The wind was dry and hot across his skin. How he loathed the desert and all that dwelt within. What he wouldn't give to be home once more. To be with his father and brother, serving the city they loved so. However, there was a single reason for his staying in this forsaken wasteland.
He felt her arms and soft body press against his bare back. Her long hair trickled over her shoulders and teased his skin with their flattery.
"You are a most cruel woman, Pallas. You know how much I dislike such frivolous play."
She slid around him to embrace his torso and kiss his cheek. "Simply because we women, when we know the weakness of the male, enjoy to take advantage of it. Besides, beloved, I wouldn't be your wife this day had I not."
He challenged her with a smirk, "And you knew that I would come back for more of your torture."
She smiled playfully. "Of course. Your wounded pride would never let it go. However I must admit not expecting to fall for such a stubborn and bull-headed ox like yourself."
He snorted, "You give one of the greater strategists in the western world too little credit."
She giggled while nuzzling his ear. "And yet he still fails to admit that all his strategy, cunning, and intelligence all failed because of the wiles of a witty woman."
Wrapping an arm around her waist he drew her close, "Of course not. However, the reason he fell for her was because he discovered in that 'witty woman' an intellect that in some subtle ways, equaled or surpassed his own."
Her grin became mischievous as she drew close to him, "And like a man, you had to claim her, lest a lesser man take her before you and defile her."
He kissed her on the lips gently before drawing back for a moment, "Perish the thought. Any man that cannot see the beauty and brilliance in her soul deserves to called lesser."
The playfulness slowly changed into surprise, but her face and tone was serious, "You truly mean that, don't you? Even after all this time?"
He had to restrain himself from answering too defensively as he nodded. This woman in his arms was the whole world to him. Not even being the captain of the guard could compete with being with a woman whose soul was an perpetual beacon in the darkness.
All this was his at one time...
Darkness... that's where he was...
An all consuming night that would not let him go. Try as he might, he found himself standing before an aged man with unusual tattoos on his face, clad in robes with arcane symbols. He was bowing in reverence and loyalty to a beast of a man that had enslaved him.
Pallas was gone. Taken from him by other monstrosities that looked like he was now. A freak that looked like a mesh between a reptile and human.
For a time he could not measure, his soul wept at the bloodshed and sorrow his body caused. With every new slaying, his soul fell deeper into despair and lost all hope.
Then, from nowhere, a piercing scream reached him and though the pain was intense, the darkness around him began to shatter as if it were made of glass.
Then an explosion caused the darkness to disperse, leading him to freedom.
=
Gasping, Alpha coughed violently as the dust and dirt in his throat flew out. Rolling to his feet, he took a look in his dropped gear and remembered what had happened.
Most specifically, the woman who's shriek had subdued him. Taking in his surroundings, he also remembered what this town once was. However, he couldn't dwell on that for long, for his keen sense of smell was detecting several somethings coming in his direction.
Bolting to the north, he fled from what could have been soldiers that wouldn't think twice about killing a lizardman. He was a mighty warrior, but only a fool wastes his life for the satisfaction of a battle.
=
"Hold on, Sophie. Someone's coming," Cassandra said as she tried to keep her sister steady on their pack horse. Waving to the newcomer, Cassandra's elation sourced when she noticed who exactly it was.
"Of all the wretched places to find you."
Siegfried slowed his horse to a halt and frowned back, "I'm sorry for not being very accommodating, but that's not why I'm here. I heard someone shriek, and not just any normal scream."
Blinking, Cassandra asked, "How far away were you?"
"Several kilometers, but don't be surprised. Who or whatever that made that noise can find themselves heard whether they like it or not."
"What do you mean?"
Sophitia answered hoarsely, turning the horse to them both. "It means... that for the brief time the Soul Edge possessed me, I was, in a manner of speaking, one with the sword."
Cassandra was ready to rebuke that claim, but hearing and seeing what her sister had done to those lizardmen, her sense of logic was beginning to fail.
She stepped aside as Siegfried led his horse next to her sister's.
"May I see it?" he asked calmly.
Cassandra turned away from them as her sister nodded. The sight of that hideous eye had left her fearful.
"What do you make of it?" Cassandra asked Siegfried as he closely examined her sister's swollen eye.
"Well, it appears that the shard in her eye is from the core of the sword. Which explains it being able to possess her."
With her hands on her hips, Cassandra whirled around and frowned, "Well then, what do we do? If it's as malevolent as you say it is, then we have to find a way to cure her."
