Behold, I will lead you to the truth... sad priestess of the winds.

It was so dark and so cold... Wandering through the darkness, Talim touched her medallion for reassurance when all of a sudden, a flash of blue light caught her attention and she turned around. Seeing the beautiful blue blade hovering a few feet away, Talim froze. "Soul Calibur?"

"Dear child... you've been lost and alone for so long. Come to me and I will give you salvation."

Talim shook her head and held her medallion tightly. "I don't want to use a sword that has no qualms in cutting down innocent lives. Your hatred towards Soul Edge blinds you to the suffering of the malfested, Soul Calibur."

"Deluded child... the malfested are the supreme evil of this world. You saw before your very own eyes, how cruel and evil that man is. He now holds you prisoner in his castle and has you trapped... Kill him Talim; do you not wish to be free?"

Talim took a few steps away from Soul Calibur's icy blue light. ''I... I owe Dumas my life and I refuse to kill anyone unless it's in self defense."

"The malfested doesn't deserve your mercy. Behold, I show you the truth."

Talim shielded her eyes as it blinded her. Opening her eyes, a heavy layer of suffocating darkness enveloped her and she found it difficult to see anything. When she heard approaching footsteps, she turned and saw Dumas standing directly in front of her. "Dumas?"

Towering over her with his menacing height, he reached for a lock of her green hair. "My dearest..."

Talim backed away fearfully and wished that she could just disappear into the darkness that was pressing against them. "Stay back."

His hands snaked forward and locked onto her wrists tightly. "Or what?" Dumas frowned as she struggled against him. "It's futile, you belong to me Talim. I own everything about you. Your heart, soul... and now your body shall be mine as well."

A bright flash of light blinded her once more as the sword above them. "I can save you my child. Come... obey my every command and I shall give you salvation." The blue sword glimmered and sparkled when Talim shook her head. "Give me the word and I shall destroy this monster. I am the light that will save you from this darkness."

"This is all an illusion. You... are my enemy. I will not forget that." Talim eyes flashed green as she looked at Dumas and the sword. "Begone, your magics will not cloud the eyes of the wind." Closing her eyes, she dug her nails into her palms. Blood flowed from the punctured marks and the pain cleared her head. "Enadai vikcu dreamesta!" A slight tug of wind was all she felt as she banished the nightmare.

"After all these years, you still reject me?" asked Soul Calibur as it faded away.

"Not only do I hate you... I fear you Soul Calibur."

In bed, Talim's eyes snapped open and she quickly sat up. Her breathing was rapid and she put a trembling hand over her right breast. The scar throbbed and Talim noticed that blood leaked from her palms. It stung as she opened and closed her hands slowly. If Soul Calibur is once again sending her visions... then it must be regaining its powers. She bit her soft lips in worry.

Suddenly, she noticed Dumas. His head rested in his arms which was on her circular bed as he sat in a chair, most likely watching over her as she slept... It was very late and he was currently sleeping. Talim edged away from him but then she noticed that his left hand was bandaged. When she saw his mask and the bottles of water on her bedside table, she instantly realized that it was holy water and it didn't take her long to realize that he must have accidentally burned his hand because of them. Her throat constricted with emotions as she looked at the sleeping man. "Why?"

She was slightly startled when he murmured something and turned slightly, exposing the right side of his face while the other part was still hidden by his arms. The moonlight peeked through her white curtains and landed gently on his face. Despite the horrible vision Soul Calibur sent her, she reached forward and placed her hand on his cheek. He looked so content and peaceful in his sleep. And he looked so much like... "Raphael," Talim whispered sadly. "Where are you?"

Seeing him shiver slightly, Talim got out of bed quietly and headed to her closet to grab her white cloak. When she returned to his side, she placed it over him carefully, making sure to not wake him. She felt her heart pound when he unconsciously held her hand. "Talim... don't go... don't..."

"Dumas." Talim looked at him gently before removing his hand and adjusting the cloak over him.

