I Am Your Slave

by EvaXephon

An alternate version of the events of SC3 and SC4 with twists to the story and characters. Final Chapter: 60. This story is now complete! I hope you enjoyed it!

59. Valiant Heart

"Father, we leave today."

A pair of hands lunged for Hilde, stopping just short of her neck. If the bars of the prison cell had been any shorter, the untrimmed fingernails of the hands would have raked across her skin. The wrinkled, grey-haired inhabitant of the cell gnawed angrily at the metal bars that confined him, snarling like a feral beast in his attempt to reach the young woman sitting in front of him.

"Several of my advisors attempted to convince me not to take the rumors seriously," Hilde began, "but I will not ignore any possible threat to our kingdom. Many of our subjects have never witnessed any form of witchcraft or sorcery, and have little faith in such things. Some have called me a fool for believing that this 'Nightmare' could even exist, but there are far too many reports of him to discard the possibility."

The inhabitant of the cell shook the metal bars that confined him and attempted to pry them apart, but his elderly arms could do nothing. Years of confinement had left him with an almost skeletal frame, despite his caretakers' attempts to nourish him. He barked and growled at the young woman before him with foam falling from his mouth, as determined to reach her this time as he had always been.

"If what I have heard is true, then Nightmare has taken hundreds, possibly thousands of lives. I will not tolerate this monster, not in my kingdom, not anywhere. He must not be permitted to exist. I will dedicate myself to his destruction until he has been slain. He was last spotted in Germany, a neighboring country. I have prepared the entire Wolfkrone army to hunt him down and slay him once and for all."

The elderly man realized the futility in attempting to reach the young woman, and he ceased his efforts. He stared at her hatefully, scrutinizing her with cold, yellowed eyes, lusting for what he could not reach. She was beautiful, with smooth pale skin, long crimson hair, plump pink lips, and a well-developed form. He pressed his face to the bars to examine her as closely as possible, allowing his tongue to hang out of his mouth as he drooled with desire for her.

"Yes, father." She said. "I am now in my 18th year. I am finally considered a woman...although I feel as though my childhood passed by many years ago. I have been leading our country for seven years now...our people praise me as a fine ruler, but I do not know if I am worthy of their respect; I simply follow the examples that you set as leader and uphold the decisions that you made when you were king. Although I have spent seven years on the throne, I still feel as though you are our ruler, with myself as your substitute."

The young woman stood up, and turned away from her father's cell. His hands lashed out in a desperate attempt to grab her dress, but she was just out of his reach. He erupted with words that belonged to no language but would be understood as curses by anyone.

"The first coming of Nightmare was immediately after the Evil Seed occurred. Some claim that the two are connected. If Nightmare is the one who wrought the Evil Seed upon us, then he is responsible for what has become of you. If he truly is to blame for your condition, then vengeance will be delivered to him harshly and without mercy. I swear it."

The young woman turned toward her father, who sat crouched in front of his prison cell bars, looking up at her hungrily. "I must leave now, to prepare for my journey. You will always be my guidance, my liege, and my father. I love you."

The man in the prison cell squinted at his daughter with confusion, and then lazily ambled away from her, no longer finding her to be of interest. Hilde von Krone left the closed stone chamber at the very top of her castle's highest tower, and headed to the barracks to make preparations for her departure.

There are no other successors to the throne. The people have no one else but you. The kingdom will collapse without you. You must be strong. You have no other choice than to be strong. Weakness is not an option.

---

It had all been so sudden, so abrupt, so unexpected. So many radical changes had occurred in rapid succession, without any chance for the group to recover from one shock before being hit by the next. Some of the most important events had occurred unceremoniously, with little fanfare for such a monumental occasion. It was almost anticlimactic, but at the same time there was still so much to marvel at.

Their days had been plodding along in the same manner for the past year of their lives. Recently, Siegfried and Tira had unknowingly passed the anniversary of their first encounter, and although the others had not been in Siegfried's company for as long, they all felt that there was an excruciating monotony to their lives. For the past year, they had spent the majority of their time in travel, whether by foot or beast, carriage or ship. They had seen more of the world than most of the greatest explorers, but had rarely savored their time in any one spot. The threatening feeling of impending danger had hung over them perpetually. They were never truly able to enjoy their lives, not when they perceived a guillotine above their heads, able to fall at any moment. They simply hurried, rushed, marched to their next destination, always with fear, and never feeling completely safe. The only compasses they had to guide their way were rumors; second-hand accounts, unverified claims, tall tales, any of which had the potential to lead them on a wild goose chase that would only waste their energy and supplies. And, indeed, the majority of their trips had ended without any sort of gain at all, resulting in a feeling of continuous loss of progress. They'd lost track of how many towns and cities they had scoured for information, often forced to pay a greedy interpreter preposterous sums of money for his assistance. They had walked so many roads, encountering bandits and highwaymen more than half of the time. They had never spent more than a week without some form of disaster striking them, whether it was low rations, sickness, or the appearance of an enemy from their pasts. And all the while, their quest against Soul Edge remained fruitless and futile. This handful of experiences characterized every day of their lives; if they were not traveling, they were gathering rumors to obtain a new destination, and if they were not traveling or gathering rumors, they were engaged in combat.

They had few hobbies and fewer interests besides their common goal of destroying the sword that had ruined their lives. It is no surprise that they took whatever chance they could to find comfort and solace, even briefly. Given the risk of death they faced every day, the monotony of their lives, and the stress of their journey, it was only reasonable that they would all seek a way to relieve their tensions. Sex was their best option, as it required nothing more than their own bodies. As time passed, it was literally impossible for any one of them to remain ignorant of the coitus occurring between them all, but they all had far more important matters to concern themselves with than petty jealousy. Few of the women cared if any of the others were sleeping with Siegfried, as they only felt lust towards him, not love, and all (but Tira and Cassandra) had been wise enough to not confuse the two.

They had always feared that their nocturnal romps would present them with consequences, but none of them had ever expected the penalty to be related to Soul Edge. None of them would have ever expected Soul Calibur to reject a wielder desiring it for righteous purposes, and none of them, not even Taki, had been capable of sensing the influence of Soul Edge that existed within every one of them since they laid with Siegfried. During their ordeal in Japan, Tira and Taki had both laid their hands on Soul Calibur with no ill effect; it had never occurred to them that the sword would have rejected them if it had been powerful enough to exert its will at the time.

From the moment that Nightmare's return was confirmed, they had all expected to encounter him, and had spent much time preparing for the occasion. Although they were surprised by Nightmare's presence in the Lost Cathedral, they would still have fought them at their peak, as they had anticipated that the confrontation would eventually occur. After many hours of discussing and planning what to do when they finally encountered their adversary, they had assured themselves that his evil aura would undoubtedly separate the swords, allowing them to wield Soul Calibur. Even if Nightmare was the most powerful being whom had ever walked the earth, they felt as though not all was lost, as long as they would be able to wield Soul Calibur against him.

And then, when the moment they had been dreading finally arrived, Soul Calibur turned against them.

They had spent the past year of their lives on a dangerous campaign for the well-being of this sword – and now it rejected them in their hour of need? They felt betrayed, deceived, forsaken...but the sword did not reject them, it was merely incompatible with their tainted bodies. They had only themselves to blame, and there was no time to forge a backup plan, no time to mourn their mistakes. They were at the mercy of Nightmare, moments away from having their souls ripped out to spend an eternity in the abyss of Soul Edge...until the least useful member of their coalition rescued them.

She was a quiet, despondent orphan who had no place among their ranks, no right to accompany them. They had adopted her merely because they feared she had the potential to become another Siegfried, or another Ivy. Obsessed with revenge, her soul coated in Soul Edge's influence, her motivation determined at a young and impressionable age, she was likely to walk the same road that Siegfried and his companions walked, and none of them wished to see the girl share their fate. They took her with them because there was still time to help her, to save her - they never imagined that she would be the one saving them. She was weak, frail, barely capable of carrying her own belongings without collapsing. She contributed nothing to their group, and was simply another mouth to feed, another person to obtain accommodations for. She might have been abandoned, had she not treated her guardians with respect. She was quiet and kept herself out of everyone's way, making her easy to travel with. Truly, they sometimes forgot that she was even among them. The waifish girl was the last thing on their mind as they cowered before Nightmare, and none of them expected her to dash to their rescue.