Siegfried sighed. "There is no cure for it, as far as I know."
Cassandra, despite being on foot, was ready to throttle him. "What do you mean, no cure!? I thought you knew how that thing worked!"
Despite her rage, Siegfried answered calmly, "There were things that even the Soul Edge wouldn't reveal to me, even as its host. However, if you'll calm down for a moment, I do have some information that could help us."
She folded her arms and waited for his answer, despite a glance from her sister to be patient.
"Well, during the last few years, I came across a hermit in the far east. A warrior in every sense of the word. Though I only felt it for an instant, the Soul Edge actually feared a human being that did not wield the Soul Calibur."
Cassandra's sister looked up, "The Soul Calibur?"
He nodded, "Yes. Sort of an opposite sword to the Soul Edge. A Chinese woman used it and defeated me. However, she never had the chance to finish me off because of Astaroth and the monsters from the Fygul Cestemus."
Cassandra snorted and whispered under her breath, "How unfortunate..."
"Anyway, I was hoping to travel to Turkey and get on a route to the Silk Road. Along the way, I had hoped to find the Edge Master. Since he probably knows more than I ever will, maybe he can help me with this," he said, indicating his deformed arm.
Cassandra noted that the deformities were not as severe as when she previously met him, but kept silent as Sophitia spoke up.
"Then perhaps... we could travel together. There are a few people that I know that can help us on the way."
Cassandra didn't like the way Siegfried looked at her sister, yet restrained herself more as she took a peek at the setting sun.
"There's a camp site nearby, I'll go gather some wood for a fire," she said, urging the horses forward. She wanted to argue against letting the Rhinelander come with them, but knew that with him along, their journey could progress significantly faster. Walking into the forest, she failed to see Siegfried looking at her back with a suspicious eye. An eye that eventually focused on and wondered of the contents in her pocket.
=
The flames danced in Siegfried's eyes as more memories of the past came back. Memories he would had rather forgotten. However, he knew too well that running from his problems was what got him here in the first place.
Taking an idle glance at his new traveling companions, he began to wonder if he had simply told Sophitia of what had happened all those years ago. He quietly mouthed the words, "I killed my father..."
Would she still had accepted him if she knew? He didn't want to admit it, but he was scared to think about it. Sophitia was one of the few true friends he ever had and to tell her the truth would spoil what little sympathy she had left for him.
Standing up, he went to the edge of the clearing, returning to his watch. The sun had set hours ago and the wind was starting calming down. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed, but if there was anyone out there, then he couldn't see them.
"If you wish, I could take over from here... you need your rest too," Sophitia said, her blanket still clutched around her shoulders.
"I appreciate that... but at the moment, I feel edgy and I can't sleep."
She looked at him with her good eye before shaking her head, "So... there still is a part of you that has changed."
Confused, he turned back to her, "What do you mean?"
She leaned against a tree opposite of him. "I remember, back in Spain, you could have slept through a thunderstorm and still not stir. Even when I could tell there was something bothering you."
He looked back to her and smiled sadly, "If it's any consolation, aside from the pain I've caused you, I still have things bothering me... Sophitia, can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"I remember back in your home... what you said... it's not the same now..."
"I know... after that ordeal back at the village, I've begun to understand how you feel... and I owe you an apology."
Siegfried frowned. "No... you owe me nothing. It's my fault you're in this condition... and it's my own fault for letting the Soul Edge take control of me. Letting it's false promises break me."
She looked to him with a worried countenance, "What did it promise you?"
Siegfried realized to his horror that he had been caught in his own words... and now only the truth would get him out.
"My father's life... I would have given everything I had to have him back... and everything is what the Soul Edge took."
"I don't understand."
It was now or never. "Sophitia... I... I killed him. It was an accident, but I still killed him."
It took her a second to realize what he meant and her good eye widened and she gasped. Siegfried was ready for the denunciation, the insults, the slap, anything. However, none of it came.
"It makes sense..." she whispered.
"What does?"
"When I asked you of the description of your father's murderer, you continued to hesitate, thinking of something else to blame but yourself."
He looked down in shame and then turned to the darkness. "I was so foolish. I so desperately wanted to be a knight like my father, but my impatience drove me to throw in my lot with a bunch of thieves. Eventually, we robbed a caravan returning from the Middle East and... in the heat of the moment, I struck down my father. I didn't want to believe it."
