Important note: This story is based off a portion of the comic anthology. Full title: Tales of Zestiria Comic Anthology: The Sharp-tongued Girl's Shyness

If you've not read it, searching the full title should take you to it. Enjoy! Of course, even without reading it, if you go into this story knowing just how much Edna likes to troll people, then you'll be fine.


Sorey's airheadedness had reached an all-time high.

It came as no surprise that Rose was still in shock. "I can't believe he just did those things so…"

Mikleo lowered the hand he'd placed over his mouth some time ago, creased brow finally relaxing. "There's really no other word for it but 'nonchalant.'"

"Patting her head, hugging her from behind…" The assassin grinned.

Long white hair whipped in front of the two, the fire seraph twirling about and falling into step beside them with hands folded behind her. "It's quite adorable. He dotes on her like an older brother."

Rose's grin widened and a sinister spark took to her eyes. "And getting a little risqué, catching glimpse of her underwear."

"Except that last part," Lailah rushed out, finger to her chin. "Very unbrotherly."

Mikleo chuckled. "And to think that's all it took to unnerve Edna the terrifying."

The fire seraph hummed. "Well, she is a woman. To a lady, having wayward glances snuck at such places is very unsettling."

"Yeah," Rose totally disagreed, waving her hand. "I just don't see it. Who cares if the good Shepherd caught it or not. Just a piece of clothing."

Mikleo's forehead scrunched. "So you're saying you wouldn't mind if someone caught sight of your own?" His eyes flicked to her. The deadpan strewn across her features remained. "For example, someone like Zaveid?"

She waved her hand again. "Now that's a different story. Someone like Zaveid is prone to act on strange tendencies. Sorey," her single laugh hit a high note, "not so much."

"Ladies~!"

Rose sighed. "Speak of the devil."

Zaveid pushed between the assassin and fire seraph, spread arms ready to plop around the back of either's neck. Instead he found himself giving the air a bear hug; a quick glance to his left and right showed the distance both had put between him. He rubbed his chin. "Youch. Heartless."

A scoff came from the water seraph whirring his head away. "These are the last two girls in this group you should be saying that to." An arm landed around his neck and he nearly buckled under its weight.

Zaveid was grinning. "Apparently you haven't noticed, Mickey my boy, but the cold heart of little miss earth seraph is beginning to shed its stony exterior."

"You can't be serious."

He cast an arm outward, panning across the grand spacious field they traversed. "Her freezing up at his slightest touch, her bestowing of sincere thanks she'd give no other, the flare of passionate embarrassment when he beheld a sight far too soon in the relationship she seeks…" Lailah broke into applause, and Mikleo took on Rose's deadpan.

"Again, you can't be serious."

"Look at the facts, Mickey." Zaveid pressed his cheek to the water seraph's, forcing his gaze forward. "They're right in front of ya."

Far ahead and walking side-by-side, the Shepherd and his earth seraph seemed to be in their own little world. Her parasol twirled slowly over one shoulder.

Lailah's hands cupped her blushing cheeks. "Oh my. A forbidden love between human and seraph! I've heard tales of such before, but to actually bear witness to…!" She squealed. "I must know!"

"Easy now," Zaveid cautioned. "Let's not ruin the good Shepherd's chances."

Rose scoffed. "Are you saying Sorey's the one instigating this?"

Mikleo pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "This is not going to end well."


"Sorey, could you pass the pepper?"

"Sure thing, Edna."

Their fingertips brushed, an action that befell the scrutiny of four intense stares.

"It's much appreciated."

Mikleo groaned.

"Hey, it's no problem."

Rose dittoed.

Three pats on the backside of the peppershaker satisfied the earth seraph. She stirred her soup, placing the shaker on the table and scooting it to the center with her free hand. Their stares went uncared for. After all, she'd gotten used to being stared at; and it's not like four more made a difference to the already dozen plus coming from those around the inn's bar. Gawks, stares, twitching eyes…there surely was no shortage of descriptions for them all. Floating objects amongst a man and woman talking to themselves tended to garner such reactions.

Zaveid clasped his hands together. "So Sheps!" He leaned on the table, cheek in palm. "What's the plan for tomorrow?"

The Shepherd's fork clinked to the dish and his eyes fell. "Actually, I was thinking we should all, you know…" he looked up and ruffled his hair, "…take a day off?"

"Oh-ho!" The wind seraph tilted his chin up. "And what prompted such a change on short notice? Thought you wanted to beeline straight to Ladylake."

