Chapter 11: Children's Tales
Seung Mi-na's hand struck nothing but air when the door opened before her knuckles could knock against the wood. Slightly startled, she flinched back at the dark silhouette greeting her at the doorway. "Enter," spoke the shadow, her tone low and firm as she stepped aside to allow the Korean into the room. Mi-na held her breath as she walked past the demon huntress and hid her limp. She could feel the ninja's sharp eyes upon her in the darkness and even though she had been around the elder woman for the past few days, Mi-na was still not used to Taki's strict demeanor.
The door closed behind Seung Mi-na with a soft click. Sophitia was also in the room, standing by the open window where the only source of light beamed through. Her normally green eyes shone with a pale blue under the moonlight when she nodded at Mi-na in greeting. The Korean smiled in return and carefully lowered herself onto the edge of the only bed in the small room, right beside her old friend.
Taki was as prompt as always. "The children, they are more than what they seem," she said, moving to stand before the other two.
Mi-na nodded and leaned back on the palms of her hands on the bed to stare up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I know…" she answered, keeping her tone quiet for the walls of the inn were thin. "They are actually–"
"I am aware of their situation," the ninja cut in, "Sophitia has informed me of it. Although I find it impossible to travel through the essence of time…" Her expression was neutral yet her keen eyes bore into Mi-na.
The Korean nervously tensed under the huntress's intense stare. Taki was a very intimidating woman to be around. Always serious and rarely showing any emotion, being a demon huntress had its quirks. "It really does sound unbelievable, but they will tell us the truth tomorrow," Mi-na assured, managing a timid smile. However, her smile slowly faded when she recalled Siegfried's words; 'We will speak the truth…' His expression had been grave as if he was left with no choice… Was the truth too painful to share? Or was there a terrible secret that the boys wished to keep hidden? The incident back in Malucci was still fresh in Mi-na's mind.
Taki crossed her arms. "Be careful around them," she warned ominously, bringing worried looks to arise on the other women. "Although their appearance may be that of children, I sense strange powers within them both."
Sophitia nodded in agreement. "The younger one has odd powers I have never seen before, powers that he claims to be magic."
"Magic?" Mi-na raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
Again, Sophitia nodded. "Link was capable of creating solid ice using only a bow and arrow."
"Arrows…" The Korean blinked in astonishment and remembered the bright flaming arrow the little kid had quickly extinguished with a simple wave of his hand back in the alley of Malucci. She smiled, now understanding why the thief had mistaken Link as a little demon (and why the boy put on such an act).
"I do not believe there is anything to fear from young Link. His powers and his nature are pure and holy."
Seung Mi-na smirked, not doubting the Greek woman's words. The strange boy with the long ears was the one who claimed to have freed the 'sword of the Gods' after all. Behind the obvious lies and strange appearance, Link was a good-hearted kid.
"But the other one… Siegfried…" Sophitia deeply frowned, her gaze lowering to the moonlit wooden floor. "It is faint but I can sense something within him... Something–"
"Evil," Taki said bluntly. Sophitia continued to frown while Mi-na quietly listened. "There is a dark presence lurking within the boy that I can faintly detect. It allowed me to find him and the other child." Her dark eyes suddenly narrowed at nothing in particular and her neutral face became grim. "What troubles me is the fact that the boy was able to sense Mekki-Maru through the reinforced protective seal I have placed upon my scabbard." At the mention of her blade, Seung Mi-na took note of the ninja's missing sword that was usually strapped to her back.
"What do you think it could mean?" With worry, the Greek woman met the huntress's stare.
The ninja shook her head. "For certain, I do not know. The boy is very sensitive to the evil of Mekki-Maru more so than you or I. When I tried to approach him, he was afraid and warned me to stay back."
Sophitia bit her lower lip. "My sister spoke of the same thing when we first found the boys… She was in possession of a fragment of Soul Edge at the time when she tried to confront Siegfried but he had warned her to stay away from him. He seemed... almost desperate in a way."
Seung Mi-na gasped and sat straight up, drawing the other women's immediate attention. "Back in Malucci, on the day we fought the monster, something happened," she began, shifting her gaze between the two other women. She briefly explained how she and Yun-seong 'befriended' the children, mentioning the thief and the stolen 'sword of the Gods' from the mountain shrine. Then in full detail, she spoke of the following morning from Siegfried's sudden illness to his drastic change in behaviour. Fear and desperation had turned into murderous hate within an instant. "Please, don't tell Yun-seong this… I don't know how he'll react," she quietly pleaded. Sophitia and Taki nodded understandingly and she sighed in relief.
"It seems the boy is highly affected by Soul Edge's aura," the dark-haired ninja concluded, moving to the open window to look outside in pondering thought. "What sort of exposure could have led to his curse?"
Mi-na could only shake her head in pity but Sophitia had a possible answer. "Siegfried once told me that he was searching for Soul Edge... years ago."
"You've actually met him before?" Mi-na questioned curiously, leaning forward to rest her elbows upon her knees to hold up her chin within the palms of her hands. "Siegfried, when he was… I guess, older?"
"We only met once, right here in Athens," Sophitia explained with a nod and a saddened smile which soon vanished. "He was an angry young man back then... The look of hysteria was clearly in his eyes when he spoke of the demon sword. He sought after Soul Edge... wanting to wield its incredible power for a reason he would not share with me. I had warned him of the evil hidden within the cursed sword before he left the city. I never saw him since."
The Korean entwined her fingers before her chin and deeply furrowed her brow. Sophitia spoke of the same Siegfried Seung Mi-na had encountered once before. Where exactly, she couldn't recall; but when they had met they ended up fighting each other since they were both searching for Soul Edge at that time. Shivers ran down her spine when she remembered the madness in the blond-haired knight's emerald eyes. Driven by desperation and rage, an uncontrollable desire for power was clear on the young man's scarred face. After her defeat, he had threatened to kill her if they ever crossed paths again… He had been truly insane…
However, that had been years ago. She wondered if he remembered her at all. The same man was now a young boy and the madness Mi-na had seen in the past was gone… only to be replaced with something more deadly under the influence of Soul Edge's evil. "Do you think he was able to find it?" she asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.
