Disclaimer: I don't own the Soul Calibur characters. They belong to Namco.
Chapter 5: Dining with Zarzalamel
Many days had gone by without anything of interest had happened and their first competition was ahead of them. Talim could tell that everyone still was scare and nervous, but nevertheless fallen into a routine as Samantha promised.
'What routine?' Talim thought to herself as she continued pacing around the camp grounds. Her own routine was based on training with Cassandra, Xianghua and as the only guy Kilik, who's company she had grown quite fond of and then these walks, which she had done every day since their arrival to the camp. It was as if she unconsciously tried to find something awkward about the place, but disappointedly discovered nothing new. They were treading waters in trying to find a solution to all this.
Talim sat restless on a nearby bench sighing frustrated. The wind, which always had been around to guide and inform her, was silent this time. She used a lot of energy on meditation after her walks but no matter did it help. It stayed completely silent. Like all the other days, she made it comfortable on the bench and firmly closed her eyes.
She searched in her soul for the bond between her and the wind. It took some time but at last she found a small vibrating energy source. Sweat showed on her temple before running down her chin as she concentrated on gaining contact.
" Attention all combatants. We may inform you that you are requested to meet up to dinner in half an hour, where your host Zarzalamel will be present. " the loudspeakers announced.
Talim swore lightly under her breath. 'Why now?! I almost had it!'. She sighed for the second time that day and looked at her watch. They would be dining at 7 O'clock as usual, but this time they would be meeting Zarzalamel. Hopefully it would bring something useful with it after the disturbance. Now it was better to get back to the girls house and get dressed.
Talim hurried the short way to the dining hall, where she met the other girls. She was a bit behind the others, because she had meditated again in her room, but didn't get as close to connection as on the bench and came to herself when everyone had left. 'what a great day' Talim thought, while she was catching her breath.
"Are you okay, Talim?" Cassandra asked with a worried frown.
She nodded silently and finally looked at the others. They looked fantastic. Xianghua wore a blue Chinese-inspired dress with gold borders and it seemed to be made of silk. It really fitted her and her personality. The two Greek sisters wore similar dresses but these were only cotton and had a Greek cut. She got ashamed of herself. She only got to put on the finest dress she had, make a fast hairdo and a little make-up. Why did she had to meditate?' Talim didn't get any further in her traits of thoughts as the guys came towards them.
" Ah, bonsoir Mademoiselles. Vous semblez manifique ce soir." Raphael said with a gallant bow.
"Whatever the Frenchman says, he's right. Do you girls wanna go back to my room tonight? Then I can show you how good I am!" was the predicted retort from Yun-Seong.
Mitsurugi and Rock merely nodded as they were men of few words.
Maxi had started on a tale about beautiful mermaids or something like that. Talim didn't really listen. She was observing Kilik, who made his way to her.
"Good evening Talim. Wow... You're beautiful," He smiled warmly at her, which made her fuzzy all over.
"You look great too," she mumbled and blushed a deep red. He really did look great. He wore jeans and a black jacket with a white bottom-up under; His tanned skin with the green pendant visible.
"You surely don't look well. You're really red in your face" stated Cassandra.
The comment made everyone laugh.
"Ignore them. They are just envious," Kilik whispered and placed a hand on the small of her back, leading her inside.
The dinner table was amazing just like the rest of the camp. You wouldn't need to stave with the amount of food there was arranged on the table and there was something for every taste. The only source of light was candles, placed in holders along the wall and on the table. They all took seat by the table; Kilik at Talim's left and Yun-Seong at the right.
As she tried to ignore Yun-Seoung's obviously glare, she became aware of two empty seats. It was probably for Samantha and Zarzalamel. Where did she hear that name before?
"When do you think they will arrive?" Talim whispered to Kilik.
He shrugged: "Soon, I believe."
"You're probably right," she managed to say before the door went open and two silhouette walked into the hall. Talim could accurately see Samantha's smaller figure.
A moment later they were in the circle of light and before her stood a large and muscular man with very dark skin. He had one normal dark eye, where the other was filled with a strange gold ball. He was bald. Talim remembered faintly, that he usually wore a white headdress. He was dressed in a white habit with gold borders, similar to his normal clothes. 'Where did that come from?' Talim shivered, but suddenly she froze. No... It couldn't be HIM... He should be dead, exactly like... Tira. That was the reason why Samantha seemed so familiar. It was Tira. But Zarzalamel and Tira had always been enemies, both wishing to gain ultimate power and bring evil to the world. She didn't defeat them herself, but her ancestors did, while the wind had showed her some almost forgotten remembrance of Tira and Zarzalamel. Apparently it was the same for the others as if history repeated itself. But the most important right now: what made them cooperate now? Don't panic, don't panic, Talim told herself and continued collecting food on her plait with a calmness she didn't feel.
" May I present you to Zarzalamel - your host here at the camp and the one who gave you the great opportunity to enter this competition." Tira presented.
"It's wonderful to see you all gathered here," Zarzalamel spoke and Talim noted a hidden meaning in his words. A dark undertone. Goosebumps ran down her spin as a continuation of his sentence sounded in her head 'For the last time'.
No, it couldn't be his plan – making up this competition as an excuse to get rid of them one time and for all. The realisation made her dizzy. She needed to confront him with it, but she had to act as normal as possible for the moment.
Time went by. There was eating and laughing.
Zarzalamel and Tira continued talking after dinner, but she had lost her concentration. She couldn't breath. She needed air.
"Talim!" Kilik was immediately by her side as she tumbled off her chair.
Everything closed into blackness.
Continues....
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A/N: This will be the last chapter for a while. I'm going camping in next week. Enjoy!