Chapter 4: Into Another World
A/N: Btw, I forgot to mention but I love reviews. Ideas on chapters (like little mini-adventures or such), what a you thought about it (no flames please) or just saying hello. Don't matter.
Siegfried stood outside of Rothion's forgery. It was noon and his sword was almost ready. The priest was beside him, as Cassandra and Sophitia were facing them. Sophitia trusted the priest in his judgment, but not Cassandra. She had her sword at her side and her shield tossed across her back. "Where are you going next?" The priest asked.
"Dyterious's camp. Let's just say I want a few words with him over something that's been bugging me lately." Siegfried spoke up, never taking his eyes off of Cassandra for fear that she may strike.
"I see. Dyterious is a ruthless man, take heed and be careful when dealing with that man."
Siegfried pulled the sword's scabbard out of the notch in the sword belt and handed it to the priest, "Father, this sword belonged to an old blacksmith. He gave it to me to aid me in retrieving Faust. It is his masterpiece."
"You are requesting that I look after his sword?"
"Yes Father."
The old priest reached over and took the scabbard with his scrawny wrinkled hands, "I will be honored to take this sword. I'll have Rothion repair it and present it to our noblest warrior."
"Thank you Father." Siegfried let out a sigh as he heard the door behind him open. He turned to see Rothion carrying Faust in his hands, it seemed like the blacksmith was struggling to carry it, which he understood. Faust was a heavy sword.
"Ok, one zweihander for the knight." Rothion handed it to Siegfried. All were awed as the knight spun it around a bit, flipping it from hand to hand like it was nothing more than a paper weight. "That sword is amazing. I thought only the samurai of the east held weapons of such sharpness."
"Now that I have my sword, I shall be on my way." Taking his sword and flipping it onto his back, where it magically latched to his breastplate's backplate through the cloak, he started to walk toward the boundaries of the city limit.
"Nightmare, I'm coming with you." Cassandra spoke up as she ran over toward him.
"You can't be serious. Cassandra, you're not going with him." Sophitia went into the protective mother mode that she often took with her children.
He looked at her a bit confused, the look in her eyes told him that she was serious. He's dealt with her type before. Stubborn, hardheaded, and never backed down when they put their minds to something. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to sway her in her decision, he let out a sigh of defeat, "Fine, but I am not babysitting you. We are not friends, buddies, or whatever you want to call it; As far as I'm concern, you are an annoying girl following me for who knows what."
"Cassandra, don't go." Sophitia pleaded.
"I'm sorry sis, but I don't trust him. I want to keep my eye on him for a bit just in case he tries something." She glared at Siegfried.
"Oh yes, watch over me. For if you don't, I may kill someone's pig and eat it raw. If that were to happen, surely we all would be doomed." He said sarcastically.
"I'd watch it demon." She snarled at him.
"I can see this isn't going to be a boring adventure after all. Come, the longer we stay still, the more I have to hear your voice." He started to walk away again.
"What was that!" She ran after him.
The priest walked over to Sophitia, "Siegfried has his work cut out for him."
This of course, made Sophitia giggle. "Why are you not joining them? Your skill is great compared to your younger sister. Besides, I'm sure you and Siegfried would get along."
"I know, but unfortunately my place is here, with my children, at least until I am needed once again."
"So you are going to trust in that knight? Child, why the change?"
"Because he seems different than before. His eyes are still cold and fierce, but there's something about him that's different. I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling I can trust him." Sophitia explained.
"Child, that is because he is free of Soul Edge. He is trustworthy. But I fear not for his body, but for his mind. He doesn't trust others very well. His eyes are cold and fierce when in battle or confronted by those he doesn't know or trust, yet when he's with me, his eyes show sorrow, pain. The man you see before you is a guise that conceals a kind, gentle person inside. Your sister holds a grudge against him for actions that were not his choice. I'm afraid that she'll cause him prolong suffering when he's already suffered enough." The priest shook his head, "Tonight, let's give our prayers to those two. Their journey is going to be long and difficult. And unknown to your sister, he isn't planning on surviving it either."
This sent a signal to Sophitia. Could her sister really be joining a one way journey to death's door? "I will father. May the gods watch over my sister and her companion."
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"What's the meaning of this?" Siegfried growled as he flipped Faust over his shoulders and into his hands. He and Cassandra had arrived at Dyterious's camp and all that could be seen was nothing but corpses. A loud noise was heard not to far off. It was a man screaming in pain backed by the sound of metal being struck. "There." He pointed out. The two ran passed several tents and turned to find Lord Dyterious, or from Siegfried's guess to be Dyterious for the gold crown he wore on his head, being held by Raphael as his rapier plunged into his chest. "Raphael."
