Finally I had time for more chapters. First chapter today.
War is over
As the still incomplete Night Terror was growling at the humans, suddenly some more humans intervened. Kilik and Xiba were coming and the monks quickly slammed both their staves on Night Terror's head before the monster could do anything. The slightly stunned monster snarled and slashed at Kilik who quickly evaded. Meanwhile Xiba quickly kicked Night Terror on the side of his head.
-Feet!
After backing away some pace with the impact, Night Terror turned to the young boy while growling. He would kill the weakest first. When Xiba followed his kick with his staff to hit him, Night Terror grabbed the staff and pulled on it. Xiba followed by falling down on the ground just in front of the monster who slashed at him then brutally stepped on him. Xiba yelled in pain as he felt his bone being crushed.
-Leave him! Said Kilik with worry and anger in his voice even if he trained not to be troubled by emotions. Using his staff, Kilik quickly jumped toward the monster and kicked him with his two feet making him back away.
Noticing the oldest monk's worry, Night Terror emitted a chuckle-like growl. Protectively standing before his wounded son, Kilik then had a sad expression.
-To have pleasure with the pain of others is pitiful…
But the still incomplete Night Terror didn't listen to those absurdities and ignoring the protective father, he launched at Zasalamel once more. The immortal man was truly annoying with his absorbing spell. Yet when he turned to the sorcerer, Zwei, who was still paralyzed with his crystal frozen leg, quickly sent Ein to punch the monster. Night Terror got distracted and Kilik used that time to slam his staff on him and then jumped on him. He wrestled with the monster, trying to keep him immobilized to purify him. As he was about to lose the brawl, Xiba came and helped him. Kilik looked at him with worry.
-Are you okay?
Xiba answered while trying to force Night Terror down on the ground.
-Just hungry!
Yet the boy had a very bad backache but he wouldn't tell. He wanted to help his master. Meanwhile Zasalamel kept on trying to take away Night Terror's energy and by the way weakening him for the two monks to immobilize him. Natsu also came to help them after Taki quickly made her some bandages for her arm.
-Keep eating Xiba! Then one day, you'll be able to sit on him and keep him immobilized if he comes back! Said the young ninja to her friend before she addressed Night Terror. And you, take this!
Natsu put another sutra on Night Terror's head. This time, even if not immobilizing him, the holy paper slowed him down and weakened him even more. Observing the fight from afar, Taki felt she should stay behind because of her promise. Beside they seemed about to win. Natsu would be fine. She went to Zwei, trying to take care of his iced leg.
As Night Terror was now pinned on the ground, Kilik quickly made some gestures and began purifying him. Since he was already weakened by Zasalamel's spell and Natsu's sutra, Night Terror had difficulties to resist Kilik's power.
-It's time for you to be released. Evil will… perish!
Viola was standing a little further away and was looking with worries at Kilik trying to purify her father with the help of Xiba and Natsu. She didn't dare come closer since she held the orb with the Soul Calibur power in it and feared it could come in contact with him and transform him again. Maybe even if she sent the orb away and came near, the tie linking her to the orb may have some contact with her father… Yet Kilik seemed to know what he was doing since the fire wings slowly extinguished themselves and Raphael seemed to slowly change back to himself again.
Viola suddenly noticed Marienbard who had begun choking in her own blood from her neck wound when Night Terror grabbed her and went to help her. But the wound seemed serious and Viola feared she could not do much. Meanwhile Zasalamel finished creating a third orb then went to see Marienbard and Viola. Putting his hands on his fellow Soul Calibur guardian's neck, he used a spell to help heal her. Marienbard stopped choking and calmed down as she stayed sitting on the ground, taking back her breath while the sorcerer spoke to Viola.
-You must wonder why I helped you now?
Viola gazed at him without a word. Indeed she was wondering.
-Well, technically, as you must already know, it's not for you that I came. But even though it doesn't look so, I appreciate you.
Zasalamel appreciated Viola indeed since she had similar powers to him. That was why he tried to save her with the duke but he also didn't like her to the point of taking her with him. She was still too novice and would only be a problem while dragging her along where Zasalamel had much to do, mostly when she didn't have all her mind.
Viola remembered when he came to make the ritual on her. He seemed cold and distant yet she thought she had noticed some pity in his normal human eye when he looked at her. But it was so short lived that she wasn't certain she saw it. Yet what she knew was that though he made her suffer with that ritual, he didn't hurt her especially to hear her scream in pain like the duke or some other sorcerers the duke previously called, did. He seemed concentrated on the ritual and nothing else. In fact, she only suffered once she had that vision of her father, then all went badly and she became crazy. But he didn't save her either and did that horrible ritual for the duke so she was still distrustful of him… She gazed at him with a distrusful expression. Zasalamel then asked her :
-You saw it as well did you? You saw the future, like me, you saw what it will be, so you know why I wanted to save it. Humans can do great things as much as horrible things but the future… is more hopeful than I had thought before. It's worth fighting and living for it.
But Viola didn't understand : Zasalamel did many evil things and now he wanted to fight for the future? Why? But she didn't ask and said nothing as the sorcerer continued speaking.
-I am sorry for what happpened to you. I can understand your distrust of me and your father's fury. I had come to see you in Walachia because I knew you were gifted with the power of future telling. I had to see some future, the swords's future and see where they would meet to stop the destruction they would cause but alone I could not do it. Those swords were too powerful to allow me to glimpse in their destiny. So with your help, by combining our powers, I could do just that… I made that orb to become some sort of portal to Astral Chaos and see all about the two swords. But since Ostreinsburg was linked to the Astral Chaos plane because of it's high level of energy and you had many worries about your father, we saw his fate before I had time to end the ritual. The fact you saw him in Ostreinsburg connected you with him and your mind began to go away to reach him, somehow mixing within the Soul Edge energy. You would have died if it had continued. I tried to slow down the process and chained your mind and memory to the orb, cutting what I could of the link to Astral Chaos.
