"Heya, Velvet!"
Rose waved cheerfully after she was done cooing about Edna's 'date' for effect, diverting their attention to a tall woman walking their way. Sorey's first impression was definitely her size, for she stood taller than even the men in his group; then followed her firm expression, visible even while she gave them a smile and raised a bandaged hand in greeting. Velvet's clothes were simple, a wine red tunic and woolen pants, her raven hair bound in a tight braid that bobbed after her with every step. All in all, Sorey saw a normal woman who only stood out due to her size.
Rose, completely unaware of his observations, jumped off the cart with a big grin. "Hey there, girlfriend! Are you stocking up?"
The call merely drew a huff out of Velvet, who carried two filled bags in her good hand. "Not right now," she answered Rose. "We need a lot more to keep the tavern going. This here is, ah, travel provisions for Margaret, some other supplies, yarn and needles to mend clothes, soap," she counted off while presenting one bag, then flicked her wrist to swing the other forward, "And here are some fresh ingredients for my newest student to practice with."
"Practice what?"
"Cooking. She isn't doing so bad for having never cooked anything before. Doesn't ignore the recipe I give her." Having heard Margaret mentioned and recalling Alisha's letter, he knew in that moment just who he was dealing with: the Velvet Crowe he kept hearing about. Unfortunately, Eguile distracted him from acting on that realisation by breaking into laughter; Rose made a face, but it took Velvet's expression clouding over to clue Sorey into what was going on. "Could it be," the taller woman asked flatly, "that you're one of the idiots that skim the recipe once and then go with what feels right?"
Rose hesitated for a moment, chewing on her lower lip and practically giving the truth away before she even said anything. Her uncertain "Maybe?" fooled exactly no one. Velvet palmed her face with the bandaged hand.
Sorey decided to use that moment to interject, speaking into the momentary silence: "Uh, you said you know Margaret? Is she here?" The question earned him Velvet's attention, though Mikleo appeared to have missed something.
"Why do you think she would come here of all places?" his brother asked while the other human studied him. "Rolance and Hyland are not on good terms at the moment."
"Well, it seems-"
"And you would be?"
"-that Margaret might be-"
"Oh, sorry. I'm Sorey. Um, the Margaret you meant is, like, this tall and blonde, right?"
"-originally from Rolance. That would-"
"That's her, yes. I heard a bit about you from her; Margaret was planning to leave tomorrow."
"-explain why we didn't notice her on the way to Marlind."
Sorey winced a little, having constantly interrupted Lailah together with Velvet; she appeared unable to see the seraphim and thus did not know she was even talking over someone. Lailah had paused whenever one of them spoke though, obviously unconcerned about the matter.
Now however, Velvet offered him a small smile. "Right, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Velvet, it's nice to meet you, Sorey." He smiled back and returned the greeting, though she began to turn away moments later and excused herself: "But I really need to go now. Take a look around the city and drop by later if you want, the Crowe's Nest is hard to miss. If you don't find the way, you can just ask someone for directions."
"Sure," he found himself agreeing readily; Velvet had something friendly about her. "We will definitely drop by sometime." Then he eyed the bags, neither of them appearing all that light. "Uh, do you need help carrying those?"
Velvet's response was a grateful smile, although she shook her head. "No need, but thank you for offering." She then proceeded to heft both bags over her shoulder and jogged away, visible even within the crowd until she rounded a corner. Sorey and his friends watched her leave, quietly impressed with her strength.
"What a nice girl," Sorey commented after Velvet vanished from sight. Lailah nodded and Mikleo gave a noncommital grunt, but Rose giggled in response. The shepherd threw her a curious look, which was enough to make her speak up.
"A pretty one too, huh?"
"Um."
He did not know how to respond to that, feeling a little embarassed. Into this needling, Lailah leaned closer with a mock serious expression, stage-whispering at him: "Maintain your purity, Sorey!"
His cheeks grew even warmer in an instant and Rose started to giggle incessantly; Dezel and Mikleo shared a mutual sigh, then the water seraph got everyone back on track: "Alright, let's actually look around a little. The Crowe's Nest is a given, but do you know any other interesting places, Rose?" His question strangled the giggles, at least. Rose frowned.
"Uhhh, I can tell you all the bars around these parts, but I doubt you'd be interested in those. Might have to ask around with the others, I'm not much of a girl for culture and stuff. Definitely got to visit the Crowe's Nest this time, though," she muttered and trailed off.