There wasn't any time to ponder whether or not Amy would be able to handle Soul Calibur's power, or if the sword would expel the energy that Amy could not control, or if the result would be a shower of holy energy similar to the Evil Seed. No one could understand why Soul Calibur had coated Amy's body in crystals, but there wasn't any time to ponder that matter, either. Amy's sudden godlike speed and strength was just as confounding, but the others chose to welcome this unexpected blessing rather than question it. They had no choice but to put their questions aside and concentrate on survival.

Indeed, the threat of Nightmare trumped many of their other concerns that day. They did not question Amy's fusion with Soul Calibur, nor did they decide to shun Tira, nor could they afford to reject Zasalamel's assistance. Siegfried, Ivy, Sophitia and Taki were forced to play second-fiddle throughout the entire fight, relegated to mere onlookers as a little girl, then a traitor, then their worst foe did all of their work for them. It was humbling, almost shameful to be so helpless now that they had reached the stage of their final battle. However, they were willing to sacrifice some of their honor in order to stay alive.

Amy's death struck them all harder than they thought it would; they had little esteem for her, but as her final act, she had saved their lives. They still had unanswered questions about the bond she had abruptly forged with Soul Calibur, but no one was in the mood to stand around and speculate. It didn't seem like the time for discussion – it didn't seem like the time for anything. With Zasalamel on their left, Tira on their right, Amy's corpse before them, and a wounded Nightmare leaving a bloody trail in the sky as he fled, none of them knew what to think or what to feel or what to say.

Everything had all changed so fast; within a half-hour's time, everything had been reversed from how it was before they stepped foot in the Cathedral. Despite their history with Zasalamel, they were willing to call a truce with the man, especially considering that they might not have been strong enough to resist Zasalamel even if they had wished to. Zasalamel had been an enigma from the beginning, and no one truly knew what to do about him. He had explained his intentions and aligned himself with them, and despite their hatred for him, they could not afford to make another enemy. Although they despised the moor more than any living being beside Soul Edge, his value as an ally was undeniable. They would tolerate him, even if they would never forgive him or forget what he had done to them in the past.

Ever since Tira took her leave, Siegfried had not gone a single day without wishing for her return. He deeply regretted driving her away from him, and longed for a chance to correct his mistakes. However, the other women were far less eager to see Tira return; the slave's over-enthusiasm for her master was awkward and made the other women feel uncomfortable, so they never truly missed her. Furthermore, Tira had abandoned them without a word, entered herself into the service of their greatest enemy, and had attempted to kidnap Sophitia's children to make them slaves of Soul Edge. No one but Siegfried had even considered forgiving her...but after Tira turned on her dark master and rendered him defenseless, it was easier to call a truce. She expressed regret for her decisions, and obviously did not bear any resentment toward her former allies. There was no reason to extract revenge on her, especially when her actions were the request of Nightmare, not her own decisions. There was nothing to gain from shunning her, and they could only benefit from another ally. Tira was unstable, a wildcard – but it was difficult to suspect that she would serve Nightmare again, after assisting them in their assault against him.

To Ivy and Taki, Tira was a curiosity at best and annoying at worst. They could tolerate her, if only to keep a close eye on her; however, to Sophitia, Tira was a dreadful predator that had attempted to deliver her children to a fate worse than death. Tira's return and the news that her children would die from the destruction of Soul Edge was far more motivation than necessary to cause Sophitia to leave. Her departure was very sudden, but then again, so was the return of Tira and the news of her children's fates. The others were somewhat relieved that Sophitia would not be accompanying them any further, for none of them truly knew how to deal with the fact that they were going to indirectly kill the woman's children.

In the end, their adventure in the Lost Cathedral had transpired more or less according to their expectations. The Soul Embrace had been split, not all of them had escaped alive, and they had been forced to confront all of the elements of their journey that had not yet been resolved. The end results placed Soul Calibur in Siegfried's hands, transformed Zasalamel from their enemy to an uneasy ally, and returned an old friend into their ranks. It had been a hellish mess, but they had emerged from the ordeal with slightly more to smile about than to fret about. As soon as they got some rest, they could embark on the final step of their journey – tracking down Nightmare and destroying both him and Soul Edge.

Their greatest concern was how to face Nightmare in his new, godlike form, but they did not have many ways to improve their chances against him. One possibility was assembling the allies that they had encountered throughout their journey; Kilik, Xianghua, and Maxi were three names that came to mind when pondering who could assist them, but their whereabouts were unknown and it was possible that Nightmare could gain a great advantage over them if they wasted too much time before confronting him. They had to face him as soon as possible...but not before resting their weary bodies.

Despite the fact that many settlements are located close to shorelines, Siegfried and the others found no signs that they were anywhere near civilization. They were all exhausted and fatigued beyond their limits, and quickly chose to erect their tents and rest. None of them were in any state to discuss the recent events; they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows.

Once they had all awoken, they faced their first opportunity to discuss all that had happened to them. They chose not to chat about the 'contamination' that had resulted from bedding Siegfried; it was embarrassing enough to think about, much less speak of, and the issue had already been resolved.

"Something bothers me." Ivy began.. "Why did Amy's appearance change when she grasped Soul Calibur? I can think of no reason for this."

"I'm more concerned with something that did not happen," Siegfried said. "Her soul was young, and still immature; how did she manage to wield such a weapon as Soul Calibur? The blade should have expelled the energy that she could not handle, much like Soul Edge expelled most of its evil energy when I grasped it."

"I believe that these two facts are related." Taki said. "The sword knew that Amy would not be able to control it. It became one with her in order to remove all boundaries and limitations."

"That seems underhanded – like something Soul Edge would do." Tira said. She was ashamed, humbled, and embarrassed by her betrayals, but did not want to let herself become a wallflower. "I thought that Soul Calibur was a good sword. Why would it do something like that?"

"Perhaps the blade wasn't acting in its own interest, but sought to protect those around it." Siegfried suggested.

"Why don't we just ask it?" Ivy inquired. "The sword was speaking earlier. It has a will, like Soul Edge."

Siegfried looked toward the makeshift sheath he had constructed for Soul Calibur. It was merely a cloth wrap, but it seemed appropriate to give Soul Calibur a better home than the ragged satchel that he had carried the Embrace inside of. He unwrapped Calibur and held it aloft, experiencing a soothing, almost enlightening feeling.

"Soul Calibur," Siegfried began, "Do you hear me?"

There were a few moments of silence as Siegfried and the others waited. No voice came from the sword.

"The sword was speaking through Amy, whom had merged with the sword." Taki said. "Perhaps that's why it gained the ability to speak."

"I believe that it would be best for me to merge with this sword." Siegfried said. "We need all the help we can get in order to defeat Nightmare."

"Don't be too hasty," Ivy warned. "You don't know what merging entails. You might not be able to turn back. You might not be in control of yourself. Do you really want to become a host body all over again?"

"My mistake was giving Soul Edge control of my body, which enabled the blade to end countless lives." Siegfried said. "It is fitting that I must give up my body yet again, in order to stop the very force I empowered. It is a fair price to pay in order to atone for my sins. If I must give up control of my body to stop Nightmare, I would gladly make that sacrifice."

"Master..." Tira said, quietly, tentatively. "You wouldn't be yourself anymore, and you'd be all covered in crystals?"

"If I desire to redeem myself, I must accept such a fate." Siegfried said.

Zasalamel's words were still fresh in their minds...

"It is a weapon capable of untold destruction. If corrupted, it could become another Soul Edge. As long as it exists, men will seek it for selfish purposes. Although the destruction of Soul Edge is a higher priority, the holy blade must be crushed, as well."

"Siegfried," Taki began, "If you merge with Soul Calibur, become powerful enough to destroy Nightmare, and slay him, what will you do then?"

"I will become the target of all who lust for power," Siegfried said. "They will seek me to claim Soul Calibur for themselves, but this blade should not fall into anyone's hands. I may be forced to kill, and men may kill each other while struggling to reach me. It would be better if...I was destroyed after merging with the blade."

Tira's body language quite eloquently conveyed her shock, while the others remained still in silent understanding.

"That would be quite regretful," Ivy said with rare sincerity. "It is not a fate that you deserve. However, any sacrifice is acceptable in order to free the world of these weapons. Evil or holy, they will only stir greed in the hearts of men, and cause death whether directly or indirectly."

