A Fresh Start

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Happily Ever After? was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.

Description

With one Cultist left alive, it was time for Kassandra to fulfill her vow. To find them, she was called to the place where she learned of their existence. She'd have to go back to where it all began.

Dialogue

Kassandra re-entered the sanctuary under the Temple of Apollo, this time fully armed and armored. As she followed the path into the core of the sanctuary, she heard her mother's voice.

• Myrrine: Kassandra.
• Myrrine: Kassandra.
• Myrrine: Kassandra.

The voice was distorted. Kassandra entered the main sanctuary.

• Myrrine: Kassandra?
• Myrrine: Kassandra.
• Myrrine: Kassandra.

The voice appeared to be coming from the artifact in the center. Kassandra marched towards it. Though its fragments had been long separated, the beams of light converged into the shape of a pyramid and seemingly invited Kassandra. After some hesitation, she reached out to touch her hand to the light.

A vision filled her mind, showing Pythagoras standing in the chamber she now stood in. He addressed her directly, as if knowing she would view this vision.

• Pythagoras: Kassandra.
• Pythagoras: It was never supposed to be like this.

Images of the Greek world flashed before her.

• Pythagoras: Decades ago, a group of people gathered together to uphold a theory which they believed could control the universe.
• Pythagoras: That the world functioned in equal parts, order and disorder.

An image of Kyra and Kassandra at the funeral pyre of Podarkes also flashed in her mind.

• Pythagoras: But some fell lovingly into the wicked arms of chaos. And the Cult of Kosmos was born.

An image of Leonidas standing defiant against the Cult in Delphi flashed in her mind, followed by an image of the night Alexios was sacrificed.

• Pythagoras: They abused their power, casting the Greek world into eternal war—one you were created to stop.

Images of battles, as well as Kassandra's own struggles, filled her mind.

• Pythagoras: In destroying the Cult, you have done what I could not. You are a hero.
• Pythagoras: But this imbalance comes with a price, my child.

An image of a pyramid flashed in her mind, followed by a mysterious hooded man traveling alone, prior to standing above a mountain fortress. This was followed by an image of a palace, as well as a brotherhood of hooded men and women charging a line of well-armored soldiers.

• Pythagoras: For without chaos, there is supreme order. A loss of progression and freedom.

An image of an eagle soaring across a frontier entered her mind next, followed by an image of well-equipped ships tore one another to shreds.

• Pythagoras: But there is still hope - hope in you, hope in the future you will bring.

This was followed by an image of another eagle, soaring above a grand place of worship. Another eagle soared above a bridge leading to a massive tower.

• Pythagoras: We must fix the mistakes of the past. Use the staff. Repair the rift in the universe.

The final image to enter Kassandra's mind showed her in an unfamiliar garb, holding a staff, and handing it to a woman in an equally-strange garb.

• Pythagoras: The world depends on you, Kassandra.
• Pythagoras: You need to be the hero again.

The images ceased, and Kassandra withdrew her hand.

As the pyramid continued to glow and flash its strange numbers and letters, the familiar voice of a woman called to Kassandra from the side.

• Aspasia: So you've seen it too, then?
• Aspasia: It's beautiful isn't it?

She smiled warmly at the pyramid. Kassandra was confused by her presence.

• Kassandra: What are you doing here?
• Aspasia: You killed the last member of the Cult. Well, just about.

She presented the final Cultist mask to Kassandra.

• Kassandra: What?
• Aspasia: It's true. I was their leader, but only for a moment it seemed. When your brother came along, it changed everything we were aiming for.

(If players asked "How could you agree with the Cult?")

• Kassandra: You agreed with them? With the fucking Cult?
• Aspasia: The powers that be in the Greek world weren't doing things the right way. The Cult just wanted a clean slate.
• Kassandra: By way of corruption. Dirty drachmae. They killed people in a war they made themselves.
• Aspasia: Fueling war was one of the methods, yes. But it was controlled. Until suddenly it wasn't. And then I didn't like what we were doing anymore.

(If players asked "Isn't Deimos on your side?")

