Authors Note: Not much really to say aside from the fact that this is another chapter between main events. I am growing a little low on ideas for the future or how to build relationships between characters. I will ask you to give opinions on the couples and where certain relationships should go in the near future as part of your review.
Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Forty Six: Of Loyalty and Betrayal
"Unbelievable." Link grumbled as all of the group found themselves down on the ground floor of the Cathedral, it was his reaction to the grim story that had just been told. Cassandra didn't seem to believe it either, but the condition of their youngest Korean comrade seemed to broadcast that it was true. Talim had been brought back with Mina helping her to walk, clearly devastated by this turn of events. Yunsung walked back on his own fuming and demanding that he was fine whenever one requested to assist him, Kilik and Xianghua seemed relatively on edge and it appeared that Taki and Mitsurugi had a lot on their minds. Drake had betrayed them and it was effecting the unity of the group.
Siegfried who had stayed back during the pursuit spoke up "How can we know that he is truly a member of the Black Wind. He might have been using it as a ruse to keep us off his trail, send us back after Nightmare and his people." a few of them thought about this but Sophitia looked up with disagreement "No. Whatever manner of creature that is, it was not from this world. It was also no creature that has been empowered by the Soul Edge. It must have come from those two sorcerers." Link mentally kicked himself, he had completely forgotten that Renzo and Karenna even existed.
Cassandra looked at how Link's face twisted at the mention of a winged creature and decided to speak in his place "What manner of creature was this thing?" she requested of her sister looking towards Link. The elf breathed and requested to know. Sophitia brought a hand to her chin as she spoke thinking of every detail she could give "For lack of better terms it was a winged dragon like in all those stories. It's body was accented in black and gray from what I saw, its eyes burned red as the fire it breathed. It had a pair of horned coming from the head and its jaws were lined with sharp looking teeth. It also seemed to know exactly where to go and didn't even have a rider leading it on." Link growled lightly as he remembered the telepathic connection between his apparent brother and his pet "Razgriz." he murmured.
Talim looked up with her tear streaked eyes as if to question this, Mina held her shoulders in attempts to comfort this girl that reminded her of herself. Maxi took notice that neither of the two could question and decided to himself "What the heck is a Razgriz?" he questioned. Link leaned forward bringing his hands together "Razgriz was a rare dragon that terrorized my homeland before eventually allying with my bro...Arus'Nei. How that bastard managed to bring him out into this realm is beyond me." he growled lightly.
Mitsurugi shrugged in the corner before speaking up "That harlot Valentine must have had something to do with it. If she could free a pair such as Diablos and Anubis from this worlds darkness, it isn't likely that it would have been difficult to bring an ill mannered beast through." he explained, Link nodded agreeing. Raphael breathed as he noticed his fists tighten as if he was ready to turn and lash out at the samurai warrior for saying such words, he still felt he needed to defend the honor of Isabella. To what reason he did not understand and it was beginning to frighten him, he wondered if he too would fall under the sway of the Soul Edge.
Kilik breathed as he looked up from his place on one of the half shattered pews which had been broken during the fighting earlier "I'll also take it that if she pulled it from your country, the knowledge possessed by those two sorcerers could be a real problem." he said remembering just how harsh some parts of Link's world was. Link shook his head lightly before speaking "It isn't likely they could do much to empower her as they probably don't understand the energies of this world. Like Arus'Nei and myself their powers have their limits although they are currently being fueled by their shards of the Soul Edge."
Kyle breathed as he sat down on a loose piece of stone and glanced back at the dreadfully unconscious creature that was still pinned to the wall "I say considering that we got back Link in exchange for Drake we shouldn't complain. He has betrayed us and we're going to have to accept that, still I have my doubts." Raphael looked up from his place tending to the fire at the leader of their small group "What do you mean by that?" he questioned. The pained Yunsung also looked up from his place where he was attempting to set his bone back in place and demanded to be left alone. Though it appeared that Maxi was ready to knock him out, as he and Taki were the only ones in the group with knowledge on setting broken bones.