"But Siegfried doesn't have to merge with Soul Calibur, right?" Tira asked nervously. "If we can find another way to increase our chances, then it won't be necessary!"

"I'm afraid it seems to be our best option at this point." Siegfried said regretfully. "We mustn't waste too much time looking for alternatives, or Nightmare will gain power in the meantime. We need a quick solution, and this appears to be the best measure we can take."

"But are we sure it can be done?" Taki asked. "It's still not clear how or why Amy was able to merge with Soul Calibur."

Siegfried examined the sword that he clutched, as though he might find some mechanism on its surface that would begin the process of fusing with the blade. "The Soul blades have been shown to be aware of their environments. It must be aware of my desire to fuse, and yet it does not. Although it has chosen me as its wielder, it is refusing to obey my desires. It must reject my desire to fuse. Perhaps the sword believes that there is a better way."

"Huh?" Tira asked. "It asked you to be its Master, but it won't do what you want? What a disobedient sword..."

"Our lives were in danger when the sword merged with Amy." Ivy said. "Perhaps the situation is not yet dire enough to drive the sword into action."

"Facing Nightmare will put our lives at risk." Taki said. "If merging with this blade is the only way to defeat Nightmare, it will unavoidably happen, sooner or later."

"It would appear that the only order of business remaining is to track down Nightmare and slay him before it is too late." Siegfried said. He turned his gaze skyward, and scoured the clouds until he spotted the scar that Nightmare had left in the atmosphere. It was fading, but still clearly visible. He produced a map from his supplies, and determined the heading of the scar in the sky. "Southeast," Siegfried said, "As Zasalamel said. Ostrheinsburg is the greatest possibility."

"It's a good thing that Germany is just across the North Sea from where we are," Ivy said. "I'll be able to guide us across the land swiftly - this is my home country, after all. After we've arrived at a port and secured passage across the sea, all that's left is a trip to Ostrheinsburg."

"Let's not concentrate solely on rushing." Taki said. "We mustn't forget that we're running low on supplies, and that our weapons have fallen into disrepair."

Ivy's hand found her Snake Sword, and she pressed the mechanism that split the sword's blade into several smaller blades. The sword simply became crooked. The British woman spat a curse, and fiddled with her weapon. "It's broken...if we are to set a waypoint, we must return to my mansion. There are materials there we could use to repair our weapons and armor, and infuse them with holy power."

"It sounds like a worthy detour." Siegfried said with a nod. "It would appear that we've laid down our course, and all that's left is to set out. We should acquire steeds as soon as possible. Before we pack up and depart, are there any lingering issues we must discuss?"

Taki tilted her head away, but subtly gestured toward Tira with her eyes.

"I don't think we ever officially decided exactly what to do about Tira." Ivy said bluntly, rendering Taki's tactful gesture meaningless.

The group fell silent as their eyes fell upon Tira, who looked away. "...I don't blame you," she began. "I'd be suspicious of me, too. I don't have to travel with you if it would make you uneasy. I wish that I could make up for what I did...I especially wanted that red-headed girl to forgive me, but...I lost my chance to do that. I wanted Sophitia to forgive me, too, but if destroying Soul Edge will kill her children, I doubt she's going to be grateful that I'm helping you. However, there's still time for me to redeem myself by helping you defeat Nightmare! All would be forgiven, right?" She felt the eyes of Taki and Ivy on her, uncertain and unsure. She chuckled sheepishly. "Hey! If you think about it one way...it's kind of a good thing that I joined Nightmare for a while! If I had never gained his trust, I never could have gotten that surprise hit on him and...heh...nevermind..." her voice trailed off as she realized that she probably wasn't helping.

"I don't sense any ill intentions from you." Taki said. "It appears that you regret your decisions and wouldn't make the same mistakes again. I believe that we can trust you."

"You're a wildcard." Ivy said disapprovingly. "You're too unpredictable. Back then, and now too."

"No!" Tira said. "Since we parted ways...I've discovered who I am. I've learned what my life needs. I've realized that I was mistaken about many important things. Most importantly...I now know not to run away if something causes me distress. I had to leave you to discover myself, and I'm sorry that I fell in with the enemy while I was lost."

"Hmph," Ivy snorted. "Well, I'd say that you seem quite stable now. It would take months for you to break down again, and it will only take a fraction of that time to reach Nightmare. So, we're safe for now."

"...I trust Tira as well," Siegfried said flatly. He knew there was no point in elaborating; no matter what reasoning he presented for forgiving Tira and trusting her, his companions would still believe that he only wanted her back because of his feelings for her...which did in fact still exist.

"S-so I can stay?" Tira asked sheepishly.

Siegfried nodded.

Tira prepared to release her glee verbally, but decided to maintain her non-childish conduct. "I am grateful to be given a second chance," she said with a deep bow.

Tira had mentioned coming to several important personal revelations, but Taki and Ivy did not consider this information to be relevant to their journey. They did not bother to ask her to elaborate, although Siegfried was silently curious. The four of them packed their belongings and set out to find a settlement and procure mounts.

While Tira had been in Nightmare's service, Siegfried had been constantly tortured by the knowledge that his mortal enemy now commanded the love of his life to do as he pleased. Her defection lifted a cloak of envy and regret from Siegfried, and by returning to his side she had granted one of his biggest wishes. He was relieved beyond words to have the object of his affection returned to him so swiftly and with such ease. He had been ready to suspend his stern, stoic attitude for once, to beg and plead her for a second chance, but she had been all too eager to return to his side without any resistance at all. It was a dream come true, a dream he hadn't been able to fully appreciate due to the severity of the other events occurring at the same time. Now that their lives were safe and their exhaustion had been cured by sleep, the urge to express his appreciation to Tira grew stronger, but he did not know what to say or when to say it.

However, neither of them truly needed to speak to one another. They had grown to understand each other intimately, and knew what feelings the other was experiencing. They knew that they both regretted their previous errors, and they knew that they were both more than welcome in the other's arms. They didn't need to share affection, knowing that the time would come soon enough when they could be alone once more. They walked close to one another and let their hands brush together, but kept their profile low, needing little else than the company of the other.

Ivy had a secret to keep, as well. She did not the others to know; she did not want them to see her weak or vulnerable. She did not want them to know that she was dying, or that there was little that could be done about it. The battle between Soul Edge and Soul Calibur had formed a maelstrom of evil and holy energy that damaged the flesh and soul of those entangled with it; the others had escaped with minimal injuries, but the blood that flowed in Ivy's veins made her especially susceptible to the storm of opposing energies. She felt her soul being ripped apart during the battle, but chose to retain her pride rather than flee. The battle had eroded her soul, chipped away at it, until all that remained was the bare minimum for her survival. She was barely clinging to consciousness, but kept herself alive from sheer force of willpower. She wouldn't let herself die, not this close to victory. Ivy was glad that her Snake Sword had fallen into disrepair, because this gave her an excuse to return to Valentine Mansion; she had only one chance to survive, and the means to achieve it required more alchemic materials than she carried with her.

While on her journey, she had considered her own inability to wield Soul Calibur, and had been researching the means to fabricate a being that could wield the spirit sword; a homunculus, an Astaroth-like being that would wield the sword for her and obey her will. To power such a being, she would need a soul...but, unwilling to stain herself with another sin, she refused to sacrifice a human to obtain their soul. Instead, Ivy had researched the means for creating an artificial soul to animate the homunculus. Because Soul Calibur now rested in the hands of Siegfried, it would appear that her plans for a homunculus were now moot; however, perhaps an artificial soul was the only thing that could save her now. Her research was incomplete, but she knew that she had just enough time to reach Valentine Mansion and forge one artificial soul before her own soul was no longer able to sustain her. Death would come to her either sooner or later, but she would do everything in her power to ensure that it was later.

The moment she realized that she was dying, she vowed to herself not to tell the others; she would not allow herself to become a burden or a concern. If she was going to die, she did not want to spend her final days weighing down her companions. The only thing more important to her than her life was her pride, and she was just stubborn enough to sacrifice the former for the latter. It was difficult for her to maintain a façade of healthiness when it was a struggle just to stay conscious, but she had the willpower to do so as long as she was still alive.

