A/N: This chapter has been revised and extended with extra content in the first half, thus making this the longest chapter I have ever written in my fanfiction writing history! I included a lot more details regarding the groups' stay in Athens and expanded on character interactions I have never truly touched upon throughout the story. Thus, more character development. Hopefully, you'll find the longest chapter (so far) enjoyable!


Chapter 12: The Dangers Lurking in the Shadows

They slipped through the crowds of Athens busiest marketplace and entered the blacksmith's open shop. The rhythmic pounding of a hammer on metal and laboured grunts rang through the heated air as the blacksmith with blond hair and muscular arms tempered a burning spear head over an anvil. Each strike with the black hammer brought forth a dazzling shower of red and yellow sparks. Beside him, his forge was alive with red hot coals that sputtered with fiery wisps when the spear head was plunged into the heat.

A few Athenian warriors were observing the finely made weapons along the walls, giving minor glances at the blonde-haired woman and the two boys that had just entered the sweltering shop. Seeing new customers before him, the blacksmith laid aside his work and stood up with welcoming gray-green eyes that suddenly widened at who he saw.

"Sophitia? What a pleasant surprise!" he exclaimed as he removed his thick gloves heavily stained with black soot. He wiped the trickling sweat off his forehead and brushed his thick fingers through his short, dampened hair. He untied his protective apron, smudged black from years of working at the forge, revealing his naked well-toned torso that glistened with perspiration.

Sophitia smiled warmly at the man as he rounded his work area and approached her. "Rothion, dear, how is everything today?" she asked before grasping the man's larger hands within hers.

Link, sweating under the dark cloak once more, cocked his head to the side as he studied the familiar man more closely. "So that's Rothion," he mused to himself. The man who had refused to sell him and Siegfried swords days ago turned out to be Sophitia's husband.

Earlier in the morning, Sophitia had dropped by the inn to offer the boys a hand in getting them prepared for their upcoming journey. "They certainly need new clothes," Seung Mi-na suggested with a little smirk when she looked over each boy, noting the dirt, mud and grass stains that had accumulated on their clothes over the past few weeks. "And a bath for sure."

"A bath? How redundant," Siegfried had retorted in annoyance.

Mi-na had planted her hands on her hips, wrinkled her nose, and raised an eyebrow. "You boys are filthy. When was the last time you had a bath, little man?"

"I am not little, woman," the knight had snapped. "And it's only been a few weeks if you count jumping into a river and falling down a waterfall a bath."

Link had soundly nodded in agreement to that. "Wasn't too long ago. We nearly drowned but I still consider that a bath as well so we don't really need one."

Seung Mi-na and Sophitia exchanged a look that was a mix of horror and disbelief. Before either of them could say anything, Siegfried had sharply pointed out that it was proper equipment that they needed and not proper hygiene. The knight wanted a suitable sword but Link was adamant that he use the Master Sword. "I figured out a way," the Hylian had assured, although it was an actual lie. But after a short argument, Siegfried eventually complied. Armour was the next thing on the older boy's list and Link needed a smaller, lighter shield. Since Sophitia's husband was a blacksmith, she was more than willing to take the boys out to see the man for his services.

Siegfried stood beside Link within Rothion's shop, looking rather grumpy. Having to once again travel through the tedious crowds highly annoyed him. At first, he had refused to leave the inn but with Yun-seong lurking around, the long-haired boy had quickly changed his mind. Siegfried and the redhead never had gotten along before and now it was much worse. They hated each other. Both of them would constantly be shooting ungrateful glares at the other in utter contempt if ever in the same room or they would mutter insults back and forth that would eventually become heated quarrels. Yun-seong didn't trust Siegfried and he made it very clear.

Wife and husband shared a small kiss, making Link awkwardly shift his feet while Siegfried pretended to look at a nearby sword with interest.

"Everything is well, my love," Rothion replied after they parted lips. A curious look fell over his lean face. "What brings you here at a time like this?"

"I have a favour to ask of you," Sophitia began as she stepped aside to gesture to the boys behind her.

When the man saw Link and Siegfried, he immediately recognized them. "My, it's you boys again," he said with an amused smirk.

"We meet again, mister," Link greeted with a cheerful grin. Siegfried only nodded at the man.

"You have met before?" Sophitia questioned, slightly surprised.

"Why, yes," Rothion answered with a small chuckle. "They wanted to buy swords a few days ago but I could not sell them the weapons. They are only children and... Wait a minute," his eyes shifted to his wife in suspicion, "Sophie, have you fallen in sympathy for these boys that you have agreed to buy them swords?"

"Not at all. These two are actually friends I have told you about before. Remember?"

The blacksmith briefly looked over Link and Siegfried, baffled. "You mean these children are your friends?" he asked in bewilderment. His wife nodded and he continued to stare dubiously at the boys. "The ones you were attending to for the past few days?"

"Yes, them and a few others," Sophitia explained. "There is much that I must tell you, dearest." She glanced around the store, seeing it not empty. "However, that will have to wait. For now, could you do me a small favor?" It was nothing more than a simple request to reshape Link's Hylian shield into a smaller one fit for his current size and to forge Siegfried a matching iron gauntlet for his right hand. The older boy didn't like the uneven weight of his arms and he desired more protection, his sword wound being proof of his need.

Rothion perked an eyebrow then nodded. "Of course, Sophitia. Anything for you."

Link unbuckled the straps that held his shield to his back and carefully slid it out beneath his cloak to give to Rothion. With both hands, the man lifted the shield before him and examined it with great interest. "What a unique emblem and design," he stated in awe. "Did your father give this to you?"

"My father?" the Hylian uttered in surprise. Such a being had never existed in his life and even though he lied about it once, he never spoke of it nor thought about it much. He shook his head and nervously laughed. "No, no. It's really mine, actually," he truthfully answered, feeling a sense of loss within him. Before he could allow the blacksmith to ask any more questions, he quickly asked if reshaping the shield was possible.

Rothion frowned and hesitated. "I might be able to. However… I'm afraid I might damage the emblem in the process."

The boy lightly shook his head and smiled. "It's okay if you do. I won't mind. I can always get another one."

After Siegfried gave the man his armoured gauntlet, Rothion estimated that it may take at least four or five days for both items to be finished. Feeling very pleased and grateful for the man, Link gave him a little bow before leaving with Siegfried and Sophitia.

For the rest of the day, Sophitia decided to follow Seung Mi-na's earlier suggestion and dragged the two with her to purchase suitable travelling clothes. Neither of the boys were too enthusiastic about the idea but they couldn't quite argue against her either… the clothes on their backs really needed a good washing. Not only did the woman lug them around for clothing, she purchased other 'necessities' the boys were lacking such as hair combs and bedrolls for the both of them. (She even bought them a sweet, little treat when she noticed Link staring curiously at a group of noisy children eating some sweet pastries). To pay her back for everything, Link forced her to take a handful of his rupees.

That nightfall, Seung Mi-na, along with Cassandra who stopped by for a brief visit, forced the boys into taking a bath. The two girls cornered them in their own inn room, waiting for the maid to prepare the water in the bathroom located on the first floor. Link had tried to escape, managing to slip past the women and out the door. However, Yun-seong was down the hall and had quickly grabbed and picked up the escaping boy upon Mi-na's hollered command. Holding the boy under one arm, the redhead grinned and promptly dropped the pouting Hylian back into his guarded room. After that, Link reluctantly gave up.

Siegfried was more defiant, arguing against Cassandra's reasons and ignoring most of Mi-na's threats. It was Mi-na's last threat, spoken with a mischievous little smile, that got him to change his mind; "Little man, if you don't take a bath then I'll help you take a bath. I'll get in the tub with you and–"

"What?" the knight suddenly exclaimed, looking quite startled.

The woman's grin broadened. "I'll join you in the nice hot water nake–"

"D-Don't be ridiculous, woman!" Siegfried fervently growled, his face turning a shade of red. He quickly shook his head and turned abruptly around to hide his embarrassment before crossing his arms and heaving a frustrated sigh in defeat. "Fine, I'll take a stupid bath. Alone! Get out of here!"

The two women giggled and left the room but guarded the door in case the boys wanted to make another escape. Link teasingly smiled at the older blond. "I bet it would have been nice if Seung Mi-na joined you in the water, don't you think?"

Fuming, Siegfried glared at him, his cheeks still flushed. "Shut up, Link."

When the time came, they grabbed their new clothes and were practically dragged out of their room. The moment Link and Siegfried were shoved into the bathroom, the door was slammed shut behind them and Mi-na's warning came from the other side; "Neither of you are coming out until you're both squeaky clean!"

Trapped, Link let out a sigh and dropped his new change of clothes in a dry corner along with Siegfried's and started to undress. The room was small and square with walls that were half stone and marble on the bottom and wood at the top. The floor was dark gray stone with an oval basin large enough to fit two sitting adults carved into it. High above the basin filled with steaming water was a small arched window with paned glass that revealed the blackness of night. Streaks of orange and yellow danced over the water's surface from the two hanging oil lamps that lit the small room. Nearby was a tiny round-topped table with a black ceramic jar containing white powdered soap and beside it were neatly folded gray cloth towels.

Having to take a bath wasn't as bad as Link had thought. The soothing heat took away the pain in muscles that were still sore and the water and soap cleansed the grime and sweat that covered his body. Rarely did he ever have the time to properly bathe when the world was in danger.

