Sorry it's been so long! I had a bit of love life trouble for a couple of weeks………didn't much feel like writing anything :(
But I'm back! So without further ado, here's Chapter 6 :)
Chapter 6 – A Trail Of Blood
The following day, the Greek maiden and German knight made their way back to the town, boarding a ship which would take them far from Greece, all the way around Europe. Their destination was France, as they had no doubt that Raphael was headed there.
While Sophitia didn't really know what motivated the fallen noble, Siegfried did. He'd held Soul Edge, felt and used its power. Raphael wanted to wreak vengeance upon somebody, and although he knew it was a bad thought to think, that person or persons probably deserved it.
However, Siegfried knew that Raphael would end up going mad with power. With Soul Edge at his side, he could very well subjugate the entire world. What about his control of the sword? Perhaps Soul Edge was just letting Raphael think he was in control………
Several days later, they were in France. After a good night's rest, the two left the town of Brest where the ship had docked, and set off in search of Raphael.
"Raphael Sorel………what an unpleasant surprise………"
The young black haired noble stared at Raphael. It had been a couple of years since he had last laid eyes on the charlatan. He had been one of the many who had chased him out of town upon the will of the man's own family. "You have a lot of nerve coming back here."
"Did you really think I would let all of you forget?" sneered Raphael. "All of you betrayed me, Toustain. Every last one of you stabbed me in the back. My family were the worst, however."
"You even dare to address me, Raphael?" hissed Toustain, glaring at Raphael with contempt. "You are not fit to lick my boots, fool."
"Ha ha………such pathetic words from such a pathetic man." Raphael taunted, unsheathing Soul Edge. The eye on the top of the hilt blinked at Toustain.
"What the devil is that, Sorel?" gasped Toustain slightly. "Have you turned to worshipping the devil now?" Toustain drew his own rapier in one lightning fast movement.
"This………" Raphael smiled, looking at his precious sword. "………is my revenge!"
He lunged forward with speed he'd never known his entire life. Toustain barely parried the blow, and had to start backing off from Raphael's flurry of swings.
Toustain rolled to the left, and Raphael struck a chair leg that had been in the way. The chair crashed to the floor loudly.
Toustain used this moment to slice at Raphael's sword arm, hoping to disable his opponent. However, Soul Edge met his rapier, and smashed it away. The force of the attack nearly tore the weapon from Toustain's grip.
Raphael then swung low is if to strike Toustain's legs. However, it was masterful feint. Toustain went to deflect this attack, but at the last moment Raphael sliced upwards, cutting through Toustain's left arm.
"Argh!" cried Toustain, lowering his rapier and grabbing the wound. "You devil, Raphael! What kind of trickery is this?"
"This is no trickery, you misguided fool!" laughed Raphael. "This is power! The power to cleanse this damned country of filth like you! Meet your eternal rest!"
Raphael thrust Soul Edge right into Toustain's stomach. The younger man's face became one of surprise, then horror.
"You…….you fiend………ARRRGGGHHHHH!" The colour, and indeed the life vanished from Toustain's body as Soul Edge ripped his soul away and devoured it. Raphael pulled the sword free from Toustain's corpse, which fell lifeless to the ground.
"Wretch." declared Raphael. Wisps of red bolts emanated from Soul Edge and lanced into Raphael. The energy from Toustain's soul channelled into him from Soul Edge, and he felt invigorated with strength and vitality.
He walked out of the house, looking back for one moment. "You are just the first………"
It had been 3 days since Siegfried and Sophitia left Brest. They'd found that Raphael's hometown was Rouen, a good few days' travel northeast from Brest. It was a long way on foot, but a trader had kindly given them a lift, putting them only a day away from their destination.
It was now late in the afternoon, and the two of them were tired. There was a fallen log on the side of the road, and they gladly say down on it, badly needing to rest their aching bodies.
"Huff….huff………and I thought my homeland was big!" exclaimed Siegfried. He'd taken the journey the worst. Plate armour was not a good walking accessory, and the weight of Faust just made the going worse. Despite having his strength from Soul Edge, even Siegfried needed to rest now and then.
Sophitia was actually much less tired than Siegfried, but it wasn't like her sword and shield weren't heavy. She also hadn't had a good bath in days. She longed for the lake back at home, her favourite bathing spot.
"We really should stop for the day. It won't do us any good if we have to fight Raphael when we're fatigued." she observed.
"You're right." Siegfried looked behind them into the small wood by the road. "I think there's a clearing in there. We should be able to stop here for the night."
