::Two Years Later:: Something was wrong. But only horribly wrong this time. It had been two years since she had felt Soul Edge's tug on her. It was... disturbing that it would resurface after all these long, peaceful years. She hated it. She didn't want Soul Edge to regain control of her. Not after what it did to her last time. She took hold of her ring and put it around her waist. "Tira..." The old man asked. She had been staying with him on and off for the past two years. He'd been good to her. "Where are you going?" "I don't know... Some thing's not right... Do you know Soul Edge?" "I know of it, why?" He replied, coming in from the kitchen. "I used to be... controlled by that sword. I thought, after it was destroyed, I could find peace... but not now. I sense it... somewhere far away..." Tira responded, pushing her sleeves up. "So... you're going to go... find it?" He asked, uncertainty in his voice. "Yes. Find it. And destroy it. Once and for all. I'll never be a pawn again." The man smiled. This is what he wanted to hear. He walked to Tira and hugged her. "Okay, then. You do what you've got to do. I'll be here when you get back. Be safe." He spoke. Tira returned the man's hug and nodded. "Will do. Don't wait up for me." She walked out, her Blade Ring around her waiste. She went down to the docks and spoke to one of the Ship's captains, a man she got to know over the years. He was your stereotypical salty sea dog. "Yarr..." He spoke as she approached. "What can I do fer ye, Tira?" He asked as she approached. She stood on the dock and waved. "Permission to come aboard, captain!" She asked. The old captain grinned. "Yer always welcome aboard me ship, Tira. Ye know that!" He responded, dropping the gangplank. "I know. But if I don't ask, you never drop the plank!" She joked climbing on. The man laughed. "Ye never cease to give me a laugh, do ye, Tira? So, what can I do fer ye?" Tira set her sights west, from where the power was coming from. "I need passage west. To whatever is out there." Tira responded. The captain hushed. "Ye need ta go ta the New World, do ye?" He eyed her suspiciously. "Plannin' on makin' yerself rich on me back, are ye?" He smiled. "I sense Soul Edge out there. I need to destroy it before it gets a hold of me again." She responded. "Arr, Soul Edge, ye say? Well, I can't have me favorite first mate bein' possessed by no Cursed Blade, now can we? Ta the New World, ye say? Well then, we must make our haste, shant we?" He signaled the sailor on the mast. "Lower the mast, maties! We make for ta sea!" He shouted. "Aye, Captain!" The man responded, untieing the ropes which bound the mast in a roll. Tira smiled happily. "Thank you, Captain. I'll be sure to be quick so you can be home before to long." She sat on one of the rope rolls on the deck. "Arrr... Come now, Tira. Ye know me home is the Lady of the Sea!" He laughed as the ship, aptly named The Lady of the Sea, pulled out into open waters. The voyage was long and arduous. The Lady of the Sea was the fastest ship that was available, and that would truly be put to the test if Tira was to get to the Soul Edge before Nightmare did. The ship pulled along side a dock that had been recently constructed. The total time of the voyage was around three and a half weeks. Three and a half weeks on a ship with two dozen sweaty men made Tira slightly nauseous for half the voyage, but for the most part, it was enjoyable. "Yarr... that be strange..." The Captain spoke as the ship was fully docked. "Ain't no body on this here land save fer the savages. And I know no savages can build a dock to berth me ship..." He continued. "Oh well. Let us not dwell on the superfluous. Will ye be disembarking now, Tira?" "Yes. Thank you, Captain." "It be me pleasure. Sadly, we cannot wait fer ye. Our supplies will only last to get back. But, we will return then. Until we meet again, fair ye well." He turned his attention back to the man on the mast. "Avast ye dogs! Pull away and make fer the sea! We must return home quickly!" The ship pulled away and turned towards the horizen. Tira watched it fade away before continuing. Soul Edge's signature was strong now. It was near. Maybe this wouldn't take as long as she had thought. It felt like it was coming from just over those mountains... She was never much one for mountain climbing, but she had some experience. Climbing without a harness was dangerous, but Tira was used to danger. Especially dangerous danger. The strange thing was, the foot and hand holds were almost placed there... Not dwelling too hard on the superfluous, as the good captain had recommended, she continued upwards. Soon, she could start to see the top. As her hand hit the top of the mountain, she realized it wasn't a mountain at all, but a mesa. The near-sheer cliff face gave way to a smooth, horizontal ground. At which, a huge mansion was situated on the top. Soul Edge's signature was coming form inside. "Strange..." She muttered, looking over the house. "Is this the work of primative savages? No... it's much too civilized..." She continued speaking to herself. Soul Edge was definetely inside. She had to find it. Approaching the door, she began to here something from within. She opened the door and stepped in. The parlor was well-lit, several dozen candles hanging from chandeliers