Soul Caliber Fan Fiction
Lost Souls
By Kraven Ergeist
Chapter Three
The next day, Ivy had replaced her purple dominatrix outfit with an equally revealing white one. It was everything Siegfried could do to meet her gaze.
"Umm…aren't you going to wear something a little…" he chose his words carefully. "…Warmer?"
"I'll wear what I like," Ivy sniffed, keeping to her task of packing her horse's saddlebags. "Worry about yourself. And while you're at it, try to keep your eyes on the road if you please."
Siegfried groaned. He hadn't been looking (not overtly anyway), but he didn't feel like making an issue of it. Honestly, who traveled in heels, anyway?
"So where exactly are we going?" Ivy asked, obviously not a morning person. Or maybe she was just peeved at not having her Ivy blade close at hand. The pieces were carefully tucked in her saddlebags – she was determined to rebuild it the moment she came across the Soul Calibur, or any type of metal that fit the bill. She had her prototype blade, which worked about half the time, she said, and was quite dull. She also carried around a pair of whips and a sturdy broadsword to fit the roles that the Valentine blade had filled by itself.
"Not far," Siegfried said, turning his attention to his own horse. "My first contact is in London. From there, we'll most likely travel to the mainland. If my hunch is correct - and unfortunately, it usually is – then we'll be heading east."
Ivy groaned. "So be it then…"
They both mounted their rides and rode onward without saying a word to each other. They made good time, reaching the river Thames in time for lunch. But they pressed on, riding by the riverside until the dirt road became a wide street that bustled with carriages. Eventually, barns and fields became inns and taverns, butchers and bakers, churches and blacksmiths.
The two riders tied up their horses at a stable and walked into town.
"Get yourself something to eat," Siegfried said. "This won't take long."
"You're dreaming if you think I'm going to let my sword be carted around the city without me," Ivy said simply.
Siegfried ran his hand over the pouch at his side that still held the cursed steel that had once made up the Ivy blade.
"Suit yourself," Siegfried sighed, making his way to tavern called the Blind Man's Bluff.
Ivy followed the man inside, groaning at the stench of alcohol in the air. A knight in white armor and a woman as scantily clad as she would have turned some heads, so they wore cloaks that covered their appearance.
"What can I get you?" came the voice of the tavern keep, sounding bored.
"Düsseldorf ale," Siegfried grunted. "And I'm looking for Olcadan."
The tavern keep placed the pint on the bar. "He's on the third floor."
Siegfried downed the ale and paid for the drink and made for the stairs without saying another word. Ivy followed deftly behind him as he slowly prodded up the steps.
The third floor was drafty with every window broken in. Bird droppings littered the floor, but there were oddly no pigeons or crows in sight.
Siegfried remained still for a moment before sighing.
"You seem to have fallen on some hard times, Master."
Ivy turned just in time to see a face belonging to a snowy owl. Only it was bigger than any bird's head should be. And it was on a man's shoulders.
"Um…Siegfried…?" Ivy blinked, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
"You're not hallucinating," Siegfried assured her before stepping before the owl faced man, bowing his head.
"Siegfried," the owl's beak opened and words came out. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Just passing through, Master Olcadan," Siegfried said, neutrally.
Olcadan shook his head back and forth faster than the eye could catch, sending a shower of white feathers flying everywhere.
"Come on, we both know you're here for a reason," Olcadan squawked. "Why don't you tell me what it is that concerns you and you can be on your way?"
Siegfried sighed, shaking his head. "I never could keep secrets from you, Master. I'll get straight to it then – I'm looking for Soul Calibur."
"Ah…" Olcadan lowered his head, sighing. "The time has come again, has it?"
"I'm afraid it has."
Olcadan paced the blustery corridor, his birdlike talons clicking and clacking on the floor.
"You seek out Soul Calibur, yet you bring pieces of Soul Edge with you?"
Siegfried's voice caught in his throat. "Shards – and not even whole shards at that." He held up the pouch that contained the tainted steel from Ivy's blade. "I'd have disposed of them myself, but the lady here will have none of that."
Olcadan nodded. "I see. Then allow me to remove the burden from your shoulders."
Before either Siegfried or Ivy could do anything, the old master snatched the bag and leapt through a hole in the ceiling.
"No!" Ivy shouted, reaching futilely after him. "I need those!"
"Ivy…" Sigfried breathed, touching her shoulder. "Let them go."
Ivy slapped his arm away. "You just let him take it, you great oaf! You did nothing!"
Siegfried pointed to where Olcadan had flown, an incredulous look on his face. "You want to challenge Master Olcadan? Be my guest."