"They better not make us take a bath every time we stop at an inn," Siegfried grumbled from the other end of the basin. He was carefully lathering the wound on his arm with the soap that smelled like roses and turned foamy when wet. He had removed the bandages around his arm and burned back. To their surprise, Siegfried's wounds were visibly healing fast; the cut had already scabbed over while the sword burn was nothing but a faint scar showing pale lines that formed the Triforce.

"It's actually kind of nice," said Link. "Better than the cold water of the river and we're not drowning for once." He playfully flicked water in the other boy's face.

The knight glowered dangerously. "Do that once more and you will be drowning."

Unable to resist, the Hylian backhanded the water, sending a small wave to wash over the knight. Siegfried growled and retaliated with a mighty splash. Link countered with a kicking spray. It gradually escalated into an all-out war that drenched the walls and soaked the surrounding floor, lasting until the water grew cold and their skin turned all pale and wrinkled.

Later into the night, before Cassandra left, she handed Siegfried a thin, short metal chain. "The main reason I came here is because Sophitia wanted me to give you this," she said. "It's from Taki, actually. It's supposed to ward off evil or something like that. Like a charm, I'm guessing."

Through fringes of damp blond hair, Siegfried was eyeing the bracelet suspiciously as he held it in his palm. "What is it made of?"

The Athenian pursed her lips to the side and shrugged. "I'm not sure. It has a bluish tint to the metal… could either be cobalt or zinc. You'll have to ask Taki about it to be certain."

Looking doubtful, Siegfried wordlessly allowed Cassandra to clasp the loose chain around his left wrist.

"It's not a ward, it's a seal," the knight muttered the next morning over breakfast consisting of warm honeyed porridge and apples Link brought up to their room from the kitchen. Siegfried disliked eating down in the dining quarters, claiming he hated the crowd and noise. However, Link had a feeling Siegfried mostly wanted to avoid Seung Mi-na's and Yun-seong's company. (Mi-na often teased him and Link while Yun-seong always bickered with Siegfried.) The long-haired boy was fervently scratching his wrist beneath the bracelet, his skin noticeably red and bleeding.

"How can you be sure?" the Hylian asked after swallowing a spoonful of his sweetened porridge.

"I just know," was the other's retort before he took the chain off with an annoyed grunt. "It's as heavy as lead and it's giving me a goddamn rash." He tossed the bracelet onto the table where it quietly clinked and skidded against the wood before he resumed scratching at his reddened skin.

Link reached over and held the silver blue chain as if a delicate treasure, testing its weight and feeling the smooth, shiny surface of the flat, round interlocking metal links that were each less than the width of his thumbnail. The bracelet was as light as a feather. "It's not heavy at all," he said, dangling the chain by one end easily between his thumb and forefinger. Siegfried narrowed his eyes at the swinging accessory but didn't reply to that. "Maybe you're just allergic to the metal," Link added.

"Hmph… Maybe…" It was obvious the older warrior did not believe such a simple answer.

The Hylian turned the chain around in his hand, seeing the metal shine gold and blue when it caught the light of the morning sun beaming through the window. He studied it closely as he ate his meal, detecting a faint, abnormal aura coming from the bracelet. It felt almost holy. Smiling, Link fully understood what Siegfried had meant by a seal; the chain possessed the power to perhaps suppress the evil lying within the older boy's heart… He gave the chain back to Siegfried who grudgingly pocketed it in his new pair of light gray trousers before starting on his breakfast.


The next four days passed by without any (major) incidents.

On the first day of the four, Link's idea that would supposedly allow Siegfried to wield the Master Sword turned out to be a simple protective wrapping of cloth, cut from the remains of the dark blue blanket that previously hid the sword, around the hilt and guard. "Just lightly touch it and see if you get shocked or not," the damn elf had said when the knight scowled and refused to take the covered handle offered to him.

One thin, measly layer of blanket was not enough for Siegfried. "Put three more layers on it, then I'll reconsider, elf."

The younger boy snorted with an angry pout. "Hylian. And that'll make the hilt too loose and too thick to hold," he stated frankly. He adjusted his new tunic, a Greek-styled loose garb that was dyed a deep green and was two-sizes too big. Link seemed uncomfortable in it but had yet to complain. The short sleeves hung down to his elbows and the bottom reached just below his knees. He used his own brown belt to cinch the loose folds of the tunic around his waist. His normal green tunic and his odd hat was hung over one of the chairs' backrest to dry after washing them earlier that morning. Siegfried's old clothes were laid out drying on the other chair as well.

"Then bind them tight," the knight insisted in a growl. Four more tightly bound layers later, Siegfried found his right, clammy hand terribly shaking as he slowly and anxiously reached out to touch the clothed hilt of the sacred weapon. His body remembered the numbing pain. It was difficult to brace himself for the upcoming shock he knew was waiting to happen. When one finger brushed lightly against the dark cloth, he immediately pulled back, expecting a flare of sparks. Nothing happened.

Link's smile was sullen. "That hardly counts as a touch… But still, the Master Sword didn't react. Try holding it now."

Siegfried gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw as his trembling fingers carefully circled around the soft fabric. He tightened his hold when his hand remained intact, a smirk finding its way on his face.

The elf was grinning, shifting his grip down to the scabbard. "Now draw it."

Emerald eyes flickered to the closed door of their room. The sounds of footsteps came and went as other occupants of the inn moved about, most of them oblivious to the 'sword of the Gods' present in the room. Using both hands, Siegfried fully unsheathed the Master Sword, releasing its radiant white light that chased away the shadows lurking around. His anxiety vanished within an instant, replaced with serenity. He held his breath, staring in awe at the glowing blade, feeling its strong blessed power flow through him much akin to the comfortable warmth of the sun against chilled skin. The sword was still awfully heavy however, wavering in his iron grip. Carefully, he rested the tip on the wooden floor and surmised that he needed to build up strength in his arms and upper body to properly wield it effectively.

"I told you, didn't I?" Link's smile was wide and beaming. "Let's go out to the fields so you can try practicing with it."

Siegfried outright groaned at the thought of having to go through the busy crowds yet again but he didn't protest. Being able to wield Link's magnificent weapon brought a sense of excitement and hope. Perhaps, with the sword of light in his hands, he could vanquish the darkness that wished to take him over. The cursed crow and the one-eyed demon will never manipulate him again.

While the knight strapped on his leg armour by his bed, Link went to borrow a spare blanket from Seung Mi-na since the original one was too torn to fully hide the sword and scabbard. The woman's demanding voice could easily be heard through the closed door and right across the hall; "You're not planning on ruining another one of my blankets, are you?"

Muffled by the door, the elf's laugh was unmistakably nervous. "No, this one will stay in one piece, I promise!" said Link. "I'm just using it to hide the Mast – the… the thing… You know, that shiny, heavy thing?"

Mi-na soundly snorted. "But weren't you hiding that thing under my other blanket that you already tore to pieces?"

Link mumbled his answer which Siegfried could easily assume was the ultimate fate of her dark blue blanket since the Korean soon demanded the boy's reason for shredding her property. After a moment of murmuring and hushed whispers followed by a short period of silence, the elf returned with a folded black woolen blanket. However, it came with a price…

Seung Mi-na accompanied them to the fields, dragging that annoying, idiot redhead with her. She claimed she wanted to join in the 'fun' but Siegfried suspected she was keeping a close eye on the boys so another mishap with sharp, deadly weapons would not reoccur. The older boy could only glare at the bashfully smiling elf for telling the damn woman their plan.

All of Siegfried's excitement had turned into resentment. His mood was especially foul whenever he was in the presence of the male Korean. There was never a dull moment between them; often they would trade nasty scowls and vicious jibes, mock or ridicule the other, make the other seethe in hate and anger. The quarrels often had to be ended with either Link or Seung Mi-na forcing their way between the two.

By the time they reached the open eastern fields outside of Athens, the afternoon had turned gloomy with the sky gray and overcast, matching the knight's misery. They found the same area with the trees to visibly hide them from travelers walking on the main road. The broken stick that was once Siegfried's sword remained in two pieces where he had dropped it days ago, lying untouched in the long grass that rippled when the cool wind blew through.

Standing over that very spot, Siegfried unbuckled the leather strap and allowed the Master Sword to fall to the ground. He unfurled the new blanket and carefully unsheathed the sacred blade. Bright light met his eyes under the gloom, a welcoming sight that slightly elevated his ugly mood. With both hands, he held the sword aloft and shifted his feet and body around, trying to find the right posture to balance the blade's abnormally heavy weight. For a sword of its size, Siegfried didn't quite understand why it felt heavier than it looked. "How did you ever use this with one hand?" the knight questioned the sword's owner, frowning at the amount of effort needed to keep the weapon steady in his grip. His wounded arm throbbed with a mild pain but did little to hinder his movements.

Close by, the elf crossed his arms and pondered. "I never had any trouble," he answered truthfully. "It had always been easy to wield… when I was an adult, anyway. Hmm, I wonder…" He trailed off, blue eyes glancing towards the Korean pair resting near the trees and talking softly in their native tongue as they watched Siegfried struggle with the weight of the glowing sword. The boy in green waved and shouted at them, "Yun-seong! Yun-seong! Can you come here and lift the Master Sword for me?"

"What the hell are you doing?" Siegfried quietly hissed through clenched teeth. He did not want the damn idiot nearby. It was bad enough that Siegfried had to patiently endure the bitter scowls during the trek through Athens but having to confront the annoying bastard up front was another thing. Already, the knight could imagine hearing the redhead's snide mockery.

