Written by Epicstu Wyyvernwritter

The Third was a professional assassin who wanted only to be the best. He had no order, he could not be bought, and he only accepted contracts from those who could find him. In the Wyyvernwiter’s Multiverse, there has been one born in each and every Realm who shares his name and his skill.
* *
A Northlandish Fennec Fox, an assassin with armor that covered every inch of his body, crouched in wait on the roof of a building just outside House Dimir’s house of worship. Every Northlandish Fennec Fox House had a house of worship, a place for prayer where only members of that House were allowed. The masked Fennec assassin’s target was Edward Michael of House Dimir, He had learned of Edward’s habit of praying alone before bed. A lantern caught his eye, it was Edward. His time had come. As soon as the door shut behind his Mark, the masked Fennec assassin leaped to the courtyard walls. Using the shadows to hide himself, he moved to the roof of House Dimir’s house of worship.
Edward lit the candles under his peoples’ God’s symbol, a tower shield with a cross which covered the entire Sigil. It stood for the burden all Northlandish Fennec Fox’s had to bear. To protect the Lands and all her Races from threats that no other Race could stand against. “God,” he prayed. “Let this war end. Allow me to strike down the wicked of the Sergal people so that those who remain may find peace with my race and with all others. Allow me to end the Rebels that threaten that peace. Show the peoples of these Lands that we are here as allies and not as enemies,” then his ear twitched. “Only those of my House may enter here, and I do not recognize your footsteps, stranger. Leave now, and I will tell no one of your trespassing.” When no answer came, he turned to face the intruder.
Edward yelped and grunted as a two-foot long jagged-blade pierced his side and lifted him up. The masked assassin held Edward above his head for a moment before tossing him off of his blade away from the altar. Edward got to a knee and held his side, growling from the pain. The assassin walked to him slowly, spun his dual-bladed quarterstaff, and swung for a decapitation. The razor sharp blade, opposite to the jagged-blade, was caught by Edward’s chainmail scarf. Edward grabbed the staff, pulled the assassin close to himself, and broke the razor sharp blade off the stave. He headbutted the assassin, sending him reeling back. He then took his scarf and wrapped it tight around his wound to stop the bleeding. The Assassin came back for another attempt at decapitating his Mark, but Edward caught the staff and broke the jagged-blade off of it. Headbutting him again, Edward landed an upper-cut to the assassin’s gut following through with a left jab, a right hook, and then another headbutt. Then he put his foot to the assassin’s chest and kicked. The assassin found his back to the altar. He looked up at the tower shield and cross behind him, then he felt a blade upon his shoulder. “Who hired you, assassin?” Edward demanded. When the assassin gave no reply, Edward pulled the assassin’s mask from his face. In the light of the candles, Edward saw that this Fennec was barely nine years of age. Old enough to have made the climb to the top of Mount conquest, but too young to have found an Order. “I asked you a question, pup.” The assassin opened his mouth. He had no tongue to speak with. “I see,” Edward took a closer look and saw a House seal on his chest piece. His eye’s widened, “You are of the fallen House, Aventis. You are Leon, the child whose body was never found.” The assassin hung his head low, the memory weighed heavily upon his mind. The entire House of Aventis had perished in a fire that had engulfed their estate. “Leave Cathedral City, or meet me at this exact time tomorrow at the base of Mount Conquest. The decision is yours alone.” Leon of the fallen House Aventis stood up. “After tomorrow, If I catch you in my mother’s city again, I will kill you,” Edward warned. Leon left the way he had entered.
* *
Edward and Dolan stopped. Before them stood a Cat clothed in shadow and even in Hell, he was followed closely by Death. “Are you the Third?” Edward questioned.
“I do not care for escape, my time, as well as that of my kin, will come soon enough,” the Third replied. “I only desire to be the best. Your brother, Aleister, has bested another who shares my name and skill.” He knew well the lives of all who shared his name and skill. Aleister Dimir was the only assassin in the entire Multiverse to have superior skill over a Leon Aventis. “Unfortunately, the famed assassin of House Dimir is currently occupied with another task. Simply give me your word that you will tell him of my challenge and you may pass.”