Zasalamel continued explaining.
-You felt so familiar with your orb since a part of your mind was inside. What would have been no more than a tool for seeing the future became a part of you. But since it was a portal to Astral Chaos, each time Nightmare used his power, it drained you some more. Mostly as you got near him and when he used most of his power in the fight. Nightmare began to drain more and more power since he was becoming more powerful, draining you even faster by the way. When Soul Edge connected violently with the orb that was full of Soul Edge energy as well, the power was too much and it exploded, sending the Soul Edge energy back to Nightmare but your memory was freed, now separated from it and went back to you. Now you have your memory and your future telling power as well. The orb helped you see the future better but you can without it anyway. You have a great gift Viola. Use it well.
-It doesn't work for people I love.
-Train more and you'll be able to. But maybe you don't really want to. Think about it. To know the future you also have to know yourself.
Zasalamel then made some gesture and the crystal ice parts covering Viola began to melt into some mist, absorbed by one of the orbs. Viola gazed at him with surprise.
-… Merci.
Zasalamel outlined a smile.
-My pleasure.
Then Ivy and Maxi arrived. Maxi ran to Kilik and the others. Noticing the orbs Viola had, Ivy said :
-What is… ? They are not clashing together but becoming many incomplete and powerless orbs… I cannot destroy them like this! They had to be in Astral Chaos and clash together at their full power! They would both confront each other in Astral Chaos thus destroying each other since they had to be in their own world to be destroyed!
Taki came to her.
-The clash would even destroy the Astral Chaos world… Better that they are sealed. Separately.
Ivy gazed at Taki with scorn. She didn't seem to like the ninja very much. Taki knew of her dark past serving Nightmare and she was the one who told her who her true father was so Ivy didn't enjoy beeing around her.
-Humpf! But they will come back. If they were destroyed, they would not…
-You would destroy a world for your own needs? Like father…
Ivy sharply interrupted as Taki began to mention her father.
-Not my own needs. To save this world.
-I cannot accept that you sacrifice one world for another. There are many innocent souls in Astral Chaos. You can save our world without destroying the other. You know about Astral Chaos. Can you help us to close the gate once the swords are sealed?
Ivy took some time before she coldly answered.
-Fine. I shall destroy those swords once they come back. Since they will.
Ivy emphasized on the last sentence to make the others feel like they did not do what they should. But Taki politely bowed her head to her while outlining a smile.
-Arigato.
Zasalamel came to them.
-As guardians of Soul Calibur, we shall take the remains of the Soul Swords.
But Taki confronted him.
-Each one of us will keep a part of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur. I sealed a part of Soul Calibur, you made three orbs, one for you, one for your friend and one for Viola, Kilik sealed the Soul Edge energy from Raphael and the rest shall be in a Soul Embrace in Astral Chaos. That way they won't merge again.
Zasalamel looked at Taki with a cold gaze. How dare this woman told him what to do? For a moment, Zasalamel considered opposing her, but he knew Kilik, Natsu, Xiba, Viola, Ivy, all of them would oppose him. Even Marienbard would probably since he wanted to use Soul Calibur and Soul Edge and the tribe forbade the use of the swords. Though he didn't fear his comrade guardian, she was among the weakest here but all of them together would give him some troubles… He was somehow frustrated to not be able to take all the pieces of the swords to do his will. Even if the future seemed bright, he wanted to have some control over that future and those swords would have helped…
Zasalamel sighed in annoyance. But he told himself that he had eternity to grab the rest of the swords… He took notes of who had some piece and said:
-Fine. It shall be as you said.
Hearing the way the parts were shared, Ivy was also annoyed to have none but it was true that she didn't do anything in fact… Beside even if she trusted herself more to take care of the swords, she knew Taki and Kilik could be reliable. As for Zasalamel, Marienbard and Viola… But whatever.
Viola didn't really want to keep that orb but she thought that if she told them now, maybe Zasalamel would take it and she didn't really trust him either. So she kept her mouth shut, mostly caught up by her father's state. Raphael seemed to look normal now yet very tired. Kilik had finished purifying Raphael and the half conscious vampire weakly thanked him before he turned his head around in worry.
-Amy?
Viola still feared going toward him since she had that annoying orb. But Kilik gestured for her to come like if there was no danger. So Viola smiled and went to her father. As she went to him, Kilik left them and went to take care of Zwei and Siegfried's crystal ice since even if she knew much, Taki didn't know how to take care of it. Siegfried was still unconscious while Zwei was conscious and fine despite his wounds but with his crystal leg, he could not move very much and it was annoying. While both the swords were still weak, Taki came to seal the powerless Soul swords together in the Soul Embrace with the help of Ivy's knowledge and Zasalamel's magic. Then they sent the Soul Embraced swords in Astral Chaos and Kilik closed the portal before he said:
-So now some of us have pieces of the Soul swords. We must keep them and ensure that they never merge together again.
Crossing her arms, Ivy rolled her eyes. That will never happen… Looking at those keeping some part of the swords, Ivy suddenly noticed that Taki was gone. Her protegée, Natsu, was gone as well.
-Humpf! Always leaving so rudely…
Zasalamel then said:
-Now that it is done, we shall go as well.
