AUTHORS NOTE: The following is a story created using elements not belonging to the author. Such elements belong to their respective owners. Any similarities with other stories by other authors, either living or dead, is purely coincidental.

He saw nothing but darkness. This was always the case whenever he would dream. Yet somehow, it was different. There was lucidity in the darkness, there was peace. Slowly, a light appeared. Small at first, the light slowly grew into the form of a man.

'Father?'

'It has been a long so long, my son. Seeing you again brings me great joy.'

Hearing what his father has said, his eyes became downcast.

'How could you say that to me, father? After what I have done.'

'Do not sell yourself short, my son. I am as much responsible for the things that have happened in the past as you are. I left you and your mother to go of fighting in foreign lands not knowing the more important fight I left behind. I sent out to find my path leaving you to lose yours. I should have never left you. Forgive me, my son.'

He could feel tears fall down his cheeks.

'It is I who should ask for forgiveness, father. I have done so many crimes that I have damn my very soul. I must pay for what I have done.'

He suddenly felt his father's strong hands grip him. The hold was strong for an image in a dream.

'Do not say that! You have not the right to say who is damned and who isn't. Be strong, my son. All those murders were committed by the demon sword, not by you.'

He suddenly realized that his father's image was slowly fading away.

'Wait father. Please, don't go.'

'You've grown so much. How I wish I could have seen you grow up. Remember, my son, to my eyes, you are innocent of any crime. Farewell, Siegfried.

~~***~~

Siegfried slowly opened his eyes. The darkness was replaced by a brightly lit ship cabin. His father's face was replaced by a girl's.

"Siegfried, you're finally awake!" Talim said.

Siegfried tried to sit up but went down quickly when he felt a sudden pain shot up his entire body.

"Please stay still, Siegfried. You're pretty banged up. You need rest."

The knight decided to take the wind priestess' advice. His entire body was sore and he was very tired. Also, he had a lot to think about.

'Father…'

~~***~~

Cassandra was at the helm. She couldn't believe they were all still alive. She truly thought she would never see the light of day again, yet here she was, steering a ship bound for her home, listening to her companions try to best each other on how much pain they were feeling, and laughing at their silly comments. And the one responsible for this was below deck and recuperating.

She was holding Siegfried in her arms when he passed out. The first hit he took from Cervantes was already bad. It was amazing he still had the strength to stand up, let alone take the undead pirate another time straight after that.

'He is truly amazing.' She said with a smile

Her grin widened as she realized what was happening. She was swooning over a man. A KNIGHT of all men. She remembered the stories travelers would tell about such men in shining armor rescuing fair maidens from distress.

'And that he did.' She thought. 'That he did.'

Her attention turned to the sound of steps coming towards her. She saw it was Talim.

"Your knight is awake." She said with a big grin.

"That's good and his not my knight." She said, making sure to shout the last three words.

"Are you sure? The way you held him last time, it was like you we're a little girl and he was your beloved pet puppy dog." The wind priestess said with funny expressions to match.

Cassandra was red with anger and embarrassment. She decided to go below deck, less she strangle the younger girl.

As she headed for the cabin doors, she heard Talim shout, "Hey everyone, Cassandra is going down to check on Siegfried."

Her companions, who but moments ago where sitting on the deck groaning in pain, suddenly jumped up and starting to hoot and tease her as if they didn't have injuries.

She quickly went below deck, making a mental note to beat the living daylights out of every one of them once they've recovered.

~~***~~

He saw her enter slowly. Seeing him awake, she gave a gentle smile and greeted him.

"Hello, Siegfried."

"Hello, Cassandra."

She made her way to his bed and sat beside him. "How are you feeling today?" she asked.

He sat up trying to minimize, or at lease ignore, the pain shooting up his body. "Let's just say, I've had better days."

They were very quiet, each too shy to talk. Then Cassandra did something both didn't expect. She slid forward and placed her head on Siegfried's shoulder. She closed her eyes as she breathed in his scent. His body was warm and his scent was nice. She smiled softly.

Siegfried was taken back at this. He was completely unprepared for such a move. He tried to speak but his mouth was stuck in the surprised position it was in.

"Thank you, Siegfried." Cassandra suddenly said.

