Ch. 20 The Warrior Princess
Sheik and his group continued their travels to Athens. They were tired from their constant traveling, but none of them were willing to stop and rest.
"Boat sunk, we're practically broke, and now we have to walk five hundred miles to Greece." Maxi growled.
"Well, just think of all the girls that you'll be able to get with your new, more muscular body." Xianghua teased. "Look, here comes one now!"
Maxi turned his head as he saw a young woman ride past on a galloping horse without even slowing down.
"Run!" She told the travelers as she zoomed by.
'Was that who I think it was?' Siegfried asked himself.
"What was that about?" Kilik asked his companions.
"I have no idea." Xianghua responded.
Sheik turned in the direction the woman had come from and prepared for battle.
"What's wrong?" Siegfried asked.
"Just some bandits, we can take care of them easily." Sheik assured.
The rest of the group turned and drew their weapons as a group of bandits rode towards them. The bandits ignored the group as they rode past after the woman.
"They didn't even say hello!" Kilik joked.
"They are after that woman." Siegfried announced. "We have to help her."
The group chased after the bandits, who had cornered the young woman. Now that she stopped, everyone could get a better look at her. The woman looked just like the Greek female warriors of legend. She had long blond hair and large green eyes. She was dressed in a short white skirt with lightweight armor made of strong leather and metal over her chest. Her metal shoulder pads were separated from her armor, and her boots were also made from a combination of metal and leather. In place of gauntlets, the woman wore metal bracelets and on top of her head was a tiara. She reminded everyone of a warrior princess.
The young warrior was off her horse and trying to reason with the bandits.
"Please leave me be." The woman requested. "I'm simply traveling for my little sister and don't wish to fight."
"Hear that, boys? She even has a sister. Think she's as lovely as this one?" One of the men chuckled.
"If she is, we'd be glad to help find her." Another one of the bandits laughed.
"Thank you, but I would prefer to travel alone." The woman declined, trying to look for an opening to escape.
"Sorry, beautiful. That wasn't a request." The first bandits warned.
As the bandit reached out to grab the woman, she grabbed his wrist and twisted it, causing him to fall to his knees and yelp in pain.
"I don't want to hurt you." The woman informed.
"Sorry, girly, but you're outnumbered. Get her!" The bandit yelled.
Several of the bandits charged towards the woman as she prepared for battle. One of the bandits attacked her with a spear, but the woman stepped to the side and caught the spear with her arm and thrust the end into his stomach.
The woman continued to defeat one bandit after another, even though she seemed to be just knocking them out instead of killing them. She blocked two attacks with the spear, tripping one of the men and hitting the other in the head. She then struck a man who had tried to sneak up on her in the stomach. She threw her spear, tripping another man as she jumped and performed a back flip in the air. The woman landed on a man's shoulder and knocked him unconscious by chopping him in the neck. She then jumped off that man and drew her weapons: a small, round blue shield with a strange design and a short sword.
The woman continued to fend off the men with her weapons. She knocked one man unconscious with her shield and turned to face two more.
"Wow, look at her go." Xianghua cheered as Siegfried and the others arrived, watching the woman take down bandit after bandit.
"Does she really need our help?" Maxi asked.
"Sophitia." Siegfried whispered to himself.
Sheik turned his head, hearing Siegfried say the name.
One of the bandits charged towards the young woman, and his pocket began to slowly glow a dark red. This caused the woman to stumble backwards as if she had just been struck by something and hold her chest in pain.
"O.K, now she needs our help." Maxi announced.
Siegfried hadn't waited for the pirate's word; he had already stepped in to fight alongside the woman. He blocked a blow from a bandit who as about to take advantage of the woman's weakened state and killed him with Soul Calibur.
"Well we can't let him have all the fun now, can we?" Maxi asked.
Maxi, followed by Kilik and Xianghua, attacked the bandits. Even though the bandits were great in number, they didn't stand a chance against the well-trained warriors. Maxi elbowed a bandit in the head, kicked a second in the stomach, and tripped a third with his nunchaku. Kilik used his bow staff to knock out about three more bandits.
