This was inspired by Siegfried's bio on the official site and Soul Calibur V's story video. It was interesting to try and see what reasons Siegfried have to choose not to use Soul Calibur anymore.
Wary of its power…
Siegfried allowed himself a small breather as the battle around him started to die down. The Schwartzwind mercenaries were cleaning out the remains of the gang of malfested, which attacked the small town. Fires, however, still ravaged throughout the streets and here and there surviving malfested banded together in an attempt to fight their way out of the town. For the townspeople it was pure luck that Schwartzwind was near and they noticed the fires, or the malfested would have left nothing but ashes by the morning.
The knight knocked down a crystallized creature he was fighting a few moments ago. The being that reminded him of the Lizardman fell, and shattered into several pieces. Siegfried looked away from the crystals, as he tried to clear his head of the unpleasant memory of his last battle with Azure Nightmare.
It was two years already. Two years since he had destroyed Nightmare and Soul Edge. He believed that once the monster is destroyed, peace will return to the land. How naïve he was. Without the Azure Knight to guide them, the army of malfested spread form Ostrheinsburg throughout Europe, killing and pillaging everything around them.
Siegfried heaved Soul Calibur on his back, where the spirit sword attached itself to his crystal armor. The knight still had doubts about the blade after his battle with Nightmare. He was more than slightly shocked when the sword that was believed to be the complete opposite of Soul Edge tried to possess him. And in the worst possible moment too. It was only Siegfried experiences with the possession that he recognized what the blade attempted, and was able to force its hold off him. Nearly cost him his life, as Nightmare chose the precise moment to lunge at him. It was only Siegfried fast reflexes that allowed him to dodge the strike from the cursed sword and strike back, piercing both Soul Edge's eye and Nightmare's glowing "core". So far the sword has not attempted to possess him again, but Siegfried no longer heard its voice. The blade still served him well in his mission of fighting against the malfested, but the knight was still wary of the weapon. After all, Siegfried gave an oath to never bend to anyone's will, or anything's for that matter. Every time he had to pick up Soul Calibur, he remembered his right arm transforming into crystal version of Nightmare's claw. That kept him on the edge whenever he used the weapon. It won't do anyone any good to have a crystal version of Nightmare roaming around.
Siegfried was brought out of his musings by one of his lieutenants, who came to report that the town was almost cleared of the malfested save the ones that ran out of town and into the night. Siegfried ordered the man to start gathering the surviving townspeople and start assisting them in putting down the fires. The Schwartzwind commander himself was going to check the town himself for the clues where this group of malfested originated from and if there could me more of them.
The knight made his way through burning streets, stopping from time to time to check on the dead malfested or on the piece of combat gear scattered around. He found armor and weapons made in all corners of Holy Roman Empire, as well as France, Britain, and some he didn't recognize. These malfested didn't look like any sort of organized force, more like ragtag band brought together by the evil energy, running around without direction, seeking souls for the master that no longer was among the living. Of course, unlike two years ago, Siegfried was not so naïve to think that Soul Edge was gone forever. The evil sword was already shattered at least twice before and it came back both times.
A glimmer of metal in one of the more shadowed alleys caught his attention. The knight stepped in the alley only to discover a sharp tip of the blade pointed at him. Siegfried's hand darted to the hilt of Soul Calibur before he was able to see his assailant better in the darkness. It was a youth, just a kid, looking no more than thirteen or fourteen. Dressed in simple shirt and pants, with some sort of torn purple coat that was slightly big for him, he held a medium length sword with big cross grip, pointing the blade on Siegfried. The knight noted that while the boy's grip was slightly off, he held the sword as someone who had to use it before. To Siegfried's memory, he was about the same age, when he started developing his fighting style.
Behind the boy, deeper in the shadows stood a hooded girl, who looked about the same age. Shadows covered her so she was barely visible. The girl was clutching something wrapped in cloth to her chest. It was too small to be a baby so Siegfried assumed that could be either some animal or item. The knight took his hand off the sword's hilt and held them before him to show he meant no harm to the duo in the alley.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm not an enemy" - he said in a calm voice. "I'm not going to harm you".
