Chapter 7: A Sibling's Vow

A few hours had passed since the fall of Chaldea. To evade any patrols Nightmare may have sent, the now four heroines flew aimlessly into the desert. As they were now, they would not be able to fight a large force. Noticing the sun was beginning to descend, Notokishi turned to the others.

"I think we've put enough distance between ourselves and Chaldea, we should rest soon." Taking out her map, she looked around to get an idea of their location. Using a Nearby rock formation for a point of reference, Notokishi pointed eastward.

"It looks like there's a hot spring not too far from here. We can rest there."

Shortly, they arrived at the hot spring and set up camp. Setting up a lantern in one of the tents, Miyu took out the portrait of Soul Calibur.

"I was unable to tell you before, but I have noticed something of importance. Look here." Miyu pointed to some writing etched onto the paper. The writing was written in the ancient Greek alphabet.

"I don't recognize these symbols, what language is this?" asked Verona.

"They are written in a language from the pre-immigrant era, it is not spoken anywhere on Earl."

"Can you translate it?"

"I believe I can. However, it will take some time."

"Take as long as you need Miyu, we need to replenish our strength anyway." said Notokishi.

Leaving the android to her work, the others headed outside and built a small fire. After sitting for a time, Kaia suddenly gripped her sides in pain.

"Kaia? Are you alright?" asked Notokishi.

"Guh…I'm alright. It's nothing. Aaaagh!" Kaia gripped her sides even tighter.

"Uh, is it, you know…that time of the month?" asked Verona.

"What? No! I just…I'm going to take a bath!" Kaia immediately ran toward the hot spring.

Notokishi and Verona stared at each other in bewilderment.

"(sigh) I'd better go see what's wrong with her." Notokishi said.

Grabbing a towel, she headed after Kaia.

At the hot spring, Kaia took off the bandages covering her upper body.

"Dammit, it's getting worse. Pretty soon I won't be able to hide it."

"Won't be able to hide what?" said a voice.

Kaia turned and looked toward the sound. Notokishi was standing nearby the spring, staring worriedly at Kaia. Surprised, Kaia immediately turned away, covering her back with her wings.

"Go away, sister!"

"Kaia, what's going on? You've been acting strange lately, what are you hiding from us?"

"It's none of your concern!"

"Does it have something to do with the sword?"

Kaia looked at Angheol lying on top of her clothes nearby. She doesn't need to know. She's not the one who's changing. A sudden splashing sound startled her. Still covering her chest, Kaia turned around and saw Notokishi was now in the spring as well. Notokishi glared at Kaia with serious eyes.

"You don't have to hide anything from me, Kaia. I'm your sister, you can trust me."

Kaia stared at her for a moment. Then looking down, said, "If I show you, do you swear not to tell anyone? Not Verona, not mom and dad, not anyone, no matter how bad it may look?"

"I swear."

Reluctantly, Kaia lowered her arms, revealing her chest.

"My god…" Notokishi muttered, horrified. Aside from the center of her chest, nearly all of Kaia's upper body was covered in pitch black feathers. Her hips had also begun to grow feathers, and her wings appeared to be slightly larger than before.

"Wha…what did this to you? How long have you been changing like this?"

"Since our battle last year. In order to gain the power necessary to stop you, I struck a deal with the sword. In exchange for my life, I would be given the strength to save you from despair. But I was tricked. Instead of killing me, the sword took my soul and left me with these wings. It said that until Soul Edge was destroyed, we would be bound to one another."

"Kaia…"

"I'd like to think I'm different from him, from that monster. But then I had to kill Midori, and I became a monster. And when I fought Astaroth, it felt like he… like I…"

"Like you absorbed his soul. I saw it happen."

Kaia turned away from her sister, gripping her arms. "Am I the same as him? Am I just another Nightmare? If only I hadn't picked up that sword, I-"

Kaia suddenly felt something grab her tightly from behind.

"Sssshhhhhh…." said Notokishi.

"Noto…kishi?"

Her sister was pressed against her back, resting her head on Kaia's shoulder.

"Do not blame yourself for what's happened to you. If anyone is responsible for your suffering, it's me."

"Sis…"

Kaia turned to face her sister. Notokishi stood still holding Kaia, small tears forming in her eyes.

"It's my fault you ended up this way. Because I became Rao Lin Cho, because I brought those creatures to our world…"

"Notokishi…" Kaia buried her head in her sister's chest, and began to sob.

"I'm so sorry, Kaia." Notokishi said, gripping Kaia tighter. The two stood like this for some time. Having exhausted her tears, Kaia redressed and started away from the spring.

"Kaia." Notokishi said when she had gone a few steps. Kaia turned back to face her.

"I will find Soul Calibur, and I will release you from your curse. I'll even fight Nightmare if that's what it takes. But just remember, the next time I make you cry, it'll be tears of joy that fall from your eyes. This time, I'll save you from despair."

Kaia smiled. "Thank you, Notokishi." was all she said as she walked back to camp. Verona came to the spring shortly after.

"Hey, is everything okay? You two were here for a while." she asked as she entered the spring.

"Yeah, everything's fine." Notokishi responded. "How's Miyu doing? Did she translate it yet?"

"She said she's getting there, it'll only be a little longer before she's finished."

"That's good."

"Are you sure everything's okay? You seem pretty down."

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm a decent older sister to Kaia, considering everything I've put her through."

Verona sighed and shook her head. "You're trying your hardest right? As long as she knows that, I'm sure she'll forgive you for anything."

Notokishi didn't look convinced.

"(sigh) Well you're not gonna get anywhere by moping about it. And hey, if worse comes to worse, I've got your back."

"Heh, I can always count on you, can't I?"

"You two would be lost without me."

Notokishi smiled at this. Suddenly, Kaia appeared at the path to the spring.

"Miyu's done! She finished the translation!"

Quickly getting redressed, the three ran back to Miyu's tent.

"Miyu, you're finished?" asked Notokishi.

"Yes, I can now translate the symbols without error."

"Good. What does it say?"

"The inscription reads, 'To retrieve the sacred blade, seek the light that lies in the land of frozen darkness, and the noble shall be rewarded.'"

"Land of frozen darkness? What does that mean?" asked Verona.

"It means we know where we're going now. To my mother's homeland." answered Kaia. "The Artai Dukedom."