[Dante's POV]
The streets of Florence bustled with life as merchants called out their wares, children weaved through the crowd, and the scent of freshly baked bread mixed with the less pleasant aroma of tanned leather and livestock.
It was overwhelming at first—experiencing a city I had only ever seen through a game screen. But now, walking these streets with my own feet, hearing the chatter in fluent Italian, feeling the uneven cobblestone beneath my sandals—it was surreal.
Federico had taken me and Ezio to the marketplace after my "recovery," and my older brother wasted no time leading us through the busiest streets with the confidence of someone who thought he ruled them.
"Dante, fratellino, you should be grateful," Ezio grinned, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "I convinced Federico to bring you along. He thought you were still too weak."
Federico, walking a step ahead, shot Ezio a half-hearted glare. "I never said that."
"You were thinking it."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine, really."
Federico gave me a once-over, his expression softening. "Still, take it easy. We don't want you falling on your face again, little brother."
Ezio snickered, and I lightly elbowed him. Despite the teasing, the warmth between us was undeniable. This was the Auditore family before everything fell apart—before betrayal and tragedy shattered it all.
But not this time.
I clenched my fists. I had nine years until 1476. Nine years to change fate.
The Market Encounter
The marketplace was a chaotic symphony of haggling voices, shuffling feet, and the occasional musician playing a lute for spare coins. Federico led us to a fruit stall, chatting up a pretty merchant girl while Ezio, ever the opportunist, "borrowed" an apple from the display.
I rolled my eyes at his antics, but before I could say anything, my Assassin's Instinct flared up. A strange sensation, like a ripple in my awareness, warned me of something.
Turning my head, I spotted a figure moving through the crowd—a boy, no older than ten, with ragged clothes and sharp eyes. His hands moved quickly, too quickly, as he plucked a small purse from an unsuspecting noblewoman's belt.
A pickpocket.
And he wasn't done.
I watched as he approached a distracted merchant, his fingers reaching for the coin pouch hanging from the man's belt.
I could have ignored it. Florence had plenty of thieves, and I wasn't some noble brat who'd go running to the guards.
But—
Ding!
[Function 'Mission' Unlocked!]
[New Mission Alert!]
[Name: The Market Thief]
[Objective:
• Prevent the young thief from getting caught by the hidden city guards.
• Decide how to deal with him: recruit, befriend, or let him go.]
[Rewards:
• +200 Assassin Points
• Unlock: [Skill – Pickpocketing (Level 1)]
• Increased Notoriety in Florence's Underground]
[Penalty: If the thief is caught, your actions may attract unwanted attention.]
I exhaled sharply, my heart picking up speed. This was my first system mission—an actual objective with rewards. But more than that, this was an opportunity.
I glanced at the boy again. He was good, but not good enough. His movements, while quick, lacked the precision of a trained cutpurse. And he had no idea that a pair of city guards in plain clothes were watching him from a distance, their eyes sharp with suspicion.
If I didn't do something, he'd be caught.
My mind raced. I could distract the guards, warn the boy, or create enough chaos to cover his escape. The last thing I wanted was to get arrested on my first day out, so subtlety was key.
I turned to Ezio and Federico, who were still preoccupied. Good. That meant I had a few seconds to act.
Without hesitation, I grabbed an apple from a nearby stall—this time, actually paying for it—and took a casual step forward, placing myself directly in the guards' line of sight.
Then, with deliberate carelessness, I "accidentally" tripped over a loose cobblestone, sending the apple flying straight into the legs of one of the guards.
The man grunted, stumbling back as the fruit rolled away.
"Mi scusi, signore!" I stammered, adopting the best innocent-child expression I could manage. "I didn't see you!"
The guard scowled but waved me off, momentarily distracted.
That was all the thief needed.
The boy slipped into the crowd, vanishing like a shadow before the guards even remembered what they were doing.
Ding!
[Mission Complete!]
[+200 Assassin Points Earned]
[Skill Unlocked: Pickpocketing (Level 1)]
[Notoriety in Florence's Underground Increased: The Thieves Guild is aware of your presence.]
I let out a slow breath. That went smoother than I expected.
But before I could fully process my success, a voice whispered near my ear.
"You're pretty good, ragazzo."
I tensed.
The pickpocket.
He had doubled back, now standing beside me with a knowing smirk. His clothes were worn, but his eyes were sharp—full of the kind of street-smart intelligence that came from surviving Florence's underbelly.
"You saved my hide. Why?" he asked, tilting his head.
I considered my answer carefully.
"Maybe I don't like seeing people get caught," I said with a shrug.
The boy studied me for a long moment, then grinned. "Heh. I think I like you, Auditore."
Wait.
He knew my name?
Before I could ask, he slipped away, disappearing into the crowd as fast as he had come.
Well, that was interesting.
As I turned back, Ezio and Federico were finally done with their fruit shopping, oblivious to what had just happened.
"Come on, Dante!" Ezio called, waving an apple. "Let's go before mother yells at us for being late!"
I shook my head with a small smile and jogged after them.
As I did, I couldn't help but wonder—who was that thief? And why did he know who I was?
One thing was for sure.
Florence was full of secrets.
And I had just become part of one.
...
The walk back to the Auditore estate was filled with Ezio's laughter and Federico's usual older-brother wisdom, but my mind was elsewhere.
The thief knew my name.
It wasn't strange for someone in Florence to recognize an Auditore—we were a well-known family, after all. But something about the way he said it made me uneasy. It wasn't awe or respect, like when common folk greeted my father in passing. It was familiarity. Like he already knew me.