and attached to fixtures gave the room a cool, noon-sun feel. Inside, seated around a table, were eight other women. "Well, that makes nine. So if my calculations are correct, the last chair is reserved for our host..." A woman with pure white hair growled. "I hate being kept in the dark." Her accent was thick, prehaps a bit overdone, but it was unmistakably british. "You worry too much. Let's get our new friend up-to-date, hum?" Another groaned. This one had short, neatly kept brown hair. Her manner of dress suggested a woman of royal Japanese decent, but her manner of speech and facial features suggested eastern European. She sat on one of the chairs, twirling an ornamental umbrella around on her shoulder. "I'll start. Which one lured you in? Money? Power? Soul Edge?" A rather bubbling woman in a floral Chinese dress asked. Her brown hair was slightly shorter then the other woman's, and equally neatly kept. Her green silk pants were a bit flashy. Tira seemed to remember snipits of this woman, but never learned her name. "I sensed Soul Edge here... What's going on?" Tira asked, her voice elevating to the point of concern. "You've been sent for a ruse. Soul Edge isn't here. We've looked. Trust us, we've looked." A forth woman growled aggitatedly. Her brown, unruly hair was marginally contained by a decrotive band across her head. "I think introductions are in order, hum?" The first woman, the one with the thick british accent nodded. "Okay. My name's Seong Mi-Na. I came here thinking I could get some money to support my family. The one to my right with the very threatening glare is Setsuka. No reason why she's here. Won't tell anyone. That's Isabel..." She read the first woman's stare of death, and corrected herself. "Ivy... Doesn't like being called Isabella, so don't call her that." She moved to the woman across from her. "I forgot your name, little one. Ya know, what, that's your new name. Little One." Mi-Na smiled "It's Talim. If I've told you once, I've told you a million times. Ta-Lim. Get it right." The younger woman huffed, crossing her arms, visably insulted. "Anyway, I'm Talim. Nice to meet you." "Yea... okay. That's Xianghua next to me." The woman in the floral Chineses dress smiled and waved. "Hiya!" She replied, a grin crossing her face. "I am Sophitia, and this is my sister, Cassandra." A rather regal looking woman Tira had overlooked initially spoke, waving. The younger sibling Cassandra said nothing, just waved. "Has anyone seen Taki?" Ivy asked, looking about. Suddenly, one of the chandeliers collapsed and fell onto the table. "Holy!" Everyone shouted in near unison. "I knew it! I can spot shoddy construction a mile away!" A ninth voice pipped up. Everyone looked up to see a woman's face looking at them through a hole in the roof. "Oh, hello. New girls. How long have I been UP here?" "'Bout an hour." Xianghua replied. The woman in the roof shrugged and slipped down the hole. "Hi, everyone I didn't meet earlier. I'm Taki. Ninja." "She's the only shmuck that came here willingly. Or knowingly, at least." Before they could continue, a door to the south opened, and a woman in an apron and a black gown stepped out. "Welcome, everyone." She spoke. Everyone instantly had their questions. They all stood and began asking in unison. "I'm sure you're all very interested to know why you're all here, and we will get to that. But first, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Valeria. Aspirering scientist and world-renowned Alchemist. Now, about your questions..." "Why have you brought us all here?!" Talim asked. Everyone nodded. "An excellent question. The answer is, I need your help for a little... experiment. You see, I believe that confinement away from family and friends will lead to humans doing things they wouldn't normally do under common circumstances. For instance, turning enemies and unknowns into friends. You all are relative strangers to one another, which is why I chose you. Here is what will happen. I will state my case, and after that, you may leave if you wish." Valeria finished. Everyone looked at her. "Here is what I would propose. I will seal all ten of us into this very house. Here, we will all spend three weeks confined within. I will moniter your progress, using my own three week stay here as the control group. That is all I ask. You will go about your daily lives, as if nothing happened, and I will observe." "Is that your case, then?" Taki asked. Valeria nodded. "Good. I'm out of here. See ya." She stood and walked to the door, followed by just about everyone else. "I don't think I mentioned the compensation for your time..." Valeria spoke up. "I am willing to pay you, each, three million gold pieces for your time." "Whoa, what, huh?" Taki muttered, stopping at the door. "Three million?!" She asked. Valeria nodded. "Each?!" She asked again. Another nod. "None of this 'split between us' shit?" "Well, should one of you opt out now, or any time during the experiment, then your share will be slip amongst the survivors." She spoke. "But, for the most part, if you all stay the course, yes, you will all receive three million gold each. What do you say?" "I'm in." Everyone droned in unison. Valeria smiled. "Fantastic. If I may show you all to your rooms." She motioned to the stairs. The ascended the