"How about we go for a spin?" Xianghua challenged one of the bandits, twirling her blade in a circle as she slashed at him. She then blocked an attack with her sword and defeated another bandit.
Sheik watched as the warriors finished off the bandits. He had decided that if they couldn't handle this group without his help, than there was no chance they would ever stand a chance against Soul Edge or Majora's Mask.
"Well, that was a nice warm up." Maxi announced, dusting off his hands.
"Are you O.K.?" Siegfried asked the woman.
As the knight approached the female warrior, his blade released a blue aura, soothing her pain from the bandit's red light.
"Yes, thank you, Sir. Knight." The woman spoke now, no longer feeling the pain. "But could you please destroy that shard with your holy weapon?"
Xianghua, who could see the red glow still coming from the bandit's pocket, knew what the blond-haired woman meant. The Chinese warrior took the shard out of the man's pocket, threw it to the ground, and brought her Magic Sword down upon it. Even though the Magic Sword wasn't as powerful of a spirit sword as Soul Calibur, it was still powerful enough to destroy shards of Soul Edge. When Xianghua's blade struck the shard of Soul Edge, sparks shot out of the two opposing forces, causing Xianghua to stumble backwards. In the end, the shard became nothing but dirt and dust.
"Thank you for your assistance, strangers." The woman smiled. "My name is Sophitia, and I would like to thank you further, but I have an important mission to attend to. Farewell." The woman mounted her white horse and was about to gallop away, when Siegfried stopped her.
"Sophitia, wait." Siegfried called.
"What is it, Sir. Knight?" The Sophitia asked.
"Do you not recognize me?"
"You look familiar, but I can't quite place my finger on your name."
"It's me. Siegfried. We fought together about six years ago in the war between Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire."
"Siegfried?" Sophitia gasped. "It's been so long. How are you?"
"I could be better, but then again, I suppose I'm better than what I have been." Siegfried admitted. "Why are you so far away from Athens?"
"I'm looking for my sister, Cassandra. She ran off one night with a shard of Soul Edge and the holy weapons of Hephaestus. I need to find her and bring her home before she gets herself killed."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Siegfried asked, already feeling the blame for Cassandra's actions. He knew it was probably him as Nightmare that had arranged for a shard of Soul Edge to appear in Sophitia's house. Sophitia had been one of Soul Edge's greatest enemies since Cervantes had been its host. As Knightmare he would have seen Sophitia as a threat so giving her a shard of Soul Edge would have been an attempt to get of her.
There was no doubt in Sheik's mind that any problem Soul Edge caused, Siegfried would blame himself. It was also clear that this woman somehow knew about Soul Edge and was greatly affected by the blade.
"Unfortunately, we can't." Sheik reminded. "We have to destroy Soul Edge and the wind says…" Sheik stopped as the wind suddenly changed directions. "And the wind says that we should help Sophitia by following her."
"No. Please, there is no need for you to interrupt your travels for my sake." Sophitia declined. "I will be perfectly fine."
"We're not interrupting our travels." Siegfried assured. "Sheik has a one-track mind and he wouldn't have us follow you if he didn't think it would benefit us. So, what do you say Sophitia? Will you accept our help, for old time's sake?"
"Yes, I suppose, for old time's sake." Sophitia agreed.
With Sophitia joining the team, Sheik and his group continued to travel. Finally, they made camp that night to rest. Xianghua sat next to Kilik, trying flirt with the clueless monk a little, while Maxi watched and chuckled. Sheik sat at the other side of the fireplace and watched Siegfried and Sophitia. They had ventured a few feet away from the rest of the group and were talking in private. With Sheik's keen ears, he was able to eavesdrop. They were comparing stories and information about Soul Edge.
"So you see." Sophitia began. "I thought once Taki and I defeated Cervantes and the two blades of Soul Edge seven years ago, all of this would end. I retired for the time, and was lucky enough to marry our town's blacksmith. We have lovely twins."
