System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Sayo... What?

[Current Balance: £2,612 13s. 5d.](83,605R)

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’This Assassin’s Creed universe, surely he won’t die right?’

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As soon as Alaric saw Thulani safely landing on the haystack, he drop down and landed on the ground just beside Thulani.

He turned his head to see the former slave covered in haystack.

”Hey, you can’t die now...” Alaric silently chuckled as he pulled the hand that was sticking out of the haystack. ”You can’t die, unless I allow you to.”

’Did I even escape slavery?’ Thulani thought as he his body was yanked yet again, this time, out of the haystack. ”I... slave... again.”

”Do you regret it?” Alaric smirked as he eyed Thulani, ”D’you regret following me?”

”...”

”...”

”Small...”

Alaric could only shake his head as he motioned Thulani to follow him once more.

They then walked towards the ground level balcony and stopped as Alaric signaled Thulani. ’Hmm... there’s no one on the first floor, and there are only two people on the second level... multiple people in the basement though...’

Walking towards a double door, Alaric turned the knob while Thulani followed silently.

What could be seen inside made both Alaric and Thulani widen their eyes in surprise. The interior design within the house could only be seen in movies or google. Alaric expected this yet the grandeur of the designs made him chuckle.

Thulani though... he’s a slave, so of course he’d be surprised.

”Follow me,” Alaric ordered silently as they walked.

As they were walking, Alaric could hear something that made him annoyed. It was the footsteps of Thulani’s barefoot hitting the tiles. ’Haaa... I should buy one for him.’

[Open-Toed Sandals (Black) - 12s. 5d.]

[- 12s. 5d.]

[Current Balance: £2,612 1s. 0d.](83,585R)

As he was ahead of Thulani, Alaric just made the sandals appear in front of him. He then turned to Thulani and held it in front.

”Here...” Alaric said as Thulani eyed what he was holding. ”Wear this, your barefoot is too loud.”

”I...” Thulani wanted to speak as Alaric just nodded, making him receive and wear it. ”I... return it.”

Shaking his head, Alaric just replied. ”It’s yours, follow me.”

Thulani nodded as he followed the blonde.

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William Penn was on his desk, writing on his journal of how his day... or night... turned out.

’13th November, 1697

Anno Domini

This day, my son William Penn Jr. and I travelled by wagon, graciously provided by His Majesty, King William III, may God preserve him. Our course from London to Bristol carried us through Swindon, and we made camp thrice along the road. Ere we departed our final encampment, a most grievous misfortune befell us. A party of brigands did set upon our company. The King’s guards, stout-hearted men, stood firm to shield our persons, yet the villains, cunning and ruthless, gave chase as we fled. They overtook us, slew the coachman and bound my son and me as captives.

Blindfolded and bereft of sight, we endured their threats, for they demanded riches we had not thought to carry on so humble a journey. But lo! Providence, in her inscrutable wisdom, sent deliverance by the hand of a mere child... a lad of five summers. How such a young soul dispatched those blackguards, I cannot fathom, for the deed was done ere three minutes passed. The clatter of steel, the cries of the wicked, then silence. When our blindfolds were loosed, there stood the boy, serene as dawn, amid the fallen.

He named himself Alaric Kenway, of Bristol, and spake thus: ”I’ll come meet you at four o’clock. Don’t die before then.” A queer utterance, yet his mien bore no deceit. Though his speech was plain, his eyes... aye, they burned with a fire unseemly in one so tender. My son trembled, but I vowed then, by all that is sacred, to repay this child’s service. Be he spirit, angel, or mortal prodigy, I shall not rest until I am to meet him.

The night now deepens, and my quill shakes not from fear, but wonder. What design hath the Almighty woven here? I shall pray for the coachman’s soul, and for young Alaric’s protection. May God guide my steps to fulfil this debt.

Wm. Penn

Beneath the watchful stars’

Penn finally put down his quill and closed his leather-bound hand-sewn folio. He then sighed as he placed the folio under the desk.

’I wonder... how would he manage to slip into the estate?’ He thought as he looked at his pocket watch. ’I ought to head to bed.’

As soon as he got up from his seat, a knock could be heard from the door to his library making him raise his eyebrows. ’I didn’t ask for any-’

He widened his eyes as he figured who would be knocking at this time.

”Come in...”

His eyes widened once more as he saw the five-year old child who saved him open the door. ”By the heavens, how did you manage get in?”

”What, it sounds like you purposely left many guards so that I can’t?” Alaric smirked as he walked inside the library, making William notice Thulani.

”N-No, I wouldn’t do that to a benefactor,” Penn spoke as he sat back again. ”My Quaker friends, who hold high positions among the officials, provided me this estate and deployed guards the moment I informed them of my journey to Bristol.”

”You told them of your journey?” Raising an eyebrow, Alaric sat on a comfortable seat and motioned Thulani who was awkwardly standing to the same. ”Did you tell them about me?”

”No, it would be far too outlandish for them to believe that a mere child slew multiple bandits.” Penn shook his head and smiled. ”I told them we had managed to flee the bandits.”

Nodding his head, Alaric tapped his sandals on the tiles. ”About our deal...”

”Huh?” William Penn’s brows raised has he looked at Alaric, ”When, pray tell, did we ever strike a deal?”

”...”

”You’re no fun,” Penn smiled as he continued. ”How many are in your family, and how many rooms do you require?”

”I need four rooms,” Alaric responded. ”One for my parents, another for my uncle, aunt, and their child, another for my two friends, and last one for me.”

Penn looked at Alaric who was pointing at Thulani and thought about it for a few seconds and nodded, ”Understood. But why so many rooms? Surely, you could share with your parents.”

”No, thank you,” Alaric stared at William Penn, dead in the eyes, ”I value my privacy, I’m sure you’re the same.”

”True,” Penn nodded as he folded his arms, ”I shall have my servants prepare the rooms you desire... return in the morning.”

”Lastly...” Alaric got up from his seat and yawned, ”Can you give him some room to sleep in? You know better than anyone, this city’s not that welcoming of his color.”

”Sure, I’ll give you five rooms. Each for you friends,” Penn nodded again as he also got up from his seat. ”Now, I think the meeting’s finished. I need to get some sleep.”

Alaric smiled at William Penn and looked at Thulani who was nervous, ”Stay in this house, this man won’t hurt you. If he does, tell me, and I will kill him.”

Thulani could only nod reluctantly as look at the Penn Sr.

”Damned brat, have you already forgotten that I founded Pennsylvania?” Penn grumbled as he sighed, ”I stand firmly against discrimination.”

”Yeah-yeah,” Alaric chuckled as he placed a hand on Thulani’s shoulder and walked out. ”Sayonara!”

”Sayo... what?”