From the West, Kakariko Village was the only way into the Hyrule Kingdom. It was a quiet place, Talim decided as she, Mina, and Yunsung entered the village. The village used to house an old thieves hideout, but things like that almost never happened in this village anymore.
Almost.
When they passed the village pub, Yunsung suggested that they go inside and take a break. It was a cheerful place. Everybody knew everybody, and even if they didn't, they still talked to you like they were your best friend. The man behind the counter was your typical bartender. Short. Fat. Bald. Toothless smile. Talim, who had never tasted an alcoholic beverage before, drank very cautious amounts of select liquids from the man's storage. He gave her free meals and drinks, but when the man found out she was married already, that was the end of his generosity. She didn't mean to offend him, and was on the verge of apologizing when she found him already sucking up to a new young beauty.
"I'm going to explore the village for a little while," Talim said after about an hour in the bar.
"Okay," said Mina. "There's a fight at the village square that Yunsung wants to see."
"Why don't we meet back here in an hour?" Yunsung said.
"Okay," Talim said.
--------------------
If you went north of the village, there was a small library that held many different historical books, language translation guides (including The Book of Mudora), and a special section of literature written by the village townsfolk. To the West were two Elven swordsmiths. Upon seeing Talim's Soul Calibur, they instantly wanted to study it and learn what they were made of, which was interesting, because even Talim didn't know where they came from, and hadn't even given it thought until now. But Talim's favorite area was to the south of Kakariko Village.
About two years ago, a boy would always sit on a tree stump in the middle of a clearing of a small forest south of the village. He would always play for children, animals... anyone who would listen. But then one day, the boy disappeared and was believed dead. But then, when the evil wizard, Ganondorf, was defeated, and the Tri-Force reclaimed, the boy was back, playing songs for the children as if he had never been gone.
Talim loved listening to his music. In the Village of the Wind Deity, the villagers liked to play flutes at special gatherings, such as birthdays or anniversaries. The boy's music reminded her of home, and she sat and listed for half an hour to his wonderful playing. But, sadly, it was time to go. Talim was do back at the pub in five minutes.
She was heading back toward the village when she got the feeling that someone was watching her. She didn't know how or why, but it seemed as though someone was following her. She began quickening her pace. The faster she got out of this forest and back into the village, the better. A light breeze filled the air. Talim, suddenly alert, pulled Soul Calibur from her belt, spun around and blocked-
A sword. Aimed to cut her in two.
The man was masked and dressed in all black. All that was visible were his eyes. Oh, those horrible eyes. So dark they were almost as black as their pupils. The man was tall and muscular, and his sword was a good four feet long.
Talim blocked a second strike, and a third. On the fourth, Talim deflected the sword and kicked him hard in the stomach, send him backward. The man did a backwards somersault. Talim took the opportunity to charge at her opponent and strike. The man, standing again, deflected her first swipe and counterattacked, giving her a thin slice right above the hip.
Talim cart-wheeled back about ten feet, wiped blood from her cut, and closed her eyes. She was mumbling something the man couldn't understand. An alien tongue. When she spoke, her voice sounded like the wailing of the wind, as if from a great tornado. Suddenly, a strong wind came from nowhere and blew the man off his feet.
"I am one with the wind!" she shouted.
Wham!
Talim was hit hard atop the head with the butt of a sword from a second masked thief. On her way down to the ground, the second man cut deep into her other hip, this one hitting vital organs. Everything was fading fast. Darker... Darker... The men were coming closer... The were going to rob her, muitlate her, rape her dead body... Mina... Yunsung... Tokago! The last thing she remembered seeing was a third sword, this time, wielded by a boy dressed in green. Could he save her in time? Help!!!
--------------------
"Ostrheinsburg Chapel? Are you sure?"
"Positive," Inferno said. "It was placed there by one, Talim, after she defeated me almost one year ago. She believed that was it's rightful place."
"I see," Nightmare said. "I shall disembark to go retrieve it immediately."
"Wait!" Inferno shouted. "There's only half a sword."
"What?"
"Talim was a strong warrior," Inferno said. "On the last blow that defeated me, Talim's elbow blade cut my sword down the middle. She has returned half of it to the Ostrheinsburg Chapel, but the other half was never found. To my knowledge anyway."
"So someone could already have the other half?!" Nightmare shouted. "Do you know what this could lead to? A war that would cost me many valuable soldiers and men!"
"If your wish is world domination, you must retrieve the entire sword," Inferno said grimly.
"Very well," Nightmare said. "I will speak to you later."
Nightmare opened his eyes, and set down the crystal orb. So, half the sword could possibly be found. But who would have it? Any part of the sword can corrupt the heart of the most gentile man. Whoever possesses it will have the power to stand up to Nightmare. What should he do? His train of thought was interrupted when a knock came on the door of his private chambers.
"Come in," he said.
Astaroth stepped into the room, and he did not look happy.
"Sir," he said, breathless, "Cervantes' forces are on the move!"
"What?" Nightmare said in disbelief. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know," he said, shrugging. "Our scout troop got back only minutes ago. It seems an army of about ten thousand overran a small village about three days west of Hyrule. The inhabitants fled through hidden tunnels in the village. We don't believe there were any survivors."