“Tell me your name then, that I might know who challenges my brother,” Edward requested.
“You know my name, for you raised the one from your Realm, who shares my name,” the Third replied.
Edward remembered whom he spoke of and smiled, “If my brother does not answer your challenge, what then?”
“He will,” replied the Third. “Like myself, he only desires to be the best.”
“Then you have my word,” Edward replied. “He will hear of your challenge, Leon Aventis.”
The Third smiled and stepped aside, holding his hand out towards his gate and giving a bow. “I will hold you to your word, Edward Dimir. Tell Aleister Dimir that I await him here, in Hell.”
Edward and Dolan walked on past the Gate of the Third, and it resealed in Edward’s teal snowfire behind them. “That was too easy,” said Dolan. “You could be sending your brother into a trap.”
“Most likely,” Edward replied. “Aleister loves traps, springing them is one of his favorite pastimes..”
* *
At the base of Mount Conquest, on the northernmost side, Leon of the fallen House Aventis arrived to meet with Edward of House Dimir. There were four others with him, “Leon, I was beginning to think you were not going to show,” Edward greeted him with a friendly smile, “This is Krunk of House Saberfennec.”
“Hey, little Fox,” said Krunk with a friendly, deep, and burly voice. “Glad to see you made it.”
“Roku and Buck of House Vlad,” Edward gestured to the twins.
“This is the one who wounded the Wall?” Buck questioned.
“So young, color me impressed,” Roku commented.
“And Juliana of House Mountainhiem,” Edward finished his introductions, “our Commanding Officer.”
“So you are the one who put my best Knight out of commission,” Juliana walked up to Leon with a scowl on her face.
“Hey,” the twins of House Vlad interrupted in unison, “we are standing right here.”
Krunk laughed, “you can prove her wrong if you’d like.”
Roku and Buck looked to Edward, even with his injury Edward looked back and gestured them to bring it on with a smug look on his face. “Nah, I am good,” said Roku.
“Me too,” Buck added.
Juliana retained her scowl as she glared at Leon. “Since my Best has to sit on the sidelines for the next few weeks, I am in need of a new recruit,” then she smiled and raised an eyebrow, “You in?” Leon thought for a moment. This was not what he had expected at all. “All you have to do is reach the top and return alive.” Leon dropped everything on him and stripped down without hesitation. He knew the rules of this tradition, only one item may be carried with him to the top.
He walked up to Edward and gestured for the scarf that had saved Edward from his decapitation. Edward handed it over, “do not lose it,” Edward said, “ it is important to me.” Leon nodded, wrapped the scarf around his neck, and walked to the mountain’s base. He unsheathed his six-inch retractable claws and began his climb. “Finally,” he thought to himself, “a family to call my own.
“Are you sure about this, Edward?” Juliana asked as they watched the young Fennec climb. “He’s just a pup. The youngest ever to be accepted into a Knight’s Order.”
“I believe Fate has plans for him,” Edward replied, “and it is not every day one gets to see a fallen House resurrect. Besides, you told me yourself we could use an assassin.”
“I said we could use my brother,” Juliana replied.
“My brother belongs to your father now,” Edward rebutted. “We could not have him even if he wanted to join us. Speaking of Aleister, he has requested to personally train Leon.”

“Good,” Juliana replied. “Then, if all goes well, we have our assassin.”
* *
All was calm under the starry sky of eternal night as the Dreadnautilus floated atop the ocean that filled half the Realm it occupied. Suddenly he began to tilt as alarms sounded all through the great ship, “This is it!” Captain Chastity shouted to her crew, “all hands to stations!” she rushed to the bridge and took hold of the helm. “It is time to show the Wyyvern of Fate who the original Fates are.” Hubris, Magnus, Sun, and Tzu heeded their Captain’s orders and prepared for the long and grueling battle that awaited them.