Isabella was begining to regain conciousness. The world seemed to be a haze as she slowly opened her eyes. It seemed dreary; she moved her hand to wipe her eyes inhopes to see things a little clearer.
It was then that she realized that she was bound at the hand and legs, her torso bounded by rope. She was restrained on a wooden chair, made of Oak.
"Here drink this" Gabrielo, placed a small vile upon her lips, she very rapidly turned her head, making her a little dizzy. as she refused to take the drink.
"Take it; it'll make the pain go away." Isabella then noticed the intence pain on the back of her head. She slowly began to sip the liquor; the pain decreased with every sip she took.
Suddenly the doors opened, Siegfried rushed in."Leave us Gabrielo", the old priest reluctantly obeyed. He retreated through the doors to the left which Siegfried had come.
"What is it that you want with Soul Edge." Siegfried demanded. The man picked up a chair and placed it a yard away from Isabella, promtly sitting in it.
"First answer my question: what do YOU have to do with Soul Edge?" Ivy questioned. Siegfried snickered.
"You are my captive and you presume for me to answer your questions" he remarked somewhat amused.
"Point taken... I wish to destroy Soul Edge" she said it with a little stream of hatred.
"And what is it that Soul Edge has done to you that makes you wish for this task?" Siegfried's eyes became a little more intense.
"My reasons are of not your concern. Now answer me" she boldly stated.
"Very well then miss...Isabella." Siegfried began but was cut short by the platinum haired woman.
"Call me Ivy",
Siegfried continued."Very well then Ivy; Yes I did have contact with the blade, but it mysteriously disappeared while I was packing for my Voyage." he plainly stated.
"Voyage? were would a acolyte be going on a voyage for?" Ivy staired at the man as he stood up and turned away.
"I was planning to go the the New World. Now that Cortez has relinquished , the rest of the Aztec Empire, and Jamestown has been established, it seemed the like the perfect escape." He turned once again to face Ivy.
"Escape what?" she thought he would have said something about Soul Edge, but was surprised by his response.
"To escape myself, to begin anew... in a world were nobody knows you, you can become anything and correct old mistakes." His angst was pouring out from each word.
Ivy lowered her head, the thought of being able to leave all her problems behind, to live life as she originally planned, before all the chaos and blood shed, it would be like a dream come true. "I understand what you mean, but one can not run from there problems." Siegfried looked at her.
"What I said must have lead you to believe that I wanted to escape my resposibilities and I will not lie to you: there are times I wish I could. But my original intent was to take my problems to a place were it could'nt effect anyone."
"You planned to become isolated cold and alone, just so no one else would suffer." Ivy knew this feeling; it is then that she realized that Siegfried and herself were... alike.
"Yes. But now that Soul Edge has dissappeared I must do everything I can in order to find it. And Destroy it once and for all." His fist wrapped into a tight ball, so tight his knuckles turned white.
"Then release me. The two of us seem to have to same objective. Release me, and we can help each other; two heads are better than one." Ivy stated.
"Tell me why is it that you seem so eager to join me?" Siegfried got close to her face his fingers barely grasping her chin. Ivy was astonished by the rudeness of this man, but continued.
"Because I know what it's like to have your dreams crushed aswell." she stated, Siegfried backed away with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Very well, then." From a hidden compartment behind a curtain, he picked up a box which contained Valentine, Ivy's snake sword. He tossed it on the ground a few feet infront of her.
"Let me see if what I saw in our little confrontation is true." As if on que, Valentine unwrapped itself, quickly cutting the ropes that chained Ivy. She got up, knocking off a few pieces of rope that had still laid on her shoulder. "Your quite perseptive for an ordinary acolyte..."
"Very well then. If you want you can spend the night here we have a small room, just right of the entrance and up the stairs." Siegfried pointed in the direction.
"No, I'd perfer to stay at the Inn." Ivy picked up Valentine and began to walk toword Siegfried's direction.
"Alright then, we shall head off at sunrise, meet me at the entrance to Venice." he stated.
"Very well then, until then I bid you adieu" Ivy quickly made her way out of the Cathedral.
Early Next morning.
