22 A bizarre man named...

"Remember our three tenets..." Albert spoke in front of Amber with a solemn expression.

Amber, who watched him quietly nodded and tried her best to listen carefully.

"These are the three tenets passed down from our brothers who had passed." Albert held up his hand and raised one finger. "The first tenet;"

"Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent," Albert said the first tenet. "The goal of the Assassins is to ensure peace in all things."

"Slaying the innocents and civilian bystanders who did not need to die could spread strife and discord, in addition to ruining the name of the Order itself." He looked at her seriously. "You must remember this. Do you understand?"

"Yes..." Amber slowly nodded.

He then raised another finger. "The second tent;"

"Hide in Plain sight." He started to walk behind a tree. "Be unseen. An assassin aims to get close to their target stealthily and escape just as quickly."

"Huh? Where..." All of a sudden, Amber lose track of him and looked around. Just like before, she felt a creeping feeling behind her and she immediately turned around.

There she saw Albert standing behind her.

"I— You— How did you..." She had seen him do that a lot, yet she still couldn't figure out how he could just vanish in the shadows. "How are you able to do that?"

"You'll learn in time," Albert smirked. He then raised a third finger. "Finally, the third and most important tenet."

"Never compromise the Brotherhood." He looked at her with squinted eyes and emphasized this tenet. "I think this is pretty self-explanatory."

"The actions of one must never bring harm to all. If an Assassin failed in their duty and was captured or chased, they must never commit any action or say anything that could be tied back to the Brotherhood, or bring harm to any member of it." He extended his arm to her to get up.

Amber took his hand and stood up from her sitting position. "Have you memorized all of them?"

"Y-Yes..." Amber nodded in agreement. "So then, I have some questions."

"You needn't worry," Albert shook his head before letting her go. "Tomorrow, let us meet here once again. Then your training shall begin... as well as me answering some of your questions."

He then started walking into the forest. "Well then... farewell."

And without making any noise, in less than a few moments, he had disappeared into the shadows of the thick trees of Wolvendom.

"...The three tenets..." Amber, who was left alone, thought of everything Albert had said to her.

She then looked at the items he gave to her and clenched them. 'If I can protect Mondstadt this way... then so be it...'

'I'll follow you, Ezio... No... Mentor.'

* * *

'It's already noon... time sure is fast.' Albert thought as he looked up at the sky which was slowly getting dyed with the sun's golden embrace. 'Well, it does make sense... a lot happened today...'

Albert entered Mondstadt by climbing the walls, a fast and very risky way to enter, but he has never been caught before so it was fine.

Looking up he saw Senu flying not far from him. Due to her being linked with Albert, a part of his stealth was shared with her. As such, unless someone actually focuses, they won't be able to see Senu.

While traveling to his house, Albert passed by a group of children not far away and managed to overhear them while he was hiding in the shadows.

He looked and saw a group of kids in their adolescence surrounding a girl with blonde hair, and beside her is an electro raven.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho, fear not, for I, the Prinzessin Der Verurteilung shall help you yond—"

'No.' Albert ran away as fast as possible. He was not in the mood to hear such things. Moreover, the author does not know how to write chuuni lines.

After running away, he stopped by a secluded area. 'This should be far enough...'

Steadying his breath, he thought of what happened just now. 'By the looks of it, that was Fischl— or rather, Amy and Oz...'

'To think that she already awakened her vision this young...' He grasped his chin. 'Should I recruit her?'

After thinking for a while, he shook his head. 'No, that would be a pain, especially since she likes to talk...'

'For now, she's on the potential list.' He slowly nodded his head.

However, he soon heard another commotion not far away from him. 'This sound... is the sound of metal?'

Albert turned to the corner and poke his head, and there he saw it.

A little girl with silver hair carrying a giant Claymore that is two times her size.

"Four hundred sixty-four... Four hundred sixty-five... Four hundred..." The little girl kept swinging her Claymore as she counted. Interestingly enough, the Claymore seems to not weigh that much to her at all.

"..." Albert looked at this speechless. 'That's... Noelle, isn't she?'

Noelle is very well-known in Mondstadt. Despite her age and petite body, she's very helpful toward everyone.