"Agreed." smiled Sophitia, getting up. Siegfried did the same. "Lead the way, sir knight!" she giggled.
"Hah………ok………" replied Siegfried. She was being happy, and although he was glad that she was, it confused him. How could she be happy at a time like this? Or maybe it was him. Maybe he just didn't know how to show emotions anymore………
Sophitia followed Siegfried into the forest clearing, and was pleasantly surprised as she brushed the last tree branch out of her way. The clearing had a small pond!
"Finally!" she beamed. "It's about time I had a bath!"
Siegfried didn't hear her. He was busy getting firewood together. It was a warm night, but he knew more than anyone that warm soon turned to cold.
He grabbed a few bits and pieces, tossing them onto a small pile. If Siegfried has learned one good thing from his dark times, it was woodcraft.
"Hey………Siegfried………" Sophitia's voice startled him. He'd been so engrossed in his task that he'd forgotten she was there. He noticed she had taken off her armour and was now only dressed in her white tunic and skirt. He thought she looked better like that. A pretty girl like her should be enjoying her life, not getting caught up in fighting! He couldn't take his eyes off her. She's beautiful………
"Siegfried?" Sophitia's warm voice made him jump, and he snapped out of his trance.
"Sorry………I, ummm………what?" replied Siegfried hastily, his red slightly red from embarrassment.
Sophitia obviously didn't notice he'd been checking her out. "I'd like to go and bathe." She shuffled her feet nervously. "That means………"
"Means what?" Siegfried looked puzzled. If she wanted to bathe, she could. Siegfried didn't have a problem………
"Ummmm………I'd rather you weren't there………" It was Sophitia's turn to blush red.
All of a sudden it clicked in Siegfried's mind. You idiot, where are your manners?
"Oh………I'm sorry!" he laughed slightly, getting up from the firewood pile. "Ok then, I'll leave you it………" He made to leave, and respect Sophitia's privacy.
"Siegfried?" Sophitia called him. He turned round. She was holding her arm, and she looked somewhat saddened to see him go.
"Yes?" he answered, looking at her. He felt funny, like he didn't want to go.
"No peeking!" Sophitia's voice taunted him. She gave him a wink, and headed towards the pond.
Siegfried laughed a little to himself. "She's cute………" he said, turning around away from the pond.
A while later, Siegfried had collected the last of the firewood. Brushing aside a branch that had hit him in the face, he headed back to the pond. He figured Sophitia would be finished by now.
He walked back into the clearing, his eyes firmly on the spot where he'd left the rest of the firewood. He added what he was carrying to it. They'd have enough warmth tonight.
He looked up. Where was Sophitia? He looked behind him at the pond.
His eyes widened in surprise. "Wha?………Sophitia…………"
She was still in the pond, bathing. The light from the sky poured onto her, illuminating her naked body. She was quietly washing herself, running her hands along every curve.
Siegfried tried to tear his eyes away from the heavenly sight before him. I shouldn't be doing this………
However, it was no use. She was so beautiful………
Sophitia continued to wash, unaware that Siegfried was watching her. She splashed some water onto her chest, causing her breasts to jiggle slightly.
Her secret onlooker gulped. He was becoming aroused………something that had never happened to him in his entire life………at least not since he'd been Nightmare.
Sophitia stood up out of the water – she'd been kneeling down – exposing her whole body to Siegfried. Water dripped from every single one of her curves. She threw her wet golden hair back, helping it to dry a bit by getting rid of some the moisture in it.
It was then that she caught sight of Siegfried.
Siegfried's eyes met hers at the same moment.
"Uh-oh………"
Sophitia gasped and frantically tried to cover herself up. "SIEGFRIED!"
Siegfried gulped, backing away from the pond.
There was a sudden set of splashes. Sophitia, still completely naked, ran out of the pond towards her pile of clothes which she'd left nearby. She hurriedly grabbed them, covering her breasts and her 'secret place.' "Siegfried! Why did you peek at me!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the whole clearing.
Siegfried looked away red faced. "I-I didn't mean to………I came back, I thought you were finished………"
Sophitia hurriedly dressed herself, then stomped over to Siegfried, who was somewhat worried.
"I asked you not to peek at me………" she started, her face full of anger. Siegfried then turned around. She looked into his eyes, and suddenly burst out laughing. Siegfried couldn't help himself, and he laughed too. A couple of minutes later, they regained their composure.
