While I am still pretty uninterested, at least I stand a slight chance of not failing… Because I can't really retake all those art courses I did for my bachelor's degree… Mostly because I will have only graduated a little over a year ago, but I have had a little more time than that to improve. And that will show to any one of the professors that I had. The other class I'm taking? Introductory level archaeology. That's sure to please my mom.
The first mini assignment in my history class is supposed to help me familiarize myself with the library, so that I can find academic and serious sources, not wishy-washy articles filled with more opinion than fact, for my writing. Ironically, my first archaeology assignment is basically the same thing. I have to find four different books and six different articles through the library's search system. I walk over to the nearest computer, hoping that looking at it will jog my memory, but admittedly… I never really made much use of the university's library for most of my two years at this school, opting to use the public library or online scholarly articles.
I must have looked like I needed help because in my periphery I can see someone approaching.
"Did you need a hand using the library's search engine?" I turn to face the source of the question to find…
"Emmett?" His face looks shocked for a moment, but he recovers quickly.
"Astraea! The world just keeps getting smaller, doesn't it?"
"Do you work here? When did that happen?" He most certainly did not work here during my bachelor's. My remaining girlish crush on him at the time would have made me be the top library user for my whole five years.
And no. The girlish crush did not last all this time. Yusuf saw to that.
"I got hired a few weeks before I moved in, in March. I got to work the whole summer to get familiar with the system. I even managed a few updates to the old system to make it easier for everyone from faculty and students to library staff, like yours truly."
"Wow… So, even if I had used the library a bunch during my bachelor's I would probably be lost anyway." He chuckles.
"Maybe not totally lost, but I can get you started. Since, I've already had a bunch of students on that history assignment…" He nods at the paper in my hand, "I can't give you the full guided tour. That would be an unfair advantage over your classmates."
"Ah, but what is the point of an advantage if you don't take advantage of it?" I look up at his eyes and shrug a little.
"True… How about this? I will get you started and then I will follow you to each location. Without giving any hints. I will even do tour-guidey things along the way."
"Alright but jokes on you. I have…" I slide the papers apart, "Two library assignments."
"How could you? I feel so taken advantage of." He fake swoons with a hand to his forehead. Then he goes straight into guiding me through the process of looking up an item in the digital catalogue once. After the first one he lets me do the rest of them myself, "So history and archaeology, huh? I always thought that those topics were kind of like your kryptonite… As I recall your sister, Nyx, always loved it and same with your mom, but I'm pretty sure I remember you falling asleep at the mere mention of history. Even art history you never much liked, despite your adoration of art."
"Interests change…" Flimsy… "But I want to start with a couple of easier courses… To, you know, get back in the school mindset before diving into my master's degree."
"Didn't you only graduate like a year ago? I thought I saw that on social media…"
"Yeah, but I had to take the whole year off to let myself recover from the ferry-incident."
"Right… I heard about that from my dad. I heard you got your head pretty good on the side of a metal ferry, right? I wouldn't be surprised if it knocked some knowledge out into the sea…" I punch his arm playfully and he cradles it like I had a bronze knuckle on. "Ah… Abuse."
I finish writing out the location of the last article and begin the hunt, he explains how each number shows the location in the library, pointing to the first section on the list. Then we go on the grand tour of the library led on by my list of must-finds.
"Well… I'd say the two profs planned this… We went through almost the whole library between the two lists." I comment as we find the last article and I write down the requested information.
"I do believe those two are friends… As library staff I do receive some privileged information." He straightens out an invisible blazer.
"You, my friend,are ridiculous." I tease and chuckle a little bit, and he just grins.
"Anyway, when are you planning to go home? I'm off in about thirty minutes if you don't mind waiting, we could head back together if you want." I suppose it wouldn't hurt having gym fanatic Emmett along with me… At the very least it would involve less impromptu gangster-wannabe smackdowns.
"Sure, I don't mind waiting. I'll just wait at the café down the main hall."
"Alright, see you in a little."
