Disclaimer: I don't own any of the main characters (except for one or two) since the rights to Tales of Zestiria belong to Bandai Namco and NOT me.

Wishes and Malevolence

"Okay. How are we gonna get to Gododdin? Just encase you've forgotten, it's on the other side of the continent! We can't just walk there —especially with you in this weakened state and unable to fight."

Sorey froze.

His brother had brought up a good point.

Getting to Gododdin would be a challenge for various reasons such as the distance from Ladylake to all the way to there, it would take about three months to get to get to Gododdin.

There were many twists, turns, villages, towns and mountains to traverse through to get there…and not to mention all the hellions that were undoubtedly lying in wait for them on the way there. They would more than likely get themselves killed on the journey there so they needed to think carefully about how to solve such an almighty dilemma. Besides, the fact that Sorey was still weakened due to using a lot of his strength from spending two and a half decades purifying a massive and legendary seraph would mean that they wouldn't last long out in the field with aggressive monsters and such, and there was the additional issue of no one being fit to fight right now —Zen especially since he was still somewhat recovering from being attacked the night before…

There was a lot of factors playing into this, making it even more of a problem.

Sorey pondered on this.

Perhaps he could try and ask Maotelus to help them?

They were close enough to his shrine so…

Sorey, Zenrey and Mikleo started to make their way out the small cabin they had been taking refuge in. It had been deliberated whether or not Zen should abandon this trip to return to Ladylake yet he adamantly refused, even with Sorey trying to persuade him that not only would it keep him safe but it would also appease those who were probably miffed at the Prince already —including that Augustine guy…but Zen was steadfast in refusing since he had already left so going all the way home would only lead risk to him being injured further. Besides, as the hellions would probably sense those who could see him, the prince would probably be a target thanks to his resonance and would probably even be killed if left alone.

It was too dangerous.

The group was already still just outside of Ladylake, in the area of Lakehaven heights so it didn't take long for them when they started to make their way to Artorious' throne.

The group of two humans and one seraphim sublord clambered back up the mountainside and made their way to the ruins while they tried their best not to get into any unnecessary battles with hellions along the way to avoid getting ambushed yet again.

For the two brothers, that was where all of this started.

Sorey and Mikleo remembered it all fondly how they were exploring the ruins when Gramps' lightning strikes struck his domain and, as they attempted to flee the ruins to avoid said thunder, they wound up falling through a hole and who should they stumble on to but none other than an at-the-time unconscious Alisha. True, she was unwilling to even surrender her name at that point, but Sorey's kindness and unwillingness to abandon her must have opened her eyes to something because a spark kindled between them from that point on.

In a sense, that was when the adventure truly began.

While Sorey and Mikleo scaled the mountainside terrain with relative ease, Zen had a bit of trouble and it made sense since he was a prince and was unfamiliar with the landscape of a mountain and the rugged ground was difficult for him to scale so, to help him find some better footing, a stick was lent to him and he used that supportive stick like his life depended on it.

While Zenrey had a difficult time getting a costumed to such ground but he'd also never been exposed to such conditions such as this with the wind bristling his blonde mop of hair, the sun on his back, the sensation of walking so much that his legs felt like they were going to drop off and buckle right out from underneath him and so much more. He'd never felt these things before and, while he was in discomfort and he did want to moan, he also remembered how he said how he was responsible for himself…but…he didn't know how to look after himself.

Not in the way it mattered, at least.

But he was determined to just handle it as most adults do and just get on with it!

The three men stepped lightly over the craggy underfoot, or as lightly as one could, and Zen must have stepped on a weakened rock or something because some of the ground gave way underneath him as the weight of said rocks falling out from under him pulled him downwards and it could easily have ended up in him falling to his death. He was so startled that he even let go of his stick and he couldn't bare it as he felt his essential security blanket fly right out of his hand and whirl down towards the earth below. He swore he could have heard it strike the ground with a sickening "crack" while gravity sucked him down and he knew that he was probably going to be next to make that sound when all his bones strike the ground like that stick did.

Zen gasped and he couldn't help but cry out in a mix of shock and surprise when he began to fall down.

"WOAH!"

Thankfully, though, Sorey had lightning fast reflexes!

