Siegfried lied nervously, "We thought you were Raphael... uh... Coral! Yes, you're the spitting image of Raphael Coral. He's the long lost fiance of our dear friend Talim and we have been searching for him for a very long time." He pretended to be interested in the clouds up in the bright blue sky for a moment.

Raphael narrowed his eyes at the flustered knight. The Schwarzwind leader had invited him to stay with them for awhile. They even offered to search for Amy (which they've already been doing for the past seventeen years) and when Raphael asked why he should trust him, Siegfried said that he helped all of the malfested who were innocent of crimes. At that, Raphael openly told him that he attacked many people to drink their blood since that was Soul Edge's curse on him.

Siegfried and Hilde shared a knowing glance and they said that they understand and that they didn't mind. Raphael still didn't trust them; he was afraid that they were merely lying to capture him but when he learned that the fortune teller was also a malfested, he decided to trust the Schwarzwind for now.

Riding down the road with the Schwarzwind mercenaries, he said, "So this Raphael Coral has the same first name as me and looks exactly like me?" He thought about it carefully, remembering the green hair woman who had saved him back in Odenburg. So that was why she saved him, he thought grumpily. It would seem that she had no ties to his lost memories at all then.

Siegfried coughed and said, "Excuse me, I need to talk to the princess for a second." He rode over to Hilde and said, " What are we going to do now? Dumas rarely stays at his castle at the main capital and he has countless manors and places he could have gone to. It's going to be extremely difficult to find Talim. Not to mention... Raphael doesn't seem to remember anything besides Amy."

Hilde sighed and rubbed her temple tiredly. "We'll head back to the fortress for now. I'll send some of my soldiers out to look for news about Dumas. As for Raphael, we'll keep him with us and help him remember Talim. Like Viola... I can't believe he lost his memories. Talim will be devastated." They looked down at the ground sorrowfully.

Hwang joined them and said, "This is bad news indeed but I need to head back to Korea. There are matters that I need to take care of and I'll bring this news of Yun and Mina as well. If you find Talim, tell her I'm sorry that I couldn't be of more help."

Siegfried nodded and they waved good-bye to Hwang as he left. After awhile, Siegfried gave Hilde a gentle smile and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be alright Hilde."

She returned his smile. "I hope you're right." They glanced over at Raphael who was arguing with Viola.

"How come every word that comes out of your mouth irritates me woman?"

Viola shrugged. "The truth is hard to swallow. Deal with it."

Raphael scoffed at her. "As if I'll suffer food poisoning in three days."

Sitting in a meditative position on her bed, Talim stayed focused and purified some more of the energy in her body. Slowly but surely, she should return to normal once she rid her body of the dark energy. As she meditated, she wished that her pet bird was with her. Alun has been gone for far too long and she was now really worried. Her bird had been her constant companion all these years and it had braved frozen tundras, harsh deserts and deep forests with her. Where on earth could her beloved pet be? Did something happen to it? Absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't notice his arrival.

Pulling back the scarlet and gold canopy, he smiled as he sat down. "Talim, you seem distracted." When she told him about her missing bird, he glanced away. "You could always... get a new one. I could find you an identical bird if you want Talim. Ask, and I'll get you anything you desire."

"Some things can't be replaced, no matter how identical the copy is." Talim sighed. "Why does this keep happening? First my grandfather, then Raphael and Amy, and now Alun ..."

Dumas remembered her talking about her grandfather briefly seventeen years ago. But the memory was hazy so he asked, "Your grandfather is missing?"

Talim nodded. "I don't know very much about it and my grandmother does not speak of the matter. Even my dad doesn't know very much either... " Thinking about her family made her alittle homesick. "I hope everyone back at the village is alright. The Spanish and Portuguese have been trekking through the forests and looking for us."

Hearing how sad she sounded, he resolved to make them pay. "I'll kill them all for you."

Talim immediately shook her head. "No! I absolutely forbid-" But she stopped as she began coughing.

