New Generation Training

10 Velen 1224

The Order of Assassins has existed for generations. Centuries of hiding in the shadows of the world, protecting the population from the threat of the strongest, hunting down those who seek to seize power by force for their nefarious ends. Although King-killers are the worst kind of criminals, the Assassins have decided to take on this role for the good of all. Killing one person to save millions. The Lesser Evil for the Greater Good. A logic that many would find distorted, a unique vision of the world and life. A concept that entails both safeguards and risks. The world is not black and white or even grey. Instead, it is multicolored. An infinite number of colors designating an endless number of people. Each of them is unique, even if we can find common patterns. Patterns that the Order sometimes prefers to follow when assassinating certain influential people, be they royalty, mages, soldiers, or merchants.

Some people don't understand this. Others think like this, but only when it benefits them and as long as the lesser evil isn't them or what they value most. Many Assassins believe this, others don't and express it to the Council, but little changes. The Order exists to protect humanity from itself, just as the Way of the Witcher exists to kill monsters. The League will disappear when the world no longer needs it, but the Assassins know that day will never come. Man is destined to wage war against man until he is extinct. That's why each new generation of Assassins is trained and educated in the Creed of the Order by the older generation. Look to the past to avoid making the same mistakes and bringing about its downfall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Novigrad, the free city of Redania, is home to the hidden Order of Assassins. In the depths of Novigrad lies the world's largest underground city, the House of Assassins. In the training hall, 20 young children are huddled together. In front of them is a large table with numerous melee and ranged weapons. Between the children and the table, a man and woman wear the Assassins' uniform.

"Good; you will now choose your weapon of choice. An Assassin must know how to fight with his bare hands, but not only that: he must also master ranged and melee weapons. Later, you'll learn how to handle several weapon styles to defend yourself with any weapon if you lose yours," says the man.

"You must have read the catalog of weapons available, but if you haven't, several copies are prepared for today. You have the whole day to make your choice. Don't choose your weapon hastily. Take your time to think about it", finishes the woman before making way for the man.

The children then split into two groups. Some had the children look directly at the weapons because they had already read the book or wanted to admire the guns on display. Others have the children look at the catalogs for the first time or again.

Above them, leaning against the railing, Saibus looks at the novices' choices with Desmond, who is against a pillar.

"Do you remember when we were in their seats? We were happy to be able to start your weapons training officially. The choice of weapon is crucial for a child," says Desmond.

"Indeed, it makes him enthusiastic. That's why this event exists, after all. Children don't spend their lives fighting with their chosen weapon. They can change with their mentors or even before when they realize the weapon style doesn't suit them after all," continued Saibus.

"When you're young, you think about fighting with a morgenstern, but you realize you use speed and agility more than strength. You quickly swap your Morgenstern for a Rapier, a Xiphos, a Falcata, or a Lighter Sabre. You don't choose something around the age of ten that will define your future when you know nothing about the world and how it works. And to think we took it very seriously when we were young."

"I think the person who created this is a bit sadistic towards children."

Down below, two children are talking with the instructors. They ask them questions about their choice of weapons and seek advice from people with more experience than they do. Some children selected their weapons and sat further away to avoid disturbing them. At the same time, others moved aside to have space to practice with their new weapons.

"Children these days are full of enthusiasm and energy, unlike us at their age," says Saibus as he watches the children practicing or having fun with their weapons.

"Certainly, but let's prepare the test for the novices about to become apprentices. They need a mentor, after all."

Saibus nodded and followed Desmond, who had started to head for another section of the training hall. Walking to where some of the novices take the mentor spotting test, Saibus and Desmond greet the assassins who cross their path and welcome them back.

"Have you thought about an idea for a test?"

"We can have one-on-one fights like Leonidas made us do," says Desmond.

"Do you want to do what your mentor did, or don't you want to think about it?" replies Saibus, looking at Desmond.

"No, one-on-one fights allow you to see novices' skills."

"Except when they fall against opponents stronger than them or are better at stealth, information gathering, or whatever.

"Fine, you win, no one-on-one combat. What do you suggest in that case?" grumbles Desmond at his unsuccessful idea.

"How about a simulation."

"A simulation? Tell me more. I might like your idea."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several instructors are training the novices in a room in the Training Hall for their future test. There are around twenty of them in the room. The novices are divided into several groups to learn in greater depth and get better help from the instructors.

An instructor is teaching a group of five students who are standing in front of him. The students are two girls and three boys. All five are sweating profusely.

"Well, that was good hand-to-hand combat, but I've got some corrections to make," says the instructor as he surveys the five novices in front of him, who are crouched on the floor, trying to catch their breath.

The Assassin looks at a tall, muscular young teenager.

"Jaker, you're throwing too many punches. Although this is a sparring match, that doesn't mean there's no strength behind your strikes."

"Yes, sir," Jaker responds with a military salute.

The instructor turns to a child with short, slender red hair.

"Gil, you need to improve your footwork. You're not fast enough, which makes it easy for us to get ahead of you."

"Understood, Sir," replies Gil with a smile.

Turning to a young, petite pre-adolescent girl with long chestnut hair.

"Thea, you need to think more with your head and not rush into your opponent. Visualize your opponent and anticipate his next moves. This will prevent you from taking unnecessary blows and injuring yourself stupidly."

"I think, sir, but my instincts are stronger," Thea complains to her combat instructor.

The instructor then looks at her sternly.

"Fight him then because he'll end up hurting you badly."

"Roger, sir," replies Thea with her head down.

He then directs his gaze toward the second girl in the group. Tall with short blonde hair. "Ysolda, you're making progress but concentrating too much on your opponent and not enough on your surroundings. Pay attention to your surroundings. You never know when another enemy might arrive."

Ysolda nods her head up and down, showing that she has understood the instructor. The Assassin then looks at the last five members, a teenage dwarf with black hair.

"Bjork, train your fists. I know you like to overpower your opponents, but your punches are powerful, so use them."

"Understood, boss," said Bjork, shaking his head. After making individual observations, the instructor begins to make general and collective remarks when they are interrupted.

"Stop!" One of the instructors shouts to be heard throughout the room.

The chief instructor can then speak.

"Right, the last training session is over. In three days, you will take the test prepared by the Council so that the mentors can assess your skills and select you. I'll repeat it but don't stress. If no mentor takes you on, it's not that you're incompetent. It's just that no mentors are available to teach you. Right, now go and rest and get ready for three days from now."