"Well, if it isn't the lady Squire," remarked Zenrus, raising his bushy eyebrows with an expression that was not quite surprise, and Rose wavered uncertainly in the doorway before closing the door reluctantly behind her. Somehow, his house felt far too enclosed for her liking; she glanced around automatically in search of exits—a habit she'd developed as an assassin—but found no alternate routes. "What can I do for you?" he continued, crossing his arms.
Rose took a deep breath, forcing herself to look Zenrus full in the face despite her earlier transgressions; she couldn't afford to back down now. "I want to know whether it's possible for me to become a Shepherd," she told him resolutely. "And, if I can, whether it'd hurt Sorey. I mean, I've heard it's partially because of my support as a Squire that his pact with Alisha isn't… y'know… blinding him."
Rose shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, sighing lightly as he seemed to be waiting for her to say more. "I—I don't want to abandon Sorey," she continued, "and I know Dezel can't purify hellions like Lailah, but…" She trailed off uncertainly. In the full light of wakefulness, she was no longer sure what she was trying to say; did she really want this for herself, or was she just entertaining another idiotic idea that had seduced her in the night?
"Preposterous," returned Zenrus, almost chuckling, and Rose blinked in surprise at the interjection. But before she could ask what he meant, he continued, "Purification is not an inherent ability. Like armatization, it is the use of a seraph's powers in tandem with the Shepherd's—and it is part of the pact that joins them." He gave her a small smile. "I could be wrong, but my impression is that Dezel's powers have been augmented due to his blindness…"
"Oh!" exclaimed Rose, inadvertently interrupting. "You mean like Lailah's oath?" she asked, but even as she spoke, she clapped her hand over her mouth, feeling herself turn red. Of course she didn't mean any further disrespect after yesterday, but her filter was weak enough without adding the earliness of the hour to the mix.
Zenrus nodded once, and might have squinted beneath his eyebrows. "Yes," he told her, just a bite of impatience in his voice as Rose ducked her head in shame. "Instead of simply forbidding oneself from undertaking a certain action or mentioning a specific subject, the oaths of old were based on sacrificing a more… tangible aspect of oneself. Such as sight, as in Dezel's case."
Rose nodded mutely, resolving not to speak again until she was certain Zenrus had said all he needed. He seemed to appreciate this, and his tone softened slightly as he continued, "In other words, he is capable of serving as your Prime Lord, should you choose such a path."
When he gave no sign of further speech, Rose mumbled her hesitant assent, and Zenrus seemed satisfied: he gestured for her to sit across from him, and (obeying in a hurry) she realized that of course it wasn't that simple. "As for your other worries," he went on, "I can also offer you some reassurance. Your title as Squire is not what supports the Shepherd, but rather, your domain."
"So… as long as we keep traveling together," responded Rose tentatively, after a brief pause while she ensured that she would not cut him off again, "he'll be okay? They'll be okay?" she amended immediately, wondering if Alisha would experience anything amiss in his stead. If Zenrus's answer was yes, so was hers, she thought; but as usual, too much of her thinking showed on her face. (What she wouldn't give for her Scattered Bones mask…)
Zenrus nodded hesitantly, regarding her expression intently, and she could not look at him, opting instead to fix her gaze on the fire. "Ultimately," he sighed, "becoming a Shepherd is a personal decision, but doing so involves adapting to a purpose in life which is not of your own choosing… and may yet prove hopeless." He turned his head to face her, pointing his pipe at her almost accusatorily. "You should act as you see fit—but you should speak with your companions first, because if I know my grandsons, they will have strong opinions on the matter."
"Oh, I'm counting on it," replied Rose, giving him a smile she knew full well was unconvincing, and bowed hastily; getting to her feet, she spun herself around to face the door and approached, her thoughts circling like miniature dragons around her final decision. She had no need to consult with her comrades if becoming a Shepherd would do them no harm; in this case, as with so many others, it would be far easier to ask forgiveness than permission. The only one she'd really need to talk to would be…
Speak of the seraph: the door burst open before her, and Dezel exploded into the room, panting from his uphill sprint. "Rose!" he exclaimed, marching forward and taking her by the shoulders. "Don't run off like that! Are you all right?" he added more quietly, though still gruffly, almost as an afterthought; she nodded apprehensively, unable to look at him.
