|
|
|
Soul Edge
|
![]()
|
Soul Edge
Greece, the birthplace of Cretaceous culture. The people's beliefs are starting to change to the new ways, but the ancient Gods live on in their arts and mythologies.
Sophitia is a tidy girl who works in a small bakery in Athens. She cherishes the mythical world of her ancestors. She often prayed to the goddess Pallas Athena, guardian of her town and embodiment of wisdom and prudent warfare. Her prayer have not been ignored.
One morning, as she bathed in a forest spring, a dazzling light shined in front of her. The light formed the shape of a man. As she stood amazed by the sight, the man told her that he was Hephaestus, the god of Forge. One of the twelve Olympian Gods.
" I'm only a mere mortal. What can I do for you? "
" Do not fear. I only want you to receive my oracle. Among all the weapons that mankind has created, one sword has grabbed the attention of the gods. The sword is true evil. It was forged blindly and now sucks up the hatred and pain of its victims. Many 'deceived' seek this wicked weapon. If any of them find it, disaster will surely follow. I will not let a creation of the forge such as this ruin my reputation. I want you to find that wicked sword before anybody else and destroy it."
The importance of this task was clear and she desired to undertake it, but still she was filled with self-doubt.
"But I'm just a mere mortal. Can I fulfill such a big task?"
"You are not as weak as you think. Obtain a mighty weapon and you can save your kind. I have heard of you from Pallas Athena. She says you still believe in the Olympians. That's why I chose you. No other except you can hear our oracles anymore. Do not worry. Come to my temple. I will grant you the best arms and Athena will always be with you."
Hephaestus then left. Silence returned to the spring. Sophitia went home and equipped herself for the journey. She left home before the rosy-fingereddawn arose. May she have the protection of the Goddes of Victory, Nike.
|
|
|
|
Soul Calibur
Following an oracle from Hephaestus, the god of fire and smithery, Sophitia succeded in destroying one half of Soul Edge.
After recovering from the wounds she suffered from the sword fragments, she returned to her life as the daughter of a baker and spent her days peacefully. However, one day Sohpitia had an ominous vision of a knight in azure armor and a sword of immense evil.
Once again, Sophitia received an oracle from Hephaestus to destroy the remaining Soul Edge. As she embarked on her journey, Sophitia held on tightly to the sword and shield forged by Rothion, her betrothed.
|
|
|
|
Soul Calibur 2
Sophitia was the eldest daughter of a baker. Her life was rather ordinary until the day she received an oracle from Haphaestus, the God of fire and forge, to destroy an evil sword called Soul Edge.
The divine words of Haphaestus led Sophitia on two journeys. The first time, she succeeded in destroying one half of the Soul Edge, but received grave injuries by the flying shards of the shattered blade. The second quest took place a few years later when she learned that the remaining Soul Edge continued to wreak havoc.
During the second journey, Sophitia found that someone else had destroyed the demonic sword, and so she returned home to Rothion, her betrothed. They married shortly thereafter and were blessed with two children. They led a happy life until the day they encountered a particular metal fragment.
Her children scrambled and fought violently over a metal shard that Rothion received from a mysterious customer. The evil aura the fragment emanated caused Sophitia's old wounds to ache.
"Had the shards of the demonic sword infected me with their dark energy before they were removed from my body?" Sophitia thought in horror. But that would explain her children's frenzied reaction over that piece of metal.
Sophitia's young sister, Cassandra, saw her bewildered reaction, and ran out with the metal shard. A few weeks passed before Sophitia made up her mind.
Sophitia intended to free her children from the evil sword's curse and insure the safe return of her sister, who had left on a journey to destroy Soul Edge on Sophitia's behalf.
In Sophitia's hands were the new sword and shield that her beloved husband had forged for her.
|
|
Cassandra is Sophitia's younger sister.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soul Calibur 3
It is only the light of heaven that shines pure and leaves no stain.
-"Maximen und Reflexionen," Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
With great determination in her heart, Sophitia set out on her journey to free her children from their cursed fate. She also worried about Cassandra, who had run off on her own. She had to reach Soul Edge as quickly as possible and destroy it...
Following the rumors of Nightmare, she arrived at the bank of the Rhine river, overlooking Ostrheinsburg Castle. The eerie silhouette of the castle was visible through the enveloping mist. This land was steeped in a sinister presence--not a beast nor bird could be seen.
