After crossing the forest and traversing grasslands and streams, the Graphorn gradually slowed its pace and carried Ezio into a valley.
Eyes hidden in gaps between the treetops watched Ezio from every direction. Some were hostile, but most were curious.
A nondescript straw-and-wood hut stood not far from the streambank. A wooden fence stood beside it, enclosing a few small creatures that looked delicious—pink and plump, utterly out of place in this forest full of predators.
The Graphorn stopped in front of the hut and crouched down again. Once Ezio had climbed off, it turned its head and reached into the pen. With one bite, it snatched up a creature that looked a little like a piglet and swallowed it as a snack without even chewing much.
Only after finishing its well-earned treat did it amble away.
The hut's door suddenly opened, and a young man with slightly dark skin appeared in the doorway. He was bare-chested, and his body was painted with intricate red patterns, probably some kind of Runes. Staring at them for too long brought on a faint dizziness.
"Ezio Auditore?" the young man asked, calling Ezio by his full name.
"Yes, that's me."
"The master is waiting inside." The young man looked Ezio up and down. "I really don't know what someone like you, who's only just started learning magic—"
A soft cough came from behind him. The young man stiffened slightly. "Come with me."
The space beyond the wooden door was vast. Soft animal-hide rugs covered the floor, and a bonfire burned in the middle of the room. The aroma of roasting meat drifted above the flames. An elderly wizard with a white beard sat on the ground, humming as he grilled the meat. Once the outermost layer was cooked, he extended a finger that