"MALIK!" Altair screeched, running up the fortress stairs.
Malik groaned, attempting to hide his face from the over active 12 year old Altair. The novice was attracting an immense amount of attention, something Malik loathed.
"Malmalllllll..." Altair called, using Malik's nickname, dragging out the l.
Finally, Malik had enough.
"What is it that you want?" Malik yelled in exasperation.
"I'm going on my first mission!" Altair chirped excitedly.
Malik frowned. Altair was but twelve, and still in training. Malik, whom was two years his senior, had never even been assigned to a novice mission, let alone a high risk mission that Altair was describing.
"What? If you keep frowning your face will stay like that~" Altair chimed, causing a few of the other nearby assassins to chuckle, and making Malik's face turn completely beet red.
Malik gaped, his face burning, trying to think of a legitimate response. "Well when-
"Anyways, it's a group mission! I'm going with Qasim and Nimr." Altair said, cutting Malik off.
Malik breathed a sigh of relief. Altair will probably just be observing how to accomplish a proper mission, as both Qasin and Nimr were both 7th rank assassins, he reassured himself.
"Well, I'm off! Don't worry, I promise to tell you everything about the mission when I get back!" Altair cheerfully said, before dashing off.
That was the last time, Malik thought, that Altair smiles seemed genuine.
That was also the first night Altair and Malik had ever spent away from each other, and Malik could not help but worry about him, before falling into a troubled slumber.
The following day, Malik anxiously awaited Altair's return. He found himself glancing at the city gates more often than not, wondering where that novice was. What is something went wrong? What if... the conversation we had yesterday was our last? Now Malik was more worried than ever.
It wasn't until dusk that Altair returned, sleeves covered in blood.
"Altair, Altair! Where have you been? What-
Malik's eyes widened in shock when he saw Altair's sleeves.
"Are you hurt? Answer me!" Malik screeched, shaking Altair.
Altair only stared back with souless eyes, silently. Malik searched desperately in Altair's once gleaming gold eyes, only finding-
Nothing.
Every bit of boyish silliness, every bit of laughter, every bit of life was simply gone
Shoving that thought aside, Malik continued to yell.
"And what of Qasim, and Nimr? Where are they?" Malik demanded.
Finally Altair spoke. "Dead." Was all he said.
"What, how?-
But Altair only looked up at Malik with those eyes.
"Altair, Altair..." Malik finally allowed himself to cry that day.