Chapter 2

The turquoise blade over my shoulder and the map in my hand, I traversed the forest between Ostrheinsburg and the closest town, Kandarin. I had walked a few miles in my heavy armor with a sword longer than I was tall on my shoulder, but with this new sword I wasn't nearly as tired as I should have been.

That's when I met Ivy.

I could hear leaves rustling and metal clanking to my left side. I turned quickly and caught a glimpse of white hair above a column of pale exposed flesh.

I moved toward where I had seen the person, but they were gone. I looked behind the nearest tree. Still nothing.

A woman's voice thick with English accent sounded behind me right as I felt cold, sharp steel against my neck.

"Your soul has been tainted by Soul Edge. You must die."

The steel seemed to wrap around my neck like a snake. I pulled the rapier out of my armor – Gods only knew how I managed to get it in there without impaling myself – and pried myself free. I backed away slowly and viewed my assailant.

This woman was a good deal taller than my five feet, six inches. Her short platinum hair in front of her green eyes didn't quite catch my attention as much as her outfit: dark purple leather only covering what is required by law to be covered in public.

She also had a gold armlet on her left arm.

"Who are you?"

"My name doesn't matter, only my destiny. Soul Edge and everyone ever tainted by it must be eradicated from the face of the planet." Her wrist twitched slightly and the short sword she was wielding collapsed into a bladed whip that wrapped around her slender frame.

"Your work has already been accomplished. Soul Edge has been destroyed."

The woman's eyes narrowed as she readied her whip-sword. I could tell her patience was quickly waning.

"My name is Siegfried Schtauffen. I am the last owner of the Sword of Salvation, or rather, the last pawn of it. Earlier today, I was assaulted by a man I believe to be a Sorel, who managed to destroy the sword." I held up the rapier in my left hand.

"You're telling the truth… But that won't save you now. The evil sword has already infected your soul. And are you sure that it was truly destroyed?"

"Yes."

"Or was it just broken apart, like it was seven years ago?"

I stood motionless for a moment. "I suppose it only broke…" Really? Xianghua broke Soul Edge? Odd that I didn't remember that…

Her eyes narrowed again, like she was probing my mind. "I like you. I think I'll let you live… for now… under one condition."

"And that is?"

"Since it's your fault that I now have to destroy about twenty pieces of Soul Edge instead of just one sword, you must join me and my cause to erase the cursed sword from

existence, or die where you stand."

I thought this over. It's not like I had anything better to do, and I didn't really want to carve up this beautiful woman like a turkey.

"Deal."

The lady put her whip-sword aside and brushed her hair from her eyes before extending her hand. "My name is Isabella Valentine. Call me Ivy."

"Well met, Ivy." I took her hand and shook it. Her grip was much stronger than I expected.

Ivy's sword intrigued me. Exactly how does it work?

"What kind of sword is that?"

She gave a little chuckle. "Everyone asks me that. Those that haven't died by its blade, that is. I'm an alchemist. I made this sword myself. The last time Soul Edge broke, I found a fragment of it. When I fused it with Valentine—" Ivy held up her sword "— it draws itself toward Soul Edge or its fragments. Or, in your case, past wielders that have been infected." She brushed her hair from her eyes again. "And what's the story behind your sword, may I ask?"

I glanced at Soul Calibur. "I found this buried at Ostrheinsburg right after the Sword of Salvation was destr—umm, broken." I decided to leave out the fact that this was Soul Calibur until I felt I could trust her.