"For what?" he asked, bewildered.

"You saved my life. Who knows what that evil pirate would have done to me? But you were there to stop him. You saved me, Siegfried."

"It's nothing, Cassandra. It is I who must thank you."

"Me? How come?"

"Remember when you told me that as long as I live there will be hope? Before a believed that there wasn't any hope for me. Now I'm starting to believe there is. After I met you, my life no longer became bleak."

Cassandra smiled. "I'm happy to know that."

Siegfried wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Cassandra looked and saw into his beautiful emerald eyes. By some mysterious power, her face slowly moved up to his. Siegfried, enchanted by his companion's beauty, unknowingly began to bend down. Slowly the distance lessened until…

"Hey, Cassandra, you got to come see this."

Yunsung burst into the room suddenly. He found the two sitting on the opposite sides of the bed and fixing their clothes. They also looked a bit red to him.

"Yunsung, haven't you ever heard of knocking?" the knight said angrily.

"I'm sorry," the young Korean apologized, "but Maxi told me to get Cassandra quickly. Come on."

Yunsung brought Siegfried up deck as Cassandra went ahead of them. She saw her other companions in front of the ship. She made her way towards the front of the group. There she saw a great port ahead. The girl immediately knew what it meant.

'It's Greece. I'm home.'

~~***~~

The group has finally docked in the land of Greece, in the port city of Piraeus. While Maxi, Kilik and Xianhua settled some port matters, the others decided to go around. Cassandra and Siegfried decided to walk around the dock. There they saw people of all kinds: travelers, merchants, regular townsfolk, Greeks and Muslims. As they walked along, Siegfried heard someone call out his name.

"Siegfried Schtauffen? Siegfried, is that you?"

He turned around and saw a young priest with a large sack upon his shoulders. He came up to them and the knight immediately realized who he was.

"Hans, is that you" he said with a smile.

The two men hugged, obviously happy to see each other. Cassandra saw how happy Siegfried looked. She tough the new guy must be someone from her companion's happier past.

"Sieg, where have you been these long years?" Hans asked.

"Everywhere, Hans. I've been traveling a lot. Look at you. We've always though you'd become a smith like you father, but here you are a servant of God."

"People do change old friend." Hans answered. He then noticed the young lady behind his friend. "And who is this fair maiden you are with."

"I am Cassandra Alexandra." She said. "The two of us are traveling together."

Hans then leaned towards his friend. "Siegfried Schtauffen, you sly dog. You've tour Europe with a beautiful woman by your side? And you say I've change."

Siegfried merely pushed his friend away.

'You don't know how much I wish you were right, Hans.'

After a good long laugh, the priest final spoke. "Please forgive me if I have offended you two. Anyway, what brings you to Greece?"

"Greece is my home." Cassandra said. "We came here some rest from our travels. We will be leaving for Athens after our other companions fix some papers."

"Ah, I see. Well then, as you wait for you companions, why don't you come with me? I'm here on business for the parish where I work. I'm going to a shop down town. Perhaps you might find something that may strike your fancy"

"Alright" The two agreed and the three were on their way.

~~***~~

"Here we are."

The three stood in front of a large shop. In front was a middle aged man tending his goods.

"Salam malaykum, Mister Saeed." Hans greeted the man. The man looked up and saw the three.

"Ah, Hans. Salam malaykum."

The two shook hands like good friends. Cassandra was some what puzzled. She had read books about the crusades fought by the Christian armies of the west and the Muslim armies of the east. Yet here was a Christian priest laughing and doing business with a Muslim man.

Saeed saw the two people behind Hans. "Hans, who are these two people with you?"

"Oh yes, I almost forgot. This is Cassandra Alexandra and Siegfried Schtauffen."

"Schtauffen?" Mr. Saeed said wide eyed. "How are you related to Fredrick Schtauffen?"

"He is my father. How do you know him, sir?"

"He is good man who was a good friend to me. But come, you must be tired. Ahmad, Amal, we have guests"

~~***~~

Siegfried, Cassandra, and Hans sat on Saeed's table. The meal was very fine. Cassandra saw Mr. Saeed's daughter and her husband to their host's right. They looked very sweet together.

"Sir Saeed, How do you know my father?"