"Enough talk for now my dear. Here, let me change your bandages and then we can have dinner."

"Alright." Once again, she sat still as he move up to her and unraveled the bandages on her legs. She had gotten used to the feeling but it still felt uncomfortably intimate as his hand brushed across her legs.

As he peeled away the last bandage, his eyes widened. Smooth and flawless skin met his hands and he marveled at their softness. "It looks like you've fully recovered Talim. Here, feel it." He reached for her hand and smiled at the look of happiness on her face.

"It doesn't hurt anymore," mused Talim, feeling the skin on her legs. "Thank you for caring for me all this time my friend. I am eternally grateful for your kindness."

"You're welcome my dear." He suddenly noticed something on her upper thigh. "Hmmm? What's this Talim?" Lightly touching the symbol, he noticed that her face flushed red and he looked at it alittle more closely. It looked like a flower but he wasn't quite sure. The mark was a light red and it seemed to be a small tattoo. Was it a burn that didn't heal? Strange...

"It's a mark... of my purity."

"Mark of purity?"

Seeing that he didn't understand her, Talim explained shyly, "It means that I'm still untouched."

His eyes widened at her words but then the most dazzling smile lit up his face. He knew that she wouldn't give herself to anyone but just hearing the confirmation made his heart soar. "How does this tattoo work?" he asked with curiousity.

Talim bent her legs to the side and put a hand on it. "This mark only appears when a man touches it. And when I and my husband... become one, the mark will disappear."

"Why does it appear if a man touches it?"

Her face turned red. "It stimulates... certain things. So that the wedding night between the moon and sun, yin and yang, male and female, would be a true experience of balance and love. That's why I tie a strip of fabric around my leg to avoid anyone accidentally touching it."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean too," he apologized quickly. "Is this a tradition from your village?"

"Yes. We all believe that a maiden should be pure and chaste before her wedding night," explained Talim. Folding her hands neatly on her lap, she said quietly, "I'm saving myself for Raphael when we get married. Not only because it's tradition, but because I believe that to make love to someone, you have to love them and only them until you die." She whispered softly, "And that's why, I couldn't go through with my previous engagement."

"What? You were once engaged?" he asked loudly.

"Yes." Talim grew sad as she thought about the memory. "My grandmother arranged a marriage in hopes of preventing me from leaving the village... I refused. I understand that it's my duty to my village to pass on my unique bloodline but I can't abandon the world and those who need me out there. And it wouldn't be fair to the man I'm supposed to marry since my heart does not lie with him. So I... refused."

Anger sparked in his eyes and he hissed, "How can your grandmother do such a thing when she knew you already loved someone else?"

"Please don't say that," chided Talim softly. "My grandmother loves me very much but she's the village elder and she must do what's best for the village. I know she was very sad by my decision and even now, I'm ashamed at myself for hurting her like that." Talim leaned back against the pillows and said, "In the end, we reached an understanding though, for which I am grateful for."

He looked at her tenderly. She had always stayed faithful to him and he felt ashamed of himself for having a few affairs in order to obtain secrets and information that helped him rose to power. Clearing his throat, he said, "You are a very strong woman and I admire your love and dedication for Raphael and this... world."

Talim smiled sadly. "Not strong enough, since I am falling for you."

"Which started from the fact that I am similar to him," he said, trying to comfort her. "Now, let's see how your eyes are doing first." Taking off the bandages around her head, he asked, "So? How is it?"

Talim blinked and rubbed her eyes. Opening them, she could only see vague shapes and it was still very blurry. "I... I still can't see very well yet but at least it's not pitch black anymore." She looked at him and she gasped. "Raphael?" Even with her terrible vision, he looked exactly like him. The mask was similar to the one Raphael wore during the Autumn festival seventeen years ago.

She touched the mask on his face but he grabbed it gently and said, "What do you think?"

