Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Calibur, Soul Edge, Taki, Mitsurugi, Sophitia or Cassandra. These all
belong to NAMCO. Such a pity--they won't let me have them. Oh well. But this fanfic is mine.
Viator: By Your Side
The Sequel to Requietum:A Journey Home
by jin long
lycan11@yahoo.com
Chapter 2
"You are just my wife and in this house it is *my* will that is absolute!"
Sophitia gave her husband an anger-filled glance. She'd suspected his true nature often enough,
as even the weapons he had forged for her second quest for Soul Edge seemed to capture his
aura of neediness and possessiveness. And she had felt it as well, for the aura was that
suffocating.
She wondered how she could have let this man -- no, there were definitely men of honor and
goodness -- this person even touch her and take her on her wedding night. How could such a
person be the father of her two lovely children?
The jealous and chavunistic nature of this person who wanted to control her absolutely could be
seen in his eyes. He was a controlling type of person, and this had really become painfully obvious
some time into the marriage.
"You are nothing without me, woman! You are *nothing*!"
That was the last straw.
"I've *had* it with you!" Sophitia screamed in reply. "You think you're the gods' gift to women, that
I am lucky to have you?!" The Greek woman snorted. "You can't keep the books, you can't run the
shop and you can't even *read*!" She pointed a finger at him, shaking with rage. "You are lucky
I keep you around to tie my boot laces!"
"Don't you *dare* speak to me that way!" he shouted back at her. He slammed his fist on the table
as if to shock her into subservience, failing miserably. "You are my wife! You obey only my will!"
"Before I was your wife, I was my own person. And I *still* am!" Sophtia screamed.
"You are nothing but a *woman*! You are worthless without a man, without *me*!"
Her husband huffed and breathed in a shallow breath before continuing. "You're no servant of the
gods! Would gods be so foolish as to give a task as important as the one you say they gave to you
to a mere woman?!"
He kicked the legs of table, slammed a chair into the ground then looked her in the eye with a
stare Sophitia recalled seeing on children who were in the throes of a tantrum. In fact, this
person in front of her was acting so immaturely, so childish.
Not even her own children acted that way. Not even after being in brief contact with Soul Edge's
shard.
"And do you think anyone else would marry you, would love you? You are ugly, woman!" he yelled
into her face. "With all those goddamned scars on your body.... Who are you to think you'll find
another person who'll love you, huh?! You think you're so beautiful that you can have anything and
anyone you want in Greece?
"Think again, you stupid bitch! I'm the only one that could *ever* love you!"
Sophitia slapped him on one of his cheeks with all the might she could muster. Perhaps it was
because of the surprise of it or maybe Hephaestus himself manifested in Sophitia's body for one
brief moment, but in any case the slap knocked her husband off his feet and he looked up at her,
stunned.
Sophitia was breathing hard, nearly crying with pure anger as she spoke. "You *never* loved me
in the first place! The moment I show that I do indeed have my own mind and my own will you
hurt me! You've even struck me, and more than once!
"How dare you claim to love me, you son of a bitch?!"
She breathed rapidly, trying to calm herself enough to speak. It was a difficult task, as just about
every part of herself was welling up with rage. "And how dare you speak of love? You know
*nothing* of love! All that matters in this world to you is yourself and yourself alone!
"You don't even love yourself enough to love another person!" This was very true, and they both
knew it.
"And who does? Your precious wanderer?!" Her husband snorted. "Well guess what?! You'll never
see your wanderer! If that person ever sets foot in Greece I'll kill him, you understand?! You are
mine, woman, and mine alone!
"Your thoughts should only be about me, and I am to be the only thing you should ever think or
care about!"
Sophitia gave her husband a look that would surely have immolated him had he at all been
sensitive to murderous looks. Gathering her thoughts and restraining herself from doing him
bodily harm, she spoke. Her voice was cold as the words came out of her mouth, succinct and
brief. As soon as they had been said, she turned on her heel and walked out of the house.
"My body may be trapped here with you, but you will *never* have my soul."
--------------------------
The shard of Soul Edge...
Cassandra's disappearance...
The theft of the Omega Sword and the Elk Shield...
Soul Edge was back in the world and Cassandra had gone off in search of it. Sophitia realized this
soon enough after regaining consciousness after the shock of the presence of Soul Edge's shard
had been spent. And if Soul Edge was present again in the world, every place outside Greece was
most certainly bound to be dangerous.
There was no doubt in Sophitia's mind that she should go after her sister. Gods knew what could
happen to Cassandra, and Sophitia could only hope that Cassandra would be as lucky as she was
when she herself had ventured out for the first time from Greece.
Her husband would never understand, and she didn't care for him to do so. She didn't care that
he remained in his little world where he thought he was god and that she should devote herself
only to him, never mind that her sister could be in danger or that she had her own will.