He not only turned around but had managed to zip back over to him but had had managed to bend down, hook his fingers around a large pillar of rock behind him with one hand and seize hold of one of Zen's arms in his other hands (whilst in mid-fall) all in one movement. It was difficult to hold on to such a tremendous weight, it felt like his arm was going to drop right off with all the strain but he grit his teeth and tried to ignore it as he gripped on tight to the young man who nearly just plunged to his death right in front of him.

"Zenrey!" Sorey cried and then growled through gritted teeth. "Hold on to me, bud! I've gotcha!"

The shepherd's voice shook with both surprise and tremendous effort but there was an obvious strained undertone present within as well as he could feel all the muscles in his arm rip and pop and severe as Zen's body threatened to sink deeper and eventually slip out of his clasp.

Mikleo, startled, rushed over and proceeded to run over to lend the two some aid.

His heart had jumped into his throat and pounding hard as he raced forwards, being cautious not to step on an unstable ledge himself and wind up joining the young man into a literal downwards slope that could more than likely lead to both Zenrey's doom and his own. Adrenaline was chocked into his veins with each hastened yet careful step he took to hurry in order to lend his adopted brother and the human prince he was helping a helping hand of his own.

It didn't take the water seraph long until he reached them both and he, too, proceeded to hook his hand around a rock differing to the one Sorey was clinging on to one-armed before he stooped down and quickly grabbed hold of Zen's arm. He couldn't help but grunt in shock and terror as his foot almost slipped when he was caught by surprise with how heavy the young man was but, thankfully, he had just the right amount of foresight and calm and collectedness to regain his footing and maintain his grip on the dirty blonde-haired man's wrist.

In a dual effort, Sorey and Mikleo both grabbed a tight hold of each of Zen's arms and proceeded to hoist him up.

The effort took a lot of straining and struggle from the two human/seraphim brothers as they hefted the human to safety up on to a different rocky mountain ledge that was far sturdier than the one that almost caused the Prince to fall to his doom moments prior. Their bodies and legs were shaking as they tried to regather themselves and their disarrayed thoughts and frayed nerves as they clambered far away from the ledge where they almost tumbled to their respective deaths.

The three were breathless from a combination of the effort, the strain, the adrenaline wearing off and the fear that fuelled them until now.

"…Huff…huff…huff…huff…" Sorey huffed and puffed, tired and breathless. "A-Are you guys okay?"

Mikleo coughed, exhausted, while he recollected himself after the fright that rattled his nerves moments ago.

"I-I'm fine…what about you, Zen?"

Zenrey sat there in a momentary daze, trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened. His chest heaved in and out and he clung to the ground below and he could only stare off into space while he tried his best to process what had happened. His lungs felt deflated, he could hardly breathe for a few seconds that dragged along like hours as he sat still on the ground beneath him and his breaths came out shuddery while he tried to let the moments pass and the rush of terror fade.

After hyperventilating for a moment, letting his fleeting heart settle, he closed his eyes and then exhaled deeply.

Once reopening his eyes and set about settling his disorganised mind and nerves, Zen nodded.

"Y-Yeah…I'll be okay…j-just need a minute."

Sorey, Mikleo and Zenrey just sat around for a couple minutes to regain their strength as well as their composures but they couldn't sit around and dwell upon their near-death experience forever as they needed to forge their paths ahead, literally. While they rose to stand on their own two legs, said legs quaked and trembled and ached due to how much they walked already.

"Ugh!" Sorey groaned. "Come on, guys, let's keep going."

The Shepherd bent down and grabbed their bag full of items, sack-like bags made from prickle boar skin and handed it off to Zen and Mikleo; the two took the bags thankfully and nodded while both smiling happily at him. The group resumed their trek through the rugged yet craggy mountainside, their steps were strong and their faces were etched with determination.

All this was just a reminder as to how much they needed to find Lailah as soon as possible!

It took a bit more climbing but, eventually, the trio had made it to the village of Elysia.

It was decided amongst them that they bypass the town itself as they had business to deal with at the ruins first and foremost and casual visits could wait; the seraphim folk were probably happy so there was no need to disrupt the happiness they were currently living in with any unnecessary visits as of the moment.

There were other times they could visit and now was not one of those times…

The group of three crossed the point before the first of the two village entryways and made their way over to the ruin entrance that was to the left right between the two archways, crossing through bits of rock and rubble, surrounding trees, Elysian goats and they also evaded the curious prickle boar herd that came a'prowling when they saw the two humans and one seraphim trespassing on their little patch of land and, only upon reaching the entrance of Mt Mabinogio ruins, Sorey and Mikleo felt a wave of nostalgia hit them.

