Tales of Errantia
Hello! Welcome to my new story. I had this thought when I complete tales of Zestiria and Berseria back to back. Frankly, I love both of them equally, so no bashing here.
I never see stories about being blasted to the past, So I wanted to create one. I believe it to be pretty unique. I'll update it when I can, I have other stories I want to write and are currently writing.
Warning: First POV, so that means unreliable narrator at times.
So, I hope you enjoy the prologue.
Chapter 1: Sacrifice.
-0-
I looked up to Maotelus, the fifth lord, or the fifth empyrean from long ago. He was unconscious, to say the least. I looked down and heaved in. On the broken throne was Heldalf, boring his eyes into me.
I trudged on and walked the crumbling path to the lord of Calamity. He who wrought the world with destruction, to end all life, human and seraph alike.
"You've achieved your goal… You've avenged your guardian… Your comrades."
Taking in each word, it powered my steps, my legs, to keep on walking.
"This age of chaos will not end."
Was this right? Was this the best choice?
Pain burst through my veins as I had those thoughts. It seeped from my feet to my hands to my head.
Malevolence.
I refused to show it, I walked towards my sword. The ornamental sword I carried throughout my journey. It was supposed to keep me from killing others, only to purify.
And now, I had to run it through Heldalf. There was no other way to save him.
Firmly grasping the handle, I pulled it out.
Shii~nnnk
"And once you put that sword through me…"
Clomp… Clomp… Clomp…
"A new lord of calamity will be born."
Clomp… Clomp… Clomp…
"Do it. Only then will you fully understand."
Understand. Did I understand what I was doing? I was sacrificing myself for Glenwood. For the people that I cherish- That I love, I mean.
I looked him in the eyes. Trying to decipher what I wanted, is this the good thing to do?
Of course, it was. He planned on killing everyone. He had to be stopped.
And I had to make that decision. I had to run him through with my sword, the sword that was to help me not kill anyone.
I chose this. I remember my words to her the first time I met her. The words I told her with conviction, even after she told me the consequences.
"I shall become the shepherd."
Yet now… Was this what I wanted?
Did that matter? This was for the betterment of all, not him.
-0-
Woo-shINK!
The sword grinded through stone and plunged itself into Heldalf. He coughed and hacked as it wasn't a perfect stab. I felt myself grimace as my sword was stabbed unevenly.
My breath was shaky as I felt something well up in my eyes. Tears fell from my cheek to my chin. I was never the crier, was I crying for Heldalf?
Most definitely. I had no other reason to cry.
"Good night, Heldalf. Your life of eternal solitude—is at last over." I didn't hear my voice crack like I was 12.
I stopped as He only sneered at me, "You dare to fight back even until… until the very end. I can't… I can't stand it." His voice dripped with malice, it felt like acid and poison would come out of his mouth at any second.
He strained to look at me, before closing his eyes, and finally… went limp. Stopped fighting. Stopped living. Stopped looking at me with his damn eyes.
Malevolence began pouring out of him and went towards Me, I could only stand as it surrounded me, searching for an opening to seep into me. Trying to make me the next lord.
If I weren't the shepherd, and if I didn't feel the lingering powers of purification, I would be consumed.
But I wasn't. It blew past me to find a new host. Four motes of light then came out of his chest and swirled around me.
I couldn't help but smile as they flew upwards, trailing behind the malevolence.
They would keep the world okay—safe, I mean.
As I looked back, I couldn't help but be surprised as Heldalf disintegrated. Like dust, he broke apart into little pieces before breaking into even littler pieces and scattering away.
The only thing left was my ceremonial sword. Still stuck in the throne. I looked up to Maotelus. He was still sleeping with his head down.
If I were to become his vessel, I might as well take something with me to remember.
I pulled the sword out before spinning it. I've done that so many times that it became natural. I sheathed it before slowly flying up to Maotelus. I slowly touched his head, and he glowed. It was starting.
.
.
.
"Sheepherrrd!"
That couldn't be.
I turned around to face seraph. The broken girl who we had to leave.
"Symonne!"
The familiar baton and white-pale skin appeared. Her purple and black pigtails and her snarl made me flinch. The parts around her eyes were red, and her eyes uneven out of desperation.