Kyle leaned forward and motioned his head towards Yunsung, or rather his injuries "It doens't make sense that Drake didn't do more damage. He achieved mastery of the wind dance style several years ago and has had more than enough time to bring it out into his own style. There is also the fact that he has also studied a style comparable to Moyika's as well." Taki breathed as she decided to fuel inject what she now knew about Drake. Everybody grew silent as she spoke "It isn't a similar style, it is one and the same. From what I have gathered he was taught by a creator of the original style another that I used to know quite well. Neither would put effort into the boy without feeling sure of his potential. If Drake had wanted to, he could have killed Yunsung three times over before we arrived." she said which brought a chill to the group.
Mitsurugi breathed lightly having had a feeling that there was something more to the disk that had been tossed in Taki's direction, the latter teacher was clearly the young man she had been looking for. There was no doubt about that. Yunsung growled as he spoke up from the corner "Would you two stop trying to scare everybody, if it hadn't been for a few trick he had picked up he wouldn't have been a problem. Next time it will be different, no matter who taught him." Taki narrowed her eyes as the brash Korean dared to belittle the style that she had struggled so hard to learn and still put effort into mastering.
The demon huntress shot a glare in his direction which several of them took notice of, Link and Mitsurugi both knew that it was more over the insult to her former lover than the style itself. She spoke in an angry tone that few had ever heard from her "You'd be wise not to think so little of him. While it is likely he is not an equel of any former students of the style, he is far superior to myself at his age. Considering he has also mixed it with a style such as Talim's, I fear he may have enhanced it." she said. While she was confident in herself, she could not make any kind of an assumption on how a fight between the two of them would go.
Yunsung blew a few strands of hair from his brow "Whatever. Either way, the next time I see him it will be a whole different story." he declared before there was the sound of a boot kicking the ground and Kyle was standing up as if triggered by some unknown force. He spoke his voice intolerant and clearly angered "Sorry to free you of your delusions, but there is not going to be a next time for you. The only way it would end up different is that he would break your other arm." he shouted his voice echoing lightly. Several of the other seekers looked at him quite shocked at how he was suddenly reacting.
He reached down to where Talim was sitting and removed the dagger that had been sent into Yunsung's leg after nearly being pierced by it "In the last three conflicts it has become clear to me that you do not have the skill to fight Drake with any possible chance of winning. Ever since we have set out and joined with the White Wind, I have hardly even seen you pick up the blade and go through your drills on your own free time. In fact I don't think you have lifted the blade outside of battle since we left the dojo." he announced. Seung Mina soon realized this and nodded her head realizing that Kyle was correct in saying this.
Kyle paced around lightly speaking out "Drake showed up and displayed a great deal of applied teaching and self taught talent and by all rights is your superior Yunsung." the hot blooded Korean jumped to his feet swiping his good arm through the air drawing all attention to him again pushing his opinion that it was all luck. Kyle narrowed his eyes as his hand moved up to be placed on the edge of the Oblivion's hilt "He bares raw experiance over you. While you have had a sheltered life during your training in the dojo, he was with the nomads of Talim's tribe. Living in the wilderness, taking care of oneself and clearly having fought a good many battles in his short life." Yunsung by this point was growling at this dressing down.
Their leader flipped the dagger lightly in his hand as he paced "While I do not know him as well as some of this group, I can easily say that Drake has seen a great deal more of the real world than you have. In essence he grew up a long time ago without even knowing it, a factor which I dare say you have not yet achieved! You believe that your protected by your style and that you are infallible because you share the same style as the great warrior you hope to someday surpass. Then when things don't go your way you result to something like this!" he shouted before hurling the dagger which struck the ground and slid to rest at Yunsung's feet.