"We shall have to wait until tomorrow to know the truth," Taki answered, bringing a hand up to rub her brow. Mi-na saw a flicker of weariness on the ninja's refined features before the expressionless mask was put up again. "For certain, we should be on our guard if anything like that incident three days ago were to occur once more."
Mi-na rolled her eyes. "Oh, Taki, lighten up. I'm sure the same thing won't happen again," she said. Her expression softened. "He regrets what he did. I see nothing but guilt every time he looks at me. It wasn't his fault. Just make sure you don't approach him with that sword of yours and those damn shards even if they are sealed."
Sophitia sounded her agreement. "The evil of Soul Edge is controlling him in a way so we should have no worry if none of its evil is present," she said, giving the dark-haired ninja a promising smile.
"Yeah. And besides, he's just a kid," Mi-na added with a grin.
"You only have one life. Value it." Taki shot a defiant glare at them both. "Child or not, he nearly killed you. If your journeys have given you any experiences, you should be wary around the both of them." She closed her eyes and said softly, "Lives are sometimes more fragile than you think. What we need are the truths, no matter how hard or painful it is. We cannot afford to take any chances."
The Korean leaned back and shortly huffed. "We shouldn't force the truth out of them, if that's what you're saying."
"It is best to give them the time they need," Sophitia advised. "It is not our place to demand for answers they do not wish to give."
"Hmph, you trust they will speak the truth?" Taki inquired. There was a hint of uncertainty in her tone.
Together, Seung Mi-na and Sophitia nodded. "They promised," said Mi-na.
The huntress quietly sighed at that and started for the door, ending their discussion. "Let us retire for the night." She peered over her shoulder once her hand touched the door knob, her dark eyes finding Seung Mi-na's. "Your wounds have yet to fully heal. More rest is required from you."
Mi-na pouted in annoyance. "You should get more rest too," she shot back before raising a confused eyebrow. "And where are you going? Isn't this your room?"
"No. It is an empty room."
"You broke into a locked, empty room?" Mi-na gaped in shock.
"I did not break into the room. I quietly borrowed it."
"That's the same thing!"
Taki only gave the Korean a sullen glare. "Close the window and lock the door on your way out," was all the ninja said as she slipped into the shadows of the hall.
Mi-na let out a weary sigh as she pushed off the bed and onto her feet. Sophitia offered her hand but the other woman kindly waved it away. "We better get out of here before we get in trouble," the Korean grumbled.
Sophitia let out a quiet laugh. "I am sure it will be fine. Everyone is asleep including the night maid."
Mi-na smirked. "What time is it? Almost dawn?" She looked out the window but couldn't exactly tell how late in the night or early in the morning it was. "It's no wonder. I'm going to feel so terrible tomorrow…"
They left the room and carefully made their way to the lobby in the pitch-black hallway, hearing the snores of some of the sleeping occupants behind the locked doors. Sophitia bid goodnight and left the inn while Seung Mi-na climbed up the stairs to Yun-seong's shared room. Along the way, all she could think about was the upcoming day, wondering what sort of stories the children would tell them and whether or not the truth would be something she really wanted to hear.
As she came closer to Yun-Seong's shared room, she grumbled in annoyance when his loud snores reached her ears. Great... the one thing she didn't want to hear, and yet she was going to have to listen to it all night.
Hushed voices slowly drew him out of sleep.
"… not awake yet."
"If you're hungry, why don't you come down to the dining room with me? Yun-seong's already down there eating. That pig."
There was a short, quiet laugh. "I'll wait until Siegfried wakes up."
"All right. I'll see you later."
The door closed with an audible click and light footsteps moved across the room, stopping before the only window. Drapes were pulled apart and light shone through.
Siegfried held back his groan of discomfort as he remained still in bed, wanting to further delay the start of his day. The misery and dread he had been feeling the night before had returned in full force. He felt trapped and confined like a prisoner, caught red-handed for his unspeakable and heinous crimes. No… He was a prisoner. His chance to flee was gone and he had no choice but to confess and face the wrath of Seung Mi-na and the others.
He wasn't sure how long he stayed in bed, lying on his left side, facing the wall, with the covers partially shielding him from most of the daylight shining through the window. The elf was moving about the room, noisily shifting and tinkling with whatever objects he found interesting. It almost seemed like he was intentionally making the sounds to wake up the older blond. Adding to the noise were the muffled voices of other occupants within the hall of the inn and the rumble of the crowds outside in the street.
After some time, Siegfried heard the elf approach his bed. "How long are you going to lie there?" Link questioned, sounding bored.
The knight opened his eyes and saw the younger boy's shadow looming above him on the wooden panels of the wall. Siegfried scowled in slight irritation. "As long as I want to." Feebly, he pulled the covers over his head with his injured arm to shun out the light. His wound was throbbing with a dull ache and itchy under the bandages. His bruised side was awfully sore as well. "What time is it?"
"Nearing noon," the elf answered, seating himself on the edge of the older boy's bed.
The day was only half over, much to Siegfried's distress. He muttered a curse.
"You don't have to tell them the whole truth…" said Link quietly, somehow understanding the other's dilemma.
"They will want to know…" was the knight's murmured reply after a short pause.
"We could… make up a lie." The elf was obviously uncomfortable with his own suggestion.
Siegfried snorted. "And what sort of fairytale will we tell them this time? That it was your magic that turned us into children?"
"Well, that could be a plausible reason since magic doesn't exist here."
"That could lead to more questions with no answers and then you'll have to keep on lying. Have you forgotten how inept we are at lying?"
"You don't have to mention Soul Edge or the fact that you were that demon-knight." Link was whispering to avoid being overheard by unwanted listeners. The walls of the inn were only one plank of wood thick. Maybe two.
Siegfried clenched both of his hands into fists even when it pained him. Slowly, he shook his head beneath the covers and let out a defeated groan. The dread lingering in his gut was as heavy as lead. "The truth cannot be avoided… not after what I did to Seung Mi-na…"
"I'm sure they will understand." The young boy sounded hopeful but Siegfried could detect a hint of doubt in Link's tone.