She could understand why Cassandra had thought to take this quest upon herself. By all
appearances, Sophitia knew, her present family looked perfect and it would seem to Cassandra
that Sophitia should and would dedicate her life to her family.
Sophitia glanced at the two children whose hands she held as they walked to the old temple of
Hephaestus. Pyrrha was to her left, Patroklos to her right. Both siblings were silent, as if they
perceived that they should not misbehave at this very moment. Witnessing the last fight
between their mother and father may have also been the reason for their silence, Sophitia
knew, and she was sorry that the children had been witness to it.
Patroklos was the older sibling, Pyrrha's senior by about a year. Both took after their mother,
many said, with their blonde hair and blue eyes. Noting their unsmiling and confused expressions,
Sophitia looked at them and smiled reassuringly. These two angels were the love of her life in
Greece, and she was taking them to the temple that they not go neglected while she pursued
Cassandra.
She did not trust her husband with either of them, nor her subservient mother or overbearing
father. The temple would be the best place to put them while she was away, but really, she had
been intending to do this for a very long time. It was a step towards her goal of leaving her
bastard of a spouse.
It was also because she feared that their contact with the cursed shard of Soul Edge, however
brief, would affect them. She knew that Soul Edge preyed on one's weaknesses -- the nightmares
the blades induced in her mind so long ago, when she had first set out, indicated such, trying to
attack her in that one moment her faith in her gods lapsed.
The fact that the children had been witness to her fight with their... other parent made her want to
make sure that whatever trace of the shard's influence remained in her children was eliminated.
Right now, apprenticing both of them to the smiths of Hephaestus seemed to be the right thing to
do.
While a young priest of Hephaestus attended to her children, Sophitia went to talk with a friend she
had made over the years, the head priest of the shrine.
He smiled knowingly at her presence. "So, the 'Emotional Goddess' returns once more. I knew not
even marriage to a most unworthy smith --nay,-- person would keep you far from Hephaestus for
long."
Sophitia smiled gently at the old man's words. "It has been some time, yes, though I presume you
know of my occasional visits here?"
The old fellow nodded at her words. "And I know why. But let it rest. Come, there is a certain
urgency to these matters of yours. Do not worry about Chaerephos," added the priest as he
noticed her glance at the apprentice priest playing with her children. "He may be slow in the head,
but he has a great heart and a gentle touch for living beings."
The two of them walked further into the inner recesses of the temple. Sophitia slowed her own
pace so as to keep the old priest at her side, for he shuffled along rather slowly. "I know you seek
to pursue your sister and Soul Edge," the old man said softly, coughing afterwards. "Hephaestus
may speak faintly these days but I still hear his words," he explained, glancing back at Pyrrha and
Patroklos. "The presence of your children here... I do not understand."
"I do not trust my husband or my family with them," Sophitia said. "And there is only pain for them
to grow into at my husband's home with me." She placed her hands behind her back, looking
around the temple. "I wish to apprentice both Patroklos and Pyrrha to you, wise Anethos," Sophitia
finished.
"You wish Pyrrha to be a smith of the god as well? That is most unusual."
"I would have thought such, myself, were it not for my travels to lands beyond the borders of
Greece," Sophitia answered, recalling Taki and half-smiling to herself. "This is the safest place for
them while they are not grown and I am gone. If you would indulge me, gracious Anethos, I would
be most grateful to you."
Anethos laughed hoarsely. "No need to convince me, Sophitia. You are a heroine of Greece even
if most do not know this to be so. It would be an honor to do so," he said softly, grinning in reply
to her thankful smile.
They paused in front of a statue of Hephaestus. It was the main effigy of the god in this temple,
towering above all whose presence it graced, hammer at the ready to smith an imaginary blade.
Sophitia looked up into the divine smith's face, a face wrought with determination and a frown of
focus. Somehow, though many would not have thought so, this image of the god was comforting.
"It is as if he watches over me when I am here," Sophitia mused out loud.
"Many would not think so," Anethos replied with a grin. "Though as his servant, perhaps it seems
reasonable that you would see him as such." He bent down, reaching under the altar where the
Omega Sword and Elk Shield once lay.
Running a wrinkled hand over the various intricate carvings, he pressed at one of them, which
immediately caused the side of the altar to open with a slight grating sound. Reaching in, Anethos
pulled out something wrapped and bound in leather, placing it on the altar.
"I assume that you have returned for this as well," he said, running a hand over the object then
unwrapping it to reveal the original Omega sword, the first sword Sophitia had ever used. Lifting it
up, Anethos turned to Sophitia and presented her with it.
Sophitia took her old blade in her hands, gripping it by the hilt as she marveled at its almost
immaculate state. The blade still shone in the little light of dusk that entered the sanctum, as if to
claim that it still had what it took to be a worthy weapon for a hero. It had not rusted all these
years and still looked as it had when she had first gone after Soul Edge.