Talim tried her best to read the wind around him and it was very different from the wind around Raphael; telling her that it wasn't him. But for the first time, she doubted the wind's answer. Everything about the man sitting in front of her was exactly like Raphael. Talim put a hand on her heart and looked at him beseechingly. "Please tell me your name. I want to know right now."

"My beautiful storm maiden, I want to know something as well." He whispered softly as he stared into her eyes. "You love me... don't you?"

"If you are Raphael, then yes, I do love you. But if you're not... then I think my heart only sees you as a replacement." Talim closed her eyes and said, "Please, tell me who you are."

"You did not answer my question Talim. You said that if I wasn't Raphael, then you can't truly love me. But my question was do you love me or not?"

Talim said softly, "The man I've been searching for for seventeen years was not you, but Raphael. The memories and dreams I have is of him. You have been kind to me and I do feel something for you, but whatever it is, has not blossomed into love. I don't know if it can, but like I said, I am willing to try it with you."

Dumas smiled and said, "No need, Talim. I am who you think I am. What we do have for each other, is truly love."

Her eyes widened as he embraced her and before she knew it, his lips met hers. His right hand slid down to her back while the other one tangled into her long hair. She struggled against him for a second until he repeated it once more. "I've missed you so much ma petite."

"Raphael..." Talim eyes lit up with tears at the reunion and she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "It's really you. But why did you hide your name for me all this time?" She began to cry. "You must be angry with me. I was thinking about letting you go and-"

He whispered into her ear, "Don't blame yourself. You merely fell for me all over again without realizing it." His cardinal red eyes met her chocolate ones lovingly as he lowered his lips towards her once more. "But never again will the moon and sun have to be apart, even if I have to go against the laws of nature and the world itself." His hands held her alittle tighter. "Everything will be alright now, Talim. I love you."

When he kissed her again, the nerves in her body flare up. Emotions raced through her as he crushed her to his chest. His tongue prodded her lips for entry but she was still slightly hesitant about it. A shiver ran down her back as he rubbed her back in slow circles and his mouth moved to her neck instead. Talim gasped slightly as he nipped at her neck. "Wait."

"So soft," he whispered as he kissed it once more before turning to place her on his lap. His hand explored the exposed part of her body that her top and vest didn't cover. At his gentle ministration, Talmi felt her mind grow hazy and she quietly moaned his hand moved over her skin, making her shiver.

"My dearest..." He caressed her legs and he brushed her short white shorts lightly. When he heard her gasp, he looked down and realized that his hand rested on the flower mark. Pressing it lightly, he saw Talim involuntarily arch her back in pleasure.

"Raphael, stop. I-" Talim stopped as his rough hands brush across her smooth thighs once more and the mark sent more pleasured feelings through her body. Laying her down on the bed, he straddled her and kissed her passionately. She could feel his arousal as he pressed himself against her and she could feel her own body reacting as her crotch ached and throbbed. Finally, she opened her mouth for him and the taste of rich wine invaded her mouth as he took off her hat to play with her hair.

They began to French kiss and with all of his experience, he saw her close her eyes and made a mewling sound in his mouth. His hand reached for the vest and he slid it down slowly, revealing more tantalizing smooth skin that he intended to touch and caress. But for now, the softness of her lips and the sweet taste of her mouth had his undivided attention and he groaned as he grinded his body against her and ravished her mouth.

Talim squirmed slightly under his touches and with his warm body over her, everything seemed hazy with pleasure as the candles burned low and the room was comfortingly warm. She wanted to wait but her body, under his skillful fingers, wanted him now. The thought of being with him, to give herself wholeheartedly, was intoxicating. All these years of longing and desire was coming free in the most intimate way possible and she moaned as he rubbed himself against her, his desire obvious as well.

Wrapping her arms around him, she hesitantly traced the corded muscles underneath his red shirt while she drank in the taste of rich wine from his mouth. Exploring the moist cavern, her eyes suddenly widened and she immediately struggled against him. There were no fangs! "You lie! You're not Raphael! Let me go!"

