Chapter 4: The Leap of Faith
For the next six months I trained hard under Ezio's guidance. Every day was a new challenge and through sheer will power, I made it through it all. But there was one thing I refused to do that was essential for an assassin, the Leap of Faith. The reason why I was so afraid was because so many novices who had tried to do it wound up with so many horrible injuries if they didn't land properly. So many had ended up with broken legs, arms, necks, backs; a couple of them even died. Honestly I didn't see the point of such a skill. I mean yeah, it made getting down from tall buildings or getting away from guards much easier, but was it really worth the risk of dying!
"No way! Not gonna happen!" Were my exact words to Ezio when he tried to persuade me to attempt the leap. "Lia, preforming the Leap of Faith is one of the many things that make us assassins. You MUST learn how to do it properly." Ezio explained calmly but sternly. I could tell by the look in his eyes and the sound of his voice that this time he wasn't taking no for an answer. Today I was going to have to do this, whether I liked it or not. I pouted at him for a moment. He sighed deeply before he spoke. "What if I do it with you a couple of times, will that make you feel better?" I thought for a moment. "Okay." I replied. Ezio walked up behind me and wrapped his arms protectively around my waist. I couldn't help the blush that crept across my face. "Are you ready?" Ezio asked me in a gentle voice. I looked down below; we must have been at least fifty feet from the ground. I took a deep breath, "Okay I'm ready." I started trembling a little. "An assassin shows no fear, Lia. Don't worry I got you." He whispered in my ear. Maybe my fear of heights was making me a bit crazy but I could've sworn his voice sounded a bit seductive.
Ezio picked me up a bit so my feet weren't touching the ground and then before I knew it we were off the side of the building and headed straight for a pile of hay below us. I held my breath as I felt Ezio's grip on me grow tighter. In the blink of an eye we had landed safely into the hay. I opened my eyes and realized I was on top of Ezio. He must have turned us around at some point during the fall. I turned over to see his face; he opened his eyes and just stared into mine. His face was expressionless but there was this look in his eyes, a look that just made me feel safe and at peace.
After a while Ezio finally spoke, "Well that's how it's done. Would you like me to do it with you again?" I was still a bit nervous, so one more time wouldn't hurt. "Yes once more please, Ezio." He practiced the leap with me one more time before it was my turn to do it alone. He was down below standing next to the pile of hay. "Whenever you're ready Lia." He yelled up to me. I took a deep breath, said a small pray and jumped. I remembered what Ezio had done; I turned myself around so my back was facing the ground. Somewhere along the way I had closed my eyes, but when I opened them I was lying safely and uninjured in the hay. I poked my head out of the hay to see Ezio looking at me smiling. "You did it Lia, I'm so proud of you."
I thought about it for a moment. The rush of the fall was so exhilarating and it caused such an adrenaline rush. I hopped out of the hay and smiled at Ezio. "Ezio, can I do it again?"