And invoking some portal, Zasalamel went away with Marienbard.
Kilik went to Raphael and told him:
-The portal is closed. You don't have to fear being possessed now.
Raphael was still under the shock of all this and only nodded. He didn't notice all the people who just left. Kilik addressed Viola.
-And Viola, your orb is sealed, there is no danger that the energy inside will cause trouble. Unless it is broken once more by one of the Soul swords… Any of the Soul swords since even if there is more Soul Calibur energy in it, there is also some Soul Edge energy that got absorbed. Both powers neutralize the other like a Soul Embrace as well.
Before Viola could tell him that she wasn't sure she wanted that orb, Kilik went to see Xiba. He had felt Xiba's chi and knew that even if the young monk tried to hide it, his back was wounded so he had to take care of him. As Kilik was taking care of his son, Zwei went beside Siegfried who began to regain consciousness. Ivy then said:
-Well, then I shall just go back home.
Maxi went to her and told her:
-Arigato, Ivy, you did much for us. You don't want to stay and celebrate or something? I bet people will celebrate this victory…
-No, thank you. Give my regards to the others.
And she turned and went away, swaying her hips in a sexy way but still frustrated by her spoiled plan. Maxi then went back to see Kilik and Xiba. Siegfried and Zwei went to see Raphael and Viola. As Raphael and Siegfried began to talk about a truce and some meeting, Viola and Zwei both wondered where Patroklos was. But both agreed that they didn't really care so they continued listening to the older men's conversation.
Then Raphael and Siegfried decided to organize a meeting between the leaders. They sent messengers to get all the rebel leaders to the small village where Hilde already was so that she would not have to move in her bad state. Siegfried and Raphael were both in a very bad state as well but the village seemed a good place to meet. Raphael didn't follow the Schwarzwind who went there already, he called some of his malfested soldiers to accompany him in a delegation, his remaining elite. After much pleading, Viola succeeded to accompany him with Zwei since she feared for him.
As the Holy Roman Empire delegation under Graf Dumas's command had been welcomed and waited in the biggest room of the biggest house for the meeting while the other leaders were about to come and Siegfried and Hilde were still at the infirmary, getting noticed by Viola and Zwei that Raphael's delegation arrived, Murk, who was with his leader, asked him:
-My lord, I don't want to annoy you but why have you surrendered?
-I have not surrendered. I am trying to get better living condition for all of us. And to purify those of you who can be. I shall try to get acceptance for the others.
Seeing the worried or sceptical faces of some of his men, Raphael added with an assured smile.
-Do not worry. I already have friends among the rebel leaders and I succeeded to get that far with the Emperor. I can get us better living conditions.
Murk told him once more:
-But you already had a nice position with the Emperor. Now he'll know you are a malfested and all will be lost.
-I don't think the battle we just had can be hidden from him.
Thanks to that stupid Soul Edge, thought Raphael before he continued.
-We would have to kill every enemy soldier to have no more witnesses.
-We could have, said Odor who still had some murderous instinct in him.
Raphael wondered if he did well to bring that man to this meeting. He had reassembled all his elite soldiers but some were less peaceful than others, having some difficulties to hide their violent demeanour… And most seemed distrustful of humans. But they were his elite and it was better fitting that he brought them… Maybe even mostly those not normally accepted like Odor. He had to include them. He answered his more violent bodyguard.
-We could have won but even if we had tried, we would never have been able to kill them all. The Emperor would have discovered I was a malfested anyway. So I shall try to make a good deal with the rebel leaders. They also have some people who can purify many of you, a chance you didn't have before. You could have a normal life again.
Murk said on a pessimistic tone.
-They will burn us all.
-Non. Have faith in me.
Raphael hoped the rebel leaders would want to discuss. He knew Hilde and Siegfried would try to protect them and convince the rebel leaders but if those didn't accept his peace offer, the small armies of Hilde and Siegfried would not be able to do much… Rudolf will indeed abandon him and all will be lost…
-I want you all to be at your best behaviour. Show them malfested can act in a civilized way as well. Your behaviour will be of great importance for this conflict's settlement.
Yeah, we'll smile while going to the stake… thought Murk who really thought this was useless. Raphael noticed Murk's smirk but ignored it.
Then Viola came back with Zwei. Murk looked at Zwei with an air saying: You're a traitor… He thought that somehow, even if Graf Dumas hated him, Zwei found a way to deceive his leader and they were now all going to be executed thanks to this traitor. After he quickly spotted Murk, Zwei didn't look in his direction. He thought that to try to convince him was futile, what will happen now will probably convince him better. Yet Zwei was also nervous like Raphael, he knew how people hated malfested. Viola then said to Raphael:
-The rebel leaders have arrived, Graf Dumas.
As she spoke to their leader, some of the malfested soldiers looked at her: they still wondered who she was to Graf Dumas. Graf Dumas smiled to his daughter and told his men:
-Please, leave the room. Viola and Zwei will present you those who will purify you. You can ask them some questions and remember, you are not forced to be purified.
As the soldiers followed Viola and Zwei outside the room, Murk asked his former comrade:
-Why aren't you getting purified?
-Because I can't be. I'm born like this. answered Zwei.
-So?
-Those born with the taint cannot be purified. But those who got malfested later in life, like you, since you said it was in Osthreinsburg, can be.
Murk gazed at him once more with a look of suspiscion before he asked, looking at Viola:
-And your friend?
-She's born like this as well.
In fact Zwei knew she wasn't but he would not explain everything and all of Viola's story. Talim will probably explain their state better to the malfested.
