Sorry for a somewhat shorter chapter. I'm trying to write one chapter before posting the chapters I already have. Thanks for reading and following! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

I do not own Tales of Zestiria.

CHAPTER 2…

It had been several weeks since that day in the meadow and so far Lyall and his group had been busy fighting hellion after hellion after hellion. In all honesty it was a *'helli-on' world out there. Lyall sighed heavily and a domino effect began. Lyall, then Rose, then Lailah, Lilic, Edna, and Dezel. Although in the cases of Edna and Dezel the two resist as long as they could, but they did eventually sigh.

Lyall and Rose walked like the undead- dead on their feet- to the nearest inn barely making it through the doors before they collapsed, asleep. Watching them from afar was Sorey, dressed in colors of black, white, and ruby red; a sword strapped at his side hanging ominously and feathered earrings that swayed lightly. There was a slight smile on his lips as he carried both Lyall and Rose inside the inn where he payed for their stay. He ignored the seraph's staring at him knowing that for this to work he would have to act as if he couldn't see them.

"So, what are we going to be doing?"

Sorey sighed knowing that Mikleo was trying to change the subject. He would get him to talk about it eventually since right now was not the time. Sorey caressed Mikleo's cheek a displeased look in his eyes as he told Mikleo what their orders had been.

Mikleo scowled deeply making his displeasure known to Sorey. "They can't do this! We had a deal, and part of it was that the both of us would stick together when doing missions!" Sorey shook his head, "Mikleo," his next words made Mikleo lose all color in his face. Slowly Mikleo stepped away from him and covered his face with his hands.

Sorey allowed him a few minutes to regain composure. Mikleo took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and opened them again. His violet eyes hardened turning into a smoldering dark violet reminiscent of the malevolence. "I'll do what has to be done to protect those we care for, even if becoming a monster which the world would despise," Sorey in the time that Mikleo spoke had already made his way to the smaller male holding him a tight embrace. Their foreheads pressed together as they finished their vows.

"However, in the end please let me have been by your side."

Lyall woke up groaning a hand resting on his head as he sat up. He looked around at his surroundings blurrily noticing that neither Rose nor anyone else was in the room with him. At least he that's what he thought until he saw the figure sitting at the table nearby reading. Immediately Lyall was wide awake and on guard despite still being somewhat tired; however, the older male was quick to his feet and instantly stood in front of him.

Lyall stared into the stranger's eyes, a light jade color bright enough that he could see a reflection of himself. In those eyes, however, he could also see darkness hidden behind everything- almost as if it was purposely buried. He was so deep in thought that he completely missed what the stranger had said. Lyall shook from his stupor and intelligently said, "Wha?"

The stranger laughed a gloved hand ruffling his already spiky mess of a hair. Lyall began to shout protesting! "Wha!? Not the hair! Do you KNOW how long it takes to get this hair to look as perfect as it does?! DO YOU?! GAH!"

The stranger laughed even harder not even bothering to hide his amusement. Lyall pouted crossing his arms and glaring at the corner of the room. Apparently though Lyall had screamed loud enough that Rose barged in kicking the door down screaming, "Who's getting killed?!"

Lyall and the stranger froze, but one look at his squire sent him into laughter. Rose looked like she literally just woke up- which she probably had- with drool at the corner of her lips, her hair in disarray, and overall just looking like a cat that was scared stranger shook his head out of breath from laughing, but in the end he straightened out and held out his hand to Lyall. Lyall blinked surprised by the hand held out to him.

He took it warily, the stranger smiled. "Well I suppose introductions are in order. My name's Sorey, nice to meet you." Lyall took Sorey's hand wondering to himself, 'Sorey? Why does his name sound familiar? Hmmm...Oh well, I'll probably remember later if it's important.'

Lyall shook Sorey's hand and introduced himself. "Lyall, I'm the currently famous Shepherd."

.

..

Sorey had never met anyone with such exaggerated reactions as Lyall and Rose. Their reactions were the funniest he's seen- well other than Mikleo's and their companions but he's gotten used to their childishness. (He won't admit that he finds it enduring because then Mikleo and the other two would do it constantly.) It lightens a weight he didn't know he had, but it doesn't last long when he catches eye of the Seraphs standing by the door. He pretends not to notice them paying more attention towards the conversation rather than the stares directed at him.