"I apologise, Sophitia." said Siegfried, a warm smile on his face.
"Don't worry about it." grinned Sophitia. "It was nice to see you laugh!"
"I can't remember the last time I laughed………" said Siegfried, looking into Sophitia's eyes. "Thank you………"
"See………you can feel emotions again………" smiled Sophitia, her face turning a bit red. "Ummm………I just wanted to know………what do you think of me………?"
Siegfried was taken aback by this question. Why did she want to know that?
"You're very………very………" he started, and it was then he realised something. Looking at Sophitia, he was feeling something he'd rarely felt in his life, something he never thought he'd feel again………
Love.
He was falling in love with Sophitia………
A pang of sadness nibbled at his heart. He knew it could never be like that. There was always the threat that he could become Nightmare again………he didn't want to put her in that kind of danger. As much as he wanted to tell her how he felt, he knew he couldn't.
"You're very beautiful………" he finished.
Sophitia blushed redder. "Thank you………you're not so bad yourself." She laughed slightly. "Well, come on. Let's get this fire burning." She knelt down by the firewood, and so did Siegfried, who promptly started rubbing two sticks together in order to start the fire.
Sophitia watched the young knight work. He's so handsome………and he takes good care of me. In fact………he puts me before himself………
Moments later, he had the fire going. By that time, night was starting to set in.
"We should get some sleep." suggested Siegfried. He removed his armour, except for the leggings he wore underneath. He was left bare-chested, but he didn't mind. He'd often slept like this.
"Yeah………" Sophitia replied, half listening to him. She was more interested in his body. She hadn't realised he was so hot………
Siegfried laid his head down on the grass. "Goodnight………"
"Goodnight……" replied Sophitia, laying down. She took one last longing look at Siegfried before she went to sleep.
Her last thought was of when he'd been looking at her, and she smiled………
The next day, under the hot summer sun, Siegfried and Sophitia arrived at the gate of Rouen. However, as they neared the town, the sky seemed to go dark, yet they still felt the warmth of the sun.
Chills went down Sophitia's spine. "Siegfried………I have a bad feeling about this………"
"You're not the only one………" replied Siegfried as they came to the gate. Instantly they knew something was wrong. It was too quiet………
"Hello?" called Siegfried, knocking on the gate. "Is anyone there? Open the gate!"
There was no answer. A cold wind blew around them.
"Looks like we'll have to get in ourselves." Siegfried observed, drawing Faust. He was about to start smashing at the gate, but Sophitia stopped him.
"Wait. Someone already made a way in." Sophitia was pointing at a section of the wall next to the gate. A hole large enough for a person at been literally cut out of it.
The two of them walked up to the hole. "This must be Raphael's handwork." thought Siegfried out loud.
"If he's here, that means………oh no!" Sophitia gasped loudly. "Are we too late?"
"Don't, worry Sophitia!" replied Siegfried, stepping through the hole. "He can't have been here long………"
Sophitia followed him through the hole, and they stepped into Rouen.
They were greeted by a truly horrific sight.
"By the gods………" Sophitia looked away in shock. Siegfried simply stared.
The streets were littered with corpses, mostly those of the town's soldiers. Obviously they'd tried to fight Raphael………and had lost.
There were also bodies of innocent folk as well. The cobbled streets were drenched in blood, and the poor devils had looks of total terror on their faces. Siegfried knelt down and felt the body of one poor man. It was cold and stiff, but also felt like there had never been a life in it at all.
"Soul Edge has drained all their souls………if that's the case, then he could now be more powerful than before." Siegfried looked up at his companion gravely. "If it gets too powerful………"
"I know………" Sophitia replied, her voice choking up. "How………how could he do this? He said he only wanted to kill the nobles………"
"His grip over Soul Edge could be weakening." suggested Siegfried. "Or perhaps he is no better than that sword………"
He looked into the distance. Along the widest of the streets, he could see a mansion in the distance, raised up on a hill slightly. Siegfried felt a sudden rush of darkness………
"I………I feel it………Soul Edge………" He collapsed to his knees.
"Siegfried?" Sophitia grabbed hold of the knight as he fell. "Are you OK?"
"It's in the mansion………he's there………quickly, we have to stop him………" He gingerly got to his feet. Sophitia led the way as they raced up the bloody streets towards the Sorel mansion.
Raphael smashed in the red panelled door. He stepped inside, and the face of his father caught his eye.
"What in the………? Raphael!" exclaimed the distinguished elder of the Sorel family. "What is the meaning of this!"