Taki would normally have been perceptive enough to notice the secrets that Siegfried, Tira, and Ivy were attempting to keep, but she, too, was distracted. She had been surprised to see that Soul Edge and Soul Calibur had not destroyed one another when engaged in combat; instead, the two only seemed to grow more powerful than ever before. Together, they sparked a cataclysm that they had barely escaped alive. Even now, the two swords were linked by fate, destined to clash once again.

Taki was beginning to believe that attempting to destroy one sword with the other was futile; she was beginning to suspect that they would have to be obliterated one at a time, lest they grow even stronger as the result of clashing. The others had witnessed the same battle that she had, but none of them seemed to be considering the possibility that getting into another conflict would only make things worse. They were all convinced that Soul Edge could be destroyed with Soul Calibur, failing to realize that neither had done the other any damage during their recent battle.

Taki was unsure of whether or not to present her theory to the others; if they disagreed with one another, then their solutions to this conflict directly opposed one another. She did not want her companions to become her enemies, but she did not want them to continue on their journey, either. The only solution she could draw up was stealing Soul Calibur and hiding it to prevent it from clashing with Soul Edge yet again...but, at the same time, she could not present an alternative method for destroying the blade.

Taki was also concerned about Siegfried. He wished to merge with the sword...but after fusing with it, would he be able to cling to his human reason and somehow control the immense power that would reside within him? She could not leave that answer to chance.

She knew what decisions she had to make, but she was not eager to make those choices. She did not want to turn on her companions, steal the object they had all strived to obtain, or cause any harm to the man she respected the most. She chose to bide her time, to wait for the right opportunity to raise her concerns to the others – but truly, she was just attempting to stave off a confrontation for as long as possible. She knew it was unwise to do so...had her time with Siegfried made her soft? She would not have hesitated to steal the sword in her previous years...had she lost her youthful brashness, or lost her common sense? She didn't know what to believe.

---

What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to know what is right? Why is this happening to me?

Sophitia had spent almost a year traveling with Siegfried in pursuit of the cursed sword, but in all the terrifying things she'd seen, she'd never known such a horror as seeing her own two children abducted by her enemy, to suffer the cruelest fate. She had only embarked on this journey to protect her children and ensure that they would live in a world free of Soul Edge – but now, she learned that she was endangering the very children that she wished to protect.

What were her options? She could assist the others in destroying the sword, but she would doom her own children. Not only would she hate herself, but Rothion might hate her as well – he loved his children more than anything else. It could be the end of her family, everything she had worked for in the past seven years.

She could claim the sword for herself and protect it with her life so that her children might live – but then, she might have to spend the rest of her years defending the sword and protecting it from those who would try to take it...possibly even Siegfried and the rest of her old friends.

She could claim the sword and keep it hidden, or cast it into the depths of some dark place it could never be retrieved from...possibly the ocean, as they had once deigned to do. But Siegfried had described a vision in which Zasalamel retrieved the sword from the bottom of the sea, and Zasalamel himself had announced his intention to destroy both swords to keep the future safe from their influence. If the moor was capable of traveling to any location in that floating sphere of his, then Sophitia would never be able to hide the sword where he could not retrieve it – or defend the sword from Zasalamel, a being far more powerful than herself.

None of her options were acceptable. She did not wish to destroy the sword, nor claim it for herself, nor was it possible to discard it without the threat of it being retrieved. She loved her children more than anything else, and fought only for their sake...she refused to give up on them or allow them to die. However, in order to keep her children alive, Soul Edge would have to remain in this world.

Soul Edge was a threat to all living beings; there was no telling how many tens of thousands of lives it had taken, and that number would only continue to climb as long as it existed. If Sophitia chose to protect the sword, she was also choosing to end countless lives that the sword would take directly or indirectly. At the cost of two lives, the world could be free of Soul Edge forever; but Sophitia was choosing to trade countless lives for the sake of two children. She knew that she was being selfish, but it was impossible for a mother to sacrifice her own children for any cause.

An endless stream of tears rolled down Sophitia's cheeks as she lamented her predicament. To protect Soul Edge was a sin, but she did not wish her children to perish. She was confined to a dilemma which had no positive outcome. She felt as though night had fallen and day would never return.

Betray her comrades and forsake the world, or lose her family? Life was cruel to force this decision upon her...

...But gradually, she accepted what she had to do.

---

For the first time in a year, Siegfried stood upon the doorstep of the Valentine Mansion. Treading this ground brought back memories of his first visit here – memories of Tira and how childishly naive she had been, how devoted and loyal she was. The Tira that had accompanied him now seemed different – older, wiser, more mature – but he still caught a giddy smile on her face when he said her name, and the look in her eyes still expressed a desire to please him. In the time it had taken to reach this mansion he had spoken little with her, and still had not yet learned what she had 'discovered' while absent. He did not wish to learn yet – he did not want anything to concern him aside from his mission. Once this was all over with – if they were still alive – then he could concentrate on Tira once more. Until then, he would be grateful for their reunion, but not allow her to distract him from a much more serious goal.

"Ivy," Siegfried began, "This mansion is unoccupied, correct? I presume you locked the door as we left. Do you still have the key?"

It had been a year since Ivy had any reason to be concerned with her mansion, but every time she took inventory of the items in her possession, she saw the key, one of the only constants that had remained with her from the start. She withdrew it from her belongings and used it to unlock the door, pushing it open and stepping into her abode for the first time in what felt like forever. A wave of nostalgia washed over her, as well as Siegfried and Tira, but she spent no time idling, heading straight for her laboratory without hesitation. Her movements were slow yet efficient, as though she was exerting the minimum amount of energy for every action.

Her lack of communication was uncharacteristic, but had become common in the past few days. She had scarcely spoken a word, and communicated almost entirely with nods and shakes of her head. The others grew increasingly concerned for her, but knew better than to inquire about her well-being; they joked that she would never admit to ill health even if she was on the brink of death.

Unfortunately, they learned exactly how accurate their jests were when they discovered Ivy collapsed atop a worktable in her laboratory. Her pulse was slow, her breaths were shallow, and her skin was ice cold. They rushed to her aid, quickly delivering her to a bed and keeping her warm. There was little they could do for her, although Taki set up a protective barrier. Several times on their journey they had each fallen drastically ill at one point, but Ivy did not display any symptoms of sickness, only a complete loss of energy and warmth.

"What is happening to her?" Siegfried asked, the faintest hint of panic rising in his voice. "What is the cause of this?"

"I noticed her behaving strangely immediately after the two blades dueled," Taki said. "She has been acting lethargic and antisocial. I figured it was simply her attitude, but now I can see I should have been far more concerned for her..."

"Let's not think of what we should have done, but what we can do." Siegfried instructed. "This mansion has a library. We should look for a medical book, and – "

"Mandrake," a voice weakly murmured.

"What?" Siegfried asked, looking between Taki and Tira before settling his eyes on Ivy.

"Mandrake," she repeated.

"What is she saying?" Taki asked.

"She may be delirious," Siegfried said. "What illnesses are known to affect cognition? There's a library here. Perhaps we can find something – "

"Mandrake," Ivy said again.

"I think she's giving us an instruction." Tira said.

Siegfried and Taki shared a glance before regarding Tira with a doubtful look.

"I think I would know." Tira said. "It sounds like an order to me."

"Mandrake," Ivy repeated.

"I'm going to check her lab," Tira announced, and swiftly left the room. Siegfried and Taki doubted that Tira's guess was correct; the girl had been a servant for many years, and would likely perceive many things as commands. Taki began to scour the medical notes they had amassed throughout their journey, while Siegfried went searching for a medical book among Ivy's library. Tira returned a few minutes later, carrying a jar that contained a brown plant of a peculiar shape, which she brought before the semi-conscious Ivy. "The label says Mandrake. Is this what you wanted?"

"Milk," Ivy said.

"I'm going to look for wherever she kept her food," Tira announced almost casually, as she departed from the room. Taki and Siegfried exchanged glances nervously, still skeptical of Tira's hunch, until she returned with a large jug of milk. "It spoiled long ago. The stench is horrible. Will this do?"

"Honey," Ivy stated.