"And the Soul Edge promised you your father's life back in exchange for a host."
"Yes."
He was still waiting for the berating, or anything harsh coming from her, instead she turned and walked back to the campsite.
He turned, hoping to elicit some sort of reaction from her. "Sophitia..."
"Don't misunderstand me, Siegfried. I still have not forgiven you. You need to face your own demons and come to terms with your guilt. Until then, we are only searching for a cure for our respective ailments and nothing more."
Though calmer than the previous occasion, her voice cut into him like a knife. And he knew he had it coming.
=
Watching the clouds pass over the moon above, Siegfried held back a yawn as he felt ready to wake Cassandra for her watch.
"I should have known..."
He turned to see Sophitia's younger sister, armed for her watch.
"What?"
To his shock, she drew her sword, advanced and held the blade at his neck. "I heard everything, you German swine!" she snarled quietly.
Despite the blade being at his neck, he retorted, "And what will you do? Kill me?"
"Ohhh, don't tempt me! I'd like nothing better than to see you scream in pain after what you've done."
"And you talk like I'm not repentant," he said with a frown.
"Well, it certainly would make me feel better. Because I have the cause of my sister's pain right in front of me and in sword's length. And for your sake, Schtauffen, it'd be in your best interest if she were to improve," she forced him against a tree and spat in his face, "I mean it, Schtauffen... I will take it very personally."
He frowned at her, despite the severity of the situation, "You're in a lovely mood."
She backed off and snarled, "Well, forgive me, Herr Schtauffen, for not being dainty and gentle like my sister. You realize that there is a difference between us."
Siegfried resisted the urge to make such a comparison as she continued.
"Suffice it to say, recent events haven't helped my disposition much."
"My heart bleeds for you," he said with insincere empathy.
She pointed the tip of her weapon at him, "Again, don't tempt me."
Folding his arms, Siegfried took a chance, "Well, say you actually did have to kill me. Who'd be your scapegoat for your distress then?"
She frowned and put her hands on her hips, "I don't need scapegoats. Nor do I need silly deities that live in the mountains telling me what to do."
"Ah, so you're the skeptic while your sister's the believer."
"I never said that. There's many things I don't understand or comprehend, but the way Sophie acted ever since we were kids, you'd think I had that stupid gift she kept harping on about."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow. "For being so fanatically devoted to Sophitia, you don't have any problem with pointing out her faults."
Her frown grew, "That's none of your business."
He nodded. "Yes... you're right," he started to walk by her to the campsite when he turned to her again. "Yet, considering what we've got to go through, I would imagine that what we all carry may be part of my business."
She stepped back, "Wh... what are you talking about?"
He looked directly into her eyes as he advanced. "Being under the influence of the Soul Edge as long as I have, has given me a bit of... insight, I think. Though I've been freed from it, it still is a part of me and I can feel whenever it draws near."
Cassandra snorted, "Well, of course, the shard in my sister's eye would explain it."
Now it was Siegfried's turn to frown, "Yes, but just because I sense it, doesn't mean I'm unaware of how many shards maybe nearby."
Sophitia's sister threw back at him, but without much of her previous force, "Get to the point, Schtauffen!"
"Oh, I think you know what I'm referring to. You have a shard in your pocket... and not just any shard. It's a piece of the core, just like the one in your sister's eye."
Cassandra was backed up against a tree, breathing heavily and clearly nervous about being found out. He knew what she was worrying about and knew why. It appeared that now both sisters were falling underneath the sway of the wicked sword.
"Hand it over..." he ordered quietly, but forcefully, with enough time out of the complete sword's grip, he would be able to keep it repressed until they found the Edge Master.
To his surprise, Cassandra's pupils dilated and she hissed loudly, as though she were a snake. She immediately lunged at him, taking him by surprise and rolled to her feet behind him.
"Never! It's mine! MINE!" she screamed, causing Sophitia to stir.
"Cassandra, what are you... no..." she whispered in horror, seeing a frightening gaze in her sister's eyes and the glowing shard in her hand.
Before either he or Sophitia had a chance to detain Cassandra, she whirled around and ran into the night like a madman. They made it to the edge of their campground when they saw her increase her distance from with at inhuman speeds. Within seconds, she was gone.
He turned around when he heard Sophitia sniff. "Oh dear heaven, no... not Cassandra."
He sighed, "I'm afraid so. The core has always been the strongest part of its influence. However, its effect should wear off when she becomes exhausted, but considering how strong your sister is, she'll be far beyond our reach when that happens."