The elf timidly smiled. "I want to see something…" he whispered back.

Yun-seong hopped to his feet and strolled over with a gloating smirk aimed at the older blond. Seung Mi-na wasn't far behind. "What's the matter? Are your scrawny little arms too weak to use that sword?" the redhead taunted. His companion was visibly fighting the urge to smack him over the head but upon Siegfried's previous request, she held back. The knight had told her that he didn't care what the idiot called him; let the stupid redhead say whatever his heart desired, no matter how insulting or hurtful.

"It's a sword of great power. A fool like you wouldn't understand nor be able to wield it," Siegfried retorted.

Before the male Korean could counter that remark, Link interrupted, "Maybe he can, Siegfried. Let Yun-seong give it a try."

Huffing to the side, Siegfried plunged the end of the Master Sword into the ground and left it standing erect.

With a confident grin, Yun-seong rubbed his hands together and gripped the covered handle with his right hand. The moment he freed it from the dirt, his face turned into a focused frown. "This thing's a lot heavier than I thought," he grumbled, having to soon rely on both of his hands to turn the blade upright. He tried a practice swing with one arm, a downward diagonal slash that sent him stumbling forward with the blade's momentum.

"I see now…" Link quietly mused.

Siegfried didn't ask the boy what he found amusing for he was too busy sniggering at the male Korean. He received a pointed glare from the young man in response. Forming a mocking sneer, the knight shot back, "What's the matter, boy? You're stronger than me and yet you struggle just the same as I."

Yun-seong furiously growled, planting the sword's tip into the ground to mimic what Siegfried had done earlier. He then stomped over to glare down at the long-haired blond who stood more than one head shorter. "Don't call me 'boy'!"

"I am older than you."

"Not in that scrawny little body you aren't!" Yun-seong roughly poked a finger in Siegfried's chest who angrily smacked it away. "You're nothing but a damn brat! And this damn sword," the Korean gestured wildly at the weapon that steadily glowed, "is dumb. Whoever made a one-handed sword so freaking heavy should resign as a blacksmith! And if I can't use it then there is no way you can use it."

The knight crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at the idiot's challenge. "I will prove you wrong."

The redhead burst into derisive laughter. "Then prove it, brat! Let's see you fight with that thing!"

Siegfried had tried. All afternoon, he fought against the weight of the sacred sword, too stubborn to give up and too arrogant to have Yun-seong win their argument. Swinging the blade was slow and clumsy. It felt like he was using a great battle-axe rather than a longsword. So much effort was needed to maintain his balance whenever he swung the weapon. In whichever direction he swung, he was carried along with the sword's momentum, causing him to stumble many times and resulting in annoying taunts and jeers from the stupid redhead. Through trial and error (and frustration), Siegfried managed to find the right stance that kept his own weight in place when attacking. By then, every muscle in his arms was aflame and turning numb, leaving him with no more strength to lift the Master Sword off the ground. The hilt had grown strangely hot beneath the cloth as well. It was warm like the sun at first but over a short time it became a blazing heat that forced him to drop the sword completely.

"It seems like you can only hold it for a limited time," the elf had concluded, frowning in worry. "Any longer and you might suffer burns to your hands…"

Siegfried had scoffed at that but he was not discouraged from trying again and again. During the following three days, from morning to evening, he went out to the same spot in the field to train with the Master Sword. With the need of two hands to constantly grip the hilt and being unable to physically touch the naked blade resulted in having to alter some of his moves or devise new ones to work with his limitations.

His skill was improving little by little but still far from being able to properly fight and defend himself in a battle. However, he did manage to utilize the sword's carried momentum into spinning follow-up attacks that struck fast and hard but often left him horribly off-balanced. The maneuvers were risky and required further honing. Link and Seung Mi-na played around as his sparring partner from time to time (upon their own insistence). Only once did the red-haired idiot decide to 'test' the knight and the end result was Siegfried unfairly beaten and downright angry and humiliated.

After informing Link and Siegfried that their items would be complete by the next morning, Cassandra had tagged along on the fourth and final day of their stay in Athens, lending her round shield to Link so the boy could challenge Yun-seong to a rematch. Siegfried quietly observed the amusing duel under the shade of the trees, too exhausted from afternoon's training. The elf was fairing decently well against the taller, stronger Korean, able to switch quickly between sword and shield at the right moments to keep the redhead on edge. What he lacked in physical strength was made up for his smaller size and greater agility, allowing him to swiftly evade most attacks and quickly recover when knocked down.

Standing out in the field, Seung Mi-na and Cassandra were clapping and cheering the boys on. Once, Link soundly banged Cassandra's shield into the knee of the taller warrior as a form of counter, making Yun-seong topple over and clutch his injury all the while hollering a furious outcry of curses and "No fair! That's a cheap shot!" Soon to follow was a quick, bashful apology from the elf and snickers from everyone else. It wasn't long when Mi-na left the Athenian's side to join Siegfried by the tree, bearing a strange smile on her face as she sat down.

"You're getting better," she started to say over the yells and taunts between the two battling boys. "Maybe you really will prove Yun-seong wrong." She lightly giggled.

The knight snorted and shook his head. "It will take more time that we don't have," he muttered, clenching his right hand before him. His fist shook from the fatigue in his aching arm muscles. A night's rest was always enough to recover from the pain. He lowered his hand to rest his palm upon the scabbard of the sheathed holy sword lying beside him. Ever since Link had entrusted the Master Sword to him, it rarely left his side (and its true owner was never far behind, annoyingly enough).

"You can still practice while we're out on the road."

But what if something attacks us? Unlike the rest of the group, he was the most unprepared to face any adversaries that await in their upcoming journey. He did not want to be protected and most of all, he did not want to appear weak like an actual child. He said nothing however.

Silence fell over them as they watched Link flip away from Yun-seong's vertical cut and quickly retaliated with a jumping slash. The Korean shifted into a defensive stance, holding his curved sword out front to block the younger swordsman's blow. Their swords connected with a loud screech of grinding metal, producing sparks and wide, boastful grins between each fighter.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" Mi-na suddenly asked.

Siegfried glanced sideways at the woman, her gaze remaining on the ongoing battle. "Here in Athens when we stumbled into you two?"

She looked at him then, her head shaking. "No, the very first time, only you and me… Over seven years ago," she clarified.

He furrowed his brow in thought, recalling only a brief memory of the Korean girl. "Somewhat," he answered hesitantly, lowering his eyes to the long, swaying blades of grass before him. "I know we ended up fighting… However, I do not remember the outcome. If I had harmed you or threatened you in any way then I am very sorry. Back then I was not in the right of mind…"

The woman soundly smirked after a short pause. "Don't worry about it. I actually beat you." Yet her tone was not sincere.

Siegfried sullenly laughed and gave her a wan smile. "If you had defeated me, then you would have stopped me on my foolish quest…" Her expression became somber and he looked away. "I haven't apologized for what I did to you in Malucci. I'm–"

"I've already forgiven you. There's no need to say it."

Sighing, the knight leaned his back against the cool, rough trunk behind him. "Is it easy to forgive me because I look like this?" he demanded of her, his voice almost a whisper. "Only less than a month ago I had been…" A murderer… a monster… a demon…

"Nightmare?"

Hearing the horrid name spoken made him flinch. He felt nothing but shame and it must have shown on his face because Mi-na had reached over and mussed up his hair. "And now you're just a kid," she said, while he weakly batted her hand away. Her teasing smile returned. "A little man in a kid's body."

Growling, Siegfried was too tired to argue and so he reluctantly left it at that. That afternoon ended with Link losing his second match against Yun-seong.


On the night of the final day, Siegfried had dreamed despite the effect of Link's song. Awake, the knight sat upon his bed within the dark, unnerved by what he had seen. It was not the usual nightmare that left him shaking with horror and fear, it was different… almost like a vision of sorts. He dreamt of a thick black mist that was as cold as frost under a gray, gloomy sky. And there were whispers… Harsh rasps that tickled his ears and spoke of nothing he could understand. Whenever he looked over his shoulder, he saw only darkness. The mist gradually parted to reveal a large, ugly sword deeply embedded atop a hill in a gray, barren land. It was Soul Edge and the eye of the cursed weapon was closed, making it seem like it was in a deep slumber.

What could it possibly mean? Was the dream telling him that Soul Edge was lying dormant somewhere in the east?

Sighing with uncertainty, he rubbed his bare arms covered in goosebumps, chilled by the cold dark mist that touched him in his sleep. His breath stopped short when he heard a faint noise coming from outside. To his dismay, the sound was the distinct cry of a crow. The bird was cawing, each cry growing louder until it sounded like it was perched right on the other side of the drape-covered window.

Siegfried peered across the dark room, seeing Link still asleep over the loud noise. The knight gritted his teeth in dread, realizing the situation was similar to the time back in the forest… He reached down to the floor beside his bed to grasp the Master Sword in his hands and stood up with the sheathed weapon held tight beside him. Cautiously, he approached the window, hearing the crow continue to call out. Holding his breath, Siegfried slowly pulled the drapes aside...

There was nothing waiting on the other side but the faint light of early dawn. The cries had instantly stopped as well, leaving only the soft snores of the elf in the otherwise silent room. Was he still dreaming? His eyes lowered to the covered hilt of the Master Sword and his grip tightened around its scabbard. The weight and feel of the sword was real, he was awake for sure. Did he imagine the wretched crow because of that strange dream?