As she got into bed, she took off her blue vest. Running a hand across the exposed flesh that her small white top didn't cover, she stopped at the small and almost unnoticed scar. It still hurts but she pushed the feelings aside. "I won't hurt him Soul Calibur. He..." Talim glanced over at him and whispered, "he's just like Raphael."

Laying back down, she pulled the heavy green blankets up to her chest and looked at him slowly. She felt guilty for being angry with him since he only lied to her because he cared for her. And it's because of her that his hand got burned by holy water. Memories of these past weeks made her heart open towards the sleeping man and she reached for his uninjured hand. "I forgive you..." A few strands of hair slipped over her face as she turned sideways and watched him sleep. With their hands intertwined and the soft white moonlight framing their bodies, Talim slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning...

Feeling the warm sunlight from the window caressing her skin, Talim slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Dumas smile and squeeze her hand, she quickly withdrew it and sat up in bed.

"Talim, how do you feel?" He looked at her with concern and was relieved when she said she felt fine. But then he pointed to her hands with a troubled expression. "Your hands... what happened? Did you have a nightmare?"

Talim averted her eyes and lied, "It's nothing to worry about Dumas."

An awkward silence followed the brief comment and he sat there apprehensively, wondering what he should say. Glancing over at her, he couldn't help but stare. From the waist up, she was only wearing her small white top that looked exactly like the one seventeen years ago. His eyes wandered from her smooth flat stomach to the flawless skin on her arms, shoulders and then to the upper part of her firm breasts that wasn't covered by the top. But then he noticed a very small scar on the right side. "Talim, that scar..." He pointed to her right breast and she immediately grabbed the green blanket to cover herself. Embarrassed, he hastily looked away. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just..."

"It's an old wound that clings to me no matter how much time passes. I have learned to live with it," replied Talim curtly, still looking at the white walls rather then him. Dumas knew his suspicion was correct when she said that. After all these years, that injury from Soul Calibur still haven't heal. Damn that sword. He snapped out of his thoughts when she said, "Your hand, you got burned by holy water didn't you?"

He brushed it off. "It's a flesh wound. It'll heal quickly so don't worry about it Talim." Her cloak slipped from his shoulders and he quickly caught it. Holding the soft item in his hands, he said, "Thank you for the cloak Talim.

"You're welcome." Talim looked at him sadly and leaned back against her olive green lacy pillows and white headboard. "Please leave me alone for now Dumas. I don't want to talk to you or anyone right now."

Dumas reached for her hand and held it gently. "Please forgive me for trying to trick you. I knew you'd be devastated if you found out that your bird died. I... I didn't want you to be sad so I-"

Talim closed her eyes and a single tear slipped down her cheek. "Alun was my first friend. I found him when he still didn't have all of his feathers and I raised him myself." She wiped away the tear and turned to Dumas who had gotten off his chair and he sat on the edge of the bed while still holding on to her hand. "I never had any friends when I lived in my village. Only my family, the wind, the elders and my bird kept my company when I was growing up." Talim hiccough and her grip on the sheets tightened. "Alun never left my side, no matter how bad things got. There was this one winter... it was so cold and I had no money and no shelter... I had told it to leave me for a warmer place but Alun refused and it nearly froze to death with me before we were rescued."

Dumas hesitantly put his arm around her and hugged her as she cried onto his shoulder." I didn't know that your bird was so important to you. If I knew, I would have never tried to replace it. Please forgive me Talim." He kissed the top of her head gently. "But you have me now... for your sake, I promise that I won't die on you."

Talim looked up at him sadly. "Although the time I spent with Raphael was short, it was meaningful. You can't replace him Dumas."

He pressed his forehead against her own and whispered, " I love you Talim. As Raphael or Dumas, my feelings for you won't change and it does not matter to me if you love me as Raphael or as Dumas. All I want is to be with you." He gazed into her eyes and rubbed her smooth arm. "Please say you'll stay with me."

"Dumas..." Talim felt his right arm encircle her waist and his left hand reached up to brush her face.

