Shadow Hearts: Chapter 1-Icaro

South Manchu, China”Same Year

It's a dark night when a train passes through the countryside. It is a cold night, strange since it was only half-way through autumn that year. Not many people had said much of it since it had been a warm summer and they thought it only natural they'd have a cold autumn and winter.

On the train, and English gentleman moves into an empty passenger box to let an elderly woman could pass through the car. Once the woman had passed to the next car the gentleman continued heading purposely towards his objective. Passing a young gentleman in a jacket that was sleeping before the older gentleman had walked by.

Three cars down were several Japanese soldiers guarding a young woman, who was reading in her seat. She had short white hair and a small blue dress. She read quietly while the guards conversed in Japanese.

"It's already past 2300, and it's a long way to Fengtian said the head guard.

"Major Tsugi, what's this all about? Why this special train in the middle of the night to escort this girl to Japan? She looks pretty ordinary to me said another soldier.

"Hell if I know¦There's no telling what those big shots in Tokyo were thinking. Next time I see you-know-who I'll ask her, okay? said Major Tsugi. Major Tsugi and two other guards were in the middle of the car near to where the young girl was sitting. Two other guards were at the front of the car next to the door. A strong wind passes by the train, creating a large howling noise.

A cry soon rises once the wind passes by. Major Tsugi turned to the door seeing blood splattered everywhere, and one of the soldiers in a messy heap. The other soldier backs away in terror, but soon collapses to the ground with his neck broken. "What's going on?! The two guards pull out their rifles and aim it at the English gentleman who just entered the car, with a wide grin on his face. "Shoot!! The two guards fire at the gentleman, but their shots are blocked by the windshear hovering over the murderous gentleman. It soon launched from its position and kills the two guards as swiftly as it had killed the first two. Major Tsugi and the girl watched in horror, standing on the blood red ground. Major Tsugi pulls out his pistol and rapidly fires at the man. "Die! Die! Die! shouted the Major.

His pistol soon runs out of bullets, yet he continues to attempt to fire. The windshear moves forward and finishes off the last of the guards. The young girl looks away as Major Tsugi's body falls to heaps on the floor. "Eeek! It's you! shouts the young girl, in English.

"Yes¦Roger Bacon. I'm honoured that you remember me so well said the English gentleman. His windshear hovers above her threatening her life. "Come along quietly, sister. Bacon then turned towards the door noticing the young man who had been sleeping earlier enter the car. "Ah¦a new actor in our play. The windshear flies at the young man, severing his left arm. The young man quickly uses his other hand to grab the windshear. He promptly begins to squeeze it, causing it to soon explode. The young man then bends down to the floor and picks up his arm which then melds back on. "I was quite fond of him said Bacon, shaking his head.

The girl began to back away with Bacon's distraction of the young man. Bacon soon realizes the girl's attempt to leave; he reaches out his hand and grabs her arm. He holds his hand to her face, which emanates a blue light knocking the young girl unconscious. Bacon picks up the young girl up and tosses her onto his shoulder and begins to leave. The young man begins to run after him when Bacon turns around with a strange light in his eyes sending the young man flying three cars back.

When the young man came back to consciousness he is laying in a heap of wood that used to be seats. He gets back up and laughs it off. He begins to run back to where he had encountered Bacon, but notices the car is empty when he returns. He looks up and notices a large hole in the ceiling. "Up there? says the young man. He then jumps to the top of the train. A strong wind is blowing, and the area is very dark. But the young man quickly spots Bacon and pursues him. Bacon noticing his returned assailant stops and turns around.

"You're a persistent little rat, aren't you? says Bacon.

"You ain't getting away, pops! shouted the young man. Who charged Bacon with his fist drawn. The young man threw his punch, but Bacon quickly dodged the punch. He puts forth his hand and sends a blast sending the young man flying again.

"You're stronger than I expected¦

"Agh¦! coughs the young man, kneeling on the train top.

"Now, foul monster¦cease to be! shouts Bacon. His hand begins to glow with a purple light. Strangely the girl's pendant she was carrying begins to sparkle. "W-what on Earth!?

As the light from the pendant continues to glow, the young girl begins to hover above the top of the train. Bacon begins to back away in horror from the light of the pendant. The young man seeing this uses his chance and lands on a punch on Bacon's face leaving an indent. "Wha¦Damn! shouts Bacon in pain, putting his hand to where the young man had just punched him. The young man picks up the girl and jumps off the train. Bacon pulls his hand away from his face to show that it was recovering quickly. The young man lands on the ground and watches as the train continues off into the distance.