Frustrated with the lack of answers, Siegfried crept out of the room on his bare feet with Link's sword still in hand and the room key in his pocket. He needed to know if the bird was only his imagination and not waiting somewhere outside.

The damp, cool night air greeted him the moment he opened the front door of the inn. Thick gray fog shrouded the city street and the torches that hung nearby were burnt out, limiting his sight. All around, buildings appeared only as black silhouettes against a cobalt sky with endless shadows that vanished within the pale mist. Warily, Siegfried scanned the rooftops of nearby buildings as he slowly descended down the wooden stairs, quietly stepping on cold morning dew. Shadows seemed to shift before him, making him tense as he squinted into the dark haze. Something landed behind him with a soft thump and clamped a strong hand over his mouth to silence his startled yelp. His heart leapt to his throat in panic. For one fleeting moment, he thought it was one of the thieves coming back to take the Master Sword until a familiar feminine voice spoke quietly in his ear, "Fear not, it is only I."

He ceased his struggle and the hand slowly pulled away. He twisted around and shot a scathing glare at the dark-haired woman clad in red that he had not seen over the past five days. In fact, none of the others had seen her around very much and never knew where she was staying in the city. "Are you trying to kill me with a heart attack instead of a blade?" he demanded once he regained his bearings. He stepped away from her, uncomfortable at her close proximity. Knowing what she was capable of, he was rather untrusting of her at the moment.

Standing with her arms crossed, Taki studied the boy briefly before replying, "Apologies. I did not mean to startle you." Siegfried scowled bitterly at her response. She beat him to his question. "What troubles you?"

"Nothing," he lied, avoiding her gaze. The damp floorboards were suddenly more interesting to look at. "I needed some fresh air, that's all. What are you doing showing up here all of a sudden?"

She did not answer right away. He could feel her dark eyes upon him, intent and prying. She was probably wondering why he was clutching a heavy sword with him if he only wanted fresh air. "I have been watching."

The boy frowned questionably but kept his focus on the wood beneath his bare feet. "Watching what?"

"For danger." She did not specify nor elaborate and Siegfried didn't ask. He had a notion that it was him she was keeping a close eye on. Perhaps that was what she had been doing over the past few days in her absence… Could she have seen the red-eyed crow just now? The boy wanted to ask but thought better of it. He would surely sound absurd if he spoke of a creature that his weary mind only imagined. Taki stepped towards him and he edged away. "Did you not receive the bracelet from Cassandra?"

Ever since he took it off, Siegfried kept the chain tucked within his pile of new clothes in the inn room and never touched it again. He risked a glance in the older woman's direction, seeing her stern complexion in the growing light of rising dawn. "I did," he mumbled hesitantly.

"Why do you not wear it?"

"I'm not overly fond of jewellery."

The corner of her mouth slightly twitched while her eyes narrowed. "It is important that you wear it."

He snorted as he shifted his hold on the Master Sword, resting the point of the scabbard on the damp wooden planks of the stairway. His right hand gripped the clothed hilt while his left held onto the scabbard, holding the weapon upright before him. He gazed out at the fog, watching the thick mist slowly dissipate with the approach of morning. "Is it a seal?"

"If you are aware of its true purpose, why do you not take the precaution and wear it?"

He made a face and shook his head at her. "It's heavy and makes my skin itch. What is it made of?"

The huntress moved to stand beside him, staring off into the thick gray curtain before them. "Silver infused with a fraction of holy metal," was her answer after a moment of silence. "It should not be heavy nor irritate you."

Holy metal? Where did she come across that? "It weighs like an iron shackle – to me but not to others. I don't understand why."

She was visibly pondering, judging by the slight furrowing of her brow and the distant look in her eyes. Her full attention fell on him after a brief moment of contemplating. "I see," was all she said, irking the boy.

"Tell me exactly what is it that you see."

Her features hardened. "The evil that lies within your heart and soul… It is indeed powerful to evoke such a strong reaction from a weak holy item."

"Powerful?" Siegfried stiffened from her words, feeling a terrible dread surface from the blunt truth. He found himself gaping at her, grim and fearful. "Is it because… I am…"

"That sword you have there," the ninja cut in, nodding at the weapon in his hands, "I have heard that it has rendered you unconscious from contact."

The boy solemnly nodded, his hands clenching tight around the undrawn sword. "I cannot touch the blade itself, hence why the hilt is covered…"

"Its power to repel evil is far greater than the bracelet. And yet you wield it."

He couldn't tell if she was mocking him since her tone and expression rarely strayed from serious. He kept silent, forming only an angry frown.

Taki ignored his look and peered up at the brightening sky through the clearing fog. "Morning comes. Our journey will begin soon. I suggest you return to your room for some more rest. The sword," her eyes flickered from the elf's blade and narrowed on the knight, "keep it close at all times and wear the bracelet no matter how heavy it may feel and no matter how fond you are of jewellery. Bandage your wrist to prevent irritation." As she spoke the last part, the ninja reached behind into a small dark leather pouch attached to her thick black leather belt around her waist and pulled out a roll of white silk bandages.

Wordlessly, Siegfried accepted the roll with a small pout. He did not risk defying against the demon huntress knowing that in doing so would likely result in some sort of fierce punishment in retaliation… Her presence alone was intimidating enough. In his mother tongue, he mumbled a curse as he went back inside, leaving Taki to stand alone.


Shortly before noon, five mounted horses travelled down the eastern road leading out of the grand city of Athens. In the lead was a gray, black-spotted mare with a fine mane that was as white as the snow on the distant mountain peaks and upon her saddled back was her rider, Sophitia. The woman's long, tied hair shone gold under the sun peeking around a thick, passing cloud while her light, blue cloak whipped behind her from the strong blowing winds. Following right behind was a gallant dark brown stallion with a beautiful flowing black mane and tail, carrying Yun-seong and a broadly smiling Link. Tailing the pair was Cassandra and her chestnut mare, Seung Mi-na and Siegfried on the woman's hazel stallion, and bringing up the rear was Taki and her newly purchased sandy-coloured stallion.

Each horse carried large packs behind their saddles containing everything they needed for a long journey. Almost everyone had been anxious to leave, especially Yun-seong. The redhead had blamed the 'unnecessary delay' on the younger boys, but it truly couldn't be helped since resizing Link's shield and replicating Siegfried's gauntlet for his right arm took time to craft. The Hylian was really surprised that it only took five days for Rothion to complete the items. Obviously a master at his own work, Rothion had skillfully remade Link's shield to the best of his ability. The blacksmith had reused the thick, steel plates that bound the outer edges, overlapping the trimmed pieces partially over the painted design of the sacred red bird. Ignoring the small overlay, the polished blue, red, gold and silver shield looked just like a new Hylian Shield albeit smaller and lighter, perfect for the young swordsman to use.

Siegfried's right gauntlet was also incredibly well made, crafted in a similar fashion as the original. The materials used differed however. Instead of heavy iron, the plating was steel, making it lighter and more durable than the left one. Shiny and silver and lightly decorated with Rothion's touch, the new piece of armour didn't fail to please the knight. In fact, it brought forth a rare, grateful smile on the older boy the moment he tried it on in the blacksmith's shop. As well, his left gauntlet had been thoroughly cleaned and refurbished with a protective coating to ward off rust, making it look like it came right out of the forge.

Amazed by Rothion's craftsmanship, Link gave the man one silver rupee as a sign of gratitude even though the blacksmith refused any form of payment. Rothion had learned of the boys' unusual situation (and had even playfully joked about it) before blessing the pair, his wife and step-sister with the protection of the gods the moment it was time to leave the city.

Both Link and Siegfried had tried to persuade Sophitia into staying in Athens since she was a mother of two young children as well as a married woman, but since Cassandra had failed to convince her, the boys did no better in swaying her decision. She was one of the chosen, she had said, chosen by the great Hephaestus to purge the lands of Soul Edge's taint long ago. Link was surprised to learn of her destiny. In a way, their fates were similar. The young Hylian understood the valiant woman's devotion and her dedication to uphold the peace of her realm. He could no longer argue against her after that.

By mid-afternoon, the group stopped beside the well worn dirt road for a short break. They ate small, simple meals and watered the horses in a nearby pond filled with tall reeds and squawking ducks. It was right after Link finished the last bite of his sweet bread that he challenged Yun-seong to another rematch. "This time I will use my own shield," he proclaimed with great confidence as he adjusted his green hat and dark blue cloak. He had changed back into his normal green tunic, favouring it over his new clothes Sophitia had generously purchased for him. Under the shade of the lone tree growing near the water, the redhead glowered, most likely in spite for the bruised knee Link gave him in their previous match the day before. Link had more than his fair share of scrapes and bruises.

"It won't make a difference. You're still going to lose, kid," Yun-seong replied with a cocky sneer.

The Hylian pouted and, before he could say anything in response, was interrupted by Taki; "It is best not to linger too long while we still have daylight on our side." The woman in red had unnoticeably appeared beside the younger swordsman, giving him quite a start.

