Disclaimer: I do not own Assassin's Creed and do not profit in any way from writing this fiction. It is merely for entertainment purposes.

1. Innocence

He always thought he had lost it a long, long time ago but when he finally kills his first human, stabs them through the heart with his hidden blade, he realizes that he still had his innocence. Until now.

2. Entombment

He never thought it would end this way, with his body covered by large boulders and rocks, only his arm sticking out, the fresh air kissing his skin. He's certain that his other arm has been crushed beyond repair but that doesn't matter, does it?

At least, he thinks with no little mirth, he has a tomb to rest in already.

3. A Forgotten Name

When the man who saved her asks her for a name ( his eyes are weary and tired, filled with pain and determination and a spark of life that will only die out once his life extinguishes ) she pauses and tells him the name of another.

Her name will be forgotten and die for the sake of Rome's future.

4. Rising Tide

It's subtle but they can all feel it. The rising tide, the rising feelings of restlessness and the knowledge that this will have to end very soon, lest they all be washed away.

5. A Broken Picture

He finds it in the still smoking ruins of his home, a half-burned portrait, his mother sitting on a chair with her little twin girls held in her arms, a wide, happy smile on her lips. The eldest sister is standing next to the chair, looking proud and like one of those very expensive dolls. He follows the hand resting on his older sister's shoulder and meets his father's brown eyes. Even now, they reflect his humor and passion for life.

His own lithe, boyish form is not on the picture anymore, burned away by the fire. It is for the better.

6. Leaves Falling In Autumn

Ezio cannot deny them this small pleasure, watching the younger and some of the playful older novices run around and kick up the leaves, laughing so joyfully at Autumn's arrival.

Tomorrow, they'll have to kill again.

7. Birth

Emerging from the cold water, finally no longer a novice but a full-fledged Assassin – It's like being born again.

8. Falling Into The Abyss

They've all reached that point at least once, the feeling of wanting to scream and run, run away forever from the darkness looming near the edge. But they all also have to learn how to jump, leave those fears behind unless they want to fall deep into the abyss of their souls.

9. Near-death Experience

She's gasping, spluttering, rolling to her side to cough up more water, shivering and a hand clinging to the arm of her sister who is related to her in everything but blood.

After that, the Maestro orders everyone to learn how to swim, his lips pulled into a grim grin and worried lines crinkling around his eyes.

10. Beautiful Sunset

The newest recruits usually know little about free-running and climbing so Ezio makes them climb a not too high viewpoint just in time for them to enjoy the setting sun, painting Rome yellow and orange, dousing the novices in the warmth of the city they've sworn to protect.

They climb back down, chatting away excitedly. Back in the hideout they ask him when the next climbing lesson will be.

13. Home Alone

When the Maestro is out on late night missions, they always await his return with anxiety painted on their faces.

19. Political Corruption

Rome is full of it but they didn't realize how much of it filled the city until two of the older recruits come back, faces tight with fury as they retell the story of an harmless, thin boy being stabbed to death for attempting to steal an apple.

None of the Guards are still alive but this knowledge does little to soothe the anger and worry that makes up the smothering atmosphere of the hideout.

28. A Shy Person In The Middle Of A Crowd

When they crowd around their new sister to greet her, she murmurs a shy greeting back in return, shuffling from foot to foot, ducking her head and trying not to look at anyone. Some wonder why the Maestro asked such a shy dove to join their Brotherhood.

Until they see her calmly taking a nosy Guard apart.

30. Kraken

"Did you hear? The Maestro fought a Kraken when he was younger! It lurked in one of the old tombs he used to explore! It was a long and vicious fight and it nearly ate the Maestro!"

"...Kraken don't exist, Enrico."

37. The 5th Dimension

When Ezio asks them about what happened, all the answer he gets is a drunkly giggled 'The 5th Dimension!' before the recruit slumps over to join the rest of her hung over and most likely still drunken brothers and sisters.

Maybe, Ezio muses, he shouldn't have let some of them trail Leonardo. They'd obviously picked up some odd words from him.