Chapter Five: Plannings of the Light
"To be blunt, I cannot go back. Ever." needless to say that the members of the White Wind were now feeling pretty guilty as their actions had unintentionally caused him to leave his home to come here and protect it. Cassandra stood up as Link started to walk off toward the exit not wanting to waste anymore of their time "Wait Link!" she called grabbing him by the arm stopping him in his tracks.
Maxi leaned toward Kilik "Is it just me or is she really hanging on to him?"
Xianghua looked and giggled "I think they make a cute couple."
Sophitia rolled her eyes as they spoke of her sister, their lifestyle revolved around being considerate for the fates of others, Cassandra was just more prepared to voice her concern. She was sure however, that all of them wanted to be sure that Link wasn't running out on them.
Cassandra tugged on Link's arm keeping him from moving, he looked back at her a slightly confused look on his face. Cassandra spoke loudly at him putting alot of feeling into her words "What are you going to do Link? Where are you going?" Link looked back at her, his eyes seemed a little saddened by his looking back on what had happened. He'd been in this new world for half a year and he had thought he had settled in by now, but looking back had been far more painful than he expected painful.
Link placed a hand on Cassandra's shoulder "Don't worry. I'm just going back to get somebody." Cassandra stepped back lightly feeling a little embarrassed until Kilik walked up, his rod idly balanced on his shoulder while his hand held one end "Getting somebody? Who exactly?" he asked suspiciously.
Link crossed his arms and chuckled "You're already taking that tone? I met her in the north eastern valleys. I told her of my mission and she decided to take me to you. Do you honestly think I got this far on my own?" Cassandra looked at him a little surprised, she then found her asking herself why she expected that he could have.
Kilik meanwhile only chuckled "So your not some sort of a miracle that can organize any scenario. You just know how to pick your friends when it comes down to it." Link chuckled and nodded. Kilik motioned him off but told him to return as soon as possible.
As Link started to walk away once again Cassandra spoke up "Hey Link." he looked back at her starting to get a little tired of being stopped dead in his tracks. Cassandra smiled as she winked at him "Try to smile a little. We have all suffered because of that sword so feel free to share any memories you have. See Maxi over there, he was nearly killed and almost forgot all about Kilik and Xianghua. He has regained what he has lost, if it is in our power we will not allow you to be cast aside like this." she announced. It was a promise that she could only hope she could eventually back up.
Link looked at the groups eldest member and nodded slightly "Hm. That is tough. I'll be back in about an hour. Maybe you know her." Cassandra nodded and waved him off. Link walked out past Araydan and out the way he came in. Cassandra returned to the garden along with Kilik. Sophitia wandered around the garden admiring the flowers, though they must have paled in comparison with the beautiful gardens in Japan that Taki had spoken of. Xianghua meanwhile joined Maxi in mocking Cassandra over her actions around Link, she of course denied it constantly claiming that another blade would be welcome if they travel. Eventually Kilik came around and started discussing traveling plans.
Link returned about an hour or so later from the Inn that he had stayed in the night before carrying a bag over his left shoulder, he also carried another over his right only it seemed to be more packed than the other and it had odd art work on it. To his right was a shorter figure wearing a cape of white over her, she didn't seem to be from nearby as her decent seemed to be southeast Asian. She was much shorter than Link, she couldn't have been more than five feet if not shorter, she had raven black hair tied off in a pair of ponytails resting on her shoulders. A pair of large dark eyes that showed of the innocence of the young girl no older than fifteen or sixteen. A positive nature made up her face as she walked into the gardens alongside Link.
Cassandra looked up from her debate with Xianghua over what they were more likely to run in to before they managed to face the still living Azure Nightmare. Xianghua insisted that he'd probably be using those berserkers lead by Astaroth whom he could have easily recovered. Cassandra was more concerned over the army of lizardmen that Sophitia spoke of. Apparently they were lead by one that was once human and the only one with a name, Renzor.
"Hey, he's back." Sophita called everybody to attention. Link dropped his bag on the ground and placed the other one down, the girl placed hers down as well. A pair of odd blades could be seen from the bag, not a weapon any of them had seen before but definitely a weapon.
Kilik was the first up and back to Link, he looked toward the sun checking the time "What took you so long?" he asked sarcastically.
The girl spoke, her voice was meek but clearly she wasn't as shy as her looks told her to be "You try getting around these streets when you've never been here before. It is hard to move around with all these people. We also have to put some effort into concealing Link's ears." Link huffed lightly at this before standing against the wall. The girl winced her eyes shut "Sorry. It's a really sensitive subject he must hide himself because of where he is from. Otherwise, he's pretty much human." She said.
Sophitia stepped over with her ever present grace following her as she stepped forward the others looked up at the new arrival "My name is Sophitia. Founder of the White Wind who may I ask are you?" she asked in her friendly caring voice.
The short girl nodded and gave a small bow "I've been wanting to join you since I learned of you. My name is Talim. Like Link and yourselves, I also seek to claim and cast the Soul Edge from men's grasp. It is a pleasure to meet you." she said.
It wasn't long after that Sophitia inquired as to exactly who she was. Talim politely answered the question "I come from the Wind Village in Southeast Asia. I am a Wind Priestess, I have been trained my entire life to cast out evil and corruption. If you wish to efficiently track the down the shards and the Soul Edge first it is imperative that I join you." Xianghua crossed her arms as she looked at Talim "Why is that? You're barely of age to take such a journey."