When she had first met the one who had reforged the blade and had taken her heart, Sophitia
remembered. Unconsciously, she ran a hand over her abdomen, slightly off center, absently
tracing the scar of the worst wound the shards of Soul Edge had inflicted.
"I can't believe this... After all these years..." Sophitia took a careful practice swing with it, smiling
gently at the memories that it brought back, memories of adventure, freedom and the one she
loved all this time. "It's... It feels as if it has been waiting for me as well," Sophitia said softly.
Anethos smiled. "As does, I expect, the one who repaired this blade," he said, laughing as he
noticed the blush that spread over Sophitia's cheeks in response to his words. T-Taki... Sophitia
thought. Does she still.... long for me as well?
Sophitia quickly spoke to end her blushing state and to concentrate on the matter at hand. "I
thought that this had been stolen by my sister."
The old man scratched the back of his head. "We are not so foolish so as to leave such a fine
blade where all may see it. And this intrigues us as well," he added placing a palm under the
blade and running a finger across its broad side. "Ah!" he cried, the sword nicking him slightly.
"Still so sharp after all this time!"
"It intrigues you?"
"It is as if whoever repaired it managed to fully tap its divine source. Look," Anethos said, taking
the blade from Sophitia and slashing with it. "It is sturdy and sharp enough to cut most other
blades, but it is not as prone to breaking nor as inflexible as it was before. It is a near perfect
weapon that surely only a god and a divinely inspired smith could have forged."
Because Taki put her soul into repairing it, Sophitia knew. Because she cared about me that she
wanted this sword to protect me always, as if she herself were by my side...
Anethos handed it back to Sophitia, saying "If you should see the smith who repaired this, do ask if
he would reveal his secrets to us. It would be most helpful versus the Ottomans. Here, a scabbard
as well for the blade," he added, reaching under the altar. "And, if you follow me," he said, handing
the scabbard to her, "I shall see to it that you get armor as well."
------------------------
Clad in new armor with her old sword and her new shield strapped firmly to her back, Sophitia
began to descend the steps to the temple, headed towards a waiting horse that Anethos had
ordered to be summoned for her. Gentle Chaerephos was by the horse, holding its reins while
he cooed soothingly to steady the beast.
Sophitia breathed in softly then exhaled, turning around for one last look at her children by
Anethos' side before she left. Her little angels... she did not want to leave them but it was best
that they remained in Greece while she searched for their aunt. It was for the best, Sophitia told
herself. If she found her sister and destroyed Soul Edge once and for all, her children would surely
be safe.
Pyrrha and Patroklos, both holding either of Anethos' hands, looked at her in return. She could see
the tears in Pyrrha's eyes while Patroklos forced himself not to cry, brushing tears that escaped
him feverently with the back of his hands, obviously trying to be strong for both himself and his
sister.
Would she see them again, Sophitia wondered. Would she see them again?
She averted he gaze to keep herself from crying as she descended the steps towards the horse.
She had to be strong. She was their mother and she should not show them any weakness. But
oh, by Hephaestus, she so did not wish to leave them.
"Mother!"
Sophitia spun around at the sound of two voices, both crying out that one word, and crouched as
both her children rushed towards her, taking both in her arms as the siblings sobbed against her
shoulder.
Patroklos, eyes now brimming with unrestrained tears, spoke for himself and his sister. "Mother!
We won't let you go! We don't want you to go! Please, mother, please!" The siblings clutched
desperately at her arms, not wanting to let go. Sophitia closed her eyes, hugging them both
tightly as she closed her eyes. "I must," she managed to say to them. "I must go. Please, let go
of me."
"NO!" Pyrrha yelled. "We've got to hold on to you, like auntie Cassadra said. We've got to hold on,
otherwise you'll chase Soul Edge again, whatever it is."
"Children..." Sophitia said softly.
"Please, mother... don't leave us... please..."
"We can live away from father! On our own! Just don't go..."
Sophitia breathed in deeply, soon gently pushing them away. "I must go after your aunt. I must
go after Soul Edge," she forced herself to say, difficult as it was. "The gods dictate it, Patroklos...
Pyrrha..."
She looked both of them in the eye, azure gazes meeting each other. "I promise... both of you...
I promise that you will see me again, okay?" She placed gentle hands on both their heads,
ruffling the siblings' blond hair tenderly. "You two just take care of each other and trust Anethos.
You will see me again, I promise..."
Sophitia looked at Pyrrha, continuing. "Take care of your brother. You know how clumsy he can
sometimes get, right?" Pyrrha nodded, biting her lower lip to silence her sobs. "And Patroklos,
watch over your sister, alright? She's younger than you and she's going to need her older brother,"
Sophitia finished, looking at Partroklos, who nodded through his tears.
