Alright, so I had been working on this story for quiet some time and I finally finished it. ^^ I hope you all enjoy and like the story. ^^ Don't forget to review. (Also, Somik fans, please don't kill me for what'll happen later in the chapters.
Enjoy!
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Sorey had only been gone for a week and the group had stuck together, all with high hope that he would reappear again after having jumped into the lava with Heldaf to defeat him. Alisha watched as Rose conversed with Lailah about what to do next; ever since Sorey disappeared she had taken on the role as Shepherd to help others like Sorey taught her. "Alisha," A voice stated, catching her attention as she spun around, "everything okay?" The familiar white and blue haired seraph asked, violet eyes worried. Alisha smiled at his concern, shaking her head. "I'm fine, just a little tired I believe." Alisha replied, shaking her head to dismiss his worry.
Mikleo seemed unconvinced but Edna, who was standing next to Alisha sighed, folding her umbrella. "Just forget it Meebo; if she wants to talk, she will." She commented and Mikleo sighed, deciding to take Edna's advice for once. "Alright, we're getting ready to head back home. We'll let you two know when we have everything together." Mikleo said before walking back to Rose, Zaveid and Lailah. When Mikleo was out of earshot, Alisha slumped, sighing heavily which caused Edna to look at her, worried. "You shouldn't have lied if you aren't alright." Edna said and Alisha nodded, folding her arms. "I know, I just don't want to worry anyone but…" Alisha trailed off, not sure how to explain what she felt.
She felt an uneasiness in her heart...like something horrible had happened seconds ago. Suddenly the ground began to rumble and crack, breaking little by little. Alisha and Edna cried out in shock, even as Rose and Lailah stumbled and Mikleo with Zaveid helped hold Rose and Lailah up. "Alisha! Edna!" The others called out to the two women. "Edna!" Alisha shouted and Edna nodded, armatizing with Alisha, the gold colors swirling around Alisha as white and gold trimmed outfit appeared on her. She jumped over to the others before the two dearmatized and they looked around, before they felt fear swirl around them.
"Is that…?" Rose couldn't continue as they saw malevolence pour out of the ground, the darkness they thought they had defeated a week ago now coming back with a vengeance. "Is that...even possible?" Alisha questioned, even as the Seraphim around them collapsed to their knees. "Guys!" The two girls shouted, seeing their comrade's weakened. "T-there's...so much…" Lailah whimpered out, feeling her strength sapped. "D-dammit...I thought we...were done…" Zaveid growled out, struggling to stand. "Is this the malevolence?!" Rose asked Mikleo, leaning down to help him, before she hunched over as well, as did Alisha. "No…" Edna began, struggling to stand even as Mikleo finally got to his feet. "This is something...far worse." He said through clenched teeth.
They heard thunder crackle and looked above the mountain they had exited from, seeing the malevolence swirling above the mountain, even as it began to crumble. "We gotta get out of here!" Rose shouted and everyone nodded, the Seraphim disappeared into Rose's body and she stood with their strength helping her. She turned around and put one of Alisha's arms around her, before they booked it out of there, leaving the place as they found a warp portal and used it. The Lord of the Land's power brought them back to Ladylake, where they collapsed outside Alisha's manor. Rose was conscious for a few moments, enough to hear: "Oh my goodness, Alisha! Rose!", before her vision went black. Vision's of red eyes and a blood soaked sword taking her mind as her body succumbed to exhaustion.
Alisha didn't know how much time had passed before she awoke, yet when she did it was in her room at the manor. She groaned, trying to sit up, only to feel a hand on her shoulder making her gasp, looking up she saw violet eye's. "You need to rest Alisha." The soothing voice of Mikleo said and she sighed, laying back down. Looking around, she saw Lailah was bandaging some of Rose's wounds, Zaveid was talking to Edna about something while Mikleo was sitting on the bed beside her. "What happened?" She asked, rubbing her forehead and Mikleo looked at her. "After we escaped the mountain as it started to collapse, we appeared outside your manor." Mikleo said, before looking toward a pile of clothes.