Taki and Siegfried reluctantly put aside the notes and books they were scanning, and joined Tira in the scavenger hunt. They retrieved all of the items that fell from Ivy's lips – a chicken egg, lavender seeds, earthworms, and fresh blood, among other bizarre requests. Her last request, the most peculiar demand of all, was fresh semen. The situation was hardly romantic, and both Siegfried and Tira regretted that their long-awaited reunion had to take place under such stressful circumstances, but for the sake of saving Ivy's life, or simply fulfilling her delirious dying request, Tira stimulated Siegfried until he had produced the ingredient that Ivy required.

"Mix under moonlight," Ivy instructed once the final component had been procured. The three rushed outside to combine and mix the items they had obtained with a mortar and pestle, presuming that it was proper alchemic procedure.

Once they had mixed the items into one foul-smelling substance, they returned to Ivy's side, where she gave them the simple instruction of "feed me."

"Ivy, most of these ingredients are spoiled or rotten. This concoction seems very unhealthy. Are you sure – "

"Feed me."

Siegfried, Taki, and Tira exchanged glances tentatively, neither of them wishing to poison Ivy but all of them wishing to have faith in her prowess as an alchemist. With no other option, and with Ivy's firm insistence that she was going to consume the drink, Siegfried carefully poured the brew into her mouth.

Ivy began to swallow the brew, and from the first gulp her countenance improved visibly. After taking several swigs, she seemed to have the strength to sit up in bed, then place her hands on the mortar, then take it from Siegfried and feed herself. With an increasingly perturbed expression on her face, she downed the entire mortar, then demanded, "WATER!"

The others looked around the room, but there was none to be found. Ivy attempted to climb out of bed, fell from it, then scrambled out of the room. The others breathed a heavy sigh of relief to see Ivy so lively and active. They'd succeeded in saving her, even if they knew not what she had been afflicted by or what they had fed her.

They reunited with Ivy in her washroom, where she filled her mouth with water, churned it, then spat it out only to repeat the process until the taste and the stench of the mysterious concoction was gone from her mouth. Only when she was finished regurgitating water and cleaning her tongue with a towel did the others make their inquiries.

"Ivy, what happened to you?" Siegfried asked.

"I lost most of my soul when the two blades were dueling," she replied. "Although my body is in fine shape, without life force, no body can persist. What you mixed together were items that contain a large amount of life matter and spirit matter. Mixed together, it was all just enough to grant me a sort of fake, artificial soul that will last me another few weeks before I die."

"Ivy!" Siegfried gasped in shock.

"Oh, don't worry, it's enough time for us to reach Soul Edge." Ivy said casually. "Besides, after Soul Edge is gone, I'll be all that's left of it. I'll have to go sometime, sooner or later. I'm just determined to take care of Soul Edge before the end."

The others fell silent, awed by Ivy's commitment; so dedicated was she to the cause of eradicating Soul Edge that she accepted her own death as one of the steps that must be taken.

"...You worried us." Siegfried said sternly. "Even if you're ready to go, we weren't ready to lose you. You should have told us."

"I knew I'd have enough time to make it here, and I knew that you and Taki would be smart enough to fetch me whatever ingredients I asked for." Ivy replied.

"It was neither Taki nor I who determined what you needed of us," Siegfried said. "It was Tira who realized that you were asking us to gather materials. If not for her, we would have attempted to treat what we thought was an illness."

Ivy was taken aback by the revelation that she owed her life to Tira. She looked at the girl in shock, then looked away as she hid her shame. "Well, then. I suppose I owe her my gratitude, don't I?" She said with clearly audible insincerity.

"You're welcome!" A bubbly Tira replied, oblivious.

That night was spent recovering from their panicked scavenger hunt, while the following day was spent repairing their ruined weapons and armor. Ivy had acquired basic blacksmithing skills in order to forge her Snake Sword and gauntlet, and had outfitted her mansion with a small smithy for her metalworking needs. She only had the rudimentary knowledge required to forge what she had crafted so far, but she was able to call upon what she knew in order to temper her companion's blades and restore them to functionality.

Ivy's Snake Sword was broken, and Taki's ninjatō blades were cracked and chipped, while Tira's ringblade still remained in two halves after being wrought apart by Nightmare. All of them were in need of better armor, for the protective wear they had had worn thus far was almost reduced to shreds by now. Siegfried's Requiem was melted down to provide the steel to repair the other weapons; he had no more use for the blade, and even less emotional attachment to a weapon that had been used to take lives, further staining him with sin.

All of the women had acquired a basic degree of tailoring skill while on their journey, taught to them by Sophitia; it was enough to allow them to mend their garments, and alter them where they chose. Once her time in the smithy was complete, Ivy chose to fashion herself a garment using materials from her old suit. It was considerably smaller since she had less fabric to work with, but somehow the deficiency of material covering her body was fitting, if distracting – and perhaps that was the point. Taki merely mended the rips in her bodysuit and reinforced the guards on her arms and legs, and Tira opted for an entirely new ensemble that was not held together with stitches. She had adopted the practice of coloring her hair to throw off any pursuers looking for her, but as she had not been infamous in quite some time, she chose to allow her hair to remain its natural color, forsake her body paint, and put her hair into twin pigtails to remove it from her eyes, now that it had grown long.

Ivy discovered while repairing her snake sword that the weapon was less responsive to her; her previous soul had been bound to it, and now that most of that soul was gone, the sword carried less of a connection to her. However, she could still fight with it. The matter that composed her new soul was pure, even though it was mixed with her own, cursed soul. She wondered if it would be possible for her to wield the spirit sword...but knew that the question was irrelevant, as the blade had chosen its owner.

A feeling of finality hung over Ivy – a sense of conclusiveness and inevitability. She felt as though she could sense her own death approaching, as though she could almost see the very moment she was destined the leave the world. The materials used to create her new spiritual matter were imperfect and flawed; this soul would not last her long, but she would make the most of what time it could grant her.

---

Time had passed all too quickly. Perhaps because Siegfried had his companions were attempting to savor the last few days of their journey – possibly the last few days of their lives – their time seemed to have gone by in a flash. It seemed as though it was only yesterday that they had enjoyed the warm, comfortable beds and amenities of Ivy's mansion, but now they were relegated to the rigid, bumpy mattresses of this stuffy and musky German inn. They had become accustomed to such conditions – although Ivy never stopped complaining – but they certainly wished that the last rest stop of their journey could have been a little more bearable. This small German town was the last settlement they would encounter before reaching Ostrheinsburg, and so it was their final chance for a brief respite. However, they had too much weighing on their minds for any of them to enjoy their final holiday, knowing that it would be their last, and knowing that the success or failure of their journey was so close at hand. They had already discussed their battle plans ad nauseam during the long carriage and boat trips that had dominated their journey here; there was no more need to speak of Nightmare and Soul Edge, but at the same time, no was in the mood to discuss anything else.

Siegfried insisted that he be the only one to face Nightmare, considering that he was the only one who would stand a chance against the monster thanks to Soul Calibur's protection. Ivy and Taki refused to be passive observers, insisting that their respective talents could boost Siegfried's chances of success. Taki's purification arts and Ivy's alchemic concoctions could possibly hinder Nightmare or empower Siegfried, but Siegfried maintained his belief that it was pointless for anyone else to risk their life to stop a demon he had unleashed. Tira saw Nightmare as a threat to her life and the lives of her companions, but was unsure how she could contribute to his defeat, and sided with Siegfried.

Taki had given voice to her concerns, and was relieved to know that the others had made the same observations that she had about the two blades – that neither seemed to harm one another, and that every clash seemed to make the two pulse with even more energy. They all agreed that Nightmare would be their target, and that Soul Edge would only be dealt with after he was defeated. Of course, Nightmare would block and parry with Soul Edge during battle, guaranteeing that the two blades would clash...unless the sword could be removed from his hands. Disarming Nightmare would be easier said than done, but there were scarcely any other suggestions that would prevent the two blades from striking one another. They drew up many plans, attempting to find which scheme would have the highest chance of success, but were unable to think of anything that was likely to work. They could only hope that they would be able to find some presently unforeseen opportunity once arriving at Ostrheinsburg – otherwise, the three women would simply launch their strongest attacks at Nightmare and divert his attention from Siegfried so that he could strike.

Although this was their last chance to have fun before they put their lives at risk, there was nothing of interest in this small German town, nor was anyone in the mood to go out and find some excitement. They spent their time meditating and ruminating over their situation until they heard the familiar yet disconcerting sound of clinking armor outside of their inn.