This was where their adventure started almost twenty five years ago…

This is where they first met Alisha and this is where, in the depths of these great ancient ruins, Sorey vanished for two decades.

This was where the great adventure began, this is also where the great adventure ended.

And now a new adventure was starting in the very same place.

The three entered through the rather small structure and started to make a descent down the steps which led into the deeper depths of the old ruins.

The air was musty, stale and moistened; the mere act of breathing threatened to clog the lungs up with dust while it was as if water hung in the air, similar to what it was like after a heavy rainfall. Cobwebs were everywhere, hanging on the ceilings and stretching along the walls and causing small droplets of water dew to drip from the condensed stone walls and ceilings to the floor. Tree roots and tree trunks stuck out of every other crevice and crater that made up this ancient underground temple made up of black stone and dark, moss-covered brick/stone floors.

The two men and one seraph kept making their descent down the long staircase while trying not to shiver from the damp and cough from the dust.

Sorey and Mikleo both found their eyes drifting around as they took in their surroundings before their gazes ultimately fell upon each other and they frowned since they had forgotten how long it had been since they had last been down here…but had it always been this cold? It was easy to tell that malevolence was present here, even without Lailah! But how? How could that be? There shouldn't be a Lord of calamity anymore, Heldalf was defeated! Where was this malevolence coming from then?

Wait.

Sorey wondered whether could this be part of that "storm" that Mao had mentioned? He lowered his head, shook his it to himself and glared at nothing while a fire of determination ignited within his soul as now was not the time to be pondering on such things, he could ask Mao himself when they see him.

He would see to that.

He swore it.

"Brrrr…." Zenrey hugged himself and ducked his head between his shoulders to keep warm, wishing he'd brought a scarf. "…Wh-Why is it so c-c-c-cold?"

Sorey, too, felt the chilling nip at the air but was more accustomed to it because of the fact that his shepherds garb helped keep his body safe from feeling too cold so he grit his teeth and crossed his arms across his chest as he forged ahead with the others, he couldn't let them see him weak since they relied on him to be strong right now.

Being a water seraph, Mikleo was unaffected by the conditions and the cold didn't bother him in the slightest but he did get the odd snuffly nose.

He explained what was probably going on.

"Must be the malevolence effecting the environment around us."

Zen perked up a bit.

"But how?"

Sorey decided to try and explain.

"Maotelus told me how somethings going on with the world and, clearly, it's pretty out of whack already. I guess this is just a sign of that, besides a lot of bad stuff happened down here so I guess there's still a bit of malevolence left over from all that and that malevolence is effecting the atmosphere in here."

Zen shakily shrugged both shoulders.

"I…I guess th-th-th-that m-m-makes s-s-sense…" He replied through chattering teeth.

The further the group of three ventured down, the colder it got.

But they were caught off guard when they heard a loud shriek which bellowed in their ears.

EEEEEEEEEK!

Before anyone could blink, three huge insects dropped down from the ceiling.

They landed right in front of the group.

They, surprised, staggered backwards in stunned shock with their backs pressed against one another's, swords/staff at the ready as a trio of big and horrifyingly big spider with smoke and miasma dripping from their mandibles whilst smoke sizzled and leaked from its huge body. Their eyes were fixed into fierce glares as their blades were readied and pointed and Mikleo's staff was pointed and aimed at one of the spiders.

On the bright side, at least fighting should warm them up!

Sorey unsheathed his sword from his scabbard and whirled it in his fingers before pointing the blade right at the spiders. His grip on the hilt was so tight that his hand was trembling a bit from the pressure and the cold that tried to bite into his exposed skin. His eyes were entirely locked upon the giant insect hellions. His stomach and chest were tight and his knees threatened to buckle as he stood at the ready.

Zen also unsheathed his own blade and slid his sword out from his belt before he pointed it menacingly at the bugs. The wound his sustained earlier on his shoulder throbbed and stung painfully and his back arched while he tried to mentally prepare himself for this battle in just a few though Mikleo healed it earlier, it continued to bother him for some reason. He never imagined that he'd have to battle so abruptly while he left the safety of the castle but he knew he needed the experience, he needed to feel the blood rush through his body (without losing it), he needed to feel the wind in his mane before he had to become king…even though he didn't want to be. He shook his head, now was not the time for self-pity! Now was the time to fight tooth and nail and he wasn't backing down for anything!