"Will they?" Ignoring the pain in his arm and the stiffness of his battered body, Siegfried angrily threw off his covers and rolled onto his back to glower at the hatless elf frowning down at him. Once the others learned of his true identity, they would not simply forgive and forget his past sins. Link was a damn fool and it irritated Siegfried greatly. The elf did not know the history of Nightmare's reign of terror seven years ago. Link knew absolutely nothing unlike the others who heard the stories, spoke of the legends, and personally witnessed the destruction he had left behind. "They will understand well enough to raise their weapons against me," the knight lowly snarled. "They will hate me and so will you."
Link shook his head and hardened his gaze, his face mature and serious. "You're my friend, Siegfried, I won't hate you. I've told you before: I don't care what you did in the past."
"But they will. Be prepared for that if you decide to continue trusting your former enemy."
The younger boy raised a confused eyebrow, returning back to his childish demeanor. "Former enemy? Who?"
Siegfried glared at the other blond in frustrated disbelief. "Me, you ignorant elf."
"Oh." Link chuckled before forming a smirk. "I never did consider you an enemy."
The knight rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I threatened you. I tried to kill you. Don't tell me you consider every demon wanting to take your soul in the middle of a forest a friend…"
A humorous laugh escaped the elf's lips. "Of course not. I've only ran into one so far and it turned out he wasn't such a bad guy after all. He was only being controlled by an evil sword." His grin was smug. "Oh, and by the way, it's Hylian."
Annoyed, the knight only huffed and rolled back onto his side to sullenly stare at the wall. "Once you hear of my–"
"Nothing will change, Siegfried." With that, Link left the older boy's side.
Siegfried wanted to believe the other's words… It took another hour before he had the strength to prepare himself for the upcoming confrontation with Seung Mi-na and the others waiting for him and Link. With his stomach twisted in nervous knots, he ate very little of what was left of Sophitia's bread and only managed to swallow one mouthful of water. Any more and he would have likely retched.
He left his armour behind and strapped the heavy, hidden Master Sword onto his back. Link took everything but his shield. "In case… you know?" the boy had said, giving the knight a small knowing smile as he pulled up his hood.
In the busy lobby, everyone was waiting. Grouped amongst the other patrons of the inn were Sophitia and her sister, Seung Mi-na and her idiot companion, and Taki, the Fu-Ma ninja Siegfried could remember from the memories of Soul Edge. Highly trained in assassination and demon hunting, Taki was a deadly fighter and the night prior proved her unflawed capabilities. She and Sophitia were the ones to defeat Cervantes de Leon, the original wielder of the cursed Soul Edge that was once a pair…
Siegfried felt the huntress's sharp eyes upon him the moment he was half-way down the stairs. In fact, he felt everyone's stares, from scrutinizing to annoyingly concerned. He avoided their gazes when he and Link approached them and mumbled quick, short responses when Sophitia asked if he was all right and when Seung Mi-na wanted to know if he was hungry.
Skipping the redundancies, he quietly asked Sophitia over the chattering noise, "Is there a place we can talk without being seen or heard?" Their inn room was too small to comfortably fit five grown adults and two children. Not to mention it was a hot summer day and cramming that many bodies in one room would surely be suffocating. It wasn't safe either with the risk of being overheard through the thin barriers of wood.
"We could go to my home," she suggested, lightly touching his shoulder. "It is not too far of a walk from here."
He nodded briskly, keeping his eyes on the ground before him. "Please, take us there." She hesitated for a moment to give his shoulder a gentle squeeze for reassurance; however, it did nothing to lighten his mood.
The streets were noisy, crowded and hot under the burning afternoon sun but Siegfried kept his downtrodden composure as he silently followed the Athenian sisters. To his right was Link, panting and sweating under his dark cloak, and right behind him was Taki, followed by the Korean pair. Despite the heat, the adults wore light cloaks to conceal their sheathed weapons (with the exception of Seung Mi-na) and only the Koreans openly complained.
Again, Siegfried could feel the huntress's unnerving stare on the back of his head, watching him closely like a guard. It was clear she did not entirely trust him; perhaps she was already aware of his darkest secret judging by the way she was cautious of him… Being in such a close proximity with her made the young knight extremely uptight. She would probably be the first to kill him… Fast as lightning and as silent as a shadow, the huntress would drive her short, thin, deadly blade into him before he could even blink and her sword would be red with his blood and not from the light of a distant fire… The boy drew a quavering breath at the morbid scenario playing through his stressed mind.
It was fortunate Siegfried could no longer sense the evil presence she had possessed the night prior. At least she was considerate enough to leave whatever it was behind. Now that he thought about it, none of the others carried the shards of Soul Edge either. What have they done to the cursed fragments? Perhaps they all knew of his weakness…
Deep in thought, Siegfried would have walked right into Cassandra if Link didn't grab hold of his shirt. He slowly looked up, seeing that they have reached Sophitia's large two-storey home made of white stone bricks and red clay shingles for a roof. Keys tinkling, Sophitia opened her front wooden door and welcomed everyone inside.
Out of the blazing sun and into the cooler shade of Sophitia's home, Siegfried hardly took notice of his surroundings as he marched behind the sisters with the others in tow. He heard voices amongst the group but he did not pay any attention to what was spoken. The knight absentmindedly tailed whichever sister was in front of him until Link gently elbowed his side to snap him back into reality. Silently, the elf nodded his head to the side, beckoning the older boy to follow.
Link guided him around some of the wood and plush furnishings of the living quarters before settling on a black iron-bottomed daybed big enough to seat two people and cushioned with pillows and draped with a soft blue-dyed cloth. It was situated close to the far wall that was covered in framed, painted portraits of people, from single persons to groups of two or more, which Siegfried assumed were members of Sophitia's and Cassandra's family. Once seated, the elf pulled back his hood, took off his hat, and ran a hand through his messy blond hair that was damp with sweat. Dropping beside him, Siegfried unbuckled the boy's heavy sword and laid it between them.