The young warrior's eyes narrowed at Siegfried, but he lowered the sword slightly, expecting the other man make the next move. As the knight made a step closer, he felt slight traces of dark energy coming from the boy and the girl. At the same moment he felt Soul Calibur on his back awaken and its feminine voice sounded inside Siegfried's head for a first time since his battle with Nightmare.
"They are tainted. Malfested. Strike them down".
"No", Siegfried mentally argued with the spirit sword. "They are just kids".
"They will grow up, then will be overtaken by darkness and kill those who are around them at the time. That is the destiny of everyone touched by Soul Edge".
"Isabella resisted the cursed sword. And she was born with its darkness in her".
"Do not speak about that being to me! You should have stuck her down too, by my words". – The mental voice of the sword was raised in anger.
"I will not harm them". Siegfried growled at the blade.
"Then I'll take the decision from you". Soul Calibur responded in calm voice.
At the same time Siegfried's eyes glowed blue and crystals started to cover his right arm again. The boy and the girl were knocked back by the powerful energy that started to gather around the knight. They looked in fear at the imposing figure that drew a glowing crystal sword from his back and made a step towards them. However immediately after that the energy started to die down and the knight staggered in his step.
"No". – A rasped voice escaped his lips. "Never again…"
Siegfried fell to one knee, the glow in his eyes fading.
"Never again…" – he whispered. "…will I bend to anyone's will."
"Then you are on your own from now on".
His breath came in rasps, as the glow in the Soul Calibur's "core" faded with the sword's parting words. Then the crystals started to fall off his armor, signifying the knight's loss of the spirit sword's favor. Taking a few deep breaths, Siegfried used now dormant Soul Calibur to haul himself back on his feet.
"It's over now". – He said to the kids, as he stood up. "I'm sorry".
At that exact moment he heard a roar behind him. Turning around he noticed a creature breaking through the wall of one of the burning buildings. It landed just before the entrance of the alley Siegfried and the kids were standing in. After landing the being took a sniff of the air giving Siegfried a moment to assess the enemy. It was one of those poor souls on whom malfestation took complete hold. They were bigger than golem Astaroth and much less intelligent. Not having enough mind to even use a battle axe or a hammer these giants used crude clubs, made out of small trees with branches torn off. They reminded Siegfried of trolls or ogres from old wives' tales. On course these malfested were not old tales, but rather humans warped by the darkness of the evil sword.
"Damn". – The knight said under his breath.
If he was alone, he could have taken on the giant, without power of Soul Calibur. But with those kids in the alley he couldn't allow himself to move anyway he wanted if fear of the monster either attacking them, with him out of the way, or a stray hit landing on them when Siegfried dodged.
"Get out of here". – He yelled to the kids without turning around and raising Soul Calibur at his opponent.
The "troll" raised its club but before it could even connect with crystal sword, a white something darted past the knight and knocked the malfested away. Only a second later Siegfried was able to make out his mysterious ally. It was a white wolf-like spirit without legs. The wolf's form emanated bluish mist and seemed to have metallic crescent impaled through its chest. Despite resembling a wolf, the spirit fought with its fists. And if Siegfried was seeing right, was quite a fist-fighter.
Another projectile flew at the malfested, now it was some sort of orb that struck the creature's face, distracting it from the wolf spirit. This allowed the wolf to deliver a solid punch to the "troll's" stomach. As the beast doubled over, Siegfried shook himself out of stupor and rushed the malfested monster, plunging Soul Calibur deep into its ribcage. The "troll" let out a dying roar and fell to the ground, its sheer mass ripping crystal sword out of the knight's hands.
As Siegfried turned around to check on the kids he saw the boy standing on his hand and knees and breathing heavily, the girl was crouched beside him, with a worried expression on her face. Beside them floated a reddish-purple orb that has struck the "troll's" face during the fight.