Everybody was now looking at Kyle as he pointed out every last pathetic aspect about the brash young blood. Mina then spoke up deciding to end this before Kyle got even deeper into his examination "Once you have healed, you are going to be training a great deal more. You will never again pick up your blade in anger, if you cannot agree to this you can attempt to go by yourself but you will not use a blade of my family to do so." Yunsung growled in anger before punching the stone floor. While this would be more than enough to humble him Kyle decided that he had to strike just one more nerve.
"You are also to avoid conflict with him. The only ones qualified to truly fight Drake with the possibility of winning would be either Talim or Taki. Though Kilik, Xianghua, Maxi and perhaps Raphael might be able to keep up with the raw speed of his style." Kyle said this obviously knowing from his analysis. Talim sucked in a breath at the simple thought of having to fight Drake to the death. Taki breathed in knowing it had to be done. The other four simply nodded their heads in approval though Raphael would have rather spared the boy's life. Yunsung however found this unfair "Kyle! I don't approve of this decision. Look what he did to me!" he shouted.
Siegfried grasped his large blade with his clawed right arm sensing that there would be trouble or at least a verbal war. Kyle looked up before speaking "I don't need your approval of this Yunsung. This is my group and I believe you were the one who thought it best that I call the shots on the journey. He could have killed you, don't complain." Yunsung growled before he darted up getting into Kyle's face shouting "I have just a much a right as you to seek revenge! What about Cervantes Kyle! It's the same thing!" this earned him a sharp punch to the center of his face and he fell back only to be grabbed by his good arm and thrown to the ground hard.
The broad bladed Requiem then struck the ground in a slanted position seperating the two from one another "That is enough." Siegfried said in his demanding voice. Kyle stood back up and Yunsung got up on his knees holding his side which had caught the rest of his body, he groaned lightly in pain. Sophitia stepped up nodding to her old friend as he retreated from the scene and Kyle glared down at Yunsung "Hong Yunsung. I want you to listen to me as hard as you damn well can. I want you to have this drilled into your mind and I never want you to forget it." he said his voice too serious and threatening to be a bluff.
"If you ever draw your blade in anger again and throw yourself at the enemy so foolishly...you are going back and will start from scratch on your train. If you cannot learn to contain your rage you will never come close to Hwang's level." he then grabbed Yunsung by his bright red hair yanking him up hard to glare in his back "And if you ever dare to compare my vengeance over the death of my clan to the pathetic rivalry between you and Drake again, I will insure that you never so much as pick up another blade. Do I make myself clear!" he shouted before he released him and walked away. Mina looked back at the pride shattered young man before running after Kyle, many of the seekers wandered away.
Several of them looked at Yunsung before deciding to just step away and try to get through the rest of the night, they had had enough conflict already. But by all rights Kyle was correct about all of his faults and to compare the kind of rivalry to the hateful connection between Strife and Cervantes was just uncalled for. Yunsung breathed as he reached his free arm over to his injured one and continued the attempt to feel around it until Mitsurugi just got fed up with it and stepped over. He forcefully grabbed the other easterner's arm and felt along the edge before putting it back in place in a painful motion. Yunsung growled before Mitsurugi stepped away and then looked back "Put a splint or something on it, better so it doesn't heal wrong." he said. Being freshly put back in place it would heal a lot faster.
Yunsung breathed as he found a piece of wood from the pew that had been broken during the fighting and cut some of the sharp edges off before bringing it to his arm. He then replaced his arm guard over it hoping it would be enough to hold it closed, he was left alone and the only ones left on the ground floor were himself and Talim who sighed. She then looked up at him and spoke "I don't know what is driving Drake to do this, but it must be something. We need to give him a chance, but please do not get yourself hurt over this." she said before she patted him on the shoulder and walked away. Yunsung was then left to think over all of it, truly he had much to improve upon.
The lightning flashed as the dragon moved swiftly over the night sky occassionally flying low over a few of the many villages that dotted the European landscape as they headed back for the Black Wind's island. The rain struck and pelted the passenger like all the fury of the heavens had the ambition of drowning him for his actions. The creature jerked as it was far out to sea from the mainland and the dragon was apparently just tracking the scent of his master to whom he could only guess were those two mages. Normally summoning specific creatures took over six months to locate and then extract and he had heard nothing of bringing a dragon into the world.