"You…you…" Ivy's mouth opened, but she was too stupefied for words.
She tore away from him, clenching her fists in frustration, her heels clapping angrily on the floorboards.
"Suppose we find nothing?" Ivy huffed, running her hands through her hair. "Suppose we fail? I have nothing to fall back on – those shards were my last hope!"
"Ivy…" Siegfried sighed, trying to make her understand. "You're better off without them. And even if we fail, it's just a sword."
Ivy wheeled about and smacked him hard in the face. "Don't tell me it's just a sword! It may be just a sword to you, but I have spent my life perfecting it! I've lost everything else, do you understand! My family, my honor, my dignity…that sword is all I have left! And even that's being taken away from me, one piece at a time!"
Ivy's voice had lost its sharp edge, and by the time she finished talking, she was on the verge of tears.
Siegfried tried not to think about how much his face stung after that attack and instead brought both his hands up to her shoulders.
Now, Ivy was crying, lowering her head in shame at her own weakness, her pearly white hair covering her face.
"Ivy…" Siegfried breathed, trying to figure out what to say. "I-"
"Soul Edge is no fall back, young lady!" Olcadan's voice rang out as he landed in a crouch after jumping back down from the hole in the roof.
"You old bird!" Ivy spat, wiping the damp from her eyes and glaring angrily at the ancient sword master. "What have you done with them?"
"They burn in the building's chimney," Olcadan explained. "I've added a chemical burner to draw out he impurities in the steel. The elements of Soul Edge will be flushed out from the metal, and leave pure steel behind. Once I've finished, the metal is yours to keep."
Ivy turned to search out the fireplace, but Siegfried held her fast. Rather than turn and wail on him, Ivy backed off, huffing in defeat.
"Fat load of help that'll do me…" she huffed, making her way downstairs.
Olcadan offered Siegfried an apologetic look. "Sorry about all that. If I were to reveal the location of Soul Calibur in the presence of any shards, all of Inferno's spies will be after it."
Siegfried's heart skipped a beat. "You know where it is!"
"No, but I know someone who might," Olcadan admonished. "And if they don't, I'm confident that they'll point you in the right direction."
Olcadan gave him an address in Athens, Greece.
"Perfect," Siegfried smiled. "An old friend."
Olcadan ruffled his feathers again. "You face a difficult task, young one. I hope your journey bears fruit. I only wish I could do more."
Siegfried bowed his head. "No. You've done more than enough, Master Olcadan. Godspeed."
"And to you as well."
Siegfried made his way downstairs and found Ivy sitting by the fire. He stiffened until he saw that she wasn't doing anything rash. Sighing, he made his way over to her. He honestly didn't know what to say. He couldn't begin to imagine the level of attachment Ivy felt to what was, to him, little more than a piece of hardware. Agitated, he sat beside her in silence.
Ivy hadn't looked his way, but she felt his presence.
"It's like I'm watching my life burning before my eyes," she breathed, watching the flames dance.
Somewhere up the shoot, a super heated iron mixer was boiling down what had once been her most prized possession.
"Look at it…" Ivy sighed. "So close, and there's nothing I can do. If I so much as reach out to touch it…"
Ivy reached out towards the flames. Her fingers danced, her hand dangerously close to the fire. Before she might have plunged her hand into the fireplace, Siegfried seized her arm, pulling it back.
"Ivy…" he said uneasily, studying the red polished fingernails of her hand in his. "I know you don't think much of the code that I live by…but I swear to you by whatever's left that's holy in this world that I will not rest until-"
"Oh, save your breath!" Ivy wheezed, fixing him with a look of disbelief. "Do you think your words make any difference?"
Siegfried's little speech died on his tongue, but Ivy's condescending gaze remained.
"You can no more return to me what I've lost than I can! I am like the very sword I lived by – unable to function unless I do so by tainted means! Do you think that some solemn vow is enough to undo a wasted, misspent life? You are just as powerless as I am, Siegfried!"
Sigfried felt tiny under that piercing gaze of hers. Tiny and helpless. He was almost inclined to believe what she said.
He noticed that he was still holding her hand.
A smile crossed his face.
"I will find the Soul Calibur," he said with confidence in his voice. "Master Olcadan's provided us with a location. Now come – we can make Dover by nightfall."
Siegfried took her hand and pulled her to her feet before she could say a word.
"What…?" Ivy stuttered as he practically dragged her out of the tavern. "It's in Dover?"
"No," Siegfried said as they hurried outside. "It's in Greece. But we'll need to cross the English Channel if we plan to get there."