"What's the matter, Father?" spoke Raphael menacingly. "Not happy to see your son?"
"You are nothing but a filthy liar. You are not my son." growled Mr. Sorel. "Leave this house at once!"
"Father, what's going on?" Raphael's blonde haired sister came to the study door. "My God………brother!"
"I've come for my revenge, Father." sneered Raphael, raising Soul Edge. It looked stronger, sturdier than it had previously at the shrine. "You shouldn't turn your back on your family."
"You did nothing but hurt this family!" snarled Mr. Sorel, shaking his fist. "Put away that weapon now, or do you wish to dishonour yourself even more?"
"I don't care much for honor anymore, Father." Raphael looked at his father with insanity in his eyes. Before Mr. Sorel realised what was happening, Raphael plunged Soul Edge into his father's stomach.
"Arrrggghhhhhh! You…..you fiend………Gaaaahhhhhhhhh!" Mr. Sorel let out a sickening scream as Soul Edge ripped his soul from his body.
Raphael pulled the sword from the corpse that was once his father, and turned to face his sister, who was shaking in fear.
"Your turn, sister………"
Siegfried and Sophitia made it to the front door of the mansion. Two people were laid outside it, dead. The door had been smashed open.
"Sophitia, I feel death from this place." said Siegfried, his heart beginning to beat faster with anxiety. "We need to hurry………ooh………" The knight collapsed to his knees yet again, his head beginning to pound.
"Siegfried, what is wrong?" Sophitia once again picked him up. She looked at his face. It was full of worry and pain.
"It's………it's calling me………I can hear it's voice again………" Siegfried held his head in his hands. "It's stronger than before. Stronger than when I had it………"
A scream suddenly sounded from inside the mansion. Without waiting another second, the two warriors dashed inside the mansion.
Inside, the corridors reeked of death. They came across the blood splattered bodies of Raphael's family.
They came across the study, and saw the body of Mr. Sorel. They had no time to spare a thought for the poor man, because right at the other end of the ornate corridor, they saw Raphael.
He slowly pulled Soul Edge out from the corpse at his feet, which was that of his sister. He looked at the bloodied weapon gleefully. "At last………my revenge is complete!"
Siegfried and Sophitia both drew their weapons. "Hold, Raphael!" shouted Siegfried.
Raphael's head snapped in their direction. "Well, well, well………if it isn't my good friends come to join the party!" He turned his whole body to face them.
"You realise your efforts are in vain. Surely our previous engagement should have told you that!" he scoffed, looking at them disdainfully.
"We will not give up, Raphael! You and that sword are not immortal!" scowled Sophitia. She took a step towards her enemy, as did Siegfried.
"Let it go, Raphael………I was able to, so can you! Don't give in to your darkness!" Siegfried tried to reason with him.
"Fool. You let go because you were weak enough to be ruled over by the sword!" The former noble smashed Soul Edge into the wall. "I will show you what TRUE power is!"
He thrust Soul Edge into the air, and a red light shone around it. Red coloured energy began to lance around it as it had back in the shrine, but this time, it was striking the walls of the mansion. Cracks appeared in the walls, and flames began to appear, encircling the mad noble.
It then shot out into Sophitia and Siegfried, knocking them all the way back down the corridor into the wall. They barely held onto their weapons as they thudded into the wall.
Raphael gave out a twisted laugh, then the energy intensified. The mansion began to shake violently, and the flames were crawling up the walls, burning the various portraits to cinders.
Siegfried came around first. "We've got to get out of here!" He grabbed Sophitia by the arm and together they ran out of the mansion, the oncoming flames chasing them.
They both dived to the ground as soon as they got outside. Moments later, the mansion crashed to the ground in a pile of burning wood and stone. The marble pillars thundered into the ground, sounding like the stomping of elephants' feet.
Siegfried had instinctively thrown himself on top of Sophitia. His plate armour protected both of them from the debris that came crashing down onto their heads. They stayed in that prone position until the dust settled.
They picked themselves up, both of them somewhat dusty, but unharmed.
"What happened to him?" wondered Sophitia. "Did he destroy himself too………?
Her answer came promptly. A small chunk of debris was suddenly blasted apart. Out from it stepped Raphael, grinning gleefully. Soul Edge was still in his hand, and it's eye was open in delight.
"Is that a good enough answer?" retorted Siegfried, raising Faust..
"You really are starting to bore me." Raphael sneered, swinging Soul Edge into a ready stance. "I think it's time that you both die!"