• Kassandra: I thought Deimos was on your side.
• Aspasia: Not in the way we hoped. As you know, he's impossible to control. He worked his way to the helm, and then he held even more sway than I did.

(If players chose "I can't believe you're one of them.")

• Kassandra: Maláka... So you were after us.
• Aspasia: Not you, your bloodline. People like Leonidas, like you, have always posed a threat. Then we met, and you surprised me. You were nothing like Deimos.
• Kassandra: Why not just use me? I was in the palm of your hand.
• Aspasia: You made me optimistic, that you could help me bring down the Cult that had become so corrupt. And you did, albeit unknowingly.

You're just like them.Flirt - This was a risky move.You meant no harm.

• Kassandra: Telling me you're a Cultist took guts. You know what I do to Cultists, Aspasia.
• Aspasia: I didn't want to lie to you anymore. Now that they're gone, we can work together. I think we'd make a good match, don't you?

• Kassandra: I just don't understand. What about this... pyramid? How does it work? Why does the Cult have it?
• Aspasia: I've been trying to figure out all of that myself. It's as much of a mystery to you as it is to me.
• Aspasia: This pyramid has been worshipped by the Cult for decades, and we have used it to replace the Oracle of Delphi, the most trusted person in all the Greek world.
• Aspasia: Using the people's reliance on a pantheon of dead gods would help to reshape humanity in our favor. The pyramid holds a mysterious power to see into time. But only certain people can activate it. People like Deimos, and the ones in your bloodline.
• Kassandra: But you've seen something, too.
• Aspasia: I don't know how or why, but it did show me something.
• Kassandra: What did you see?
• Aspasia: I saw you. In the vision, you destroyed the pyramid and you destroyed the Cult... I saw what would come after.
• Kassandra: After the Cult?
• Aspasia: We will be replaced by a new kind of order—control under the reign of a philosopher king. There would be a movement away from the old gods towards rational society, built in a kingdom by the people, for the people. And I must find someone to lead them.
• Aspasia: But I couldn't achieve any of this with the Cult and their chaotic regime. So I let them carry out their plans, and let the time of the Cult of Kosmos come to an end on its own.
• Kassandra: Wait. Did Perikles know?
• Aspasia: I wanted to protect him, so I kept him in the dark. He would have had his own opinions. But he was never supposed to die. That is the truth.

Better to keep him ignorant.You betrayed his trust.

• Kassandra: He trusted you. And in the end, you didn't protect him. Maybe he would be alive if you'd stopped them.
• Aspasia: Gods know I would have if I could. When Deimos killed him, I knew the original cause was lost. I had to retreat.

• Kassandra: So. What happens now?
• Aspasia: We shift focus. We steer towards a new republic under one supreme rule. A dream I'll make reality.
• Kassandra: But it is still a dream. One that isn't realistic.
• Aspasia: Abandon what you know and just imagine! Forget democracy. No more blue and red, just citizens working for a greater good.
• Kassandra: This is crazy. It won't work, Aspasia. It didn't work.
• Aspasia: It's not crazy, it's enlightened. Once in people in Athens get wind of this, they'll come to know they've wanted it all along. Even you.

Kassandra waffled at Aspasia's words.

• Kassandra: I'm not sure.
• Aspasia: You've spent your whole life thinking for yourself. Let go. What I plan will require you to trust me.
• Aspasia: Come with me. This future's not a dream.

Flirt - I want to kiss you.Attack - I'm here to kill you.Leave - We need to destroy the artifact.

• Kassandra: I can't let you do this. You've caused so much damage. You destroyed the Greek world.
• Aspasia: You've proven you have no understanding of what we're doing. I misjudged you.
• Kassandra: So did I.

Aspasia attacked Kassandra, and Kassandra gave her the same end as every Cultist before her.

Kassandra made her way to the artifact as she heard her mother's voice again.

• Myrrine: Kassandra.
• Myrrine: There is much left to do, lamb.
• Myrrine: ...A storm is coming...

Kassandra plunged the Spear of Leonidas into the center of the artifact. Its light flickered and went out. Kassandra drew her spear back seething with anger. She defied the artifact's final words.

• Kassandra: I can weather any storm.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey