21 This is our creed

"Albert!" Inside the Favonius Church's infirmary, a girl wearing a white frock came rushing in. "I heard you were injured! Are you alright?"

"..."

However, what she saw was Albert petting an eagle that was on his arm. Mind you that it wasn't a juvenile eagle— but rather a fully grown one. "..."

"U-Um... Albert... why is there an eagle in here?" Barbara said, still bewildered at what was happening. "D-Did it sneak in?"

Albert softly smiled at her and looked at the eagle. "Go on, Senu, I'll talk to you later."

He then walked to the nearest window and opened it before letting the eagle out.

Flap—*

After doing this, he closed the window and looked at Barbara again. "So umm, Barbara, what is it?"

Snapping out of her bewilderment, Barbara looked at Albert. "Ah, yes! I heard that you were injured! I'm here to heal you."

"Is that so? Thank you very much." Albert thanked her. "As for the payment..."

"There's no need to worry about it.", Barbara shook her head as she got close to him. "My sis— I mean The Dandelion Knight Jean already covered it up for you."

"All you have to do now is to lie down, show me the injured area, and let me help you." She said before sitting down on his bed.

"...Really?" Albert asked. "Jean shouldn't have... really."

"It's fine," Barbara said. "She said that this was part of the compensation the knights owe you."

"Is that so..." Albert muttered. He then showed his shoulder. "This is the part where I got bruised. It still hurts a bit, actually."

"Alright, hold still." Barbara said before activating her elemental skill. Water soon formed around Albert's bruise.

Soon, an empty silence fell upon them.

"So... that eagle back then..." Barbara tried to make a conversation.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Albert smiled as he looked at his bruise that was being healed. "I found her and all of a sudden, she started following me."

Of course, that's not what happened. Albert got Senu from the system's shop for a lot of fame points.

In the Assassin's Creed universe, Assassins who have an eagle vision that forms a symbiotic relationship with an eagle can extend their senses.

Assassins who can do this can see through their eagle's eyes and even hear from them, making them great recon partners.

...And Albert, who is close to completing Ezio's template, can get the eagle vision sooner or later.

Current template progress: [76%]

After he reached 80%, he should be able to get the eagle vision.

"You got yourself a pet eagle?" Barbara said, surprised. "That's... amazing."

"I know." Albert nodded. "Her name is Senu, by the way."

"I see..." Barbara nodded in agreement. "If possible, I want to befriend an eagle too."

"Yeah, good luck," Albert sincerely nodded.

And once again, the room became silent. Nothing but the distant echoes of an eagle flying outside.

Amidst the silence, Barbara decided to ask a strange question. "So... Albert... are you and my sister... close?"

"Hmm..." Albert hummed as he contemplated. "I don't think so? I mean, she's a really great person, but I think I'm just a regular person with a vision to her..."

"Whenever I see her, she always seems stressed, so the best I could do is cheer her up, you know?" He said with a smile. 'Though, I know part of her stress is because of me too...'

"...I see..." Barbara said with a soft smile as she healed Albert. However, her eyes seem to be looking at the distance... somewhat even void.

After a few more moments, she finally finished. "There, it's fully healed now."

"Wow, just like last time, it felt great..." Albert spun his shoulder without feeling any pain. "Thanks, Barbara."

"I'll tell Jean that you're healed and can go home now." Barbara said before leaving without saying anything else. Seeing this, Albert scratched his head before standing up.

'Alright... Now that I'm healed, I should prepare to go to Wolvendom to meet Amber.' After standing up, he casually left the infirmary and left the Favonius Church.

* * *

"This was a mistake..." Amber sighed to herself. 'I'm accepting a deal from a man wanted by all the knights...'

Truth to be told, she already had her mental monologue a day ago. But when "Ezio" made his appearance official, she regretted her decision.

'No wait!' She got an idea. 'Maybe... I can be a double agent! Yes!'

'He wants to offer me something...' She grasped her chin. 'Maybe if I act like I'm trustworthy, he can trust me and I can report his conversations to the knights!'

"This is a good plan..." She muttered to herself as she nodded.

"What is?" However, a second later, Albert appeared behind her and spoke to her ear, much to her to shock.

"KYAA!"

Immediately, Amber picked up her bow and aimed at Albert. "Y-You...! Quit sneaking up on me!"

Albert smirked. "So what's it gonna be? Do you accept my proposal?"

"You haven't even told me your offer." She infuriatingly said.

"Oh right, then I guess I should tell you now," Albert said. He then stood up straight and handed his hand to her. "Join the Hidden Ones, Amber."

"The... Hidden Ones?" Amber muttered curiously. "What that?"

[+5]

"A secret organization," Albert said as he crossed his arms behind his back. "It aims to create peace not only within the world but within the individual."

"We work in the dark to serve the light."