"She is rejecting you... what will you do now Raphael? Ha ha... if you don't make her yours tonight, she'll probably leave you since she believes that you lied to her to bed her. She'll never forgive you for so obliquely touching and kissing her like that. You might as well take her now so that she won't be able to leave you and then you can just use your charming words to convince her later on."

Soul Edge's voice flashed through his mind and the thought of losing her... of not having her... No! "You're mine! All mine! I will never let you go again Talim..." His eyes burned with need and he pinned down her hands with his left one.

"You're mine! All mine! I will never let you go again Talim." His eyes burned with need and he pinned down her hands with his left one.

"No! Stop!" cried Talim, trying to push him off her as she felt him trying to grope her from behind. Her face flushed red and it took all her efforts to wrench one hand free. "Wind!" She blasted him off her but then she whimpered as her heart beat painfully. In moments, he had gotten up and he was even more determined to have her.

Topping her quickly, he held her hands prisoner while his eyes drank in the sight of her chest rising up and down as she breathed heavily. Distress and fear were evident in her wide eyes as he stared down at her and he stroked her face gently. "You belong to me Talim. I have waited for far too long for you to reject me now... Tonight, you will be mine." He ran his hand up her beautiful legs slowly and enjoyed watching her squirm beneath him.

"Let me go!" Talim tried to prevent another sound from escaping her lips but her body betrayed her when it arched up as he continued touching her with one of his hand while he leaned down to nibble her earlobe. Tears ran down her cheeks at this violation. "Stop this! You were supposed to be my friend!"

He nuzzled her neck and shook his head. "Oh no my dear... We are more than friends. Tonight, you will be my lover and soon, you'll be my wife."He silenced her cries as he forcefully kissed her again and pressed her deeper into the mattress just as he began to pull on her half skirt.

But he froze when she shouted, "Even if you take my body, you'll never have my heart!" The lust dimmed from his eyes as he drank in those words and slowly, he looked down at her. Tears streamed down her face and she cried, "Raphael! He's the only one I love!" Shaking, she cried out once more. "Where are you! Raphael! Please save me!"

Guilt overtook him and slowly, he released the vice-like grip on her hands and got off her. She quickly shuffled away from him and grabbing the blankets, covered herself with it. Her eyes were red and he could see the bite marks he left on her neck and chest while her body shook and trembled. "Talim... I didn't mean..." He looked down at his hands in horror. "What have I done?"

"My lord!" Someone knocked on his door and shouted, "Patroklos is here to see you! He has some urgent matters to tell you!"

Dumas looked at Talim with absolute regret and sorrow at what he had done. Turning away from her, he said, "Talim. I... I am so sorry. Believe me, I would never hurt you. Please forgive me, I... I'll explain everything when I come back." As he opened the doors, he said, "I love you..." When he left, Talim buried herself in her blankets, sobbing at what had transpired.

"My lord!" The knight bowed nervously before Dumas.

"What is it?" he snapped impatiently.

"My lord, Patroklos has returned. He seems very anxious to see you."

"You said that a minute ago! I'm not deaf!" Graf Dumas looked down at his hands and said, "Tell him to meet me down at the torture chambers after I go and put on my armour. As for the rest of you, just guard the front gates."

From the bed, Talim wiped away her tears and sat up. "Why... why did this have to happen?" sobbed Talim quietly. She can't stay here after what had happened. Even if her eyes were still healing, she must leave this place immediately.

Scrambling around the room blindly, she finally found his closet and opened it up. Her hands searched through the shirts and pants until she found a black cloak. Putting it on, she wiped her tears and began searching for a way to leave this place as she grabbed her hat. The doors were only locked from the outside and she easily exited the room without anyone noticing. But her double crescent blades... She can't possibly leave without them. They were Raphael's gift to her. Listening intently, she heard nothing and concluded that most of the servants were asleep and that it must be quite late. She was still tired but she decided to use her powers to leave before anyone caught her. Closing her eyes, she felt the wind guide her to her weapons. "Wind, please help me."

