Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak: The Old Orchard

Emma practiced her swordsmanship on the old training posts, wanting to make sure she kept her skills sharp as much as her blade. In these turbulent times, who knew when she'd need to take up her sword and protect those she loved.

Levitating the sword, she whistled as it swerved around the posts, striking the targets at each sharp burst. Anyone unaware would've mistaken it as a bird chattering in the trees.

Another whistle chimed in, imitating Emma's chirps and challenging her concentration as her sword wavered and dipped. A sharp, shrill chirp sent it flying above Richter, making him duck and cover, before catching the hilt in her hand. "Nice try, Belmont, but it'll take more than that to break my focus."

"Oh yes, the great Emma, the stone cold warrior." Richter brushed his hand over the top of his head. " Still enough to make you falter."

"Idiot! She nearly lopped your head off!" Maria shrugged, crossing her arms next to him.

"If I faltered, you would've gotten a buzzcut." Emma sheathed her sword. "What's up fellas?" Are you here to train or to pester me?" She darted a sharp eye at Richter.

"Neither." Richter shrugged. "Well, I've already done the latter. We're here to check on you."

"Check on me?" Emma raised a curious brow. " Why? I'm fine."

" Your mother sent us to find you." Maria explained. "She's worried you're overworking yourself. Ever since confronting the knights, you've been training hard every day. We wanted to make sure you weren't overworking yourself."

"You, or my my Mom?" Emma inquired.

"All of us." Richter answered. "We just volunteered to go look for you." He smiled with a wink.

"Thanks. You two are so sweet." Emma said kindly, lowering her shoulders. "I'm not overworking myself, I assure you I'm just keeping my skills up. You never know when you'll need them, especially this day in age."

"Bullshit." Richter disagreed. "You've been training here from dawn until dusk every damn day until you crash asleep in your bed. You're running yourself thin, Em. Keep at it and you'll be completely worn out when danger does come."

" I can't let my guard down Richter." Emma tensed.

"At least go easier on yourself." Richter insisted concerned. "I know it's hard, and I understand better than anyone the fear of failing to protect the people you love after losing someone dear to you. But you need to take care of yourself so you can take care of others."

Emma gazed at Richter stunned, wondering who replaced the reckless putz of a Belmont with this mature and empathetic young man. She had watched over him the past several years, now he was watching over her.

"I will." Emma's eyes glistened warmly beneath the mid-morning sun. "Thanks for looking out for me, you two. I'll try not to train my ass off from now on. Maybe you can help me. How about we train together a few hours every morning. We all need to be ready in case trouble comes our way."

"Sounds like a plan Em." Richter agreed. "Vance is losing his edge, I need a challenge."

"You're such a dick." Maria shrugged.

"Don't let him hear you say that." Emma warned chuckling. "Then he will kick your ass and I won't step in to save it."

"Me neither." Maria chimed in humorously.

They walked together down the path through the fields to their houses. It was a late spring day, warm and verdant. The scent of newly bloomed flowers and trees perfumed the air, tickling Emma's keen nose.

"Who told you about Caleb?" Emma fidgeted with the lanyard inside her pocket.

"Who's Caleb?" Maria asked. Richter placed a hand on his sister's shoulder. "Your mother said you lost someone in the war. " That was his name?"

"Yes." Emma sighed. "He was a good man. He followed me throughout the campaign, we went through so much together."

"I can imagine." Richter sympathized. "He followed you. It wasn't the other way around?"

"No." Emma fidgeted. "When Washington recruited me, Caleb enlisted as a soldier so we'd still be together. He had experience and definitely the background; His father was a soldier in the French and Indian War, so you can imagine how thrilled he was about his son joining enemy rabble."

"He must've liked you enough to join enemy lines." Maria noted.

"Well, he was a big supporter of independence ." Emma clicked her teeth. "But he was also in love with me, and I fell in love with him too."

"You had a boyfriend!?" Richter gasped. "Jesus and I thought I've learned everything about you."

"What's so surprising?" Emma raised her brows. "There were camp followers in the army. Many wives joined their husbands. My scenario was weird only in our roles being switched. Caleb followed me, not the other way around."

"Yeah but....You don't seem the kind of person who would have a boyfriend." Richter admitted.

"My God Richter! Can you be more thick!?" Maria exclaimed outraged.

Emma stared at Richter in a mix of shock, offense, and dash of anger. "Excuse me? I was happily married with three children."

"I didn't mean!!!" Richter stammered trying to save himself. "I meant....you don't seem like the person who would fall in love again after your first one."

"You're right,I'm not." Emma sighed, thumbing over the ring on her lanyard. "Caleb was different, I'll never meet anyone like him again. At least not in this lifetime." For the first time Richter saw the age in his mentor's eyes. The years passed by and the people she loved and lost through her immortal lifetime. She outlived her children, seen people come and go, and served in a war that would eventually only be known in history books. Yet there was still light in her eyes, joy of being alive in a world that was beautiful. He wondered how she could do it, retain that light in a forever changing world while she stood unchanged.

Emma stopped and sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?" Richter turned his nose to the air.

"Apple trees." Their blossoming scent brought back memories.

"Where are you going?" Maria asked when Emma stepped off the main path.

"To find the apple trees." Emma trotted on happily without turning back.

"Apples aren't in season now Em!" Richter followed her.

"I know, but the peaches are." Emma turned her head. "Let's check it out!"