Beneath the flickering torchlight of the Sistine Chapel, the elite Templar known only as *Umbra* watched silently from the rafters, a phantom presence shrouded in black. Few in Rome knew of his existence, and even fewer could comprehend the depths of his skill. The Pope's official guards stood in polished armor, ostentatious and easily bypassed by the cunning assassins of the Creed of Sanguine. But Umbra was different-a ghost in the Vatican, unseen, unheralded, yet always there. Tonight, whispers of bloodshed echoed in the cold corridors; the assassins had come, confident and arrogant. They moved like shadows, but Umbra *was* the shadow, and they were already ensnared in his web. The first assassin barely registered the faint swish of fabric before a blade slid silently between his ribs, leaving him crumpled in a prayer alcove. His comrade, alert to danger, turned too late as Umbra dropped from above, dispatching him with a flick of his wrist. The third, a master of stealth and renowned for eluding even the most skilled guards, had the misfortune of crossing the Templar's path in the main hall. The assassin’s eyes widened as Umbra seemed to emerge from the very stonework, his movements fluid and lethal. "I see you," the assassin whispered, a rare acknowledgment of an opponent's prowess. But Umbra did not respond. He struck, his blade swift and true, leaving the assassin lifeless upon the marble floor. By dawn, the Vatican was secure once more, the Pope none the wiser to the slaughter that had unfolded beneath his sanctum. Umbra retreated to his hidden quarters, his heart steady, his purpose unwavering. For him, there was no glory in his work, no recognition beyond the silent knowledge that his vigilance safeguarded the Holy Father. He was not a man but a shadow cast by duty-a shadow that would always move faster, strike harder, and vanish before the danger could comprehend its defeat. As the bells of the Vatican tolled their morning hymn, Umbra blended back into obscurity, a silent guardian forever a step ahead of those who sought to breach the sanctity of Rome. - Shadow of the Vatican by Cinematic Serenity
Beneath the flickering torchlight of the Sistine Chapel, the elite Templar known only as *Umbra* watched silently from the rafters, a phantom presence shrouded in black. Few in Rome knew of his existence, and even fewer could comprehend the depths of his skill. The Pope's official guards stood in polished armor, ostentatious and easily bypassed by the cunning assassins of the Creed of Sanguine. But Umbra was different-a ghost in the Vatican, unseen, unheralded, yet always there. Tonight, whispers of bloodshed echoed in the cold corridors; the assassins had come, confident and arrogant. They moved like shadows, but Umbra *was* the shadow, and they were already ensnared in his web.
The first assassin barely registered the faint swish of fabric before a blade slid silently between his ribs, leaving him crumpled in a prayer alcove. His comrade, alert to danger, turned too late as Umbra dropped from above, dispatching him with a flick of his wrist. The third, a master of stealth and renowned for eluding even the most skilled guards, had the misfortune of crossing the Templar's path in the main hall. The assassin’s eyes widened as Umbra seemed to emerge from the very stonework, his movements fluid and lethal. "I see you," the assassin whispered, a rare acknowledgment of an opponent's prowess. But Umbra did not respond. He struck, his blade swift and true, leaving the assassin lifeless upon the marble floor.
By dawn, the Vatican was secure once more, the Pope none the wiser to the slaughter that had unfolded beneath his sanctum. Umbra retreated to his hidden quarters, his heart steady, his purpose unwavering. For him, there was no glory in his work, no recognition beyond the silent knowledge that his vigilance safeguarded the Holy Father. He was not a man but a shadow cast by duty-a shadow that would always move faster, strike harder, and vanish before the danger could comprehend its defeat. As the bells of the Vatican tolled their morning hymn, Umbra blended back into obscurity, a silent guardian forever a step ahead of those who sought to breach the sanctity of Rome.
- Shadow of the Vatican by Cinematic Serenity