-But, if you can't turn back human, what will you do? continued Murk.
-We have friends. I told you some people still accept us.
Murk looked at him and didn't say anything more. He was thoughtful and seemed less distrustful.
Then Talim came. She greeted the soldiers and asked:
-So, do you want to be purified?
All the soldiers kept silent.
-You… don't want to?
Murk told her:
-In fact, miss… We don't trust you.
-Ah. Well somehow it's good that you have been frank with me. It shows some kind of trust anyway. But I have already purified some of your friends. Follow me. Some wounded malfested soldiers had been taken to the infirmary were we gave them some cares and I purified them. Well the wind purified them.
-Not now. We can't follow you. Not until we know how the meeting went with our lord. We must stay with him.
-Okay fine. I'll be back later then. And don't worry, everything will be fine. The wind is gentle with all of nature's children.
And Talim left to take care of other wounded or malfested. She didn't want to push the malfested and make them feel like they were forced and some kind of prisonners. She wanted them to be purified when they would be ready for it.
After a while, the rebel representatives all arrived. Viola and Zwei were waiting outside the house with the meeting since they were not leaders and could see all the rebels leaders coming inside. Among them was the Duke of Walachia, Radu X Serban. He warmly smiled to them before entering the house. They knew he was not hostile toward malfested and they appreciated it. As he entered the room, the duke saluted Graf Dumas who was sitting on a chair but despite the fact that he was trying to look polite, his greeting was somewhat cold like all the other rebel leaders and Raphael felt it. But the vampire didn't really care about it since as long as Duke Radu and the others listened to what he would say and agreed with his conditions, what they thought about him was not important.
Raphael was embarrassed to speak in front of them all but at least he knew Hilde and Siegfried would be on his side. Duke Radu kept observing him without a word and Raphael felt even more embarrassed. He wondered if the duke recognized him as the Vampire or if he only stared at him for no particular reason but the normal Graf Dumas hate. At least, that man didn't know about his tie to Viola. Raphael did not want to destroy the good relations Viola may have with him. Yet maybe he heard about that white haired woman that Graf Dumas was searching for… But whatever.
-Let us get to the point fast. said Graf Dumas who did not want to be impolite but there were priorities over etiquette right now. This situation he put them all through…
-… I must clear your names… I'm the one responsible…
-It was not your fault, it was Soul Edge. Said Hilde as she tried to reassure him and show she was forgiving Graf Dumas in front of the others to make them realize that Graf Dumas was a victim as well.
Before the meeting, they were told Graf Dumas had been malfested once he came to Hungary so that was why he was acting so evilly. But he was as much a victim as all those infected aristocrats at court, as much as all his soldiers. To Raphael's relief, the leaders all nodded in agreement when Hilde spoke. Of course some may not mean it, but it gave some relief anyway to Raphael as he was also blaming himself for everything. Come to think of it Hilde was right; he was not completely at fault… Whatever. He had to sign the peace treaty and the letter absolving Hilde, Siegfried and the rebels of their rebellion.
-But I have much to repair… I shall write the Emperor a letter to explain all and make him see you as you were… on the good side. I shall ask for forgiveness and all… But first, the peace treaty… I also have some demands: I want my malfested to be protected or purified.
-Of course, agreed Hilde once more while smiling at her friend. Raphael was really glad she was here. To imagine himself speaking with only the other leaders that he didn't know or only met as he was Graf Dumas would have been really embarrassing. Siegfried was also in the room but feeling not quite well and being the least important leader of the group, he was mostly standing at the back. Yet Raphael knew that even if silent, his friend was also supporting him. Raphael also knew many malfested would flee from purification, not knowing if it would hurt them and not trusting humans. But he hoped that with his peace treaty, some would accept and get healed. And that those not purified would be treated in a better way. Though humans being what they were, would probably not accept them for the most part… They can't even accept the other humans… But he did intend on writing and asking the Emperor to make some decree about it, if Rudolf still considered him as a friend…
All the rebel leaders agreed on helping the malfested who wished to be purified and not hurt the others unless, like for any human, they commited some crime. So the treaty was signed and the rebel leaders went out of the tent for a while to let Graf Dumas compose his many letters to rehabilitate them. Not feeling well, Siegfried left to go rest and only Hilde stayed inside. She told Raphael as he was writing:
-I am so glad to have you back, Raphael. When you disappeared, we searched for you all over…
Raphael noticed Hilde was looking quite happy to see him. He was also happy to see her and smiled at her before he said:
-I left because I felt… I was scared to transform into Nightmare in the fortress and hurt you all. Tira would have hurt you as well.
-You know Siegfried would have understood your Nightmare problem…
-I felt it was my fight. I had to do it alone and not put you in it.
-Just like Siegfried… said Hilde with a sad smile.
As he was writing, Raphael suddenly asked the princess:
-Do you have news of my brother? Claude, le comte de Sorel?
-Your brother? Asked Hilde a little surprised. But seeing Raphael lower his eyes made her understand who accused Claude…
-I am not fully informed on France's affairs but I think he is still in prison. Answered the Wolfkrone princess on a normal tone, not wanting to make Raphael feel too bad yet telling him the truth.
-Then I shall write a letter for him as well… ordering my minion in France, le Duc de Blois to get him free. Please, can you save the minion after he convinced the king to let go of my brother? I have not made many minions in France since I haven't gone there… I met the Duc during a party in Hungary… I shall make a list of all the minions I remember I made… to give Kilik and Talim some work… I'm sorry… And if my brother is not freed, I can exchange myself for Claude's freedom… After all, I am the real criminal.