"Wait, you're married?" Siegfried asked in surprised.
"Yes, what's wrong?" Sophitia asked.
"Oh nothing, I'm just really happy to hear that you were finally able to start a family. I know no one believed you when you said you went after Soul Edge. I'm happy you found a man who would accept you despite the fact that you can probably beat him in combat." Siegfried spoke with false happiness in his voice.
"Yes, I was really lucky." Sophitia admitted. "Besides Cassandra, my husband, Rothion, was the only one who believed me and would accept me as a female warrior. But let me explain my quest. About two months ago, my husband had been given a special piece of metal by a customer as payment for his services. As soon as he showed my children that metal, they began to fight as if they were being controlled. If my sister and I had not intervened, they may have killed each other for it. This caused my greatest fears to become reality. That shard was a piece of Soul Edge. I knew that meant the cursed blade had survived. I began to pack and prepared to leave the next morning to destroy the blade, but before I could, my sister sneaked away with my family's holy weapons and the shard of Soul Edge. Since she had taken my family's blade, I had to wait for my husband to forge new weapons. Now that I have weapons again though, I can finally track her down."
"I see." Siegfried responded. "I'm sorry for the trouble that I have caused you, Sophitita."
"What do you mean?" Sophitia asked. "Siegfried, you've had that guilty look on your face ever since I ran into you. Please tell me, what's wrong."
"I'm sorry that I caused this trouble for you." Siegfried repeated. Siegfried looked towards the ground as he spoke. He couldn't face Sophitia while telling his past. "Everything that has occurred after you defeated Cervantes is my fault. Remember several years ago when we fought together and I was the one with Soul Edge? Well, I couldn't control the blade for very long. After the final battle, it wasn't long before the blade had become too powerful for me and it began to warp my mind, turning me into the monster, Nightmare. It was because of me that Soul Edge gained its powers back and has caused this world harm."
"I had a feeling that had happened when the stories of the Azure Knight that held Soul Edge began to be told." Sophitia admitted. She seemed more saddened by the story than surprised.
"Yes, and I wouldn't blame you if you tried to kill me now." Siegfried responded. "I'm pretty sure that half of my allies want me dead right now."
"My killing you would solve nothing. Even though it was partly your fault, Siegfried, you can't let your past sins consume your soul. What you need to do is make up for them."
"I know."
"How did you break free of the blade's curse?"
Siegfried explained to Sophitia how Xianghua and Kilik battled Nightmare, and how Xianghua beat the daemon within the blade, Inferno, using the holy blade Soul Calibur. He explained how the blade continued to take over his body and mind until Sheik had saved him from Soul Edge once and for all.
"So, how did you get Soul Calibur?" Sophitia asked.
"I don't know." Siegfried responded. "I don't remember much. During the battle with Soul Edge, Soul Calibur, and I were trapped in some sort of void. I don't know how we escaped, but when we did, I had both a weakened Soul Edge and a powerless Soul Calibur. I'm guessing that the two blades' energies canceled out each other's power."
"That's an interesting story. Come, let's sit by the rest of the group."
"Boy, those two sure are friendly with each other." Maxi grunted to Xianghua and Kilik as he observed the pair talking.
"What's wrong, Maxi? Still looking for a girl?" Xianghua teased.
"Sophitia is married." Maxi informed.
"How do you know that?" Xianghua asked. "Is a woman's ring finger the first thing you still look at?" Xianghua teased, putting her arm around her friend.
"How do you know that, and what do you mean 'still look at'?" Maxi questioned. It was true, but he didn't remember telling Xianghua or Kilik that.
"Oh, I was just joking." Xianghua quickly jumped up. She knew she had slipped. She and Kilik had agreed not to bring up their past relationships with the pirate or talk as if they already knew him.
"All right everyone, get some sleep." Sheik ordered. "We have some backtracking to do and I'm sure none of us wants to waste time." Sheik continued to monitor the sky. He still sensed evil, but it wasn't coming towards them. They were heading towards it.
"What's wrong?" Siegfried asks the Sheik.