Their spirits sunk even lower when Sophitia fell to her knees and started to weep. Her crying tore at his heart and he would have done anything to console her.
Maybe he was wrong and the shard's hold on her wasn't as strong as he thought, or perhaps Cassandra could learn how to resist its influence. He knew her will was powerful and if she could figure it out, she could resist its power.
Regardless, he knew that only ill could come of this development. Walking beside her, he placed his hand on her shoulder, as a way of showing his empathy. However, to his surprise, she stood up and leaned herself against him, sobbing onto his chest.
"Please... tell me I'm dreaming... please, tell me I'm back home with my family... that every thing's well... please..."
He could say nothing as his arm wrapped itself around her waist and drew her close with no resistance on her part. However, the more she sobbed, the heavier his soul felt.
"Father in Heaven... I beg of you," he prayed internally with a fervor he had not known in years, "if you would ever heed the prayer of a sinner, please, send an angel... send anything to comfort her."
Not long after, they both turned to see a rustle in the bushes. In a panic, they both retrieved their weapons and waited for the intruder to make itself known. Siegfried stepped forward and prepared himself as he saw a Lizardman, with the the 'Alpha' symbol step out of the woods.
"Perfect. I thought I'd seen the last of your kind long ago!" he said before bringing his sword to bear. Yet, to his and Sophitia's surprise, Alpha stumbled out of the way, snarling and hissing, as though he were trying to explain himself.
He looked to Sophitia, who appeared as bemused as he was, and back to their visitor.
"So then... what are you doing here?" Siegfried inquired.
Alpha proceeded to growl and hiss some more as though he were speaking to them casually. However, he soon realized that they could not comprehend him and then took out his gladius. Though they were ready to attack, their surprise grew when Alpha started using his sword to write in the dirt.
Walking cautiously near, Sophitia stepped up beside him and examined the writing on the ground.
"Can you understand it?" he asked.
"Yes... it's Greek. It's a name. It says..." she suddenly paled and looked up to the lizardman and whispered, "Aeon... Calcos..."
The lizardman pointed to the name and then back to his chest, indicating that who he was.
Siegfried figured this Aeon Calcos was at one time an acquaintance of hers, since he knew that most lizardmen were human at one point.
He still kept his handle on the blade when Sophitia reached forward and touched Aeon's scaly face."By Zeus, Aeon what happened to you?"
Again, Aeon reached down and wrote in the dirt, 'long story'.
Siegfried finally sheathed his sword and felt relieved when a small smile started to grow on Sophitia's face.
"Aeon... I thought you were dead."
Aeon nodded and wrote in the dirt, 'Though Ares had abandoned me, the heavens have not... and you as well, my friend.'
She smiled, embraced her long lost friend, and wiped the tears from her eye. She turned to Siegfried and said, "Um, sorry, this is Aeon Calcos, an old friend of mine."
The lizardman bowed his head cordially to him.
Siegfried returned the gesture, though he was unsure whether having a lizardman as an ally was the best thing in the world or not. Yet, if he was out of the Fygul Cestemus' control, then he could be a powerful ally.
Soon enough, their group found itself with another companion, despite having lost one earlier.
"Siegfried," Sophitia said to him.
He turned to her as he sat on the space designated for his bed, "Hm?"
Though she had one eye, it seemed brighter than he'd seen it since they met recently, "You said that Cassandra may find a way out, right?"
He nodded.
"Then, that means that people can be freed from it?"
Again, he nodded. He was proof that people could escape from the grip of the Soul Edge, though scathed. He had a feeling where this was going. "You're worried for your sister, aren't you."
He missed the light from her somber face. So, he reached forward and placed his palm on her shoulder. "We'll find her."
Her eyes lit up again with hope, "You think so?"
For once, he smiled, knowing that he had brought her something to continue fighting for. "Yes. We will."
End of chapter 6
As you can see, this is the chapter for Aeon. And since we never have a lot of Aeon/Lizardman centered material, I am more than happy to take liberties with how he is. But enough of that.
In the next couple of chapters, the three separate story lines are going to merge, so with any kind of luck, it'll make sense.
Cassie gone bad? One can only hope. :)
As for things I'm not satisfied with are Sieg's characterization, and some of the pacing of the chapter. Is it going too fast? Let me know please. The better the C&C, the higher chance of this fic actually being readable!
That aside, I hope you've enjoyed the story so far.