I stroll up to the building, Halloween decorations hanging from some of the balconies with some even scattered on the lawn. The owner of the building encourages families to share celebrations they wish to be shared with willing parties in the building. They also provide specific tags for the doors at the building bulletin board, that way the other families can know if your suite is participating in the holiday or event. For Halloween, the tags are a choice of a black cat, a jack-o-lantern, or a ghost. Other events that have happened are Christmas, Eid, Easter, Setsubun, and few others. The buildings families are primarily Christian and Muslim, with a few Japanese families that bring a mix of Shinto and Buddhism, and a smattering of families that don't practice any religion in particular. I find that the building's manager's willingness to add any festival to the roster is admirable, all she asks is that the group asking to include whichever celebration is willing to organize it themselves with the building providing the space for larger get together type celebrations.
With my candy in one hand, I grab a black cat tag to place on my door and I tap the button to summon the elevator to take me to the top. I walk in as the doors open and a couple of overly excited children fly in after me with their mother shortly behind them, I recognize them as the kids that live on the other end of my floor. They each have a small bag.
"Are those your Halloween costumes?" I ask the overly excited little girls.
"Yes!" They both shout before a moment of glaring at the dismay of being copied by their sibling.
"I'm being a—" The older sister starts.
"Woah, now! What fun is it if you tell me now? You should make me guess when you come trick-or-treating." The jaws of both kids pop open at the same time and their eyes light up like they just discovered the best game ever. The elevator dings as the doors open to our floor and the two kids grin at me before shooting off to the end of the hall. Their mom, Brielle, and I step out and look after them.
"Thank you, they have been telling every single person they see what they are being for Halloween. I believe you have now given me a reprieve from that, at least for a few days." She smiles warmly.
"No problem, I like to help where I can." I joke, as she begins to trek down the hall in the dust trail behind her kids and I turn the other down to my own end of the hall.
I take my time, but as I reach for my keys a strange sensation overcomes me like a tsunami and I have to lean against the wall to my left for support.
Chaire, Astraea… Thank you, my wonderful friend.
Kassandra's voice sings through my mind bringing a gentle warmth with it followed by a distinct emptiness.
I sink to my knees, covering my mouth to stifle the cry trying to force its way out. The beat of my heart crashes through my ears as it tears to pieces.
Kassandra is gone… I knew this day would come… I knew this would happen. But… That doesn't change the pain.
A muffled sound tries to break through to me, but it's the sensation of pressure on my shoulder that brings me to open my overflowing eyes. There I see Emmett. He is crouching down in front of me and places a hand on the side of my face, wiping away some tears that are only replaced with fresh ones.
"Come on…" He comes over beside me and brings his arm under mine and helps me walk to his suite. Where he opens the door and brings me to his couch before going into the kitchen.
"Are you okay?" He sets two steaming mugs on the coffee table and sits down next to me. The calming aroma of the tea wafts up to my face. He holds a facecloth out for me, and I wipe the tears off my face, but as soon as I try to bring the words 'I just found out my best friend died,' the words catch in my throat and tears threaten to start again. Emmett pulls me into a warm hug.
"It's okay to cry…" Then as if my body had been waiting for permission it all floods out, like a dam is breaking. Every fear and anxiety I had been ignoring for the months since I met up with Kassandra in Greece, all the anticipation from knowing that I had already had my final goodbye with her already… The way she helped me hold onto myself for all these years… The way she filled the empty space Dike had left when she finally shared the fate of the rest of her kind.
I let myself cry out all the pain of losing Kassandra.
I pull back from Emmett. It's already gotten dark out…
"I'm sorry, Emmett… That can't have been easy…"
"Easier than what you're dealing with it seems… Can you talk about it?" He places a hand on my shoulder and looks into my eyes. I place my hand on his and smile as much as I can.
"No… I don't think I can… Not yet, anyway."
"Well, whenever you're ready to talk about it, I'll be here; ready to listen." I stand up and give him a quick hug before walking over to the door and collecting my bags with the Halloween candy. Emmett walks over with the mug of tea and passes it to me.
"It may need to be nuked for a little to get warm again but enjoy it. You can bring the mug back another day."
I go into my own suite and set my things down. I put the mug of cool tea on the counter and walk over to the large shelves built into the wall around my fireplace. I reach up to one of the higher shelves and pull down a weathered candle. It had been a gift from Kassandra on my birthday. Not just any of my birthdays though. It had been the date I was born, and she wanted to celebrate it.