Siegfried had already packed. He now worn adorned armor, gold and silver plating. Under it, he wore green pants, and a brown tight long sleeve shirt. The armor was shining in the sunlight. It had a very eloquent design finely crafted: attention was put into each detail. The shoulder guards were decorated with orange feathers, from the most rarest of birds; his boots reached high on his thigh. His gauntlets were sharp enough that if he were to punch a man it would leave a large gash in him. He also wore a crimson cape, the design of the cross crested upon it.
His stallion was as white as snow, his mane was long and neatly combed. A red turpen, under the sattle, at the brim was a gold streak that stretched around the perimeter of it, and little golden strings hanged from the brim. His eyes were green, and he had a black streak going down his face.
"Hello Phantasy, I think we still have one last battle to face together" Siegfried picked up a comb and began to brush his stallion. It stood their calmly, letting Siegfried do with it what he wished."Well if it's all the same to you, old friend, I'd say it be best to get along" he then picked up a few food tablets, and let Phantasy eat from his hand.
After the horse had finished, Siegfried went to the wall on the far left, and picked up an enourmous sword, it had a large hilt, the blade was large about five feet tall, and two feet wide, a brown stripe going down the middle. The tip of the blade was curved and yet still sharp, giving it a three pronged edge. He placed the sword on the right side of the horse, nearly covering it's form. It was held by two metal axels, and were strapped tight by three leather straps. He wrapped a rag around the blade as to not cause attention to himself.
Soon after he got on Phantasy, and road to the entrance of Venice.
Same time, at the local Inn
"Damn I'm gonna be late." Ivy was not wearing her cloak and was nearly done dressing herself. She wore red stockings with the design of a rose on each leg in white and gold. She also wore crimson red high heeled shoes, with two golden ankle braclets on both her legs. She wore a full body corset, the brim near the breast line decorated in gold. The corset also had what appeared to be a tail, much like a man would have on his tuxedo. Her gloves were long and reached pass the elbow; they were also brimmed with gold.
She adorned a rather large neck piece, with a large emerald embedded upon it and finished putting her mascara and eyeliner. Finally she picked up her velvet cloak and pulled it over her shoulders. She did not want to gain attention from the masses, because of what she wore--many considered her attire to be unbefitting of a woman.
She went up to her horse, Rose. And road off to meet Siegfried.
15 minutes later...
Ivy arrived shortly after Siegfried.
Ivy laughed lightly at Siegfried's appearance. "A regular knight in shining armor, aren't you" Ivy stated, with sly smile on her face. She no longer had her hood on, and the same platinum hair, demonic mascara, and angelic lips were all plainly visible.
"And what can I say about your attire, are you someones muse" Siegfried began to smile brightly. Ivy was slghtly offended, but could'nt help but laugh at their little bickering.
"So where to, Sir knight" Ivy stated sarcastically.
"I have a feeling we'll find something in Germany." Siegfried stated, their horses began to trott along the road, people moving out the way as they did.
"Speaking of which you don't seem to be from around here?" Ivy looked at Siegfried and then at most of the people they passed by, Sigfried was the only blonde person there.
"I'm not from Italy, I'm from Germany. I came down here in hopes to avoid my responsiblity, then I met Gabrielo, he told me about the Cathedral, and how God could heal all wounds. So I stayed and became an acolyte." Siegfried stopped advancing, Ivy gaining a few paces, from the suddeness.
"Whats wrong?" she asked.
"Gabrielo, I knew I forgot something..." Phantasy began to take up a charge and jumped onto one of the near by platforms neighing loudly. This caught the attention of an old familiar man, Gabrielo.
He began to make his way toward Siegfried, he held a large keg in his hands.Finally reaching Siegfried.
"Good...I thought you had run off without it." Gabrielo, gave the keg to Siegfried, making sure it not to drop.
"Now remember, use it twice every week, otherwise the pain will return." Gabrielo stated. Siegfried got off his stallion, facing his friend.
"Thank you...for everything Gabrielo." Siegfried hugged the old man who had become some what like a father figure for him.
"I'd gladly do it all again, I just wish I could go with you. But these old bones aren't what they use to be." Gabrielo gave Siegfried two kisses on the cheek, a tradition for Italians, finally parting ways for his good friend. Ivy had been watching from a far, and smiled at the sincerity of Siegfried. How can a man who had to her been through much still be so positive and caring for others. Perhaps some of this comradery gave her a glimps of hope, that perhaps things aren't so dire.
Siegfried had made his way to Ivy, and the two began their journey, to destroy Soul Edge.