Finally, all things Soul Calibur belongs to Namco. No profit was made and none will be made off this story.
He felt her arms and soft body press against his bare back. Her long hair trickled over her shoulders and teased his skin with their flattery.
"You are a most cruel woman, Pallas. You know how much I dislike such frivolous play."
She slid around him to embrace his torso and kiss his cheek. "Simply because we women, when we know the weakness of the male, enjoy to take advantage of it. Besides, beloved, I wouldn't be your wife this day had I not."
He challenged her with a smirk, "And you knew that I would come back for more of your torture."
She smiled playfully. "Of course. Your wounded pride would never let it go. However I must admit not expecting to fall for such a stubborn and bull-headed ox like yourself."
He snorted, "You give one of the greater strategists in the western world too little credit."
She giggled while nuzzling his ear. "And yet he still fails to admit that all his strategy, cunning, and intelligence all failed because of the wiles of a witty woman."
Wrapping an arm around her waist he drew her close, "Of course not. However, the reason he fell for her was because he discovered in that 'witty woman' an intellect that in some subtle ways, equaled or surpassed his own."
Her grin became mischievous as she drew close to him, "And like a man, you had to claim her, lest a lesser man take her before you and defile her."
He kissed her on the lips gently before drawing back for a moment, "Perish the thought. Any man that cannot see the beauty and brilliance in her soul deserves to called lesser."
The playfulness slowly changed into surprise, but her face and tone was serious, "You truly mean that, don't you? Even after all this time?"
He had to restrain himself from answering too defensively as he nodded. This woman in his arms was the whole world to him. Not even being the captain of the guard could compete with being with a woman whose soul was an perpetual beacon in the darkness.
All this was his at one time...
Darkness... that's where he was...
An all consuming night that would not let him go. Try as he might, he found himself standing before an aged man with unusual tattoos on his face, clad in robes with arcane symbols. He was bowing in reverence and loyalty to a beast of a man that had enslaved him.
Pallas was gone. Taken from him by other monstrosities that looked like he was now. A freak that looked like a mesh between a reptile and human.
For a time he could not measure, his soul wept at the bloodshed and sorrow his body caused. With every new slaying, his soul fell deeper into despair and lost all hope.
Then, from nowhere, a piercing scream reached him and though the pain was intense, the darkness around him began to shatter as if it were made of glass.
Then an explosion caused the darkness to disperse, leading him to freedom.
=
Gasping, Alpha coughed violently as the dust and dirt in his throat flew out. Rolling to his feet, he took a look in his dropped gear and remembered what had happened.
Most specifically, the woman who's shriek had subdued him. Taking in his surroundings, he also remembered what this town once was. However, he couldn't dwell on that for long, for his keen sense of smell was detecting several somethings coming in his direction.
Bolting to the north, he fled from what could have been soldiers that wouldn't think twice about killing a lizardman. He was a mighty warrior, but only a fool wastes his life for the satisfaction of a battle.
=
"Hold on, Sophie. Someone's coming," Cassandra said as she tried to keep her sister steady on their pack horse. Waving to the newcomer, Cassandra's elation sourced when she noticed who exactly it was.
"Of all the wretched places to find you."
Siegfried slowed his horse to a halt and frowned back, "I'm sorry for not being very accommodating, but that's not why I'm here. I heard someone shriek, and not just any normal scream."
Blinking, Cassandra asked, "How far away were you?"
"Several kilometers, but don't be surprised. Who or whatever that made that noise can find themselves heard whether they like it or not."
"What do you mean?"
Sophitia answered hoarsely, turning the horse to them both. "It means... that for the brief time the Soul Edge possessed me, I was, in a manner of speaking, one with the sword."
Cassandra was ready to rebuke that claim, but hearing and seeing what her sister had done to those lizardmen, her sense of logic was beginning to fail.
She stepped aside as Siegfried led his horse next to her sister's.
"May I see it?" he asked calmly.
Cassandra turned away from them as her sister nodded. The sight of that hideous eye had left her fearful.
"What do you make of it?" Cassandra asked Siegfried as he closely examined her sister's swollen eye.
"Well, it appears that the shard in her eye is from the core of the sword. Which explains it being able to possess her."
With her hands on her hips, Cassandra whirled around and frowned, "Well then, what do we do? If it's as malevolent as you say it is, then we have to find a way to cure her."
Siegfried sighed. "There is no cure for it, as far as I know."