They reclaimed their rides and rode south, leaving the city behind. Ivy couldn't understand Siegfried's excitement, but that was exactly as he intended. Perhaps it was a fool's errand, but he had seen few in his life so deprived of hope as Ivy had been just then. If the only method of keeping Ivy's spirits up was openly expressing excitement in something that, in all fairness, deserved such an appraisal, then Siegfried didn't mind. She had gone out of her way to take care of him. In their present situation, this was the only way he knew how to return the favor.
He would have done better, however, to pay closer mind to his surroundings. Maybe then, he might have noticed the strange green stained girl watching them from the trees.
"Couldn't we take a boat to Greece?" Ivy thought out loud as they checked into an inn in Dover.
"It's faster and cheaper to go by land," Siegfried shook his head. "And it's the wrong season for the trade ships to be leaving port. As it is, the ferry ride across the channel is going to cost us, and the weather hasn't been nearly good enough to consider a water route."
"What's the matter?" Ivy teased. "Afraid of a little thunderstorm?"
"Caution always seems ill placed until you actually find yourself in a tight spot," Siegfried sighed. It was bad enough to have to be traveling with a temptress without her questioning his masculinity. But at least she seemed to have gotten her spark back.
"We leave on the morrow then?"
"Yes," Siegfried confirmed. "The ferry leaves port at six o'clock sharp."
The inn served hot soup, but the room only had one bed, and as if by unspoken agreement, Siegfried sat on the floor, his back against the wall, his cloak pulled over his body for warmth.
Ivy slid off her gauntlet, boots and gloves, but otherwise remained clothed.
"What, no goodnight kiss?" she snickered.
Siegfried opened one eye and shook his head. "Don't make me laugh."
Ivy crossed her arms. "For all you know, I was being serious. But I guess now you'll never know."
Siegfried closed his eyes. "Goodnight, Ivy."
Ivy laughed again, and went to bed.
Morning came, and a dense fog permeated the air. Dew seemed to coat every surface, even indoors.
Pulling his cloak tightly about him, Siegfried was grateful for the fire at the hearth.
Ivy approached, bearing two mugs of hot tea, still dressed in her skimpy white outfit.
"Jeez, how can you stand to wear something like that?" Siegfried gasped, pulling his cloak tighter. "It's bloody freezing."
Ivy laughed, wryly and handed him his mug. "I grew up waking up to foggy mornings. You learn to get used to them."
Siegfried said nothing as he sipped his hot drink, letting the heat trickle down his throat and congeal in his stomach.
"The ferry will take us to Normandy," Siegfried explained, taking out a cartograph. "We'll ride till we get to Venice. From there, we travel by boat to Athens."
"Does our…" Ivy eyed her surroundings. "…Contact…have what we're looking for?"
"Doubtful," Siegfried admonished. "But it's likely that she knows where it is."
"She?"
Siegfried raised an eyebrow. "Sophitia Alexandra. I doubt you've met."
Ivy pursed her lips. "The name rings a bell."
"Well, hopefully it's not because you've wronged her in some form in the past."
Ivy did her best to look innocent. It was difficult to manage.
"In any case, if she can't help us, I know someone else who can. Luckily, it's on the way."
"Another old girlfriend?"
"This time, it's a he," Siegfried corrected. "And trust me – our connection is anything but romantic."
They boarded the ferry, which overcharged them ostensibly to Ivy's chagrin.
"My father only left me a finite amount, you know." Ivy complained as the two of them leaned against the railing of the ferry, their horses tied to the stable below deck. "The reason I fired my house workers is party because I couldn't afford to keep them."
Siegfried smiled, lightly. "Now you see why I thought better of taking a boat the whole way?"
Ivy shook her head. "This is serious – we're not going to have enough money to make it to Athens."
"Hmm…" Siegfried frowned. "That is a problem. We may have to come by some on our way."
"Steal it?"
"That goes against me credo."
"I'm not selling my body."
"Also against my credo."
Ivy sighed. "How are we supposed to scrape by, then? Does your not-so-friendly-acquaintance have some wealth he can spare?"
"That's anyone's guess," Siegfried shrugged. "But I doubt it'll be a problem. We only need to scrape by until we get to Rome."
Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Some favors to call in?"
"I would be so fortunate," Siegfried sighed. "There is, however, a place where I'm confident we can earn some easy money."
Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Why does that not inspire confidence?"
"Relax," Siegfried assured. "I was a knight of the Holy Roman Empire, they know me there."