A trip to the window revealed that the streets below their room were now occupied by dozens of armored soldiers, none of them baring their weapons but all of them fanning outward as though in pursuit of some quarry.

"I am a stranger to this country, but I have seen the national flag," Taki said, "and those soldiers do not carry it."

Siegfried craned his neck to make out the emblem that the soldiers bore. "Wolfkrone," he said.

"Is this an invasion?" Tira asked. "Why is a neighboring country's army in this town?"

"This world is too small for coincidences," Siegfried said grimly. "This is related to Nightmare."

"Or us," Ivy said. "Even if our last sins occurred years ago, every one of us has made several enemies, and we've had to deal with surprise retributions in the past."

"Not now, of all times..." Siegfried growled. "Accost me for my crimes tomorrow, just not today...!...I've never made any enemies in Wolfkrone, and I don't know why they would be after us...I don't have a clue what's going on out there, but we would be better off uninvolved in any business that involves the military."

The sounds of armor-clad boots were heard on the thin wooden floorboards of the inn.

"It looks like we're going to be dragged into their business whether we like it or not," Ivy said.

"Blast!" Siegfried spat. "We kept our profile as low as possible. How did anyone learn of our connection to the blades?"

"It was those mercenaries we encountered," Taki said.

Days earlier, the four of them had crossed paths with a group of mercenaries en route to a mission. The mercenaries saw how well-armed the four were, and asked if they were looking for a larger group to assimilate with. Siegfried and the others declined, and inquired whether the mercenaries had been hired to defeat Nightmare. The mercenaries replied that their mission was to rid Ostrheinsburg of the monster, to which Siegfried replied that the men were traveling to their deaths. The mercenaries refused to listen to Siegfried until he presented them with the following reasoning: Siegfried had fought Nightmare and lost, so if their strongest warrior could not defeat Siegfried, the mercenaries would never survive. The leader of the mercenaries emerged to challenge Siegfried, and although he was skilled, Siegfried struck the man down several times with Soul Calibur – while the blade was still in its sheath. It was only after Siegfried bested the mercenaries' leader in combat that he convinced them not to throw their lives away in Ostrheinsburg...but the bitter mercenary leader accused Siegfried of wanting all the reward money for slaying Nightmare to himself. Siegfried had no patience to convince the man that he was wrong, and so he made his departure.

"That man must have spread word of me," Siegfried said. "A skilled warrior out to destroy Nightmare. With that reputation, anyone who has business concerning Nightmare might wish to speak to me."

"Siegfried, Taki and I can travel across rooftops," Tira reminded. "Shall we escape and cause a diversion so that you can draw the rest of the soldiers away? We could all reconvene at – "

"None of that will be necessary," Siegfried interrupted. "If they want to speak with us, we will simply do so."

"Siegfried, you're jeopardizing us." Ivy said irksomely. "Maybe our visitors aren't on their way up here to have a calm, rational discussion."

There was a knock on the door.

"We shall see," Siegfried replied. He opened the door and found himself facing three Wolfkrone soldiers that seemed pleased to have found him.

"Tall, blonde hair, a scar over one eye – I think this is our boy." The foremost soldier said. "Sire, we have come before you at the request of Princess Hildegard von Krone, the interim sovereign of Wolfkrone. She has requested – but not demanded – an audience with you."

"...What does she wish to discuss?" Siegfried asked.

" Princess von Krone seeks the destruction of Nightmare, who is a threat to our nation, your nation, and all others. She has heard that you may share a commitment to the same cause, and believes that our two forces would benefit from an alliance."

"Two forces? What composes Princess von Krone's force?"

"The full might of the Wolfkrone army, sire. Several thousand men are camped outside of this town, and tomorrow we disembark for Ostrheinsburg."

"Several thousand..." Siegfried echoed. "That's more than enough souls to restore him to full power. He would be a god..."

"Sire?" The soldier asked nervously. "Do you speak of us as sacrifices?"

"Unwitting sacrifices." Siegfried said bluntly. "You're all marching to your deaths – many armies have attempted to slay Nightmare, and each one was slaughtered, leaving no man standing. He will eat your soul and wash it down with your blood."

"Ha! I guess if you're trying so badly to scare us away, you must REALLY want that bounty all for yourself!" The soldier laughed. "So, does that mean you won't be joining us?"

"No, I will not join you – but I will grant your princess the audience she requests. Perhaps I can convince her not to allow so many of her subjects to die needlessly."

"Very well then – but don't think you can change her mind by besting her in combat like that mercenary leader!" The soldier said with another laugh.

---

The Wolfkrone army had set up a temporary base outside of the German town almost immediately after Siegfried and the others had arrived and cooped themselves up inside of their inn room. They were shocked to see thousands of tents where there was only grassland just one night ago, but more alarming was the fact that so many soldiers were on their way to Nightmare so soon. Had they arrived one day later, these men would already be dead, and Nightmare nourished enough to reach full strength. Indeed, their final chance to stop him was at hand.

Siegfried and his four companions were led to the heart of the Wolfkrone camp, where the princess' tent was located.

"Apologies," began one of the men standing guard outside of the princess' tent, "no weapons will be allowed past this point. Please relinquish all of your blades."

The four exchanged glances nervously. The women could stand to surrender their weapons, but Siegfried carried the one blade they had risked their lives to obtain.

Siegfried turned to his companions. "I'm afraid that the only way to guarantee its safety is to leave it with you. Will the three of you remain here?"

"Fine – but make it quick." Ivy grumbled. "I don't want to be bored out here, and we need a head start on these men."

Siegfried left Soul Calibur with the three women, and then entered the princess' tent. He saw no princess, only several men in military outfits standing before a table that held a map of Ostrheinsburg. They were moving pieces across the map, planning their strategy, until one of them looked up and noticed Siegfried. The rest turned to face him, and only then did Siegfried realize that the princess was among them – she was not dressed in a frilly gown, nor did she bare any symbol of sovereignty; she was clothed identically to her soldiers, a man to Siegfried's eyes until he noticed her hips and bust. She had long red hair, smooth youthful skin, plump lips, and a beauty mark below her lip. She reminded Siegfried of Amy, or rather what the young girl might have become into if she had lived. The woman approached Siegfried, extending one hand towards him, and he knelt to take her hand and kiss it, as he knew was customary with the upper-class.

"You can't shake my hand from down there," she said with a smile.

Embarrassed, Siegfried rose to his feet, and began to remove one gauntlet to shake her hand. She laughed at the gesture, but there was no condescension in her voice. "Formalities only waste time. Let's not bother – and you don't have to worry about ending every sentence with 'your highness', either."

Siegfried had never met a female ruler – or a woman of the nobility who discarded customs – or a leader who did not demand him to perpetually show respect. Many of his female companions had been boyish, even masculine – but to meet a princess that was more casual than the average peasant was still quite a shock.

"My name is Siegfried Schauffen, and I am the man you sent for," he said.

"I am Princess Hildegard von Krone of Wolfkrone, and I ask you to call me Hilde in order to expedite this exchange; I don't think I need to explain why. I trust that the emissary who contacted you on my behalf told you the reason for this summons?"

Siegfried nodded. "You're leading this army to kill Nightmare, and you know that I have the same goal."

"That is correct," Hilde confirmed. "Is it true that you really convinced a band of mercenaries to abandon their mission using your combat skill?"

"I wished that I could have convinced them using only my words," Siegfried replied, "But I also believed that proving their incapability would convince them not to throw their lives away."

"So you're not just some brute," Hilde observed. "It's refreshing to find a man that would rather solve a problem with words than blades."

"And that is why I've agreed to have this meeting," Siegfried said. "I wish to convince you not to deliver these men to their deaths."

Hilde smirked, and chuckled. "I'm afraid that it would reflect quite poorly on me as a leader if I were to take a few thousand men from their homes for no other reason than to go jogging across the countryside. I left my home country with this army behind me for a good reason, and that is to make this world a safer place. It is inevitable that some soldiers die – all of my men know this. But - "

"...I hope you will forgive me for interrupting you – 'in order to expedite this exchange' – but more of your soldiers will die than just some of them." Siegfried began. "Nightmare is a demon unlike any that has ever existed before. He is the result of thousands of years of spilled blood and stolen souls, a monster that had been in the making far before you or I were ever born. He has eaten many armies already and still hungers for more. His thirst for blood will never be quenched; his hunger for souls will never be satiated. Nightmare is a monster in the purest sense of the word, because absolutely nothing about him is human. His flesh is steel, so his blood cannot be spilled. He does not feel pity, so he is not capable of mercy. He does not feel remorse, so he is not capable of regret. He does not feel fear, so there is no possible way to intimidate him. He regards human beings as nothing more than food, so there is no way to bargain with him or reason with him. He is nothing more than a monster that desires to kill as many men as possible, and there is no army in the world that can stop him."

