Fan Fiction ❯ Second Advent of the Vow ❯ The bethrotal ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

"Hephaestus gave Rothion a raw chunk of sacred iron and instructed Sophitia that she must completely destroy the Soul Edge. She left home with the sword and shield that Rothion had forged from the iron. She pursued Soul Edge, purifying lands seized by the Evil Seed. Her eyes shined with the light of faith." (Taken from www.soulcalibur.com)


Disclaimer: For those who haven't noticed, I do not own Soul Calibur or any of its characters; that privilege is Namco's.

Notes: Inner character thoughts identified by asterisks *


Chapter V: The Betrothal

Sophitia distanced herself from the crowd, trying to engrave the faces of her loved ones on her memory. She knew that the time for her departure was approaching faster every passing day.

The betrothal ceremony had been a very emotive one. Her mother's eyes were still moistened and puffy due to the tears. She was now talking enthusiastically with Rothion's mother, as they both planned the incoming wedding of their offspring.

* "It's good to know that they are confident in my return," * thought Sophitia.

She watched with delight as her father and Lucius demonstrated what good hosts they could be, tending every guest and filling every cup with sweet wine. The main table featured delicacies for the most discriminating taste. Fresh fruits, an assortment of the country's fresh vegetables and of course, her father's pastries, all shared the table with a magnificent lamb. Well, what was left of it.

Cassandra, on the other hand, cruised through the crowd like a honeybee gathering nectar, stunning in her cute summer dress, her short golden tresses highlighted by the magnificent afternoon's sun. It was obvious she was enjoying herself fully as her attentions were fixated on a couple of cousins from a neighboring city, narrating for the thousand and one time how she had allowed Rothion meet her sister.

-"As you can see, I'm a hero of some sort, if not, my sister would have never met him, haven't I called him for help?."

Sophitia heard her sister's sweet voice from afar. If Sophitia didn't know better, she would have swore that the celebration was in Cassandra's honor and not hers. She sure relished the attention, and the elder Alexandra was more than happy for her. All this warrior business called upon her much more attention that she would prefer and worried that her sister regretted being overshadowed by her accomplishments. If only all knew that she was her hero and she owned Cassie so much she could never be able to repay. Fate had it her sister helped her to meet her true love.

Her light green gaze kept scanning the party guests and she saw her now fiancee Rothion as he talked with some of his most important business customers. He exuded confidence and charm and she was sure she would never lack anything at his side. He looked extremely attractive with his shinny raven dark hair combed neatly and the elegant outfit he chose for the occasion brought out his lean, muscular figure. She had missed him much during the lasts months, as he had dedicated every last strand of daylight into crafting her new weapons. Thankfully, he still once in a while practiced with her at the Shrine. He felt his fiancee's gaze upon him and returned her the glance with a big, proud smile.


She smiled back, as she sought refuge from the bright sunrays beneath the soothing shadow of a tree. She looked at the richly decorated gold bracelet she now had in her arm, given to her by Rothion, as a symbol of their betrothal. It was amazing how bound to him she felt after the ceremony; it had been the closest thing to marriage and for many, the betrothal was a compromise almost as binding as the more formal and definitive celebration. As he kept the conversation, Sophitia's mind wandered:

* "I wonder if I'll be a good wife for him. Will I ever leave my warrior ways behind and settle down in the domestic life of a wife?" *

As questions kept mounting inside her, suddenly, a revelation. Then, it dawned on her. She realized this second quest was going to be very much different from the first.

* "It had been so easy to leave then. I was young, full of faith and I wanted to fulfill my sacred duty. But now, there's so much at stake. There's so much to lose!" A pang of pain seared through her body as she consciously realized the sacrifice this meant for her. -"I know only too well the evil I'm about to face again. The girl I used to be almost lost her life at the wrath of Cervantes!"*

Many travels and tribulations, countless battles, trials by fire and blood had matured Sophitia. She acknowledged that part of that innocence had been lost, and that her hands were tainted with the blood of many whom gasped their last breath at her sword's edge. She had acknowledged that the price for her victory against the Spaniard pirate was to bear a faint, yet distinctive "scent" of Soul Edge. Even Taki's masterful rites could not remove completely the cursed sword's stain from her and she kept hidden in the most secret recesses of her mind fear of being more vulnerable to the blade's curse. And then there was something else, a sense of impending loss she did not felt the first time. She feared all this could become weaknesses and thus put her at disadvantage and even endanger her on her new quest.

* "Gods, please give me strength, for I feel I'm not as strong as I was before. I fear so much now." *

-"What are you pondering, my dear? Are you okay?" Rothion's soft voice broke her thoughts. Sophitia looked at Rothion's eyes; their warmth always soothed her spirit.

-"I'm fine."

Rothion saw a hint of sadness cloud the clear emerald eyes. -"Sophie, please be honest. Is there something I should know. Are you afraid or unsure of what we have done today?" he asked anxiously.

Poor Rothion! He thought that she was having second guesses about their compromise. If only he knew the true reasons behind her melancholy.

-"Rothion, look at me. Do you really think I regret what we have done?" she said tenderly as she took his hands into hers.

-"I'm so sorry, dear. It's just that all of a sudden I saw you so sad I thought the most foolish things!"

-"You're a fool. My gloom is because I'm afraid of leaving this bliss, of leaving you back here, while I go to face the unexpected again. And I'm afraid, I don't want to fail, because I want to come back, I want to fulfill whatever fate has for us."

-"I know what you feel. I'm also afraid. I know is your destiny to start your quest again and heed the oracle, but sometimes I don't know how I'll make it when I feel half of me is being pulled apart."

"I need to fully regain my spirit's strength, my confidence, if I want to be successful."


"Sophie, follow me. I was going to give you them later, with a big ceremony and everything, but I guess you should have them now."

Sophitia had no clue of what Rothion was referring to. They slipped from the party and went to where the horses and carts were parked. Rothion jumped into his and came back with a package in his hands. Slowly, he unwrapped the string around a piece of soft cloth, which covered something she couldn't discern what could be. Then, in front of Sophitia were the most beautiful weapons she had ever seen. The hoplon (Greek for small shield) had a pattern of golden elk's antlers in a blue background. The short sword glistened with the light and she could see her own reflection on the finely worked silver blade.

"Gods, they look even more stunning than the ones Hephaestus gave me!"

"I know I don't have the ability of a Olympic god, but I hope they serve you well. They were crafted with you in mind."

"Oh Rothion, they're wonderful!"

The Athenian cried out loud as she suppressed the urge of trying them at that very moment. Her delicate long dress wouldn't allowed any maneuverability of that sort, she recognized with a sigh. She held them both and felt like they were extensions of her own limbs. Wielder and weapons fused themselves from the start. Hephaestus' sacred iron allowed them to be very strong and resistant, yet light enough for her to maneuver. Rothion watched elated by the fusion between his craft and his betrothed. He knew then he had been successful in his task, for he had put all his feelings, his soul and prayers into his work. His unrelenting dedication had paid off. Sophitia and her weapons, an extension of himself, were one. And now united in an embrace and in a passionate kiss, they were one.