Slowly, he traced her soft pink lips and he leaned down towards her. "I've waited for you for so long... please be mine Talim."

"Dumas... no, I can't. Please stop," said Talim, forcing herself away from him. Hugging herself, she averted his eyes and murmured, "No, I'm sorry."

"Dearest." Dumas pulled her back towards him gently. "Then please let me stay and hold you in my arms. I only wish to comfort you. Nothing else..."

Talim shook her head firmly. "I want to be clear about this... You are only my friend Dumas. I do not love you."

The words were final, clear cut. They held an unbreakable determination that refused to shake. Pushing now would be like pushing against a mountain of solid rock. He knew when it was futile, there was no point in pressing now. He'd have to wait for another opportunity, if he tried anything now he'd only risk his chances. "I understand." He kissed her hand softly before letting go of her. Getting off the bed, he looked at her affectionately. "I'll wait for you... for as long as it takes."

Watching him leave, Talim said, "Wait." When he paused and waited for her to say something, Talim clasped her hands together beseechingly. "I've lost Amy, Raphael and now I've lost Alun... Don't let that happen to you as well Dumas. I don't want to lose anyone else anymore. You can't replace Raphael but you are still important to me."

He smiled at his beautiful storm maiden. Giving her a gentlemanly bow, he said, "As you wish dearest."

"Ready?" Hilde looked at her three soldiers and at Viola who were standing before her. Their horses and supplies were ready and everyone was all geared up. Unfortunately, they were still waiting for a certain someone. "Where's Raphael?"

"He probably overslept." Viola rolled her orb in her hand in boredom. "He'll be here in ten minutes."

Swearing, Raphael fumbled for his boots as he hopped out of bed. He couldn't sleep the whole night since he kept thinking about his daughter. He had even prayed to God and begged that it was his daughter that was traveling with the lamia. His poor child... she must have suffered so much hardships without him by her side. He had failed her as a father and guilt haunted him every day and night. A father was supposed to be there and protect his child and yet he was away for seventeen years! "Don't worry Amy, I promise I'll make it up to you. Our new world... will come true no matter what," he vowed silently as he grabbed his bags and rapier.

Silently, Viola began counting. "One... two... three."

Rapahel's footsteps pounded across the bridge as he arrived. "I'm…" He gasped and held a hand to his side. "here! Who chose this infernal time to leave anyway!"

Gerhilde adjusted her butterfly shaped helmet and said dryly, "Her Highness did. And to be honest, how do you feel about waking up later then us women."

Raphael smirked. "Well... it always feels nice to sleep in doesn't it?"

Viola strolled past him with a nonchalant expression. "Wimp."

"Are you always this grumpy in the morning?" Raphael shot back.

Hilde arched an eyebrow at the two. "I thought you two had learned to get along with each other."

Raphael snorted, "When I'm drunk."

Viola looked at him. "That's funny, you never seemed sober to me."

"The nonsense you spew from your mouth makes even less sense woman. If you didn't carry that orb around, I would have thought that you were either insane or intoxicated."

"That's because you're not intelligent enough to understand my fortunes."

In his bedroom, Siegfried opened his window and glanced outside to see what all the racket was about. When he saw Viola and Raphael arguing with each other, he quickly slammed the window shut and headed back to bed. He couldn't help but feel sorry for Hilde who was going to be stuck with those two for awhile.

Half a day later...

Hilde reined in her white mare and looked at the tall trees around them. "We'll take a quick break for now. The archduke had arranged to meet us at an inn that's close to where we found Raphael."

"An inn?" Raphael grew slightly worried as he sat against a large tree and he took a quick swig from his water flask. Hilde sat beside him and he said, "What kind of man is this archduke anyway? I think I might have heard of him when I was still at court but it has been far too long for me to remember."

