A/N: Hey guys, sorry for updating just now. It's almost finals week in our school and the professors are making us go through hell with a lot of projects, quizzes and practical exams. Thanks for the reviews from darkwings13, imperius rex and suggle boo. I appreciate your criticisms so that I could improve my work. Thanks as well to snuggle boo. Hope that this chapter did the trick.
As morning arrives, Sophitia rises from the bed. She stayed by her sister's side last night to keep her company. While stretching her arms up to get some blood flowing in them, she noticed Cassandra, who was still asleep, shivering from the morning's cool breeze. The older Athenian immediately pulled the blankets up to her sister's neck to give her some warmth. Cassandra quickly snuggled into the comfort of the blanket and started to murmur some words.
"Siegfried... I love you so much... No I love you more…"
Sophitia couldn't help but giggle at her sister while she was "sleep-talking" (like sleep walking). Suddenly, the door in their room opened.
"Hey you two, move your butts faster. Mitsurugi's already waiting outside." complained Maxi.
"Well this is a surprise; you two actually woke up really early Maxi. And I thought that we were the ones who were going to wake you up." teased, the Athenian.
"Duh, of course we woke up early. After all, we need to be there for Siegy. So hurry up would ya?"
Even though Maxi was annoyingly rushing them, Sophitia could see the concern in the pirate's eyes towards their companion.
"Why don't you just wait outside with Mitsurugi? I'll just wake up Cassandra and we'll meet you outside, alright? Oh and by the way, the next time you're about to enter a room, don't forget to knock. It's rude to barge in a room without the person knowing."
Realizing his mistake, the pirate scratched his head in embarrassment "Oh, sorry about that. I guess I just got carried away with all the excitement… Just hurry up ok?"
After Maxi left, Sophitia slowly approached her sister.
"Cassandra, wake up sister."
Cassandra slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by the image of her older sister.
"…Sis?"
"Better get up Cassandra. Everybody is waiting for us." said Sophitia.
The younger Athenian however, refused to get up and decided to put a pillow on her face to try to get some sleep again.
Seeing her sister acting stubbornly, Sophitia thought of an idea on how to wake up her sister.
"Come on Cassandra; get up, Siegfried's waiting for you…"
"Sieg…fried?" The younger Athenian immediately got up from her bed, remembering that today was the day of the knight's execution.
"Alright, I'm up, I'm up! Let's go Sis!"
Sophitia nodded and the sisters quickly left the inn to meet their companions waiting outside.
"Oh man, what's taking those two slowpokes? Why don't we just go ahead Mitsurugi?" complained Maxi.
"Let's just wait for them a little longer Maxi. Besides, Siegfried would appreciate it if all of us would be there especially her right?"
Feeling disappointed with the samurai, Maxi sat down on the ground and let out a deep sigh. Suddenly they heard someone shouting from inside the inn.
"Wait… wait for us!" it was Cassandra who was shouting as the sisters ran towards them. Maxi stood up and approached the young Athenian.
"Finally, what took you so long to wake up anyway?" He then noticed her hair all messed up and decided to tease her about it by giving her a noogie. "Hey, what is this sponge doing in your head huh? HAHAHAHAHA!"
Annoyed with the pirate, Cassandra pushed him away and pouted her face. "That's none of your business Maxi and my hair won't be looking like this if it wasn't for you, drilling your fist in my head like that." Everybody laughed at the Athenian, knowing that she's back to her old brash, spunky and energetic self.
Feeling concerned about what happened yesterday, Mitsurugi approached Cassandra. She noticed the man approaching and immediately lowered her head in shame for what she had said to the man.
"Uhm… Sorry for everything I've said yesterday Mitsurugi. I…" Before Cassandra could finish what she was saying, Mitsurugi placed his hand on her head.
"Don't worry about it kid. I understand why you said those things… I'm the one who should apologize for harming you. I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me. Please forgive me."
Cassandra nodded and gave him a smile.
With everybody ready, the gang proceeded to Wolfkrone Castle.
A splash of water interrupted his slumber. He slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by the images of his fellow inmates, having smirks on their faces.