Just as the sound of a bird's cry pierced the silence, a figure appeared out of the fog like an illusion taking form. It was a small girl dressed in dark green clothes. Her clothes were tattered and torn, and her skin was visible through rips in the fabric.
"Hi! Nice weather, isn't it?" the girl said casually.
Sophitia was not caught off-guard by the girl's cheerful smile, and readied her weapon. The girl was carrying an oversized ring-shaped object completely incongruous with her small frame. Sophitia recognized its deadly nature instantly.
"Soul Edge isn't in the castle anymore. Say, I'd really like to play with your children." The smile the girl directed at Sophitia was neither gentle or heartwarming. Without a word, Sophitia lashed out at her, but the girl pulled her body back and dodged the swing.
"Sorry, it's not time for that yet. When the time comes, we'll meet again, okay?" Giggling, the girl melted away into the fog.
"Wait!" Sophitia tried to follow her, but the thick fog blocked her way.
"On a moonlit night, the young siblings went into a deep, dark forest. The poor siblings got lost in the mist, and were never heard from again." The girl's voice echoed in the distance, as if singing a nursery rhyme.
Her children were in danger! Sophitia hurried home at once and was relieved to find her family safe. She couldn't relax just yet, however. The girl after her children was still out there. She had to destroy the threat of the cursed sword, but she couldn't leave her family alone. Uncertain what to do, she went to the temple to pray to Hephaestus, the god of the forge, in hopes of receiving some sort of guidance.
But instead of receiving guidance, the girl in green clothes was waiting for her there. Sophitia hurriedly picked up the sword and shield laid upon the alter.
"I won't let you touch my children!" Sophitia pointed her sword at the girl.
"Ahaha! You want to fight? That should be fun!" said the girl, with a tone of twisted madness in her voice, as she unleashed a strike with her entire body. While desperately parrying the blow, Sophitia read another emotion apart from madness in the purple eyes that gazed at her across the blades.
"You've never known happiness, have you..." Sophitia spoke slowly. At those words, the girl stopped in her tracks.
"Pity doesn't suit me." Sophitia was startled by the cold, rough sound of the girl's voice. Looking at her face, she saw a look of incredible hatred that was completely unlike the fake smiles the girl had shown up until then. The girl pushed away the stunned Sophitia and, weapon still in hand, took her distance. "Humph. I've lost interest in this. You're really irritating."
As the girl glared at her, Sophitia was unable to see any trace of the loneliness she had caught a glimpse of earlier.
"As for your children...When I need them, I'll come for them." The girl jumped out of sight, leaving only those words behind.
Left alone in the temple, Sophitia thought quietly to herself. She was worried about her children, but merely waiting in fear would change nothing. True, she was no longer acting under the auspices of the gods, but she could still fight for the ones she loved.
Even now, Soul Edge was spreading its evil influence. The disaster had to be stopped at the source in order to save her beloved children.
Returning home, she explained her decision to Rothion and prepared once again for a journey.
"Please take care of the children...Please, be safe." Sophitia spoke softly to her husband.
"You be careful, too. May the blessing of the Goddess Nike be with you."
She could still do it, even if she no longer heard the voices of the gods. Sophitia believed in what she must do. She would fight for those she must protect. In her eyes shone a light of hope that would illuminate the future.
|
|
|
|
Soul Calibur IV
Sophitia continued her pursuit of the cursed sword and at last she arrived in the sword's dominion, Ostrheinsburg. There she learend a shocking truth. While she was away from home, a cunning servant of the cursed sword had abducted her daughter. Soul Edge had grown more powerful than ever, a sinister voice whispered, and her young daughter would die without it's evil energy to sustain her.
"Feeling torn? I would, too, if I'd left my children to fend for themselves!" The words clung to Sophitia like a curse. "Well, don't believe me, if you don't want to, but I suggest you think carefully before making your choice." She had come running after the sword to destroy it, but when she thought about the consequences now, if Soul Edge should be lost, what would become of her child?
And so that her child might live, the crusader Sophitia made her choice; to battle any warrior who came to Ostrheinsburg seeking to destroy Soul Edge. With each new sin, guilt tore at her heart, but there was no other way. Would Sophitia and her family never be able to dwell in the light of the sun again?
|