Chapter 12
A haunted past, a daunting future…
Siegfried started to cry, he took a deep breath and told them a story which he had kept hidden for so long…
"My… My father was the one who taught me in the ways of the sword since I was I child… I loved his father, but he had duties to perform. And he embarked on a foreign crusade, promising to return. After he left, I fell into the wrong crowds and soon joined a band of outlaws. One day, I thought we could hunt down the knights who had run away from the crusades and steal their armour and loot. One night, a group of weary knights approached, and I and a few people I knew ambushed them."
Sophitia and Cassandra where just sitting down listening to his story.
"The knights, fatigued from battle and the long march home, were no match for us. But the commander didn't give up… I had to kill him. I held the head up and it was then that I finally got a good look at the commander's face. It... It was my father."
Cassandra and Sophitia gasped, they could not believe what they just heard.
"My mind snapped… I fled into the forest in grief and fear. He spent days in alone, grieving for his father. I went crazy… and in denial I thought someone else slew my father. I wanted to avenge his father's death. That's when I heard of it… Soul Edge… I pledged never to rest until I had that sword and avenged my father! I finally found a trace of Soul Edge and tracked it to a port town in Spain. As he entered the town, he saw a female ninja carrying another female warrior… you..." He looked up at Sophitia "away from the docks... Going in the direction that you had both came from, I came upon the dead body of the pirate and one of the twin blades of Soul Edge lying beside him. I had found it…"
Siegfried sighed…
"With this sword, I could find and defeat his father's killer. I reached to pick up the sword but was stopped when the pirate's body became enveloped in fire. The burning corpse rose up as Soul Edge consumed his body. With a flash, Soul Edge and I began a savage battle. I emerged victorious and claimed the remaining sword as my own… But as soon as I touched it, the history of massacre within Soul Edge travelled into me… I realized too late that the sword was merging with me... I screamed as his body turned red as blood and the sword exploded with evil energy. It was in this instant… that Siegfried ceased to exist and I became Nightmare. Soul edge told me that it fed on souls and if I got enough, I could resurrect my father… so I did as it asked…"
He stopped for a bit to catch his breath, he looked up at the two sisters, the looks on their faces where as expected… confused, shocked… even a little angry. So, he continued his story
"The next three years were spent in a dream-like state... I was vaguely aware of Nightmare harvesting hundreds of souls to heal Soul Edge. Once his minions had collected enough souls, Nightmare used the power of the Soul Edge to resurrect my dad. But all he did… was ask me to kill him again! I knew then, that it was nothing more than an illusion… created by my weak mind. His father admonished my actions... he forgave me…" This finally broke me from the mental control the Soul Edge had. I was weakened, and I found myself under attack by two people… The battle did not last long, as the warriors easily defeated Nightmare."
He looked up and smiled at the sisters, then continued. "Soul Edge was knocked free from my hands and his body was returned to normal. I fled the castle while a battle raged out front. I knew Soul Edge must never fall into the hands of anyone else. So I set off to go as far away as possible from people and towns. Each morning, I woke to the sight of people slain by me during the night. It took over my mind and flesh while I slept, and I was burdened by this new guilt. But, I couldn't take my own life and end things so easily... If he died, the sword would only find a new host to possess and continue its evil ways. The only solution was to find a place where the evil could be imprisoned forever. Time wore on… my control over my body became irregular, and the sword held sway over me again. The sword healed itself gradually by feeding off peoples souls. After four years, the sword had nearly recovered to full strength."
He took a deep breath "And the rest you already know… I became Nightmare again, but I still had my will… I still had some control…" Cassandra interrupted "Which is why you let me go…" He nodded. "It was that encounter that lead me to break free of the sword once again… so I thank you…" He kissed her once more then attempted to finish what he was saying "I went to find you, so that I could thank you… but then... all this happened…" Sophitia and Cassandra where hit with guilt… they thought he kept the blade because he wanted power… he kept it so no one else would suffer like he has…