Ashe wasn't fully prepared for the man's interest. His expression remained steady, but he immediately blurted. "Zalindar... I'm going to Zalindar."

"Really? I was born and raised there; now I travel to trade," Ezio spoke, and Ashe tried his best to keep pace, careful not to miss a beat.

Ezio loved to tell stories. After discussing his parents, he moved on to his siblings. He was from a distinguished family. He lacked nothing, but he chose to work hard to support them. Ezio wanted his parents to be proud of him. His younger siblings, who looked up to him, were his source of motivation.

When he finished talking about his life, he moved on to more personal issues. "You've heard of the Binders, haven't you?" His voice held a note of awe. "There are many in our city; you often see them."

In the meantime, the meat was finished cooking. The man carefully took it off and gave the boy a not-so-small piece. The animal turned out to be a fox, and catching it in the forest wasn't an easy task.

Ezio was eating as he continued. "I have always dreamed of acquiring powers like theirs. I would no longer have to hunt only animals. I would fight real monsters; I would protect my city. And…" he added, taking a bite, "Mum and Dad would be proud of me."

Ashe was so engrossed in eating the meat that he could barely hear what Ezio was saying. He devoured it like a starved beast. If he had the strength, he would probably chew through the bones, too. When he finished, he licked his fingers clean.

Ezio paid little attention to that. He was engrossed in his meal and storytelling.

"When I turned 18, and the gods didn't choose at the oath ceremony, it was… a hard time. Kinda felt like the universe fell on top of me. I'll never forget the disappointment on my family's faces." His eyes softened, lost in the past.

He rested his head on a hand, then added, "Soon my sister and brother have to take the oath, and I hope they can fulfil my dream. But I try not to pressure them."

"You're a good brother," Ashe told him frankly. He had remained silent all this time, letting Ezio speak without interruption.

Then there was silence. Ezio didn't show it, but Ashe's simple words clearly pleased him.

"Have I been boring you? I'm often told that I don't know when to shut up," he said awkwardly and wiped his hands.

Ashe replied politely, "No, on the contrary, such a companion is pleasant." He bowed his head, and the silence returned.

All that could be heard was the sound of the fire as Ezio added wood. Then he left one stick in his hand and started poking at the fire.

Ashe knew about the outside world only through stories. Based on the fact that he had been lied to for a long time, he didn't understand what was true and false. Ezio was the only person not from Dreadvale, and he would have no reason to lie to him.

Therefore, he gathered his strength and asked what he was most interested in. "What do you think of the Chosen One?"

Ezio stopped his hand movement. His eyes lit up, and it was obvious that he was preparing for the new monologue. "I believe, no, I want to believe, that he will save the world. That's why he's the Fated One. I don't know where he is now, or how he is, but I'm sure he's fighting to change the future of the planet. He's meant to be the greatest Binder, with powers beyond anything we know. It only makes sense that humans will be led by him."

He took a deep breath; the emotion was almost the same as when he was talking about his family. "He is the world's only hope."

Ashe caught a few details easily. Ezio said he doesn't know the boy's whereabouts, even though he goes to Dreadvale to trade. However, according to his information, Hope's progress was closely monitored by the entire world. It was instilled in him that everyone could see its consequences and that humanity might lose hope in its failure. People wouldn't obey him if he were weak. Now he had learned that his life was more hidden than he thought.

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Ezio's reaction pointed to another interesting detail. It appears some people are afraid of him. People who didn't have hope in him. The prophecy hadn't said what would happen if he were to collect all the fragments.

He could turn evil or fight for humanity. In such uncertainty, it wasn't surprising that many were afraid and indulged in speculation.

After a few seconds pause, Ezio brought the boy back from his thoughts:

"And what do you think about him? You must have a reason to ask."

