Chapter 3: Rumors

Maxi and his group, consisting of Xiba, Leixia and Natsu were walking down the road. Though Maxi was seemingly unaffected, the others looked rather exhausted from their travels.

"Man, how long have we been walking," asked a tired Xiba. "It seems like it's been forever."

"Don't worry, we're almost to the next village," answered Maxi.

"I hope so," complained Leixia. "My feet are absolutely killing me."

Maxi then smirked as he said, "And I thought you wanted to see the world, Leixia."

"Yeah, but I didn't think it would be this much of a strain on me," Leixia replied back.

"You've said that a lot of times, Leixia," said Maxi with a laugh. "But I guess I'm not one to complain, because I complained a lot about long travels too when I was your age."

Leixia just grumbled and said, "Yeah, I just bet you did."

"What about you, Natsu," asked Maxi. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'm pretty tired, too," answered Natsu. "But I'll keep going. It's what Master Taki would want me to do."

"Yeah," said Maxi with a kind smile.

"I am so hungry," said Xiba. "I hope I get to try some real European cuisine very soon."

"You and your stomach, Xiba," said Natsu with a sigh. "You're like a bottomless pit."

Maxi laughs and says, "Don't worry, Xiba. I assure you will be in Heaven when you try some of the finest that Europe has to offer in food."

"Really," asked Xiba.

"I guarantee it," replied Maxi. "I remember the meal I had that was cooked by Sophitia. It was truly wonderful."

"Wow, what I wouldn't give to be in your place, Maxi," said an excited Xiba.

"Yeah," replied Maxi. "I wonder what's become of Sophitia these days?"

"Maybe we'll find out," said Leixia. "I hope I get to meet her, myself. My mom spoke highly of her."

"So did Master Taki," remarked Natsu. "She said that Sophitia was a true noble spirit of the highest quality out there, alongside Siegfried Schtauffen."

"Yeah, it'd be nice to see her again," said Maxi. "Anyway, enough of that. We're getting closer to the village, so we should be able to dine and rest as long as we need before we hit the road. But, we can't dawdle too long. Remember, Kilik is counting on us."

"We remember," said Leixia. "But still, man do we need to rest."

"You said it," replied Xiba.

The group of four continued to walk on.

Just then, they arrive at their destination. However, it turns out to be a ruin as everything is completely destroyed. Maxi and his companions stand there looking horrified at the state of the village.

"Uh, Maxi," asked Xiba. "Y... you sure this is the village?"

"It's been brought down to the ground," said Maxi. "Who could have done this?"

"This is horrible," said Leixia in disbelief.

Natsu then put on a look of anger, and said, "Whoever did this must pay."

Maxi then replied, "Let's find out who the attacker was!"

Maxi and the others rushed into the village.

As they made there way in, they saw the place was littered with bodies of people, including women and children.

"No one was spared here," said Xiba. "Even the women and children are dead."

"Who would do such a terrible thing," asked Leixia to Maxi.

"I have a few ideas," said Maxi. "Let's just hope I'm wrong."

Just then, they hear a voice of a man that barely calls out, "Is... anyone there?"

Maxi and his group turn to see a man is barely alive and crawling towards them.

"Someone still lives," said Natsu.

Maxi rushes to the man, and turning him over to rest him on his legs back first.

"Hang on, pal," Maxi said to the man before taking out his canteen and giving him some water. "Who did this to you? Who attacked your village?"

"A... a... giant," the man could barely say.

"A giant," asked Maxi

"Y... yes. A... giant... with a... large axe," the man said.

"Large axe," asked Maxi again, now looking horrified. "Which way did he go? Can you remember?"

"He... said... all of the... villages would... suffer... one... at a... time" said the man. "I think... he's going for... the next... one... over..."

"Next village over," asked Maxi. "How far is that? Do you know?"

"It's... it's..." the man said before he finally died as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

"Come on, answer me," said Maxi. "Damn it! He's gone."

Maxi lays the man gently down on the ground, then stands back up.

"The next village over," said Xiba. "Maybe if we keep going the same path, we'll run into it eventually."

"Good idea," said Leixia.

"What do you think, Master Maxi," asked Natsu.

"I think... we need to hurry," Maxi said. "Before he causes anymore destruction... like he always does."

"Seems you know the attacker, already," said Xiba.

"I do," said Maxi. "It was Astaroth. That bastard is back and up to his old ways."

"Astaroth," asked Leixia. "You mean that monster my mother and you fought so long ago?"

"That's him," said Maxi. "But we don't have time to talk about it. We got to hurry before he causes any more of this! Let's go!"

Maxi runs off, and the others go after him, calling for him to wait up for them to catch up.

Back in the village that Pit is staying in, Pit is in one of the taverns getting something to eat and drink. Some people are still staring at him and his wings, which makes him feel very uncomfortable.

"Well, this food is pretty good," said Pit in thought. "Though not as good as what I usually get back in my world, especially the stuff that Lady Palutena leaves behind for me to eat. I wonder how she's doing right now? I haven't heard her voice, which means I guess she was right about not being able to communicate with me through my laurel crown once I got to this world. Still, I'll carry on. I'm doing this for her, after all."

