Afternoon of the Next Day
Alberto: Is that you, Mr. Leonardo?!
Alberto: Thank God! I still hadn't truly believed the rumors of your return.
Leonardo: I know. sigh There was some trouble in Milan.
Alberto: We've heard about the scandal concerning Duke Sforza. How savage ...
Leonardo: That's why I came back, with a creative fever inspired by my pains.
The old priest gasps as if the young painter's words stung his ears.
Alberto: I see ... So, then have you come to finish the Assumption of Mary?
Alberto: It's been four years since you left. We've been careful to leave it untouched. Now, by the light of the Lord, you're finally back ...
Alberto: We emptied the Duomo as you requested. I promise no one will bother you.
Leonardo: Thank you. I must get to work right away. My inspiration may fade at any moment.
Alberto: Hmm, but who are these ladies?
Vertin: Good day, Father. I am here as Mr. Leonardo's apprentice.
Sotheby: And uhm ... why, why ... I'm here to evaluate his work for my father, of course!
Leonardo: Allow me to present, Father Alberto, Miss Sotheby Domenico.
Leonardo: She's provided huge support for my art career, so, to show my gratitude, I've asked her to model.
Alberto: For the Assumption of Mary?!
The old priest dabs a bead of sweat off of his forehead unconsciously.
Alberto: This lady is a bit young, don't you think? And not exactly how I had pictured Mary ...
Leonardo: Who is the artist, Father? Do not let your mind be so entrenched by outdated styles.
Leonardo: When you look for a model, you must focus on their soul not simply their flesh! You pay too much attention to her appearance, yet neglect what's inside.
Leonardo: The Assumption of Mary depicts the Madonna's reception into heaven, not just in body but in spirit as well.
Leonardo: And what do you think best captures that moment, Father?
Alberto: Umm ... Ehh ...
Sotheby: Huh?
Sotheby: Hmm? Why are you looking at me?
Leonardo gestures at Sotheby, presenting her like a showman.
Leonardo: Right! That innocence and vitality! She may be a little young, but her spirit is perfect ...
Leonardo: In fact, it is that innocence which makes her more qualified than anyone! She will be indispensable for my work. For my inspiration, you know ...
Sotheby: Huh? Oh, well. Then, I must thank you for your compliment, Mr. Leonardo.
Vertin: ...
Alberto: You have convinced me once again, Leonardo! Although something tells me that we should go deeper into this topic ...
Alberto: Another time perhaps; for now I will trust in your piety and capability. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Leonardo: As it happens, there is something, Father.
Leonardo: You see, I would like to try some new perspective techniques on this work. I know that Paolo Uccello is a master of perspective. Do you have any of his works around?
Alberto: Yes! Saint George and the Dragon. One of his masterpieces.
Leonardo: Ah, but I have already seared this one into my mind! Have you any others?
Alberto: Hmm ... yes, there's another fresco in the dome, but it was suspended midway by the sponsor, the Arte della Lana.
Alberto: More than a dozen artisans and artists, including Mr. Uccello, the chief painter, participated in this project, but none of them received a single florin for their work. God bless them ...
Sotheby: Oh ... How terrible. Those poor artists.
Sotheby: What happened?
Alberto: This was nearly 20 years ago ... I suppose it was simply too expensive. The dome itself is rarely visited.
Alberto: It is only natural that our money go to the central nave, where all the faithful might see it.
Alberto: I should leave you to your work, sir. God bless you all.
Alberto crosses his heart and leaves.
Sotheby: Phew ... They're finally gone. Alright, time to start Operation Florence Typhon!
Sotheby: Wait, where's Vertin?
Vertin: Right behind you.
Sotheby: Oh! Where did you go? We're about to get started.
Vertin: I wanted to make sure that there was no one else in the cathedral before we began. I believe we are alone now.
Vertin: We shouldn't be disturbed for some time.
Leonardo: It's always good to be cautious, miss!
Leonardo: I should signal Ezio and Mr. APPLe now. They've waited long enough.
Sotheby: Is there something wrong, Vertin? You don't look well.
Vertin: I'm fine. I'm not used to the smells here ...
Sotheby: The smells? sniff It's frankincense ... sniff and myrrh!
Sotheby: Those are the most prominent ones I can detect; I believe there may be some other local florals ...
Sotheby: I wonder if all the incense is meant to make you dizzy on purpose! What better way is there to see clouds and angels ...
Vertin: That's a clever theory.
Sotheby: But heavy incense can certainly be unpleasant for some people ... Oh, but Miss Sotheby has the perfect thing to help.
She flings open her bag and retrieves a potion.
Sotheby: Apply two drops just inside your nose, and you should be right as rain!
Vertin: Thank you.
APPLe: The weather is truly lovely today, isn't it?
The golden apple basks cozily beneath the Tuscan sun.
APPLe: Any sign of the signal yet?
Ezio: ... Not yet.
A short time later, the assassin makes his way to the apple's side.
Ezio: There's a window near the ribs; we should be able to sneak in through there.
APPLe: Marvelous! All that's left to do is to wait for their signal.
APPLe: Mmm, the sun is so warm and gentle right now, like sipping a cup of fresh-made Cornish tea. Ouch!
*chirp*
APPLe: A bird? Did it think this APPLe was a fine-looking snack?
APPLe: Hmm? It has letters on it ... itnava?
Ezio: Let me see.
Ezio: ...
Ezio: It's mirrored font, one of Leonardo's codes. You reverse it to get the true message: avanti ...
Ezio: "Action."
APPLe: Oh! I see, nothing too complex. But what about this bird?
Ezio: Another of his bizarre inventions. It has to hit something to stop.