When he regained his composure, Link quietly nodded, feeling abashed under her firm gaze. The eldest warrior in their group was truly a mysterious (and rather intimidating) woman but Link was not one to ever doubt her trust. She was always silent as a shadow and moved as swift and graceful as a cat, strongly reminding Link of the Sheikah of Hyrule. A demon huntress and a highly skilled combatant that feared absolutely nothing… Link knew it was best to never argue against her. She also possessed a very unique ability to seal the dark energies of the Soul Edge shards. The fragments the party had individually obtained were now dormant pieces of dull gray-black metal that no longer emitted any evil aura, something Siegfried was quietly thankful for.

Link glanced over at the knight sitting near the edge of the pond, conversing softly with Sophitia. The look of weariness was noticeable on the older boy's complexion despite his attempts to hide it. Frowning slightly, the Hylian recalled finding Siegfried already awake that morning when it was usually the younger blond that woke first ever since the knight started training each day, wearing himself down with exhaustion. In their room, the long-haired boy was slumped over the table, resting his head over his right arm while his left was outstretched in front across the wooden surface. Lost in deep thought, half-lidded emerald eyes stared at the loose silver chain reclasped around his newly bandaged wrist upon the table. When Link kindly asked what was wrong, the stubborn knight only answered with a sharp, "Nothing." His tone indicated he did not want to be bothered and Link had to leave it at that.

They continued without further delay, proceeding on in a slower gallop to avoid tiring their horses too quickly. Throughout the day the sun and clouds took turn and the wind continued to blow strongly. Before evening, they reached sight of the familiar forests. At nightfall, they left the dirt road to camp within the woods to shelter from the gusting wind.

To return to this forest brought back memories. Link and Siegfried had traversed the same woods together after leaving the home of the kind old lady, Greta. The bond they shared had grown into some form of friendship shortly before they had reached Athens. It was a rather small form of friendship Siegfried had portrayed but Link knew it was more than he let on.

After Yun-seong had (grudgingly) prepared a fire pit by Mi-na's command, Link announced that he would start the fire. When he pulled out an arrow from his quiver instead of taking the offered flint stone from Cassandra, he received strange looks from Yun-seong and the younger Athenian. "And how are you going to start a fire?" the redhead inquired skeptically when the boy approached the pit.

Link flicked his wrist and ignited the pointed iron tip aflame, chasing away some of the shadows in orange light. "With magic, of course," he replied, grinning at the astonished faces of those who had yet to witness his magic arrows. Between his fingers, he twirled the fiery arrow a few times and made the shadows dance around them before sinking the flaming head into the pile of broken wood and forest litter.

"Quite an impressive trick," mused Cassandra with a little smirk.

"It's not a trick. It's magic," the young Hylian corrected.

Yun-seong waved his hand over the growing flames, his bewildered expression glowing orange and red. "Actually feels real. Unbelievable."

"I can make ice too," Link further boasted. However, he did not demonstrate even though he was tempted to flaunt his powers. He needed to conserve his magic and his remaining potions, not knowing how far east they will be travelling. If they were as lucky as with his Master Sword, it could be mere days or only weeks to find Soul Edge; months or possibly even a year or more if they were truly unfortunate. Link briefly explained to Yun-seong about his arrows of ice and light when the redhead further questioned him and teased him about the 'demon incident' with the thief named Mardok. After that, the boy helped Taki feed the horses while the other adults gathered cooking utensils and food to prepare.

With his cupped hands full of grains, Link stretched out his arms for Seung Mi-na's hazel stallion, Skeiron, to bury his snout into the feed. Every morsel was licked up with a hot, wet tongue and eaten within an instant. Link smiled with humour when the horse nudged his face, seemingly begging for more. The boy stroked the stallion's nose instead as a form of apology since the group only had enough feed for the horses for two more days; four if they rationed and allowed the animals to graze. The next place to replenish their supplies was the village of Iografou three and a half days away if everything went well. Snorting, Skeiron lowered his head to nibble the plants growing on the forest ground. Link patted the animal's long neck and lightly brushed a hand through the horse's light mane.

He heard the familiar clinks of shifting armour come up behind him. "You're quite fond of those animals, aren't you?" Siegfried asked.

Link smiled over his shoulder at the knight. The red light of the burning campfire was faint through the trees but it was enough to see. "Have I ever told you that I have a horse of my own?"

"No. You've never mentioned it."

"She's a beautiful horse. A great friend too," Link began, "No matter how far and no matter how dangerous, I could always rely on her to take me where I needed to go. I wish she was here."

"Then why didn't you bring her?"

"I couldn't." The Hylian didn't want to elaborate.

Silence fell over the two with the exception of the adults talking amongst themselves at the campsite and the occasional whinny of the nearby horses. Link seized the moment to quietly ask, "This morning, how long were you awake before I woke up?"

Siegfried snorted. "Not too long," he lowly grumbled, sounding quite vexed.

Link faced the older blond who stood by with crossed arms, his gauntlets softly gleaming crimson from the distant flame. Around the taller one's shoulders was his new travelling cloak that was the colour of sun-baked sand. The Hylian didn't believe the other. "Did something wake you up?"

The knight's scowl vanished but he was quick to shake his head. "No. There's nothing to be concerned about. Are you done feeding them?" Siegfried gestured to the animal behind the younger swordsman.

To change the subject so abruptly was a good indication that Siegfried was not willing to answer Link's prying questions. Sighing, the boy in green glanced over at the other horses, seeing Taki tending to the last of them. He nodded.

"Come and fight with me."

The younger boy perked an eyebrow. "It's kinda dark, don't you think?"

He saw Siegfried sullenly glower in the dim light. "Have you forgotten that your own sword glows?"

"Oh, right!" Link chuckled bashfully. He retrieved his sword and shield he had left with Yun-seong's horse and met up with Siegfried a safe distance away from the horses and camp. Link stood ready across from the other, watching with slight amusement as the older warrior's face, lit up by the radiant white shine of the Master Sword, twisted with strain and annoyance once he heaved the great blade before him. Shadows flickered and shifted with each minor movement of the holy blade. "Is it too heavy with the gauntlets?" the Hylian inquired.

Siegfried scoffed, "It's not the gauntlets. It's the stupid chain."

Link frowned and bit the inside of his lower lip. He wanted to ask why Siegfried, who had refused to wear the bluish-silver bracelet that supposedly weighed as much as iron, had decided to wear it again. But knowing how stubborn the older blond could be, Link suggested instead, "Why don't you take it off?"

Emerald eyes flickered towards the campsite and Link followed, seeing the silhouettes of trees and horses and someone standing idly in the distance, watching them from afar. Judging from her familiar posture, it was Taki. "Because," was Siegfried's quick answer before he shot a glare full of impatience at the other. "Hurry up and come at me. I need to get used to this again."

Pursing his lips, Link figured Siegfried was possibly forced to wear the holy accessory. The Hylian could only assume it was the demon huntress who 'convinced' the stubborn knight. (Perhaps that might be what had happened in the morning…) Smirking at the thought, the younger swordsman nodded before he lunged at his opponent.


He was shrouded in icy black mist that shifted away as if alive when he walked forward. Faint whispers echoed within the darkness; their words too quiet to hear. He craned his head up, seeing through the moving mist at a drab gray sky looming above. Shivering from the cold, he held his body as he trudged through the black haze, feeling lost.

"The time draws near…"

He froze at the harsh voice cutting into the whispers, coming from right behind him. A dreadful silence suddenly ruled the dark realm, save for the rapid hammering of his heart, as he sensed something lurking in the shadows. Hesitantly, he turned around and met a pair of glowing crimson eyes that seemed to reflect a hidden sneer as they peered down at him within the black mist…

Siegfried flinched awake, his heart fluttering wildly in his chest and his body shivering with chills. He had dreamed again and it disturbed him greatly. Once his heart had settled, he slowly rose into a sitting position, allowing the woolen blanket that covered him to slide onto his lap. His armoured right hand fell on the sheathed Master Sword lying beside him, assuring him that he was wide awake. Despite the heat of the campfire touching his skin, he still shuddered from the cold left from his stupid dream. He quickly scanned his surroundings, seeing the sleeping forms of the others scattered around the fire with the exception of Cassandra and Taki who were both standing on the other side of the flames before one of the horses tied to the trunk of a tree. Their backs were turned towards him and both have yet to notice him awake. Cassandra was the second watcher of the night while Sophitia was the first. Taki, Seung Mi-na and Yun-seong were to follow respectively.

Seeing that Cassandra and Taki were both awake, it must be Taki's turn to take over for the night and that meant Siegfried had slept at least four hours. He tensed when he heard a whisper but soon realized it was only the Athenian girl hushing the animal that nervously whickered. She was stroking the beast's long face but it did nothing to calm it. The rest of the horses tied to the trunks of other surrounding trees also grew restless, gradually waking the others one by one. Yun-seong was grumbling about the noisy animals and lack of comfort and sleep. Over the young man's grouchy complaints and whinnying horses, Siegfried heard something else that turned his blood as cold as ice.

Kommen… Come…

He turned his head sharply to the side to look behind him, seeing only what he had hoped to see; endless shadows beyond the light of the fire instead of the piercing red eyes from his dream. Also, instead of hearing the cry of a crow like the first time he dreamt, it was a voice of a man; neither harsh nor wicked. It was startling and bewildering at the same time. Steel fingers gripped around the scabbard of the elf's sword tightly.

Someone prodded him in the shoulder, making him jerk away in alarm. "It's just me," said a tired but worried-looking elf, his hair disheveled from sleep. "You're shivering. What's wrong?"