One by one, everyone shifted and moved their chosen seats to face the two boys and made themselves comfortable. The Koreans sat in chairs made of carved, polished wood taken from the kitchens while the sisters rested on the plush sofa. Taki remained standing, leaning her back against the opposite wall with her arms crossed and her focus directly on him.
There was no comfort being the centre of attention, especially when each member of the audience was armed with a bladed weapon. Siegfried sat stiffly with an upset stomach and his gut was laded with dread. His hands were clammy and would have been trembling if he didn't clench tightly to the blue cloth beneath him. He felt everyone's eyes boring into him as an awkward silence filled the room. Not feeling very well, he kept his attention on the rectangular red textile rug patterned with a golden godly sun lying on the wooden floor under his boots.
Someone noisily cleared their throat impatiently. "Well? We're waiting for an explanation," demanded the annoying red-haired Yun-seong.
The man's tone was grating to Siegfried's ears. The boy scowled at the male Korean who was soon lightly backhanded by Seung Mi-na. Link shifted forward and opened his mouth to speak but Siegfried cut in front, "First off, we apologize for the lies we've told all of you. As you can see, we had no choice due to our… unusual situation."
Seung Mi-na let out a short, amusing laugh. "'Unusual' doesn't quite define it," she said with a lopsided grin. "Can you start by telling us who you two really are?"
Briefly, Siegfried's emerald eyes flickered over each curious face, with the exception of Taki, whose eyes were hard and piercing as she watched him the way a hawk watched a mouse. Finally, he introduced himself; "I am Siegfried… Siegfried Schtauffen." It took a moment for him to recall his surname for it had been too long since he had last spoken it or heard it spoken. When he had left the Schwarzwind, that was the last time…
"I am Link," said the younger boy, more confident than the other. "It's obvious I am not from this land or from this world in fact."
A perplexed expression crossed Yun-seong's face. "Not from this world?"
Link nodded. "I came... from a different world that is very similar to yours. Hyrule is my homeland. The sun, the moon, the trees, the animals… nearly everything is the same. Only the people differ. I am a Hylian and all Hylians bear the same physical characteristics as I." He made a quick gesture to his long ears and his face became bold as he continued. "My reason for being here is to protect Hyrule from the great evil you may all know as Soul Edge."
The Athenian sisters were surprised while the Koreans were staring in bafflement. Taki did not stir but her eyes flickered over to Link instead of Siegfried.
Link continued quietly, "A small metal fragment pulsing with evil energy fell upon Hyrule nearly two months ago and..." He hesitated, lowering his eyes on the same sun Siegfried had been staring at before. "Hyrule was cast into darkness after the shard entered our realm. The land withered around it and gruesome monsters were borne from its taint, spreading its corruption throughout Hyrule." He shook his head slightly at the memories. "After a long, tedious battle with a dark wizard possessed by the fragment, I gained knowledge of the shard's origins. It came from this world. That is why I am here; to bring an end to the shard's source of evil so it would never corrupt Hyrule again." He looked at the sisters. "That piece of Soul Edge I had was the shard that fell into Hyrule."
Sophitia's tone was laced with slight guilt as she said, "Forgive me, Link. I did not know that you–"
"It's fine!" the boy interrupted, grinning broadly. "I didn't exactly tell you the truth and I can understand that you only intended to protect us from any more danger." The elf gave a quick sideways glance at the older blond before meeting everyone's stares. "By now, you are all probably aware that Siegfried and I are actually much older than how we appear to be. We… stumbled upon a time portal that turned our bodies from adults to children."
"Stumbled?" Yun-seong questioned, crossing his arms as he leaned back against his chair. "I thought you said it opened up when you two were crossing swords!"
The elf nervously laughed. "Isn't 'stumbling upon something' the same as 'accidentally finding something'? Well, by accident we discovered a time portal in the middle of our fight."
The redhead scoffed, "How can a portal simply appear out of nowhere? It doesn't make any sense." His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the two.
"Um, well..." Link struggled to answer the question. Finally, he looked to Siegfried for assistance.
Siegfried chose his words carefully as he tried to explain. "Our swords… When they collided, a strange light erupted between them and opened up that portal."
Yun-seong was even more suspicious while Seung Mi-na, Cassandra and Sophitia stared in confusion. And, of course, the huntress silently listening in the far back hardly twitched a muscle. Skeptical of the inadequate explanation, Cassandra rubbed the bottom of her chin with the thumb of her white-gloved hand while knitting her brow in thought. "I don't quite understand… How can two swords of steel or iron or any other metal create a portal that can twist time? That's not possible."
Siegfried carefully lifted Link's concealed sword onto his lap, feeling its heavy weight press down on his thighs. The length of the blade from pommel to pointed tip was nearly as long as he was tall. "Link's sword is not a normal blade of steel or iron," he stated, unwrapping the dark blue blanket that covered the weapon with slow but steady hands.
The blanket fell to the floor, revealing the blue wooden scabbard ornamented with gilded metal bindings and the deep purple hilt with the shimmering yellow jewel of Link's sacred sword. Siegfried held it safely by the sheath while the elf stood up to grasp the handle to slide a quarter of the blade out. Gasps could be heard from the sisters when their eyes fell on the glowing sword that brightened the room. Sophitia and Cassandra were both astonished and the Koreans, even though they have already seen the sword up close before, were still awed by the beautiful and radiant light. There was even a reaction from Taki albeit more subtle.
"It is called the Master Sword," the owner of the mystical weapon explained. "Known to be 'the sword of evil's bane'."
"Amazing…" Sophitia breathed, leaning forward in her seat as her wide green eyes studied the sword. "Rothion has told me many rumours: 'A holy sword only a God could wield has been granted to all humanity, waiting for the chosen one to carry out its power.' Is this the sword? The one from Hephaestus's shrine?"
Link started to laugh in amusement as he shoved his weapon fully back into its scabbard. He grinned shyly as he sat back down. "Wow… Those rumours have gone that farfetched? I don't remember hearing a chosen one being mentioned before. But yes, we found my Master Sword atop the shrine."
"Wait a minute," Seung Mi-na crossed her arms and frowned in confusion, "Why was your sword in the shrine in the first place?"