Mikleo nodded. "We'll do that later," he agreed, "for now I'd like to see the other parts of town. I was curious about the belltower." A moment of silence followed for some reason, succeeded by a hesitant addition: "But maybe that should come later, too" Sorey wanted to ask what prompted his brother to change tracks, but then he followed Mikleo's gaze; they were little more than specks at this distance, but he felt certain enough about who the two figures on top of the belltower were. Seeing them and deciding to keep some distance out of respect for Edna's privacy, they deliberated among each other for a minute. Once their decisions were made, the three said their goodbyes to the Sparrow Feathers and wandered off to explore Lastonbell.
Sorey was certainly not disappointed from roaming the city, as it had stood for centuries and accrued a great many curious sights. The guard captain they met on the way even allowed him to take a walk on the walls and battlements; from talking to him, he realised that his traditional cape had been recognised. He did not mind answering questions about his duties as well as his accompanying seraphim.
"Most remarkable," Captain Sergei commented after Sorey detailed the process of armatisation. He was rubbing his chin in thought. "I have to inquire with young Margaret as well."
"You know her?"
Though Sorey mostly asked out of surprise, he was a bit confused when the other man huffed in good humour. "Indeed I do," he confirmed, "she was born and raised here in Lastonbell. Everyone has heard of her at least by reputation, ever since we learned of her powerful resonance a bit over a year ago. Why, I personally experienced her prowess and skill." It was an odd thing to boast about, though Sorey could understand him somewhat; having seen Margaret fight was something else.
"Yeah, she fights beautifully. If I had the time, I'd ask her teacher to take me as a student, too."
"It is just as well you do not; Ms. Crowe is not the type to take students, or so she told me. Young Margaret's situation was more of a coincidence and convenience for the both of them."
"I see." He accepted Sergei's explanation readily enough, a little downcast about not getting the chance to learn from a true master. Yet he knew he did not have that kind of time at the moment; the bells tolling reminded him of another matter regarding time and he nodded to the older man with a bright smile. "Anyway, I think we've got to get going. Thanks for taking the time."
"It was a pleasure, oh gentle shepherd." Sergei actually bowed his head, much to Sorey's embarassment, then marched down the street and away. Lailah chuckled, inaudible to the knight captain.
"He is quite dedicated," the firekeeper mused out loud, but then focussed back on Sorey. "Shall we see the Crowe's Nest next?"
"Yeah, that was the idea. Let's go!" Sorey took the lead this time, sometimes asking for directions as they maneuvered through the crowds. He was still not too comfortable approaching people like that, but it got easier the more practice he got.
Unfortunately, they did not reach their destination. Several streets before that point, the three of them bumped into Alisha, Sorey rather quite literally; they bounced off each other and apologised at the same time before recognising the respective other person. Alisha froze in shock while Sorey beamed. "Alisha! I'm glad you're alright!" When no response was forthcoming, he took a moment to study his former squire; her armour was gone, replaced with a black shirt under a dark blue jacket, the latter with purple trims. Her shorts made way for long pants equally blue and a lavender cape fell down her back, carrying a simple ponytail made from her pale blonde locks. "I like the new look."
This, however, drew a smile from the princess. Her worry faded, if for but a moment. It returned moments later, when Lailah took a step sideways and exclaimed. "A, a tail? Alisha, what happened?!" The horrified question wiped Sorey's smile away and did much the same to Mikleo, both of them staring at the fidgeting woman. Streamers of darkness began to escape her body, clinging to it in a morbid corona.
Alisha glanced at the crowd they were in the middle of, then adopted a more relaxed expression and made a motion toward another street. "You must be weary from your journey," she declared. "I know just the right place to catch up, please follow me." She then proceeded to lead the way elsewhere, but the moment she turned Sorey saw it too; a bushy fox tail hid beneath her cape, indenting it notably.
His head swam as nothing made sense anymore. She wrote she was alright, but now here she was a hellion; the Malevolence grew around her before fading again, returning to within her form. Sorey almost cleansed her then and there, but he knew this would make a scene; so far, Alisha was reasonable. He could do this once they were wherever she wanted to bring him. The thought of a trap never even crossed his mind.
"The Malevolence is still weak," Mikleo muttered next to him. "She must have turned recently." As if on cue, a larger burst of it escaped the hellion before being drawn back in; his brother's eyes widened and found Sorey's. "I can't feel it!"
He did not want to think about it yet knew he must; Alisha was a hellion, for whatever reason. She was a hellion and mostly looked the same, was even in a city without anyone being in danger so far. But she was a hellion, leading them past the Crowe's Nest; he identified the tavern by its imposing front and the sign, but also saw Rose waving at him through the clear glass. The merchant woman then did a double take at the sight of Alisha before fading from view as they were led along.
If Alisha was bothered by him watching her like a hawk, she did not comment. She simply opened a heavy gate at the tavern's back and offered them entry, then closed it behind them. A spacious backyard greeted them, clear of anything distracting; Sorey immediately focussed on his friend, smiling in an effort to calm her and himself. "Don't worry, Alisha. I'll turn you right back."
