Guardian of Hope

Élise was born the daughter of François de la Serre, Grand Master of the French Templars, and Julie de la Serre in 1768. As a small child, Élise was oblivious to her family's Order, she did not question her parents why they were different from other families. Her mother told her not to be like the other women at court who only knew of looks and status. This intrigued Élise, who started spying on other women behind her mother's skirts.

Élise met her combat mentor and a British Templar, Frederick Weatherall, in February 1774. The young girl admired the man and immediately took a liking to him. At first, Élise was confused and questioned her mother about her father and Weatherall, but Julie convinced her that he was a confidant and protector and that her father would be busy.

Élise's parents were revealed their plans to her, which were to prepare her to become the future Grand Master of the Parisian Rite, and tell her of the secret Assassin-Templar War. Relieved that her questions were finally answered, Élise found the idea of leading the country to order and peace a principled idea.

François de la Serre adopted young Arno Dorian, following his father's death at the hands of Shay Cormac. As a result, she and Arno grew up together, with the energetic Élise often getting her adoptive brother into trouble. Once, she convinced him to jump a fence into an orchard, which happened to be patrolled by guard dogs. They became great friends, and Élise took her role as older sister with enjoyment. Soon Élise was called by her parents who revealed Arno's Assassin heritage to her, even though the boy himself was oblivious to it. François asked her to guide him towards the Templar Order, an idea against Élise and her mother's beliefs. They managed to convince François to delay his plans, for which the young girl was grateful.

When her mother became ill, Élise stopped spending her afternoons with Arno, but rather at her mother's bedside. She found François gravitating towards Arno, which left her sad and grief-stricken. Before her death, Julie told Élise to stay strong for the sake of her father and the Order, and that she loved them very much. Julie's death brought emptiness in the young girl's life, even as her routines continued as usual. Weatherall gave her a box from Julie that contained a short sword with an inscription of the Templar maxim on the hilt, but Élise felt nothing. He sent her away to school after that.

In May 1789, Élise returned to the de la Serre estate in Versailles, At the Palace of Versailles, Élise was officially inducted into the Templar Order as an initiate, and gifted with a pin symbolizing the membership by François. A private party was held to honor her arrival and induction, where she was reunited with Arno.

After sharing an affectionate kiss, Élise helped Arno escape the guards by distracting them and asking them to lead her to the billiard room. Halfway through her destination, she heard the cries of the crowd, and later learned that François had been assassinated and her lover was the culprit. Élise was overwhelmed by grief and developed a scorn for Arno. On 14 July 1789, Élise joined the people storming the Bastille, where Arno was imprisoned, and witnessed the people's lust for freedom and justice, along with Arno and Pierre Bellec's escape from the fortress by leaping off the battlements.

Élise spent her following days drunk and anxious, until 25 July 1789, when Arno arrived in the estate and explained that he was not François' killer. Élise showed Arno the letter that he had failed to deliver, and told him to go. She managed to learn from her mentor that the Roi des Thunes was also responsible for her father's death a few months later.

In spite of their opposing allegiances, Élise and Arno shared a goal of finding François' killer. However, while Arno sought to redeem himself, she was driven by vengeance, wanting justice for her father's murder.

Through the memories of la Touche, Arno learned that revolutionary leader Maximilien de Robespierre was one of Germain's conspirators. At the Festival of the Supreme Being, Élise poisoned Robespierre to make him appear insane to the crowd. Arno also found lists of political opponents that Robespierre planned to eliminate. He placed the lists on critics of Robespierre, who was soon deposed by the National Convention. However, Robespierre was sentenced to death, leaving Élise and Arno little time to interrogate him. As Robespierre refused to give up Germain's location, Élise lost control and shot Robespierre's jaw, much to her and Arno's horror. He then wrote that Germain was hiding at the Temple.

Realizing that she was turning into another person and she might not survive her oncoming battle with Germain, she wrote a letter to Arno, thanking him for his loyalty and love.

On 28 July 1794, Élise decided to split up from Arno in their pursuit for Germain in the Temple. It was Arno who encountered Germain wielding a Sword of Eden and was defeated, letting Germain escape once again. Élise and Arno found him in a Templar crypt where the two tried to attack him. Using the Precursor sword, Germain trapped Arno underneath a pillar.

Élise decided to leave Arno and pursue the Grand Master herself. She locked him in a fierce sword fight, which Germain was slowly losing due to an injury that Arno had inflicted. The Sword of Eden's power source became unstable and exploded, throwing Élise into a column, crushing her beneath it. A freed Arno immediately went to his lover, but was seconds too late, as Élise died in his arms.

When she opened her eyes again there were three women before her. All terrifying, she could feel power radiating from them, but these three women led her to a man. One who made her a deal, who showed her the results of her actions despite her anger. She had instilled Hope, how she could not say. The three women then turned and led Elise to a figure cloaked in light.