Rose sighed in disgust. "Whatever the case, I'm in. We've been doing nothing but running around all over the place. Rest for the weary, as they say!"

Sorey nodded. "Right. I just thought it was a good idea to take a breather."

After pushing his empty plate away, Mikleo pressed against the table's edge and stretched. "Well, that's that. A day of rest." He turned his head in the Shepherd's direction. "What are you planning to do?"

He hummed, chin cupped. "I was thinking of checking out the Leaning Towers. We've only been able to spare passing glances, so it might be neat to take time to give them a good look." His eyes shone. "And who knows what ancient mysteries they contain!"

The water seraph chuckled. "Agreed. You can count me in."

"Bor~ing." It came from Edna. Her legs swung beneath the table. "Why not spend your time doing something useful for once?"

Sorey's gaze fell, but then rose with confidence to meet hers. "Actually, Edna, I was hoping you'd come with me."

Lailah's chair screeched as she stood, cupping her cheeks aflame with blissful wonder. "There it is!"

Nobody spared even a glance her way. Edna's heels clicked against the legs of her seat. "Hm. Consider yourself lucky I have nothing to do, since anything would be better than a jaunt around smelly ruins."

"And she accepts!" Still no attention paid.

Sorey threw a fist to the air. "Great! I'm worried some of the entrances might have collapsed. Your power will really come in handy."

She smirked. "I could just finish the shoddy job someone left unfinished and knock them down."

He waved his hands frantically and his laugh came out just the same. "No no, you don't have to do that."

"How dull." She got up. "You could be the first to learn how a historic monument falls, its intricate angle of impact as it smashes apart upon contact with the ground."

Some estranged child of a sigh and groan came from beyond the palm the water seraph had over his face. "I don't think anyone needs to know that." It earned him a scowl before she paraded away with dignified steps. The Shepherd took after her.

"Really, thank you, Edna. We'll be able to learn—whoa!" Something hit his leg, a current of sorts strong enough that it knocked over one of the bar stools. Rose almost leapt in, Mikleo stood, Lailah gasped, and Zaveid sat with a wild smirk splitting his face that matched the sinister hat he lifted with one finger.

Sorey braced himself on the wall, eyes opening to take in the blonde trapped before him. Aquamarine eyes gazed up at him, placid and agleam like an undisturbed lake on a sunny day. He touched her cheek, thumb brushing over skin smooth like silk and just a little damp. He smiled. "Soup. Have to make sure you clean up properly after a meal."

Her eyes darted aside, to the spot under his raised arm where she could see behind him. The four at the table are fools: one grinning, one blushing madly, one holding their forehead, and one staring with mouth agape. And so naturally she reflected the grin, eyelids falling halfway as she reached up and placed her hand atop the Shepherd's at her cheek. "Sorey…" She curled her fingers, tips molding into the dips of his knuckles.

"Hm?"

She stood on her toes, chin tilting up and lips parting as long lashes blended together at the closing of eyes. A squealing came from near their table and the room's temperature rose. Sorey leaned in, and a loud gasp like steam gushing out sounded; something hit the table, the dishes rattled, and a water seraph's cry of concern for his fiery kin went unanswered.

The Shepherd's brow furrowed. He leaned in just a tad more, and—

"There's pepper stuck between your teeth." He backed away, hand slipping out from beneath hers, and folded his arms at his chest. "You really do need to learn to clean up after a meal."

Heat dyed her porcelain cheeks red, and her jaw that went just a bit more lax clamped shut as she whirred her head and clicked her tongue. "Not amusing. Your reaction is way off." She pushed him aside and vanished into the inn's hall.

Sorey scratched his head. "I'm not sure I understand…" He looked to the others. "Hey guys, do you—"

Lailah lay sprawled across the table, eyes spinning and steam rising from…

Wait.

His eyes went wide. "Fire! The table's on fire! Mikleo?!"

Zaveid broke into a fit of laughter as the entire inn erupted into chaos.


A.N. Edna is by far the most hysterical character I've come across in the Tales series. She reminds me a lot of Rita from Versperia, but instead of getting flustered at things, opts to troll to absolute hell and back whatever it is that's annoying her. As someone who is this exact same way, it goes without saying that I fell in love with her character right away.

So imagine my utter dismay to find a lack of stories with her in this archive. Here's to one more entry!

Might be a second part to this, but I make no promises. Hope you enjoyed!