"I'm fine, Viola. Just let me catch my breath a little". – The boy said.
As Siegfried approached, they stood up looking uncertainly at him.
"Thank you". – The knight said, having already guessed where the wolf spirit came from. "Doubt I could kill it without your help".
The girl looked at him strangely then said in an emotionless tone: "You have walked path of darkness and bloodshed, you have walked path of light and purity, now you stay on the crossroad again".
Siegfried was taken aback slightly. He had enough experience to know that the girl was a seer. But what was she doing here during the attack? She should have foreseen it and leave the town before the malfested even came.
"Viola", - The boy whispered to her. "Please, be quiet".
The girl just shook her head, before helping him to his feet with an amused smile.
"Wife?" – Siegfried asked the boy. [See A.N. below].
"Who? Viola? Nah… She's my friend. Met her about half a year ago on the road. We're traveling together ever since". – The boy failed to see Viola's face falling slightly.
"What were you doing here, with a seer no less? Should have enough time to make your way outta here". – Siegfried asked.
"Blind and deaf". – The girl, Viola, answered instead. "The wolf and the moth cried "wolf", but wax was in the ears, eyes were folded and the hearts locked. And then stones flew".
"Tried to warn them, huh?"
"Yeah". – The boy replied. "Didn't do much good to them. Or us, for that matter. Hey, can you escort us to the gate? We're not really welcome here right now".
"My men and I will, probably, be staying here until the morning". – Siegfried said. "If you want to, you can stay with us, until then and leave the town by the morning. Doubt anyone here will dare to attack us".
"Don't you afraid we'll slit all your throats in your sleep? We're not normal you know". – The boy gestured to the floating orb with his hand.
"I've had the same darkness in me, probably much worse. If I was given a chance then you deserve the same".
"What do you say, Viola?" – The boy tuned to his companion.
"The Eagle is on the crossroads now, but all his paths are of the strife and battles. Follow now, shall not leave the flock, shall share the strife. But will belong, the Black Wind accept the wolf and the moth".
"Guess we'll stick with you, then". – The boy picked up his sword from the ground.
"Good. I'm Siegfried Schtauffen, commander of Schwartzwind". – The knight walked up to the dead giant to take back Soul Calibur.
"You already know Viola. I'm going by Z.W.E.I." – The boy fell into step, Viola following half a step back.
Siegfried stepped on the "troll's" chest and pulled Soul Calibur free. The trio then made their way to the main group of Schwartzwind soldiers. Some of the townspeople glared at Z.W.E.I. and Viola, but the presence of intimidating knight was enough to cool off even the most hotheaded ones.
While the young people were making themselves comfortable in one of the small inns that was occupied by Schwartzwind, Siegfried put the Soul Calibur on the floor in the room reserved for him and sighed. He's going to have to retrieve his old sword, Requiem, form main camp, and probably get new armor as well. He did not doubt that when Soul Edge reappeared, Soul Calibur will awaken too. He just hoped that whomever the spirit sword chose as its wielder had enough willpower to resist its hold. Siegfried himself doubted that he could put his trust in Soul Calibur again. Requiem will have to do, even against the next Nightmare incarnation, Siegfried would just have to become stronger. His oath was more important than power boost granted by the spirit sword.
"Never again". – He whispered. "Never again".
Author's notes: In late XVI century, (and until around end of XIX century) fourteen years was perfectly acceptable marriage age. Just remember "Romeo and Juliet". Siegfried probably avoided marriage as his father was away and he spent all his time with Schwartzwind. Then, "Soul Blade" happened. Not sure why Sophitia remained unmarried for so long, but it probably have something with being a chosen of Hephaestus.
As for Z.W.E.I. and Viola's ages, they look around the same age and we know that Viola (as Amy) is around twelve in Soul Calibur IV. This story happens two years later, which means, they're around fourteen. From Siegfried's POV, they'll still be kids, however.