It took a moment to understand what was asked of him. "It's cold…" Siegfried found himself saying. And I heard a voice that only I could hear…

Link's frown deepened. "Do you sense anything?"

The knight shook his head. He felt nothing but shaken nerves and lingering chills evoked by that cursed dream.

"Something's spooking the horses," he heard Cassandra explain to the waking group.

"Wolves? A bear? Wildcats?" Yun-seong started to guess the possibilities as he stood up, his curved sword in hand. The blade shone red and angry from the fire.

"Or it could be lizards…" informed Sophitia, her mouth a grim line as her gaze warily narrowed at the pitch black night of the forest's depths.

The sharp eyes of the ninja fell on Siegfried briefly before she slipped into the darkness . "I will scout the area. Everyone, remain here."

"Wait! I'll come– Oh, never mind. She's already gone," Mi-na sighed, crossing her arms. She stifled a yawn with a hand and strode over to her nervous mount. Yun-seong went to his own animal while Sophitia remained standing with her sword sheathed and her shield in hand, her eyes unmoving from where Taki was last seen. Cassandra continued to coax her horse with soft whispers and gentle touches. No matter what she or the others did, the animals would not quiet. The hoofed beasts snorted, neighed and tugged at the ropes that bound them to the trees as if trying to escape.

"Something's not right," Link murmured with unease as he stood up, eyeing the panicking mounts. "Are you sure you sense nothing?" His blue eyes fell on the older boy, staring intently.

That look annoyed Siegfried. "Yes, nothing," he muttered, glaring up at the elf. He only felt cold all due to that voice he had imagined…

Whatever Link was about to say was soon cut off. Siegfried heard Taki's shouted warning followed by everyone's uttered cries of surprise as deep gurgling growls reached their ears. The horses wildly screamed in fear and everyone was shouting and moving, their weapons drawn and shimmering red in the light of the fire. Before Siegfried could grasp the situation unfolding before his eyes, he heard the voice again. The voice of a man... silencing the noise and chaos around him:

Siegfried… kommen… Siegfried… come…

He shivered when he heard his name spoken so tenderly. Abruptly, he turned his head and looked behind him once more, seeing nothing but night. But someone was there. Someone was calling him… The voice speaking in his mother tongue was kind and most importantly, familiar. Anxious, he clenched his jaw and tightened his hold around the sacred sword even more until his fingers ached. It's not real. Just a delusion. I must still be dreaming. But a part of him told him otherwise... and that part wanted him to seek out the speaker.

He carefully got to his feet with Link's sheathed Master Sword clutched tightly in his right hand and his eyes never leaving the darkness from where the voice came. He saw the shadows of his companions' flickering movements in the periphery of his vision but he paid them no heed.

Everything was strangely quiet except for the voice that lured him forward. It's not real, the thought kept passing through his mind as he left the light of the fire. However his body continued to move on its own accord, rounding the dark trunks of trees and breaking through bushes, all the while dragging the scabbard end of the heavy sword along the ground in his wake. Deeper into the woods he walked, using his left iron gauntlet, that weighed as heavy as stone due to the stupid holy bracelet around his wrist, to shield his face from low hanging branches.

Komm zu mir… Come to me…

The voice was louder and more distinguished; there could be no mistake whose voice it belonged to. Siegfried wanted to deny who it was. He knew he was only being deceived. He cannot be here. He's dead! He's dead. He's dead. He's dead. However, the same part of him that sought the speaker was desperate to believe his own words false. He followed blindly in the darkness with leaves and twigs scratching against his armour and skin, and branches and thorns snagging and tearing his cloak. At the third time he needed to wrestle free, he unbuttoned the cloak and left it tangled in a thorny bush. His slow steps quickened until he ran, drawn to the voice that only he could hear. Gone was the sword that he once held in his steel fingers, dropped and forgotten on the ground behind him.


At first, there were only eight of the monsters that hid in the shadows with their eyes glowing a wicked red. Grouped together, the hidden monsters approached from the same direction Taki had vanished. An unnerving sight, they were dark beings that possessed faint traces of Soul Edge's evil; far weaker than a shard of the cursed sword and barely detectable from such a close proximity. Their awful moans were gurgled and their growls were deep and drawn. Their movements sounded clumsy in the dark with their bodies dragging through brush and snapping branches and their gait, slow and lumbering. And worst of all, they reeked of death. The foul smell of decayed flesh shrouded the area upon their sudden arrival.

The horses were loud and frantic, rising on their rear legs and whipping their heads to try to free themselves from their binds to escape the approaching fiends. Sophitia, and Cassandra were the first to join Taki in the shadows while Seung Mi-na strictly appointed the task of guarding the horses and watching the 'kids' to Yun-seong before she left. Both Yun-seong and Link had loudly protested against such unfair treatment but their complaints only fell on deaf ears as clanging swords and shields rang and horrible roars rumbled through the forest.

Link had expected Siegfried to arrogantly protest against Mi-na calling him a kid as well, but instead, he found the knight quiet, his attention elsewhere in spite of the red-eyed demons growling in the pitch of night. Still seated on the ground, the older boy was looking at something in the darkness behind them, his body rigid and his eyes wide just like the moment Link had first woken up by the noisy horses. Link couldn't see or sense anything that could be distracting Siegfried from their current situation. It troubled the Hylian greatly. Siegfried mentioned that it was cold but Link could not feel the chill in the air that was usually accompanied the evils of Soul Edge. Before he could ask the knight what was wrong, one of the horses had screamed out in pain. That was when three more of the red-eyed creatures had emerged from within the shadows, hissing and moaning much closer than the initial eight.

Yun-seong growled out what Link assumed was a curse in his native language as one of the three shadowed creatures managed to sink its black claws into the hindquarters of Taki's sandy-coloured mount despite the frantic kicking of hoofed feet connecting and snapping the dark creature's head back, soundly breaking its neck. However, even with its neck broken and its head horribly twisted aside, the monster continued to tear at the poor horse, stripping off bloody flesh and making the animal cry out. Blood glistened in the firelight as the animal desperately stumbled towards the campfire, dragging the monster with it and shining light on the shadowed creature's true form. Appalled, Yun-seong loudly swore once again while Link held his breath at the ghastly sight of an undead Lizardman clinging to the injured stallion.

Gaping wounds oozing thick black blood adorned the lizard's battered body. Its dull, stained scales were peeling and hanging on strips of rotten flesh and the armour around its breast, legs and arms were heavily damaged or missing. Its neck was broken by the horse's kicks and now hung at an awkward angle. However, its hollowed eyes continued to burn crimson deep within its sockets, alive with the sinister power that controlled it and the other glowing-eyed beasts. It raked its claws deep into the horse's belly and the animal fell to its side, feebly struggling to kick off the cursed reptile one last time before it became still.

There was a flash of red silver as Yun-seong dashed forward and cleaved the reptile's arm by the elbow, severing the blood-soaked limb that fatally wounded the horse. He then followed with an upward slash, cutting into the monster's stomach, spilling more black blood and knocking it back where it tripped over its own limp tail and fell in between the two other undead beasts. The second and third rotten Lizardmen entered the light of the fire, their bodies just as torn and battered like the first. One carried a broken sword in hand and the other only had a worn shield. They both hobbled forward, their mouths dripping black and their stench overwhelming.

Yun-seong slashed at the face of the closest monster but that did nothing to stop its slow advance. By that time, the first lizard with the broken neck had staggered back to its feet, rejoining its undead brothers with one arm missing. Yun-seong cringed away, his face distorted in horror and disgust. "The hell are these things?!" he exclaimed, shifting back. "They're already dead!"

"They're undead," Link tried to explain, horrified by the death of one the horses and daunted by the lizards' inability to stay down and dead. He felt terribly ill to his stomach from the sight and foul odour combined. "They're being controlled by something…" He warily glanced over at the women still noisily fighting in the darkness, seeing the glowing eyes of the eight monsters down to five. But then the one of the three that were thought to be defeated returned back to its feet much like the first beast Yun-seong had knocked over. Over the deathly groans, Link could hear Mi-na's snarls of frustration and Taki's commands.

When Link's attention went back to Yun-seong, the young man was in the midst of avoiding the broken sword of the armed reptile. The creature's attack was wide and cumbersome, moving as if the blade was too heavy for it to lift. Countering, the redhead planted the bottom of his shoe in the monster's armoured chest and sent it flying into the reptile with the shattered neck, leaving the one with the shield to remain. The shielded fiend lashed out with its claws, striking nothing but air as Yun-seong easily stepped aside. He lunged forward, swinging his curved sword down upon the monster's head, his blade cutting into rotted scales and soundly striking bone. The undead beast fell to the ground with thick black blood seeping out of its new wound but it was not beat. Oblivious to the open gash on its skull, it clambered back up along with the previous two monsters that fell. No matter the damage, the Lizardmen's eyes continued to glow a wicked red and their bodies limped, dragged and stumbled forward despite their terrible wounds.

Link sheathed his Kokiri Sword and put away his shield. A normal blade of steel did absolutely nothing against these undead. Turning to Siegfried, he said in haste, "Siegfried, use the Master–" He stopped short when he saw the other boy gone and the Master Sword as well. Frantic, Link searched the area and called for him over the noise. But deep down he knew the older boy wasn't likely around the camp any longer. His blue eyes peered into the darkness beyond the flickering light, opposite of the turmoil that had broken through the silence of the night. Something was there, deep in the forest... something only Siegfried may have seen or heard. He frowned in worry, his heart heavy with apprehension. If the knight had taken the Master Sword with him then he was hopefully protected from the great evil that lurked somewhere in the shadows…

Despite that, Link still couldn't help but fear for his friend. He sought out his bow and quiver he had left by his bedroll. Notching an arrow, he twirled around and pulled back on the bowstring. "Yun-seong! Please move back!" he hollered as he imbued the iron tip with holy power.