-Nein, I won't give you to any justice. You are my friend, Raphael. And it was not your fault…
Raphael seemed really embarrassed about what he did but he continued to write the letters that he thought could please the Emperor and make Hilde, the Schwarzwind and the rebels look good in front of him. In his confessing letter to the Emperor, he admitted that he got malfested but while in Hungary. The Emperor may be sad to know he was manipulated since the start and since he thought Graf Dumas looked sick during his last visit, Raphael could explain it on his newly undergone malfestation. So the Emperor will think that Graf Dumas was a true friend and loyal subject until he got malfested and turned evil in Hungary. That he didn't just use him before he became malfested… With all the malfested around, it was easy to believe Graf Dumas became one as well… But he did not want to go back at court as Graf Dumas. Too many enemies, too many intrigues… The kind of life he hated and was glad to have fled from in France… He would not return to this… and it would be even worst since many would not forgive his crimes… He thought that Graf Dumas had to die… And since he was very weak and still had much blood on his clothes and a battered armour, missing some pieces, the dead part may be quite believable for those who have seen him… Even writing those letters was taking all his energy away and while he stopped for a moment, Hilde asked him:
-Are you okay?
Raphael wanted to say that he was but he was feeling so bad…
-Non…
As Hilde worried for him, he continued.
-But I have almost finished the letters…
-Take some rest…
-I want to get this over with…
Then Viola came inside. Since the leaders had left, she thought she could come now. She was worried outside but now seeing her father, looking even paler than normally and looking exhausted, she worried even more and asked him as she quickly came to him:
-Papa, are you feeling well?
Raphael weakly smiled at her.
-Now that I see you, yes…
Yet he was still feeling very weak and sometimes later, the soldiers saw Graf Dumas getting out of the house, on a stretcher, unconscious. One of the soldiers standing outside, said:
-Graf Dumas is dead!
Another exclaimed:
-He is dead! Graf Dumas is dead!
The Graf is dead! The Graf is dead! Graf Dumas is dead!
The word began to spread very quickly among the soldiers from all sides of the conflict.
Not long after, Raphael awoke in a bedcamp, in some tent… Where was he?
-Oh you're awake papa!
Startled by the sudden voice, Raphael turned his head and noticed Viola was by his side. Sitting in a chair, she had been watching over him while reading a book. She smiled at him.
-Are you feeling better?
-Yes. But, hum… I'm thirsty… said Raphael on an embarrassed tone.
-That's okay. We have some here. With the wounds you had, it's not surprising you need some.
Viola got up, went to a table and took some bottle that she handed him. Raphael took it, he knew what was in it and he took a sip of the red liquid before he told his daughter:
-Merci Amy. But I don't feel I'm much wounded, I mostly feel tired… You should take my place, you have received quite some hits… Some by me…
Raphael got up and offered his bedcamp to Viola. He thought Soul Edge seemed to have healed him but with all that happened he was exhausted yet he looked better than Viola. And she deserved the bed.
-Non merci papa, I have a chair. Said Viola as she showed her chair. You should take it back. You are tired and you did look very tired also when you signed the treaty, people all thought you were dead when you left the house while unconscious.
-People think I'm dead? Said Raphael as he looked for a chair to sit on.
-Yes. As you had wished. Princesse Hildegarde ordered that you were discreetly taken away so that it remains so.
-But… I wanted to finish with what I had to do first… I did not want to die that fast… I signed the treaty, now… what will happen? I don't like to leave things unfinished.
-I know. And there is something we didn't finish…
And Viola went to him and hugged him.
-Oh papa, I am so happy to see you… I missed you so much…
Viola remembered how she missed him when she was searching for him, looking all around Walachia, how she missed him when she was captive by the Duke of Walachia. She had lived many hardships but nothing had been harder than his absence, the fact that he was captured somewhere and that she could do nothing for him and that horrible vision when she saw him being tortured. Somehow even if she didn't know what she was missing, she felt that even when she had amnesia, she missed him. She began to cry. Raphael didn't like to hear her cry and hugged her while kissing her on the cheek.
-I missed you so much, ma chérie…
After a while in her father's arms, Viola calmed herself and asked him:
-Sit down, father. You are still weak. The purification weakened you.
-But if I have been purified, why am I still a vampire? I have been purified from Night Terror but why have I not been purified more? I don't want to sound ungrateful but… why?
-Well, Kilik purified you from Night Terror… But he could not do more… You were dying if he was purifying you…
-Ah.
Somehow Raphael had the feeling he would stay like this so he didn't ask more about him and wondered about his beloved daughter.
-And you? He could not… ? Because you were a child when you got infected, right? I saw it somewhere.
-Yes. Many malfested grew up with Soul Edge. Those will never be able to be purified. But don't worry about me, papa. I don't feel bad being malfested. I don't care. I'm not alone…
Raphael suddenly noticed the orb by Viola's side.
-And what is that? Another orb?
-Yes… It's some part of the Spirit sword and a bit of Soul Edge.
-And why are you stuck with that? It's dangerous!
-Somehow the swords have been separated and we divided some parts between some of us.
Raphael now looked apprehensive and worried for his daughter.
-I don't like this.
-Papa, I don't care to have that. said Viola trying to reassure him.
-It will put you in danger. Not only with people wanting it but also with the orb itself.
-Maybe but… It was decided.
-Who decided that? Dieu? I want to see Kilik or Talim and ask them to get rid of that for you.
-Non papa. At first, I was scared and annoyed by it but now I want to keep it. I know I can keep it safe.