It wasn't long before the silhouette of a land mass appeared before them over the waves surrounded by a deadly ring of jagged rocks, and a localized thunderstorm which was drawn by the Soul Edge. Drake breathed as the dragon began his decent and he caught sight of the Darkthorn at the dock which was a clear sign that Ivy and her people had returned to this cryptic headquarters. He breathed as he could see that the castle was lit and a number of figures entering one of which he could sense was Ivy, he breathed as the dragon flew low over the ground and Drake jumped off the side striking the ground near the castle while the dragon flew up and perched on a large piece of rock.
Ivy looked back from the entrance as Drake stood to his feet soaked to the bone and breathing heavily, clearly it had not been a pleasant trip. Arus'Nei looked back from his own place at the entrance and couldn't sense much to trust about this boy whom he distinctly remembered throwing around in England. The boy looked towards the creature before approaching and then scoffed as he sharply snapped his head to the side whipping off a good amount of the water "I'll take it the infamous shadow had a hand in the beast's presence." he said as he approached to two who stood under the walkway.
The temptress smirked lightly at her servant's sharp eyes "Correct. I just hope that the last few months have not been put to waste, did you get anything from them at all?" she questioned clearly impatient. Drake reached down swiping a bag from his belt and casually tossed it at her, Arus'Nei's hand snapped up to snatch it out of the air and then hand it over. Ivy took it and opened it to received a bright red glow across her face, a smile that crossed her lips and it was clear that Drake had pleased both her and the Black Wind for the time being. The doors then opened behind them to reveal Nightmare standing there, lined with the likes of Astaroth and those two elven mages.
Ivy smirked as she held out the shards to the demonic knight brought to existence by the power of the Soul Edge, which he was still attempting to restore. The two exchanged glances that placed many unwanted thoughts or images in the young wind rider's mind, but he cast them aside when suddenly Astaroth stepped forward bringing up his ax. In a swift movement he side stepped and drew one of his blades in the process, but then noticed the giant halting as it was clearly just moving Drake aside. The behemoth then looked at Ivy "Was the shadowed one of any use?" he questioned glaring towards Arus'Nei.
Without being provoked the white mage brought up his staff and the black mage drew her sword both of them glaring towards Arus'Nei who smirked lightly. Kareena growled before speaking "What in Din's name are you doing here!" she demanded to know, but the shadow didn't answer and without a moment's hesitation she rushed forward with her blade. Arus'Nei shot a hand down to his belt drawing out his knife in a single swift movement and held it up to catch the swipe of her sword which he in turn forced to stab into the ground. He then caught her arm and sent her into a spin to slam into the ground.
Renzo prepared to attack when suddenly Astaroth brought his ax down to separate the two "Enough!" he roared at the two of them. Arus'Nei smirked as Nightmare grabbed the elf by the shoulder and pushed him back to land on the soaked ground "What is the meaning of this wizard?" he demanded to know the Soul Edge glowing a light red. Arus'Nei smirked seeming to taunt both of them as Renzo spoke up.
"Arus'Nei? Arus'Nei! You are not about to tell me that this the one that swore to take Link down, are you!" he shouted at the commander of the Black Wind. Renzo stood to his feet when Arus'Nei paced around them and spoke up "I would think that after all this time you would have stopped caring about that little skirmish. Let us not forget that we are essentially on the same side now." he said with a dark natured voice.
Renzo growled as he stood to his feet and then looked at Nightmare "It isn't my concern how you plan to use his services, but it is in your best interest to keep an eye on him. His vengeance knows no boundaries when it comes to Link." he said before he helped Kareena up and prepared to leave. Drake spoke up from his forgotten place alongside Astaroth "You haven't heard...?" he questioned before Ivy suddenly spoke up.