Sophitia rose then mounted the saddle, taking the reins from Chaerephos. With one last look at
her children, Sophitia waved goodbye then spurred the horse towards the sunset.
Be strong, children... she mentally told them. Just like your mother...
Behind her, Patroklos and Pyrrha watched as she rode off into the distance, averting their eyes
only when their vision would no longer permit them to see their mother.
------------------------------
to be continued...
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*jin long leans back on a computer chair*
jin long:Boo-yah! I wonder what reaction this'll get out of some people...
Taki (stretches): Not the right kind.
jin long: yeah, well, I'd use stronger language here, but I'm being polite, so -- whatever.
Sophitia: Well, Calibur University sure seemed to go well with the folks.
jin long: that surprises me no end. heh, you can work within canon and twist it too.
whatshisface:You! You're responsible for all these fanfics that change the canon pairings!
jin long: yeah right. if you haven't been paying attention, you're in this one. and I didn't start this.
Silvermoonlight *inspired* me, you dope.
whatshisface: You made me into a fiend! You didn't even name me!
jin long: well, you always struck me as a codependent, immature and needy.
whatshisface:!!!!
jin long: hey, I got an audience that wasn't even into shoujo-ai.
*jin long grins*
jin long: and it's not like Sophitia minds. right, Sophie?..... Sophie?
*jin long turns around to see that Sophitia has practically grabbed and shoved Taki to the floor
behind jin long's couch*
*Taki's hands can be seen flailing about*
*There's a lot of muffled moaning*
jin long:Sophie! Stop that! That's my favorite couch!
*Sophitia's head appears above the couch, as does Taki's*
*It can be seen that she's embracing a slightly dazed but smiling Taki*
Sophitia:Ooopsie! My bad. We were just *practicing* for your other humor fic!
jin long: Get a room!
Sophitia:Okay!
jin long: Not mine!
Sophitia:Aw!
jin long: *sigh* Fine. I can afford to have that thing cleaned anyway.
Sophitia *grins, turns to Taki*:Okay, now where were we...?
Taki *still slightly dazed*:Are you sure you're just acting?
Sophitia:What do you think? Hmmm?
Taki: One fic with me and now you're like this?
Sophitia *pouts*: You don't like it?
Taki:I'm not complaining... *pulls Sophitia back down*
*muffled noises again*
whatshisname:Hey! I'm still here! jin long, you are going to pay!
jin long: I guess you haven't met my fourth fave character in the Soul series.
whatshisname: What's that supposed to mean?!
jin long: Yo Siegfried!!! Get your ass over here!
*Siegfried walks on set, with rabid groupies all over him*
Siegfried *smiling*: Now, now, ladies, there's enough 'Bad Boy Ziggy' to go around.
whatshisname *squeaky voice*: ....Siegfried....?
jin long: Ziggy! *points at whatshisname* KILL!
*Siegfried immediately turns into Nightmare, complete with the big-ass sword*
Nightmare: No PRobLeM, BoSS.... HEheHehEheHEheH.....
whatshisface *gulps*: EYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! *runs*
Nightmare:It'S BRaiN-SplATterinG TimE!!! C'Mere YoU!!! *runs after whatshisface, brandishing Soul
Edge*
jin long *waves*: See you in "The Wounded", buddy boy! Or should I say, your grey matter!
*suddenly regie27 warps in, all Akuma-of-Street-Fighter-fame-like*
regie27: JiN LoooOOOOONNNGGGgggG!!!!
jin long: Yipes! *Takes off like a bat outta hell*
regie27: CoooOME BAAaaaaCK heeeEEEErrrE!!!! *gives chase*
jin long: HELL NO!
regie27: You've mind-scarred me for the last time! RRRRRAAARRRGGGGHHH!!!
*jin long suddenly stops and turns into ---Evil Jin Long!*
Evil Jin Long: RRRRAAAARRRGHHH!!! I'm the jin long with capital letters in my name!
*Evil Jin Long points a threatenting finger at regie27*
Evil Jin Long: You scarred my mind first! Feel my wrath!
*Evil Jin Long and Akuma-of-Street-Fighter-fame-like regie27 battle it out ala Dragonball Z*
*Meanwhile, Taki and Sophitia pause, looking up at Evil Jin Long and Akuma-of-Street-Fighter
-fame-like regie27 throwing kamehamehas at each other*
Sophitia: Shouldn't you seal Evil Jin Long back in again?
Taki: Nah.
Sophitia:Okay. Hey, I realized something. jin long's room is so in the clear right now.
Taki: We are so screwed if jin long finds out.
Sophitia: jin long's busy right now, and won't notice, you know.
Taki:Naughty Greek...
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my apologies to regie27! all in the name of good, semi-clean humor, so no flames! or mind scars!
*RRRRRAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! I'm the jin long with capital letters in my name!*
belong to NAMCO. Such a pity--they won't let me have them. Oh well. But this fanfic is mine.
Viator: By Your Side
The Sequel to Requietum:A Journey Home
by jin long
lycan11@yahoo.com
Chapter 2
"You are just my wife and in this house it is *my* will that is absolute!"
Sophitia gave her husband an anger-filled glance. She'd suspected his true nature often enough,
as even the weapons he had forged for her second quest for Soul Edge seemed to capture his
aura of neediness and possessiveness. And she had felt it as well, for the aura was that
suffocating.
She wondered how she could have let this man -- no, there were definitely men of honor and
goodness -- this person even touch her and take her on her wedding night. How could such a
person be the father of her two lovely children?
The jealous and chavunistic nature of this person who wanted to control her absolutely could be
seen in his eyes. He was a controlling type of person, and this had really become painfully obvious
some time into the marriage.
"You are nothing without me, woman! You are *nothing*!"
That was the last straw.
"I've *had* it with you!" Sophitia screamed in reply. "You think you're the gods' gift to women, that
I am lucky to have you?!" The Greek woman snorted. "You can't keep the books, you can't run the
shop and you can't even *read*!" She pointed a finger at him, shaking with rage. "You are lucky
I keep you around to tie my boot laces!"
"Don't you *dare* speak to me that way!" he shouted back at her. He slammed his fist on the table
as if to shock her into subservience, failing miserably. "You are my wife! You obey only my will!"
"Before I was your wife, I was my own person. And I *still* am!" Sophtia screamed.
"You are nothing but a *woman*! You are worthless without a man, without *me*!"
Her husband huffed and breathed in a shallow breath before continuing. "You're no servant of the
gods! Would gods be so foolish as to give a task as important as the one you say they gave to you
to a mere woman?!"
He kicked the legs of table, slammed a chair into the ground then looked her in the eye with a
stare Sophitia recalled seeing on children who were in the throes of a tantrum. In fact, this
person in front of her was acting so immaturely, so childish.
Not even her own children acted that way. Not even after being in brief contact with Soul Edge's
shard.
"And do you think anyone else would marry you, would love you? You are ugly, woman!" he yelled
into her face. "With all those goddamned scars on your body.... Who are you to think you'll find
another person who'll love you, huh?! You think you're so beautiful that you can have anything and
anyone you want in Greece?
"Think again, you stupid bitch! I'm the only one that could *ever* love you!"
Sophitia slapped him on one of his cheeks with all the might she could muster. Perhaps it was
because of the surprise of it or maybe Hephaestus himself manifested in Sophitia's body for one
brief moment, but in any case the slap knocked her husband off his feet and he looked up at her,
stunned.
Sophitia was breathing hard, nearly crying with pure anger as she spoke. "You *never* loved me
in the first place! The moment I show that I do indeed have my own mind and my own will you
hurt me! You've even struck me, and more than once!
"How dare you claim to love me, you son of a bitch?!"
She breathed rapidly, trying to calm herself enough to speak. It was a difficult task, as just about
every part of herself was welling up with rage. "And how dare you speak of love? You know
*nothing* of love! All that matters in this world to you is yourself and yourself alone!
"You don't even love yourself enough to love another person!" This was very true, and they both
knew it.
"And who does? Your precious wanderer?!" Her husband snorted. "Well guess what?! You'll never
see your wanderer! If that person ever sets foot in Greece I'll kill him, you understand?! You are
mine, woman, and mine alone!
"Your thoughts should only be about me, and I am to be the only thing you should ever think or
care about!"
Sophitia gave her husband a look that would surely have immolated him had he at all been
sensitive to murderous looks. Gathering her thoughts and restraining herself from doing him
bodily harm, she spoke. Her voice was cold as the words came out of her mouth, succinct and
brief. As soon as they had been said, she turned on her heel and walked out of the house.
"My body may be trapped here with you, but you will *never* have my soul."
--------------------------
The shard of Soul Edge...
Cassandra's disappearance...
The theft of the Omega Sword and the Elk Shield...
Soul Edge was back in the world and Cassandra had gone off in search of it. Sophitia realized this
soon enough after regaining consciousness after the shock of the presence of Soul Edge's shard
had been spent. And if Soul Edge was present again in the world, every place outside Greece was
most certainly bound to be dangerous.
There was no doubt in Sophitia's mind that she should go after her sister. Gods knew what could
happen to Cassandra, and Sophitia could only hope that Cassandra would be as lucky as she was
when she herself had ventured out for the first time from Greece.
Her husband would never understand, and she didn't care for him to do so. She didn't care that
he remained in his little world where he thought he was god and that she should devote herself
only to him, never mind that her sister could be in danger or that she had her own will.
