Alright, I've seen people complaining about me downgrading Velvet. I don't downgrade her at all, I'm just bad at writing fight scenes, okay! If someone else has a problem with Velvet being too weak then that's your problem.
The way up the mountain of Rayfalke Spiritcrest was really dangerous as there were many hellions walking around which could be the explanation to why people never returned when going up the mountain. The dragon was a big problem too. Velvet knew she could handle a few ones but the more powerful ones are really tough and over half the group were used to combat stronger opponents. It had taken some time but they managed to reach the top and a pulse of dark energy went through the three present.
"What... is this?" Sorey asked cautious.
"Is this the domain?" Lailah pointed out nervous. "It can't be!"
"Are you saying malevolence could corrupt a domain this far?!" Sorey exclaimed in shock.
"No, this is different." Velvet pointed out unfaced by the domain as there was something familiar in it. "This malevolence has grown over time. It's here."
"We should escape, now!" Lailah suggested scared. "The stronger the entity, the more powerful domain. It doesn't mean any malevolence or power it has."
"It's just like with Gramps and the other powerful seraphim, they detect our intrusion." Velvet explained. "However, dragons are almost as powerful as the Lord of Calamity itself."
The group then heard the heavy flaps of wings coming their way and there it was, a giant dragon. But for Velvet something was off with the dragon in front of them, it had the same feeling to a certain person she knew. This dragon was Eizen.
"The legendary harbinger of destruction, a dragon." Sorey said as the dragon flew over them. "Heh… Well, this is bad."
"Running won't do us any good." Mikleo pointed out as the dragon flew over them once again.
"This is all my fault." Lailah said guilty over the wind. "I was going off my own memories and just assumed that any talk of dragons was baseless." The dragon finally landed a part way from them and roared in anger.
"So you mean this dragon is a new addition to the mountain?" Sorey asked before he noticed the look on Velvet, she seemed so unfaced by everything and instead looking determined at the dragon.
"No, it can't be! Are you Edna?!" Lailah exclaimed really worried and Velvet instantly recognized the name.
"Edna?" Velvet repeated before looking at the dragon again. "Then you really are…"
"Oh, Edna… I can't believe it! You, a dragon…" Lailah said in despair.
"Nope. Guess again." A girl's voice said and a rock wall came in front of the dragon. A familiar girl walking to them with an umbrella. Velvet thought back to when they were in Lothringen and remembered the illusion of Eizen's sister, so this is the real Edna.
"Huh? There are two Ednas?" The fire seraph asked confused over the situation.
"Your conclusion is peculiar." Edna said before she turned to the dragon, glancing a bit at Velvet before that. "Brother. You must stop."
"Brother?" Sorey asked confused.
'Eizen…' Velvet called out in her head.
"So even my voice no longer reaches you…" Edna said solem over the condition as Eizen breaks the stone wall keeping them from each other and roared. "He's coming! Run like the wind!"
"Is she the seraph we were looking for, Lailah?" Mikleo asked as Edna walked by them and the fire seraph nodded.
"She is!" Lailah answered.
"Does this look like the time to chat?" Edna asked. "Move!" Eizen dashed forward the group but Velvet came and took out her therion arm, grabbing the dragon's head and used her own strength to stop him from coming any further.
"Go on ahead!" Velvet grunted as she struggled to keep him at bay. "I'll catch up!"
"What about you? You can't fight that dragon alone!" Sorey exclaimed worried as he saw how much she was struggling.
"Just go already!" Velvet yelled and Sorey was taken back by the response. "Kurumi! Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid!"
"Roger! Come on, Lord Sorey!" The wolf seraph responded as she hurried after the others. Sorey hesitated before running after his friends to safety. Velvet took a glance behind her to watch Sorey leave before turning to Eizen once again.
"Snap out of it, Eizen!" Velvet yelled, trying to reach her former comrade. "It's me, Velvet!"
This, somehow, managed to reach him and he stopped struggling enough for the Nephilim to bash his head into the mountain hard. With how he responded when she told him her name, Velvet knew that the real Eizen was still struggling deep inside. Velvet quickly used the seraphic arte that Edna used before to make sure the dragon doesn't see her leave when he regain consciousness.