The boy in green nervously scratched the back of his head and averted his gaze to the side. "That's because something weird happened after we were thrown out of the portal, well, besides being turned into kids. Both of our swords were taken in the light of the portal, carried up into the sky and then both separated," he motioned with his hands, "into two beams of light that flew in opposite directions. They looked like shooting stars. Maybe some of you had seen them. It was… I think, about three weeks ago?"
"I do recall a brilliant streak in the night sky…" Cassandra reminisced thoughtfully. "I believe that was a few nights before me and Sophitia found you guys. Oh! Was that why you two were in the forest?"
Siegfried nodded, carefully placing the elf's blade back on the cushions between them. "The incident occurred two days before you found us."
The girl's expression became serious. "It's a good thing we did. The forest was crawling with monsters and there was Astaroth too… I'm glad to see you're all right."
"I have yet to thank the both of you for helping us…"
"Don't worry about it, kid." The knight was irked by Cassandra's little tease.
Returning to the matter at hand, Link shrugged at Seung Mi-na's previous question. "I really don't know why the Master Sword ended up in the shrine. Maybe because of its holy power? Or it could just be the strange fickleness of fate."
"That doesn't matter," grumbled Yun-seong, impatiently tapping a finger over his bent knee, "All I want to know is how exactly a time portal can suddenly appear! Is your glowing sword unstable or something?"
"If I strike my sword against it will another portal suddenly open?" asked Cassandra curiously.
Link shook his head. "No, striking a normal sword against it wouldn't result in another portal… The Master Sword is like a key for…" He trailed off in hesitation, forcing Siegfried to question him. "It acts like a key… for traveling through time. I know it's hard to believe…" A bashful grin adorned his young face.
Siegfried's eyes widened. Link had failed to mention that one important fact. If the Master Sword was a key to time travel then that could explain why the strange portal possessed the property of time. It reverted their bodies into that of children yet their minds and memories remained intact… Why was that? There were many questions Siegfried wanted to ask but he doubted the elf would be capable of answering.
"However," the younger boy continued, meeting most of the group's bewildered stares, "The Master Sword alone cannot create a portal of time even if it is a key…" Biting his lower lip, he turned to Siegfried reluctantly.
"Then you are implying that Siegfried's sword is also necessary? Or does it require a sword that holds unique powers as well?" The questions surprisingly came from Taki, spoken in a low, inquisitive tone. Siegfried had not heard her speak a word since last night and it unnerved him to hear her sudden voice. Her dark eyes narrowed directly at him, cautious, knowing and gleaming with a hint of spite.
Abruptly, the knight looked away and held his breath. Taki knew… Dread clawed its way back, churning his insides and shredding away the last of his confidence.
"Your sword, Siegfried, is it related to Soul Edge?" The huntress's words were sharp and accusing.
"What? Soul Edge?" murmured Cassandra in disbelief. Yun-seong muttered something similar.
Siegfried said nothing and saw only the sun before his feet, his hands curling into tight fists on his lap. A deathly silence filled the room as everyone waited for his answer.
They wanted the truth and the truth would change them. Their kindness would turn into hostility; their smiles would become hateful scowls, their compassion would twist into resentment. They would hate and resent him for his past.
He heard his name. It was Sophitia and she sounded worried. Why did she worry for him? He didn't quite understand…
Slowly, he raised his head at her voice, meeting her concerned green eyes. His mouth had gone awfully dry. He shook his head; the motion slow and weary and he wet his lips. "Related? No… not at all," he wanted to scoff but there was no strength in his voice. Relief washed over Sophitia but it was soon shattered when he said, "It is more than that." He drew a deep breath to steady his heart and brace his mind. Emerald eyes darkened, steeling against the nerve-wracking stares directed at his being. He found his voice, eerily calm yet laced with contempt. "First, I want to ask: Do you all know of the Azure Nightmare?"
Sophitia was as pale as the white of her stone walls at the mention of the cursed name. Concerned, Cassandra placed a supportive hand upon her sister's shoulder, Seung Mi-na slightly frowned, and Taki noticeably furrowed her brow while Link shifted in his seat. Yun-seong nodded with a snort. "Well, yeah," the redhead muttered as if the name was a common fact. "I've heard rumours, legends and stories about that demon but what does that have to do with your sword?"
Siegfried ignored the annoying fool's question. "These rumours and stories… Tell me about them. I'd like to hear them." He was daring to know the level of fear and hatred each warrior present held against his other self... the damnable Azure Knight. And… he wanted Link to hear the truth of his cursed past.
Yun-seong wasn't too happy and it showed on his face. He was about to say something but Cassandra spoke first. "Lately there have been a few rumours going around that a demon by that name had attacked the small village of Asine southeast of here. They say it happened a few weeks ago."
That village… Siegfried clearly remembered… Vivid memories of the last moment he slaughtered innocents with Soul Edge still in hand had suddenly returned. He shuddered, recalling the cries of the peasants, the screams of the women and children, and their desperate pleas for mercy. Their blood stained the dirt road crimson and covered him in red. And their faces… They were all horribly distorted in pain and fear even after death…
"Also, this demon is the wielder of Soul Edge," Seung Mi-na added, thankfully breaking into the boy's horrid thoughts. "Stories say that he and his minions brought death upon the lands they walked, killing thousands of innocent people, harvesting their souls and bringing fear to those who heard his name. That was seven years ago when the stories began."
Yun-seong sullenly stared at her, raising an eyebrow. "Just where did you hear those stories?" he asked. "From what I heard, he was defeated in a castle somewhere and was never heard from again."
His companion rolled her eyes. "You have to open your ears when you're out of the country, Yun-seong. There's more to know then just Nightmare's defeat…"
"For three years..." Sophitia softly spoke, her voice wavering with grief. "The massacres lasted for three years before he was finally defeated by two strong warriors hailing from the East."
Three long years... Siegfried lowered his head and closed his eyes in shame. The hellish memories were slowly coming back to him. His reign as the Azure Knight, the endless bloodshed, the annihilation of countless armies that dared to oppose him, all the innocent lives he had taken and all the souls he had gathered… It was all for one purpose and that was to undo the past… But it had been a lie. The promise he was given was nothing but a goddamn lie.