I place the candle on the table and light it.
"Thank you for all the wonderful memories… Thank you for holding me together time and again… And thank you for never giving up on me." I sit in one of the chairs and just stare at the little flickering flame for a while.
Or at least I thought it would just be a while, until the little flame poofs out in the puddle of wax on my table and grey light begins to colour the horizon.
I walk into the kitchen and spot Emmett's mug of tea on the counter, I put it in the microwave and heat it back up. I don't imagine it will taste quite the same, but I don't want it to go to waste…
Emmett was always a good friend to me… He would always comfort me after my siblings had bullied me, or if I had just had a bad day. I suppose that is probably why I developed a crush on him when my mind began to wonder about those things as an adolescent. He has also been a good friend to me lately. I help him whenever I can, but it never feels like enough… And after this… Maybe I should just tell him the whole story…
The tea's flavour is calming and sweet with a little twist of citrus… It reminds me of him. And as the thoughts of why I shouldn't tell him cloud my mind, then some words from Yusuf's final letter to me bubble to the surface.
Najmay, I know what you will say to this, but please remember that you are human. You bear an unbelievable burden upon you, and you should not have to bear it alone ever again. So please, for me, do not keep this burden to yourself. Tell someone. A friend. Your family. Just, for the sake of my love, do not carry your burden alone. You will always have someone you can trust who loves you. Please, trust them to help you.
I know, Yusuf… I will try…
But I will think about it for a while… I have to think about how this would affect Emmett and his life. I will think about this until spring… It may have once seemed like a long time to wait half a year, but I've now had to weigh decisions in terms of decades, centuries, or more. And I must be sure that not only can he handle it mentally, but that the knowledge won't upend his life.
Stepping into the café I remove the lighter jacket I had chosen to suit the lovely, warm chinook air coming in from the mountains. It may be February, but it feels like April.
"Raea! It's been a while since you've visited." The owner of the café and my former boss, Sherri, greets me as I come in, I had quit working at the café a little after Kassandra had passed in late October. "That chinook is certainly living up to its name, eh?" I chuckle at her humour. Chinook, of course, being the Blackfoot term for the warm winds that come over the mountains during the winter and melt snow as they pass through. The term meaning snow-eater.
"Right you are, it certainly is eating all the snow! It's practically an early spring!" I goad her knowing she hates the idea of jinxing away the spring.
"Hey now! The groundhog actually predicted an early spring! Don't go jinxing it or we'll end up with snow right through April again!" Despite only being forty-five Sherri has managed to build a thriving little café, almost completely alone. She did have a little help from her son but that's all the help she had at first.
"Or who knows? Maybe there'll be another celebrity thinking that it is just a symptom of global warming."
"We do not speak of that here." She jokingly does a menacing voice as I seat myself at my favourite table by the window. "I'll bring over your usual in a few." I bring out my books and what not to study for the tests that are bound to pop up after the reading break is over. As promised Sherri drops off my favourite tea and a little treat as well.
As I sip at my tea a few of my former co-workers come and chat a little before continuing on with their work as the rush begins. I stay put, switching between my second level history and archaeology classes' assignments… And occasionally popping over to my sketch book when my mind begins to wander. History is still the subject to put me to sleep in school it seems.
I had begun to space out watching a couple across the street when a man sits down in the chair across the table from me. He is probably close to my dad's age, with a few sections of fully white hair around his ears and white sprinkled through his warm brown hair. He is better dressed than most people who would enter this café and has places an envelop on the table in front of me. On the hand placing the envelop is an unmistakable ring bearing a telltale cross. But I can't react to that… There are plenty of his kind in the world. I tap the app on my phone to record the conversation and semi hide the sensor under my textbook, so the screen goes dark.
"Um, this table is being used right now… There are plenty available on the other side of the café." I gesture to the five empty tables littering the other side of the café.