Hilde took off her helmet and shook her head; her red hair cascaded to her shoulders and she answered, "He gained a lot of prestige and power after the long war between the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Most were tired of this needless war and Matthias agreed with the people but Rudolf II ordered it to continue and Graf Dumas, his most valued subject, mercilessly cut down any that opposed them. In secret, Matthias held a meeting with the highest ranking member of the House of Habsburg. He organized two treaties between the Hungarian rebels and the Turks, ending the war last year. He's also been chosen to be the future Holy Roman Emperor if Rudolf died. I've heard that the emperor is very ill so now, there's a struggle for power between Matthias and Graf Dumas, who's sort of Rudolf's last champion."

Raphael listened intently and proceeded to open his bag. Taking a bite out of a pear he remarked, "So we need to accomplish this mission so that he'll agree in giving you land for your people? What happened to Wolfkrone anyway?"

"The land is dead. It was poisoned when the borders to Astral Chaos opened." Hilde eyes dimmed with sorrow as she remembered Talim and Kilik's explanation. "The powers of Astral Chaos leaked out and infected so many people... malfesting them and destroying their lives and it poisoned my country.." Hilde looked away bitterly. "My country is dead, my father is missing and my so called husband divorced me for someone with more money and power."

Raphael choked on his water flask. "What? What kind of man is he? And how did he divorce you?"

"He accused me of being unfaithful. After being together for so long, I expected him to trust me. I was merely discussing war strategies with Siegfried."

"Your Highness." Gerhilde overhead the conversation and kneeled before her. "Forgive me but... your husband didn't deserve you. He never helped you care for the people and the man doesn't even know how to hold a sword properly or talk politics. When you were pregnant with his child, he wasn't even there for you. Those days, you only had me, Salia and Siegfried beside you."

A sad look crossed Hilde's face. Raphael noticed and said, "You are a beautiful and strong woman Hilde. Keep going for your people and children... like how I'm still fighting Amy."

Hilde looked at him quietly. "Do you really not remember someone else, other than Amy?"

"Huh?"

At the look of confusion on Raphael's face, Hilde stood up. "It's nothing. We should get going."

All of a sudden, Viola spoke up. "Danger." The atmosphere immediately tensed as everyone got up and drew their weapons. The forest seemed alittle more forbidding as Viola peered into her violet orb. "Not here... But death walks close by. The hunt has begun."

Hilde understood what she meant and she said," Viola, do not use your orb in combat. Raphael, pull your hat down to hide your eyes and do not let anyone see you fangs." Hilde got back on her horse and put on her helmet. "Where?"

"At the inn where we were supposed to meet."

Raphael feared for the two old innkeepers that had sheltered him and he quickly got on his horse. "Let's move it!"

The small group rode as fast as they could and pushed their horses to the limits. From a distance, a tendril of black smoke snakes upward and Raphael heard the sound of clashing metals, screams and death cries. When they burst through the clearing, they saw fifty soldiers circling the burning inn. The few trees that decorated the path to the inn burned furiously and a few bodies lied on the ground, broken and bloodied. Hilde dismounted and made her way through as Gerhilde accompanied her and announced her arrival. "Princess Hildegard Von Krone stands before you! Make way!"

"Get away! Filthy humans!" snarled the two old innkeepers. The thirty malfested behind them all wore enraged faces and they hissed at their persecutors. Wounds and injuries marked their bodies and it seems the fight was already near its end.

Matthias stood at the forefront with his rapier in his hand. He seemed to be uninjured and his fine black tunic and travelling pants stitched with silver threads was still clean and tear-free. Stroking his brown beard, he said, "Demons... today is the day I shall return you to the hell you've crawled out of."

Hilde reached his side and quickly introduced herself before asking, "My lord, what's going on?"

"Isn't it obvious princess? I'm conducting the work of God."

Raphael stormed up to him. "You can't just kill them like this. The law says they must undergo trials before you can do anything. You can't prove here and now that they're malfested."

"Who are you?"