"Wake up you monster! Today's the day that you walk the plank."
Siegfried tried to stand up, but his body has grown weak from the punishment that he went through from the past three days. By now, he couldn't feel anything in his body. None of his muscles could contract and a lot of his bones have been broken. Suddenly, an inmate approached him and pulled him by his hair.
"Ha, it looks like he can't even stand up by his own." He then slammed Siegfried's head down to the ground.
After a while, a squad of soldiers arrived at the cell to pick up the Azure Knight. An inmate signalled two of his companions to pick him and immediately handed him over to the guards upon their command.
The inmates decided to give their final words to Siegfried while the soldiers took him away. "Take care of him officers. He's in a very fragile state. It would be a shame if he doesn't make it to his final destination. HAHAHAHA!"
Just before noon, the gang arrived at the castle and was greeted by a guard. Cassandra immediately asked him if they could see Siegfried.
"Forgive me my lady; the Azure Knight is not in here anymore." said the guard
"What do you mean he's not in here anymore?"
The soldier explained to the group that Siegfried was taken away earlier, to be moved in the arena where he is going to be executed. They then asked for the time when the execution would take place. The soldier spoke none of a specific time but said that they could make it if they hurry. After thanking the man for entertaining their questions, the group immediately headed towards the arena.
A structure that can be compared to the ancient coliseum of Rome, The Wolfkrone Arena or more popularly known as the Wolves' Den was one of the most famous landmarks of the kingdom where a lot of special events are held. Today, thousands of people were in attendance at the arena to watch the execution of the dreaded Azure Knight. Due to their massive number, all the entrances for the audiences have been clogged by the crowd. After a while, the four warriors finally arrived at the scene and noticed the problem.
"Great, just great, one problem after another, can't this day get any worse?" complained Maxi.
While the group were waiting for their turn to enter the structure, Mitsurugi tried to think of an idea on how to get to the arena faster.
"Why don't we go behind and use the entrance of the soldiers? It's probably the only entrance that isn't filled with people right now."
"Wait, isn't that too dangerous? I mean, we could get arrested if the guards see us." objected Sophitia.
While the group discusses about the plan, Cassandra slowly backs away from her comrades and headed towards the back of the arena. Seeing that the entrance was unattended, Cassandra rushed inside, leaving her companions behind. Suddenly, she saw a squad of soldiers who were guarding a passageway. With her instinct, Cassandra quickly went for her weapons but then, she realized that they weren't there. (Damn it! How could I forget? They got scrapped during my last battle… Looks like I have to do this the hard way.) Determined to see the knight, Cassandra continued to rush forward.
Seeing a figure coming towards them, one of the guards ordered it to stop. Cassandra however, being the reckless person that she is, did not listen to their warnings and continued to run towards them, thinking that she could somehow break through their line of defence with strength alone. Eventually, she ended up crashing into them, and in return, the guards tried to restrain her. With all her might, the young Athenian tried to break free from the grasps of the guards but failed. "Siegfried!" Cassandra shouted at the top of her lungs at the passageway, trying to somehow let him know that she's there for him.
The sun was already at its highest peak and all the seats of the arena have been filled. Everyone from the kingdom came to see the death of the infamous Azure Knight. All of the important people in the kingdom were also present including Princess Hilde who was wearing her elegant blue dress, with her long, crimson hair drifting with the wind and of course, wearing the Holy Stone, Soul Calibur at her neck. She was sitting at her throne at the upper level of the structure, awaiting the arrival of the condemned man.
After a while, a platoon of soldiers appeared from a passageway of the arena with Siegfried at the middle of their formation. Because of the knight's presence, the crowd started to behave chaotically.
"Kill him!"
"Make him suffer!"
"Put his head on a pole!"
"Die you monster!"
All the hatred, all the anger and all the words that the crowd threw at him just seem to pass by his ears because he knew that in just a little while, it will all be over. After reaching the middle of the arena, they stopped. The princess then stood up and signalled the people to be quiet as she faces the knight.
