Theron Xanthos

Theron Xanthos was a Greek-Roman member of the Hidden Ones, later known as the Assassins during the reign of Emperor Augustus Caesar of the Roman Empire. Theron joined the Hidden Ones while young and did much for them throughout his life.

Theron Xanthos
Born	34 BC
Died	36 AD (70 years old)
Affilation	Hidden Ones/Assassins 24 BC-Death

Biography

Early Life

Theron Xanthos was born to Andreas and an unnamed woman in Corinth, Greece. Theron's mother was Roman, but his father, Andreas was Greek and the three of them were very close. Some time when Theron was four years old, his family moved to Rome to live in a safer environment of Roman cities. The move was hard on Theron at first, barely able to speak Latin and being Greek, he was mocked and ignored by the children around him simply for being Greek. Theron only had one friend growing up who accepted Theron's Greek heritage and would even take time to teach Theron how to speak Latin. But even with that one friend he could call his own, Theron loved spending time with his family the most. Theron's mother was the one who would do anything to protect her son, no matter the cost. Andreas was a more caring father who would make tiny wooden figurines that Theron would play with for hours on end. When Theron was six years old, he would sometimes learn Latin writing from a tutor that his parents would pay for, this helped Theron be able to connect more with the other children, and he thought this would help him get more friends, and it did and Theron was happy for a time. Theron's happiness would soon disappear like his mother did. Theron's mother left the house for her farming job one day and never came back, no warning, no expectancy. Theron would lay down in his bed every night, waiting for his mother to return, each night he was only more sad when she never did. With that happening, Andreas became more protective of Theron, going as far as to bring him with to his farming job and kept an eye on Theron as much as he could. Despite this, Andreas still took time to be as best a father he could, teaching Theron how to hunt, how to count and spell, and how to be the best person he could be. Theron and Andreas were very close their entire lives, even though it was to take a strange turn.

The Ones In Hoods

It was 24 BC when it happened. Theron and his father Andreas were in a local market, getting groceries for that night's meal. Andreas, as always, let a now ten year old Theron wander a bit, but made sure to keep him in sight due to the paranoia he had developed ever since Theron's mother disappeared. Near the end of their shopping, Andreas led Theron to a local blacksmith so that they could get some nails to fix their roof. While Andreas was speaking to the blacksmith, Theron couldn't help but notice someone walking around the market. This person seemed female, she wore a white hood that covered her face. She had on strange looking gauntlets and Theron could've sworn that she was missing her ring finger. Theron was curious, was she some kind of ghost watching the world of the living? Theron couldn't put his finger on it, but decided to pay her no mind as his father spoke with the blacksmith. The blacksmith was the kind of Roman who didn't see Greeks as equals, even with their history in philosophy or the likes of Homer. The blacksmith flat out refused to give Andreas the nails needed, even after being offered a price 10 percent higher than the original. The blacksmith reacted violently, shouting for Andreas and Theron to leave his stand or he'd call the guards. The shouting drew attention from and equally narrow-minded crowd, who began to yell and degrade Andreas and Theron. Andreas put his hand on Theron's shoulder and nudged him forward and told him to walk quickly, and they did, only to be blocked by the crowd. Andreas pulled Theron close, telling him that everything was going to be okay. The crowd continued to shout at the two, some even throwing things at them. Eventually, a middle-aged man pulled out a dagger and walked up to Theron. Andreas saw that Theron was in danger and stepped in front of Theron and grabbed the man's hands, stopping the knife in it's tracks. Theron watched his father struggle against the man, then the man pushed Andreas back a few feet and Andreas landed on his back. The man turned back to Theron and raised his dagger in the air. Theron closed his eyes and awaited death, only to hear a strange sound. Theron opened his eyes and saw a blade protrude from the man's chest before being pulled out. The man fell dead and the same woman Theron had seen earlier told Theron that he and his father were safe and free. More people from the crowd began pulling weapons, seven people in total. The woman seemed unscathed and made the cry of an eagle, and arrows were being shot at the people with weapons, killing them. After this was over, Andreas went up to the woman and couldn't express enough gratitude for her. The woman revealed herself to be Caecilia and said that protecting the people of Rome was their job. Theron looked at the roofs and saw several other people in white hoods wielding bows looking down to him. Andreas asked Caecilia who they were. Caecilia asked Andreas and Theron to accompany her to an undisclosed location, stating she would answer all their questions on the way.

A New Cause

Theron followed along with Andreas to whatever destination Caecilia the hooded one had in mind. Along the way, Caecilia explained that she was part of a secret group called The Hidden Ones. The Hidden Ones were a group of warriors from different parts of the world united in the cause of killing anyone who would dare to take away the freedom of humanity. It was their responsibility to make sure humanity's freedom to choose their lives as they see fit. Theron then asked why the Hidden Ones kill, despite their ideals of peace and freedom. Caecilia explained that while it is never easy to end someone's life, the fact remains that sometimes people need to die in order for there to be change. Andreas then asked why Caecilia had the two follow her, to which she said that the two of them could be members of the group. Andreas asked why they could be in the group, to which Caecilia said that the two of them showed strength and strong will, something not easily expressed in most individuals. Andreas was skeptical, what about Theron? Andreas asked Caecilia what would happen to Theron if they joined the group. Caecilia explained that the two of them would be trained by members of the group either separately or together. Andreas didn't like the idea of Theron being trained by himself without Andreas there, but ultimately kept on. He was intent on joining to give the people freedom.