She could understand why Cassandra had thought to take this quest upon herself. By all
appearances, Sophitia knew, her present family looked perfect and it would seem to Cassandra
that Sophitia should and would dedicate her life to her family.
Sophitia glanced at the two children whose hands she held as they walked to the old temple of
Hephaestus. Pyrrha was to her left, Patroklos to her right. Both siblings were silent, as if they
perceived that they should not misbehave at this very moment. Witnessing the last fight
between their mother and father may have also been the reason for their silence, Sophitia
knew, and she was sorry that the children had been witness to it.
Patroklos was the older sibling, Pyrrha's senior by about a year. Both took after their mother,
many said, with their blonde hair and blue eyes. Noting their unsmiling and confused expressions,
Sophitia looked at them and smiled reassuringly. These two angels were the love of her life in
Greece, and she was taking them to the temple that they not go neglected while she pursued
Cassandra.
She did not trust her husband with either of them, nor her subservient mother or overbearing
father. The temple would be the best place to put them while she was away, but really, she had
been intending to do this for a very long time. It was a step towards her goal of leaving her
bastard of a spouse.
It was also because she feared that their contact with the cursed shard of Soul Edge, however
brief, would affect them. She knew that Soul Edge preyed on one's weaknesses -- the nightmares
the blades induced in her mind so long ago, when she had first set out, indicated such, trying to
attack her in that one moment her faith in her gods lapsed.
The fact that the children had been witness to her fight with their... other parent made her want to
make sure that whatever trace of the shard's influence remained in her children was eliminated.
Right now, apprenticing both of them to the smiths of Hephaestus seemed to be the right thing to
do.
While a young priest of Hephaestus attended to her children, Sophitia went to talk with a friend she
had made over the years, the head priest of the shrine.
He smiled knowingly at her presence. "So, the 'Emotional Goddess' returns once more. I knew not
even marriage to a most unworthy smith --nay,-- person would keep you far from Hephaestus for
long."
Sophitia smiled gently at the old man's words. "It has been some time, yes, though I presume you
know of my occasional visits here?"
The old fellow nodded at her words. "And I know why. But let it rest. Come, there is a certain
urgency to these matters of yours. Do not worry about Chaerephos," added the priest as he
noticed her glance at the apprentice priest playing with her children. "He may be slow in the head,
but he has a great heart and a gentle touch for living beings."
The two of them walked further into the inner recesses of the temple. Sophitia slowed her own
pace so as to keep the old priest at her side, for he shuffled along rather slowly. "I know you seek
to pursue your sister and Soul Edge," the old man said softly, coughing afterwards. "Hephaestus
may speak faintly these days but I still hear his words," he explained, glancing back at Pyrrha and
Patroklos. "The presence of your children here... I do not understand."
"I do not trust my husband or my family with them," Sophitia said. "And there is only pain for them
to grow into at my husband's home with me." She placed her hands behind her back, looking
around the temple. "I wish to apprentice both Patroklos and Pyrrha to you, wise Anethos," Sophitia
finished.
"You wish Pyrrha to be a smith of the god as well? That is most unusual."
"I would have thought such, myself, were it not for my travels to lands beyond the borders of
Greece," Sophitia answered, recalling Taki and half-smiling to herself. "This is the safest place for
them while they are not grown and I am gone. If you would indulge me, gracious Anethos, I would
be most grateful to you."
Anethos laughed hoarsely. "No need to convince me, Sophitia. You are a heroine of Greece even
if most do not know this to be so. It would be an honor to do so," he said softly, grinning in reply
to her thankful smile.
They paused in front of a statue of Hephaestus. It was the main effigy of the god in this temple,
towering above all whose presence it graced, hammer at the ready to smith an imaginary blade.
Sophitia looked up into the divine smith's face, a face wrought with determination and a frown of
focus. Somehow, though many would not have thought so, this image of the god was comforting.
"It is as if he watches over me when I am here," Sophitia mused out loud.
"Many would not think so," Anethos replied with a grin. "Though as his servant, perhaps it seems
reasonable that you would see him as such." He bent down, reaching under the altar where the
Omega Sword and Elk Shield once lay.
Running a wrinkled hand over the various intricate carvings, he pressed at one of them, which
immediately caused the side of the altar to open with a slight grating sound. Reaching in, Anethos
pulled out something wrapped and bound in leather, placing it on the altar.
"I assume that you have returned for this as well," he said, running a hand over the object then
unwrapping it to reveal the original Omega sword, the first sword Sophitia had ever used. Lifting it
up, Anethos turned to Sophitia and presented her with it.
Sophitia took her old blade in her hands, gripping it by the hilt as she marveled at its almost
immaculate state. The blade still shone in the little light of dusk that entered the sanctum, as if to
claim that it still had what it took to be a worthy weapon for a hero. It had not rusted all these
years and still looked as it had when she had first gone after Soul Edge.
