System in Assassin's Creed

A week went by ever since they arrived at Bristol. Everything was so awkward.

After arriving at the house following the heat of the fight, Alaric's mother immediately went to him and asked if he was okay, giving Leonard a stern look, a look that said "We'll talk later!"

The awkwardness was bizarre. Alaric was used to silence, but silence with people just watching him, waiting for him to speak something, was weird.

Fortunately, Solomon... or "Suleiman," knew how to break the ice.

---Flashback---

All of them gathered in the "Great Hall" (or living room in the modern era). Bernard was at a loss for how to break the ice, so he asked for help.

Solomon stood tall, his voice steady and calm as he addressed the group.

"Alright then, let's get started. I believe it helps to know a little about where we come from, so we can understand where we're headed."

He paused briefly, then continued in a reflective tone. "I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, to a wealthy family. My father was a merchant... we had fine silks, spices, you name it. But one terrible sandstorm swept through in a day and took everything. My family... they didn't make it. I was left with nothing but the clothes on my back."

Solomon's voice grew a little softer as he eyed Bernard and signaled early, "I turned to selling silks and goods to survive, but a few months before I met Bernard and Linette, I was robbed. I was ready to give up on life, but Linette... she gave me some advice that made me never give up. 'If you no longer have any reason to live, make one.'"

He nodded slowly. "That's why I'm still here. Now, enough about me... Edward, why don't you share something?"

---Flashback End---

After that, although Leonard still avoided direct conversation with Alaric, the awkwardness subsided somewhat.

'I'd be embarrassed too, but don't take too long, old coot,' Alaric thought. 'We gotta start a farming business soon.'

Alaric was sitting on the roof of Solomon's house... or maybe it was the woman's? 'Come to think of it, the last time I saw that woman was during the first day we arrived. After Dad and I came back to the house, I never saw her again. Is she part of the Assassin Brotherhood?... Or maybe she's just a busy woman.'

Shaking his head, Alaric opened the System interface and pressed [Buy]. He browsed through several items.

'The amount of things listed in here never fails to amaze me.'

"Swords..." he muttered.

Immediately, the items disappeared, replaced by the category he searched for.

[Kubikiribōchō – A regenerating cleaver that absorbs iron from the blood of those it kills. – £312 10s. 12d.]

'Nah... too big, and expensive, damn. That's like a modest house in this city.'

[Samehada – A sentient, chakra-eating sword that bonds with its wielder, granting immense power boosts. – £1875 0s. 0d.]

'Nope, no human chakra to absorb around here. It costs a mansion too.'

[...]

[...]

[Orochimaru's Kusanagi – A legendary sword that can extend and retract, cut through nearly anything, and be controlled telekinetically (Manga Version). – £781 5s. 12d.]

[Sasuke's Kusanagi – A durable chokutō that becomes sharper and faster when infused with Lightning Release. – £468 15s. 12d.]

[Sword of Totsuka – A mythical ethereal sword that seals anything it pierces in eternal genjutsu. – £4687 10s. 12d.]

'Sword of Tostuka? Why would... of course, well, it IS a sword... hehe, stupid me.'

[White Fang – A legendary tanto wielded by Hatake Sakumo, feared throughout the ninja world. – £312 10s. 12d.]

[Tengai – A katana used by the Fūma Clan, ideal for high-speed combat. – £250 0s. 0d.]

[...]

'Hmm...' Alaric found several good swords, but one caught his eye.

[Orochimaru's Kusanagi – £781 5s. 12d.]

'Cut through anything, ey?' Alaric grinned as he scratched the back of his hand. 'Why's my hand so itchy today?'

Alaric was about to get up from his seat on the roof when he sensed something beside the house.

'A burglar at this time of day? That's kinda weird,' he thought.

He walked around the edge of the roof to find the person lurking. He didn't want to rely on his Sharingan too much, where's the fun in that?

It didn't even take three seconds before he saw someone sitting against the wall of the two-story house.

'Hmm... is that what I think it is?'