"We are being led to an evil force." Sheik responded.
"Is it Soul Edge?" Siegfried asked the mysterious figure.
"I don't know. We are too far away. I just have a feeling."
"Well, if it is a shard of Soul Edge, let's hope we reach it before Soul Edge and Majora's Mask do." Siegfried added.
"Agreed."
The group continued their travels for the next few days. Everyone worried about the towns they approached. It seemed the further they traveled, the slummier the towns became. The first town was a normal town with some rich, but most of the residents were peasants. The second town seemed to be worn down compared to the first. The group wondered where the rulers were to help the townspeople. Then they approached the worst town. It was completely void of life from a recent battle. Weapons littered the streets and many of the people had arrows in their bodies.
"You don't suppose Soul Edge has been here?" Xianghua asked.
"No. Soul Edge was not here, nor Majora's Mask. However, I do sense we are approaching a fragment of Soul Edge."
"What could have done this?" Kilik asked.
"A warlord." Sophitia responded. "I don't know what your nation is like, but Greece used to be infested with them. Many of them still strive today in various countries. I use to run into them during my travels and was usually forced to kill them."
"Are they all like this?" Xianghua asked. She wasn't accustomed to this kind of war or destruction. Most battles took prisoners. This was pure destruction, something Soul Edge would do. It scared her that an ordinary human could be so cruel.
"They're not all this bad." Sophitia continued. "Most of them will at least take prisoners if you're willing to surrender. From the looks of this village, it was hit by one of the worst."
"Bastards!" Siegfried growled. "How can people just throw other's lives away? There was no need for this. Look at this town. It was full of farmers and simple merchants, not warriors."
Like Sophitia, Siegfried knew about warlords and what they were capable of. It enraged him.
"I know this angers you, Siegfried." Sheik responded. "But you can't let your anger get the best of you. We have to continue our journey. But I do agree that if we come across the person responsible for this, they shall pay."
"Agreed. Siegfried responded.
********
A lone man dressed completely in red leather with a matching red cape stood looking out the window of a large and luxurious room. The room was made entirely of marble and was supported with marble pillars. Towards the ceiling of the room were several glass-stained windows. Several portraits of the man decorated the walls. In the back center of the room was a large throne decorated in red and gold. Two guards dressed from head to toe in armor stood at the doors of the room, ensuring no one could enter.
The man was an average looking man, entering his twenties. He had thick, light brown hair that touched his cheeks and curled slightly inward at the ends. One top of his head as a golden crown, indicating that he was some sort of royalty.
The man looked down at the city. It was his city and the capital of his country. Few cities were more secure than this one. Even though the city was small, walls surrounded it, protecting it from invaders, and guards were constantly on patrol.
"King Strife, I have news." An elderly general walked in to speak to the king.
"What is it?" The King asked.
"The town not paying their dues has been dealt with. We made quite an example of that town. No longer will the peasants dare defy you again."
"Good." The king replied. "I would have expected nothing less."
"There is other news, your highness. Bad news."
"What is it?" The King asked in an annoyed and deadly tone.
The general seemed to take a few steps back when the king spoke in this way. "As you know, Princess Hilde is raising an army to defeat Soul Edge."
"Please, do you really think I am worried about that pathetic little girl? I will crush her and her nation like the insects that they are!"
"Of course, your highness." The general stuttered. "We all know there is no one mightier than you in battle. I just wanted to know what you wanted us to do about Hilde."
"If she comes to this country, destroy her army and bring her to me. Now, unless you have any other news for me, leave."
"Yes, your highness." The general bowed as he left while he still had the chance.
"What bothers you, my lord?"A black-hooded figure walked towards the King. No one knew anything about this figure except he had become the King's sorcerer a couple months ago. Not even the king had seen his face. All that anyone ever saw were two glowing red eyes.
"Is that you, Shadow?" King Strife asked.
"Of course, your majesty. Who else would it be?" The black robed figure asked.
"Yes, of course. Nothing of great concern bothers me. I am merely thinking of the many days I go to bed alone."