"I'm sorry, but I saw you when I entered the café and couldn't believe my eyes." A lie, right out of the gate, "It's just that you are spitting image of my sister, and I thought perhaps you might be her daughter?" But that is not a lie…
"Well, I find that unlikely because my mom is an only child. Now if you don't mind…" Even if she weren't why would she hide something like that? She couldn't understand the significance of the ring on his hand. Meaning he must be lying or at the very least exaggerating.
"Oh, my family and I had quite the falling out… You could say they disowned me. So, it would be likely that Aurora wouldn't mention me. My name is Atreus Lykaios, I currently use the name Zachariah Moore, though and would prefer if you use that to address me." Also, not a lie, and he just dropped my mom's name and her maiden matches the one he just used, but the way he asked to be called something else was so arrogant in the most Templar way, "You could say that I had… A rather weighty difference of opinion with my family. And my sister, Aurora, yet clings to their… Archaic creed." Why did he emphasize creed? "Ah, but I don't imagine you've been let in on it just yet, otherwise you'd have already turned tail. Curious indeed that your own mother would hide something of such import from you. You see there is something they haven't told you. I would like to give you the opportunity to help the side that will succeed in bringing peace." Through forced oppression of freewill…
"If you think I'm going to believe you just because you drop a name that could be found in any number of places on the internet…"
"Oh no, I don't think that… In fact, seeing as we are related I would expect nothing less than some skepticism. But I do have something that may get you to think otherwise. My contact information is in this letter. I'll let you mull this opportunity over and at the very least give yourself a chance to choose for yourself rather than letting archaic tradition be your only guide." He stands up and straightens his topcoat, "I'll be in contact."
He doesn't say it out loud, but the subtext there is crystal clear. 'If you don't contact me, I'll contact you.' He strolls out of the café and into a running car with blacked out windows that, by the sound, has more power under the hood than the look of the vehicle would let on.
Ugh. I don't want to be in contact with a Templar. For anything. I'm sure if it's important my mom would have told me… Right?
I look at the envelop he left as Sherri and Lucy walk over.
"Who in the hell was that? He had hella creepy vibes." Lucy comments making a disgusted face before she walks away again.
"He really was a creep…" Sherri agrees.
"No kidding… He claims to be a relative… But he's no relative I've ever met… Or heard of." I look back outside and see a similar looking car parked across the street, blacked out windows and a plume of exhaust visible in the fading light. "Do you think you could bring me another tea, I still have so much studying to do." I write down in my notebook and lean back to let her read it,
That black car is identical to the one he left in… I'm going to leave out the back tonight, okay?
"Of course, honey. I'll bring it right over, you did quit to get better grades after all, right?"
"You know it." I pretend to continue studying for a few minutes before pushing it all aside and bringing out the sketchbook again. Then Sherri brings over the fresh steaming tea.
"Now, didn't you just say you were going to keep studying! You aren't an art major anymore." She places the tea and a couple of napkins at the edge of the table, "Just holler if you need anything, sweet pea."
"Thanks, Sherri." I place my sketchbook closed over the envelop, and I see Sherri shoot a look over, "Okay, okay…" I grab the sketchbook and the envelop and put them in my purse instead of my backpack. After, I pull my textbook closer to hide the writing I can see on the napkins. Sherri is a really sharp one, I guess it must come from her years when she was a bartender downtown.
Just leave your school things on the table, I'll clean them up a while after you've left. Leave your coat and take mine. And for the love of all things holy please let Brett take you all the way home. When you decide to leave, go to the washroom.
My heart swells a little, Sherri is one of the most genuine people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Once I finish the tea, I set the cup at the side of the table and one of the other girls, Lucy, grabs it.
"Good luck studying, I hear the prof you have this term is a hard-ass." She says as she walks away with the cup.
"Thanks." I say after her. I 'study' for another fifteen minutes before grabbing my purse and going to the washroom, "Hey, Luce… I'm just heading to the washroom to deal with… You know what…" I make a strained expression and touch my lower abdomen, "Could you keep an eye on my things for a few?"
"Absolutely, Raea, I'm on it." She jokingly salutes me as I pass her to the bathroom, whose hallway ends with an entrance to the kitchens. I walk through the kitchen's door and am immediately locked in a hug from Sherri.