Having been concentrating on her latest bright idea to become a Shepherd, Rose hadn't had a great deal of time to consider their incomplete pact; but as she observed Dezel standing before her, Zenrus's revelations from last evening came flooding back into her mind like an icy river. Until they sealed their connection, her very existence would keep him from fulfilling his greatest desire…
"Let's just go," sighed Dezel eventually, shaking his head, and turned his back on her, readjusting his hat. "Everyone's wondering where you are… again. The last thing we need is a missing Squire, especially at a time like this." His voice carried an undercurrent of relief, but Rose couldn't hear it very well over the disapproval, and almost flinched. She wouldn't be surprised if the only reason he kept carrying her around was in the interest of self-preservation; Zenrus had commanded it, after all.
The elder cleared his throat from behind her, and she remembered his presence abruptly, jumping and turning to face her gracious host once more. "You have a thoughtful seraph looking out for you," he told her, veiled amusement in the folds of his ancient voice. "Not everyone is so fortunate. You'd do well to remember that."
Rose blinked in surprise; had he been able to read her thoughts so easily? But she braved a smile nonetheless, hoping (more than believing) that he was right. "He never lets me forget," she assured him after a brief hesitation, slipping past Dezel. "Thanks, Gramps," she added over her shoulder, and her seraph steered her swiftly outside, shutting the door behind them.
"There you are!" exclaimed Sorey, as soon as Dezel pushed Rose back into his house, but at least he didn't tackle-hug her this time—though his fingers twitched restlessly as though he longed to do so. "Where were you, exactly?" he added, tilting his head with a frankly adorable frown.
"Oh, just going for a walk," Rose told him airily, before she remembered that Dezel knew the truth; but thankfully, for whatever reason, he didn't even look at her twice. She supposed she shouldn't have worried; if there was one thing he excelled at, for better or for worse, it was keeping secrets.
"Yeah, because it's gorgeous out," returned Edna, rolling her eyes and gesturing at the dull gray seeping through the skylight.
"Regardless, you shouldn't have left without telling anyone," Alisha told her, narrowing her eyes, and Rose sobered quickly as the princess crossed her arms. They may have been making progress, since Alisha hadn't been openly antagonistic ever since she'd saved her life at the lakebed… but she was still awhile away from gaining her trust, apparently.
(Until she noticed a barely perceptible flutter of Alisha's eyelashes, and Rose realized that she had just drawn the conversation away from where she'd been.)
"I didn't want to wake any of you," she protested, widening her eyes and using her partial honesty to sway their perception of the whole. "You all needed your rest. But anyway," she added, raising her voice over Lailah's protests that Rose needed her rest more than any of them, "can we maybe get some breakfast? If I don't get some food in me soon, I'll roast Zaveid over that fire."
She shot a teasing glare in his direction to find him raising an overdramatic hand to his forehead, scarlet eyes gleaming with relief and mischief in equal measure; in light of last night's story and moral, Rose found herself surprised and pleased that he was feeling sportive enough to take a joke. Judging from the reproachful faces all around her, she was supposed to ignore him; but as far as she was concerned, the silent treatment wasn't something anyone deserved.
Not even Zaveid—though she was certain he'd find some way to make her eat her words for breakfast instead. "Fine, fine," sighed Sorey after a brief pause, shaking his head and shrugging with an attempted smile. "Anything for my Squire. Mikleo?" he added, glancing at his Sub Lord, who crossed his arms and nodded once in response as resolutely as if they were embarking on a stealth mission.
"And just where are you two going?" asked Edna, leaning on her umbrella and trying not to look too interested.
"To Gramps's," responded Mikleo promptly, his voice edged with a sigh. "For some fresher ingredients. And to apologize," he added pointedly, nudging Sorey, who swatted his arm away and winced in anticipation. Rose and Dezel stepped aside to flank the door as the two of them took their leave, Mikleo pulling Sorey by the elbow.
Zaveid, of course, wasted no time in sauntering jauntily over to Rose, resting his arm on her shoulder in a way that immediately told her she was in for trouble. "Oho," he chuckled, and Rose sighed, glancing over at him reluctantly. "So, you want a little taste of me, huh?" he asked, grinning as Dezel grit his teeth and shifted his feet into a not-quite-subtle-enough combat stance. "I thought you'd never ask!"