"Come on," Nightmare said, heading swiftly toward the door. "We're going to Ostrheinsburg."
Almost.
When they passed the village pub, Yunsung suggested that they go inside and take a break. It was a cheerful place. Everybody knew everybody, and even if they didn't, they still talked to you like they were your best friend. The man behind the counter was your typical bartender. Short. Fat. Bald. Toothless smile. Talim, who had never tasted an alcoholic beverage before, drank very cautious amounts of select liquids from the man's storage. He gave her free meals and drinks, but when the man found out she was married already, that was the end of his generosity. She didn't mean to offend him, and was on the verge of apologizing when she found him already sucking up to a new young beauty.
"I'm going to explore the village for a little while," Talim said after about an hour in the bar.
"Okay," said Mina. "There's a fight at the village square that Yunsung wants to see."
"Why don't we meet back here in an hour?" Yunsung said.
"Okay," Talim said.
--------------------
If you went north of the village, there was a small library that held many different historical books, language translation guides (including The Book of Mudora), and a special section of literature written by the village townsfolk. To the West were two Elven swordsmiths. Upon seeing Talim's Soul Calibur, they instantly wanted to study it and learn what they were made of, which was interesting, because even Talim didn't know where they came from, and hadn't even given it thought until now. But Talim's favorite area was to the south of Kakariko Village.
About two years ago, a boy would always sit on a tree stump in the middle of a clearing of a small forest south of the village. He would always play for children, animals... anyone who would listen. But then one day, the boy disappeared and was believed dead. But then, when the evil wizard, Ganondorf, was defeated, and the Tri-Force reclaimed, the boy was back, playing songs for the children as if he had never been gone.
Talim loved listening to his music. In the Village of the Wind Deity, the villagers liked to play flutes at special gatherings, such as birthdays or anniversaries. The boy's music reminded her of home, and she sat and listed for half an hour to his wonderful playing. But, sadly, it was time to go. Talim was do back at the pub in five minutes.
She was heading back toward the village when she got the feeling that someone was watching her. She didn't know how or why, but it seemed as though someone was following her. She began quickening her pace. The faster she got out of this forest and back into the village, the better. A light breeze filled the air. Talim, suddenly alert, pulled Soul Calibur from her belt, spun around and blocked-
A sword. Aimed to cut her in two.
The man was masked and dressed in all black. All that was visible were his eyes. Oh, those horrible eyes. So dark they were almost as black as their pupils. The man was tall and muscular, and his sword was a good four feet long.
Talim blocked a second strike, and a third. On the fourth, Talim deflected the sword and kicked him hard in the stomach, send him backward. The man did a backwards somersault. Talim took the opportunity to charge at her opponent and strike. The man, standing again, deflected her first swipe and counterattacked, giving her a thin slice right above the hip.
Talim cart-wheeled back about ten feet, wiped blood from her cut, and closed her eyes. She was mumbling something the man couldn't understand. An alien tongue. When she spoke, her voice sounded like the wailing of the wind, as if from a great tornado. Suddenly, a strong wind came from nowhere and blew the man off his feet.
"I am one with the wind!" she shouted.
Wham!
Talim was hit hard atop the head with the butt of a sword from a second masked thief. On her way down to the ground, the second man cut deep into her other hip, this one hitting vital organs. Everything was fading fast. Darker... Darker... The men were coming closer... The were going to rob her, muitlate her, rape her dead body... Mina... Yunsung... Tokago! The last thing she remembered seeing was a third sword, this time, wielded by a boy dressed in green. Could he save her in time? Help!!!
--------------------
"Ostrheinsburg Chapel? Are you sure?"
"Positive," Inferno said. "It was placed there by one, Talim, after she defeated me almost one year ago. She believed that was it's rightful place."
"I see," Nightmare said. "I shall disembark to go retrieve it immediately."
"Wait!" Inferno shouted. "There's only half a sword."
"What?"
"Talim was a strong warrior," Inferno said. "On the last blow that defeated me, Talim's elbow blade cut my sword down the middle. She has returned half of it to the Ostrheinsburg Chapel, but the other half was never found. To my knowledge anyway."
"So someone could already have the other half?!" Nightmare shouted. "Do you know what this could lead to? A war that would cost me many valuable soldiers and men!"
"If your wish is world domination, you must retrieve the entire sword," Inferno said grimly.
"Very well," Nightmare said. "I will speak to you later."
Nightmare opened his eyes, and set down the crystal orb. So, half the sword could possibly be found. But who would have it? Any part of the sword can corrupt the heart of the most gentile man. Whoever possesses it will have the power to stand up to Nightmare. What should he do? His train of thought was interrupted when a knock came on the door of his private chambers.
"Come in," he said.
Astaroth stepped into the room, and he did not look happy.
"Sir," he said, breathless, "Cervantes' forces are on the move!"
"What?" Nightmare said in disbelief. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know," he said, shrugging. "Our scout troop got back only minutes ago. It seems an army of about ten thousand overran a small village about three days west of Hyrule. The inhabitants fled through hidden tunnels in the village. We don't believe there were any survivors."
"Come on," Nightmare said, heading swiftly toward the door. "We're going to Ostrheinsburg."