"I'm sorry, Eizen." Velvet said guilty. "We aren't ready yet to help you." She then ran down the mountain to join the others, glancing back one last time.
At the same time, Sorey and the rest were worried about Velvet and why she would sacrifice herself to give them some time to run away. Sorey stood up from the ground to catch his breath and looked at the pathway up the mountain, he was worried over what Velvet was doing with the dragon. Edna firmly tipped the end of her umbrella on the ground as it was silent except the panting from the three of them.
"Is there a school you go to to get that dumb?" Edna asked and Sorey looked at her confused. "You craved the fame of being a dragon slayer? Is that it?"
"Edna!" Lailah said happily and hugs the earth seraph. "I thought you really turned into a dragon. Thank goodness!"
"Well, you haven't changed." Edna replied annoyed. "People would respect you more if you actually worked on your personality." Lailah let go as they turned to face the boys and Kurumi.
"Actually, we came here looking for you." Mikleo answered.
"And so you marched into a dragon's territory?" Edna questioned. "You guys really did go to Dum-Dum Academy."
"Why you?" Mikleo growled.
"It is more like they trusted Lailah's old memories over facts." Kurumi pointed out.
"I'm sorry." Lailah apologized.
"You don't have to apologize, Lailah." The voice of Velvet said and the group turned to see Velvet walking over to them, which made them relieved that she was okay. "Next time you do this kind of thing, make sure you have actual evidence."
"Velvet!" Sorey and Mikleo exclaimed happy that she was okay.
"Milady, we were worried about you!" Kurumi explained as she hurried over to her mistress.
"I'm fine, Kurumi." The Nephilim replied to her partner. "I managed to get away in time without getting any injuries." The wolf sighed in relief before Velvet looked at Sorey with a smile, who returned it.
However, trying to convince Edna about helping humans wasn't that easy that the Shepherd had expected. Edna didn't like humans unlike her brother, who had bonded with a lot of humans and even got the attention of a famous pirate captain. She told the group about Eizen and the seraphim kept quiet about the method Velvet was planning to use to help her friend.
But Edna changed her mind when she saw the small grave for the person Zavied killed, agreeing on becoming a Sub-Lord like Mikleo and even had a Divine Artifact with her as well. Velvet figured it out that Eizen must have found it on his way back to his little sister. After the pact was made, the group decided to go back to the bridge.
"Arrgh, can you guys not practice your comedy routines inside my head?" Sorey exclaimed in annoyance to the seraphim inside him and Velvet giggled.
"That's how it is for a vessel." The therion pointed out. "I'm glad your body is finally used to the seraphim."
"Yeah, I'm glad, too." Sorey agreed with her as they finally left the mountain. "By the way, how come you knew about the assassins?"
"A misunderstanding." Velvet replied simply. "They got false information from someone that wanted me dead for some reason, I gave them a small beating and said that information was false and I was just a traveler, looking for someone."
"The Lord of Calamity?" The Shepherd asked sadly.
"Yes. He killed my family." Velvet said looking at the ground. "Even if he didn't do it, he's responsible to everything that happened. I promised my husband to not use my therion powers, he knew what they could do to living beings but the night he was killed…" Velvet started to have flashbacks of the start of the Age of Chaos. "...I lost control over myself."
"Milady…" Kurumi said sadly, knowing that talking about the subject usually let her malevolence out. "Let us focus on our goal ahead." The two nodded and continued with getting to the bridge, though there were a few hellions still in the open, they were easy to handle. They eventually made it to the bridge and Sorey approached an old man standing in the small crowd of people.
"Lord Sorey! It is a pleasure to see you again." The old man greeted. "And it is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Crowe."
"Likewise." Velvet replied.
"How are things looking?" Sorey asked.
"Well, there's still no telling when the bridge will be repaired." The old man answered, crossing his arms.
"All right. Then I'll make it so that the bridge can be fixed." Sorey replied with a smile, confusing the old man and shocked his comrades.