"So your majesty, it is a queen you are looking for?" The sorcerer asked. "If that is a problem, we can easily find you a fair maiden."
"I have no interest in marrying some pathetic noble. I want someone worthy of my power, someone beautiful, strong, and young, someone who will be able to give me the heir I need."
"Of course, your highness. I think I have a good person in mind for you."
A crystal ball appeared in the sorcerer's hand. He showed the king the image in the crystal ball; a beautiful woman with long blond hair and green eyes.
*********
"Where are we now?" Maxi asked as they approached a city that was built more like a fort than a city.
"Grandall." Sophitia explained. "And this looks like its capitol."
"Very interesting." Sheik retorted.
An arrow flew towards the travelers and landed an inch away. Maxi, Kilik, and Xianghua drew their weapons and prepared for battle.
"It's a warning shot." Sheik explained. "Quickly, drop your weapons and put your hands up."
Everyone mimicked Sheik, putting their hands in the air as several armored soldiers approached from the woods holding cross bows or swords.
"What do we have here?" One of the soldiers asked.
"They look like foreigners." Another one spoke.
One of the soldiers seemed to eye Sophitia for a few moments. The Greek woman merely returned the gaze coolly and calmly, figuring that he saw her as easy entertainment. If that was true, he was about to have another thing coming.
"We should bring them to his highness." The soldier announced. "He can decide what to do with them?"
"His highness?" Another soldier asked surprised.
"Yes." The soldier answered. "Trust me. I smell a reward."
"Do we try to fight and run?" Siegfried whispered to Sheik.
"No, just do as they say. A fragment of Soul Edge is near. Let's play their game and find the shard." Sheik suggested.
The guards led Siegfried and the others through the gates and across the town to a large castle. The city seemed to be in better quality than most of the towns the group had passed. It still had its share of poverty, but at least everyone seemed safe and relatively happy. However, Sheik could sense the fear in every citizen that the guards passed.
"Open the gates." One of the soldiers told a castle guard. "We have brought important guests."
"Yes sir." The guard replied, opening the doors.
*******
"Your highness." One of King Strife's men quickly ran in to the throne room.
"Yes?" The king asked in his usual annoyed voice.
"We found her, sir." The guard announced.
"You have?" Strife asked, now more interested and surprised.
"Yes sir."
"Well, bring her in." The king ordered.
"She has company with her."
"Then bring them too. We can't seem rude now, can we?"
Sophitia and her companions were led to the king.
"Welcome to my humble country." Strife greeted everyone warmly. "My name is King Strife. Tell me travelers, what brings you to my city?"
"We are on a journey to destroy great evil." Sheik spoke. He wanted to be the one talking since he knew exactly what to say without revealing any unnecessary information.
"I see. Then it appears we have a common goal."
"What do you mean?" Sophitia asked.
"Have you ever heard of Princess Hilde?" Strife asked.
Everyone but Siegfried shook their heads no.
"I have." Siegfried admitted.
"Well, she is a wretched witch of a ruler who is trying to seek out Soul Edge and use its powers to take over the world."
"What? That can't be!" Siegfried began to argue, but Sheik silenced him with a glance.
"Oh, but I'm afraid it is. I'm sure you've seen the destruction of our smaller towns. That is the cause of her army. They destroy everything in their path. I am trying to fight her right now, but I'm afraid that even my resources will not suffice for ever."
"That's horrible." Sophitia spoke.
"Yes, it is horrible. But enough of this unpleasantness. Tell me; what are your names, travelers?"
"I am Sheik." The mysterious figure began. "This is Kilik, Maxi, Xianghua, Sophitia, and Siegfried."
"Siegfried, you mean the legendary dragon killer?" Strife gasped. This was one person he hadn't expected.
"Yes, that is one title I'm known for." Siegfried responded, looking towards the ground as he spoke.
"Why, I would have never expected to meet someone as great as you, Sir Siegfried." King Strife spoke. "Your great tales have ventured even as far as my kingdom. You did the world a great favor when you killed that monster."