"Siegfried Schtauffen, for the crimes that you have committed, for the countless lives that you've taken and for the fact that you are the Azure Knight, wielder of the Soul Edge, I, Hildegard Von Krone, sentences you… to death." Reacting to the princess's judgement, the crowd began to shout for joy knowing that after all these years, the fear and terror that he had put the world through will now be put to an end.
Accepting his, fate, Siegfried bowed his head to the princess and proceeded to the execution area. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice who was calling out his name. He quickly turned his head towards the direction of the voice. What the knight saw next caught him off guard. There on a passageway of the structure, standing before him was the girl that he was longing for to see.
FLASHBACK:
"Get your hands off of me!" shouted the young Athenian as she struggles to break free from the guards.
Suddenly her companions arrived at the scene with their weapons already at hand. Realizing that the warriors were in a hostile state, the guards let go of the Athenian and prepared for battle. "Go ahead Cass. We'll dance with them for a little while." said Maxi.
Cassandra nodded and proceeded to the passageway.
END OF FLASHBACK
All of the pain that Siegfried's body had endured seems to have faded away when he gazed upon Cassandra. A smile appeared on his face seeing that the Athenian had already wakened up.
Tears started to fall from Cassandra's eyes while she stares at the knight, feeling guilty for everything that happened to him.
All of his prayers have been granted. He is now ready to die. With a bow of his head, Siegfried stated his final words to her. "Farewell… Cassandra… I love you…" With one last look at his beloved angel, Siegfried turned his head away and together with his escorts, proceeded to the execution area.
The knight's words stunned Cassandra. Hearing Siegfried's confession from his own lips left the Athenian speechless. Using all of her strength to break from her Trans, Cassandra ran towards the knight but was blocked and restrained by some of the soldiers surrounding the knight. "Siegfried… No!" with a loud cry, the Athenian struggled to break free from the soldiers while they took her out of the stadium.
Siegfried though refused to look back at her and continued to walk towards his final destination. He didn't want to see Cassandra, shedding tears for him to be the last thing that he would see. Finally, Siegfried arrived at the spot where the executioner, wearing a black cloth to cover his face, was waiting. The man ordered the soldiers to place the knight's head in the podium and expose his neck. After a few seconds, the executioner raised his blade high above his head, preparing to decapitate the knight.
Suddenly, the stone from Hilde's neck started to glow. She immediately stood up from her throne and shouted as loud as she can. "Stop!"
Recognizing her voice, the executioner quickly lowered his blade upon the command. The crowd was silenced, bewildered on what the princess just did. Glowing brighter and brighter by the second, the princess immediately removed the stone from her neck and placed it from her palm. The stone started to levitate and slowly moved away from Hilde's hands. Everyone stared at the glowing stone as it moves across the arena. Finally, it stopped by placing itself on Siegfried's neck. He then remembered what Aeon said to them about the prophecy of the Holy Stone. (This must be Soul Calibur. But why did it choose me?)
Breaking the silence, one of the people from the audience stood up and shouted. "The p…prophecy… He's the one in the prophecy!" Everyone began to whisper with one another knowing all too well what the prophecy of Soul Calibur was. All of them have their own opinion about what just had transpired.
Back at the upper level of the stadium, Hilde was still confused on the sudden turn of events. "How could this be? He is the Azure Knight, Nightmare who was a product of the evil powers of Soul Edge. Why did Soul Calibur chose him?"
With questions needed to be answered, she ordered two soldiers to bring the knight in front of her. Upon arriving at the said area, Hilde began questioning the knight.
"Siegfried Schtauffen, you are the Azure Knight correct?" The knight nodded. "Exactly how did you became human again?" He then slowly explained the events that have transpired at Ostrheinsburg and about Cervantes.
Upon hearing the name of the pirate, Ivy, who was seating beside the princess, quickly stood up from her sit. "W…What did you say? Cervantes is… alive?"
"I'm afraid, he is." replied the knight.
With anger starting to build inside her, Ivy gritted her teeth and pounded a pillar beside her. (This cannot be. I already took him down back then!) Concerned with her friend's condition, Hilde decided to approach the alchemist to try to calm her down. "What's going on with you Ivy? I've never seen you like this before."