"What exactly does that entail?" The old man asked confused. "Forgive me, but I'm a bit confused, Lord Sorey." The young Shepherd was about to say something but Velvet placed a hand on his shoulder and shock her head as an answer. "In any case, I shall summon Lady Alisha. Please wait here a moment." The old man walked away and the seraphim came out when they got closer to the bridge.
"Wait a minute. You're going to do this right away?" Lailah asked worried.
"Yeah. I want to cheer them up as soon as possible." Sorey answered with a smile.
"But…" Lailah trailed off.
"Don't you know what humans will think about you, if you demonstrate power that transcends their simple understanding?" Edna asked serious.
"I do indeed." Sorey answered.
"Sorey. This is the reason why I don't use my therion powers in front of humans." Velvet explained. "When I use my arm, its true form is visible to them. I can't count how many times I've been called and treated as a monster under my lifetime. We don't want you to go through something like that." Sorey looked down the ground, processing what they were saying.
"It's your call." Mikleo said assuring. "I won't stop you."
"But think carefully about who stands to lose the most from what they're warning you about." Kurumi warned him and Sorey nodded in understanding before thinking to himself.
"Changed your mind, I take it?" Edna asked.
"Yeah." Sorey answered and Velvet smiled at his decision. "Better to do it late at night after everyone's gone to bed."
"...Kay." Edna replied.
"Fine by me." Lailah agreed.
"That's an excellent choice, Lord Sorey." Kurumi said in relief.
"Sorry, I know everyone was worried about me." Sorey apologized. "I probably just wasn't thinking."
"Just like going up a mountain which is rumored to have a dragon." Velvet pointed out simply and Sorey stiffed.
"You tend to take too much on by yourself." Mikleo said as he crossed his arms, a grin present from the comment Velvet made.
"Yeah, I'll watch out." Sorey replied to his childhood friend as Alisha and the old man arrived.
"Oh, Sorey, Velvet! You're back!" Alisha said happily.
"Hey!" The Shepherd greeted.
"Lord Sorey, what exactly is it you intend to do?" The old man asked.
"It is something we can't explain." Velvet answered, walking next to Sorey and Mikleo explained the situation to Alisha. "If we told you, you probably wouldn't believe it. Besides, the sun is setting as of now. It's better if we discuss this tomorrow when we have the energy."
"I have to agree." Alisha said, now knowing what is going on. "How about we handle this first thing tomorrow?"
"Ah. A fine idea!" The old man replied. "Very well." Sorey nodded in agreement.
"Then we'll see you tomorrow." Alisha said to the group before discussing something with the old man, who name was Neif as Velvet picked it up.
"Let's get to the inn." Velvet said and everyone agreed.
Everyone got back to the inn to wait but Velvet quickly walked away from the rest, not noticing that Edna was following her. Velvet was thinking about getting some practise in to her seraphic artes again before finally teaching Sorey how to use them, just like the way Zenrus taught her. The original Lord of Calamity stood in the same spot they were talking when Sorey was told about his duty as the Shepherd, looking at the ring on her middle finger before having an outstretched hand forwards the lake in front of her.
The ring glowed and butterflies swarmed around her, changing her clothes into the red version of Seres' clothing but left the glove over her left hand untouched. The butterflies flew gently away and one landed on an outstretched finger of Edna's, who took a good look at it. Velvet took a deep breath and thought about her training with Zenrus.
"Remember, seraphim are connected to nature itself. Your powers allows you to access the earth pulses too, feel that energy and use it."
'...feel the energy and use it.' Velvet repeated in her mind and started casting her spells across the water, making glitter in the air as she casted them against each other in fast pace with her eyes closed before opening them again.
"I never thought the Lord of Calamity would walk away to practice seraphic artes on her own." Edna pointed out and Velvet smirked before turning to face the girl.
"We've never met before and yet you know who I am." Velvet said as Edna walked over to her while twirling her umbrella.
"Brother talked about you a lot in both his letters and in person." Edna explained while looking at the lake. "He also said that I won't be able to meet you even if someone found a way."
"Yeah, it was until twenty years ago. Now, I'm back, stronger than I ever was back then but I still don't know how this happened. I've become a Nephilim and now have to protect Sorey, the only person I really care about and a Shepherd at that."