Cassandra, despite being on foot, was ready to throttle him. "What do you mean, no cure!? I thought you knew how that thing worked!"
Despite her rage, Siegfried answered calmly, "There were things that even the Soul Edge wouldn't reveal to me, even as its host. However, if you'll calm down for a moment, I do have some information that could help us."
She folded her arms and waited for his answer, despite a glance from her sister to be patient.
"Well, during the last few years, I came across a hermit in the far east. A warrior in every sense of the word. Though I only felt it for an instant, the Soul Edge actually feared a human being that did not wield the Soul Calibur."
Cassandra's sister looked up, "The Soul Calibur?"
He nodded, "Yes. Sort of an opposite sword to the Soul Edge. A Chinese woman used it and defeated me. However, she never had the chance to finish me off because of Astaroth and the monsters from the Fygul Cestemus."
Cassandra snorted and whispered under her breath, "How unfortunate..."
"Anyway, I was hoping to travel to Turkey and get on a route to the Silk Road. Along the way, I had hoped to find the Edge Master. Since he probably knows more than I ever will, maybe he can help me with this," he said, indicating his deformed arm.
Cassandra noted that the deformities were not as severe as when she previously met him, but kept silent as Sophitia spoke up.
"Then perhaps... we could travel together. There are a few people that I know that can help us on the way."
Cassandra didn't like the way Siegfried looked at her sister, yet restrained herself more as she took a peek at the setting sun.
"There's a camp site nearby, I'll go gather some wood for a fire," she said, urging the horses forward. She wanted to argue against letting the Rhinelander come with them, but knew that with him along, their journey could progress significantly faster. Walking into the forest, she failed to see Siegfried looking at her back with a suspicious eye. An eye that eventually focused on and wondered of the contents in her pocket.
=
The flames danced in Siegfried's eyes as more memories of the past came back. Memories he would had rather forgotten. However, he knew too well that running from his problems was what got him here in the first place.
Taking an idle glance at his new traveling companions, he began to wonder if he had simply told Sophitia of what had happened all those years ago. He quietly mouthed the words, "I killed my father..."
Would she still had accepted him if she knew? He didn't want to admit it, but he was scared to think about it. Sophitia was one of the few true friends he ever had and to tell her the truth would spoil what little sympathy she had left for him.
Standing up, he went to the edge of the clearing, returning to his watch. The sun had set hours ago and the wind was starting calming down. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed, but if there was anyone out there, then he couldn't see them.
"If you wish, I could take over from here... you need your rest too," Sophitia said, her blanket still clutched around her shoulders.
"I appreciate that... but at the moment, I feel edgy and I can't sleep."
She looked at him with her good eye before shaking her head, "So... there still is a part of you that has changed."
Confused, he turned back to her, "What do you mean?"
She leaned against a tree opposite of him. "I remember, back in Spain, you could have slept through a thunderstorm and still not stir. Even when I could tell there was something bothering you."
He looked back to her and smiled sadly, "If it's any consolation, aside from the pain I've caused you, I still have things bothering me... Sophitia, can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"I remember back in your home... what you said... it's not the same now..."
"I know... after that ordeal back at the village, I've begun to understand how you feel... and I owe you an apology."
Siegfried frowned. "No... you owe me nothing. It's my fault you're in this condition... and it's my own fault for letting the Soul Edge take control of me. Letting it's false promises break me."
She looked to him with a worried countenance, "What did it promise you?"
Siegfried realized to his horror that he had been caught in his own words... and now only the truth would get him out.
"My father's life... I would have given everything I had to have him back... and everything is what the Soul Edge took."
"I don't understand."
It was now or never. "Sophitia... I... I killed him. It was an accident, but I still killed him."
It took her a second to realize what he meant and her good eye widened and she gasped. Siegfried was ready for the denunciation, the insults, the slap, anything. However, none of it came.
"It makes sense..." she whispered.
"What does?"
"When I asked you of the description of your father's murderer, you continued to hesitate, thinking of something else to blame but yourself."
He looked down in shame and then turned to the darkness. "I was so foolish. I so desperately wanted to be a knight like my father, but my impatience drove me to throw in my lot with a bunch of thieves. Eventually, we robbed a caravan returning from the Middle East and... in the heat of the moment, I struck down my father. I didn't want to believe it."
"And the Soul Edge promised you your father's life back in exchange for a host."
"Yes."
He was still waiting for the berating, or anything harsh coming from her, instead she turned and walked back to the campsite.