"As Cassandra had mentioned earlier," Sophitia continued, "there are recent rumours that state he is still alive..."
The room was silence once more. Apprehension hung thick in the air, choking Siegfried. Swallowing, he lifted his head to look forward but did not meet anyone's gaze. "He is alive," he whispered, certain the others heard him in the hushed room. "Nightmare still lives…"
"How do you know?" Seung Mi-na carefully asked.
Cold, emerald eyes fell on her and she visibly stiffened. "Because he's right here. You're all looking at him right now."
The woman's face gradually morphed into shock. As did Sophitia's, her skin paler than the whites of her stone bricks. Yun-seong and Cassandra both stared in disbelief while Taki was unexpectedly solemn.
Sophitia shook her head. "It... It cannot be true..." Her sad green eyes were quietly pleading against him.
"I told you last night that we will speak the truth. And this is the truth… I am Azure Nightmare."
Yun-seong suddenly stomped his foot on the floor and stood up, nearly knocking his chair over. "What? You're kidding me, aren't you?" he demanded angrily, pointing a finger in Siegfried's direction. "Is this another one of your stupid lies?"
"Yun-seong." Seung Mi-na grabbed his arm but the redhead pulled away, his glare transfixed on the blond-haired knight.
"Clearly, you are too ignorant to listen," Siegfried hissed at the arrogant man, his anger slowly rising. "What I stated is the truth, whether you believe me or not."
"You…" Yun-seong stepped forward only to be held back by Mi-na. "You claim to be the demon in the legends? The one who killed all those people? Including that one little village?"
The boy lowered his eyes to his hands on his lap, turning the palms upward and clenching them tight until they shook, his nails digging deep. He could see the blood of his victims… No matter how many times he scrubbed his skin raw, the blood would never go away, and his soul was probably damned. Siegfried closed his eyes. "Yes… I was the one who killed them all," he admitted, shaking his head grimly. "After a long, tedious search I found what I was looking for. It was lying beside the rotting body of a pirate." The memory of that day came back to him and he could see it play out before him when he opened his eyes and choked out, "I found... Soul Edge."
Everyone seemed to freeze after the word 'Soul Edge' dropped from his lips. Tension and fear spiked the room and Siegfried felt his heart grow heavy at recalling those dark memories. If only he had died or failed to wield the sword… After all, Soul Edge had not been easily obtained; the vile body burned with demonic fires the moment he tried to grab the hilt of the cursed sword. Inferno, the true soul of the wicked blade, had challenged him then and he single-handedly defeated the abomination and won the right to wield the incredible power many had sought after.
Siegfried's hands trembled as he slightly raised them up before him. "With it, I killed… willingly at first… but the sword's evil soon overwhelmed me and I… I eventually became the demon, Azure Nightmare. I slaughtered every living being I could find and took their souls for three long dreadful years before I was defeated…"
Kilik and Xianghua, they were the two warriors that confronted him in battle, severely wounding him and banished him into a realm of eternal night. Within the black void, he had cursed their names and thought nothing but vengeance until he broke free of Soul Edge's complete control. "I did not die and Soul Edge was greatly damaged; weak enough for me to regain control of my own mind and body. However… It… I tried… For as long as I could, I tried to resist but I couldn't… I couldn't fight against it any longer and I… I…" He failed to finish. The words would not form and he could hardly breathe. He was suffocating in his own anguish. The only thing he could do was stare at his furled hands that were stained with blood that only he could see.
Everyone was uncomfortably quiet for a while. No one dared to move. Someone spoke his name but he was too distraught to discern whose voice it was. A hand gripped his shoulder, bringing his attention to the boy beside him. Link's faint smile and nod of encouragement was out of place but it gave Siegfried the little strength he needed to continue.
"That village, Asine… That was the last time I killed with Soul Edge as Nightmare before I found Link in the nearby woods. When Soul Edge and the Master Sword collided, the impact between evil and holy energy created the time portal, resulting in our current state. Soul Edge was taken into the light and I am free of Soul Edge's control, but not entirely…" With guilt, Siegfried looked up at Seung Mi-na, seeing her standing with one arm latched around Yun-seong's arm. "That's why… Back in Malucci, I…"
"It's fine," Seung Mi-na quickly told him, capable of smiling in assurance despite what she learned. "Nothing really happened, right?" She winked behind the redhead.
Yun-seong looked questionably at her. "Wait, something did happen, didn't it?" he demanded, shifting his eyes between the woman and Siegfried before finally narrowing his furious gaze on the boy. "That morning, I heard all that yelling coming from your room, Mi-na. What exactly happened? Why were you on the floor when I entered your room?"
Seung Mi-na tightened her hold on her companion, her face firm. "It was–"
"I attacked her." Siegfried did not allow her to defend him. What damn reason did she have for doing so? "I tried to kill her. I… fell under the dark influence of the powerful evil aura that appeared within the city…"
The look of horror on Yun-seong's face instantly changed into something more hostile. In a blink of an eye, Yun-seong easily broke away from Seung Mi-na and stood before Siegfried, his hand outstretched with his gleaming silver sword thrust forward so the deadly point of the Korean's curved blade was pressing against Siegfried's neck right below the boy's chin. "You damn little monster!" the redhead snarled venomously. "You tried to kill her?!" Brown eyes burning with utmost hate glowered down at the startled knight while the others gasped and cried out in surprise and horror.
Siegfried took a wary glance at the young man's blade, seeing his distorted reflection on the polished surface of the weapon's flat side before meeting Yun-seong's glare with one of his own. Holding his breath, the boy sat as stiff as a board, feeling the cold, sharp edge touching the skin of his neck, but he was not afraid.
The others were screaming now; yelling at the brave fool to put down his weapon. "There will be no blood spilled within my home! Please put that away!" Sophitia exclaimed in urgency. Seung Mi-na was angry and stern against Yun-seong while Link begged for him to stop.
