Cassandra woke up suddenly at Tenlo's shout and looked around, still groggy. Seeing Tenlo she glared and went to stand before Sophitia stopped her. "You! You nearly killed my sister, in front of her children!"

"Cassandra, we don't have time for this now," Sophitia said urgently. "Tenlo and I have put aside our differences."

"Yes, you can kill me later if you like" Tenlo said, buckling his sword while leaving his travel pack in the corner. "Right now I have a bigger scalier problem to deal with outside. You and Sophitia stay here, get yourself ready to fight. Kilik, come on, we're going to go out there and try and put a stop to this!"

Kilik stood up and ready to push the door open. "On the count of three I'll push and head out. You follow me behind and close the door, give the Alexandra sisters a few more moments."

"No, wait," Sophitia said quickly. Both turned to her as she attempted to stand, unable to move her arm much with her shield attacked. "You two are not from here, we cannot ask you to kill our monsters and endanger yourselves. Please, stay here, protect this family. My sister and I will fight these monsters."

"Yeah, you stay out of it! I want you alive for when I deal with you!" Cassandra said, staring directly at Tenlo as she attempted to stand. Though she looked more confident on her leg he could still see she favored it a little.

"Listen, both of you," Tenlo said, ready to push at the door. "You're both hurt, and its mostly my fault. I owe you this much. Besides, even if I didn't, I can't stand here and watch innocent people die. Kilik and I are going to fight, and you can't stop us."

Kilik smiled at Tenlo's determination and nodded to them. "He's right. We'll assist however we can, but we won't do much good arguing in here." Not giving the sisters a chance to argue, Kilik pushed the door open with Tenlo, stepping over the body quickly. The other three followed and stood, missed by the monsters in the commotion. Already the streets were littered with dead, mostly civilians and easy to see why. The guards in charge of protecting the town mostly turned and fled, the few who tried to fight easily over powered. "Cowards, the lot of them," Kilik hissed between his teeth.

"Lizard men... " Sophitia said silently as Tenlo and Kilik turned to her. "They are men cursed by the gods to be beasts. They've killed many, particularly those who worship at the temple of Hephaestus. This town is among those that offer tributes and disciples to his altars."

"Right," Tenlo said, focused as it looked like a few of the monsters were beginning to take notice of them. "Here's the plan. We can't do this alone, so we need to organize these spineless curs the town looks to protect them. They'll be scared, so be firm, don't be afraid to give them a slap upside the head. Stay authoritative and they'll listen, at least if they want to live they will. Kilik, head down that street, gather as many guards as you can to help you. Alexandras, stay together, since you are both injured. I'm going to make for the town square, try and get ahead of these things. We need to make a safe zone so these creatures can't just run rampant through the streets. Stick to side streets if you can, if I know the guards that's where they'll hide and I doubt these things will go down them with everyone running down main streets in this panic."

"Are you sure that will work Tenlo?" Kilik asked, noticing two lizardmen closing in on them.

"No, not really. But with four of us I don't have much better. And don't get killed didn't sound encouraging enough." He curled his lip as one of the lizardmen bared its fangs at Tenlo. "NOW!" He said, charging forward and catching it off guard, cutting easily through it. Kilik moved beside him, bringing his staff down on the creatures skull before vaulting himself over as the Alexandra sisters finished it with both their blades through its chest. Ahead of them, Tenlo began down the side streets, keeping the main street in view as he did. Seeing a large group of guards standing around each other for protection he ran towards them, ordering directly. "Alright lads, listen and listen good!" he shouted over the chaos. "You may have not be trained but today you're going to put into the fire. We need a place these people can be safe, and you've seen these creatures are dumb and easy to take if you stay together. Go to the main town square, create a safe zone in the inns there and guard them well. Your priority is now the lives of these people. Imagine them your mothers, fathers, siblings, lovers, whores I don't care! But you will now give yourselves for them, on your honor as men! Understood!"

"Understood sir!" the guards shouted, some surprised at themselves but feeling safer in the group.

