"It's been six months now." I told my master.
I had set up my home in the clock tower in Germany. It was surprisingly comforting, the sound of time ticking away. One thing was for sure, I always knew what time it was. My master, a woman named Kaylana, was in her early thirties, and very beautiful. She taught me everything I know. She came to visit, hearing that someone had destroyed Soul Edge. She was surprised, and proud, to find that it was me. We were close. Closer than lovers. We considered each other family.
She smiled, and asked, "And what did the others decide to do afterwards?"
I respectfully returned the smile. "First to leave the group was Kilik. He said that he needed to return to China, to tell a friend that Soul Edge was destroyed. I haven't heard from him since. Sigfried, after I helped him see that his redemption was to live, went to Greece with Cassandra. He said he had no home to go to, and Cassandra offered him to stay with her family. Talim and Yun-seoung are living with me. They think that if they return to their homes, they'll never see each other again. That's the reason for the extra bed."
She pondered for a second. "So where are those two right now?" She asked.
I gave a little laugh. "Out on a date, I assume."
She took another sip of her tea. "I see. So after the sword was destroyed, did you make sure you destroyed the shards there, too?"
I looked over at her. "The shards were too small to resonate power. They posed no threat. Kilik purified them, just to make sure."
"And yet, with all the precautions, Soul Edge still exists."
At these words, and the sound of that voice, my heart skipped a beat. I stood, turned, and drew Soul Calibur. "Show yourself."
The man with the scythe appeared from the shadows. "If Soul Edge couldn't kill me, how do you expect that blade to do so?"
My master drew her blade, and stood next to me. "Is this the one?" She asked.
I nodded. "What are you?" I asked.
The man with the scythe smiled a wide grin. "I'm human, like you. I'm also an ally now, so put your knives away."
I kept my sword drawn, as did my master. "How did you survive?"
The man huffed slightly. "Long ago, I gained the curse of reincarnation. That is all you must know." He bowed. "I am Zasalamel. And, much like the cursed blade, I have a hard time staying dead."
"Well, Zasalamel," I said. "How can I trust you, hmm? Last time we met here, you tried to crush me with a gear."
Zasalamel smirked. "And I didn't this time." He began pacing around us. "But if you need more proof, I'll tell you a secret." He turned to us. "As long as you have that blade, Soul Edge survives."
I was confused by this. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"Soul Edge and Soul Calibur are one and the same. With reguards to power. When Soul Edge is powerful, Soul Calibur is equally powerful. When Soul Edge is weakened, Soul Calibur, too, has been weakened. When Soul Edge is destroyed…"
I glanced down at Soul Calibur, then back at Zasalamel. "No, how can you know that?"
Zasalamel shook his head. "I have the ability to reincarnate. I'm almost as old as the swords themselves."
I glanced at my master. She had an uncanny ability to tell when people are lying. She nodded, and sheathed her sword. I followed suite, sheathing Soul Calibur in the same manner. "So, Soul Edge still exists. Why tell me? There must be someone more powerful than me."
Zasalamel sighed in disappointment. "You're too modest. First off, you're the one who has destroyed Soul Edge most recently. I've never known anyone else to do that, and the few I did know are dead. Secondly, you wield Soul Calibur. That is the only blade currenly in existence powerful enough to destroy Soul Edge for good."
As he spoke, I thought of something. "If Soul Edge and Soul Calibur share power, why don't we destroy Soul Calibur?"
Zasalamel opened his mouth, but bit back his words. He then said, "That would be foolish. Soul Calibur's existence is bound to Soul Edge. Not the other way around."
"Good enough." I said. "Lastly, where do I begin? I need a lead."
As Zasalamel was about to speak, a pair of farmiliar voices shouted, "You!" I turned to see Talim and Yun-Seoung, weapons drawn, and pointed at Zasalamel.
Before I could say anything, Yun-seoung lept toward Zasalamel, intent on cutting him down. Suddenly, Zasalamel caught Yun-seoung by the neck, and turned to me. "I suggest you start your search in the kingdom of Grandall. The emperor there is said to have a humongous sword that can steal away souls. That would sound like Soul Edge to me." He then dropped Yun-seoung. "If you go to Grandall, be careful. There is someone in their employ that believes he can take on the Devil, and has the skills to prove it."
At that, Zasalamel faded into the shadows, and disappeared. "What's going on?" Talim spoke up.