"Because she can sense the shards of the soul shards." Link said this from his place against the wall, he looked up at them his sapphire eyes burning with a serious aura "Though others can sense the evil Soul Edge produces Talim can pick up the aura from an incredible distance even when the shard is remaining dormant. That is how we found you, we followed the aura of your shards and we have reason to believe that the Azure Nightmare will be moving soon." he said in dark seriousness.
Cassandra looked at Link who seemed to have calmed down from Maxi's words "And what makes you say that?" she asked him.
Talim spoke up with the same seriousness as Link "Because the aura from the northwest has grown stronger, Soul Edge has healed and retrieved a good amount of its former self. If it managed to completely obtain the shards, its power will far surpass anything seen beofre."
Maxi looked at them and spoke up "Mitsurugi and Taki had suspicions of this. I told them I was going to head here as soon as I could. That's probably how they knew to send a message here. Xianghua, lets see just what that note says." The young Chinese warrior nodded and brought up the note given to them earlier tearing the end off. She then unrolled the paper and looked at the note, all of it was given in Japanese kanji. The letter had to be addressed in English, luckily Maxi could read and write Japanese and Xianghua had mastered it as a second language. Xianghua brought it up and read.
"Lady Sophitia Alexandria of Athens. As much as myself and Taki appreciate your support in the search for the shards of the blade. I'm afraid that it has grown alot worse in the past few weeks. Soul Edge still lives and its master still draws breath, there is no doubt of this. It is my concern that their armies will be moving soon once again. We'll be heading to the southern port of India a month after this letter has been sent. We can all regroup there. Time is of the essence. Hurry."
Xianghua rolled up the small scroll and already they were discussing plans for the voyage to India, however it seemed that Link and Talim still had to speak. Link began "It seems that we have arrived just in time, but there is one detour that I must insist that we make. We have heard rumors of a shard in a city called Istanbul and Talim has confirmed that there is a definate energy coming from that direction." Sophitia nodded and claimed that it was on the way.
Maxi breathed before speaking "You just leave everything to me and my ship, we'll be the primary transportation for as long as we can. We should be able to get supplies in Turkey and then we head to...the Harbor of Souls." Kilik lowered his head in remorse as he remembered that was where they first met and where Astaroth and his berserkers destroyed his entire crew and sank his original ship. Maxi had gone off near the end of their journey to hunt down Astroth and take his vengeance and had vanished for the longest time before arriving in Athens with his old ship, the Eternal Wind.
Kilik looked to Sophitia "It's your call Sophitia." he stated. The Athenian beauty sighed as she didn't seem too keen on leaving her husband and home so soon after getting back from another trip. She knew that this hunt would be much longer than a few days or weeks and there was also the fact that she would be putting her life on the line.
The journey to Germany where she confronted Nightmare and getting back to Athens took a good year of time, she was married two years ago and her and her husband were considering children at this point in time. She looked up "Alright. Everybody prepare yourselves for travel. I'd like everybody at the docks by dawn, I should hope that is where your ship is." she said towards the former pirate.
Maxi nodded "Yeah I had her anchored there about a month ago. I'll head down there later and get everything sorted out for the voyage."
Maxi then looked to Link and Talim "So I assume that these two are coming as well." Link looked up at the buccaneer and nodded silently.
Talim nodded before crossing her arms "Did I not already state that it wouldn't be in your best interest to track Nightmare without me, I can sense the sword even when it is not being put to use." she announced. Sophitia looked towards Maxi not wanting any bloodshed caused by that sword that they could avoid, in spite of her age a great maturity and strength could be sensed within the young woman.
Maxi held up his hands in defense "Esh. Harsh. I was just making sure. I'll be down at the docks long before first light, so you can find me there." Maxi turned and headed back to the room which the temple was allowing him to use for the time being. The day certainly was getting exciting.
Sophitia walked over to Link and Talim "The rooms at the temple are taken by travelers at the moment. You're welcome to stay with us if you wish. My house has a guest room." Talim and Link looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
Kilik and Xianghua looked at each other then to Cassandra who was obviously going with them "Cassandra come on." Xianghua called as her and Kilik set out to go sparing. She followed looking back and Link and giving him a small smile before continuing on. Sophitia smiled stiffening a laugh before she looked at Link "They think my sister has a crush on you?" Link looked at her awkwardly.
Sophitia figured as much he probably didn't understand a lot of words. She was just glad he could understand English at all. Talim giggled as she looked at Link "It means a heavy attraction to a person for no obvious reasons. You don't know why but you just feel you like them though you hardly know them."
Link looked back as Cassandra walked out of the garden his cheeks grew a slight shade of pink as he realized this "Oh I see." he shook it off almost instantly "I really don't think so Sophitia." he stated in defense.
Talim giggled looking at Sophitia "He may be tough, but he can be really cute at times." Sophitia gave an angelic laugh at this. Link sighed as he stepped away picking up the bags he looked back at Sophitia.
"Just call me when your ready to go." he said as he walked back into the main hall where he waited. Not to much later Link and Talim would be staying with Sophitia and Rothion and sleep a good nine hours, little did they know however that while they slept darkness was gathering in the north...
Next Chapter: Plannings of the Darkness
(Voice of Nightmare) Preparation is the beginning of all great wars. Determination is the fuel of all great armies. Obedience is the chain that binds servants to their master. Too long has it been since my blade has tasted blood. Too long has it been since those pitiful mortals have trembled before my shadow. Too long has it been since I have brought this world a curtain of fear. I was broken and now am repaired. My sword was shattered and now is whole. My resolve was unguided and now is directed. The Black Wind rises from the northwest seas.