"Good, now go! Rally any others, tell them you now have a general to lead, not that ass who pretends to be a bully!" He saw them rooted again and turned seeing a lizardman baring down on them. "Damnit, look!" he shouted, swinging his sword and decapitating the lizardman with ease, spraying a fountain of blood out as its body convulsed. "They bleed like you and I! They are dumb, you are smart! Now drop your sacks, pick up your boot strings and MOVE!" he shouted as the men jumped to attention and ran to follow his command. Ahead of him he saw more people rushing towards him followed behind by two lizardmen. Seeing a large splintered piece of wood with a jagged end, Tenlo grabbed it and rushed into the crowd, fighting through with the pointed end up in the air. He saw one of the lizard men veer off, leaving him to deal with its companion as it leapt at him and the people behind him. Putting all his strength behind it, Tenlo caught the beast in the neck with the mood, pushing it back to the ground as he fell back as well. Sitting up with sword ready, he saw it already dead on the ground and the tail of its partner wiggling from around the corner.

As he moved towards the lizardman he saw someone beneath it as it toyed with its prey. It was flexing its foot claws, digging into their back enough to make them moan pitifully but not kill them. Tenlo growled and shouted aloud, blindsiding the creature and knocking it away from person it attacked. They collapsed into a heap with Tenlo atop trying to strike with his sword. The lizardman, seeing his intent grabbed him with strong arms and flung him off, jumping its feet and roaring loudly. Tenlo rolled as his armour scratched against the street before he caught himself and stood up in time to see the beast already standing over him bringing its claw down. Reacting without thought, Tenlo sliced off the clawed hand before swinging again, cleaving the monster in two. He panted as again blood showered up and rained down, beginning to lose his focus and thinking only of the intent to kill each of these monsters. "I need to calm down," he thought to himself, "I need to focus. These people need me first." He counted back from five slowly, feeling the serenity he found in battle taking place of the rush of death and moved to the person on the ground. Whimpering before him, Tenlo was both surprised and unsurprised to see Yiannis. "What are you doing here!" The boy shook his head, still cowering as he did. Tenlo knelt beside him and gently lifted his head. "Yiannis, its Tenlo, I helped you at the inn. Where is your father, your sister Andrea?" Yiannis again did not respond, his eyes wide in terror and looking past Tenlo. Tenlo sighed an annoyed sigh and slapped the boy on his cheek, not hard but enough to sting and focus his eyes on him. "Answer me Damnit!"

Yiannis stared at Tenlo with disbelieving eyes, realizing where he was. "Tenlo... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." he muttered in a small voice.

Tenlo jerked him up suddenly to his feet, holding him so he did not fall. "Never mind that. Why are you out here!"

"M-my father, he began to yell at me, so I ran... like I always do." Yiannis was looking down at his feet when he stopped and his head shot up, fearful and lip quivering. "L-like I always do. Andrea! S-she's going to be out here, looking for me. Tenlo we have to go look for her!"

"WE'RE not doing anything, I will go find her." He saw one of the guardsman he yelled at before running up to him and stood, barking an order. "Answer quick, nod or shake. Did you finish the task?" The guard nodded as he clumsily saluted. "Good, take this boy and go back, don't let him leave or anyone else! Keep them off the streets and these monsters out of the buildings, understood!" The guard nodded again, taking Yiannis and sprinting back. Tenlo smiled before realizing the shadow cast over him. Behind him a lizardman stood raising its axe and hissing loudly to strike. Tenlo rolled away just in time to watch the cobble stones where he stood be crushed by the axe before cutting the lizardman down and charging through the remains in search of Andrea.

With the streets cleared of the crowds, Tenlo was able to take some stock. Bodies littered the streets, some lizardmen, a few more the town's guards, but the vast majority citizens. In particular he noted many mothers and children, most close together, some dead in the other's arms. The overwhelming cloud of death hung heavy in the air, and it shook him to his core. He thought he would be used to it, thought being in war had prepared him. But the slaughter of these people, the remains he saw with bite marks tore out was a new experience. Seldom had he had to deal with animal attacks in Nehel, and of the times these were certainly no wolves. He felt it would crush him, then he felt anger, anger at the feeling of weakness and anger that he was wasting time. Picking a direction and running, he reached the town bazaar with five more lizardmen left dead in his wake. In the center, he saw Sophitia fighting herself ragged. She was exchanging blows with a particularly tall lizardman, trying to dance around the five she had killed already and fend off its attack. With each blow her strength diminished but she boldly kept up the effort. The monster gave the closest thing Tenlo could call a smirk and reached up high for a powerful strike, leaving itself open. Sophitia did not miss her chance and moments later the monster fell back dead, her blade in its chest as she fell back.