So this is what Rose got for including him in the conversation; no good deed went unpunished after all. "You must have missed the part where I take Alisha's spear and shove it up your ass so I can turn you over the fire," she returned, brushing his arm off her shoulder; to her satisfaction, Zaveid blanched and shuddered, immediately taking a step back.
At his reaction, Dezel actually laughed aloud; so rarely had Rose heard him do so that she wondered what that sound was for a moment before she pinpointed it, and stared at him in astonishment. "S-serves you right," he chortled eventually, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall; Edna smiled faintly as Lailah rested a reassuring hand on Zaveid's shoulder.
Alisha, meanwhile, hugged her spear almost protectively. "I don't think—" she stammered, wide-eyed in something like horror, but did not seem able to continue for several silent seconds. "That is, my spear is not to be used for such things!" she finished finally.
"Jeez, I was joking," laughed Rose, crossing her arms. "Relax. And besides," she added, turning back to Zaveid and wiggling her fingers menacingly, "even three humans probably wouldn't be able to finish the whole hunk, and seraphim don't technically need to eat… so, it'd be more efficient for me to hack off the parts I'd like to sample!"
Rose approached him, unable to suppress a grin; Lailah stepped delicately out of the way as Zaveid backed up, wild-eyed. "Looks like Rose has finally snapped," observed Edna impassively, as she cornered her quarry against a wall. At least he was bothering to play along with her in the first place, she thought; they needed a good dose of comic relief after a week like this. "What do you think we should tell Sorey when he gets back?"
"There's nothing more terrifying than a hungry woman," remarked Zaveid, eyeing Rose apprehensively as—after some deliberation while she determined what exactly she would do with her target—she raised a finger, resolving to test whether or not he was ticklish. "Save me, Lailah!" he exclaimed, darting out of the way as she jabbed forward, and tried with limited success to hide behind his Prime Lord.
Of course, she stepped aside to avoid him, and Rose pursued her prey once more. So it went for several minutes: Zaveid sought shelter amid Lailah's skirts; Lailah twirled out of the way; Rose gave chase; and the other three spectators looked on with varying degrees of amusement and alarm.
"Looks like Rose is as hungry for a fight as she is for food," observed Dezel dryly, crossing his arms. If she hadn't been a little preoccupied, she would have told him that of course she was; she hadn't fought anything since the battle at the bottom of the lake… but this was about as much exercise as she should do right now, since she still wasn't fully recovered.
Lailah giggled, spinning daintily out of Zaveid's way once more. "I don't think I've seen Dezel smile so much since…" she began thoughtfully, raising a hand to her chin. "Well, ever," she decided, and Rose glanced over at him to find him beaming at her—which was actually somewhat unnerving, what with those jagged teeth, but heartening nonetheless. "I think somebody's relieved that you're feeling better, Rose!"
At her words, Dezel pulled his hat lower over his eyes and made a valiant effort to scowl fiercely, though the corners of his mouth still twitched upwards… and Rose let out a long sigh of contentment. Everything was as it should be after all; he didn't hate her, even though she wouldn't blame him if he did. "Way to jinx it, Lailah," remarked Edna sardonically. "Now he'll probably never smile again."
"S-sorry," returned Lailah, hanging her head—but this action did not prevent her from twirling once more out of Zaveid's path, and Rose drew herself out of her relieved thoughts to resume her chase. Alisha may have backed wordlessly against the wall some time ago, but Edna hadn't stirred from her spot by the fire, and narrowed her eyes in warning as they approached. (Yet she refused to move; she was truly as stubborn as her native element.)
As Zaveid got a little too close for her comfort, she opened her parasol sharply in his direction. Startled, or perhaps propelled backwards by some unseen force, he staggered and tripped over Rose behind him; on any ordinary day, she'd be able to roll out of the way no problem, but her reflexes weren't quite up to scratch. But just as she thought ruefully that playing with wind seraphim usually culminated in being winded, and braced herself for impact—
Two cords wrapped around her wrists, and she was pulled out of Zaveid's way. Much more softly than she anticipated, she hit something like a wall, except it seemed to be breathing… and a split second later, she recognized Dezel as she turned her head to look up at him. As he glanced briefly down with a slight smile, his expression a peculiar cross between pride and relief tinged with a hint of exasperation, she returned the gesture tentatively; today was just full of surprises.