"I imagined you would be irritated and angry about working with a Shepherd considering your history, not someone that would risk her life for someone like Sorey." Velvet just smiled at the comment.
"You sound like Eizen, that's understandable." The two look at the lake and listened to the small waves it made by the breeze. "People change, may it be good or bad as long as you have friends that support you." Edna looked down sadly and thought about her many questions in her head she wanted to ask.
"How close were you with Eizen?"
"I can't say I was close to him but he have saved my life a couple of times. I owe it to him that I'm not dead. Eizen was just a good friend to me and everyone else. I think I've found a way to bring him back." Edna was shocked at the statement and her eyes started to tear up.
"You can bring him back? But when a seraph becomes a dragon, there's no turning back which means you have to kill them in order to save them."
"I'm a therion, a being that feeds on malevolence but I also have the flames of purification as well. It isn't too late to save Eizen." Velvet turned to face Edna with a determined expression her face. "He responded to my name, Eizen is still fighting inside. All we have to do is to make sure Sorey and the others are strong enough to fight him, not even we were able to take down a dragon like that."
"So all we need is Sorey to be strong enough to handle himself against a Lord of Calamity and not necessary defeat him." Velvet nodded in correction and the earth seraph gave a small smile, knowing there is still hope for her brother.
"Well, hello there, ladies." Both of them sighed in annoyance as Zavied came with grin on his face. "Having a girls' talk?" Edna walked over to him and poked him with her umbrella. "Ow! What's that for?!"
"You ruined the moment." Edna answered simply and slightly annoyed.
"We were having it just fine before you came, Zavied." Velvet explained.
"Oh, come on, Velvet." Zavied said as he nudged the black haired maiden. "You look good in a dress, mind dressing up like that more often." Velvet snapped and kicked the wind seraph hard in the stomach as well slightly away from the two, Velvet brushed down her dress slightly in irritation.
"For your information, I may be wearing a dress but this is my seraphic form so I can focus easier." The Nephilim replied irritated as Zavied got back up. "As well I've already been married and have a child, besides you're not my type."
"Wait, you have a kid?!" Zavied exclaimed in shocked and Edna gasped slightly in surprise.
"Yes. Though he doesn't know." Velvet replied, looking back at the lake.
"Under this whole time and you never told any of us?!" Zavied yelled as Velvet changed back into her regular clothes.
Edna noticed sad and guilty look in her eyes and thought back on those times Velvet was by Sorey's side the whole time, helping him and seem to care about him a lot. She have even heard Velvet tell her partner to look after him when she was struggling against Eizen, Edna even noticed the looks the black haired maiden had when they walked to the inn. Everything made sense why she was so protective of the Shepherd.
"It's Sorey, isn't he?" Edna asked calmly and Velvet nodded slightly.
"Yeah, he is." Velvet answered.
"The offspring of the Lord of Calamity is the Shepherd, huh." Zavied said before looking serious. "That's why you interrupted our fight because he is your son."
"Sorey doesn't know what he is nor even who I was in the past…" Velvet explained and takes out her amulet to look at it. "His father died when he was just an infant to protect us. I don't want to think about how he'll react if he finds out."
At the same time, Sorey was in his room and lying on his bed, looking at the moon half of the amulet hanging from its chain. It has been with him since he was a baby, the only thing that could help him find his mother. Mikleo came in after he and Lailah looked for Edna and Velvet, eventually the two gave up when Kurumi explained that Velvet was probably practising on her own.
"Sorey." Mikleo called out, getting the Shepherd's attention. "How long will you be staring at that pendant?"
"Sorry. I was just thinking." Sorey answered, sitting up.
"You can tell me, you know." Mikleo pointed out as he sat down in the chair next to his friend. "I've known you since we were little. Whatever it is on your mind, you can tell me."
"Under the last few days, I've been feeling so comfortable around Velvet." Sorey explained unsure. "Like, her presence makes me more calm and make me think about my decisions a lot more carefully. I don't know. Do you think it's weird?"
"No, actually I don't. To be fair, Velvet makes me feel that way too at times but not as much though."