Raphael gazed with some worry at the orb before he sighed.
-Very well. But those things… If it's too much, ask Talim or Kilik to get rid of it.
Viola nodded. Zwei told her about the same thing. But she knew she could take care of it. Raphael then asked:
-And my troops? What happened to them?
-Many things… When Hilde's soldiers got you out of the house to bring you to the infirmary, somehow someone said you were dead and everybody now believes it. But since your elite thought you were dead, some became distrustful toward us so they didn't want to be purified anymore.
-So I'm really dead to my troops? I still can't believe it…
-Yes. To your troops, to the rebel troops, to everyone except your close friends. But if you wish to tell some of your trusty soldiers about your state, you can… But you better not let everyone know…
-Non… It is not I, who is dead, but Graf Dumas. And this, I really think is for the best. Or else in the best case, I would have to go back at court and continue being the Emperor's favorite while some aristocrats would hate me and always try to discredit me and in the worst case, those aristocrats would have already convinced the Emperor to get rid of me and execution would await me in Prague. Graf Dumas is better dead. And I don't know which of my soldiers is loyal enough to not denounce me… There must be some but I don't really know for certain. But with their leader now dead, they did not accept to be purified?
-In fact Princesse Hildegarde wondered if she should tell them you were alive since she wanted to hide you from justice. She didn't want to denounce you so she and some others tried to persuade them otherwise. When they noticed some of them who had been wounded and brought to the infirmary had been purified, the others saw it worked and many accepted then. Beside the point was to purify them, the fact that Graf Dumas was alive would help but it could be done without it… Talim and Kilik are still taking care of them. But some have fled though…
-Like me… It seems I cannot leave a place without fleeing and hiding… Rouen, Toulouse, Walachia, now Prague and Hungary…
-Siegfried said you were welcome in the Schwarzwind fortress…
-That is very kind of him…
-Yes. And we will be together again, said Viola as she hugged him.
-Yes… That is all that matters. I love you Amy. Replied Raphael as he hugged her back while smiling in relief. What did he cared about anything else? He now had his beloved daughter by his side.
Then after a moment, Siegfried came.
-Hi, Raphael. So do you feel better?
-Yes, I feel better. And you?
Raphael noticed that Siegfried had many bandages on his wounds and remembered how they found him in a pool of blood, lots of blood… Suddenly feeling some urge at the thought of blood, he quickly took a sip of his blood bottle. Siegfried continued speaking.
-Good. And I feel fine as well.
-So, you invited me to stay at your fortress? It is very kind of you… After all I…
Raphael sighed.
-… I gave you much trouble…
-Yes, you gave us much trouble finding you… But I'm glad we did now. I'll be happy if you accept to come at the fortress.
-You forgive me after all I have done?
-I was Nightmare. I understand what you lived. But… may I ask you what happened exactly? How come you were Nightmare? Why did you ask me questions about my experience as Nightmare just before you left? You knew you would become Nightmare?
-Tira had abducted me for this reason… She said I had some Soul Edge energy in me that she wanted to use for bringing back Nightmare. All her tortures for all those years had been specifically for this. I escaped before I was changed… But… I didn't dare tell you since I was afraid of your reaction and I thought I could get away from her… I thought I could escape that fate. Until all changed and I had to act fast.
-Why would you be afraid of my reaction? I was Nightmare, I would not have condemn you! Beside I see you as a brother!
-Well, you didn't want me to get out of the fortress… I thought you would lock me even more if you knew… Beside I was already feeling some troubles inside of me, I had to act fast! You would have wanted to keep me safe while I was maybe turning into a monster and I didn't know if I would hurt you and everyone inside or Tira would have come and kill you all!
Feeling that Raphael was getting all troubled, Siegfried sighed.
-It's done. It's over. No need to talk about it, about all that could have been done or not. I'm glad to see you are fine now. You went through a lot. And getting rid of Nightmare is hard, I know… But I think you have the will to resist your urges, you don't have to be locked.
Yet this time, Raphael didn't have that much faith in his abilities anymore…
Some days later, in an inn on the way to Venice, three people were sitting at a table. They just heard news about the battle. They learnt that Graf Dumas was Nightmare and that he had just been killed. Dampierre was somehow regretful of not having stayed to help Raphael yet Raphael was trying to kill them… and he was not Raphael but Nightmare… What really happened to his friend so that he became Nightmare? But neither Dampierre, Gisele or Alphard knew what to say about this astounding news. Then Gisele broke the silence;
-Hum… So, huh… Hum…
Alphard nodded as if he understood what she meant while Dampierre sighed. He was mourning his friend Raphael but they were also all under the shock of having worked for Nightmare. And being on the losing side. And that really meant they had to flee as fast as possible to Venice and not stay around here for now… Even if Hilde believed him, the truth about the elephants and all may be unfolded soon…
After most of the malfested army had been purified, Siegfried, Hilde and their followers went back to Germany. The trip went well for Raphael who made himself discreet, no one recognized him as Graf Dumas and he was getting along with most of the people from the group who knew him like Siegfried, Hilde, Salia, though he was still a little embarrassed talking with Zwei. He still didn't know how he felt toward him. Talim left for France where she would take care of the Duc de Blois who accused Claude. She would purify him and ask him to free the count of Sorel. Kilik went back in Germany as well to purify the people Raphael remembered to have malfested. But during the trip, Raphael asked him:
-My daughter told me you could not purify me completely because I would die. Why?
