Mitsurugi smirked as he knocked Link back down. “What’s the matter, runt?” Link rubbed his backside, unwilling to give Mitsurugi the pleasure of seeing his frustrations. Mitsurugi was having a little sparring session with Link, yet he took it just as seriously as a real battle. Link certainly felt a bit intimidated by him, but he would not give in. Link picked himself back up and readied his sword and shield. Mitsurugi, not wasting a moment, charged at the boy, his sword thrusting forward. Link rolled to the side and swung his sword upward, where Mitsurugi quickly countered.

Link knew Mitsurugi was a much quicker opponent than he was. He could see the years of experience brimming from his stature. Link stood up, only allowing his determination to show. He may not be able to win this, but Link would pay attention to this fight, hoping to gain some much needed experience from the samurai. Link cleared his mind and charged towards the warrior. Mitsurugi just smiled, for behind his stern and unrelenting demeanour he held respect for the boy. He found Link’s courage quite admirable.

“He really is good,” Seung Mina remarked, watching Link and Mitsurugi.

“I guess my sister’s comments weren’t an exaggeration after all,” Cassandra muttered, impressed by the boy. She certainly had her doubts, and rightfully so, since Link was still only a child. Yet, Cassandra could still see something more to him. “You think we should have Mitsurugi ease up a little?”

“There’s no need,” Taki interjected. “Mitsurugi is not the one to go easy on any man, no matter the age. Besides, this will serve as a valuable lesson for the boy. I feel that Link realizes that too,” she added.

The ship they were on had just reached another port. Maxi was still by the wheel, being questioned by Sophitia. “That metal fragment that was used to heal you, it was a piece of the soul edge, wasn’t it?” Sophitia wondered, looking into Maxi’s eyes.

“I guess so. I found out that the soul edge was, and still is, what that monster Astaroth is searching for,” Maxi explained.

“This is getting worse by the minute. That blade is attracting unwanted enemies,” Sophitia mumbled with a look of concern invading her expression. “Where are you going?” Sophitia quickly let out as Maxi started walking away.

“We need supplies before we continue,” Maxi responded evenly, “you and your friends stay here and relax until I get back.” Maxi just smiled, putting on a carefree expression for her.

“I don’t know whether to call you brave, or a fool, kid,” Maxi heard Mitsurugi say to link as he approached them, interrupting their battle.

“Hey, Link, want to help me get some supplies for us?” Link looked up at Maxi. It made him feel rather useful when Maxi asked, so Link nodded with a smile.

“Want to come, Mitsurugi?” Maxi grinned. Mitsurugi looked at him then looked around the ship before spotting Taki. The idea of staying back with her did not settle well with him.

“If it’s just us three then fine, but you better stay away from the bar this time.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Maxi let out, shrugging him off.

“You won’t leave me behind, this time,” Seung Mina cut in, “I need to get off this ship and really stretch out my muscles.” Maxi agreed to let her come.

As they were walking off the ship, Link looked at the rest of the girls and waived to them. He noticed Ivy, who was sitting just past everyone else in her own world. When he saw Ivy look up at him, Link put on a small smile for her and waived lightly again. The only reaction he saw from her was her rigid expression lightening up slightly.

“You could have at least smiled,” Cassandra said to Ivy while watching the others get off the ship.

“What for?” Ivy snapped back.

“For Link,” Sophitia replied, “he is always being nice to you, yet you seem to shun him.”

“I do not.”

“Save your breath,” Taki said to the sisters, “it’s not like she’d take what you say to heart.” Ivy just looked away from them, grimacing.

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“I think that’s it,” Maxi said, holding two large bags filled with supplies. Both Mitsurugi and Seung Mina held onto two as well, while Link was struggling with the one he had.
“You need any help, Link?” Seung Mina asked him. Link smiled at her and shook his head, determined to carry it on his own.

“This is enough to last us for a long while,” Mitsurugi commented.

“I know,” Maxi responded with a big smile on his face.

Link stopped while the others continued walking. He was distracted by the sounds of a battle nearby. The others seemed to not have paid any mind to it. With the bag in hand, Link walked past some people before stopping near an alley way. “Who are they?” Link thought to himself, looking at a man and woman apparently teaching a lesson to a group of men. The man fought with a very tall rod in his hand, while the woman held onto a Chinese sword. Link was fascinated by their style of combat.

“This’ll teach you to be more considerate around a woman,” the man said, hitting the last man standing in the gut with the end of his rod.