"You know what they say," Ivy sighed, leaning against the railing. "Familiarity breeds contempt."
They landed in Normandy and road south through the French province. Siegfried felt that familiar cold feeling and turned his eyes to the sky. There were any number of birds in the air – understandable that he would fail to pick up on one red-eyed blackbird that seemed to be stalking them.
"Well done, my pet," came the girl's sultry sounding voice, as the bird landed on her shoulder. She was of a tiny build, her clothes a tattered green and purple, her hair stained green from years living in the wilderness.
"Keep a close eye on them," she cooed, kissing the bird's cheek. "With any luck, they'll lead me right to Soul Edge."
Without so much as a squawk, the red-eyed blackbird took the sky once more.
The riders made it to Paris just as the moon was rising in the night sky. After a quick meal, the two of them made their way to the south bank to stake out their "contact."
"Just how 'un-romantic' are you with this man?" Ivy inquired in a whisper.
"We've basically been trying to kill each other all our lives," Siegfried admitted.
"Oh," Ivy stated, as though that single thought explained everything. "Then…tell me, why exactly are we here?"
"Despite our…disagreements, Raphael Sorel was even more involved with Soul Edge than I saw, so much so that when he touched the Soul Calibur, it drained his life force."
"You haven't answered my question."
"We're here," Siegfried explained. "To find out what he knows. As focused as he's been, he's likely found out something useful."
"That's hardly a lead."
"It's worth looking into, and it was on the way," Siegfried shook his head. "Now let's take a look. With any luck, Raphael will never know we were here."
The Frenchman lived in an upscale manor in the south of France, but occasionally spent time in his gaudy pied-a-terre whenever he conducted business in Paris. He had purchased the apartment under the pseudonym Charles Blanche, seeing as how he was still technically an enemy of the state.
It was easy enough to gain entry – a bad sign, as Siegfried saw it. It meant the apartment contained nothing of value.
"This was a waste of time," Ivy sighed, rifling through month old receipts and bills. "There's no mention of Soul Edge or Soul Calibur."
"That just means we're not looking in the right places," Siegfried shook his head.
Without making too much noise, Siegfried came across a safe box, which he managed to open with the point of his sword. As soon as the lid came off, he instantly felt the dark energy within. The lead case must have sealed off the resonance.
It was a shard of Soul Edge!
No wonder Soul Edge has returned this soon, Siegfried thought to himself. With all these shards still lying about, it could hardly be considered dead in the first place.
"Look at this…" came Ivy's voice, as she entered the study Siegfried had found the safe box in. "These letters are from the King of France – promising amnesty in exchange for…" Ivy's eyes widened. "In exchange for Soul Edge!"
Siegfried glared. "Raphael must think himself actually capable of acquiring Soul Edge."
Ivy frowned. "Is he?"
Siegfried showed her the safe box and its contents. "So far, it's a safe bet he is."
Ivy's frown deepened. "I think we'd better hurry if we mean to find Soul Calibur. We might need it sooner than we think."
Siegfried nodded, closing the safe box. Something was troubling him, however. Something was wrong, he thought. Raphael wouldn't leave something so important as a shard of Soul Edge alone in an apartment; he would keep it on him.
Unless…
"Who are you?"
Siegfried and Ivy stopped in their tracks as the moonlight showed them the face of a young red haired girl in a quaint purple dress.
This Raphael certainly keeps some…illicit company, Ivy thought. The girl couldn't be any older than twelve, maybe thirteen.
"We're…friends of Lord Sorel," Siegfried quickly covered. "We were looking for him."
"Master Sorel is not here at the moment," the girl's eyes didn't seem to blink. "Perhaps I could be of assistance."
Ivy grunted. "No thank you, we were just leaving."
"Actually," Siegfried held up his finger. "Perhaps you could tell us something, Miss…?"
The girl's head tilted, curiously. "Amy."
"Amy," Siegfried nodded. "Has Lord Sorel told you anything about the shard he keeps in his study?"
The redhead's eyes seemed to glisten. "Just that is was something important to him. Why?"
"Did he say where he got it? Or if there were any others like it?"
"I'm afraid I can't help you," Amy said. Then her expression changed. "You're not planning to steal it, are you?"
Siegfried held up his hands. "Far from it – we're actually looking for something else entirely!"
"Siegfried…" Ivy said, cautiously. Something in her voice told him that she didn't like this girl any more than he did.
"I assure you, the shard is safe," Siegfried said. "We can check on it if you'd like."