Tenlo walked to her calmly and offered her a gentle hand to help her support herself up. She turned suddenly ready to lash with her shield but saw him and smiled, taking it and catching her breath. "I thought... you hadn't... forgave me?"

"I don't know yet," he said with a grunt as he helped pull her up. "But you needed help, and I need yours in return. The girl that we stayed with, Andrea, she's missing. She's out in these streets and she doesn't have a chance unless we find her."

"We may be too late already."

"I know," he said, swallowing the lump in his throat as she retrieved her sword. "But I told her brother I would find her, even if it means bringing back her corpse so these things can't eat it. Is there anywhere you can think of she may go? Where these people may go?"

Sophitia thought long, the silence only seconds but felt like hours to Tenlo, before she nodded. "I believe so. When we stopped at her house first, I saw her father had a dress hung up that looked like it belonged to a temple maiden. I'm guessing it was her mothers. The girl may go there, thinking it's safe."

"But the altar is days away!"

"True, the main altar. However, there is a small altar here, one where the people leave their tributes to be collected. We should head there, follow me." Together, the two headed off down the street. Along the way they passed more bodies, thankfully lizardmen with few people around them. Neat tight slashes were made in them, making both think it was Cassandra's handiwork they were seeing. The warm thought did not last long however as Tenlo saw a small marble building big enough for a small statue and a small group of worshippers. Atop its steps, Andrea lay there, blonde hair streaked with blood that had run down the small two steps as well. Her dress was torn in the back and along her shoulders, her left arm hanging limply. Her other arm held her side, with a deep two slashes from claws in it. The culprit stood over her, arms outstretched and barking loudly. The lizard man, dressed in slightly armor on its legs and a thing chest piece held a steel axe in one hand and a shield like Sophitia's with the a warped look and brownish red background. His head had a frill going all the way around and tail whipped as it did, cracking over Andrea's back and forcing a pitiful moan out of her. "We need a pla- Wait Tenlo!" Sophitia shouted as he charged forward towards the monster.

Tenlo gripped his sword painfully tight in his hand, and leapt the two stars, sword raised to strike. The Lizardman hissed as it saw him, lashing out with its tail and catching Tenlo in his arm, sending him flying back painfully into the ground. Before it could jump down Sophitia stood in between them, shield raised to show the letter. The lizardman, obviously recognizing it roared louder and swung its axe heavily at Sophitia. She caught it with her shield but her injured arm collapsed under the stress and sent her skidding as well. With both laying on the ground, the creature immediately made a beeline for Sophitia. Tenlo watched her bring her shield up to protect herself before the monster kicked it away and bent down in her face, roaring loudly with spit coating Sophitia. It panted and stared down at her as Sophitia stared back up, recognition flashing in her face. "Aeon? Aeon Calcos?" The monster, hearing the name screamed louder, ear splitting and bordering on almost inaudible to them as it thrashed its head, looking like it was fighting a memory. It regained itself and glared at Sophitia as she attempted to sit up but could not find the energy. "I'm sorry Aeon..." she said apologetically.

The monster, Aeon, brought its axe up over Sophitia when Tenlo jumped on its back, wrestling it to the ground away from her as he locked its arms with his. Aeon stumbled and battered, attempting to shake Tenlo as their eyes met. "Not today monster." Tenlo held on a few moments longer before Aeon threw him forward and sent him flying into the ground. Tenlo rolled on the ground and stopped himself as best he could, baring his teeth as Aeon did the same. Tenlo drew his last weapon, his hunting knife and held it ready. "BEGONE BEAST!" he shouted loudly, the shard of Soul Calibur reacting and sending out its cyan glow. The beast watch as it crept on the ground towards it, studying the light. When it finally touched the tip of Aeon's tail he screamed again, jumping back and holding his tail as if it had caught fire. Tenlo could see around it a small bit thick lay of red as it barked loudly, the whole town able to hear. It focused one more time on Tenlo and Sophitia before dashing on all fours away and out of the town. A few moments later what remained of the lizardmen who attacked soon followed Aeon away, leaving on their tracks, a few broken weapons, and some grisly dinner leftovers in their wake. Tenlo waited a few more moments to be sure before turning his knife to its holster and running to check on Andrea.