"What?" The redhead glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide with surprise when he saw the light in Link's command. The moment he leapt away, the Hylian loosed his arrow. A yellow streak flew through the air and struck the bloody face of the lizard carrying the shield. Upon impact, a bright explosion of golden light lit up the surrounding area and repelled the shadows. There were terrible ghastly wails as the power of the holy arrow vanquished the cursed flesh of not only the targeted undead creature but also the other two nearby monsters as well. All rotted flesh burned away in black vapour as if the light was the scorching sun itself, leaving behind only a pile of scoured bones, armour, and weapons of what were once three Lizardmen. The light soon faded and the shadows of the night returned. The power that controlled the beasts was gone from the hollow sockets of their skulls but unfortunately the putrid stench of decay still lingered. "Why didn't you do that earlier?" Yun-seong demanded the instant he shook out of his amazement.

Link managed a small sheepish smile. "Sorry, the thought never came by me," was his reply before his attention fell on Taki's group. He saw only three pairs of the crimson-eyed beasts moving in the shadows. Have the others figured out a way to defeat them? That seemed to be the case since he did not see the eyes of the other monsters returning. Seeing that they were capable of defeating the undead, he dashed in the opposite direction only to stop when Yun-seong demanded to know where he was going. Without looking at him, Link answered, "Siegfried's gone. I'm going to search for him."

Yun-seong snorted. "Did the brat just run away? Damn coward!"

The boy shook his head and gave the redhead a grim stare. "No… It might be worse than that…" There was no time to argue or explain. Link ignored Yun-seong's following questions and left the light of the burning fire.

He was blind until he lit up a flaming arrow in his hand. Swerving around trees, ducking beneath branches, and breaking through brush, Link kept running forward while keeping his senses alert. Heading deeper, the forest was oddly still and quiet with the exception of his panting breaths, the soft crunch of the forest beneath his boots, and the rustling of leaves as he passed through all sorts of plant-life obstructing his way. The situation terribly reminded him of the incident back in the other forest where Siegfried first encountered the demonic bird… Link gritted his teeth at the horrid memory. But then realization soon dawned upon him; the undead monsters that suddenly ambushed them might have only been a diversion. For the knight to disappear deep into the woods without anyone noticing… Was it the one-eyed demon or the evil bird that somehow controlled the undead and lured Siegfried away? The mere thought made Link horribly worried.

He came upon something light in colour caught in a bush of thorns and broken branches. It was Siegfried's new cloak, a definite sign that Link was going the right way.

Moments after continuing on, there was a glimmer of gold coming from something partially hidden under the leaves of a shrub. It was the sheathed Master Sword abandoned on the ground… Link furrowed his brow as he carefully lifted his sacred sword by the thick leather strap, needing both of his hands to carry the heavy weight. Dread twisted his insides and fear took over his mind and heart as he could only think of what could have happened to Siegfried…

"If I ever lose myself again… kill me…"

Siegfried's words echoed in his thoughts. His hands curled tightly around the Master Sword's strap until the leather dug painfully into his palms. No… it shouldn't have to come to that already… Silently, he prayed to his Goddesses and the gods of this world for another day to fulfill that promise he had made with his friend. He did not have the strength or heart to lift his sword against the other.

Desperate but also determined, Link drew a deep, steady breath. The Fire Arrow was replaced with an arrow of light clamped between his teeth. The surrounding forest came alive with golden light and he continued on, lugging the heavy Master Sword with him. Low hanging branches whipped by his face and he nearly lost his hat a few times. Thorns and branches of shrubs scratched his bare skin and threatened to steal his cloak. He didn't care if his arms and legs were bloody or his cloak torn; he only kept running. Sweat trickled down his brow and his sides were aching by the time he entered an unnatural clearing. The light of his magic arrow shone upon the many shattered and clean-cut trunks of full-grown trees and devastated earth. It looked as if a mighty battle had taken place against something large and powerful; capable of smashing and cleaving through thick wood with ease. Most disturbing of all was the smell of blood that hung in the air…

The sound of leaves rustling close by caught Link's immediate attention. Warily, he quickly went to investigate with one hand dragging his sword and his other hand holding his source of light. Through the branches of a fallen tree, the boy followed the noise and breathed a deep sigh of relief when he found an older boy with long blond hair on the other side. Siegfried was standing in a rigid posture, his back turned towards the Hylian. Despite the golden glow of Link's arrow, the knight didn't seem to notice the younger swordsman behind him.

Link only managed to take one step forward before the darkness suddenly turned malevolent and bitterly cold. Words to catch Siegfried's attention were caught in his throat as he stood frozen at the sight of two large maliciously glowing red eyes emerging from the shadows up ahead. Far more powerful than the other undead lizards, it felt equivalent to Soul Edge itself and the one-eyed demon. There was a light rattle of chains as the demonic creature staggered to its feet. It stood tall, easily towering over the boys even in the distance beyond the reach of Link's Light Arrow. Whatever it was, it was likely the cause for the destruction around them. It released a deep, rumbling growl that ended with a drawled out hiss that sounded like water spitting at a burning fire. The shadowed monster started to approach on heavy footsteps, snapping branches under its enormous, hulking size. Its movements were quicker and not as clumsy as the undead lizards, signifying that it may be not be another undead at all but something else entirely.

Shaking out of his shock, Link rushed to Siegfried's side. Golden light illuminated the older boy's face, making him wince slightly, but otherwise his blank emerald eyes were transfixed at the incoming shadow. Link mentally cursed, seeing the knight caught under a trance. "Siegfried, snap out of it!" he yelled, hoping to break through the evil holding the older boy in place. However, his words did nothing. Quickly, he stood and faced Siegfried, his hands deftly moving to slide the Master Sword out of its scabbard. He only freed a quarter of his blade before something heavy slammed into his right side, making him drop both his sacred sword and holy arrow.

The thing that struck him also pinned him painfully to the ground, crushing him with so much force it hurt to struggle. It felt like a large ice cold hand covered in something hard and rough, its fingers sunken deep into the earth and its enormous palm pressing down with all its weight. Link ceased in his breathless cries when he heard the deep, rumbling growl coming from right above him. Two large glowing red orbs loomed over him, burning with malice. The smell of blood mixed with the awful stench of decay when the creature opened its massive reptilian jaws, baring rows of pointed teeth and two larger frontal fangs protruded from its upper jaw that glistened from the faint white light that reached it. Suddenly, that same white light grew brighter and flashed before Link's wide eyes in a brilliant arc, cleaving through the solid, scaly arm that trapped the small boy. The crushing weight lessened and Link was pulled free by a strong hand before the enormous body of the evil monster noisily fell forward.

The Hylian was dragged backwards by the back of his collar, a few meters away from the fallen giant before he was released. "Are you… all right?" The question came from Siegfried, having regained his senses and save Link soon after. The clothed hilt of the Master Sword was clenched tight in his right hand, its pointed tip resting on the ground before him. The black blood that drenched the blade hissed and evaporated into smoke from the sword's repelling power. The knight's expression was one of fear and confusion as he stared at the evil beast, eyes wide and unblinking.

Wearing a grateful smile, Link quickly nodded while climbing to his feet. He grimaced from the throbbing pain running down his newly bruised right arm and side but that didn't stop him from drawing out his bow. "Thought I'd lost you again."

Siegfried deeply furrowed his brow, his eyes flickering to the younger one. "Lost? What… What have I been…" He cut himself off and steeled his gaze against the moaning monster.

Link twirled around and nocked an arrow. Bathed in the radiant light of the sacred sword, the true form of the rising monster turned out to be a Lizardman; a monstrous, gigantic Lizardman that was three times larger than the common fiends. Numerous dreadful horns sprouted from the back of its head while a large, single horn grew on the end of its long snout. Many small spikes adorned its entire body from its head down to the end of its long bladed tail. Link had been wrong; the creature was just as undead as the monsters that attacked their camp. Massive open wounds across its torso, neck and limbs seeped blood that was black with corruption, staining its rough sickly green scales dark. Its right arm ended in a dripping stump above the wrist due to Siegfried severing the limb with the Master Sword. Remnants of dark armour clung to its shoulders, knees and lower legs and a thin clinking chain encircled its waist, holding up a shredded loincloth. Judging by the state of its body, it had only been recently killed unlike the rotting, moving corpses of the smaller Lizardmen. The giant reptile's eyes were still whole, its irises burning with an evil power that controlled the dead. What was most odd were the many short brownish abnormally-shaped skewers piercing the side of its body and back like many broken spears. Whatever had slain the hulking beast had left its mark.

The great evil shrouding the area was coming from the dead lizard itself. Link didn't quite understand how an undead monster could control other corpses. He had least expected it but whatever the case, the giant reptile needed to be destroyed to put a possible end to Siegfried's suffering.

"What is it?" Link inquired, imbuing his arrow with holy magic just as the towering monster turned its huge body to face them.

Having no answer, Siegfried shook his head as he took a small step back, lifting the glowing sword aloft with both hands. "Am I still dreaming?" he murmured, meeting the Lizardman's vicious glower.