She was strong, strong enough to get here without being turned into a hellion.
My breath hitched.
"Symonne!" I flew down and ran towards her. This malevolence was already taking a toll on her. Why was she here?
She staggered and stripped on her way to me, clawing the stone to propel herself. She opened her mouth and from the depths of her soul she screams at me, "Shepheeerrrrd!"
That made me cautious. "Hold on! I'm coming!" I ran towards her, my back to Maotelus.
The malevolence seemed to be consuming her, eating away at her body. She looked to be in pain, but… Her eyes never showed anything but hate. Her hatred towards me. It made sense why she hated me, I took her path, her savior, her happiness.
I hate that look. I hate that she hated me. Could I hate something that made sense? That felt wrong.
But I couldn't hate her—I mean, I can't wrong her for what she was feeling.
I mean, what I meant was… Is that I—Uh, damnit. I was never a good talker or poignant.
I pushed those thoughts away, running towards her, I tried to pick her up in a bridal carry. If I could get her towards Maotelus to awaken him, she'll be saved.
Keyword: Tried.
With a snarl, she swung her baton upwards, "Hell's Gate!" I grit my teeth as I see two green blows of wind appear diagonal behind her, they rushed towards me, wanting to bisect my body.
Immediately backpedaling, I covered my eyes as the winds crossed each other, and grew in strength completely hiding Symonne on the other side.
I had to back away again as she burst through the walls of wind to stab me with her baton.
"Symonne, calm down!" I probably wasn't persuasive as I was running away from her stabs. Back towards Maotelus.
I was met with a sneer, "Then stay still and die!" The way she screamed made me shiver. So much pain. So much misery.
Each swing got weaker and sluggish. I could just push her and send her flying because the malevolence was getting stronger. Each weak thrust and swipe was accompanied by a grunt or a cough.
"You… Yo- Ack, Caugh… Ugh—iiiAACKK!" Staggering, she retched and hacked spit and blood. Symonne bent over as her bangs shadowed her eyes.
"Why… Why are taking it away from me? How could you do this to me? We were going to live in a world with no pain, no misery. You fight, and now you're suffering… So, why… Why… WHY."
I saw her eyes. Tears flowed down and her mouth wrecked by a sniffling frown, and yet… Her eyes saw right through me. It was like she wasn't even staring at me anymore. Or at least, the guise that was in front of her.
I shook it off, she didn't know me.
Approaching her, I blocked her strike by grabbing her hand. She winced as the malevolence got stronger. She growled as I bridal carried her. Though she tried to attack me, it was only soft pounds of her fist.
I pushed on, flying again up to Maotelus, who was slowly purifying the malevolence around him. I couldn't feel any pounding on my chest as I got closer. I felt my clothes be tugged and bunch up, as Symonne was gripping them hard.
It seemed she stopped resisting.
Should one who only brings misfortune be allowed to exist? Is that entity evil to the core and worthy of death?
I should have said something different to her. Maybe, just maybe she wouldn't be this hurt.
I lightly touched Maotelus's head. Soon, all the malevolence that was gathering around them… Was erased. I felt searing energy enter through my veins, it didn't hurt, but there was so much of it. The dark purple malice that surrounded the throne tore away to reveal a brilliant white that shone everywhere.
My body started to become accustomed to the flames. Before my ears perked up, hearing a voice. It was a bit boyish.
"…Velvet."
I was… confused. Who was that? It came from Maotelus's mouth, was it someone he knew? I recognized it, though—the tone, I mean. Sadness, regret, Desolation.
The regrets I still have. I might not ever wake up again and see my friends. I wasn't ready for that.
.
.
.
Fffwwii-BOOOM
Pain.
I tried to let out a scream, but nothing came out of my mouth. It felt like something was pulling at my skin and pull me apart. I—I could only move one eye down to try to see Maotelus.
Gone. He was gone and all that was left was a mass of blue flames, blue flames that started spreading outward, quelling all the malevolence.
What now? What now!?
If the fifth lord is gone, how will the world be saved now? The flames seemed to be spreading, but I didn't know how much it would spread.
Was this all for nothing?