But don't underestimate her small body. For under it lies superhuman strength.

'Wait...' However, Albert's eyes soon lit up. He then began to think. 'Right now, she should be aspiring to be a knight and still doesn't have her vision...'

'And in the game, I vaguely remember that despite being helpful to everyone, she has a tight lip regarding secrets...' An idea soon formed in Albert's mind. 'Perhaps...'

'I have an idea...' He smiled.

* * *

"Bye Noelle! See you tomorrow!" A group of kids said as they waved at Noelle who was holding a Claymore

"Yes, see you all tomorrow!" Noelle responded with a polite smile

Seeing them leave, Noelle decided to change spots.

She went near one of the windmills in Mondstadt to climb it. Along the way, she helped a few people with some of their problems.

After climbing the towering windmill, Noelle looked in the distance. The sun's sunset was within her view and she felt at peace.

The wind's gale was calm and it swayed her hair.

And, like every day, she daydreamed. Daydreaming the day she finally becomes a knight to help everyone.

It was her dream. Ever since she was a child, she wanted to be a knight, and that is why she started training at the age of ten.

Due to unknown reasons, even with intense training, Noelle's body stayed petite and showed no visible muscles. Yet, the strength is very present.

Looking in the distance, she retired her head on her arm as she leaned to the wooden railings.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Suddenly, a voice was heard around her.

Noelle woke up from her daydream and looked around, only to see a strange man wearing a cloak sitting cross-legged on the wooden railings. He was also wearing a pair of glasses.

Of course, it was Albert.

He did not have his hood on, revealing his face. And yes, it was not his real face.

"Oh, forgive me for not noticing, have you been there for quite a time now?" Noelle politely asked

"No, I just arrived." Albert shook his head as he kept staring into the distance. "How about you? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I was..." Noelle stopped looking at him and looked at the town below. "I was merely enjoying the view."

Albert slowly nodded his head. "Enjoy taking in all the sights, huh? You remind me of a story."

"Which story is it?" Noelle curiously asked.

"It's a story about a man who believes every treasure belongs to him." He smirked. "He would see an interesting thing and say that it belonged to him."

"He would be hostile towards those who defy his claims." He added.

"Did such a person with an arrogant attitude really said that?" She questioned.

Albert shrugged. "I don't know. I only heard this from a strange man with a blindfold."

Noelle then turned her head. "You know quite a bit of bizarre people, mister."

"What can I say? I'm a bizarre person myself." He chuckled. "But not as bizarre as Jotaro."

"..." Noelle fell silent as she looked at the man sitting with her. The strange man suddenly appeared near her and started talking about weird things.

"Well then..." Albert said. "Enough of my stories. What about you? What's your story?"

"M-Me?" Noelle didn't know how to answer. "Well... I'm just a normal person that wants to be a knight, that's all."

'Normal is the last thing I would describe you. Sorry, Noelle.' Albert secretly thought. He then looked at her. "Is that so..."

"I know I'm just a stranger you just met, but can I give you some advice?" He said before standing up. Mind you that he was standing up on the wooden railings.

Seeing him do such a dangerous thing, Noelle became worried but noticed that he was doing fine.

After a while, she nodded. "Yes, I always take in advises to better improve myself to be a knight."

Albert nodded. "I don't have that much to say, but do remember that being a knight is no easy task."

"You have to be well-trained not only in strength, but also skills, discipline, and morality." He continued to explain. "It's not going to be easy, I can tell you that."

"...Are you also a knight?" She asked.

Albert shook his head with a smile. "If I was, I wouldn't be here right now."

"..." Noelle fell silent and noticed that darkness has almost engulfed the skies now.

She then turned her head. "Forgive me, I shall go n—"

However, when she looked at where the man was, he had completely disappeared. "Huh?"

Noelle soon noticed something from where the strange man disappeared from.

Noelle picked it up and only saw a white paper with neatly-written words on it that said: Good luck. From Aizen.

"...Aizen..." Noelle remembered the strange man's name as she feels that this will not be their last meeting.

Without her noticing, far below the windmill, a thick layer of hay just moved.