-I won't lie to you. Yes, you would have died if I had completely purified you. I understood this as you kept getting weaker when I purified you from Night Terror. With all that happened to you, your body now only relies on Soul Edge to live; you can't live on your own. Apparently you must have died maybe when Soul Calibur pierced you… and infected you with its ice… Somehow Soul Edge saved you when you grabbed it… Giving you its energy to sustain you.
-So I really died?
-I'm not certain. Maybe.
After a moment, Kilik continued.
-It may also be the fact that you had a missing soul part since a while and it permitted the Soul Edge energy to invade you. You know, that part you were already missing when we purified you the first time? The reason your reflection was slightly transparent when you looked at yourself in the mirror? Well technically somehow the Soul Edge part took the place of your missing soul part and became part of you… Maybe when you became Nightmare… So I cannot really purify you since it would be purifying you from yourself… And I think the part of Soul Edge that invaded it revived you by holding your soul together or else it would have been ripped apart by Soul Calibur since it was already damaged.
-Are you saying I am stuck as Nightmare partly? …Forever?
-Not really. You have a part of Soul Edge but you are not Nightmare. Yet its evil will always threaten you…
The gaze Raphael gave Kilik embarrassed the monk. Part dismayed, part questioning…
-Its evil… You mean the bloodlust or some impulse to kill and make suffer? Or both?
-A bit of all of this. Well maybe not, I'm not certain. But you will have to fight it yourself… You are still yourself. You will only feel those urges sometimes, more often than before, maybe more stronger as well. You will have to control your inner demons… But it can be done, don't despair. You have control of your soul. You just have to concentrate on it.
-But does it means that Soul Edge could still have control over me?
-I don't know. But I know you have much will, Raphael. Like I told you seventeen years ago, if you use that strong will to fight the evil, I have faith you'll be able to do so.
-So I shall never become human again?
-One thing is certain in this world is that we are certain of nothing. I think that slowly, maybe the Soul Edge part could be purified by your will and become completely part of you. Then you could be purified. But I think it may take many years, if it's possible. If you wish, I can help you train your spirit so that you would be able to control your blood urges and other evil instincts. But to know victory, you must train your mind.
-Hum.
And Raphael left Kilik. He was thoughtful. Viola was stuck with an orb, he was stuck with Soul Edge essence…
After many days, Hilde and Siegfried went to Prague while Raphael and the Schwarzwind continued to the fortress.
Some days later, Siegfried came back. He went to see Raphael who was playing the Jeu de Paume with Viola, Zwei and Aeon who was also hiding in the fortress.
-I just came back from Prague where Hilde saw the Emperor and gave him your letters.
Siegfried then lowered his head.
-The Emperor was really sad to know about your 'passing' when Hilde told him… But thanks to your letters, you washed all accusations on her, me and many other people. Thanks also to Ivy's help and support so that Hilde could get that meeting with the Emperor…
Siegfried now seemed excited.
-But you even put such great words about Hilde in your letter that you convinced the Emperor to give her some lands! He granted her lands in memory of you since apparently the Emperor thought you were in love with Hilde…
Raphael made an embarrassed expression as Viola and the others chuckled at the idea. Noticing Raphael's face changing, Siegfried asked with a little suspicious tone but not a too serious one:
-Why did he thought that? You don't really love Hilde, don't you?
-Non, of course! Well, I like her as a friend but not as a lover… But Rudolf kept trying to match me with her since because I always avoided meeting with her as Graf Dumas since I didn't want her to recognize me, well, Soul Edge didn't want to, if she had, I may have been saved sooner… But because I avoided her, he thought I was in love with her and too shy to meet her… And he must have realized that when I accused her it was when I 'became' malfested so maybe he thought I wanted to make her pay for refusing my love or something… But I'm glad he gave her some lands…
-And I'm glad to know you're not after my beloved Hilde. Answered Siegfried with a smile before he continued. Beside you did help me with my relation with her. You were already gone when I told her I love her but it worked well and now I would like to invite you to my wedding.
-Already? Well, what did I tell you? She loves you! Félicitations!
-Danke… I should have listened to your advice sooner.
-Where will you marry?
-All Saints' Church in Wittenberg. It's near where Hilde has been granted some lands.
-… That is great for her and that is very kind of you but I am not certain that I can come. Even if I'm supposedly dead, I'm Graf Dumas, a renowned enemy. People will recognize me. Mostly the Emperor if he comes. Hilde is a princess, it will be no obscure wedding.
-The Emperor won't come. He's still depressed about your death. He's really sad about it. He really liked you and had great esteem of you. But somehow the fact that you, Graf Dumas, became malfested, changed his view on all malfested. He realized that anyone can become one, even close friends. So it did change something in the general attitude of the people… Not much but since the Emperor accepts more malfestation, some accept it as well. He was moved when Hilde brought him the letter you wrote to him asking for forgiveness since you had been malfested and to forgive the rebels since they were revolting for a just cause and he cried when he learned that you were dead. I think he still considered you his friend.
After a while, Raphael said:
-That's sad… He was kind with me… Though I don't remember very clearly all the times I was with him since Soul Edge was almost always in control… But I still have some memories anyway…
Raphael seemed thoughtful. He still wondered if it was good that he was now dead to the Emperor. But he then thought about all the jealousy, the hypocrisy, the scheming and betrayal that existed among aristocrats. He didn't want that life… After a while, he said:
-But I still think that if you don't want to have problems, you should not invite me… Even if not the Emperor, many dignitaries will come and recognize me…
-You always wore a mask as the Graf, right? I don't think it was for nothing.
-Yes… But it was not the best of mask… But… you do really wish for me to be there?