The pain was overtaking my senses. My peripheral vision was already black, and I couldn't hold it open for much longer.
"Urgh!" I looked down and saw Symonne, gripping onto my clothes, started to pierce my skin and make me bleed. Her eyes were still filled with hatred.
Her eyes spoke of it, 'Was this worth it? Was it worth it, the pain you're receiving now?' I said nothing, even if I wanted to say something, I couldn't.
And it wasn't because of the pain and force brought upon us.
There were tears in her eyes, probably from the pain, I needed a way to get us out of this situation, my thoughts were interrupted again.
Velvet. Velvet. VELVET. VELVET.
I would've liked to say that I found a way out, but I didn't. The pain overtook me, I felt my eyes go up into my head, the pain made me want to go on all fours and vomit.
I could feel my body go limp as the flames overtook my body, including Symonne, who held on for some reason.
So this was the end.
I did not know if the world was going to be saved.
I did not know if I was going to live to meet my friends again.
I do not know if my sacrifice was worth it in the end.
And so… I finally gave in…
And shut my eyes.
-0-
.
.
.
Itchy. I felt Itchy and hot. Something was burning inside me that felt uncomfortable to the point of forcing my body to move.
I slowly got up, rapidly blinking my eyes, I surveyed the area. It looked familiar, yet different. I couldn't help but try to connect it.
It was an open grassy plane that giant stone pillars that sparsely covered the land.
I still felt something in my chest and on it.
"…Urgh."
Symonne's face contorted in pain. Right. We got blasted somewhere from the throne to nowhere. The flames of purification enveloped us and Maotelus disappeared. Everything went to shit—I mean, what I meant to say…
…I felt so burnt out, I wanted to keel over and sleep. Did I not earn that?
No. Because I failed.
The muscles in my legs strained and flared as I got up, not letting go of Symonne, she needed help as well. I had no way to know if there were any towns nearby. I blew air through my nose as I couldn't find anything.
"RRRRRAGGGHHHR!"
Dread filled up my heart as I heard the roar. Immediately I turned around to face the beast.
Dark purple miasma surrounded the bluebird with its colorful wings on its behind. A golden headdress, golden talons, and two red beady eyes.
I quickly laid down Symonne, there was no way to outrun the Hellion.
I growled as it squawked and screeched, it was damaged to my ears. I grabbed my ceremonial sword before spinning it. Blue flames instantly coated it. I blew a sigh of relief. It seemed I still have purification.
It jumped into the air and soon dove for me, wanting to impale me with its beak. Symonne was behind me, so I couldn't move. I was tired, beaten, and woozy. But I had to save her and save the hellion, I'll have to go easy and not hurt him.
I just had to drive it back. "Lion's Howl, Lion's Howl, Lion's HOWL!"
The first stopped it in its tracks, the second made it screech in pain, and the third drove it into the ground.
First cut to the beast's left-wing, then to his right-wing, flick my sword upward. "It's time! Howling blade, Bolt Tempest!" Then Crashing it down on its head and back up with a lightning uppercut.
The blue flames and lightning con-joined and spiraled around the hellion, consuming it with lightning and flame. And then…
It turned back into a human.
A human male by the looks of it. He crashed into the ground and yelped in pain.
"I—Ouch!" He puffed his chest to stretch his back and reel in pain. I could only pant and look at him while he was doing that. I made my time and went back to get Symonne, picking her up bridal style.
"Wuh—Nugh… I'm alive… I'm alive!?" The man was dumbfounded, before lighting up in relief and happiness. He began shouting, "Yeah, I-I can go back home to Stonebury…" Stonebury? There was no Stonebury in Glenwood. Where are they?
The man finally noticed them, "Did you do this? Did you save me?" I nodded, before dry heaving. "Y-you need help. We can go to my hometown. It's not far from here." I didn't know how I looked, but he smiled at me, so I guess that's good.
"Great, take us there, she needs help."
"No problem. By the way, what's your name?"
Oh right, his name… He didn't have a last name.
"Sorey. Sorey… Match."
"Sorey Match?"
"…Yep."
"Okay, that's pretty stupid. But let's go."
I blew air out of my mouth; something was going my way. Finally.
Next Update: Fire Emblem: White Leopards.