"If an army cannot stop him, then what can?" Hilde asked. "You describe him as though he is unstoppable, as though we should bow our heads and accept our fates as his nourishment. Are you telling me that we are doomed? Are you telling me that my country will be trampled beneath this beast, and that there is nothing I can do?"

"Nightmare has but one weakness - a weapon forged specifically to be his undoing. I trust that you are aware of the legend of Soul Edge?"

"Some call it the Sword of Kings, while others refer to it as the Sword of Damnation." Hilde said. "There are too many conflicting beliefs about this blade for me to draw a conclusion about it – I'm not even sure if it is real."

"Soul Edge is real, and Nightmare wields it. Nightmare is the will of Soul Edge, the desires of the sword given tangible form. If you are unaware of Soul Edge, you may wish to take a seat – it will take me quite some time to explain exactly what you have decided to pit your army against."

Hilde complied with Siegfried's suggestion, taking a seat and regarding Siegfried with an expectant grin. Soon, that grin faded from her face as Siegfried relayed to her the long and bloody history of Soul Edge, the story that he had pieced together by reviewing records of the blade found across countries. He began his story with Zasalamel's account of King Algol, and traveled across history in a verbal journey that spanned from the Ling Sheng-Su Temple to Spain.

"Cervantes de Leon, the pirate that terrorized the seas for so long – so it was Soul Edge that gave him his powers," Hilde murmured. "But then – who was the next one to claim the blade? You have spoken much of Soul Edge, yet you have said little of Nightmare. When did he first appear?"

Siegfried hesitated. He had told his story to few, and was never sure what reaction to expect. The princess' generals were still in the room, all of them hunched over the table where they had laid their plans, but all of them now focusing their attention in Siegfried, engrossed in his story.

"...the origin of Nightmare – it is not information that I often divulge. The one whom wrought this catastrophe upon us...it is difficult to reveal his identity. You must understand...if the world was aware of who is to blame for so many deaths, for so many orphaned children, for so many widowed wives...the world would hate him. The world would hunt him."

"And yet you wish to protect him?" Hilde demanded. "You wish to protect the one who unleashed this monster?"

"Princess Hilde, I ask that we are given...privacy." Siegfried said cautiously. Hilde hesitated, eyeing Siegfried suspiciously. She raised her right hand, keeping her eyes fixed on Siegfried, and her generals and war advisors quickly left the room and closed the entrance to the tent. Hilde sat in silence, watching Siegfried for any sign of hostility before speaking. "...go on." She said.

"I – " Suddenly, Siegfried's armored seemed to weigh tons. He felt hot, stuffy, although the tent was well-aired and summer had long passed. He felt perspiration forming on his face, but had no way to wipe it off. He turned his head until he found a chair, and then he pulled it towards him and clumsily sat down on it. He stared at the ground blankly for a few moments, his eyes empty. Then, he turned his gaze to Hilde, but she did not feel as though his eyes were on her – it seemed as though he was looking at something far, far away, a great distance behind her.

"Have you heard of Sir Frederick?" With these words, Siegfried began his confession. He told Hilde about his father, his birth, his upbringing, his delinquency, the Schwarzwind, his plan to ambush any soldiers that deserted the army and fled from the war, and finally, he told her about the severed head that stared back at him as he held it aloft in the moonlight, one lifetime ago. He described to her as best he could what happened to him – or what he did to himself – and his resolve to obtain Soul Edge and take vengeance upon his father's killer.

Finally, he spoke the words " – following a rumor, I traveled to Spain – " and Hilde shot out of her seat. She stared down at him, then turned around and walked away, facing one of the tent's walls. Then, she turned around and walked back to him.

"And?" She demanded, and at that moment there was not a single force in the world that could have pried her attention away from Siegfried.

"I found the blade. It spoke to me. It promised me what I desired. It told me it would grant me everything I desired. I...I believed its lies. I took it."

"And then what?" Hilde asked, her eyes focusing on Siegfried so intently that they almost burned holes into him.

"My soul was immature, and it could not control Soul Edge's power. The power that I could not control was expelled from me...it rained over the entire world."

Hilde's mouth fell upon as her fears were confirmed. She felt herself losing her balance and stumbled backwards, knocking over a chair. Shaking and trembling with a mixture of shock, horror, and rage, one hand flew up to cover her mouth, her eyes still on Siegfried, her gaze causing him physical pain.

"You?" She said breathlessly. "You're the one? You're the one who released this blight upon the world? You're the one who unleashed the Evil Seed? Do you know how many people went insane because of you? Do you know how many families were destroyed? Are you aware that kingdoms were brought to their knees because of you? Do you have any idea – ANY idea – how many – how many – "

Hilde jerked away from Siegfried, took a few steps away, then turned around and approached him, then turned away again. She paced back and forth, looking away from Siegfried, and then looking back. Her eyes darted around wildly, as though looking for something solid to grab onto, but finding nothing. She sighed loudly and ran her hands through her hair, then finally stopped her frantic movement and settled her eyes on Siegfried again.

"You do know what you did – correct?" She asked with the same impatient tone that an adult takes with a disobedient child.

"There hasn't been a single day in the past seven years that I haven't dealt with a consequence of grasping the sword that day." Siegfried said. "It ruined my life just as much as it ruined anyone else's."

"YOU THINK – " Hilde shrieked, before flinching and drawing back, as though the sound of her own voice had hurt her. "You think," she repeated, more calmly, but with barely-contained rage bubbling just underneath her voice, "that you've suffered as much as anyone else you've hurt? Have you spent the past seven years in a cold prison tower? Have you lost all memory of your loved ones and who you used to be? Have you lost your humanity and had your mind burned to ashes?"

"Something like that." Siegfried said. "I don't believe my punishment was quite so severe, but it was not dissimilar."

"Your punishment?" Hilde asked. "And what was this punishment?"

"I was the next host body for Soul Edge," Siegfried said. "For four years, I was trapped in my own body, unable to speak or move my limbs of my own accord. I could do nothing but watch – watch as my body was twisted and mutated, contorted into something unnatural and evil. I was used to slaughter entire cities, to take thousands of innocent lives. I was forced to watch my own hands rip men apart in front of their families, and I was completely powerless to stop it. I saw the suffering and the pain and the death that my mistake had given birth to, I saw it all firsthand, knowing it was my fault. I had to watch visions of death and murder nonstop for three years straight, I had to watch my body twist into something monstrous, and the entire time I had to listen to that damned sword jeering at me and mocking me, thanking me for enabling it."

Siegfried hung his head down, burring his face in his hands. "There is no need to chastise me or remind me of the suffering I've caused. I know what I've done, because I was there for every death. Every. Single. Death. I saw every man I killed, because it was all done with my own body. I couldn't look away or close my eyes, because my body was no longer my own. I saw it all from Nightmare's point of view – because I was Nightmare himself. I am aware of every single sin that Nightmare has wrought upon the world, and I know that the effects of the Evil Seed still burn the world today. I know, I know, I know! I know it all. I know already! Please...you do not have to remind me what I have done. I see it all on the back of my eyelids every time I blink."

Hilde had ceased to shake with anger. The eyes that had once burned with hatred now regarded Siegfried with pity. She didn't see a selfish murderer in front of her, but instead a sad, broken wreck of a man. She wanted to hate him, wanted to blame him for everything, wanted to label him as the culprit that she had been looking for ever since the day her life changed, but for some reason she couldn't. He was the biggest, tallest, most handsome and muscular man she had ever seen, but he was on the verge of weeping, with his life in shambles and his mind perpetually wracked with guilt as sins from his past pricked him even today. There was not a soul in the world whom had caused more suffering than him, and he knew it, for he had been forced to watch every second of it all. She couldn't bring herself to berate him, not now, not even as images of her father flashed through her mind. It wasn't because he appeared to be so weak and sad, but because what he had been through was equal to or greater than any suffering that he had caused.