Raphael drew himself up proudly. "The last Sorel in this world. I am Raphael Sorel and-"

Matthias chestnut colored eyes widened. "A surviving Sorel?" Three soldiers immediately tackled Raphael and wrestled him to the ground. "You do realize that you're supposed to be dead," stated the archduke as he looked down at the pinned Frenchman.

Raphael spat out a few blades of grass and hissed, "On what account? You mean that order by Dumas and the king of France?"

Matthias stroked his brown beard. "The Sorels are politicaly enemies. It seems you are persistent in walking down this wrong road. You shall be executed along with these monsters to make an example for the people."

Hilde abruptly intervened. "He is under my protection Matthias."

"For justice! For freedom! For our lord! Kill all of these wretched humans!" screamed a blonde man. Blood poured from a wound on his forehead and he gave the soldiers a savage glare before shifting into a giant mountain cat. With a snarl, he pounced on a soldier and tore out the man's throat and the rest of the malfested followed suit.

The archduke said to Hilde, "Make yourself useful right now or else the bargain is off Princess Hilde."

Raphael shook the soldiers off him and looked at Hilde. "You can't possibly be serious in helping this man."

Viola put her orb into her saddlebag and shooed her horse away. "She needs those lands for her people. We cannot afford to anger Matthias or else he'll refuse to let you see the lamia's child and he'll refuse to help Hilde."

The blunt truth was hard to swallow and Hilde gripped her sword and lance tightly. Gerhilde and her other two soldiers waited for her orders and Hilde motioned for them to get ready. "Aim to wound and capture, not kill. I will try to bargain with Matthias and persuade him to spare them if we can make them human again."

"How-"

"We need to find Kilik or Talim." That was Hilde's answer before she charged into the thick of battle. "Raphael! Protect Viola! She can't fight as well without her orb."

Back to back, Raphael and Viola fended off the malfested fighting them. "Traitors!" Kari hissed as she brandished a kitchen knife at Raphael. "How can you and that fortune teller turn on your own kind?

Raphael ducked and retaliated with a weak slash. "It's not what you thi-"

"Don't touch them!" shouted a nunchaku wielding man as he charged forward. With a few quick steps, he swept two soldiers down to the grass while a young boy wielding a bo staff emerged from the burning inn and tried to put out the fire that was eating at the tiger pelt tied around his waist.

"Ow! Ow! Oww! Maxi! There's too many of them!"

"Just do your best Xiba!" Maxi tackled Raphael to the ground and quickly kicked him in the stomach. Getting up, he was about to land another blow on him when a sudden gust of wind blew Raphael's hat off. "Raphael?" Maxi's eyes bulged out of his sockets.

"My hat!" Raphael cursed and chased after his headgear.

"Hey!" Maxi swore. "What the hell is going on!? I thought he was dead seveteen years ago!"

Hilde ran over to Maxi and pretended to fight him as she slashed the air beside him with her sword. "Maxi, what are you doing here?"

"Resting. Before these soldiers turned up!" Maxi spun to the left and sent a soldier flying into a burning tree with a powerful punch from his nunchaku before returning to the conversation."What the hell are you thinking with helping these guys!" Hilde explained as fast as possible and Maxi looked at her in surprise before swearing. "I know you've been doing your best to care for your peop- Move it!" Maxi uppercut another soldier out of the way and said to Hilde, "Goddamit fine! You just keep pretending to fight but I'll get us all out of here!"

Hilde looked at him hesitantly before nodding. "Alright."

"Malfested! Get that man!" screamed a soldier, running past Hilde to pursue Maxi. Hilde swiftly stuck her leg out and tripped the soldier before running off to help Gerhilde.

"You guys interrupted my meal!" Xiba slammed his staff into Viola's abdomen and kicked Raphael in the face. Standing in front of two old innkeepers, he said, "Don't worry, I'll protect you!"

"Disgusting!" Raphael rubbed his face and grimaced from the smoke that was making his eyes watered. "Why aren't you wearing any shoes? And when was the last time you washed your feet!"

Xiba looked puzzled at the question. "Why do I need to wash my feet? I know you have to wash your hands before you eat but not your feet."