Ezio: You should be thankful; he's improved it from his last design. It used to fly so fast that it would knock you off your feet.
APPLe: Remarkable! It is an amazing invention. If I were you, I would suggest that he take good care of all his blueprints so they might be passed down in the future.
Ezio smiles.
Ezio: It wouldn't do any good. His genius may well be forgotten since he guards his ideas so jealously—he writes everything in ciphers like this.
Ezio: He would rather see his work burn than have someone else complete it for him.
Ezio: He won't worry about the future until it comes. That's just his way.
APPLe: And what about you, Ezio?
The Assassin looks down at his own shadow.
Ezio: I am an Assassin. We work in the dark to serve the light. I don't want to be remembered.
APPLe: That sounds lonely ... Do you mind if I ask something? You've avoided speaking about your family, it sounds like something terrible happened.
APPLe: Are they why you became an Assassin?
Ezio: ...
Ezio: It is a long story ... my father and brothers were killed by the Templars.
The Assassin covers his face beneath his hood and replies in a soft voice.
Ezio: I was only 17 ... So much has changed since then. I've changed.
APPLe: I'm terribly sorry, Ezio. Forgive me, I should never have brought it up ...
APPLe falls silent, for a moment it almost seems as if his golden skin loses its shine.
Ezio: It's not your fault.
His eyes trace the flight of an eagle in the distance. Then he turns and his face seems as gloomy as midnight.
Ezio: It was three in the morning.
Ezio: I placed their bodies on a boat, performed their last rites and then lit their pyre. I watched as it drifted away down the Arno.
Ezio: The pride of the Auditores, yet I couldn't even bury them properly.
Ezio: All I could do was keep my enemies' names in mind ... Vieri de' Pazzi, Francesco de' Pazzi, Uberto Alberti ...
Ezio: I took their lives, every last one of them.
The wind blows away a painful sigh.
Ezio: I don't think I've told anyone that for a long time.
APPLe: I can't imagine the pain ... not to mention how hard it must have been to overcome it.
He shakes his head with a bitter smile.
Ezio: I didn't. You don't overcome that sort of pain ... No, I took it in and made it part of myself.
Ezio: I feel it again, raw and new, every time I draw my blade. It's always there, guiding me from each target to the next.
APPLe: But you said that "Assassins only kill for a just cause." Isn't that just killing for revenge?
Ezio looks out from his hood with a cold stare.
Ezio: Revenge can be a just cause if it rights injustice—I have to believe that.
Footsteps disturb a nearby tile.
Ezio: Someone's here.
Ezio grabs APPLe and moves like a shadow behind a nearby chimney.
Not long after two Templars round the edge of the roof.
Templar III: Damn! The whole Duomo has been blocked for some "honored guest."
Templar III: Even Mr. Rodrigo can't get us in. I didn't know we'd sunk this low.
Templar IV: What are we even on the lookout for? Some kind of apple? Is it related to the relics?
Templar IV: Ugh ...
Templar III: What now?
The other Templar reaches for his neck.
Templar IV: A poisoned arro- ...
He falls to the ground before finishing the words.
Templar III: What?!
Templar III: Assassin ... Assassin over here!!
COMBAT
Ezio: That should be the last one.
Ezio: But the Templars will be on high alert. We need to hurry.
APPLe: Yes, sir.
APPLe: cough It's ... It's dusty in here. Are you sure this is the right way, Ezio?
Ezio: It's the only one that isn't crawling with Templars, so it has to be. cough
APPLe: I guess that's a good point.
Ezio: Look ... There's light ahead.
They find a narrow stairway after moving around the corner. A beam of light illuminates the space through the vent.
APPLe: Oh, who would have guessed? A secret tunnel!
Ezio: Let's go, friend.
It's clear no one has been here for a long time, yet a sense of danger chokes the air.
APPLe: The brick patterning ... It's like nothing I've ever seen before.
The dome's bricks are arranged diagonally, layered all the way into the shadow at the top.
Ezio: We call it the spina di pesce, herringbone. Another of Brunelleschi's innovations.
Ezio: I know next to nothing about architecture, but Leonardo would say it helps to carry the weight of the dome.
APPLe: That makes perfect sense! The diagonal arrangement must prevent them from shifting under the immense weight. A positively genius design!
APPLe: And to realize it the bricks must have been layered with incredible precision.
APPLe sighs unconsciously.
APPLe: That would explain why it took so long to complete.
APPLe: Sixteen years ... I'm certain it must have been exciting to witness its completion after so much time.
APPLe: Brunelleschi, Leonardo, Uccello ... Your hometown is full of amazing people, Ezio.
APPLe: This APPLe wishes he had been born here.
Ezio turns looking over the wall.
Ezio: There's no city quite like Firenze.
Like a row of steadfast soldiers, the bricks extend upward as the Assassin climbs the stairs.
Like silent observers over the course of history.
Ezio: ...
APPLe: What's wrong?
Ezio: There's something on the wall.
Several humanoid symbols have been hidden in a nook.
APPLe: These appear to be the same symbols from the manuscript.
Ezio: Then we're on the right path.
APPLe: Look. Another symbol over there!
One pursuer, two pursuers, three ...
The symbols appear one after another, as if guiding the way.
Ezio: We must be close. Action ...
He speeds up his pace.
After turning several corners, Ezio spots a beam of light—
The symbols converge on a single destination.
What lies ahead? An answer, or more questions?
Ezio takes a deep breath and walks into the dazzling light.
The blinding light slowly dims, giving way to the gentle warmth of candlelight.
When he opens his eyes again he sees several discolored frescoes.
In the middle of these silent figures, flowers, and birds; a blank space.
APPLe: So, this is ... the secret chamber?