"This..." Amber was speechless when she heard this "This organization... what is its real purpose?"

"If you want to bring peace, why stay hidden? Wouldn't it be better to let yourselves be known?" She questioned.

[+5]

[+5]

"Because we are assassins." Albert sighed. "And... it is part of our creed."

"..." Amber couldn't help but think all of it was suspicious. However, she still wanted to know more. "Then.. could you tell me who is this organization's enemy?"

"None." Albert shrugged with a soft smile. "We do not have a single enemy... we have multiple."

"Especially... the Fatui."

"The Fatui..." Amber repeated his words. "I've heard of them. Out of the seven nations, they are the most powerful military-wise."

"And... they are also quite aggressive."

"Exactly." Albert nodded. "I was sent here to Mondstadt not to antagonize you, but to help."

"I am tasked to build a brotherhood here. One that can protect Mondstadt in the shadows— away from the darkness." He brought forth his hand. "So... what do you say, Amber? Would you help not only me but everyone else in Mondstadt?"

"I..." Amber fell into deep contemplation.

Ever since she was a child, she admired her Grandfather and wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Little by little, she worked hard to be a knight alongside her childhood friend Eula who trained under her grandfather.

Eula was much older than her, as such, she was able to become a knight faster than her. And less than a few months after becoming a knight, Eula was already recognized by the Grand Master to be a captain.

Yet, here Amber was. She still isn't able to infuse her Pyro Vision into her arrows. The Outrider Knights that her grandfather built had disbanded now and she was the only member left.

She... She felt inferior, but she kept a smile every time and tried her best to get stronger.

"...ders..." She mumbled as she dropped her head.

"Pardon?" Albert leaned closer to hear better.

"I..." Amber started tearing up. "I want to get stronger... to rebuild the Outriders..."

"To continue my grandpa's legacy..." She wiped her tears. "If by joining your brotherhood... can make me stronger..."

"Then I'll join it." She looked at him with determined eyes. "If I become strong enough... I can be recognized as the next Outrider Captain."

"Even if it means... I'll have to protect Mondstadt in the shadows using underhanded tricks." She eyed him.

Seeing her, Albert softly smiled. "Then I'll ask you one more time."

"Although this is not as grand as the official ceremony, let us still commence it." He said before turning and walking away. "Come."

"H-Huh? Wh-Where..." Amber wiped her tears and questioned. However, Albert didn't respond and continued walking away.

Without any choice, Amber was forced to follow.

* * *

On top of a cliff.

Albert gazed at the afternoon skies and the warm breeze brushing past his face.

He then looked behind to Amber. "Stand here, and let us commence the ceremony."

"O-Okay..." Amber said as she carefully walked near the edge of the cliff next to Albert.

"Laa Shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine." Albert spoke in Arabic in front of her. "The wisdom of the creed is revealed through this words."

"Amber, we are here to dedicate our lives to the freedom and peace of humanity." He spoke before turning around. "Now I offer the choice to you."

He then extended his arm to her and spoke. "Join us."

Amber hesitated for a while and contemplated about her decision. 'I already made it this far... I might as well continue!'

She then grabbed Albert's hand and nodded with determined eyes.

Seeing this, Albert smoked gently as he closed his eyes. "Now, traditionally, I would have cut off your ring finger as part of the ceremony."

'...Huh?' Amber's heart sank.

"But I believe that it isn't necessary, no?" He teasingly smiled as he saw her terrified expression.

"Well then..." He moved to the side. "The most important part of this ceremony. The leap of faith."

"I have to jump off... now?" Amber said as she looked down. She then looked at him with scared eyes. "Are you sure? Is this safe?"

Seeing her hesitation, Albert chuckled. "My dear, have faith."

Hearing this, Amber looked down below the cliff and hesitated. Her heart was pounding very fast and anxiety was overwhelming her.

However, Albert's words lingered in her mind. 'Have faith.'

Without any more hesitation, without opening her eyes, she jumped off the cliff.

"KYAAAAAAAA" She screamed at the top of her lungs as she fell down. "I'M GONNA DIE!"

Foosh—*

Suddenly, just when she knew she hit the ground, she landed on a thick pile of hay. "H-Huh?"

"It's a nice feeling, ain't it?" Albert immediately appeared beside her.

"Th-That..." Adrenaline filled Amber's veins, and she had to admit, it was something.

Looking at her shivering, Albert felt bad, but it was part of the ceremony.

He then took something out of his inventory. "Here, you're now an official member of the brotherhood."

It was a white cloak with a hoof and, of course, a hidden blade.

"From now on, remember our creed..." He said as the wind lifted his cloak and swayed it.

"When other men blindly follow the truth, remember... Nothing is true."

"Where other men are limited by morality and law, remember... Everything is permitted."

"That is our creed."

" * *

A/N: Indoctrination is fun