"NO WONDER IT SMELLED SO BAD!"

Viola slashed someone with her claw and said, "You're in my way." The malfested dropped to his knees and hissed at her.

"I'll tear you apart!"

Viola slashed his throat when he lunged towards her and she stepped over the body coldly. "I don't care whether you live or die."

Nearby, Xiba hopped backwards and quickly poked Raphael with his staff while madam Kari shouted some encouragements. "If we live through this, you can have all the food you want, free of charge!"

Xiba cheered. "Oh yea! I'm going to go all out now!"

Raphael shouted in pain when the kid launched the staff between his legs and hit upward. Dropping to the ground, Raphael held in the urge to shout out some very obscene curses. "Damn… you..."

Viola walked over and looked down at the Frenchman. "As a malfested, the likelihood of having children is quite low. So whether your family's jewels is damaged or not wouldn't really matter."

Raphael barked, "It still hurts! And aren't you a crude woman?"

Viola replied emotionlessly, "I have bigger concerns right now then to worry about your privates. Excuse me." She leaped over to continue the fight against Xiba.

"Xiba! Where are you!" Maxi shouted as he defended a small group of wounded malfested against five soldiers.

When Xiba turned to look, Viola clawed his right arm and made the younger boy howl in pain. Xiba readied his strongest move against her and shouted, "I'm angry now!" He swung his staff back and caught the seer off guard as he launched her into the air. "Blast off!" Using his rod as a vaulting pole, Xiba launched himself upward and dealt four consecutive kicks onto her body. As the final attack, he raised his staff up high and slammed it down with all of his might.

Viola felt her ribs break as the staff connected with her torso and she hit the ground hard. "Eyuagh!"

"Stand back!" Gerhilde and Raphael ran over to aid the fallen fortune teller and Xiba quickly ran for it.

"I'm coming!" shouted the wild boy as he knocked the soldiers out of the way with his staff. When a huge armoured knight stopped him, he grinned and readied his staff behind him. "Go big... OR GO HOME!" Flames swallowed his staff as he slammed it down on the knight and every piece of armor on the man shattered as the knight fell without another sound. Xiba cheered. "If you wanna live and eat another day, you just gotta win."

Maxi twirled his nunchaku left and right, efficiently breaking bones and disabling all the soldiers who were trying to stop him. He got closer and closer to Matthias until only one man tried to stop him. Readying his guns, he aimed it at the angry sea dandy. Maxi threw his nunchaku up and his eyes flashed. "Don't get in my way!" Catching it, he dealt three powerful blows against the soldier while a bright yellow aura enveloped his body. "No mercy!" When the man fell, he glared at Matthias. "Tell your men to stand down or else I'll take the matter into my own hands."

"I'll deal with you myself!" snapped the archduke, thrusting his rapier forward.

"I'm done messing around." Maxi knocked away Matthias's rapier with ease and he lopped the chain of his nunchaku around the archduke's throat. He tightened his grip and silenced Matthias before hollering, "Stop before I kill this stuck up noble!"

Hilde knew this was the cue and she stepped forward. "Everyone! Hold your weapons!" She pointed to Maxi and said, "Let him go!"

Maxi shouted back, "Let all of these people go and I'll do that."

Struggling against his captor's hold, Matthias snapped, "I will not be threatened!"

"Unless you want a snapped neck, give it up." Maxi choked him for a second before continuing. "I'm going to count to three and if your men don't drop their weapons by then, you start digging a hole for this guy. One! Two! Thr-"

"Drop your weapons!" Matthias second in command ordered. "Our lord's life is more important than anything else! Drop your weapons! Now!" Hilde did the same and she watched as Maxi winked at her and she stealthily moved back into the crowds of soldiers as everyone kept their attention focused on Maxi.

"Alright people! Hurry up and get out of here!" The crowd of malfested looked at him worriedly before disappearing into the safety of the trees. Maxi tilted his head towards Xiba. "Find a s safe place to hide Xiba."