Again, he was bending the truth. The shard was safe – in his left pocket, to be exact. The offer to let her see it, however…
Amy still hadn't blinked. "That won't be necessary. I already know exactly where it is…"
Siegfried gasped as the shard suddenly appeared in the palm of her hand. Slamming his hand to his pocket, he found it to be empty.
"How…?"
"I'm sorry," Amy said, still in her quiet child's voice. "But I'm afraid I can't let the two of you leave here alive."
That's when he noticed it. Her eyes. They never blinked. And as he saw them reflected in the light…
"What the…?" Siegfried gasped, clutching the hilt of his sword. "What has he done to you? You're no longer human, are you?"
Her eyes - they were as black as night, her pupils a sickly shade of yellow.
Amy drew her Albion, a long curvaceous rapier, and lunged at Siegfried. The sword never reached its target, as Ivy's whip sliced through the air, lashing onto the sword, yanking it out of her grip.
"Please!" Siegfried said, his grip still tight on the handle of his blade. "We don't want to fight you!"
"We don't?" Ivy inquired. Personally, she wanted to go a few rounds with this twerp.
"I'm afraid that's not possible," Amy said, staunchly, and she waved her hand. As if summoned by magic, the sword rose from the ground, and returned to her hand.
Siegfried drew his zweihander. "We'll leave you in peace, Amy. I'm sorry for disturbing you."
"She's not listening right now, Siegfried!" Ivy chided, drawing her broadsword. She wasn't ready to trust the prototype just yet.
The Requiem remained tip the to ground.
"Please!"
Not even acknowledging his words, Amy lunged again. Again, Ivy caught her blade with a crack of her whip.
"We're leaving this place," Ivy called out. "It's up to you whether that involves bloodying that pretty dress of yours."
This time, Amy turned the point of her rapier up, slicing through the bullwhip, before bringing it down towards Ivy's head. She blocked with her gauntlet, lashing at the girl with her broadsword.
The redhead bent back, backhand springing away as gracefully as only a twelve year old could.
Siegfried finally lunged at her, but instead of attacking, feinted to grab her sword, before knocking her back, weaponless.
"Drop the shard, Amy," Siegfried commanded. "It's poisoned your mind and your body."
The shard was still visible in her hand, its dark energy seeping into her through veins reddened by the mere contact with it. Her face remained staunch and expressionless, and she reached forward, summoning her Albion back to her.
The blade sliced through leather and skin in Siegfried's gauntleted hand, and he gasped out, released his hold, letting the blade fly back to the girl's hand. No sooner had it reached her grip, when Ivy's whip snapped out, wrapping around the tiny girl's frame, binding her arms to her body, holding her fast.
"Kill her!" Ivy shouted. "Now!"
Siegfried approached the girl, before slapping the side of her head with the flat of his blade.
The shard went flying, and Amy's body went limp.
Ivy checked the body. Still breathing.
"Merciful fool!" Ivy accused, throwing Siegfried a spiteful glare. "That kind of sympathy is only going to get you killed!"
"If I'm lucky," Siegfried nodded, sheathing his sword. "I can only hope I die in an effort to save an innocent's life."
Ivy closed her eyes in frustration. "She is hardly what I'd call innocent."
"Ivy, look at her," Siegfried said, picking up the shard and returning it to his pocket. "She was under the influence of Soul Edge. She doesn't know any better."
Ivy snorted, annoyed, but instead of commenting, she eyed the tattered remains of her whip.
"Scratch one bullwhip," Ivy sighed. "How badly did she hurt your hand?"
Siegfried drew off his glove. "Not badly."
He winced when Ivy seized his hand to get a good look for herself.
A clean incision cut straight across his palm from left to right, and was still bleeding.
"My God!" Ivy gapped. "You won't be able to fight with this!"
"Sure I will," Siegfried nodded, matter of factly. "I'm left handed. You don't grab the blade of your opponent's weapon with your sword hand."
"Still…" Ivy chided, tearing off a cloth from her cloak. "That's what you get for being so soft."
"If it's to save the life of an innocent, then I don't mind taking a few blows," Siegfried said, solemnly. "That's what I've decided."
Ivy shook her head as she bound his hand. "You damn fool…"
It might have sounded like a condescending reprimand, but Siegfried couldn't help but notice that Ivy had been smiling as she had said it.
xxxxx
A/N: Moving right along – and adding three more pages than the last two chapters. If I'd have stopped at the last number, I would have cut it off right in the middle of their fight with Amy, and I didn't want that.
I have the next bit of the story all planned out, it's all a question of how many chapters it will take. I'm planning on making this story at least five chapters, but the way it's looking, it'll be closer to ten.