"Enough!" Siegfried growled, raising his hand in hope of silencing them all. They appeared in the periphery of his vision while his eyes never left the Korean. He carefully swallowed and breathed a slow, deep breath. "Let him do whatever he desires," he said quietly. "I'm sure all of you feel the same. I... deserve to die." Siegfried closed his eyes and laughed silently. "I deserve to die a thousand times over. And even if that happens, it still wouldn't be enough to cleanse me of my sins."
"Siegfried..." Sophitia looked at him sorrowfully.
But Siegfried just shook his head and said to Yun-seong, "If you want to kill me then do it in a back alley or out in the field. But not here in Sophitia's home. I promise you, I won't run or hide."
"You can't be serious!" Cassandra cried out.
"I am serious." Siegfried turned his attention back to the only person in the room who outright loathed him. "What I have done is unforgivable. I've killed so many helpless and innocent people… And I'll likely kill more if I continue to live." With an air of despair, Siegfried said quietly, "It's best to end my existence, do you not all agree? What right do I have to live after all I've done?"
"No!" Link was shouting right beside him, the forgotten hand on his shoulder gripping tightly. "What you did was beyond your control, Siegfried! It was Soul Edge that used you!"
"It was still my hands and my body that committed all those sins! I am responsible for them all!" Siegfried wanted to glare at the naïve child but he dared not to move too much. "Are you willing to kill me, boy?" he sharply addressed the redhead. "Or are we going to stay here all day and night?"
Yun-seong was annoyed by Siegfried's jest. "You really deserve to die, brat."
"I already made that clear, didn't I?" Siegfried softened his expression, bringing a look of bewilderment to flash over the young man's face. "Have you decided? The alley or the field?"
Hesitation flickered over the Korean's features. His jaw was visibly clenched tight and his sword was dangerously wavering from having to hold it outstretched for some time. The unsteady blade bit into the skin of Siegfried's neck, leaving a shallow cut that he could feel bleeding, however the boy did not flinch.
"That creature with the one eye we saw, it showed up in Malucci because of you, wasn't it?" Yun-seong demanded.
"I don't know…" Siegfried stiffly shook his head. "I know nothing about the creature or why it was there…"
A strong hand clamped over Yun-seong's wrist, holding the redhead's sword in place. Taki had appeared right beside him, unseen. Her eyes were fierce when they narrowed at the young man. "Put down your weapon, boy," she ordered sharply. "There will be no bloodshed within these walls or anywhere else amongst us."
Siegfried frowned at her. "Don't you feel the same hatred towards me? Do not lie."
"Hatred is a powerful emotion," the huntress answered, turning her attention towards him. The ferocity behind her stare was surprisingly gone. "What I hate is Soul Edge and its corruption. You are another unfortunate victim of the evil sword's taint. That is all."
A victim? She was terribly wrong. By his own will, he had chosen to wield Soul Edge's power. "No… I am…" He tried to explain but Yun-seong suddenly pulled back with a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his spiky red hair.
"You're just a damn brat!" the Korean growled. "If I kill you now, I'd be killing a kid! I can't do it…" Reluctantly, Yun-Seong added, "And it's against my morals to kill someone who won't even fight back." He raised his blade to see his reflection and whispered, "That's not who I am..."
With the sword gone from his throat, Siegfried eased up and gingerly touched his neck, feeling a sticky wetness and seeing red smeared on his fingertips. "A kid?" he muttered derisively, eyeing the blood on his skin. He wanted to laugh and call the idiot a senseless moron. "Don't be deceived. You know I am more than that. All of you!" In turn, he glowered at everyone in the room, seeing mostly looks of pity and compassionate stares instead of scorn and hate. And Link, the boy was still beside him, worried as always. Why? Only Yun-seong showed his true emotions towards the former demon so why won't the others? "Do not pity me if you despise me."
"Siegfried." Sophitia approached him, her features no longer pale but hardened with resolution. Her hand replaced Link's, grasping him on the same shoulder. He lowered his gaze, unable to meet her steadfast eyes. "What good would come from our hate towards you?" She knelt down, her hand moving to brush away the long strands of hair that hid his scarred face before gently lifting his chin so he would look at her. "What would your death bring to us but remorse?"
His anger dwindled to nothing. He carefully pulled her hand away by her wrist and lightly shook his head, avoiding her eyes once more. "I've caused too much pain… too much suffering… I should have listened to your warning in the past but I thought you a fool." His voice was weak and quavering. "It would be better for all of you… for the world… if I died."
Her hand easily slipped away from his hold to enclose around his. "Your death would not resolve the crimes you have committed. What you seek should be forgiveness."
"Forgiveness?" Siegfried nearly spat out the word. For years, he had been seeking nothing but forgiveness for the sin he had committed so long ago. It resulted with thousands dead by his hand and evil blade. "My sins cannot be forgiven…"
"They can," Seung Mi-na spoke softly. "After what you told us and seeing you as you are now, I understand that you regret everything you've done. It's not really you we should blame but the evil of Soul Edge. If you want forgiveness then I forgive you."
The boy was shocked as he stared at the smirking Korean woman. Standing beside her with his arms crossed, Yun-seong was quiet and sullen but otherwise remained silent. "But… I…"
"It's not your fault, all right?"
"What happened in the past cannot be undone," said Sophitia. "The burden of your past mistakes weighs heavily upon you but it does not mean you must live with them forever. Seek forgiveness, seek salvation." Sophitia placed a hand on her heart and looked at him sadly. "Your death will not bring them back. If you want the dead to forgive you, then find the strength to keep on living and destroy Soul Edge. Only by doing that will give meaning to all the lives that were lost because of that sword. They would not want more lives and tragedies to follow them."
"But-"
Sophitia repeated solemnly, "You cannot bring them back with your death. You can only stop more people from dying by destroying Soul Edge and making sure that no one else can wield it and fall under its control. That... is the true path to redemption."
Siegfried bit his inner lower lip at her words. He couldn't argue... And he had the impression that Sophitia, Seung Mi-na and Link would knowingly persist in their belief that he was merely under the control of Soul Edge for all his wrongdoings. Siegfried closed his eyes as he pondered Sophitia's words. The true path to redemption... was it possible for someone like him?