Sophitia worked her way up the stairs next to Tenlo, placing his sword next to him as he began to do the best he could washing her wounds with a bowl from the small altar. She knelt down beside him, tearing at some robes to try and bandage as best she could, an uneasy glance at Tenlo. "How..."

"She's lost a lot of blood," Tenlo said, knowing the question coming. "Her arm looks permanently damaged and likely will never heal right. She'll carry the scars with her for all her life, least to mention the memories of this night." He sighed and fell back, sitting and holding himself with both arms, wiping the sweat with a blood covered hand before giving a small smile. "But I think she'll to remember them and forget them."

Sophitia smiled back at him and retrieved new water for Tenlo to wash his hands with. "When can we move her?" she asked, looking out and seeing the faint silver of pink on the dark horizon.

"If we're gentle, and carry her on something between us, I would imagine now. If we continue to wait any longer Kilik and Cassandra will begin to worry." Slowly lifting himself with a loud crack in his back, he saw a broken door large enough for her to lay on and dragged it over. Placing some clothe on top he and Sophitia gingerly lifted her onto the make shift stretcher. "Alright, on your count." Sophitia nodded and on three they both lifted the door, Tenlo staying crouched to keep level with Sophitia's height and began their way to the town main square. Compared to the chaos of before, the quiet was more eerie, with broken bodies of people and lizardman littering the roads. It was merciful for Andrea she had fallen unconscious. "Sophitia," Tenlo finally asked, breaking the silence, "back there, that lizardman. You said his name was Aeon, is that just some name you call him in particular?"

Sophitia stopped suddenly at the question, almost making Tenlo drop Andrea as she scuffled to a stop. "O-oh, I'm sorry Tenlo. Please, put her down and I will explain." Tenlo nodded and gently laid the door on the ground, sitting next to it to rest his legs and arms. Sophitia sat hear him, their backs to Andrea. "I've known that lizardman many years, he was chosen, just as I and my sister were. You see, seven years ago, Soul Edge reemerged as a great threat to this and every land. To combat this, the gods made their decree, choosing noble warriors from all corners of our lands to wield one of their powerful weapons. My sister and I were among those challenge, and from Sparta, a man named Aeon Calcos was also chosen. He was strong, a great warrior with many wins on the battle field, and had risen in the ranks to be a commander in their army. We were meant to leave together, but Aeon felt so confident that he left before us and became lost in a great desert nearly dying from dehydration. He was saved by a nomad tribe, but the same night Soul Edge was defeated and scattered throughout the world. One of the shards rained down onto Aeon, and drove him insane, causing him to slaughter those who he helped. The gods, in particular Hephaestus who graced us with our weapons, were angered by his weakness and evil deed. They appeared before him with deaf ears to his begs of forgiveness. They cursed him, changing him to the monster he is now."

"So... when he saw your shield, he was angry because you are one of the chosen?"

"Yes, as well as something else." She looked down at her lap, playing with the threads of the hem in her skirt much like a child. "You see, when Soul Edge spread itself throughout the world, one of the shards affected me as well. For months I do not remember, I was under its control. A kindly demon hunter from Japan saved me, pulling the shard and attempting to purify me. Though I carry a minute essence of Soul Edge, I was forgiven by the gods and not cursed to the same fate. Aeon, he knows. He can sense the evil in me, and knows I was not turned. He hates for the gods favor to me. Knowing the gods had truly turned their backs on him, he now fights for Soul Edge, so as he can take his vengeance on them."

Tenlo watched Sophitia for a moment after and considered what she said. He was not foreign to the night she spoke of, though he had not known it was Soul Edge. He did remember seeing the streaks of red across the sky, like the stars were falling down. It was on his journey through the world that would eventually bring him to his home of Nehel. Something had struck him, and he was ill for days after fighting a demon in him. When he regained himself, he was resting in Nehel, Queen Lilian personally caring for him like a mother for her babe. Since that day he had always been indebted to her. "I see... I can understand his logic, though his actions are not giving him favors with his gods even if they have turned on him." Standing up and ready to continue, he gave her a minute more of rest before the two picked up Andrea again and continued towards the main square.