“Now get out of here,” the woman shooed them off, laughing. The men picked themselves up and ran off, not noticing as they brushed past Link in the process. Link then started to walk towards them, curious. “I hope you think next time, Kilik. I don’t like getting into petty fights.”

“Ah, Xianghua, you know you enjoyed it, though,” Kilik grinned. Kilik sensed someone come up behind him, so he snapped his pole behind him instinctively as he stopped only inches from the boy’s face. Link never flinched, though.

“It’s a child,” Xianghua let out, slightly confused.

“What’s the matter with you, I could have taken your eye out with this,” Kilik stated, feeling a little annoyed by him as he lowered his weapon.

“I…just saw your fight,” Link finally said, shyly. They both took note of his shy personality. They were rather taken back by it, as only a moment ago they wouldn’t have pegged him as the bashful type.

“Are you lost, shrimp?” Kilik asked. Link just shook his head and smiled. “Then why are you bothering us?”

“Come on, Kilik, you don’t need to be rude to him,” Xianghua told him. “So what’s in the bag?”

“It’s…for Maxi’s ship,” Link could only say.

“What!” The two let out, stunned from the name he just mentioned.

“You okay, Link?” Maxi called out, causing Link to turn his head to look at him. Link just nodded, letting him know he was.

“M…Maxi!” Kilik stammered, running up to him. “You’re alive!”

“We’ve prayed that you’d still be alive!” Xianghua cut in, seemingly overjoyed with seeing him. “I knew you’d survive.”

Maxi looked at them, totally confused. “I’m sorry, but have we met?” Maxi wasn’t sure who they were, but there was something in the back of his mind telling him that they were familiar.

“Maxi…” Xianghua’s voice dropped, feeling upset that he didn’t recognize them, even after all they have been through.

“But Maxi, it’s us,” Kilik pleaded. Link looked at the three, sensing the sadness and disappointment coming from Kilik and Xianghua.

“Do they really know Maxi?” Link thought to himself.

“You shouldn’t go off by yourself, runt,” Mitsurugi butted in, coming up behind Maxi to speak to Link. “Are these your friends?” Mitsurugi then said, spotting Kilik and Xianghua

“Why, hello there,” Seung Mina muttered, seeing the two, “it certainly has been a long time.” She then walked over to Link and placed a hand on his head, ruffling up his hair. “You shouldn’t wonder off like that, Link,” she mumbled to him, smiling.

“What happened to you all those years ago? Remember, we fought our way to Nightmare’s stronghold. You went your own way to take on Astaroth…and that’s the last we saw of you,” Kilik explained to him, trying to get him to remember.

“Yeah, I was there, but I don’t recall going with you two. I then remember waking up in a village, wounded…” Maxi’s head started to hurt as he tried to place the two in his mind.

Link was starting to become uneasy by the tension he was feeling from Kilik and Xianghua. He could tell they were sincere with their claim of knowing Maxi, but he could not understand why Maxi couldn’t identify them.

“You! You were the ones who defeated Nightmare four years ago!” Mitsurugi exclaimed. Nightmare, there was that name again. Link heard of that name from the others, and that he was the one who held the evil blade.

In the distance, Link spotted a cloaked figure amongst the crowd of people. “Huh?” Link let out, not sure if he was just seeing things. It looked as though he was spying on the group. Feeling uneasy, Link tapped Seung Mina to get her attention. Seung Mina looked down at him, seeing his unsettling eyes.

“What is it, Link?” Seung Mina asked. Still holding her gaze, Link led her eyes to where he was previously looking. The dark figure was gone. “Link?” Seung Mina whispered, feeling a little concerned by his expression.

“N…nothing,” link mumbled, “m-maybe we should go.” Seung Mina just looked at him. She did agree that they should return to the ship.

“Let’s continue this elsewhere,” Seung Mina told Maxi.

“Fine,” Maxi responded, feeling a little shaken. He looked at Kilik and Xianghua, who were still distraught about Maxi. “Come on, you can travel with us, for now.”

As they were walking back to Maxi’s ship, Link kept his eyes open for that person he saw before. He could not spot the figure again. He wasn't even able to tell if it was a male or female. He was starting to doubt if he had ever saw that person. Link then looked up at Kilik, who seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

“What,” Kilik muttered, catching Link looking at him. Link quickly looked away from him. It was nerve-racking for him to be around Kilik now. For now, Link decided to keep his distance from Kilik.

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Amidst a crowd of people the cloaked figured stood in waiting, concealed by the shadows, watching the heroes intently as they boarded Maxi’s ship.


To be continued...