"Oh, sweetie… I'm sorry this had to happen… But promise me you'll stay safe. Don't come back here for a while just in case… I've had to deal with a stalker before, it is not a pretty business. I'll have Brett bring your stuff to the school tomorrow. Anywhere specific in mind?" Brett comes over holding Sherri's coat out to me.
"If you could take it all to Emmett at the library in the university for me, that would be best. He's an old friend." I put the coat on and bring the hood up around my face.
"Sure thing." Brett replies. I turn back to Sherri.
"Thank you so much, Sherri… I hope this doesn't cause problems for you later on…" She hugs me again.
"Even if it does, I wouldn't change a thing about helping you even if I was given the chance. Now get going. And keep your face hidden… It's dark out now so it should be easy." Sherri practically shoves us out the back door.
"Bye." She waves as we walk into the dark back alley, in the opposite direction of the street.
The fifteen-minute walk to the train with Brett goes smoothly, even though we took dark alleyways and back routes the whole to avoid the main street of the area. I make sure to keep my eyes low so that he won't see them in the low light. I worry a little, not so much for my own wellbeing, but rather how such a development could affect my family if this goes badly… Abstergo has certainly not been the most forgiving incarnation of the Templars… Not that the Templars have ever been particularly forgiving.
The train ride is quiet and eerie, and once we get off, we return to taking shadowed alleyways and side roads for the ten minute walk to my condo from the train. Keeping my senses on high alert as I watch the streets ahead for unwelcome visitors.
As we near the back of the building I fish my key fob to open the back door. Then Brett freezes as a familiar shadow nears us.
"Astraea?" Emmett brings his phone's light up to his face so I can see him, little did he know I already could, "What are you doing out here? You usually go in the front door, right? And who is this?"
"Who's this?" Brett whispers at the same time Emmett asks.
"Emmett, this is Brett, he is the son of the café owner I used to work for. Brett, this is my neighbour and long-time friend Emmett. He's the one I asked you to bring the books to in the library." We all step towards the back light of the building, me stepping as close to the light as I can.
"Oh." Both parties say equally unenthused.
"On the 'what happened' note…" I try to think of subtle ways to say it…
"Some weird guy approach Raea in the café earlier. My mom set it up so that she could get out the back and leave her school things because it looked like he had a friend still waiting outside even after he drove off."
"A weird guy?" Emmett raises his eyebrows at me.
"Yeah, he just kind of came in claiming to be some estranged uncle that my mom's parents disowned… I don't think I believe him though… It didn't make any sense… Anyway, thanks for the escort home, Brett. I think I'll be okay from here. I'll text Sherri to let her know I'm home safe. You be safe." If I didn't have the vision I do, I wouldn't have seen the expression Emmett made in response to me talking about the strange man. One of surprise and… Almost utter fear. An expression he quickly cleared from his face, but not quickly enough.
"Alright, Raea. You be safe too. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." The two guys do the acknowledgement nod at each other before Brett walks away, and Emmett and I head to the building's backdoor. We then start the trek up the stairs to our floor.
"What didn't make sense about it?" Emmett enquires.
"The short answer would belong to 'what did make sense.' But basically, nothing made sense. From where and when he approached me, to every word that spewed from his lips after. An estranged uncle? What reason would my mom have to keep that from me? Or rather our family, because if the others knew, surely they would have told me."
"That is really weird… But can you do me a favour?" I look at him, "Since it's Reading Week now, don't go out if you don't have to… I know you quit your jobs, so you can stay home… You said Brett would be bringing your school stuff to the library?" I nod, "I'll bring it back here, so you don't have to leave. If this guy approached you there, maybe it's because he doesn't know where you live yet. And if that's the case you should want to keep it that way… Stalkers can be a really nasty thing to get rid of."
"And if I need something else?" I say as I open the door at the opposite end of the hall from our suites.
"I will become your personal errand-boy, just please help me help you." He turns to look at me, a hand going to the back of his neck, it almost seems like he's keeping something from me, but it doesn't seem like he's lying either.
"Fine… But only for Reading Week, I'm not going to miss any school." We get to our doors.
"I thought about trying to convince you to but figured you'd say something along those lines. And you should probably call your mom, see if you can get some answers about all of this."