Silver flames were forming, had been licking at his hands before now already, but two simple words stunned him: "Please don't." Sorey hesitated, seeking first Alisha's eyes and then Lailahs.
"You see, I-" her eyes widened when he loosed, but she ducked beneath the flame that splashed harmlessly against a wall. "What are you doing?" She dodged another. "Sorey, stop!" He did not heed that request; the Malevolence obviously got to her, so Sorey continued. Yet Alisha weaved past every single blast, inhumanly fast and little more than a blur even to his sharpened senses. This continued for a long minute, even as Mikleo and Lailah joined him with their own flames. Alisha pleaded with them to stop the whole time, increasingly desperate.
He was so focussed in his task that Sorey failed to notice the wave before it rolled over him; it pulled Mikleo and Lailah along as well, leaving them sodden on the ground. Alisha fell still and sighed in relief, thanking the unamused Symonne who now stood in front of them. Her usually cheerful expression had been replaced by a deep frown as she sized them up, drawling. "And what, pray tell, were you doing there?"
Sorey blinked, unsure what she meant."Isn't that obvious? We're purifying Alisha." The hellion's shoulders slumped before he even finished and Symonne sighed. Then the water seraph fixed Lailah with her glare.
"I get the other baby going along with it," she began flatly. "but you should be old enough to know better." Mikleo's 'hey' went ignored while Lailah crossed her arms in response, rising daintily; blistering heat quickly dried her clothes, all sense of levity lost in these moments.
"It is rather quite clear to me also. All hellions must be cleansed." Her retort silenced everyone present. Sorey and Mikleo waited for a reaction, though Symonne's stance did not waver. The girl seraph glanced from them to a crestfallen Alisha and made to speak, but faltered before any words came out. This repeated several times as Symonne appeared to consider what to tell them.
"It is alright to agree with her," Alisha interrupted tonelessly. "I am well aware that my decision is not a good one."
It immediately prompted Symonne to hold up a finger, bidding them to wait a moment; he was fine with that, being uncertain what to make of this anyway. The water seraph turned her head then, hissing: "Shut it, I'm not going to agree with her on that!" Another gout of flame flew over her head but was evaded. "And you stop that," she immediately rounded on Sorey.
Despite his confusion about Alisha's exact state, the shepherd felt calm. He knew what had to be done, which was what he explained to Alisha and Symonne by extension: "Lailah is right. Hellions need to be cleansed, we need to do this. We can talk about what happened once you're okay again, Alisha." The princess wilted, obviously discontent with his promise; her expression fell entirely when a wave of black mist surged from her body.
"Please don't," Alisha pleaded with him again; her eyes were filled with fear and brimming with tears, a sight that stung him deeper than anything else so far had. "Don't take it away, Sorey. Please!" It hurt to listen to her; he wanted to give in for his friend, but he knew it was not right.
However, the visible pause he made was immediately made use of by Lailah; she cast another gout of silvery fire at Alisha, not hesitating in the slightest. This time however, the hellion did not dodge; no, she did the exact opposite and met the flame with an orange one of her own. It blossomed from her mouth, instantly drying the tears that rolled down her cheeks and extinguishing Lailah's attempt. A wave of smoldering heat rolled over everyone, drying their clothes entirely and forcing all but Symonne a step back.
"Please listen," Alisha pleaded once more into the sudden silence. "You are my friend, Sorey. Please do not make me fight you!" It gave him time to get past the instinctual fear of the heat, Alisha's despair strengthening his certainty; it had to be done, for her. She would be better then.
Thus, her pleas yielded only more fire as Sorey and his companions all made for burning her taint again. She dodged once more and Sorey tried to reason with her despite knowing better: "No, that's not you, Alisha. I don't know what happened to you, but I know this is the Malevolence speaking."
"Are you sure those guys are your friends?" Symonne's comment made him and her flinch, the water seraph not taking her eyes off Sorey even as she spoke. Waves of clear water moved to intercept some of the purifying flames, quelling them somewhat. More importantly however, her words made Alisha lower her head ruefully.
"I, I guess you are right," she relented quietly." I, t-terribly sorry, for being such a burden."
Sorey's determination was only heightened further. "I will free you of this madness now," he vowed and readied for a proper battle. Mikleo and Lailah followed his lead, as did Symonne who created an arm-length scepter, eyes narrowed.
Then, all of a sudden, Alisha straightened and walked past her, to everyone's surprise. Her voice was clear when she spoke: "Please lay off, Symonne. This, I have to do this myself." The princess exhaled slowly and Sorey expected a charge or for her to keep talking; he was right with the latter, but not in the way he expected. Alisha threw her arms wide. "Forego the flames and strike me down then!"