"...stop sniveling." Hilde said sternly. "What happened next? Why are you and Nightmare now separate entities?"

Siegfried told her the rest of his story – his alliance with Ivy, Astaroth, and Lizardman, then the defeat of Nightmare at the hands of Xianghua, only for him to sleep in Siegfried's subconscious and later awake, and then finally being freed of the abomination's control by a dying Raphael Sorel. He told her of taking up the Soul Embrace and summarized his journey by naming the countries he traveled to and the major events he experienced. He explained that Nightmare's return was a complete mystery to him until it was clarified only a short time ago by Zasalamel, the one who had resurrected the will of the sword. He told Hilde of his adventure – choosing only the experiences which were relevant to the story, omitting any details about his lustful habits – and finally reached present day.

"Then, this 'Soul Calibur', the only weapon that stands a chance against Nightmare – where is it?" Hilde inquired.

"It is outside the tent, with my companions." Siegfried said. "Now that I am reminded of them, I wonder how long I have kept them waiting..."

"May I see it?" Hilde inquired. "I wish to behold this blade for myself."

"Very well." Siegfried emerged from the tent to witness Ivy engaged in combat with one of Hilde's soldiers. She wrapped her Snake Sword around his ankle and tripped him, then withdrew her sword to the applause of a cheering audience. It appeared that Siegfried's companions were not the only ones who had become bored, and Hilde's army had looked to Siegfried's companions for a challenge and entertainment.

Siegfried weaved through the crowd to approach Tira and Taki, still vigilantly guarding Soul Calibur. "I'm sorry that it took so long." He said. "I require the sword now."

After retrieving the blade, Siegfried returned to Hilde's tent. He unsheathed the blade, displaying its incomparable glory. Hilde marveled at it – the unorthodox shape, the crystals suspended in the air around the orb at its center, the holy, sacred aura that the blade emitted. "This is almost impossible to believe," she said, "yet here it is. I can see it and touch it for myself – it's even more than I imagined it to be from your accounts. If there was ever a legendary weapon, this would be it. And this blade...this blade will slay Nightmare?"

"That is what we hope." Siegfried said.

"...Hope?" Hilde asked. "You hope? Nightmare, the beast that drinks armies and eats cities, you hope that you have the means to defeat him?"

"This is our only chance," Siegfried explained, "the only hope that we possess. There is nothing else like this in the world – perhaps the treasures of the Ling Sheng-Su temple, such as the Dvapara Yuga and the Kali Yuga – that could benefit us, but we don't have the time to retrieve such items."

"Why not?" Hilde asked.

"Because it's only matter of time before an army marches on Ostrheinsburg and restores Nightmare's power, that's why!" Siegfried said, exasperated.

Hilde sunk back down into her chair, now fully aware of why Siegfried risked his life in combat against the mercenary leader and met with her on this day. "We would all die – all of us. And so would anyone else who attacks him...our only hope is this weapon here, this Soul Calibur?"

"Yes," Siegfried said with vexation.

"Then...what shall my army do?" Hilde asked. "Shall we form a barrier around Ostrheinsburg to prevent any other armies from entering?"

Siegfried felt a slight degree of power and authority – the leader of a country was asking him what commands to give her army. His answer would dictate the actions of thousands of men – but having such control made him uncomfortable; having so much of a say only made him feel weighed down by the consequences of his decisions.

"Don't do that – Nightmare would emerge from Ostrheinsburg and consume your army. Don't let your men near him at all. Instead..." Siegfried faltered.

"Instead?" Hilde asked.

"My companions and I will travel into Ostrheinsburg today. We will attempt to slay Nightmare with Soul Calibur. If we fail, the task will be left in your hands. There are several things you must do. First, you must seek a man named Kilik. He is the only one armed with a weapon that possess properties that can stand up to Nightmare's power. You should also set your nation upon the task of creating a weapon more holy than Soul Calibur; the most powerful purification arts are found in the East, so send your agents there to gather materials and knowledge. Last, the moor I spoke of, Zasalamel, will likely come to your aid now that he is committed to the task of protecting the world from these two blades. As I have told you, he is an immortal with powers beyond that any person has ever possessed – he will likely provide you with the most assistance, and you must grant him whatever concessions he demands in order to see that countermeasures against Nightmare are completed as soon as possible. He may go after Nightmare himself and perish, in which case – "

"...So..." Hilde said weakly, "I am not to lead my army against Nightmare?"

"To do so would be suicide," Siegfried recapitulated.

"...I must admit that I'm disappointed," Hilde said. "I led so many men here for a purpose, and now I learn that I am to instead send them on a manhunt and a scavenger hunt, all while waiting for commands from a moor I do not know..."

"If you had continued to lead these men to Ostrheinsburg, they all would have met their deaths," Siegfried said. "Do not be disappointed; be relieved. Hilde...for the past several years of my life I have campaigned against this sword, and I have no successor to inherit the task, should I die. You are now one of the few individuals in the world who knows the entire story behind the two blades, and certainly the only individual who knows what measures need to be taken. Hilde, if I fail at this task, you are the only person capable of taking up my mantle. Will you accept this?"

Hilde stared blankly ahead for a few moments before smirking, snorting, then closing her eyes and chuckling. She laughed to herself – or perhaps at herself – in a sad and remorseful way. "Perhaps it is my fate," she said, "To inherit the duties of others. I cannot deny these tasks that you have laid before me; they are now my responsibility, because I am the only one who can perform. Were I to refuse, I would be dooming those I could have saved. You have passed your burden to me now, and I will bear it as well as I can."

"Oh, the burden is not passed yet," Siegfried said. "I still have to die first."

The two of them laughed, and it was grim, dark-sounding laughter, but the two of them shared such a pitiable moment because they both had one another to share it with.

"Very well, Schauffen. I am glad that we met – you saved me from a terrible mistake, and gave me the knowledge I will need to combat this threat. I only wish there was more I could do for you in return. ...Wait...perhaps I could..."

"...Yes?" Siegfried asked.

Hilde chuckled again. "You know, it will be very difficult for me, considering how you have stung me and my kingdom – but should you succeed in slaying Nightmare and ending the threat of Soul Edge, I will grant you what you desire the most."

"What I desire the most?" Siegfried echoed. But you have just named my only two desires, to slay Nightmare and – "

"Shhhh, Siegfried, do not let it trouble you for now; it will come to pass when it does." Hilde assured. "My army will remain here for one day; if you do not return, I will follow the directions you have given me, and wait for word from this Zasalamel. I did not bargain for these new obligations when I set out upon this task...but I understand the necessity of these deeds. Someone must accept the responsibility, and I shall be the one."

"Then, I shall depart." Siegfried said. "It is a shame that circumstances forced our time together to be so brief...but I believe that in that brief time I have found someone worthy of adopting my responsibility. Farewell, Princess Hildegard von Krone – your country is blessed with a fine ruler."

"And your companions are gifted with an excellent leader." Hilde responded.

Siegfried bowed, sheathed Soul Calibur, and exited the tent, leaving Hilde alone. She sighed heavily as her new burden weighed upon her, and then took up a quill to record all that Siegfried had told her. She did not want to forget his words; she did not want his story to go untold; she did not want his journey lost to history.

---

He began to stir.

His existence was blurred, shadowy, dim. He felt sensations that were indistinct, hazy, unclear. His mind was sluggish, and it took him days to process his first thought. The world around him was a jumbled mess that he would never be able to put together, a chaotic storm that he would never be able to calm.

But over time, that storm calmed itself. The world became less muddled, and began to make sense. His mind began to recover, and his thoughts came to him more swiftly. He could now perceive the world around him clearly – and perceive himself, as well.

His memories began to return.

Who he was.

What he was.

What he had done.

It all came back, piece by piece, until he was whole again. Whole, but confined. He was removed from the world, and to return to it would cost him a considerable amount of energy. To sustain himself would cost even more. Recently, there had been an immense surge of energy all around him – that explosion of energy was what awoke him...and it would power him as well. Some of the energy had flowed into him, and now that he was aware again, he could use this energy, shape it for whatever purpose he desired. He was still groggy – it would take awhile to build himself a physical body and a home to reside in...but he was not short on time.

He felt his thirst for power growing as he remembered that the world was his for the taking.