The Married Life Of Immortals

"Is she really that bad? Lysia had done some pretty wild things to me, and I had a hard time imagining there being another person in the same village that twinned her personality. Even Bilgarth warned me about her," Bane said and stood up from his chair. "Where is her shop or wherever I am supposed to go?"

Stella stared at Bane for a moment, considering if she should put more effort into warning Bane about the Queen of Curses. In the end, she just shrugged and pointed east. "On the edge of town, on the east side, there is a run-down building. That is where you want to go."

"Really? Just living in a dump for fun, or is this part of her whole "Dark Priest" look?" Bane asked, using air quotes.

"Just go and see her, but don't say that I didn't warn you. Harmony does not take kindly to disrespect," Stella said and then stood up. "Come back in a week, and then you should be ready to learn the spell, but this is not something that is meant to be taught. Once you start with Lysia tonight, I think you will understand why."

Bane left the Shattered Plate and headed to his next destination, but he didn't get far before a man in orange bandages tried to assault him. Or, that was what Bane considered when Ezio tried to hug him. Bane dodged it, but then glared at Ezio, looking him up and down.

"What is with the bright orange? Aren't you supposed to, I don't know, blend in as an assassin?" Bane asked, keeping Ezio at arms reach.

"We are on an island, and it is only us. The only person I had to kill was you, but I guess I don't know. It's not like I really had to kill you unless you turned out to be bad," Ezio said with a smile that gave Bane chills.

"Can we just go back to trying to kill each other? I'll even go easy on you, so it is a fair fight!" Bane offered, but Ezio shook his head.

"Nah. Morgana wouldn't like that, and I happen to like it when she is happy. Plus, the most feared and respected woman in this village has chosen you as her partner. If she trusts you, then you can't be a bad person. You might not know, but Lysia saved millions of people, even after losing not only her family but all of her kin," Ezio said and then waved for Bane to follow him. "I will tell you a bit about the war as we walk."

Bane didn't hesitate and walked beside the bright orange assassin, suddenly not caring about his clothing, or anything else. Ezio smiled and they headed to the east side of the village.

"The elves were always a proud race, and I am sure you can tell with Lysia, but the invader attacked with full force. By the time Bilgarth, I and some of the other kingdoms reached them, it was already too late. None of the Heaven's Blessed were left, only the countless bodies of elves. Only Lysia was left when we got there, covered in blood," Ezio said and then sighed. "Bilgarth tried to talk to her, but then she vanished. No one heard from her until after the war was over and she showed up when Bilgarth first took over, but she had lived here for much longer. While no one talked to her during that time, the kingdoms that were taken over by Heaven's Blessed fell until there wasn't a single trace of them left."

"Crazy," Bane said, and Ezio nodded.

"I am sure she will never talk about it, but I thought you should know. That woman is a legend, and if she trusts you, then I believe you are what this world needs," Ezio said and then stopped as they reached the edge of the village. "I will be joining your training with Nina later so I will teach you some of my techniques, but I have to warn you."

Bane waved his hand at the assassin. "I will be on my best behavior, don't worry," he complained, and then looked around until he spotted the only run-down building in the entire village. "This totally screams "Leave me the fuck alone!" in big bold letters... Is Bilgarth sure that I was invited here? Or, is this just him sending me here and hoping for the best?"

"No. You were invited. Just remember your manners. This woman is not someone you should offend," Ezio warned, and then turned and headed back the way they had come.

Bane stared at the door and debated whether he should just knock, or just walk in. The real concern here was if the door could handle being knocked on.

'Come in, and don't worry about the door.'

The voice in Bane's head was cold, but smooth and pleasant. There was also no mistaking that it was the woman Bane was supposed to be meeting.

Bane shrugged and reached for the knob. If he had been the Bane before he died, he would have hesitated, but he had become a lot harder to kill. Bane also had his Domain of Dead Kings, or he had thought he did until Eve informed him that without Onyx's help, there was no way he could access the domain. Eve then proceeded to warn Bane to be nice to the woman he was about to meet.

At this point, Bane almost wanted to give this Harmony a bit of sass, just so he could see what all the fuss was about.

'I don't suggest it, or thinking about it while around me, child. I may not be as old as that elf you are going to become partners with, but I can make you feel pain in ways not even she could fathom. Now get inside and don't keep me waiting.'

"Oh, come on!" Bane spat out, and then opened the door, but then was sucked inside like the house had just eaten him with the door closing behind him.

Ezio looked at the door. He wanted to feel bad for Bane, but it was Bane, and that was hard. The guy walked into self-created danger with a smile on his face, but Ezio wondered what he would be like after this? He decided to wait and see.