"But Maxi-"

"No buts. Just do as I say and I'll buy you some more steam buns."When they all left, his eyes roamed through the men and it landed on Raphael who was applying some pressure onto a woman's chest. Raphael… after all these years, it seems that he was still alive. But where was Talim? He coughed from the smoke that was swirling around the place and when a cool breeze carried some of it away, he noticed Hilde readying an arrow at him. "Just don't hit the hair," thought Maxi, digging his heels into the ground.

"For victory!" shouted Hilde as she released the arrow.

"Hey!" Maxi pushed the duke away from him as the arrow shot past him. Running for it, he dashed through the bushes and made way to the forest of trees that would hide him.

The soldiers were about to pursue him but Hilde ordered them to look after Matthias's condition. To the archduke, she said, "I will go after that man with my own soldiers and we'll bring him back to you." Matthias rubbed his red throat and nodded. Hilde mounted her horse and ordered her three soldiers to do the same. But when she noticed how wounded Viola was, she said to Raphael, "Raphael! Stay here and help with Viola's injuries! I'll be back soon!"

"Hey! Wait!" protested Raphael as he adjusted Viola's body in his arms. He rolled his eyes and glanced down at Viola who was visibly wincing as she breathed. "About two or three of your ribs is broken snd two more is fractured. It looks like you're going to be rather useless for awhile."

Viola glared at him and she was about to say something when another wave of pain hit her. "Ugh… if you don't have anything useful to say… then don't say anything at all."

"Now now, is that anyway to talk to your doctor?" asked Raphael as he laid her down on the grass. "I'm going to make something that'll help you sleep. And when Hilde and her female soldiers come back, I'll show them how to bind two rolls of bandages around your chest to help hold the bones in the right position as they heal."

"Why… are you helping me?"

Raphael shrugged. "Believe me, I don't want to. But we're on the same side and I can't lie and say that your ability isn't useful. Now stop talking woman, you need to stay as still as possible or else you'll risk moving the bones. They could puncture your lungs and internal organs."

Viola stayed silent and tried to breath but she could only take shallow breaths before another ripple of pain caused her to whimper. Raphael sighed and said, "You probably shouldn't have cut at a kid like that."

"What am I supposed…. Ugh… to do? Smile and politely suggest that he should stand… ugah… down and let us hurt his friends?"

Raphael grinned. "Why didn't you think of that sooner?"

"Just stay quiet. You're more likeable when you don't open your mouth."

Riding around trees, Hilde and her soldiers looked for Maxi. The sunlight streamed down to the forest floor and she poked at a rustling bush only to find two rabbits hopping away from her. They rode through the forest silently and Hilde grew alittle anxious when she couldn't find her friend. Suddenly, an acordn dropped on her head and she looked up. Recognizing the kid, she said, "You're Maxi's travelling companion."

Xiba ran a hand through his red-brown hair and groaned as she looked up at him. "Uhh… you got the wrong person. Go away."

She smiled slightly and said, "Come down. I won't hurt you. I'm a friend of Maxi's."

"That's right kid." Maxi stepped out from behind some trees and motioned for Xiba to get down. Turning back to Hilde, he said, "So… how have things been going?"

Hilde dropped down from her horse and shook her head sadly. "Not good." She gave a quick order to her soldiers to patrol the area and make sure that no one could hear or see them.

Once all of her guards left, Maxi said, "I noticed that you've found Raphael but where's Talim? She'll be overjoyed to see him again. I would like to go talk to him but unfortunately, I'm going to be on the run for awhile."

"Raphael… has lost his memory."

Maxi gaped at her in surprise. "You've got to be kidding me!" He let out another loud pirate swear word, obviously distressed for Talim's sake.

"Not only that, Talim has been kidnapped by Dumas." Hilde sat down on a mossy green rock and Maxi did the same while Xiba listened to their conversation with interest. "Things aren't going very well right now. Siegfried told me that Soul Calibur is slowly awakening as well. A lot of changes will soon come Maxi. I hope that it won't cause as much destruction… like seventeen years ago."