"The one they call Link is dead, I made sure of that." she said which brought narrowed eyes to Renzo and Kareena who huffed clearly not believing it before moving off, neither cared for Ivy and it was obvious that they didn't believe she could do such a task. Ivy then glanced towards Drake "You were saying something, little one?" she questioned with a suspicious glint in her eye. His eyes moved to Arus'Nei. He had told them and he clearly knew that Link was alive and had not told any of the Black Wind his theories "They still have Link's sword. It is still a threat." he explained.
Nightmare chuckled before he took the shards and moved back into the fortress "We will find a way around that problem." he said as he vanished through the doors. Astaroth moved away from the palace back to the area of the island where his troops made their own barracks, Drake looked to Ivy who nodded and he moved into the palace in hopes of finding some warmth. Arus'Nei turned to leave when suddenly a metallic cracking sound snapped out and the Valentine appeared to restrain him where he stood.
His wrist snapped up and the Maelstrom once again came flat against his chest to protect him from the segments of the whip though didn't give him the ability to break out. Ivy's arms then came around his neck, one of her hands idly holding the Valentine and her teeth nibbled on his abnormally long ear. He let out a sigh before he turned to look at her "You have some sort of a problem Valentine?" he questioned as she lowered herself to hang her head on his shoulder. She smiled before she spoke "I want to make a deal with you boy." she said in a heavily seductive voice.
Arus'Nei raised an eyebrow "Oh? What would that be?" he questioned before she wrapped her arms around his abdomen "I interfered with you and slew your brother, as you call him. If he is truly gone then by your word you are one of us, however I have my doubts with your already proven knowledge. If he however, does draw breath I will owe you a suitable apology for interfering. How does that sound?" she questioned hotly into his ear.
The shadow smirked at Isabella's tempting offer and looked back lightly "That sounds fair enough, but let us get one thing straight. I am not exactly a fan of this kind of such things..." he said looking over the weapon that kept him immobile "If I am however wrong you may do whatever you please with me, think of it as an apology for doubting your ability." Ivy smiled before the Valentine retracted and he turned to face her and she extended a hand to him, the armored one "Deal." she said.
Arus'Nei smirked before he moved forward bringing a few of the loose platinum strands behind her ear and smirked before walking away "Don't think of it as any more than an apology Ivy, wouldn't want Nightmare to find another woman." he said. Ivy's eyes went wide at such an accusation and she snapped out Valentine to lash down his back drawing a slight sliver of blood. Arus'Nei cried out in a few swears that she could not understand, clearly of his own native tongue. He glared back at her and she smiled "I don't think any man could." he smirked before he wandered off.
Next Chapter: First Meetings
(Voice of Sophitia) It has been so long since we originally set out and we are finally heading home. With winter fast approaching it seems that both forces will be heading into hibernation to avoid needless loss. Rothion and the rest of my family wait to greet us and I cannot begin to imagine how things will go between him and Siegfried upon first meetings. Still I wonder how my parents will react to this diverse group being brought to Athens, its kind of scary.
Author's Note: Okay obviously there is going to be time for development between couples and I want to know which ones I should spend time developing while I can. There are a number of triangle that might have been sighted at this point and I'd like votes on which way they should go. And out of the single relationships I'd like to know which three of the five I should spend time advancing.
Nightmare/Ivy/Arus'Nei - Soul Edge's master of the ominous shadow?
Drake/Talim/Yunsung - The unwilling traitor or the arrogant hot head?
Link/Cassandra - A relationship between confused souls.
Kyle/Mina - Neither might see it yet, but it is there. Should they notice?
Taki/Yugo - More memories or perhaps even a message or appearance?
Kilik/Xianghua - Obvious lovers, but both hide it. Should it come out more?
Sophitia/Rothion - Ah marriage. Should we take a peek at their personal life?
Renzo/Kareena - Clearly of a relationship. Should we see what nature?
Review and cast your votes! Where should the triangles go and which of the three others should be advanced? REVIEW PLEASE!