He turned, hoping to elicit some sort of reaction from her. "Sophitia..."
"Don't misunderstand me, Siegfried. I still have not forgiven you. You need to face your own demons and come to terms with your guilt. Until then, we are only searching for a cure for our respective ailments and nothing more."
Though calmer than the previous occasion, her voice cut into him like a knife. And he knew he had it coming.
=
Watching the clouds pass over the moon above, Siegfried held back a yawn as he felt ready to wake Cassandra for her watch.
"I should have known..."
He turned to see Sophitia's younger sister, armed for her watch.
"What?"
To his shock, she drew her sword, advanced and held the blade at his neck. "I heard everything, you German swine!" she snarled quietly.
Despite the blade being at his neck, he retorted, "And what will you do? Kill me?"
"Ohhh, don't tempt me! I'd like nothing better than to see you scream in pain after what you've done."
"And you talk like I'm not repentant," he said with a frown.
"Well, it certainly would make me feel better. Because I have the cause of my sister's pain right in front of me and in sword's length. And for your sake, Schtauffen, it'd be in your best interest if she were to improve," she forced him against a tree and spat in his face, "I mean it, Schtauffen... I will take it very personally."
He frowned at her, despite the severity of the situation, "You're in a lovely mood."
She backed off and snarled, "Well, forgive me, Herr Schtauffen, for not being dainty and gentle like my sister. You realize that there is a difference between us."
Siegfried resisted the urge to make such a comparison as she continued.
"Suffice it to say, recent events haven't helped my disposition much."
"My heart bleeds for you," he said with insincere empathy.
She pointed the tip of her weapon at him, "Again, don't tempt me."
Folding his arms, Siegfried took a chance, "Well, say you actually did have to kill me. Who'd be your scapegoat for your distress then?"
She frowned and put her hands on her hips, "I don't need scapegoats. Nor do I need silly deities that live in the mountains telling me what to do."
"Ah, so you're the skeptic while your sister's the believer."
"I never said that. There's many things I don't understand or comprehend, but the way Sophie acted ever since we were kids, you'd think I had that stupid gift she kept harping on about."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow. "For being so fanatically devoted to Sophitia, you don't have any problem with pointing out her faults."
Her frown grew, "That's none of your business."
He nodded. "Yes... you're right," he started to walk by her to the campsite when he turned to her again. "Yet, considering what we've got to go through, I would imagine that what we all carry may be part of my business."
She stepped back, "Wh... what are you talking about?"
He looked directly into her eyes as he advanced. "Being under the influence of the Soul Edge as long as I have, has given me a bit of... insight, I think. Though I've been freed from it, it still is a part of me and I can feel whenever it draws near."
Cassandra snorted, "Well, of course, the shard in my sister's eye would explain it."
Now it was Siegfried's turn to frown, "Yes, but just because I sense it, doesn't mean I'm unaware of how many shards maybe nearby."
Sophitia's sister threw back at him, but without much of her previous force, "Get to the point, Schtauffen!"
"Oh, I think you know what I'm referring to. You have a shard in your pocket... and not just any shard. It's a piece of the core, just like the one in your sister's eye."
Cassandra was backed up against a tree, breathing heavily and clearly nervous about being found out. He knew what she was worrying about and knew why. It appeared that now both sisters were falling underneath the sway of the wicked sword.
"Hand it over..." he ordered quietly, but forcefully, with enough time out of the complete sword's grip, he would be able to keep it repressed until they found the Edge Master.
To his surprise, Cassandra's pupils dilated and she hissed loudly, as though she were a snake. She immediately lunged at him, taking him by surprise and rolled to her feet behind him.
"Never! It's mine! MINE!" she screamed, causing Sophitia to stir.
"Cassandra, what are you... no..." she whispered in horror, seeing a frightening gaze in her sister's eyes and the glowing shard in her hand.
Before either he or Sophitia had a chance to detain Cassandra, she whirled around and ran into the night like a madman. They made it to the edge of their campground when they saw her increase her distance from with at inhuman speeds. Within seconds, she was gone.
He turned around when he heard Sophitia sniff. "Oh dear heaven, no... not Cassandra."
He sighed, "I'm afraid so. The core has always been the strongest part of its influence. However, its effect should wear off when she becomes exhausted, but considering how strong your sister is, she'll be far beyond our reach when that happens."