Sheik glanced at Siegfried after hearing this statement. This wasn't something Siegfried had included in his stories of Soul Edge.
"I ensure you, that I did not do it by myself." Siegfried spoke. "Each time I fought the monster, I had an ally to assist me. In fact, Sophitia here faced and fended the beast off as well."
"You fought the dragon?" Strife asked Sophitia in amazement.
"Once yes, but Siegfried gives me too much credit and himself not enough." The Greek warrior admitted. "It was Siegfried who finished the monster, and he fended it off more times than any of us."
"Both of you are too modest." Strife praised. "I welcome you both in my land and will provide you with food and shelter for as long as you and your companions need."
"Thank you, but we would hate to bother you." Sheik cut in. "I'm sure you are very busy with this war. We can easily find a hotel for the night so that you don't have to worry about us."
"Oh, don't feel you are a burden." Strife assured. "It is an honor to have the hero, Siegfried, stay with us. But if finding a hotel would make the ladies feel more comfortable, there is a fine one nearby. Give this symbol." Strife rose from his chair and handed a medallion to Sophitia. "With this, they will know I sent you and will give you nothing but the finest."
"Thank you, my lord." Sophitia thanked the king.
"You don't have to use such formalities with me, my lady. I really do hate them. Now, my guards will show you out. I wish you all safe travels."
As the guards began to escort the travelers out, Strife stopped them, forgetting one last detail.
"Oh, and I would greatly be honored if you would all join me for dinner tonight."
"Thank you, highness." Sheik spoke. "Please tell us the time and would be happy to join you."
"We will eat at sundown." Strife explained. "I will have one of my men escort you to the castle at seventeen hundred hours. I look forward to our next meeting."
"As do we." Sheik replied as he and his companions walked out.
After everyone left, King Strife turned and spoke to a dark corner in his room. "Is she the one?"
"She is the one that I told you about. Tell me, what do you think of her, your highness?" Shadow asked as he walked out of the corner.
"She is perfect." Strife complimented. "Beautiful and strong, yet seems to know her place."
"I am pleased you approve. There are a couple of problems though."
"Siegfried, I know. I did not expect the dragon killer to be with her, nor did I expect her to have so many companions. Of course, the dragon slayer is the one I'm most worried about."
"He is not the only problem, my lord. That one who hid his face, Sheik, seemed to know my presence. I saw him glance my way several times. Also, my information tells me that Sophitia has a husband and two children."
"That is a problem that can easily be remedied." Strife commented. "Siegfried and Sheik, on the other hand, may have to be dealt with."
"Don't worry, my lord. I am already devising a plan."
***********
King Strife had not been exaggerating when he informed Sophitia that the medallion the king provided would benefit them. The inn keeper immediately became as polite as possible and even offered the best rooms in the inn for free. Sophitia declined; She accepted smaller rooms and paid for a portion of the cost with her money. The group received three rooms in all. Sophitia and Xianghua shared one since they were female. Sheik offered to room with Siegfried. He wished to discuss this King Strife with him, and he also didn't trust Maxi with Siegfried.
"I don't trust that king." Siegfried informed Sheik, as the mysterious figure sat on a bed in a meditative pose.
"I could tell as soon as he mentioned Hilde's name. Why do you think I spoke for our group? Who is Hilde, and what is this dragon story? You should know by now that I can't help you if you don't tell me what you know."
"Sorry." Siegfried apologized. "Killing the dragon was one of the few good deeds I did with Soul Edge. I don't mention it because it's no comparison to the evil I have done with that sword. As for Hilde, she is a princess who is trying to raise an army to destroy Soul Edge. I met her once along my travels. Her group had run into a horde of Lizardman and had needed help. When I introduced myself, she was nothing but polite and noble towards me. That was how I knew King Strife was lying. Princess Hilde tried to convince me to join her on her quest to destroy Soul Edge. I would have, but I still fell under Soul Edge's influence during night, so I declined. She unwillingly accepted my decline and left with her army. I do wonder if she suspected something, but if she did, she never said a word."