The silence that followed her declaration was deafening, far more so than any silence he ever knew. Sorey gaped at the woman he had gotten along so well with, who smiled earnestly and cared so much. He was barely aware of Symonne wandering off, his eyes glued to Alisha. "What are you-" "You heard me," she interrupted immediately. "Cleansing me is meaningless now." Alisha clenched her fists and her tail swished in clear agitation. "I am a hellion now, took this power willingly. And do you know what? I have never felt better in my life." Her tone was deceptively calm, each word making the pit in Sorey's stomach grow. "I can see despite holding no resonance, can fight even that which I could never best before. I can finally make a difference in the world. How could you try to take this from me?!" With every sentence, her words grew heavier as she spat at him in her fury. "You opened my eyes and let me see in the first place, then cast me away, how do you expect me to remain pure after seeing all this and knowing there is oblivion lurking in the shadows?! Oblivion I could never hope to defeat as I were, oblivion that will destroy us all in time if left unchecked?!"
"Cleansing hellion's is the shepherd's-" "I care not!"
This time she actually shouted over him, making Sorey duck his head reflexively. Alisha glowered and continued with her tirade: "You will run your course and cleanse hellions, then you die and there will be more hellions! You can't shut out malevolence forever, it will always return! I care not for your duty, I care not for whatever goal you believe you have, I have my own duties." Tears began to flow anew now as rage flipped into anguish. Alisha hiccupped. "I, hic, I swore to make this world better and you with your damned rules about not interfering obviously won't! So stop pretending you are a promised messiah instead of just another stopgap to an unending problem!"
Sorey flinched once more, all his determination to cleanse her held at bay by the sheer inhuman fury directed at him. Symonne and Mikleo both took to staring at Alisha wide-eyed, whose tears were slowly drying. The hellion woman relaxed her clenched fists, her voice little more than a whisper: "You have no idea about anything, you sheltered brat." Then she wiped at her eyes, shaking miserably. Sorey had no words.
In that moment, with everyone distracted, a wave of silver surged forward and engulfed Alisha, who let out an ear-shattering screech and curled up in a ball as the fire consumed her Malevolence. Sorey and Mikleo both turned to Lailah, the lady seraph's face set in stone.
"It is indeed true there is no end," she lectured curtly, disregarding the pained warbles from the girl on the ground. "But there is also no end to humans, no end to the line of shepherds. Since Claudin it stood unbroken. Another will always step up." The flames crackled and burned on, devouring streamers of darkness with every second. Symonne kneeled next to the hellion and obviously did not know what to do, so she just witnessed it together with them.
Only, Sorey realised, that this tail of Alisha's was not receding. More darkness kept pouring into the flames, ultimately smothering them to leave a heaving, sobbing girl on the cobblestone; still clad in Malevolence. Still a hellion.
"W-what...?"
As if his voice returned her to her senses, Alisha's eyes snapped open. One last sob was strangled in her throat and she rolled onto all fours, then pushed herself up. That bushy, still smoldering tail opened up to reveal rows upon rows of teeth in a fleshy maw, adding a gurgle to Alisha's own growl. Where she had stood elegant, even graceful before, now there was but a monster ready to leap and tear them to shreds. Sorey involuntarily took a step back, the most basic instinct of all screaming in the back of his mind; he wanted to flee, knew he would die if he stayed. The predator's eyes bored into his and she uttered but a single word: "Leave."
When no one moved, she continued, her pupils turning into slits. "Before I forget myself. BEGONE!" The last word turned into a scream so loud it made birds all over the city take flight. Sorey flinched back, shaken by everything that was happening here.
Regardless of the danger, Lailah flicked a piece of paper into her hand. She would fight, he knew. But he could not; not after all this. So Sorey turned around, made to leave without a word; the seraphim followed moments later, dematerialising and settling within him.
Only when he was gone did Alisha sink to her knees, weeping bitterly and nearly silent. Symonne immediately rushed to her side to offer what comfort she could, ignoring the Malevolence as it burned her skin like acid. "I'm here," she soothed, tenderly rubbing the girl's back and holding her tight. Yet it was for naught, the therion just continued to cry.
"I knew he would hate me," she blubbered after a time, "I knew it and still, I, I thought he m-might, might-" "Shh, it's okay, Alisha. It's okay." Symonne's reassurances failed to calm the weeping therion, so she settled to wait it out. Her illusions persisted, having hidden every word spoken from prying eyes and ears. Alisha kept crying, even began to wail at times; unheard by the world, yet this once on purpose.