Their spirits sunk even lower when Sophitia fell to her knees and started to weep. Her crying tore at his heart and he would have done anything to console her.
Maybe he was wrong and the shard's hold on her wasn't as strong as he thought, or perhaps Cassandra could learn how to resist its influence. He knew her will was powerful and if she could figure it out, she could resist its power.
Regardless, he knew that only ill could come of this development. Walking beside her, he placed his hand on her shoulder, as a way of showing his empathy. However, to his surprise, she stood up and leaned herself against him, sobbing onto his chest.
"Please... tell me I'm dreaming... please, tell me I'm back home with my family... that every thing's well... please..."
He could say nothing as his arm wrapped itself around her waist and drew her close with no resistance on her part. However, the more she sobbed, the heavier his soul felt.
"Father in Heaven... I beg of you," he prayed internally with a fervor he had not known in years, "if you would ever heed the prayer of a sinner, please, send an angel... send anything to comfort her."
Not long after, they both turned to see a rustle in the bushes. In a panic, they both retrieved their weapons and waited for the intruder to make itself known. Siegfried stepped forward and prepared himself as he saw a Lizardman, with the the 'Alpha' symbol step out of the woods.
"Perfect. I thought I'd seen the last of your kind long ago!" he said before bringing his sword to bear. Yet, to his and Sophitia's surprise, Alpha stumbled out of the way, snarling and hissing, as though he were trying to explain himself.
He looked to Sophitia, who appeared as bemused as he was, and back to their visitor.
"So then... what are you doing here?" Siegfried inquired.
Alpha proceeded to growl and hiss some more as though he were speaking to them casually. However, he soon realized that they could not comprehend him and then took out his gladius. Though they were ready to attack, their surprise grew when Alpha started using his sword to write in the dirt.
Walking cautiously near, Sophitia stepped up beside him and examined the writing on the ground.
"Can you understand it?" he asked.
"Yes... it's Greek. It's a name. It says..." she suddenly paled and looked up to the lizardman and whispered, "Aeon... Calcos..."
The lizardman pointed to the name and then back to his chest, indicating that who he was.
Siegfried figured this Aeon Calcos was at one time an acquaintance of hers, since he knew that most lizardmen were human at one point.
He still kept his handle on the blade when Sophitia reached forward and touched Aeon's scaly face."By Zeus, Aeon what happened to you?"
Again, Aeon reached down and wrote in the dirt, 'long story'.
Siegfried finally sheathed his sword and felt relieved when a small smile started to grow on Sophitia's face.
"Aeon... I thought you were dead."
Aeon nodded and wrote in the dirt, 'Though Ares had abandoned me, the heavens have not... and you as well, my friend.'
She smiled, embraced her long lost friend, and wiped the tears from her eye. She turned to Siegfried and said, "Um, sorry, this is Aeon Calcos, an old friend of mine."
The lizardman bowed his head cordially to him.
Siegfried returned the gesture, though he was unsure whether having a lizardman as an ally was the best thing in the world or not. Yet, if he was out of the Fygul Cestemus' control, then he could be a powerful ally.
Soon enough, their group found itself with another companion, despite having lost one earlier.
"Siegfried," Sophitia said to him.
He turned to her as he sat on the space designated for his bed, "Hm?"
Though she had one eye, it seemed brighter than he'd seen it since they met recently, "You said that Cassandra may find a way out, right?"
He nodded.
"Then, that means that people can be freed from it?"
Again, he nodded. He was proof that people could escape from the grip of the Soul Edge, though scathed. He had a feeling where this was going. "You're worried for your sister, aren't you."
He missed the light from her somber face. So, he reached forward and placed his palm on her shoulder. "We'll find her."
Her eyes lit up again with hope, "You think so?"
For once, he smiled, knowing that he had brought her something to continue fighting for. "Yes. We will."
End of chapter 6
As you can see, this is the chapter for Aeon. And since we never have a lot of Aeon/Lizardman centered material, I am more than happy to take liberties with how he is. But enough of that.
In the next couple of chapters, the three separate story lines are going to merge, so with any kind of luck, it'll make sense.
Cassie gone bad? One can only hope. :)
As for things I'm not satisfied with are Sieg's characterization, and some of the pacing of the chapter. Is it going too fast? Let me know please. The better the C&C, the higher chance of this fic actually being readable!
That aside, I hope you've enjoyed the story so far.
Finally, all things Soul Calibur belongs to Namco. No profit was made and none will be made off this story.