Greeting Patroklos down in the cold torture chamber, he said dryly, "So, what happened in Klausenberg?"

"I... I was searching for my sister my lord. At the same time, I received your orders on ridding the malfested there when all of a sudden, a man attacked and defeated me," Patroklos said shamefully.

"A man stopped you?" questioned Graf Dumas with disbelief. The light from the flickering blue torches illuminated the worry on his face and he narrowed his eyes at Patroklos. Who dares challenge the purge? Could it be... Dumas immediately thought of Zwei. That accursed dog had irritated him ever since he laid eyes on him. First, siding with that rebellion army under Istavan Bocksai and now, going around and interfering with the purge. It must be him. Dumas looked up as Patroklos confirmed it.

"Yes, he possessed strange powers and commanded some kind of a monster."

Graf Dumas growled, "Zwei! Damn that cursed werewolf!"

"You know of him my lord? Is he a malfested?" Patroklos asked curiously.

"That man stands in the way of ridding the world of the malfested. Get rid of him," answered Graf Dumas harshly.

Hesitantly, Patroklos looked down in confusion. "He seemed to know about my sister. My lord, does he have something to do with her?"

Graf Dumas replied coldly, "You just need to kill those I say to kill."

At the dismissing tone of voice, Patroklos began to feel more and more uncertain about following Dumas. "I have served you faithfully and done everything you've asked. Yet you've made no effort to search for my sister," protested Patroklos.

"It seems you are unable to obey my orders," interrupted Graf Dumas. "I have enough. Leave my sight at once and never return. A dog such as you has no business making demands," he said cruelly.

"I'm no dog. I am a holy warrior!" shouted Patroklos, standing up in rage at the insult.

"How absurd. You are nothing more than a dog," replied Graf Dumas, relishing in the boy's anger. Well, it was nothing compared to his anger when he found out that this kid almost burned his dearest to ashes. Smirking, he continued. "I couldn't care less about what happens to a pathetic dog's family. She's probably already dead in some alley." Finished, he turned around and began to walk away.

"So you've lied to me all this time!" accused Patroklos. When Graf Dumas ignored him, he drew his sword in righteous fury. "Don't walk away from me you coward!"

Within a split second, Voldo leaped down below to defend his master. "Hshshsss..."

How dare that boy draw his sword against him. That would be his last mistake tonight. "Get rid of him," ordered Graf Dumas, walking out of the place.

"I've helped you with the purge all this time and you're going to turn on me like this! Come back here Dumas!" Patroklos shouted as he made to chase after him. But Vodo blocked him and hissed threateningly. Slowly, he moved forward and herded Patroklos into the cage of the torture chamber. "Do you mean to interfere?" asked Patroklos as he readied his battle stance against the weird creature.

As Dumas walked up the elegant stairs, he glanced at the two fighting in the cage and smirked. A large chandelier above the stairs illuminated the cage and he felt tempted to stay and watch. However, he had more important matters to attend to right now. Opening the doors, he froze. "Talim? What are you doing here?" She had a hand pressed to her mouth in horror and her eyes held a glimmer of fear in them as she stepped back into the dark hallway. Her double crescent blades were strapped to her belt and he realized she had went down into the dungeon to get them from the armory.

"You're... Graf Dumas?" The tyrant that ruled over Hungary with an iron fist. The man who had taxed the people into the ground. The man who was conducting the purge was him? Talim shook her head over and over again slowly. "You lied to me. You're not Raphael and you... you're Dumas."

"Talim, hold on. I can explain," he pleaded as he reached out for her.

Shaking her head, she inched away from him. "Stay away. I... I don't want to listen to any more of your lies. You lied to me and you... you tried to rape me! You're the one responsible for the Purge! You're a monster!" She slapped his hand away. "Get away from me!" With that, she turned and ran away from him.

"No wait! Talim! Please come back!" He chased after her and cursed his fate. Why must something always go wrong between the two of them!