"Seriously! Here I thought I wasn't the only one." Mikleo twitched an eyebrow in irritation.
"For your information, I saw Velvet devour a hellion up close when she saved me from it."
"Oh."
"But I get it. Velvet has a big influence on you, I don't think it was a coincidence we ran into her back at the festival."
Sorey nodded in agreement before looking back the pendant in his hand. He had to admit, Velvet was someone he could trust even if they haven't known each other for that long but deep inside, he could sense something was familiar about her for some reason. Sorey could only assume it was his imagination.
When the clock struck midnight, the party immediately left the inn and was joined back with Alisha as they walked back to the bridge. When they arrived, Velvet and Alisha looked around the area before doing to Sorey as a sign that the coast is clear for him and the seraphim.
"Okay, here goes!" Sorey replied before turning to the bridge and activating his armatus with Edna. The color was now an orange and stone fists levitating over his arms.
Everyone waited patiently as Sorey looked at his fist before he struck one on the ground, a sound wave appeared appeared on the ground. Pillars of earth came out of the river right where the broken bridge is. Sorey deactivates the armatus and Edna joined them once again, the Shepherd turned to the Nephilim, who was smiling proudly at him for a job well done.
"My word!" The voice of Neif was heard and not soon after came the old man, everyone were nervous of how much he's seen. "I can scarcely believe what I'm seeing! So this is the Shepherd's power…"
"Mr. Neif, I can explain." Alisha said worried.
"This means Marlind is saved!" Neif exclaimed in relief and shocked the group a bit. "Oh, joyous day! Thank you! Oh thank you so much! Three cheers for the Shepherd!"
"Y-You don't have to thank me." Sorey replied embarrassed and had a hand on the back of his head.
"Lord Sorey, you intend to head out right away, don't you?" Neif asked. "In order to avoid prying eyes."
"Yes, we have get to Marlind as soon as possible." Velvet answered.
"I suspected as much. Then if you may, please escort Lady Alisha with you as well." Neif asked which confused the princess.
"Mr. Neif?" Alisha asked confused and the old man turned to her.
"Lady Alisha…" Neif started, "I know your position is a difficult one, but your duty in Marlind is all too crucial. Please go at once, and demonstrate your famed ability and sincerity!"
"So you knew…" Alisha said.
"I may be stuck here for now, but if you three are in Marlind…" Neif continued, "...Then I will know I can rest easy. Please attend your duties and leave the bridge to me."
"Understood." Sorey said in understanding.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Neif." Alisha apologized. "You have my thanks."
"I shall make sure the bridge is even better than before, milady!" Neif said determined.
"I'm glad that he wasn't in a panic state just know." Kurumi pointed out to her partner. "Or else we would have more problems on our hands."
"True enough." Velvet agreed, tighten her grip of her shoulder bag. "Let's just hope this continues whenever we don't notice prying eyes."
"Neif, might we take some medicine from you?" Sorey asked kindly.
"Can I ask such a thing after all you've done?" Neif questioned and Sorey nodded. "Thank you. I am in your debt once more." Neif gave Sorey a bag with the medicine before Sorey packs it in his pocket.
"I think we'll be off now." The young Shepherd told him. "Thanks for all your help, Neif."
"Poppycock. It is I who should be thanking you!" Neif disagreed.
"Let's go, Alisha." Sorey said to his teammate.
"Will I really be able to cross the river with you?" The princess knight asked worried.
"I don't see that would be a problem." Velvet answered. "If I've managed to cross terrain like this. As long it is just you then it should be fine."
"Mr. Neif, thank you for being so understanding." Alisha thanked the old man. "We shall meet again!" The group started to walk over to the bridge with Neif waving to them.
"Lord Sorey! Thank you so much! Lady Alisha, I leave matters in Marlind to your capable hands!" Neif said his goodbyes. "And Miss Crowe, please look after those two! I know they are in good hands if you're with them!"
Velvet smiled at the statement. Of course, these two are relatively new to this world she's been living in but she had a responsibility to look after her son. The three humans and wolf jumped over safely to the other side with the help of the stone pillars. Once they all made it over to the other side, they continued their journey forwards Marlind.
