Cynthia lay curled in a dark corner, the damp cool wall pressing against her skin and a bitter wind tossing her wild hair. She stared fiercely into the darkness as if attempting to drive it away. She could remember the bandits that had brutally raped and slain her younger sister and would have done the same for her had she not stayed hidden underneath her bed, shaking with fear as she witnessed the entire thing. She'd only been ten or so at the time but the memory was imprinted into her mind as if it had happened no more than a week ago. Why did this man, Siegfried seem to be linked to everything she hated? Maybe she should have killed him while she had the chance. She began to shiver in the frigid wind and squeezed tighter into her ball, clenching her teeth so as to stop their chattering. "Cold?" asked a deep voice from behind her. She instantly uncurled and leapt to her feet, dagger in hand. It was Siegfried, dressed in a warm fur coat. "Get away from me!" she shrieked in rage. "I told you that I used to be a bandit before you joined up with me. Why does it matter now?" he asked, eyes firmly on Cynthia's. "Because... the Black Wind has caused my family and I much suffering. Of course you or those other monsters wouldn't remember what you did," she bitterly snapped. "Well whatever that may be, I apologize. Besides, I told the Black Wind that I will no longer travel with them.
Our plan was to find and eternally destroy Soul Edge was it not?" Cynthia looked up at him in surprise. "So... you're not going back?" He gave her a warm smile, his mild cerulean eyes radiant with patience. "Is that what you were so upset about?" The young teen could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as they reddened and she stammered, "N-no! Not at all!" Siegfried laughed mirthfully as Cynthia turned in embarrassment. It was the first time Cynthia had heard his laughter and it brought joy to her heart, ringing with gentleness and purity. "So where are we going to stay, anyhow?" she finally asked. Still holding a slight grin upon his face, he replied, "The inn I was staying at graciously presented me with 40,000 gold. It should be enough to purchase everything we need." Deciding to ignore the fact that he'd probably demanded the money, Cynthia sighed, "Well then we'd better get going." Siegfried nodded and she followed him to a small secure inn in which they purchased separate rooms and Cynthia soon dozed off, a wan smile upon her face.
Cynthia stretched lazily, warm sunlight beaming in from the opened window of her room and she pulled herself out from underneath the thick blue sheets of her bed. Pushing open the wooden door of her room she turned the corner where she nearly ran into Siegfried. His long blonde hair was damp and hung in strands and he was adorned with a plain white robe. "Good morning," he greeted warmly, giving her one of his gentle smiles. For a moment Cynthia's eyes lingered on his exposed broad well-muscled chest and then shot up to his face. "I-I'm sorry. Morning," she stuttered, already pacing past him. She could hear him chuckling softly to himself and her face flushed brightly. She made her way to the bathroom and hurled herself in, immediately stripping off her clothing and climbing into the tub. It was already filled with hot water and Cynthia sighed. She scrubbed her ragged brown hair with soap after washing her skin carefully and then let her entire body be emerged in the heated liquid. Once finished, she climbed out, wiping herself with a plain towel and then wrapping her hair up in it as well as one for her body. Feeling refreshed, she skipped back off into her room and nearly screamed when she found Siegfried there, already dressed, sitting on the side of her bed. "I understand that you're an ex-bandit but that doesn't give you a right to go sneaking into other people's rooms! Get out!" Cynthia snapped, pointing towards the door. "Hold on, I wanted to give you this," he stated, holding up a silken red dress. Her eyes immediately softened as she received her gift. "Thank you, Siegfried. That was very thoughtful of you, but how did you know what size to get me?" He looked completely innocent as he said; "I've been observing you since we met so I had a pretty good idea." Cynthia hardened her gaze once more and pointed towards the door. Shrugging, Siegfried departed. "I swear, he seems so innocent no matter what he does!" she cursed under her breath.
The dress fit perfectly, all right, and the soft silk hugged her skin gracefully. Cynthia walked downstairs where she saw Siegfried sitting at a table dressed in splendid silver armor lined with gold and fringed with bright red feathers, his lovely blonde hair tied back into a horsetail. "What's the occasion? Are we attending a wedding or something?" Cynthia asked. Smiling, the brigand replied, "No. You are to be a member of royalty and I, your knight. Fewer bandits will approach us that way. I purchased two horses and new weapons as well. Here, wear this." He handed her an elegant golden circlet. "I'm glad that you have this all planned out," muttered Cynthia as she accepted the circlet and placed it on her neatly groomed black hair. The two went outside, walking over to their white steeds, which were tied to the fence at the side of the inn. The teenager uncertainly approached one, feigning fearlessness and experience as she climbed onto the back of the beast with surprising ease. She untied the bridle from the fence and waited until Siegfried was seated upon his horse. She witnessed the way in which he kicked the horse slightly to make it move forward and did the same for herself. The animal did not budge. "What's wrong?" Siegfried asked, looking amused as he watched Cynthia erratically kicking at the horse. "Apply more pressure," he suggested. She obeyed and the horse moved forward slowly, its refined hooves chopping into the damp soil. To her relief, the equine simply followed its companion without instruction while she clutched the halter.