Eventually, the group made it to the destination: The Pantheon District of Rome. Then, Caecilia led them all to a tall building bearing a strange insignia on the front. Theron and Andreas stepped inside and were lead to a big room full of scrolls and books, along with a woman sitting on chair reading something. Caecilia told the woman that they had possible new recruits. The woman stood up and faced them. She was an old woman of about fifty years, with some freckles on her face, long dark hair, and a white hood like the others had. The woman took a look at Theron and Andreas then welcomed them and introduced herself as Amunet, the Mentor of the Hidden Ones in Rome. Amunet then asked Andreas if he wanted to join the Hidden Ones, to which he said yes, but then asked what would become of Theron. Amunet understood Theron's concern and said that he would have to be trained by himself, it was the only way Theron would be able to develop fast. Theron was scared of the idea and told it to Andreas, to which Amunet said that it was okay he was scared, but it was the only way. Andreas then asked if the two would at least be able to see each other regularly, just so they wouldn't forget about each other. Amunet said yes as that was what she had intended. Andreas then knelt down to Theron and told him that them becoming one of the Hidden Ones would help many people and told Theron he had to be strong. Theron nodded and accepted his fate as Andreas gave Theron his thin armband and tied it around Theron so that he wouldn't forget about Andreas. Andreas got up and told Amunet that they were ready to begin training. Amunet turned to Caecilia and told her to get Ayanda. Caecilia bowed her head and went to get whomever Ayanda was. A few minutes later, Caecilia came back with a tall man with dark skin and thick muscles, he introduced himself as Ayanda from Egypt. Amunet told Theron that he would be apprenticed to Ayanda and Ayanda would train Theron. Ayanda told Theron that they should get started, so Theron walked to Ayanda, as well as his new life.

Training

Beginning Lessons

The first few days of training were simple for Theron. He was being taught about the Hidden Ones and that they were to make sure everyone had their own free will, and to get rid of anyone who dared to take that away. Slowly but surly, the lessons Ayanda would put Theron through as he began to make Theron run certain routes around the Pantheon and would make him do the route all over again and again if he didn't make it back within three minutes. By the end of the first day of route running, Theron collapsed in his bed in his quarters and was amazed that one could be so sore and tired. Andreas came in and asked Theron how the training was going, to which Theron said he hated it and wanted to go home. Andreas understood Theron's pain, but said that it was necessary if they were to serve the Hidden Ones. Theron was able to endure the pain and suffering and was eventually able to run the route Ayanda had in mind int he appropriate time. Once that was done, Ayanda told Theron that the next lesson would be the worse thus far. Theron didn't like the sound of that and regrettably asked what it was. Ayanda said nothing and told Theron they were going for a little walk. The two walked to a nearby lake, a clear one with not a strong current and was around eight feet deep. Theron dropped down to his knees and drank some of the water of the lake. Ayanda then said to Theron to kick his legs and that if he didn't come up within thirty seconds, Ayanda would get Theron. Theron was confused and was about to ask what Ayanda meant, but couldn't when Ayanda kicked him into the lake. Theron fell into the lake and sank nearly to the bottom. Theron was terrified, he screamed but that just took all the air out of him. Theron kept sinking, he couldn't hear or think clearly. He knew he was going to die. As Theron was preparing for death, he remembered Ayanda's words of kicking his feet. Theron did this, and he was propelled up a ways. Theron, while calmed that he knew what to do now, was still feeling the emptiness inside him consume him more and more. Theron kicked faster, but that made him fatigue even more. Theron got and cramp and couldn't kick anymore. Theron closed his eyes and just waited for death. Suddenly, a had grabbed Theron's arm and pulled him up. Theron opened his eyes and was rewarded with the air of the surface. Theron gasped in air as though it was all he knew how to do. He laid down for a time before looking up at Ayanda. Ayanda was still glistening and told Theron that he failed. Theron snapped, berating his teacher that he almost died. Ayanda didn't even flinch and told Theron that he had kicked, had he not? Theron admitted that he had kicked a little bit before felling pain in his legs. Ayanda let a look of approval escape him and said pointed out that kicking was exactly what he had told Theron to do. Theron allowed himself to calm down when he realized the advice Ayanda gave him worked, and would only get better as Theron did. Ayanda could see that Theron was calming down and said that they would try again in a moment. This time, Theron would just jump into the lake himself and was reminded of Ayanda's advice once again. Theron jumped into the lake and sank to the bottom again, he kicked his feet as before, and it helped him more, before he got too tired and sank again. Ayanda saved his apprentice once again and said they had work to do.

==== Climbing ====