Just ask Sorey—of course he and Mikleo chose that moment to walk back through the door. Rose took a moment to evaluate the scene through their eyes, and couldn't help but laugh aloud: Zaveid on the floor with Edna's foot on his chest and umbrella at his throat? Lailah fanning her face furiously and begging the earth seraph to stand down? Dezel restraining Rose? Alisha staring between them all, open-mouthed and dumbstruck? See if either of them ever left their comrades alone together again!
"I-is now a bad time?" asked Sorey timidly, just as Mikleo hid his face in his hand and sighed, "I… don't want to know."
Dezel retracted his pendulums, and Rose stumbled a step or two forward before he rested a hand on her shoulder to steady her. Alisha, meanwhile, shook her head vigorously in response to Sorey's question, but her eyes were trained on Mikleo. "I've been standing here the entire time, and I still don't understand," she told him. "I'm just as lost as you are."
Sorey braved a smile. "All right then," he announced, holding up a large basket of cooking supplies Rose hadn't noticed, drawing all attention to himself: Edna finally heeded Lailah's frantic requests and stood down, withdrawing her umbrella… though Zaveid continued lying on the floor. "It's pancake time!"
"Awesome," responded Rose, smiling knowingly up at Dezel as he adjusted his hat in embarrassment—though seemed pleased all the same. "But… is there any bacon?" asked Rose eagerly; if she couldn't have waffles, she ought to at least have meat. It'd be more nutritious, anyway.
"N-no, sorry," returned Sorey, crestfallen, and she realized that she'd come across as a little too serious; she hadn't meant to criticize his breakfast-procuring abilities, but he continued before she could apologize and clarify. "But if there's time, I'll find some."
Rose smiled; well, if he was offering, far be it from her to refuse. "I'll hold you to that," she sighed, plopping herself unceremoniously down next to the fire; Alisha knelt across from her, just a tad more demurely. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to exhaust herself by messing around with Zaveid, reflected Rose, if they were heading out immediately; what was the new plan?
But her fellow Squire beat her to the punch: "So," began Alisha hesitantly, as Mikleo set to work making the batter; Edna, in a rare moment of helpfulness, handed him the ingredients as he measured and mixed them. "After yesterday, I'm sure our plans have changed. What's our new course of action?"
Glancing around his companions as though searching for suggestions, Sorey finally cleared his throat. "W-well," he began haltingly, "since Mayvin told us to bring him the Earthen Historia, I think our next job is to find the last remaining iris gems… and take them all to Lohgrin."
Rose bit her lip; that'd be no easy feat, but there was no need for her to say as much. They'd have to be idiots not to have guessed that already, and she didn't make a habit of traveling with idiots. "I'll see whether the Sparrowfeathers know anything," she mused instead, "but… they haven't gotten any messages to me about what they're doing, so I'll just have to ask around when we hit Ladylake."
Guilt flooded her momentarily as Rose spoke of her family; she'd had so much on her mind lately that they'd barely crossed her mind, and to mention them after not having spared them so much as a thought for so long seemed… disrespectful. Like she'd let them down somehow. But they knew how to fend for themselves; they were probably fine on their own. (As her gut begged to differ, Rose told herself fervently that it was only hunger, and forced her mind back to the situation at hand.)
"Good idea," agreed Sorey, nodding in approval, and she gave a wan smile.
"I hate to say it," interjected Zaveid, sitting up, "but we should probably head for Rolance as soon as possible. The Hylander government seems pretty intent on finding their princess… and you didn't exactly make a stellar first impression, skipping out on the check like you did." He shook his head, ignoring the stony stares all around, prizing his points above their disapproval. "Given your reputation at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if they framed you for kidnapping."
Sorey blinked in apparent surprise… but Alisha bowed her head in troubled acknowledgment, and Rose stared at her. From her behavior, she'd clearly guessed this would be the outcome… yet she hadn't confided in Sorey. Rose was torn between being impressed and furious; that little secret could have gotten him killed. But then again, if she could go behind her government's back, she shouldn't be surprised that she had done the same for them: Rose privately resolved never to underestimate Alisha again.