When the knight said nothing, Taki spoke, "I suggest we discuss our next course of action. Soul Edge was taken within the portal of light along with the Master Sword and separated in opposite directions. Tell me, in which direction did it fly off?"
"We headed west to find my sword in the shrine so Soul Edge lies somewhere in the east," Link answered. "Since our swords created the portal in the first place, we believe that if we clash them together once more it would open another portal that could restore our bodies."
"Then we shall rest and prepare a few days more before we head out."
Siegfried snapped his head up. "What? We?"
The ninja nodded curtly. "The two of you are searching for Soul Edge, are you not? We all have the same purpose."
"Yes, but I cannot ask any of you to help us–"
"We are coming along whether you ask us or not," Taki interrupted. Her eyes narrowed fiercely, stilling the knight's protest. "You are vulnerable to Soul Edge's evil. How do you expect to obtain it without losing yourself to its cursed power?"
Siegfried glanced down at the Master Sword lying between him and the elf. Link told him that it would protect him from evil but the sword had done nothing but render him numb and unconscious. And neither of them could wield the damn thing!
"Not to mention that we hardly survived on our own," the elf had to add quietly.
Siegfried huffed at the annoying truth before sighing in defeat. He suddenly felt very tired. Sophitia gave his hand a final squeeze and stood up."Then it has been decided," she announced, "The seven of us will search for Soul Edge together."
"What? Sis, you should stay home," Cassandra objected. "Your children need you."
"No, I will continue to fight for their sake. It is because of me that they suffer… The end of this journey will take us to Soul Edge and I shall bring an end to its wicked evil." Valiance shone in the older sister's green eyes as she spoke. She faced the older blond-haired boy. "I failed to protect you in the past, Siegfried. I will not let that happen again."
The knight frowned, uncomfortable at her vow towards him. He was not a helpless kid that needed to be protected from danger.
Before he could say anything, she invited everyone to stay at her home for dinner. Siegfried had to decline and brushed away her need to tend to the minor cut on his neck. Even though his stomach had somewhat calmed, it was still far from being able to hold down a meal. Not only that, he wanted to avoid everyone's staring eyes and their dreadful looks of pity. (And in Yun-seong's case, the hateful scowls.) He had enough attention for one day.
After deciding that they would discuss their preparation plans the next day, Siegfried left with Link wanting to tag along and Taki to escort them back to their inn while the Koreans kindly took up Sophitia's offer.
The trek back was quiet between the three as they traversed the hot, noisy city streets. It was near evening by the time Siegfried found his bed. The sheets had been changed and neatly made during their absence and the boy simply dropped right on top of the mattress with a dull thud after removing Link's sword and his boots. Lying on his back, he heavily sighed in exhaustion and rubbed his weary face.
"I told you they would understand," said the elf, smiling down at the other. The young boy's smile faded, replaced by an angry frown. "You wanted to end your life. How foolish can you be?"
The knight weakly glared. "It's not foolish. It's what I deserve. You know who– no, you know what I am. Don't you hate me?"
"No." The answer was quick but it was not a lie.
"Why not?"
"Clearly you are too ignorant to listen." Siegfried scowled from hearing his own words spoken against him. "I've said before: nothing will change." Link vanished from his sight only to return with his hidden sword that Siegfried had left on the table. "The Master Sword, keep it by your side. To protect you."
The older boy flinched away from the sacred weapon when the elf carelessly dropped it on his bed with the covered hilt nearly touching him. "Watch where you put that!" Siegfried snarled, springing up into a sitting position. He glowered at the other who smiled sheepishly and quickly apologized. "How will it protect me? I cannot wield it. I can't even touch it!"
"We will find a way." Link had a smug grin.
The knight snorted in disbelief. "It'll only result in me getting knocked out or my arms going numb!"
Link laughed in amusement. "I'll figure something out. Trust me! In the meantime, keep it beside you to ward off any evil you may sense."
"Hmph. It's useless. I had it with me yet I could still sense the evil in Taki's possession last night. Don't you recall?"
The elf shortly pondered over that. "The sword was hidden under the blanket. That might be why. Keep it out in the open."
Siegfried shook his head and sighed. "It was out in the open when I attacked you and Mi-na… It did nothing to stop me."
"Hmm, well..." Link scratched his chin in thought. "It wasn't close enough to you that time…"
"Yet you managed to drag it close enough to strike me down with it," the knight pointed out.
The elf frowned but soon shook his head and looked at the other with bold blue eyes. "It will protect you. I promise." He seated himself on the bed to unravel the sword. "I pray to the Goddesses to watch over you. Let my power be yours." The gilded bindings of the wooden blue scabbard glinted under the evening light coming through the undraped window. With a grunt, Link lifted the heavy sword and presented it for Siegfried to take. "Go on, it's yours until I can wield it again."
Reluctant, the older boy cautiously grasped the holy weapon by its scabbard, feeling the smooth wood and the hefty weight of the sheathed blade. As he shifted the sword onto his lap, the yellow jewel at the hilt winked and the purple metal handle gleamed. Holding the magnificent sword so close in his own hands, he felt a strong sense of divine power radiating from it. It calmed him, eliminating all the anxiety and dread that still lingered. Perhaps Link was right… Siegfried desperately wanted to believe the Master Sword would shield him from Soul Edge's evil. He did not want to fall under the darkness again…
"Very well," he finally accepted, sighing to hide his true smile. "I will keep it with me."
Link broadly grinned in satisfaction and hopped off the bed. "Tomorrow, I'll think of a way for you to use it properly. Now are you hungry? I'm starving."
"Then why didn't you stay at Sophitia's?"
"And leave you here to mope all by yourself?" The elf raised his brow and knowingly smiled as he moved towards the door. "You know, Siegfried, you scowl and frown so much that I think you'll have wrinkles by the time you reach your twenties."
In response, Siegfried scowled. "What?"
Link just laughed. "Anyway, I'll bring something nice to eat from the kitchen. I hope they're serving that stew again. That was really good." Pulling his hood on, Link slipped out the door.
With a small smirk, Siegfried leaned back against the wooden wall and quietly murmured to the sword in his lap, "So nothing's really changed, huh? Stupid elf…"