Just then, some men dressed as hunters came in, all of them getting the same table. The waitress comes over to them.

"I guess you guys will be having the usual to drink," asked the waitress.

"You know it, sweetheart," said one man. "Three things of mead."

"And the usual to eat," the waitress asked.

"Sounds good," said another man.

"Be right back with those items, honey," said the waitress with a wink to the men.

As the waitress left the table, the men began to talk among each other, though enough for Pit to hear.

"So, you think those rumors are true," asked one man. "About Graf Dumas?"

"Dunno, but I wouldn't doubt it," said another man. "With how everyone is turning corrupt these days, especially those in power or with power, it could be possible."

"Yeah, pretty scary to think the one who's trying to hunt down the Malfested is just doing this deliberately to get under our skins," said the other man. "I just hope his forces don't try to come to this village."

"I know what you mean," said the first man. "My family is here, and I can't afford be parted from them should Dumas consider us all to be Malfested."

"Yeah, it's all so twisted," said the third man again.

"That's the understatement of our time," said the second man.

Hearing their conversation, Pit leaves his table and walks over to the men.

"Excuse me," said Pit, which got the attention of the three men, who looked surprised by his wings.

"What is this," asked the first man. "I didn't know the fair was in town."

"Hey, I'm an actual angel," said Pit in an angered tone.

"Okay, okay, sorry, Mr. Angel," said the first man. "So, our conversation caught your attention?"

"You bet," said Pit. "For one thing, who is this Graf Dumas?"

"Are you serious," asked the second man. "I thought you angels were supposed to be aware of things going around on our world."

"For your information, I happen to come from another world, so I have no idea what's going on here," said Pit now getting more angry.

"Okay, then, we'll say you're telling the truth and give you the info," said the first man. "Graf Dumas is a new lord that surfaced in Hungary that made a vow to purge the world of all people considered to be Malfested."

"Sounds pretty noble if he's doing something like that," said Pit.

"Yeah, well, you don't even know the half of the story, kid," said the first man.

"Who are you calling kid," said a furious Pit. "I am an angel, so I happen to be 100 years old! Show some respect!"

"Oh, sorry, didn't know we were talking to an old codger," said the second man with a laugh, getting the other two men to laugh with him.

"Gee, that was an even bigger blow," grumbled Pit. "Just finish your story."

"Okay, okay, we're sorry," said the first man. "While Dumas' intention seems noble, we hear he's using it as a cover for something else, which can be seen as some people are being falsely accused of being Malfested."

Pit said to this, "Now that does sound bad. But, why? And what could he be really doing?"

"Well, this is only a rumor," said the first man. "But some say... he's trying to really harvest souls and trying to collect the fragments of THAT sword."

"THAT sword," asked Pit.

The first man said, "Yeah, you know... Soul Edge."

"Soul Edge," asked Pit in a surprise. "That's the sword I'm here to destroy!"

"Really, now," said the third man. "You want to try to find and destroy Soul Edge, huh? Well, get in line, because I hear there's a lot of people out to do that."

"But this is a mission given to me by the goddess of light, Lady Palutena," said Pit. "I have to destroy this sword if it's really that dangerous."

"Yeah? Well this is one mission you better refuse," said the first man. "From what we hear, you'll be in over your head with this one. To try and destroy Soul Edge is like trying to fight the devil: you may go in with a noble heart, but the next minute, you may either be scarred or given into it by temptation. Want our advice? Don't bother, and go back to wherever it is you came from. Let the others who want to destroy to be the lambs to the slaughter. You're better off not concerning yourself with it."

"Thank you for the advice, but I can't go back on this," said Pit with fiery determination. "I'm going to see this through, whether I lose my life or not. Though preferably, I would rather live, but regardless, I have to do this."

"You know, Trevor, I think this guy is serious," said the second man to the first man.

"Yeah, he certainly is," said the third man. "Almost brings a tear to my eye."

"Indeed," Trevor replied before beginning to talk to Pit again. "Alright, well since you're so determined to go, we'll tell you another rumor we've heard."

"Anything to help me," said Pit.

Trevor then said, "Very well. This new rumor is about one of Dumas' warriors that's hunting down Malfested. Says he's doing it because they killed his mother, and because of his deep hatred for the Malfested, he's currently the top warrior Dumas has."

"What's his name," asked Pit

Trevor said, "From what we hear, it's Patroklos."

"Patroklos, huh," said Pit. "Very well, I'll keep an eye out for him and I might be able to convince him to help me find my way to Graf Dumas, so I can destroy Soul Edge."

"He's pretty determined now to stop the Malfested," said Trevor. "He won't be persuaded so easily, even by an angel like you."

"We'll see," said Pit. "One way another, this Graf Dumas is going down if he's just pretending to be a hero."

"All I can tell you, pal, is good luck," said Trevor. "You're going to need it."

"Thanks," said Pit before he went back to finish his meal. "Patroklos," Pit said to himself in thought. "He seems like he could be a good guy, despite what those guys told me about this Graf Dumas. If I can, maybe I'll convince him to join my cause. I feel like this Patroklos and I are two people who want the same thing: the elimination of Soul Edge."

To Be Concluded in Chapter 4.