And that was a problem.
I had only been here for a short time. In this world, I was just another boy from a noble family—yet someone from the streets had already taken notice of me. Was it my actions today? Or had I already altered something significant?
The thought made my stomach twist.
I need to be careful.
"Dante, you're too quiet." Federico's voice pulled me from my thoughts. He was watching me with mild concern. "Did you hit your head again when you tripped back there?"
Ezio snorted. "Maybe the guards scared him. Don't worry, fratellino, one day you'll be as brave as me."
"Right," I deadpanned. "Stealing fruit takes true courage."
Ezio gasped in mock offense. "It's called opportunity, little brother. A skill every Auditore should learn."
Federico sighed. "Enough, Ezio. You're supposed to set a good example."
We reached the front steps of our home just as the doors swung open. Our mother, Maria Auditore, stood waiting with her arms crossed. Her expression was unreadable, but I knew from memory that she was less than amused by our late return.
"You're late," she said simply.
Federico chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Apologies, madre. The market was busier than usual."
Ezio, ever the charmer, stepped forward and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "But we brought fresh fruit!"
Maria sighed, shaking her head before turning to me. Her sharp eyes studied me for a moment, as if searching for something. "And you, Dante? How are you feeling?"
I hesitated before offering a small smile. "Better, mother."
She softened, brushing a strand of hair from my face before nodding. "Good. Now, inside. Your father wants to speak with you all."
A familiar weight settled in my chest.
I knew what this was about.
...
My father's study was dimly lit, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the polished wooden desk. Giovanni Auditore stood near the window, his hands behind his back, his posture as rigid as ever.
He turned as we entered, his sharp gaze landing on each of us before settling on me.
"Dante."
I straightened instinctively. "Yes, father?"
"You've been recovering these past few days, but now that you're well, I have something important to discuss with you." His tone was firm, measured. "I've heard rumors from the city. Strange movements in the lower districts. I don't know what's happening yet, but I want you to be careful."
I kept my expression neutral, though my mind was already racing.
Could this be connected to the thief? Or was it something else?
Giovanni's eyes flickered toward Federico and Ezio. "All of you should be mindful. Trouble is brewing in Florence. I can feel it."
Ezio scoffed. "Father, you always say that. Florence is always full of trouble."
Giovanni sighed. "And yet, you never listen." His attention returned to me. "Dante, you've always been the quiet one. The observant one. If you notice anything unusual, you tell me immediately. Understand?"
I nodded. "Yes, father."
I could see it in his eyes—he wasn't just speaking as a father, but as a man who had seen the dangers lurking beneath Florence's surface. And he was right to be wary.
Or is it about Pazzi family already starting to make their moves?
I knew the Pazzi Conspiracy wouldn't happen for nearly a decade, but the pieces were already being placed on the board. If my father was already noticing shifts in Florence's underbelly, it meant the Pazzi—or perhaps another faction—was setting the groundwork.
I needed to know more.
"Of course, father," I said, keeping my tone even. "I'll be careful."
Giovanni studied me for a moment longer, then gave a small nod. "Good. That will be all for now. Stay out of trouble."
Easier said than done.
As we left the study, Federico clapped me on the back. "You heard father, Dante. If you see anything suspicious, you let us know."
Ezio grinned. "Or, better yet, let me handle it. I'd make a fine detective."
I rolled my eyes. "Right. Because stealing apples is the height of investigative work."
Federico laughed, and Ezio gasped in mock offense, draping an arm around my shoulders as we headed toward the dining hall. Despite the banter, my mind remained elsewhere.
That thief… the strange mission… my father's warning.
Florence was shifting.
And I was standing at the edge of something much bigger than myself.
...
[Later in the Night]
The Auditore estate was quiet. The laughter and conversation from dinner had long since faded, leaving only the distant hoot of an owl and the occasional creak of wood settling in the night. Moonlight filtered through my window, casting silver beams across the floor, but sleep refused to come.
Too many thoughts swirled in my mind.
The mission, the thief, my father's warning—it all felt connected somehow. I had nine years until the Auditore betrayal, but that didn't mean nothing would happen before then. Giovanni had already sensed something shifting in Florence's underworld, and my first mission had introduced me to it firsthand.
I needed more information.
Silently, I slipped out of bed and crossed the room. My body still wasn't used to the movements of an Assassin, but the system was helping. Even now, my steps were lighter, my balance steadier. I hadn't leveled up Parkour Proficiency yet, but I could feel its passive effects taking hold.
Cracking the door open, I peered down the dimly lit hallway. No movement. The guards stationed around the house wouldn't expect a seven-year-old to be sneaking out.
Perfect.
I crept down the hall, avoiding the floorboards I knew would creak. I had spent years playing Assassin's Creed—now I was living it.
The Auditore estate had multiple exits, but I knew which one would be the easiest. The side balcony near the library led to a trellis that was sturdy enough to climb down. I had seen Ezio use it once when sneaking out for some mischief, and now I was about to do the same—except my reasons were far more serious.
Reaching the balcony, I took a steadying breath before gripping the wooden frame and lowering myself carefully. My hands and feet moved instinctively, as if my body already knew what to do.
Ding!
[+5 EXP – Parkour Proficiency]
A small smirk tugged at my lips. Even something as simple as climbing was earning me experience. That meant I could train my skills naturally without relying solely on missions.
Touching down on the soft grass below, I crouched low and scanned the area. No guards.
Good.
Slipping into the shadows, I moved toward the city.