-Yes. Like I said, you're my friend. Beside, you could dye your hair, grow a beard or something.
-Hum. Yes. Maybe.
Raphael still seemed worried.
-Yes, but since I was Nightmare… To go into a church… after that…
Siegfried interrupted him.
-I was Nightmare too and I'm getting married… If people want to lapidate you then they'll stone us together. If God wants to blast us with thunderbolt, we'll be together.
-Hum… How amusing… and reassuring…
-You don't seem too convinced…
-Well… I… Hum… The church is… I do not feel too comfortable in that place…
-I don't either but… I'll go anyway. So you should fear as much as me to come inside. And since I'm going, you should.
-Well, you are the one getting married…
Viola grabbed her father's arm.
-Papa… Jesus is forgiving…
Raphael turned to Viola.
-If you want me to go, I shall go…
-Danke Viola. Said Siegfried to the white haired girl. She only had to speak…
And satisfied of Raphael's answer, Siegfried left, leaving Raphael to his game once more.
Later that night, Raphael and Viola were lying down in the grass as crickets were making their usual chant and frogs in the distance were croaking. Zwei was somewhere in the wood but Viola didn't know where. He had left them alone for a while to permit them to share their good memories so he went away in some trip in the wood like he sometimes did before. As much as Viola, he enjoyed solitude.
-You know father… For so long I wanted to get my memory back but I was afraid of the bad memories… so I think I resisted because I was scared… and of course, because of Soul Edge. But now that I remember, I have so many good memories with you!
And she leaned her head on his shoulder. Raphael sighed in happiness and leaned his head on hers. All that happened lately scarred him but to know Amy loved him again was such a balm on his wounds… Amy had also lived much things and he wanted to comfort her as best he could and catch up with all those years lost… Viola continued speaking yet she now had a sad tone.
-But those memories… where we gazed at the sky…
Viola was sad her father could not enjoy the sun as he loved so much to do before. But Raphael turned to her and told her:
-Don't worry Amy. It is quite enjoyable even at night to lie down and stare at the sky. We had much fun gazing at the blue sky, the white clouds and everything… But it is also extremely enjoyable to gaze at the stars together… I'm so happy… The stars and the moon are beautiful and the crickets are relaxing. And, most important of all, I am with you.
He gave her a bright smile. Viola smiled back and took his hand.
-I prefer in fact gazing at the moon and stars than at the sun, papa. I'm glad you like this as well.
-Of course I do. I love you Amy. I am proud of what you have become, my beloved daughter. By the way, do you want me to stop calling you Amy? If you choose Viola as a name because you prefer it, I'll respect your decision.
After a moment he added :
-If I remember correctly, didn't you have a doll named Viola?
Viola smiled.
-Yes, I did…
-The one with the curly brown hair and the blue and white dress? She had a dog if I remember correctly…
-Yes… You do remember!
Raphael smiled.
-But the dog's name was not Pico…
Viola chuckled.
-No, not this one…
After a while, thinking about that enjoyable past, she asked her father:
-You remember the voice you were taking when speaking as my dolls?
Raphael blushed but suddenly took on a girly voice.
-That one?
-Oh yes! You still have it!
-Well I had to. I was playing Marie-Ange and Adélaïde. I had to speak with a more girly voice. continued Raphael with his girly voice.
-Yes, and it was funny. And merci for all those efforts you made for me.
Raphael took back his normal voice.
-That was no effort. I liked to play with you. It was relaxing… When I adopted you, I swore to do everything to make you happy. Playing dolls was among it.
After a silence, Raphael spoke again.
-Amy… Euh, Viola…
Viola turned her head to him waiting for what he would say.
-You have aged…
Viola let out a small chuckle. Her father only noticed now? He really was a father, seeing her as his little girl for so long! Gazing at her, Raphael thought: My little girl… She is now a woman… a very beautiful woman… Raphael finally accepted this fact that he somehow inconsciously always refused to see: Amy aged… and he strangely didn't. They were now looking almost the same age, yet maybe Viola looked younger than her thirty-one years like he did… She takes it from her father… He liked to think those things when his daughter was like him for some things and smiled. He was suddenly so relaxed… Nothing else existed anymore, only him and his daughter…
-Yes, I did.
-But I didn't… Do you think it is because I am a vampire?
-Euh… I don't know. Maybe not because of the vampire part but the Soul Edge part. Comtesse Valentine has not aged and she is not a vampire…
-Indeed… But if it's Soul Edge, why did you aged? And if Comtesse Valentine was born with Soul Edge essence, how come she only stopped aging now? Shouldn't she have stop sooner? As a baby?
-Soul Edge is chaos, papa. Different effects on everyone.
-Indeed. Maybe I don't age now but I will suddenly age later. Maybe you will stop aging in one year…
Raphael then wondered if he would die one day abruptly or really live many centuries if not killed by anyone… Which he will probably be… But if it didn't change, he will see his beloved daughter die of old age… And that will be hard to take… and the vampire solution that came to his mind for a slight second may not be the right one… He didn't want his daughter to become a minion, to live with blood urges and all… He was glad she was free from that now. The real problem was the fact she would probably die before him…
-Do you think all vampires don't age?
-I don't know. Apart from you, we don't have much vampires we can compare on… Most have been purified or killed…
-Indeed.
-I would say since Soul Edge is chaos again, that it depends on the vampire.
-That's not really reliable.
-Non.
And Raphael continued gazing at the stars without a word.
Maybe I gave lame explanations for everything involving magic… But I'm not good with magical things.