"Dammit! He's gotten away." After defeating Voldo, Patroklos watched with anger as the strange creature disappeared. Knowing that what Zwei said was the truth, Patroklos turned and ran for it. If he stayed here any longer, he would only be putting himself in danger and his sister was still waiting for him out there somewhere. "Pyrrha, I will find you..."

"Scared of heights?" teased Tira's servant as he flew up into the air while carrying one of Dumas's soldiers. Without another word, he tossed the man down and watched as his body hit the ground with a bloody crash. "Ouchie! That's going to hurt."

"Stop playing around brother," chided the eldest twin, brushing back his black hair and giving his younger brother a disapproving look. "Do you want to alert the entire castle?"

"Sorry." The younger one glanced around and then he crowed. "We're in luck! Look!" He pointed to Talim's disappearing form through one of the windows and laughed. "Hey hey! Dumas is chasing her! This seems fun!" Before his brother could lecture him, he swooped down and headed for the stain glass windows and grinned.

Talim held a hand to her face as a window shattered and glass rained down everywhere. A blur of dark feathers rushed forth and instinctively, she dodged and retaliated with two slashes from her elbow blades. But with her limited vision, she missed completely.

"Oh! A feisty one!" laughed the raven man as shouts of intruders echoed down the hallway. He punched Talim across the face and grabbed her before she could strike back. "I got the girl brother!"

"Then let's go." With a grin, they flew away into the night.

"Unhand her!" roared Dumas. To his soldiers who just arrived, he ordered, "Ready ten men, the horses and bring me a bow and arrow." Grabbing a normal zweihander; Balmung, from a soldier, he quickly headed out.

"Let me go! Who are you!" Talim pounded on the man's back but he just laughed at her. Her hat fell off and she snatched it before it could fall down into the fields of grasses. Turning her head, she saw that they were heading towards the mountains.

"She's cute isn't she brother? Hey now sweetheart, just stay quiet while we bring you back to mistress Tira. If you behave, I'll ask her to be nice to you."

Tira? They were Tira's followers? Talim bit her lips and wondered if she should let herself be captured. She had looked for the elusive woman all these years to learn about what happened to Raphael and this was a golden opportunity. If she survive whatever Tira had in mind for her of course. But for Raphael... she would do anything to save him. Resigned to her fate, she hung limply across the man's shoulder as they flew past the fields and over a forest.

Dumas's black stallion thundered across the grassy field as he whipped it onward. At the same time, he broke the metal off the arrow and reached for a manufactured Edge shard from his bag. Tying it tightly to the arrow, he reached for the bow under his armpit and he strung it tightly. "Five to the right and five to the left! Quickly!" His soldiers charged forward to their assigned places while Dumas aimed the bow upward at his target; using only the light from the moon and stars to guide him. He closed one eye in concentration. A red aura enveloped the arrow and with a twang, he released it and watched with a pounding heart.

Talim gasped as blood splattered her face and her eyes widened at the arrow sticking in her kidnapper's back. With a scream, he spiraled down to the ground. Along with her! She screamed as he let her go and the trees below them came into view as they dropped.

"Lucas!" screamed the other man as he watched his brother fall.

Two thirds of the way, Talim made two quick hand gestures and a layer of condensed air slowed her fall. But branches broke under her weight as she crashed down and landed on her backside with a loud thud. The air was knocked out from her lungs and slowly sitting up, she held a hand to her ribs and she coughed weakly. Before she knew it, one of the men had grabbed her and his grip on her neck blocked her windpipe.

"Let her go now!" shouted Dumas, pointing his large sword at the hybrid. His soldiers readied their arrows as well and they surrounded the intruder. A few of them raised up their torches and the light shone on the tense situation in the forest clearing.

"You killed my brother!" His wings rustled with anger and anguish as he backed into a tree with a disbelieved look on his face. "He was the only family I have left. I'll kill this woman and make sure that you'll never forget the look on her face as I crush her throat!"

Talim clawed at his hand and gasped for breath. "Don't... do this.. augh...don't throw... your life away... I forgive you... Dumas... haugh! Please... spare... uhh.. him."