"So," Rose's voice caught his hearing. His eyes meet light blue ones which seemed to look into him. He closed them smiling at her, "How can I help you Rose-san?" He could hear her mutter to herself, " 'san'? I'm not that old looking am I?"

He had to restrain himself from laughing again otherwise he might just end up with some bruises. He learned from previous experiences with a few certain women that it's best never to comment or laugh at women about their age. Last time he did some very scary people got some very good blackmail material on him...

Sorey shivered at the memory. Lyall noticed but shook it off as a strange normal people thing.

Rose returned from her reverie and began to interrogate Sorey. "So mister Sorey," Rose was obviously still annoyed by the fact that he may have implied that she was old. Sorey ignored the 'mister' part of her speech giving the redhead a cool smile. "Yes, miss Rose?"

He could see her eyebrow twitch at his coolness and Sorey smirked inwardly. Suddenly the tension in the room was strong. Lyall felt a chill go down his spine and for some reason he felt the need to hide.

Rose didn't know what it was but her gut was telling her that there was something strange about 'Sorey'. For one he was too calm- not that being calm was a bad thing but he was just...just...too...what's the word? Composed. Is what he was.

It was almost like there wasn't anyone there, almost like an empty husk of what used to be a person. To say the least Rose was disturbed by that. Lyall though didn't seem to notice anything strange about 'Sorey' considering that he was still new to the outside world.

Rose didn't glare at Sorey, but her eyes had narrowed. "SO, as I was saying before," Sorey was still smiling, "Why did you help us Sorey?"

Sorey shrugged, "Why not? You were blocking the way for quite a few people, myself included, but also it's not like I could just leave you guys there." Rose and Lyall blanched at the way he had bluntly said what he had. Rose regained her sense of composure and continued the interrogation, "Okay then, so then why stick around? Why not just leave once we were signed in?"

"Well I had a job to do while I was here, but it was pretty easy to finish. That and…" A sly smirk came across Sorey's face inducing shivers from both Shepherd and Squire. "I was planning on collecting from both you when you woke up. So," he held out his hand expectantly, "pay me what you owe."

Rose shook and pointed a finger at Sorey, shouting at him. "I KNEW there was something too good about you to be true!" Sorey shrugged and sighed, "It's harsh world out there. I need to make money in any way I can. Besides, think of it as a lesson to take better care of yourselves." Rose shook a fist at him biting back her insults.

Lyall at the time had turned his attention towards the seraphs by the door speaking amongst themselves.

"Making money out of others by doing nice things for them. What a cruel man." Edna said it as a simple fact seeming to almost praise him, Lailah sighed.

"Yet, he does make a valid point. It's very difficult to make money with the war going on between both the Hyland and Rolance armies. The destruction being caused by both armies is vast and if it goes on for any longer I'm afraid that the malevolence may become a worldwide problem." Lailah held her hands together as if praying, worry etched into her face. Neither of the other three seraphs said anything knowing that it was a very likely future with how things were going at the rate they were.

Lyall rose from the bed and dressed without saying anything Sorey and Rose silently watching him. Dressed in the shepherd cloak he was given from Alisha Lyall prepared to leave the inn. He had a duty to fulfill.

Lailah watched as her young lord walked out the inn, shoulders carrying the weight of the world. She couldn't help but feel guilt for having placed the burdened of a thousand upon him. For as young as Lyall was the burden may weigh him down more than it would had it been someone older, and Lailah could do nothing but be there for him and try to share his burden. It was a difficult thing to do, however, when said person refused to share anything. Lailah could only hope that Lyall would see reason to.

Sorey stood at the entrance of the inn watching the shepherd and his posse signed out of the inn. He turned his gaze away and sighed. 'This might actually end up being tougher than I thought. I hope I won't have to call her to help me out.' He cringed at the thought of oweing 'that girl' a favor.

He turned his gaze back to the group and sighed, 'Though I might not have a choice...damn...' A gust of wind blew in carrying with it the echoing sound of laughter with it.