"So, what you're saying is that we should lie low for awhile," she managed, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "You know, fake names, normal clothes, stuff like that." Rose directed her gaze pointedly towards Sorey's distinctive cape and Alisha's knightly attire; both pairs of eyes widened, and Rose struggled to resist rolling her own. Seriously? They hadn't considered that before?
"That… could work," agreed Sorey, though he fingered his cape wistfully as he spoke; Dezel shook his head slightly in disbelief at his attachment to the cumbersome cloak. (Rose knew he was thinking of the time it had gotten caught in the thorn bush in Volgran Forest on their way to Lastonbell. Speaking of 'stellar first impressions', that had definitely been one of the reasons Dezel had taken so long to admit Sorey knew what he was doing.)
"Yes, but where am I going to find a suitable change of clothes?" asked Alisha tentatively, running her hands restlessly along the shaft of her spear. "I brought the most serviceable attire I could find, but… it's still clearly recognizable as Hylander. And before you ask, no, I didn't have any other traveling outfits," she added more sharply, glancing at Rose.
She scowled at the barbs in her voice; the thought may have crossed her mind, but it hadn't been what she had been going to say. "Maybe you could borrow some clothes from the seraphim here?" she suggested, making an effort to ensure that the hatchet would remain buried for now.
"That's not a good idea," mumbled Mikleo, his ears turning red as he poured circles of pancake batter onto Sorey's griddle. "If a seraph infuses something with their mana, like a weapon or article of clothing, it becomes invisible to humans." He shook his head. "It's a lot easier to claim something like that than to release it, and if even the slightest trace of ownership remains, it might cause… issues… in human society."
Zaveid smiled reminiscently. "Oh, yeah," he laughed. "Speaking of fairy tales, The Emperor's New Clothes has a few elements of truth, itself."
Rose sighed, thinking more about the first of his fables; this was the time for a sacrifice of a different kind. "Okay, fine," she conceded, somewhat grudgingly. "You can borrow some of my clothes." They were about the same height, anyway, she reasoned; Alisha might be a centimeter or so taller, and slightly flatter-chested, but such differences were trivial in light of their almost identical physiques.
The princess seemed about as enthusiastic at that idea as Rose herself. "Thank you," she responded reluctantly, staring at the ceiling, but sounded sincere enough.
"As the least conspicuous human among us," continued Rose, eager to be done with the subject, "even though that isn't saying much, I'll stop by Ladylake while you guys camp out in Lakehaven Heights. There, I'll be able to restock, and find some new clothes for Alisha while I'm at it. Sound good?"
Sorey nodded in assent, and Alisha echoed the motion after a slight hesitation: Rose dared to smile at them, as encouragingly as she could manage, though her heart wasn't in it, and she knew it showed. "Breakfast," announced Mikleo, cutting short her reflections, and her stomach growled in harmony with his words. When was the last time she had eaten? Certainly long before last night, but of course her little talks with Zenrus had kept her occupied until now.
As they passed around the basket of pancakes (making sure the three humans were served first), Rose discovered to her great astonishment and delight that perhaps pancakes were capable of holding their own against waffles in a fair fight after all. "These are the best pancakes I've ever tasted," she remarked thickly, swallowing with some difficulty, and there were nods of agreement all around. "What did you do to make them so delicious?"
"A little vanilla goes a long way," returned Mikleo modestly, directing his gaze at the fire and blushing slightly once more as he smiled at the compliment. "It's a seraphic secret, passed down from Gramps himself. And, from what I hear, vanilla comes from one of the other continents—so it's a precious commodity."
"Precious or no, it's not a secret anymore," exclaimed Rose triumphantly, through another mouthful of pancake, and Zaveid grinned over at her. "Just you wait, these little beauties might even outsell the mabo curry buns!"
"Y-you can't just mass-produce Gramps's pancakes!" coughed Mikleo, looking horrified as he choked indignantly at the very thought: Edna thwacked him half-helpfully on the back with her umbrella as Dezel snickered.
