ACT IX : REVELATION
Waking from that sleep felt closer to being born than anything. His awakening was slow, everything came back at an agonizing pace. Everything that had happened in the past few weeks replayed itself, leading up to his separation from the human host and then - he gave an involuntary groan of frustration - his defeat at Siegfried's hands.
After he had discerned where he was and all that had happened, he had the time to take in everything else. It was unusually warm if he was where he thought he was - he opened one eye, and, sure enough, still right where he had fallen in Ostriensburg's main hall. A blazing fire roared in the huge fireplace at the head of the hall. How had that gotten there...?
Slowly, he pushed himself up to a sitting position, and the gash in his torso protested. He winced. His blood on the stone floor around him was dry and flaking. He had been unconscious for a while.
But not dead. He noticed the rather amateur bandaging job around his abdomen. Left alone, that wound would have bled him to death. Someone had kept him alive.
But who? And why?
So, you are awake... The sword hissed.
It began to pick up Nightmare's train of thought. Who had done this? One of his servants? No, they would have used the opportunity of his vulnerability to take Soul Edge. So then, had Soul Edge manipulated them into it?
Rest assured, my child, the sword answered him, I did not have to manipulate a single inkling of thought in the little witch's head.
It hadn't been one of his servants. Whoever Soul Edge was speaking of was an outsider.
It then continued to answer the rest of his questioning thoughts - You were defeated because my sister entity fed that human strength. Though I defended you from a direct death at his hands, with the injury you were dealt, your death still remained a possibility... And as I had little power to contribute to healing you, when the little witch came here I had little choice other than to allow her to assist. Its tone was bitter - evidently it was not happy about this fact.
That still left his original questions unanswered, though - Who was this "witch" Soul Edge spoke of, and why... Why had she helped him?
The unsettling feeling created by the lack of information, though, was quickly overshadowed when he remembered - He was free.
No longer would he be bothered by the human's constant babble. This body was his own now. No more would the human annoyingly and futilely struggle to keep him from slaughtering the humans from which he drew life force... Now, he was free.
Now, nothing stands in our way. I shall take my rightful place as ruler of this realm and those beyond... With you, my child, as my hand of Death, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
Nightmare slowly got to his feet. The wound still pained him, but it would be tolerable as long as he avoided direct combat. And with a steady allowance of power from Soul Edge, it would heal within a few days.
In any case, he could stay here no longer. He would need to travel again, to seek out stronger and richer souls that would better contribute to Soul Edge's power. Remaining here was no longer productive.
First, though, he would have to seek out his former servants and consume their power. Left alone, they had the potential to become enemies.
But his search through the castle turned out to be utterly fruitless. It was empty, abandoned. His servants had already left.
I drove them off when they tried to approach you, Soul Edge explained. They realized quite quickly that any attempts to take up my hilt would be unsuccessful. I doubt they will return here, but later, they may seek you out.
Let them come... he thought. I will defeat them like I do any other obstacle in my path.
As he headed towards the great wooden doors at the end of the main hall, however, he became aware of movement above him, in the rafters of the castle's ceiling. Looking up, he could see nothing through the shadows but a faint metallic glimmer, and, as Soul Edge noticed the presence, it seethed.
That is her, the little witch... True, she saved you from Death's grip, but she now seeks to manipulate you. You'd best dispose of her here and now.
Just another obstacle in his way. Yes, he would get rid of her.
But then something made him hesitate. Manipulate him? Wasn't that... Exactly what Soul Edge was doing?
Fool child... Your frail mind could never hope to understand my reasoning... I do not manipulate you, the very purpose for which you were born is to serve me.
And you dare to question my will?
Nightmare was left even more hesitant to follow the sword's orders after that. That wasn't all he was... He had to have more purpose than simply being an executioner, always bending to the will of the being within the sword.
But you do not... Accept it, for it is the only purpose you will ever know.
No. He wouldn't just accept that. If he had no other purpose... He would create one for himself, and he would start with an act of defiance towards the being that had been his only guidance for the past year of his life.
"Are you responsible for this?" he called up to the figure in the rafters, gesturing to the bandages.
A pause. The figure shifted. Then, "Yes."
Nightmare watched warily. "Why?"
"You seemed to be in need of assistance. Therefore, I provided it."
To Nightmare, the concept of assisting others without gain was foreign. He saw it as yet another weakness that made humans that much easier to kill.
And yet, if this stranger had not helped him, he would be dead. And it was not under the same circumstances that Astaroth had saved him - that had been Astaroth's duty. He was still not feeling overly grateful, the concepts of gratitude and appreciation had never had any real importance to him. So then what, in return, would he owe to this woman?
Kill her! Kill her now, and you will owe nothing!
Nightmare barely managed to suppress the urge the blade imposed on him. No. If this was an act of defiance, he was going to see it through to the end. He would prove to Soul Edge that he would not bend to its will so easily. He would allow himself to be manipulated no longer.
"...And why were you here? Quite obviously, it was not to kill me, as all others that come to this place seek to do."
"You are indeed observant." Again, the figure shifted, this time dropping down from the rafter - though it was a long drop, she landed lightly as though it was barely any distance at all. She was attired in a suit of platemail, of an almost iridescent sea-green coloring with gold embellishments - and this made the grace with which she managed to land even more surprising. Even with the bulk of the armor, it was apparent she had a slight build. Her helm was fashioned in the likeness of the top half of a dragon's head. From beneath it, waves of dark chestnut hair fell to the middle of her back. And when she raised her head, the shadow the helm cast over her eyes receded - they were jade green, and had a quality to them that was almost disturbing, though Nightmare couldn't directly place it.
Everything about the girl looked young but those eyes. They held wisdom, understanding, experience, and, though Nightmare failed to notice it, pain.
And almost immediately Nightmare understood why Soul Edge's compulsion to kill her had been so strong. Her soul held the most vast amount of power he had ever sensed, second only to the power contained within the demon blade. Clearly, she was not human. He found the urge to kill difficult to resist, as he had never had any reason to exercise self-control before.
But if he gave in now, his defiance would be for naught, and he would once again fall under the manipulation of his creator.
He would once again become a puppet.
And he would allow himself to be a puppet no longer.
She turned to face him, continuing on with answering his question. "The rumors of your power reach far and wide. And as I am aware of a large part of what goes on in this world, they have not failed to reach me... Currently, my kingdom is at war. And your assistance would ensure our victory."
Nightmare had the feeling that this was not her actual reason, or at least not entirely her reason, for seeking him out. But, as that was the reason she had given, he would fight as a member of her army, and when the war was won, he would move on.
He would further defy the will of his creator... He would acheive his freedom...
You will do no such thing, child...
Oh... You disappoint me.
You will realize, in time. You will realize that your rightful place is at my side, as my hand of Death, ridding the world of those who oppose me, readying it for my rule!
And if you do not... You, too, will fall to me, like any other enemy.