When she had first met the one who had reforged the blade and had taken her heart, Sophitia
remembered. Unconsciously, she ran a hand over her abdomen, slightly off center, absently
tracing the scar of the worst wound the shards of Soul Edge had inflicted.
"I can't believe this... After all these years..." Sophitia took a careful practice swing with it, smiling
gently at the memories that it brought back, memories of adventure, freedom and the one she
loved all this time. "It's... It feels as if it has been waiting for me as well," Sophitia said softly.
Anethos smiled. "As does, I expect, the one who repaired this blade," he said, laughing as he
noticed the blush that spread over Sophitia's cheeks in response to his words. T-Taki... Sophitia
thought. Does she still.... long for me as well?
Sophitia quickly spoke to end her blushing state and to concentrate on the matter at hand. "I
thought that this had been stolen by my sister."
The old man scratched the back of his head. "We are not so foolish so as to leave such a fine
blade where all may see it. And this intrigues us as well," he added placing a palm under the
blade and running a finger across its broad side. "Ah!" he cried, the sword nicking him slightly.
"Still so sharp after all this time!"
"It intrigues you?"
"It is as if whoever repaired it managed to fully tap its divine source. Look," Anethos said, taking
the blade from Sophitia and slashing with it. "It is sturdy and sharp enough to cut most other
blades, but it is not as prone to breaking nor as inflexible as it was before. It is a near perfect
weapon that surely only a god and a divinely inspired smith could have forged."
Because Taki put her soul into repairing it, Sophitia knew. Because she cared about me that she
wanted this sword to protect me always, as if she herself were by my side...
Anethos handed it back to Sophitia, saying "If you should see the smith who repaired this, do ask if
he would reveal his secrets to us. It would be most helpful versus the Ottomans. Here, a scabbard
as well for the blade," he added, reaching under the altar. "And, if you follow me," he said, handing
the scabbard to her, "I shall see to it that you get armor as well."
------------------------
Clad in new armor with her old sword and her new shield strapped firmly to her back, Sophitia
began to descend the steps to the temple, headed towards a waiting horse that Anethos had
ordered to be summoned for her. Gentle Chaerephos was by the horse, holding its reins while
he cooed soothingly to steady the beast.
Sophitia breathed in softly then exhaled, turning around for one last look at her children by
Anethos' side before she left. Her little angels... she did not want to leave them but it was best
that they remained in Greece while she searched for their aunt. It was for the best, Sophitia told
herself. If she found her sister and destroyed Soul Edge once and for all, her children would surely
be safe.
Pyrrha and Patroklos, both holding either of Anethos' hands, looked at her in return. She could see
the tears in Pyrrha's eyes while Patroklos forced himself not to cry, brushing tears that escaped
him feverently with the back of his hands, obviously trying to be strong for both himself and his
sister.
Would she see them again, Sophitia wondered. Would she see them again?
She averted he gaze to keep herself from crying as she descended the steps towards the horse.
She had to be strong. She was their mother and she should not show them any weakness. But
oh, by Hephaestus, she so did not wish to leave them.
"Mother!"
Sophitia spun around at the sound of two voices, both crying out that one word, and crouched as
both her children rushed towards her, taking both in her arms as the siblings sobbed against her
shoulder.
Patroklos, eyes now brimming with unrestrained tears, spoke for himself and his sister. "Mother!
We won't let you go! We don't want you to go! Please, mother, please!" The siblings clutched
desperately at her arms, not wanting to let go. Sophitia closed her eyes, hugging them both
tightly as she closed her eyes. "I must," she managed to say to them. "I must go. Please, let go
of me."
"NO!" Pyrrha yelled. "We've got to hold on to you, like auntie Cassadra said. We've got to hold on,
otherwise you'll chase Soul Edge again, whatever it is."
"Children..." Sophitia said softly.
"Please, mother... don't leave us... please..."
"We can live away from father! On our own! Just don't go..."
Sophitia breathed in deeply, soon gently pushing them away. "I must go after your aunt. I must
go after Soul Edge," she forced herself to say, difficult as it was. "The gods dictate it, Patroklos...
Pyrrha..."
She looked both of them in the eye, azure gazes meeting each other. "I promise... both of you...
I promise that you will see me again, okay?" She placed gentle hands on both their heads,
ruffling the siblings' blond hair tenderly. "You two just take care of each other and trust Anethos.
You will see me again, I promise..."
Sophitia looked at Pyrrha, continuing. "Take care of your brother. You know how clumsy he can
sometimes get, right?" Pyrrha nodded, biting her lower lip to silence her sobs. "And Patroklos,
watch over your sister, alright? She's younger than you and she's going to need her older brother,"
Sophitia finished, looking at Partroklos, who nodded through his tears.