He casually leaned over and allowed himself to fall with a thud, surprising the person now in front of him.

"S-Sir, no... uh... Please..." the burglar stuttered, trying not to trigger anything. "They kill me... please, sir."

'I was right... a slave.'

Seeing the young slave's plea, Alaric's heart tightened.

He had once been one of the blue helmets, sent to conflict zones to protect civilians, secure humanitarian aid, and sometimes even escort and protect aid workers like doctors.

Seeing what's in front of him now made him remember the harsh times of his military service in his old life.

"..."

"How old are you?" Alaric asked softly.

The boy hesitated before answering, "Seven..."

'Fucking bastards...' Alaric thought, but he forced the anger aside and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, making him flinch slightly.

"Come... let's get you treated,"

Alaric walked right away, signaling that he was no threat to the slave.

Not having much choice, the young slave followed Alaric inside through the back door.

---

Inside, Alaric walked with the boy. "Are you hungry?" he asked.

"..."

"..."

The young slave didn't know what to reply, so he just went with his primal instinct, "Yes..."

Alaric didn't reply as he continued to walk forward with the young slave behind him. He then opened the System interface and proceeded to buy two sticks of barbecue.

[Akimichi Barbeque (2x) - £0 1s. 2d.]

[-£0 1s. 2d.]

[Current Balance: £362 19s. 10d.]

Alaric then turned around, making the young slave widen his eyes.

"H-How?" the young slave asked, bewildered. "How... food?"

"Secret," Alaric smirked, handing both barbecue sticks over, "yours."

"Nagode..."

"Hmm?"

"Nagude..." the young slave repeated, sniffing the aroma. Tears immediately came crashing down. "Th-Thank you!"

Seeing him cry, Alaric's heart quenched even more. 'Maybe it's due to my experience in modern times that I'm like this?'

'Still... I don't despise it, the empathy I have for him.'

The young slave was eating while his tears still flowed.

'He must've had it hard... at such a young age, with all that built-up stress, fear, and crying for mercy in his heart,' Alaric thought as he walked towards a clay pot and poured some water into a wooden cup, 'no one should ever feel like that.'

Alaric walked back toward the slave and extended his hand, "Here, water."

It was perfect timing as the young slave finished the barbecue. As he reached for the wooden cup, Alaric internally sighed, 'perfect timing, indeed.'

"'Laric! What in the bloody hell!"

The young slave, who was about to grab the cup, retracted his arms immediately and widened his eyes. He got nervous and started to back away slowly, preparing to run to the back door.

It was Bernard Kenway, his uncle, who was so shocked to see what was in front of him.

Alaric took his time and calmly turned around to see his uncle, whose expression was a mix of shock, fear, and dread.

"Uncle, how are you!" Alaric smiled, "fancy seeing you 'round here."

"What madness be this?! Someone tell me what the fuck's happenin'!" Bernard shouted as the young slave trembled.

"Relax, Uncle, he's just a slave," Alaric tried to defuse the situation, "let's not escalate things further and calm down."

"Just a slave!? You're gonna get us killed!" Bernard sneered, immediately dashing toward the young slave, "I'm going to take that boy to the— Oof!"

Alaric blocked his uncle by the stomach while applying a little chakra, "Relax, Uncle, you're gonna scare my friend away."

"What friend?" Bernard tried to push Alaric away but couldn't, no matter how hard he struggled, "what the hell have you been eating, why are you so strong!? Move!!"

"I didn't want to do this, Uncle," Alaric sighed, then let go of Bernard and weaved sideways. His movement caused Edward to lose his balance and lunge forward, widening his eyes.

"Sorry, unc'!" Alaric swiftly chopped the back of Bernard's neck and caught his body. "Damn, you're heavy."

The young slave couldn't believe his eyes, "How... you... strong!"

Alaric chuckled as he gently made his uncle sit on the ground and lean against the wall.

"Secret..."

"Uncle, you're better than that," Alaric said quietly, 'Or so I thought, can't blame 'im though...'