"I don't need your forgiveness or mercy! " And his grip on her throat tightened. He pointed to his brother lying a short distance away and cried, "Someone will pay for my brother's death! Since I can't kill Dumas, I'll take the next best thing. His lover!"

Dumas held out a hand. "Wait! Your brother is still alive! Go and see for yourself. He's still breathing. See, you are not yet alone." Dumas's voice had taken on a softer and more calming tone. "Go on. What's the matter? Afraid that he's dead?" He gestured for two of his men to pick up the seemingly dead bird man. Carrying him over to their lord, Dumas held him and without hesitation, he yanked the arrow out. But he did it in such a way that the red shard was still lodged in Lucas's back as the man cried out. "Yes. He still lives... If you agree to let my love go, I'll spare you two. I give you my word of honor, that neither I nor my men will attack you."

The man looked at his brother and hope shone in his eyes. "Lucas?" He stepped forward with Talim and hesitantly, and when he saw that his brother was indeed breathing, he agreed immediately. Nothing was more important than his twin brother; whom he considered to be the second half of his soul.

"Splendid," Dumas said as the two prepared the trade. "On the count of three my feathery friend. One... two..." His soldiers stiffened and their grip on their weapons tightened. "Three!" He pushed Lucas forward and caught Talim as the other man did the same. Holding his love, he smiled as he watched the scene unfolding before his eyes.

"No! Get away from him!" shrieked Talim, reading the wind around Lucas as his brother embraced him. Dumas held her back and she watch with horrified eyes as the energy in his body spiraled out of control and with an inhuman screech, his hand transformed into talons and he thrust it into his brother's chest.

"Lu... cas?" His brother gurgled out a few more dying sounds before collapsing to the ground.

"Rahhhhh! Urghhhh!" Lucas screamed as he transformed into a giant raven with glowing red eyes.

"Hold her," ordered Dumas calmly, handing Talim over to one of his men. Taking out his sword, he smiled and walked forward with his men who were now attacking the large beast. "I will show you the true meaning of pain."

Talim closed her eyes as the raven screamed. The last stage of the malfestation... there was no way of saving him now. But... with an effort, she opened her eyes and watched as Dumas laughed sadistically and stood over the half dead bird that had more than a dozen arrows embedded into its dark body. "No... no... " She watched as he pulled up one of its wings and with his other hand, he raised his zweihander up. The light from the torches reflected off the sharp blade and Talim shrieked, "Nooooooo! Please don't do it!" The raven screeched as Dumas began hacking off its wing. Blood sprayed from the wound and it struggled against the men who were holding it down as Dumas sawed at the muscles and bone. When the wing was finally cut off, he threw it away and he turned for the next wing. Talim screamed, "Please stop! Just kill him already! Don't do this Dumas! I'm begging you! Please!"

He glanced over at her and replied calmly, "Anyone who dares hurt you... will face my wrath."

"Nooooo!" Talim and the raven cried out as he slashed downward once more. She struggled against the soldier holding her and watched as they butchered the giant raven. "No! No! No! Stop hurting him! Please! Please! Please!"

"Tis an ill omen," said Kalana; Talim's grandmother as she looked up at the stars and read the wind. On one of the windmill platform, she turned to the young man standing beside her. "Kilik, are you certain about this?"

Kilik adjusted the golden bird mask he was wearing and nodded to the great elder. "The borders grows unstable. Just like seventeen years ago. I've already sealed away two of the portals that have opened up but I know that more will soon appear. Beasts from the sealed spirit world; Astral Chaos will make their way here and bring about more deaths. I need to leave tomorrow and continue my journey. By now, I think Talim and the others should have noticed as well."

She sighed as the wind whipped her long white hair back and forth. Raising her wrinkled hands up, she said tiredly, "The fate of this world... rests with you all. Take care of yourselves. And if you find my granddaughter, take care of her as well please."

Kilik smiled. "Of course."