"Yeah, I was planning to… I'm hoping for some answers. Anyway, goodnight, and thank you in advanced for tomorrow." I say to him as we each step towards our doors.
"No problem. That's what friends are for." He waves before stepping through his door and closing it.
I step into my suite and lock the door and slide the chain lock into place before taking my purse over to the dining table. I glance at the security door bar, previously I would have shoved that against the door for the extra insurance against unwanted visitors, but I don't feel that worried. This Moore guy seemed to want me to have some time to think all this over…
I slide the envelop out of my purse and open it.
First is a small note:
We have tried for so many years to find one of Aurora's children, but my sister ever the sharp one always managed to taint their minds before we could get to them. You call your mother. Ask her about me. In two months, I will find you again. Unless of course you contact me first.
Inside the envelop with the small note is an old looking photo, my mom is immediately recognizable, her unruly hair completely wild in that seventies' hairstyle. Next to my mom are the two people I recognize as her parents who passed before I was born. Also, in the picture is a boy, bordering on young man, who looks a little older than my mom but is unmistakably the younger version of the man who had approached me.
I examine the picture and, so far as I can tell, it seems like a genuine photo taken in the seventies or so. I may not have the precision of a computer for identifying fakes, but I have had a little experience. But that would mean he is telling the truth. And in that case why would my mom have hidden it?
The only thing left in the envelop is an Abstergo business card with the man's name and contact information. Zachariah Moore, with a phone number and an email address, that ends with the standard Abstergo domain address.
I grab my cellphone and call my mom. She's probably on the other side of the world but I need answers about this.
"Astraea? Why are you calling me at this time?" She sounds more concerned than annoyed and definitely groggy, which is one thing I've always loved about my mom; she never get upset over ill-timed phone calls.
"Well… Mom…"
"What is it?" Sounding more awake than the last sentence, and definitely worried over my hesitation.
"Today, I was at the café studying… And this business looking man just sits down across from me and suddenly claims to be my estranged uncle. As in your brother…" I hear a little gasp on the other side, "And he gave me an envelop with a picture of you with him and your parents… It doesn't look like a fake mom…"
"He approached you in public? Are you okay? Did he see where you live?" Suddenly she sounds nearly frantic.
"Yeah, at the café where I used to work… I'm fine. And no… Sherri, my old boss, and I noticed a car identical to the one he drove away in idling across the street, so she staged it for me to look like I had just gone to the washroom with my textbooks and stuff still there while I went out the back… She had her son take me home."
"Thank god…" I hear a few breaths on the other side of the line.
"Mom? Who was he?"
"I'm so sorry honey… Astraea, he was your uncle, Atreus Lykaios… I never told you about him because he is troubled… Or he was, anyway, it got so bad that our parents disowned him and then had to get a restraining order against him…" That does match what he said in the café… "That happened when I was still in high school. I didn't see him again until after I was married. I had thought to give him a second chance, but he… His behaviour put Nyx's life in danger when she was just a baby… So, we had a restraining order put against him and we moved far, far away from there. In the restraining order, it states he is not to approach us or any of our children… I'm so glad your old boss took such good care of you…"
"Why did you never tell me about all this before? I can understand not telling me as a kid but as an adult, isn't that something you should've told me about? Then I would have known to leave or call someone." A long pause over the phone before a quick breath.
"I know, sweetie… It had just been so long since we have even heard a whisper about him, that we didn't think it would ever be a problem again. I'm sorry… Let me explain all of this next time we see each other, okay?" She takes another breath as if she wants to continue, "Oh, looks like it's actually time for me to be getting ready to head back out to our site. I'm glad you called me about this. If he contacts you again, let me know. I love you."
"Love you too, mom." Then she hangs up from the other side. I wish I could tell if someone was lying over the phone… But why would I think that about my mom? She doesn't have any reason to lie about all of that… That weirdo just got under my skin is all. She said she would explain it all next time. And that means when her dig goes on a break, unfortunately that does not have any kind of timeline… It usually depends on whether or not anything big turns up.
There are a lot of people with questionable morality and sanity who belong to the Templar Order. I'll bet my mom just doesn't even know that he's a Templar.
Let alone what that even means in today's context.