"One of the guards saw you two and brought you back inside, you've been out for a few days." Mikleo said before they heard Rose groan. "Describe a few days Mikleo." She grumbled, wincing as Lailah pulled on the bindings around her chest a little tighter. "Dammit Lailah, that's tight!" She snapped out, looking over her shoulder to glare at her a little.
"It's needed if you want to stop the bleeding." Lailah said and Rose sighed, leaning her head against the hand. "Were you...injured?" Alisha asked, still feeling tired. "A little," Rose began, looking at her arms as she lifted them. "I didn't even know my old wounds had reopened from the fight." She explained before Lailah finished and Rose put her shirt and jacket back on. "Talk about surprise." She mumbled before Zaveid turned toward them. "Looks like our worry was well deserved, the other Seraphim are on the lookout for anything odd." Zaveid said and Alisha nodded her thanks. "You still need sleep Alisha, as the only squire to Rose, you need all the rest you can get." Mikleo said and Alisha nodded, falling asleep.
Rose looked over at Zaveid, gaze worried. "I have a really bad feeling about all of this." She commented and he nodded. "As do I, I only hope we're all paranoid." He stated and Mikleo sighed sadly. "I feel like that battle was all for nothing." He growled out, catching their attention. "It's like Sorey died for nothing! The malevolence is still around, we all saw that!" He snapped out as he stood, pacing the room.
"Calm down Mikleo," Edna said, walking toward him and touching his arm gently. "getting angry will do nothing but make matters worse." She said and he sighed, nodding. "Y-you're right." He said, rubbing his arm as he thought about how to fix things. Rose sighed, laying down again as Lailah moved to give her space. "All we can do right now is keep doing what Sorey would do. Go around and stop the malevolence from spreading." She said and they all nodded as Rose rolled over to fall asleep, taking the role of Shepherd was going to be hard on her.
Night had fallen in when the door opened, waking Alisha as she looked over, seeing one of the maid's. "Ah, Meria, is everything okay?" Alisha asked as she sat up fully, seeing the Seraphim were gone. Either they were roaming about or they had fallen asleep inside Rose as well. "We're not sure M'Lady, yet we received this. The Council asked that you read it and take the next course of action." She said before walking over and handing it to Alisha, unaware Rose was awake. "They stated it was urgent and for the matter to be taken care of now." She said and Alisha nodded with a sigh, dismissing her.
As she began to unroll it to read it, the Seraphim appeared as Rose sat up. "What's it say?" Rose asked and Alisha rose a brow as she read it, confused. "This...doesn't make any sense." She commented and Mikleo came over, reading it as well. "How is that possible?" He commented as his eyes grew wide, as did Alisha's the further she read.
"What's it say?!" Rose asked impatiently, even as Zaveid, Lailah and Edna shared impatient looks as well. Alisha looked up, before looking at the letter worried. "It says: 'We have received unnatural reports across Glenwood, stating that a man who matches the Shepherd's description was going around causing disaster to strike. Killing innocent people and summoning illness, causing natural disasters, even having monster's do his bidding. We are asking the Knights of Hyland and the Knights of Rolance to deal with these matters.' It's even signed by several council committees." Alisha stated after finishing the letter.
Rose hummed, rubbing her chin as she thought this over before Alisha gasped as a picture fell onto her lap. "What?" She asked, getting up and walking over, the other three crowded around her. "N-no...impossible." Alisha sniffled out as she stared at the letter. Mikleo was frozen in shock, as were the others as they stared into unfamiliar red eyes of someone they once knew. "It's a lie!" Alisha cried out, hugging herself. Lailah turned and hugged her, looking at the picture in worry as Rose picked it up, hands shaking.
It was a mere drawing, a quick sketch with only the eyes colored in...but it was definitely HIM. The Shepherd who sacrificed himself by jumping into the lava with Heldaf to make sure he was dead, falling deeper into the hole that lead beyond the lava. "No...it...it can't be." Rose mumbled, feeling tears roll down her face as well, even as Alisha cried into Lailah's chest.
The fire Seraphim herself was crying, Mikleo turned around and hugged Edna when he heard a sniffle even as Zaveid hugged Rose when her shoulders began shaking. "We need to learn the truth." Mikleo stated firmly and everyone nodded, they would learn the truth to clear Sorey's name...they had to!