Deep in a dark cave, Taki creeped stealthily through the gloomy darkness. A strange sense of unease swept through her as water dripped from the ceiling and landed on her. After an hour of searching, she found herself growing slightly impatient as she searched. All of a sudden, the cave trembled and before she knew it, some kind of beast popped out from under the ground. It looked like a cave worm. The thing was a dusty grey and it had purple warts all over its body. From what Taki could see, it had no eyes. But it's mouth was wide and its many sharp teeth snapped open and close as it slowly approached.

Drawing her weapons, she looked at it calmly. "It's time to go back to where you belong."

"Ow! Ow! Stop prodding my arm!" Cassandra pulled away from Zasalamel and rubbed her crystalized arm.

He looked at her warily as Rock and Bangoo watched from the side. "We needed to return to the Holy City because your arm was 'killing' you. So I would like to know the reason since I had to travel back five countries to return here."

Cassandra stuck out her tongue at him and leaned against a marble pillar of the gazebo they were under.

Rock sighed and ran a hand through his grey hair. "Cassandra. We're just worried."

Bangoo grinned and said, "Is the great Cassandra Alexandra afraid of alittle pain?"

She elbowed him in the stomach and growled, "Watch your mouth kid. Don't forget to respect your elders."

He laughed. "Well, you're looking great for your age."

"The only benefit to this stupid curse," replied Cassandra, looking down at her arm. She looked at Zasalamel and said, "I don't know. It's been hurting alot lately. Could that mean something?"

Zasalamel sat down on a white bench and gazed at the snowy white mountains. "The light calls to darkness the same way the darkness exists from the shadows of the light. It seems that something is stirring..."

Cassandra, Rock and Bangoo looked at each other worriedly as a cold wind swept past them.

"There it is! The hidden Fu-Ma village," said Yoshimitsu the second, as he pointed it out to Leixia. "The ninjas there will probably have some information about that powerful pendent thou is wearing. Ask for my friend, Lady Natsu. She's the best ninja there is!"

"Neat!" exclaimed the cheerful chinese girl as she hid amongst the bamboo trees with the Manji clan. "Thanks again for saving me from that monster earlier Yoshimitsu."

He brushed it off. "No worries Lady Leixia. It was thy's pendent that saved us in the end. Now, I'm afraid I must head off. Tell my friend, Natsu that I said hi."

Lexia watched as they left and she giggled, "You meet all sorts of interesting people outside the palace!"

Hurriedly travelling through the hot desert, Olcadan pulled down the hood of his travelling cloak. He was going to investigate some ruins and see if the words of the elf; Scheherazade, was true.

Three months ago...

Scheherazade brushed back a lock of blonde hair and leaned back against the tree she was resting against. A group of young elf children looked at the owl man as the two talked. Finally, she said, "Bring that priestess here and I'll see if she's worthy to hear my story. But for now, I'll tell you alittle something old man."

Olcadan ruffled his feathers and hooted, "Oh? What is it?"

Her eyes were grim as she replied, "Darkness lies within the hearts of everyone in this world. Soul Edge... has the power to turn dreams into realities for its wielders. However, the price to pay is quite heavy. It will make its wielders become more and more evil each day by strengthening all the negative emotions in a person. The wielder will become a shell of their former selves until it seems like... they're a whole new person entirely. The memories embedded in the sword will also warp the minds of its wielders. No one is exactly sure but legends says, if one can hold the sword long enough without having their souls devoured by it, then that host will become an entirely new being. Reborn from the cursed powers and memories of the sword, the sword and host... will be one. All traces of the host previous life will be considered meaningless and unimportant. And when the sword has regain its full power..." Her eyes flashed and she said, "Night Terror will destroy this world and the spirit world."

Oh stars that watches from above... Two souls that were once parted, have finally reunited. But this reunion only turns the gears of a cruel fate as they were never meant to be together. Will darkness consume their love and destroy them? Or will they cut forth their own future? Only time will answer...