Sophitia rose then mounted the saddle, taking the reins from Chaerephos. With one last look at
her children, Sophitia waved goodbye then spurred the horse towards the sunset.
Be strong, children... she mentally told them. Just like your mother...
Behind her, Patroklos and Pyrrha watched as she rode off into the distance, averting their eyes
only when their vision would no longer permit them to see their mother.
------------------------------
to be continued...
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*jin long leans back on a computer chair*
jin long:Boo-yah! I wonder what reaction this'll get out of some people...
Taki (stretches): Not the right kind.
jin long: yeah, well, I'd use stronger language here, but I'm being polite, so -- whatever.
Sophitia: Well, Calibur University sure seemed to go well with the folks.
jin long: that surprises me no end. heh, you can work within canon and twist it too.
whatshisface:You! You're responsible for all these fanfics that change the canon pairings!
jin long: yeah right. if you haven't been paying attention, you're in this one. and I didn't start this.
Silvermoonlight *inspired* me, you dope.
whatshisface: You made me into a fiend! You didn't even name me!
jin long: well, you always struck me as a codependent, immature and needy.
whatshisface:!!!!
jin long: hey, I got an audience that wasn't even into shoujo-ai.
*jin long grins*
jin long: and it's not like Sophitia minds. right, Sophie?..... Sophie?
*jin long turns around to see that Sophitia has practically grabbed and shoved Taki to the floor
behind jin long's couch*
*Taki's hands can be seen flailing about*
*There's a lot of muffled moaning*
jin long:Sophie! Stop that! That's my favorite couch!
*Sophitia's head appears above the couch, as does Taki's*
*It can be seen that she's embracing a slightly dazed but smiling Taki*
Sophitia:Ooopsie! My bad. We were just *practicing* for your other humor fic!
jin long: Get a room!
Sophitia:Okay!
jin long: Not mine!
Sophitia:Aw!
jin long: *sigh* Fine. I can afford to have that thing cleaned anyway.
Sophitia *grins, turns to Taki*:Okay, now where were we...?
Taki *still slightly dazed*:Are you sure you're just acting?
Sophitia:What do you think? Hmmm?
Taki: One fic with me and now you're like this?
Sophitia *pouts*: You don't like it?
Taki:I'm not complaining... *pulls Sophitia back down*
*muffled noises again*
whatshisname:Hey! I'm still here! jin long, you are going to pay!
jin long: I guess you haven't met my fourth fave character in the Soul series.
whatshisname: What's that supposed to mean?!
jin long: Yo Siegfried!!! Get your ass over here!
*Siegfried walks on set, with rabid groupies all over him*
Siegfried *smiling*: Now, now, ladies, there's enough 'Bad Boy Ziggy' to go around.
whatshisname *squeaky voice*: ....Siegfried....?
jin long: Ziggy! *points at whatshisname* KILL!
*Siegfried immediately turns into Nightmare, complete with the big-ass sword*
Nightmare: No PRobLeM, BoSS.... HEheHehEheHEheH.....
whatshisface *gulps*: EYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! *runs*
Nightmare:It'S BRaiN-SplATterinG TimE!!! C'Mere YoU!!! *runs after whatshisface, brandishing Soul
Edge*
jin long *waves*: See you in "The Wounded", buddy boy! Or should I say, your grey matter!
*suddenly regie27 warps in, all Akuma-of-Street-Fighter-fame-like*
regie27: JiN LoooOOOOONNNGGGgggG!!!!
jin long: Yipes! *Takes off like a bat outta hell*
regie27: CoooOME BAAaaaaCK heeeEEEErrrE!!!! *gives chase*
jin long: HELL NO!
regie27: You've mind-scarred me for the last time! RRRRRAAARRRGGGGHHH!!!
*jin long suddenly stops and turns into ---Evil Jin Long!*
Evil Jin Long: RRRRAAAARRRGHHH!!! I'm the jin long with capital letters in my name!
*Evil Jin Long points a threatenting finger at regie27*
Evil Jin Long: You scarred my mind first! Feel my wrath!
*Evil Jin Long and Akuma-of-Street-Fighter-fame-like regie27 battle it out ala Dragonball Z*
*Meanwhile, Taki and Sophitia pause, looking up at Evil Jin Long and Akuma-of-Street-Fighter
-fame-like regie27 throwing kamehamehas at each other*
Sophitia: Shouldn't you seal Evil Jin Long back in again?
Taki: Nah.
Sophitia:Okay. Hey, I realized something. jin long's room is so in the clear right now.
Taki: We are so screwed if jin long finds out.
Sophitia: jin long's busy right now, and won't notice, you know.
Taki:Naughty Greek...
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my apologies to regie27! all in the name of good, semi-clean humor, so no flames! or mind scars!
*RRRRRAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! I'm the jin long with capital letters in my name!*