Maxi twirled a small leaf in his hand and gave a grunt of agreement. "Things aren't looking so pretty, that's for sure. Edgemaster has told me that Kilik is in danger. This here," he gestured to Xiba, " is the successor to Kilik's Kali-Yuga. We've been travelling west to find him but so far, no luck at all."

"I have not seen Kilik for the past three years," noted Hilde. "But the last time I saw him, he looked quite well."

"A lot of things can happen in the span of three years Hilde." Maxi rubbed at his tired shoulders and threw the leaf away. "I'm so tired of this. It's the same wherever we go. Discrimination for the malfested runs deep."

Hilde gave him a pat on the shoulder. "At least there are some benefits from it. You're stronger than most men and you haven't aged a day."

Maxi laughed and nodded. "You've got a point. But you're looking pretty good as well Hilde. Haha, it almost feels like the old times doesn't it?"

She smiled and nodded. "I will never forget that fight seventeen years ago. We are allies forever..."

"Maxi, I'm hungry," Xiba complained when the two continued chatting with each other.

"Alright then." Maxi stood up and shook hands with Hilde. "It's probably not a very good idea for me to linger around here and you should be heading back as well. I'll keep an eye out for Talim and if I find Dumas, I'll definitely save her. For now, farewell Hilde."

Hilde looked away wistfully. "During these troubled times, I fear that meeting you or anyone that's a malfested… may be the last time. Be careful Maxi."

He grinned and waved good-bye. She watched the two leave and when they disappeared through the trees, she called for her soldiers as they headed back.

Raphael stared at the pink and orange skies blankly. He was sitting in front of the tent he had set up for Viola while Matthias's men had turned the clearing into a campsite and for the past two hours, he watched with boredom as twenty huge tents were set up and small campfires were started. The bodies of the malfested had been unceremoniously burned and Raphael looked at the soldiers strolling past him with distaste. Once Hilde returned and inquired about Viola, he summarized the seer's injuries and began telling Gerhilde how to bind Viola's chest with the rolls of bandages.

They both looked up when one of Matthia's soldiers told them that the archduke wanted to speak to them. "Me as well?" asked Raphael. When the soldier nodded, he got up and dusted his clothes. "This better be important…"

As they walked through the campsite and approached the destined tent, Hilde pushed aside the flap and entered with Raphael by her side. The tent was quite spacious and Matthias was sitting cross legged on a warm bear rug while drinking a cup of ale. Swords and other weapons were neatly stacked on one side and a few maps lay on the short wooden table in front of him. Placing his cup down, he gestured for Hilde and Raphael to be seated. Once they sat down on the rug, Raphael said dryly, "Don't you have chairs?"

"I've grown rather fond of this type of seating," replied Matthias, replacing the melting candle on his table for a new one. "It's also more convenient this way." Folding his hands on the table, he looked at Raphael slowly.

Those dark brown eyes were piercing and Raphael felt rather uncomfortable. Averting his eyes, he said, "I don't see why you wish to see me. Princess Hilde is the one you should be speaking to."

Matthias said, "You should be a dead man Raphael Sorel. I assume you know what has happened to your family?"

"It's all Dumas's fault," said Raphael venomously.

The archduke shrugged. "Right now, all that matters is that you should be executed right here on the spot. I've heard… that you were already branded with murder of an important noble many years ago."

Hearing the old accusation made Raphael's blood boiled. "I killed him out of self defense."

Matthias looked at Raphael nonchantly and stood up. Pacing back and forth slowly, he said, "The problem remains… you are accused of murder from many years ago and you also have an order of execution on your head. All Sorels in this world have been granted a death sentence and whether it's fair or not, I'm afraid you do not have a say in the matter. You..." He bent down and picked up the sword lying on his table. " should be killed at this very moment..." His eyes were hard as he pointed the blade straight at Raphael's throat.