"When I was younger, I was a stranger in your homeland. Your father saved me from a group of bandits. He welcomed me into his house, introduced me to his wife, and gave me good food and a warm bed. I can truly say he is a true follower of your God."

Siegfried smiled at Mr. Saeed's story. It really sounded like his father.

"Well then, tell me young Siegfried, how is your father?"

The young man's face was downcast. "He is dead."

"Oh. Amal, Ahmad, please come help me."

The three left leaving Cassandra and Hans with their downtrodden friend.

"I'm sorry, Siegfried. I didn't know. Who killed your father? Was it Nightmare?"

"No, Cassandra, it was someone closer to home."

Hans slightly reacted to his friend's words.

"Cassandra, please leave us for a moment."

"But…"

Please Cassandra, we won't take long. We just need to talk."

Seeing that there is no going against the two at this point, she stood up and left the room. Hans turned around to his friend.

"So the roomer is true, isn't it?

The knight only nodded.

"Would you like to tell me about it?"

Another nod. Hans positioned his seat so he was facing Siegfried's right side. Siegfried lowered his head and spoke.

"Bless me, father, for I have sinned…"

~~***~~

Cassandra stood outside Mr. Saeed's house. The talk her friends had did take long and by the time they were done, Siegfried said it was time to go.

"Let's go, Cassandra." She heard him say as he stepped out of the house.

They were about to leave when Mr. Saeed called out.

"Siegfried, I have something for you."

He gave Siegfried the large sack Hans was carrying earlier.

"By the tone of your conversation, I sensed that you would be facing a great peril. These may help."

"Thank you, sir."

Taking the sack on his shoulders, he and Cassandra began to walk away.

"Farewell, good friends. May Allah smile upon you."

"Good luck on your journey. May God shine his light on your path."

~~***~~~

Siegfried walked quietly along beside his other companions. They all knew he was a quiet type, but now he was too quite. Cassandra was getting worried.

He confessed everything to Hans. His fathers murder, his betrayal of the lord he served, even the secret that he was Nightmare. Hans was taken back at the confession. He had never expected to here such things. Finally, the priest gave to his friend the best advice he could give. In his mind, Siegfried kept replaying the words Hans said to him

'God's ways are not for us to understand. He must have had a plan for you, and let you survive the night Nightmare was struck down. Follow the path you have now and you may find the answer.'

~~***~~

In front of a bakery a young woman can be seen. She had long blond hair and was very beautiful. Still, it was clearly seen in her face that something was deeply bothering her.

Sophitia stretched a bit to relive some of the tension she was feeling. It had been a long and hot day and she was really tired. Just then, something caught her eye. A group of people was walking towards her shop. In the middle of the group, she could see a girl with short, blonde hair. Her heart started to race. She walked a few steps, praying to the gods what she was seeing was true. As she did, the image of the short haired girl cleared and she began to run towards them.

"Cassandra!!!"

At the sight of her beloved sister Cassandra burst into tears and ran straight towards her. The two hugged once they got close. It had been so long since they had seen each other.

"Cassandra, where have you been? You had us worried sick. Father will be really mad…oh, forget it. I'm so happy your home."

"I'm so sorry I left, Sophie. I just couldn't let you go and fight again." Cassandra broke from the hug. "Anyway I was with friends."

Sophitia looked up and saw a woman clad in a tight, scarlet suit.

"Taki, it's you!"

"Hello, Sophitia. We meet again."

Sophitia looked around at the others. Some she recognized from her earlier travels, other were new faces. Then her eye caught sight of a tall long haired man with them. As she approached him, memories of a young man flooded her mind. A young man with sad, emerald-green eyes.

She stopped in front of the long haired man. He turned to her and spoke.

"Hello, Sophie. It has been a long time."

Sophitia couldn't believe what she is seeing. He now had a bigger built, longer hair, even a scar on his right eye, yet she knew it was him. He still had those beautiful but sad emerald-green eyes. Her heart was pounding and her body was shaking.

"Siegfried?"

To Whom It May Concern: I would like to thank you for reading my story. I would also like to apologize for the delay in the creation of the chapters. I have just entered what could possibly become the most depressing 4-5 years of my life. I promise to do everything in my power to present the next chapter. Once again, thank you