Chapter 26: We March As One

“The mafia holds the code of ‘omertà’ sacred. Keep our secrets no matter what,” Vito explained. “Adventurers seek glory, and the mafia is renowned only for things they might have done. We rarely take credit, and if we do, it’s only to strike fear in our enemies or inspire our allies,” he told them. “Whatever we discuss remains here. Speak of it to no one.”

“Sounds interesting. I think I’ll like working in the shadows,” Delwyn commented.

Vito smirked in reply. “I thought you might.” He then turned to address the others. “You’re all dismissed for now. Delwyn, Iris, we’ll meet by the entrance in ten minutes,” he concluded.

“Before that, you mentioned that you lived in another world. I’d like to discuss that,” Parsifal broached the subject they had been considering for some time now.

“Call me a liar if you so wish, I kept this secret for nineteen years now,” he began. “It’s as I told Greye, I was born in another world we call Earth, on the island of Sicily. I was raised my entire life to help my older brother run the DeCapio mafia family. I died protecting my fiancée from an ambush, and Ivalis told me I died too soon and brought me here.”

“Rosa, you mean,” Iris spoke softly.

“Yes, the woman who looks like you. I gave my life for hers. When I saw you, I thought I had failed in some way. I’m glad to see that I didn’t,” Vito confirmed.

“Hmm. I have heard of such tales, but they always seemed like fairy-stories. You never mentioned it before,” Parsifal pointed out.

“I always felt like I was playing in someone else’s game, and I didn’t want to drag anyone else into it,” Vito explained.

“But you met the goddess Ivalis! Surely you wouldn’t suspect treachery from such a wonderful being,” Iris argued.

“I’m sorry, my father taught me to question the gifts strangers give you, because they might not always be given out of kindness.” She seemed saddened by his words. “If she’s worthy of your admiration, then I will trust her for now.” Iris smiled and nodded.

“Greye knew,” Holly told him. “He said you were a bit too smart and clever for your age. You had eyes that saw beyond this world.”

Vito chuckled. “If I ended up here, maybe he ended up in my world. He’d like Sicily. My family would take him in and show him how things work.”

Holly shook her head and smiled. “Don’t worry about him, he’s with our ancestors beyond the skies.” She pulled Vito and Galien close to embrace them both. “And he loved you both.” She released them and quietly left the cabin. Galien silently followed her, a sad expression on his face.

“Your plan then, is it to protect us, or to enrich yourself?” Parsifal inquired, his voice icy cold.

“My fathers, John DeCapio and Greye, raised me to cherish family. I will fight and die again for every one of you,” Vito swore. “Someone took Greye from us, and I will see him punished for it. He’s also threatened the rest of my family, and I will see them protected. This is for Greye.”

“For Greye,” Delwyn repeated.

“For Greye,” Iris, Galien, Kaelyn, Elion, Holly, and Amelsia spoke in turn.

“Fine. For Greye,” Parsifal decided to trust him for now. “Let’s get started then.”

Vito spoke as they left the cabin to carry out their duties. “Amelsia, right? I’d like to speak with you.”

The timid mage, donned in a simple blue robe, froze in place and slowly turned to face him. “Yes…?”

“Sorry for troubling you, but I wanted to ask you a question. Is that all right?”

“Y-Yes…”

“I noticed that you sneezed earlier, but you didn’t make a sound. I sensed magic from you at the time. Is this some sort of silencing spell?”

Amelsia flinched. “Y-Yes. I’m very sorry. I have allergies, and I don’t want to be a bother.”

Vito smiled kindly. “You’re not a bother. In fact, I believe you will be the linchpin to this whole mission.”

Amelsia was stunned. “Me? The linchpin?” She was in disbelief.

He nodded. “Yes. The rifle makes a lot of noise when it’s fired. A whole army of guards will know where to find us right away,” he explained. “However, if you used your silencing spell, I can pull the trigger without worry. Could you please explain how your spell works?”

She slowly nodded. “I sort of smother sound around me.”

He didn’t think her descriptor was very helpful, but if the spell worked, he wouldn’t complain. “How far can you smother the sound?”

“Maybe a foot in diameter?” She seemed uncertain.

Vito thought for a moment. “Could you increase the range to around ten feet?”

Amelsia was alarmed? “T-Ten feet?” She fidgeted in place.

“Yes. You’re the best silencer any marksman could hope for. I need you to smother any noise that might come from my team. Can you do it?” Despite her timid appearance, Vito had faith in her abilities. Greye himself praised her talents, and Vito’s Scan revealed her remarkable level 34 stats and abilities.

She looked around the room, anywhere but in Vito’s direction. She pulled a black hood over her head, then pulled it further to cover her face. Vito raised an eyebrow and began to wonder if Parsifal could copy her spell.

Amelsia growled in frustration and threw her hood off. She then slapped her cheeks to encourage herself. “No! I can do it in time for the mission!” she declared. “For Greye!”

Vito confidently smiled and nodded. “Good. We’re all counting on you. I’ll provide whatever resources you need to perfect your spell.”

Vito escorted Amelsia out of the cabin and locked the door behind him. He saw Holly carrying Greye’s sword and walking toward the hamlet entrance. Curious, he followed her and found Galien with a traveling bag on his back.

“That looks pretty full. I don’t think you’ll have room for the spare uniforms,” Vito called out to him.

Galien didn’t dare to look in his direction. “Someone else can do it. I’m leaving.”

Vito stopped in his tracks and glared at his brother. “What are you doing? We need you here.”

“No, you don’t,” Galien turned around to hide his face. “I…I killed him. I killed my father. He died because I ran off on my own. It’s all my fault.” His voice trembled with anguish.

Holly approached him from behind and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You know that’s not true. What happened was not your fault.”

“That’s right. Renaudin ordered the hit, and his men carried it out. You did nothing wrong,” Vito argued. He walked closer and spun Galien around to face him. “It’s your duty as his son and the heir to everything he’s built to avenge him.”

Vito stepped aside so their mother could approach. Holly offered her husband’s sword to Galien. “Take this. Your father intended to give it to you when he retired. Let him walk beside you.”

Tears welled in his eyes as he gently set his hand on the blade. “But…”

She gently smiled. “Just take it and help your brother stop this evil from bringing ruin to our home.”

Galien set his bag down and took his father’s sword. It felt warm and heavy in his hands.

“His only regret,” Vito began, “is that he couldn’t see you grow into the good man and great warrior he knew you would become. Nothing more.” He spoke from experience as he often wondered what had become of his own child. “Let’s show him that he has nothing to worry about.”

Galien quietly nodded and set his weapon aside to equip his father’s greatsword. “I’m with you until the end.”