"Why not?" asked Rose, raising her eyebrows insolently. "Just try and stop me." She was joking, of course, and most of the more perceptive members of the group realized this—but Mikleo, however observant he may have been most of the time, had a tendency to take things a little too seriously sometimes… like a certain princess.
After Mikleo stammered several attempts at a response, Dezel chuckled. "Who has the weak comebacks now?" he asked pointedly; Sorey laughed despite himself, elbowing his Sub Lord playfully by way of telling him to lighten up. A somewhat sheepish smile tugged at the corner of Mikleo's mouth as he saw Sorey's expression, and Rose relaxed.
"Did you talk to Zenrus about your pact?" asked Mikleo, evidently eager to change the subject. "I don't see any Divine Artifacts on you."
Lailah sighed. "I had been meaning to talk to you all about that," she murmured apprehensively, glancing over at Rose; she and Dezel both nodded by way of granting her permission. "Essentially… either we must find a Divine Artifact, or we must find a pair of matching pact rings."
"Pact rings?" asked Sorey, tilting his head. "I've never heard of pact rings."
"Apparently they're fairly rare," returned Dezel unexpectedly. "The point is, we can just keep an eye out for them along the way." He paused. "The iris gems… come first," he added hesitantly, and though his words were reluctant, they sounded surprisingly sincere. Rose blinked in astonishment as she realized that this was the first time he'd openly prioritized Sorey's mission over his own; could he really set his revenge aside so easily…?
The others stared at him in equal shock, but Sorey thankfully nodded before it could become too awkward a silence. "Let's stay in Elysia one more night, to make sure we're well-rested and prepared for the days to come," he suggested, leaning back on his hands, and the group murmured their wholehearted agreement. "At the very least, it'll give me a chance to go hunting today," he added, braving a smile in Rose's direction. "And you know what that means…"
"You're going to bring home the bacon?" giggled Lailah, and her words were predictably greeted with growls and groans galore. Zaveid actually halted mid-motion just before taking another bite, opting instead to stare at her blankly. Rose found herself actually grateful for the distraction.
"Not your best, Lailah," returned Edna, giving as much of a smile as she ever offered, and Rose had the sense to brace herself: "These little piggies aren't amused." Much to Lailah's clear chagrin, her comment got a much more positive reaction than the original joke… even though in Rose's humble opinion, it was hardly any better.
But still she smiled, because as she glanced around at her friends' laughter—at Dezel's laughter—her head felt clearer and her heart felt lighter than they had been in a long time. This was what she was fighting for, after all; and if Dezel still wanted to fight by her side, Rose wasn't about to complain.
She only wished she knew why.
A bit of slightly more lighthearted fun in preparation for darker times to come! For the most part, anyway. Lots and lots of reviews this time around…
CWolf2: Thank you! Sometimes I worry that it's too exposition-heavy, so I'm glad to hear that it deepens the plot without weighing it down too much.
lazycat66: Indeed! I confer upon you one internet crablette! Maybe it will make up for all the anxiety I cause you between chapters, haha. As for Rose's situation with Dezel, it doesn't have to culminate in Shepherdhood to be resolved—it just has to be formalized. She just thinks it would be best for the entire group if she became a Shepherd.
Zesty Zestiria: Agreed! I mean, I've noticed that the fandom's fanfiction focus seems to be fixed on Suremiku, and she wasn't a permanent party member, so the general culture tends to exclude most mention of Alisha from what I've seen… but as far as I'm concerned, she deserved a much larger role in canon.
N: Yeah… that happens sometimes. My update schedule seems to go like "cluster of chapters followed by slight hiatus; rinse and repeat". Anyway, I'm not sure Dezel knows what love is, so even if that's true (and I'm not saying it is), he'd be the last person to identify it as such. As for Zaveid, Serious Mode is certainly a lot of fun to write. I'd argue it's just as nice as sticking to canon.
Chibi Torra: Can I just say, again, that I am beyond flattered by your overwhelmingly positive response to this story. Seriously, if any thanks are to be offered, they're mine to give. As for your points: 1.) you know the answer already [YES YES YES]… and 2.) I know the answer already, but I'm hesitant to either confirm or deny it; their relationship ought to develop alongside the plot, so it'd be rushing it to tell and not show. Sorry about that!