Chapter 9
With Amy gone, he felt insurmountable paroxysms of pain overcome him. Yet he knew the only thing he could do now was to destroy Soul Calibur. He had become possessed by Soul Edge. Soul Edge had asserted its authority over him, filling him up to the brim with power. He remembered, in some distant corner of his mind, his vow. What he knew now, not remembered, was that the vow was broken. He had wanted it to be broken, but all the time, in all his waking moments, he felt regret. If he had somehow arrived earlier, Amy...his thoughts broke off at this point. Raphael had fulfilled his vengeance vow, at least.
Now, he needed to find Xianghua...and...and then what? He searched Soul Edge for an answer. He would not believe it, after seeing what had happened to Siegfried, but would weigh Soul Edge's words carefully. He needed some dutiful sense of purpose. NO! something rose up within him, an intense fire, burning with determination. It was Raphael Sorel's soul itself. Raphael would not be claimed. And so the soul, locked in some mortal combat with the demon residing in Soul Edge, fought. The soul and Soul Edge was equally matched; Raphael's will was strong, powerfully so. He wanted to destroy Soul Edge now. He would bring an end to all evil. But Soul Edge had will of its own. It wanted to rule the world, yet as Raphael wanted to let go of it, he could not. He was now in an emotionally weak state, frail enough to just grip his will and soul with bare fingertips. Soul Edge still exerted some control over his will. The second reason was for a noble cause. He wanted to rid the world of Soul Edge's existence, to bring peace, and the only way was to find a way to destroy the evil sword, forever! Raphael put great emphasis on it, but he needed to get over it.
Soul Edge was contented in itself. It somehow knew Xianghua would find Raphael, and with the strength of Soul Edge and the confidence of Raphael Sorel, Soul Calibur would be eradicated from the Earth. Raphael was the hold. He restrained Soul Edge, and repelled Soul Calibur. It was exceedingly tough for Raphael to realize the future of the world depended on him. The only way for him to complete his goal was to get over Amy. And time was ticking away, like trying to hold water in cupped hands. Raphael could not get over his grief. The wound was still searing his heart.
Xianghua didn't know! thought Raphael. If only she could leave him alone...she didn't realize! Raphael armed with Soul Edge could destroy Soul Calibur. If Soul Edge ever caught him asleep...it was a gargantuan risk.
Raphael rode, trying to let the hooves of the horse muffle his weary thoughts. He was wandering aimlessly. Soul Edge shared his mind, like some kind of parasite. And all the time it was urging him incessantly to destroy Soul Calibur. Raphael took no heed of its lies. Soon, Raphael came to a stream. His tongue parched, his lips cracked, Raphael dismounted and lowered himself to the stream. He allowed the cool water to drench his mouth, filling him with a sort of freshness. When he stood up, erect, he noted his reflection in the water. He seemed gaunt and stretched. Indeed I should look that way, thought Raphael grimly as he put a leg over his steed.
He started his journey again. Raphael decided to go to Ostrheinsburg. He would cleanse his sins there, where he had received the sword. Now, all he needed was to hold on a few days, battling the waves of disapproval from Soul Edge.
With Amy gone, he felt insurmountable paroxysms of pain overcome him. Yet he knew the only thing he could do now was to destroy Soul Calibur. He had become possessed by Soul Edge. Soul Edge had asserted its authority over him, filling him up to the brim with power. He remembered, in some distant corner of his mind, his vow. What he knew now, not remembered, was that the vow was broken. He had wanted it to be broken, but all the time, in all his waking moments, he felt regret. If he had somehow arrived earlier, Amy...his thoughts broke off at this point. Raphael had fulfilled his vengeance vow, at least.
Now, he needed to find Xianghua...and...and then what? He searched Soul Edge for an answer. He would not believe it, after seeing what had happened to Siegfried, but would weigh Soul Edge's words carefully. He needed some dutiful sense of purpose. NO! something rose up within him, an intense fire, burning with determination. It was Raphael Sorel's soul itself. Raphael would not be claimed. And so the soul, locked in some mortal combat with the demon residing in Soul Edge, fought. The soul and Soul Edge was equally matched; Raphael's will was strong, powerfully so. He wanted to destroy Soul Edge now. He would bring an end to all evil. But Soul Edge had will of its own. It wanted to rule the world, yet as Raphael wanted to let go of it, he could not. He was now in an emotionally weak state, frail enough to just grip his will and soul with bare fingertips. Soul Edge still exerted some control over his will. The second reason was for a noble cause. He wanted to rid the world of Soul Edge's existence, to bring peace, and the only way was to find a way to destroy the evil sword, forever! Raphael put great emphasis on it, but he needed to get over it.
Soul Edge was contented in itself. It somehow knew Xianghua would find Raphael, and with the strength of Soul Edge and the confidence of Raphael Sorel, Soul Calibur would be eradicated from the Earth. Raphael was the hold. He restrained Soul Edge, and repelled Soul Calibur. It was exceedingly tough for Raphael to realize the future of the world depended on him. The only way for him to complete his goal was to get over Amy. And time was ticking away, like trying to hold water in cupped hands. Raphael could not get over his grief. The wound was still searing his heart.
Xianghua didn't know! thought Raphael. If only she could leave him alone...she didn't realize! Raphael armed with Soul Edge could destroy Soul Calibur. If Soul Edge ever caught him asleep...it was a gargantuan risk.
Raphael rode, trying to let the hooves of the horse muffle his weary thoughts. He was wandering aimlessly. Soul Edge shared his mind, like some kind of parasite. And all the time it was urging him incessantly to destroy Soul Calibur. Raphael took no heed of its lies. Soon, Raphael came to a stream. His tongue parched, his lips cracked, Raphael dismounted and lowered himself to the stream. He allowed the cool water to drench his mouth, filling him with a sort of freshness. When he stood up, erect, he noted his reflection in the water. He seemed gaunt and stretched. Indeed I should look that way, thought Raphael grimly as he put a leg over his steed.
He started his journey again. Raphael decided to go to Ostrheinsburg. He would cleanse his sins there, where he had received the sword. Now, all he needed was to hold on a few days, battling the waves of disapproval from Soul Edge.