'It's rare that you have to talk about yourself in the third person,' he thought to himself first, then answered. "I am also of your opinion... Hope will gain the greatest power in the world and use it only for humanity. He will be the supreme leader we all need. There shouldn't be another option. The prophecy is incomplete, but knowing more will surely confirm it."

One couldn't tell who Ashe was talking to. The listener or the self that still contained Hope. He hadn't shed that identity. These names remained in his soul. Even Despair itself was a big part of his being.

Ezio either failed to recognise the boy's feelings on the matter or simply ignored them. "What do you think about hearing prophecies?" he asked and continued before the answer. "Along with everything I told you about myself, I also like to collect stories. It's a shame I didn't become a Binder, because I've already collected so much; I'd be an Eminent by now," he said proudly and felt a friendly bond with the boy.

The Eminent stage was the second rank among the Binders. At this time, a new, strengthened oath is made, which also affects Mark and the skills he exhibits. New skills are unlocked, and old ones are developed. But it isn't so easy to reach the second step of the Covenant. You need to pass trials made by the gods.

Ezio was choosing stories to tell while playing with fire. Then he stopped at one of them and started telling it.

"one set on a ship was a vendor."

neither country was spared.

nor he kept a friend close."

It had an introductory verse that wasn't very well narrated. The question is whether this was due to frequent retelling, or if Ezio was losing his charm.

It was as if he realised that something was wrong and changed it.

"The seller of the country sneaked to the kingdom by ship. He returned home regretfully but with a purpose." His voice was slow and steady. "His homeland has fallen into peril. Threatened by a being that even the kings couldn't resist. The knights have fallen, the princesses have faded, and a dragon has claimed everything there was." The man's self-confidence increased in his voice, rising with each passing word.

"The traitor is coming by ship. Not to clear the name. Not for guilt, but for a reason he can't tell. Still, he's here to face the dragon; his sword broke, his hand was burned, and he has no strength in his legs."

A traitor dies; he vows to the gods. "Grant me the might to endure; let me burn in flames as I bring this beast down with me!" Ezio moved from storytelling to demonstration. In the shadows, with his fingers, he sometimes depicted a man, sometimes a dragon.

"God heard. Mark sent. The man stood up, held the sword whole, and plunged it deep. He restored the country, and his homeland was defended. They elected him king. But the curse didn't leave him. He took blood and drowned himself in it. The traitor died, the king perished, and the dragon was no more."

The story ended, and Ezio was so emotional he seemed tired at the end. Ashe took fragments from it. Seeing with his own eyes, he understood it wasn't much.

There are two moments in foretelling. One that is more common and less fragmentary is the telling of stories, or prophecies that have already come true. Ordinary people usually convey this category. As some fragments are dangerous for the folks.

The second is an unfulfilled prophecy that will come true in the future. It is more difficult to listen to; it is given up less because it includes more fragments and is kept for certain individuals. They are rarely heard from humans; they both find it difficult to collect and fear that such knowledge could bring the wrath of the Binders.

Prophecies are also for sale. It is possible to use them as a unit of money, although the whole practice is unreliable. Binders have some methods to achieve this, besides common currency, and when exchanging, they use fragments. For them, this is more important than any wealth because, along with knowledge, they also gain power.

Ashe didn't know much, but his basic training should be enough. He would get the rest through experience. Meanwhile, a lot of time has passed. He often glanced at the sword. He didn't forget the reason for his closeness and acquaintance with Ezio.

"You look tired. I will leave you; you have a long way to go." Again, he expressed his respect and quickly said goodbye by thanking him.

Ezio was relaxed. He needed to nap, stretched out, already drifting off to sleep. He wanted to ask about the story he had told. Ashe was quicker; he left without giving the man a chance to try anything. A couple of minutes later, as he was lost in thought, he lay down on a log and fell asleep peacefully.

Ashe climbed a tree nearby. He went unnoticed, hiding his presence with steady, controlled breaths. He watched for a long time, and when he was sure it was time to act, he jumped down from the tree.