stairs, and came to a long hall way with four doors on either side, and a door at the end. "You will notice that your room doors have your names emblazoned on them. They are in revers alphabetical order, so, Mrs. Valentine, your room is at the end, and Xianghua, yours is here." Valeria motioned to the door on her right. "Now, you're all grown women, so I don't have to set any ground rules, or anything like that. There is, however one rule I must stress the importance of. The door you all saw me make my entrance from, under no circumstances should you enter that door. There are very sensitive materials beyond it, that I do not wish contaminated. You all understand, surly." There came a general nod of concensus. "Most excellent. Well, I must be off. I shall leave you nine to your own devices." She turned and began down the stairs. "Ah, before I leave..." She stopped herself. "If ever you need me, simply ring the bell on the table once, and only once. I shall get to you as soon as possible. If ever you wish out of this experiment, you must only ring the bell on the table three times, and you will be on your way. But, you will forfeit your cut. Understood?" Another nod. "Great. Kitchen is down the stairs to the left, you will all find several changes of clothing within your rooms. I hope the styling is to your liking." With that said, Valeria descended the stairs and walked back through the door she warned them not to open. "Well, I think it's high-time we all turned in. I don't know about you, but I'm whipped." Setsuka yawned loudly, stretching her arms. Tira found her eyes migrating around the room, looking at her roommates for the next three weeks. All older women, except Talim. She looked, if not her age, close enough. Why was she even here? Experiment beside, surly Valeria could have found a better canditate then a nineteen year old girl having an identity crisis. Not wanting to think on it, Tira simply settled to enter her room. The door had a gold plaque on it which read in very neat writing "Tira". The room was medium sized, with a double bed placed against the back wall. A window allowed her a fine view of the setting sun. There was a closet occupying one wall, and a foot locker at the foot of her bed. She walked to the closet and opened it. Just as Valeria had described, there were four or five outfits, all around Tira's size. Whoever her source was, they were good. She smiled at the handywork. Pulling one of the hangers from the closet, she checked it against herself. It looked like a formal gown. Seemed like everything was here, sleeping clothes, formal gown, and three sets of different everyday wear, plus the outfit on her back, so four. Before she got dressed for bed, a small, almost frightened knock beset her door. "That'll probably be Talim..." she thought to herself, going to the door. Right as rain, Talim was standing on the other side, a timid smile on her lips. "H... Hi." She greeted Tira. Tira responded. "Hey. What's up?" Talim took her time answering. "I.... Well... I never learned your name. I just thought it would be rude of me to live with you, and never learn your name." Talim responded, gaining a bit of her confidence back. Tira smiled and opened the door more. "It's Tira." She answered. "Talim, right?" The girl on the other side nodded. "You remembered. That's a first." "You want to come in?" Tira asked, offering her entrance. Talim shook her head. "Oh, I couldn't keep you from bed. You've probably had a long trip..." "Psh." Was Tira's response. "Come in. I slept enough for three people on the boat." Talim smiled, nodded and stepped in, closing the door behind her. "Oh, wow! You've got a nice view! All I've got is trees..." Talim growled some, looking out the window. "So..." She continued, trying to make for some conversation. "Where are you from?" "I never really knew." Tira responded right off. Talim was taken aback. "I've been under the control of Soul Edge for as long as I can remember. I was freed only a couple of years ago. I actually came here trying to destroy Soul Edge, so I'd never fall victim again, so, viola. Here I am." Tira smiled, opening her arms to the room. "You?" Talim's eyes widened, and a blush crossed her cheeks. "Oh... you don't want to know my past. It's not nearly as exciting as yours..." "Trust me. A little of the mundane would be a welcome reprieve." "Well... okay." The girl finally opened up. "I'm a priestess of the Winds. I come from a temple in China. It's supposed to be the birthplace of the Trade Wind. I came here, because the winds told me to." "Wow. I'd love to have the winds talk to me. All they ever say to me is when someone's had too much cheese." Tira joked. Talim picked it up instantly and laughed, the rest of her uneasyness passing. "I like you. You're funny..." Talim looked out the window once more, just in time to see the sun disappear over the horizon. "Oh... I should probably be going. Sl... sleep well, Tira." Talim responded, going for the door. "I will. You too." Tira opened the door and saw Talim bolt across the now dark hall into her room across the way. Yawning once more, Tira returned to her bed to sleep. She had not bothered with her sleep wear. Her current clothes were dirty, but they'd last one more night.
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