"Heh, the last piece of Soul Calibur" The short haired Frenchman dropped Lord Dyterious and faced Siegfried and Cassandra, tucking a blue fragment of Soul Calibur into his belt pouch, a smile crept on his lips as Flambert transformed into the zweihander of Soul Edge, "Siegfried, I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Cut the chitchat Raphael. Drop the sword now." Siegfried ordered.
"I'm sorry but I cannot. For you see, if I were to let Soul Edge escape from my grasp, then how else am I to rid this world of evil and corruption?"
Siegfried looked at him, transforming and taking a stance for he didn't like where the situation was going. Then, Raphael continued as he ran a hand through his hair, "Our world is plagued with war, murderers, and power hungry tyrants. I'm going to rid the world of them all."
"How would you be able to do something like that?" Cassandra asked as she readied her sword and shield.
"How else? Destroy all who oppose me and become the ruler of it all. A world under one ruler, no war. Enforce strict laws, no murder. Strip all power from those who hold it, no more power hungry tyrants. I will be the supreme ruler. It is the only way to save humanity."
"Who are you to decide the fate of others? What you say is nothing but an idea. Your intents are noble, but what about the consequences? Thousands will lose their lives because you're not happy with the world." Siegfried said displeased with Raphael's motive.
"A price I'm willing to pay." Raphael smirked. "And to make sure no one is able to stop me, I took the liberty to gather the fragments of Soul Calibur." He held out a hand as the five fragments of Soul Calibur appeared, levitating a few inches from his palm. "I have a question for you. Do you know where Soul Edge and Soul Calibur come from?"
"What kind of question is that?" Siegfried snapped.
"Did you know that we're not in the center of the universe? Many galaxies exist, each with planets of their own. Rarely ever, one of these planets will meet all the conditions necessary for life. Much like our planet has. One such planet in the universe that is similar to ours is of unfathomable distance. Beyond the sky, stars and deep into the heavens. This planet is where Soul Edge and Soul Calibur were born from. But, if that is the case, how is it that Soul Edge and Soul Calibur were able to find their way to our planet? Simply by creating a bridge between the two worlds. Now, all that is left is to open the gate." Raphael smirked as he swung Soul Edge. To his delight, bolts of lightning started to rocket out of thin air. From the source of the bolts of lightning, a strange blue portal appeared. Threatening to suck everything in its path.
Siegfried, not able to withstand the gravitational pull, stabbed Faust into the ground to brace himself. Unfortunately, Cassandra wasn't as lucky. For she flew into the portal before Siegfried could grab onto her. "Cassandra!"
"What's wrong? Is the gate too powerful for you to handle?" Raphael tossed the fragments into portal and smirked. "Just like the girl, Soul Calibur will never be able to return. And now you, Siegfried, have lost your only chance in defeating me."
Siegfried pulled his sword out of the ground as the portal started to close, "That may be, but I will not allow you to destroy this world." He grabbed Raphael and threw him into the portal, believing that he won until Raphael's hand grabbed his own and pulled him in as well.
"You fool! What have you done?" Raphael swung Soul Edge and clashed swords with Siegfried.
"That sword is evil. Any desires you have, that sword will turn into a twisted nightmare."
"You lie!"
"Don't be an idiot. Why do you think I imprisoned the sword in the first place?" Siegfried growled as he tried to push Raphael back, but neither of them were moving anywhere except forward. A bright light appeared and started to grow bigger and bigger, until it suddenly consumed them. Next thing they knew, they were falling down. Both men landed on their feet with their weapons ready for combat. Cassandra was a couple yards away from them, and a bit confused on what just happened.
"I was hoping you'd at least understand my reason. But I see that we don't see eye to eye." Raphael changed his zweihander back to Flambert and sheathed the rapier. He raised a hand as the fragments of Soul Calibur levitated off of the ground. "And since you're so determined to get these, then let see you takeā¦" Before he could finish the sentence, Cassandra charged him and performed a somersault ending with her kicking Raphael down. As the shards started to fall, she dropped her sword and attempted to grab them. On touch, the shards dematerialized in a blinding light.
"What?!" Siegfried and Raphael both said in unison as nothing was left of the sword except Cassandra landing face first into the grass. "What just happened?" Siegfried yelled out in anger.
"It seems Soul Calibur has somehow managed to elude me without a master." Raphael ran a finger through his hair. He then drew Flambert and stabbed the rapier into the ground, "Until our paths cross again, cursed knight." Smoke exploded from the ground, blanketing the surrounding area for a few seconds before dissipating.
"Dammit!" He shouted in anger as his armor and arm returned back to normal. Looking around, he saw a dirt road and started to walk down it. "You coming?" He asked without stopping or looking back. The sound of softer footsteps marching with a different pattern than his own entered his ears. He knew she was following, mostly because he was her best chance of returning home. He was searching for Soul Calibur, so why not her as well? It was their only way to cross worlds after all.