"It's truly a nightmare," the Hylian muttered. However, he soon regretted his choice of words when the older boy started to visibly tremble.

The Master Sword slipped out of Siegfried's hands and dully clanged on the forest ground. The fear and confusion from before had suddenly returned on the older boy's face. "A nightmare?" he whispered, slowly shaking his head, his gaze never leaving the eyes of the monster. "It's still a dream?"

"No, Siegfried, it's real!" Link tried to clarify, his tone urgent. "Pick up the Master Sword! You're not dreaming!"

The giant Lizardman began to advance on them, leaving no time to bring the terrified knight back into reality. Without hesitation, Link bounded forward and pulled back on his bowstring, fighting to keep his aim steady due to the throbbing pain in his arm. The beast made a sharp wheezing sound, drawing a deep breath into its dead lungs as it stomped towards the Hylian warrior.

Just as Link loosed his holy arrow, the reptile exhaled a plume of thick black smoke from its open mouth in the boys' direction. The smoke was so murky he couldn't even see the flash of light or the damage his arrow had inflicted on the monster. No– it wasn't smoke… the haze was some sort of gas that highly stank of a rot and death. And breathing it in was a terrible mistake because it burned! Link's nose, throat and lungs were on fire and his eyes stung with tears. Coughing, he clutched his chest at the searing pain and saw nothing but darkness swarming his vision. He couldn't breathe; every breath was burning agony that seized every fiber of his body.

There were familiar voices but they sounded so far away; "… stay back … is poison…" He didn't remember falling for the next thing he knew, his weakened body was lifted off the ground by strong arms. Gasping for air, he tried to speak but only managed a choked whimper. He was soon hushed followed by the quiet murmur of, "Don't worry, kiddo, I got you," right in his ear. The boy couldn't tell if it was Cassandra or Seung Mi-na talking. Those two were always calling him 'kiddo' as a tease… His mind was too muddled to ponder about it. All thoughts and sounds gradually faded into nothingness and he could only dream.


He was shrouded in icy black mist once more, shivering and full of dread. Every hair on the back of his neck stood on end as the shadows silently shifted. He dredged up whatever courage he had to curse out loud for he was starting to loathe this place. Something penetrated the silence and filled him back with fear... the clangor of heavy armour approaching him from somewhere in the darkness. Frozen, he could only listen as the echoing footfalls grew louder with each heavy step until they stopped right behind him. This again… Slowly, he exhaled his held breath and tentatively looked over his shoulder to find the same pair of crimson eyes as before glowering down at him in anger. "Curse those wretched seals…" the shadow snarled, its deep tone harsh and spiteful. "And curse that wretched little elf…" It reached out its arm towards him through the parting mist, an arm that was large and in the form of a monstrous three-fingered claw that was so horribly familiar…

With a sharp gasp, Siegfried snapped awake, drenched in cold sweat and full of chills. He felt the crushing grip of the large talons but it only turned out to be his imagination, a remnant of his nightmare… He shuddered and tried to move but found his body uselessly weak and in pain. His head was pounding with a dull ache, his vision was blurred, and his throat and chest were burning like fire. Breathing proved to be difficult and painful. The strong smell of sweet incense filled his nose with each laborious breath. It hurt to even groan so all he managed was a pitiful whimper. There was no denying that he had fallen ill yet again but how? He remembered nothing but his cursed dreams of moving black shadows with eyes that shone an evil red…

Those dreams felt too real… Were they truly dreams at all?

He stifled a gasp of surprise when something cool and damp was placed on his forehead. Someone was speaking softly to him but he did not quite understand. It took moments before his weary eyes were able to focus on the speaker silhouetted against an open sky of morning blue. Golden locks of hair framed Sophitia's worried complexion as she peered down at him through thin wisps of white smoke, kneeling by his side. "Are you feeling better?"

Better? He didn't remember feeling any worse. The boy wet his mouth and tried to answer but cringed instead from the pain in his throat. A finger was quick to lightly touch his lips, accompanied by a gentle hush. "No, do not speak. I will give you something to soothe your pain," said Sophitia before she twisted around to address someone behind her.

His attention slowly wandered in confusion. He heard the crackling of a nearby fire, the snorts and whickers of horses, songbirds in the distance, and the quiet murmur of voices. Through the sweet-smelling smoke, he could see the looming forms of trees on one side and an open field on the other. They were camping near the border of the forest instead of the inner woods that he could vaguely recall. Siegfried furrowed his brow and tried to remember the events of last night but the damn pain in his head made it impossible. Deep down he knew something dreadful had happened that resulted in his sudden illness…

Emerald eyes searched around the camp, finding Seung Mi-na not too far from where he rested. Sitting cross-legged, she was facing the fire with a thick dark blanket draped around her shoulders. Her face was distorted in disgust as she slowly drank from a small wooden bowl in her hand. Behind her were two of their horses with Yun-seong busy tying a bag to the back of one of the animals' saddles.

Before he could locate the others, Taki appeared in his view, kneeling on his other side opposite of Sophitia. "You are recovering quickly," the ninja noted, showing a sign of relief when her dark eyes met his perplexed stare. In her hand was a small wooden bowl with something noticeably hot, its steam mingling with the wisps of white smoke. "Still, more rest is needed for you to fully recover." She nodded to Sophitia and the younger woman gently lifted Siegfried's head. The lip of the bowl was pressed to his lips and he could see the hot dark brown liquid inside. The medicine's pungent, spicy smell overpowered the sweet incense. "Drink," Taki commanded when he didn't open his mouth.

The boy made a face and stubbornly shook his head all the while inwardly cursing at the fact that more vile medicine was being forced on him. "Please, Siegfried, you must," Sophitia tried to coax him, "This will help you sleep."

That made him even more desperate to refuse. He turned his head away and started to squirm with his heavy, feeble arms useless by his sides. "No…" he croaked, his voice a husky rasp.

Taki firmly grabbed the boy's chin to make him look at her very stern face. Her fierce glare made him freeze. "I will be lying if I tell you that you will not dream," she stated, understanding the reason for his resistance. Her expression softened. "You must endure for as long as Link remains unconscious."

Hearing the elf's name made Siegfried suddenly remember the boy's last words; "… it's real! … You're not dreaming!" The memory of something large with glowing red eyes in the shadows of the forest slowly came to him; some towering beast with scales, horns and rows of sharp teeth. That… wasn't a dream? Those wicked red orbs in the cold, black mist… were they real too? He didn't understand, leaving him completely confused and to suffer with a greater headache. Not knowing what was dream or reality terrified him. But Link was with him in one of his dreams… There was a flash of gold light that erased the darkness for a brief second before he found the white glow of the Master Sword shining through the returning shadows. He had held the holy blade in his hands and had felt its divine power eliminate the bitter cold when he confronted the giant, scaly demon with the crimson eyes, but then he recalled nothing after that nor could he even figure out how he and Link ended up alone against the monster.

Siegfried heavily frowned, fearing the elf had gotten seriously hurt. He tried to ask but he had no voice so he mouthed the words instead; "Where is Link?"

"He is safe," Taki answered as Sophitia shifted to let him see behind her. The elf was lying close by, shivering beneath a bundle of blankets. His face was flushed with fever and his blond hair matted to his forehead from sweat. His breathing was shallow and raspy, each breath sounding like a struggle. Planted in the soft earth above his head were two burning incense sticks that sweetened the air in hope of purging his lungs. Kneeling beside him was Cassandra who placed a damp cloth over the child's burning forehead. "However," the ninja continued as she slowly shook her head, "he has yet to show any sign of recovering from the demon's poison."

Siegfried gasped in horror. Poison? What sort of demon did they encounter that possessed such an atrocious ability? It was related to Soul Edge's evil, he knew that without a doubt. The knight was angry that he couldn't remember, but also afraid to know the truth. What if everything was entirely his fault; that Link was terribly ill because of him? Guilt gnawed at his insides. Was he the one to blame for the young boy's suffering?

"We are doing everything we can to heal him." Sophitia sounded assuring, however her look of concern betrayed her confidence. "Though I pray there was more that can be done…"

"You must remember that Link is not from this world," informed the demon huntress. "It may take longer for the antidote to take effect for him. All we can do is wait. We will rest for a few more hours before we continue on our journey to the next village. Now drink." She brought the bowl with the vulgar concoction back to Siegfried's lips.

The boy bit back a snarl. He wanted to know everything that had transpired over the night but he couldn't ask, not with his throat refusing to speak. However, he knew the two women were unwilling to answer even if he somehow conveyed his questions. Reluctantly, he could only obey. It took sheer effort not to gag and cough out the warm, bitter, herbaceous liquid that was being poured down his throat. The disgusting spiced, earthly taste was just as bad as Link's awful red potions. It did soothe the fire in his throat so he was at least grateful for that.

He was laid down to rest after every last drop was painfully swallowed. Whatever was in Taki's medicine immediately made him drowsy. He couldn't fight against his body's strong desire to sleep no matter how hard he tried. Darkness took hold of him instantly and he saw the eyes he had dreaded to see emerging in the distance, watching, waiting…


A/N: Due to the many changes I've made in this revision, some events in later chapters will seem confusing. Siegfried's holy bracelet was never in my original and I've also introduced the undead Lizardmen to the group a few chapters earlier. Keep those things in mind when reading chapter 14 and beyond!