Ignoring Hilde's question, Ivy turned around and headed for the exit with her fists clenched tightly in anger. She knew that something was wrong with the alchemist so she decided to follow her. But just as she was about to a leave, one of her advisers caught her attention. "Forgive me for interrupting your Highness, but you still have to decide what to do with the Azure Knight."
With her mind filled with concern for her friend's emotional condition, Hilde had almost forgotten that Siegfried's fate was still undecided. She then turned her attention to the knight. "Siegfried Schtauffen, though you have given valuable information about Soul Edge and being chosen by Soul Calibur as its possessor, it still does doesn't change the fact that you were the Azure Knight and you were the one who committed those sins. I hereby suspend your execution for now. In the meantime, in two weeks' time, you shall lead the Wolfkrone army to Osthreinsburg to destroy the cursed sword and all of its servants. If ever you get the idea to try to escape, no mercy shall be shown and you shall be killed on the spot… That is all."
Upon hearing those words, a smile appeared on Siegfried's face. Using all of his remaining strength, the knight stared at the princess. "…Thank… you…" Right after saying those words, his body falls to the ground, unconscious. His body finally succumbed from the pain that he had endured for the past days but it was all worth it. Though his life was still hanging in the balance, he was already thankful enough that he could live another day, to see the girl that he loves. Hilde immediately called for assistance to aid the knight.
On her way back to the castle, Hilde was greeted by a squad of soldiers who have arrested the four warriors. "You again? What did you do this time?" asked Hilde.
"They were caught at the soldiers' quarters at the arena, trying to break through our defences. They might have been planning on rescuing the Azure Knight you're Majesty."
Maxi quickly objected on what the soldier said. "Hey, we were just trying to see our friend before the curtains fall on him alright?" Disgusted by the pirate's attitude, one of the soldiers punched Maxi in the gut as he falls down on his knees in pain. "You do not speak to the princess when you are not spoken to." reprimanded the soldier.
"You little wrench! Why did you execute him? He was not the one who did those crimes, it was Nightmare... I can never forgive you for that." shouted Cassandra. After hearing those words, a soldier attempted on silencing the young Athenian. He drew his sword about to slash across Cassandra's neck. "No one should speak of the princess in that manner!" Cassandra closed her eyes, waiting for the cold steel to meet her neck. But just before the soldier could move, Hilde immediately told him to stop. She then commanded the soldiers to release them and to go back to their posts. Confused on what the princess just did, Cassandra asked her why she spared them.
"First of all, I understand why you said those things. It is hard to lose a close friend and I would've done the same thing if I were in your place. Second is that I need you to help me destroy the cursed sword so that my kingdom can finally live in peace and finally, Siegfried is not dead. I spared his life for the moment for some reasons. But he is still not cleared from the crimes that he had committed and he still has to face the consequences. If you wish to see him, head for the clinic. My best doctors are currently treating his injuries right now. " explained the princess.
Interrupting their conversation, a servant approached the princess and whispered something to her ear. The princess nodded and turned her attention back on the gang. "I 'm sorry for leaving our little discussion undone but I still have some important matters to attend to… Oh and before I forget, I need your presence in my castle later this night. I need something to tell all of you. Till then, I bid you farewell…"After their discussion, the princess and her companions continued to move to their destination.
With the news of their friend's life being spared, Maxi started to leap for joy. "Siegy is alive Mitsurugi, Siegy is alive!"
"Well that was a surprise. Looks like miracles still happen during these times." said the samurai.
"Siegfired… is… alive?" Sophitia couldn't believe what the princess had said. Noticing that her sister was still immobilize of the news, she approached Cassandra and held her in her arms. "Didn't you hear what the princess said? Siegfried's alive." She then saw tears falling from her sister's face. Suddenly Cassandra wrapped her arms around her sister's neck, burying her face in her chest and continued to weep. Sophitia knew that Cassandra was just delighted that Siegfried would be alright.
A/N: Whew, finally done with this chapter. Sorry again if I updated a bit late. Two more weeks and school's over. I just hope that I don't fail f***in Physics though. Anyway next chapter will tackle more about Soul Calibur and SiegXCass. So stay tuned guys. Don't forget to review.