"This time, it's you who will die!" growled Siegfried. "Have at you!"
"In the name of the gods, you will fall!" Sophitia had her weapons ready.
"Come then!" laughed Raphael loudly. "Come to your deaths!"
Siegfried rushed at Raphael, hoping to hit him before he could react. He reached his foe, and delivered two great vertical swings with Faust. The first caught the ex-noble off guard, and the second just grazed his left arm.
"Ugh!" groaned Raphael, backing off slightly. "Not bad for one as weak as you!"
"The only weak one here is you!" Siegfried crouched, and swung horizontally twice as he got up. It was his Maelstrom technique, and it forced Raphael to block low.
Raphael had barely enough time to stop that attack when Sophitia attacked from his left. Her Omega Sword managed to slightly stab him in the side, but he knocked it away before she did any real damage.
"Two against one. That seems somewhat unfair to me!" Raphael glared at his two opponents, and suddenly lunged a Sophitia. He acted as if to slash her, and went to block accordingly.
However, it was a clever feint. Sophitia blocked the blade, but Soul Edge's hilt smashed into the side of her head. She crashed to her knees, slightly concussed from the force of the blow.
Raphael prepared to lunge. "Goodbye, goddess girl!"
"SOPHITIA!" cried Siegfried. He thrust Faust in between Soul Edge and Sophitia, and the evil blade harmlessly deflected off the giant Zweihander.
He then quickly resumed a normal stance, parrying Raphael's return strike.
"My, my, you appear to be more worried about the girl's life than your own!" laughed Raphael coldly.
"This fight is mine! I have a score to settle with that sword!" Siegfried took a swing at Raphael's sword arm, but he was quickly parried.
"Such a fool………"Raphael shook his head. "You don't stand a chance! I have a power far greater than this pathetic world has ever seen! Soon, I will have the ultimate power!" He stabbed forwards at Siegfried, who blocked the strike.
"What are you talking about!" yelled Siegfried, crouching forwards and delivering a powerful vertical strike, which forced Raphael back a bit.
"The power of this sword, what you have seen and known……… it is nothing compared to its true properties!" Raphael looked excited as he spoke. "The power to decide life or death, the power to destroy an entire world………wouldn't you like to have that power?"
"What madness is this, Raphael?" Confusion was written all over Siegfried's face.
"You misguided fool!" snorted Raphael, making a wild stab at the knight, only for Soul Edge to be clashed away by Faust again. "Humanity is weak, and worthless! Only the strong survive! The weak will die!" He looked at Soul Edge in awe. "He who has power, has the world in his grasp. He who has Soul Edge, has ultimate power!"
"You're insane! I will stop you here!" Siegfried stared daggers at his foe. "I know what that sword thinks. It just wants to kill. It revels in the suffering of others. It's inhuman! Are you really willing to let humanity suffer, Raphael?"
"I care not for what pitiful fools like you think!" growled Raphael, punching a piece of wall that was next to him. "I will kill every last one of you!"
"Not if I kill you first!" Siegfried ran at Raphael, holding Faust in a position ready to smash down on Raphael.
Raphael also charged, Soul Edge poised to pierce Siegfried's armour and deliver a shattering wound.
The two mens' eyes were firmly fixed on each other, Siegfried's blue eyes of determination and Raphael's eyes of insanity.
As they reached each other, Raphael thrust forward with possibly the most powerful force he'd ever mustered.
Siegfried brought Faust upwards from behind his back, and swung it upwards as hard as he could.
The two swords crashed together, and something strange happened. A bright light shot out as the weapons hit, and blasted the two combatants apart from each other.
Siegfried was knocked back to the ground, his head hitting the ground violently.
Raphael didn't fall, and remained on his feet. "Hah………see? You are weak………" He prepared to finish off Siegfried.
"What………? Arrrgggghhhh!"
Raphael suddenly arched back in pain. Energy similar to that of Soul Edge was lancing through him. However, it was coloured blue, and not red. It was also hurting him!
"What………is………this? Gaaaaahhhhhhh!" Raphael stepped back, grimacing in pain. He almost dropped Soul Edge, but he kept a tight grip on the twisted sword.
Siegfried barely saw this happening. He began to black out.
Just before he lost consciousness, he heard a voice in his head. It was loud and distinct, and spoke only one word.
Soul Calibur………
The plot thickens! I'll try to do Chapter 7 ASAP, I'll get it done don't worry:)
Chris the Phoenix Knight