"Why didn't you tell her about Soul Edge at the time?"
"At that time, I was foolish and believed I would be able to destroy Soul Edge without help. I believed it was my battle and no one else's. Besides, I was a coward and feared that she would attack me if she knew the truth."
"I see. However, you are correct about King Strife. I see nothing but deceit and a hunger for power in his eyes."
"Then why is he being so nice?" Siegfried asked.
"He wants something." Sheik answered. "I don't know what, but my guess is it probably has something to do with you killing someone for him. Someone that only with your strength could kill."
"If he thinks I'm going after Princess Hilde, then…"
"I don't know what he thinks." Sheik admitted. "We just need to stay alert. Keep an eye on him. Right now, we're alive because he needs us. Once he doesn't…"
"I know. We're dead." Siegfried interrupted. "I've dealt with people like him before."
"We will play his game for now." Sheik instructed. "Do as he asks and remain as polite as possible. He can't know we're on to him."
"Of course. Do you think we should tell the others? Although, I doubt any of them would believe us."
"I don't know. Maxi probably wouldn't believe us. I'm not sure about Kilik or Xianghua. Sophitia may simply due to your history with her. However, keep in mind that Kilik, Xianghua, and Maxi are impulsive. They may do something foolish and ruin our plans. If you do tell them, it should be after dinner so that they won't slip in front of King Strife tonight."
"Agreed." Siegfried nodded.
************
King Strife stood in one of his private chambers, waiting for his men to arrive. Like all of his chambers, the room was lit only by a few lanterns and a fire place.
"You summoned us, your highness?" One of Strife's captains asked.
"Yes I did." Strife admitted. "I have a job for you all."
"What is it sir?"
"In Greece, there is a town called Athens. I want you to find a family there. It will consist of a father and two young children. The father's name is Rothion, the husband of Lady Sophitia. You are to arrive at this house, dressed as Princess Hilde's men, and murder the husband and children. If anyone tries to stop you, take care of them. I also want this to appear as a massacre, so when you are done with the family, kill as many people as you wish and burn their houses."
"What?" One of the captains gasped. King Strife was a tyrant. Everyone knew that. However this was insane. "Your highness, this is a joke, right?"
"Do I make jokes?" Strife asked in a deadly tone.
"I refuse!" One of the captains yelled. "To attack an enemy city is one thing, but Greece hasn't declared war on us. I will not kill innocent children."
Strife drew his blade. It was a sword as large as he was tall. No one knew how the king had the strength to lift the blade, let alone wield it with his level of skill. Strife turned to the captain who had spoken and killed him with a single swipe.
"Anyone else have an objection?" Strife asked.
Not a single one of the guards responded to his question.
"That's better." Strife smirked. "Now, if you'd excuse me, I have to get ready for our guests. Remember, I'm one of the nicest and benevolent rulers around."
As Strife and his men left, it was unknown to them that a figure was still in the room, hanging from the ceiling and staying in the shadows where no one could see or hear him. The man spying on Strife was no other than Yushimitsu. "I'm willing to bet that her highness will want to hear about this."
Hey readers, this concludes this chapter. When I had to do research about Norse Mythology for a college class, I discovered that Siegfreid was a legendary hero who killed the dragon Fafnir. On Soul Calibur Wiki, I discovered that the name of the dragon Siegfreid fights is actually Fafnir. That's where I got the idea of Siegfreid being known as the legendary dragon slayer. Strife will be Siegfreid's main enemy for a few chapters now. I try to use as few O.C. as possible, so finding a good villian for this chapter was very difficult. I wanted a villian that was a fairly large antagonist in the series and had something to do with Seigfreid. I discovered that in Soul Calibur III, Strife is actually the main protagonist in one of the modes and his destiny battle is actually Siegfried. Because of these two factors, I felt he made the perfect villian for right now. Sorry for the long authors note and that such a long chapter doesn't have Link in it. The next chapter will once again feature our favorite Hylian hero.