Mikleo brought out his staff, keeping it raised, his eyes focused on the three hellions. His long white ponytail blew in the wind and his piercing purple irises remained locked on his foes. He'd spent so long waiting for his brother to return and had explored multiple ruins while reminiscing on the time they had together and now he was finally back! They may not be related by blood but they saw each other as family since they were raised from very young babies alongside one another so he would have walked through hot coals and lava lakes while in the most agonising pain imaginable before losing his brother again!

The three lunged at their targets.

Sorey took one spider, Zen took another and Mikleo took the third.

Sorey slashed his sword, cutting and hurting one.

Zen rammed his fist into one of its eight legs (by accident) and disarmed it, causing it to lose its footing.

Mikleo cast a water arte and watched as fiery blue energy formed into a ball at the top of his staff before he aimed and fired the shot right at the spider itself before watching as the arte water ball hit the spider full-on and caused it to freeze in a chamber of ice.

"Guys!" Sorey called out to his friends, gripping the handle on his sword so tight that his knuckles turned white. "We've gotta flee while they're distracted!"

Zen was about to protest on running from a fight as he knew that they can't keep retreating when the getting was good like this! If he were to be honest, he felt it rather weak but he lost all will to argue when he noticed Mikleo grit his teeth and nod once in agreement. That convinced him that maybe backing off was a good idea.

As if sensing the prince's reluctance, Sorey explained in an urgent shout.

"Remember! We've gotta have Lailah with us, if we do then we can purify these things and get 'em back to normal if we're not too late!"

With that explanation, there was no good reason to keep this battle going.

They had to leave and they had to leave now!

The three slid under the spiders eight legs and sprang to their feet before they took off like darts.

They ran in a half-circle around the two giant disarmed insects and the frozen stiff one before they swerved tightly around a corridor and ran like the wind. They made a mad dash down the hall in a blind panic and they could hear the screeching of evil giant spiders grow louder as they drew nearer in spite of the fact that one spider was injured and another was disoriented. The heroic group of three fleeing their two hellion arachnid pursuers felt like their feet were on fire and their lungs burned for oxygen as they practically skipped unsteadily down another flight of stairs which was basically an abrupt plummet for them, it was miraculous they didn't trip, and they stumbled so fast that they were afraid of possibly tripping and flying down the staircase before they crashed to the bottom to be greeted by their faces meeting stone and moss.

As the three kept running and running, Sorey suddenly had an idea.

"Guys! Hang on!" He shouted over his shoulder while praying that his two teammates could hear him over the sounds of their own breathing and the winds of their own acceleration whipping in their faces.

Neither Mikleo and Sorey had time to ask what he was talking about before Sorey grabbed each one of their hands —Mikleo's left and Zen's right— and took off down the stairs while dragging them along behind him as they started to each what looked like a dead end at first. The two watched with growing horror as a dark wall looked like it was coming up to meet their faces directly and they began to worry about whether or not they were about to meet their dooms by evil hellion spiders…and then Sorey rammed his shoulder into the wall, body-checking the wall with his shoulder as hard as possible, causing him to cry out abruptly.

Both Zen and Mikleo cringed as they saw that the impact possibly caused the shepherd to dislocate his shoulder.

It turned out, however, that this did have a purpose as there had apparently been some sort of button in the wall that caused the wall to open up some sort of unseen entranceway, meaning that the dead end was actually a hidden door that could only open by some button in the wall; the instant the door opened up, Sorey used all the strength in his arms to fling both Zen and Mikleo into the open doorway to safety and he skidded to a halt alongside the open door way and slammed his wand into the wall again and, just as one of the two spiders was about to lunge right at Sorey, the door closed.

The now-shut door trapped the two spiders on the other side.

They were clearly unhappy with their entrapment as they screeched and squealed in displeasure of their meal having gotten away.

The three had gotten out by the skin of their teeth.

Sorey, panted heavily, exhausted as he collapsed to the floor and breathed hard to try and catch his breath. His lungs burned for oxygen and he clasped his chest tight with one hand in an effort to steady the throbbing in his sternum. He had to recover himself in order to stop his lungs from collapsing right there and his entire body seemed to pulsate from all the effort he had wasted…not including his earlier heroics from rescuing Zen from plummeting off a mountain either. It was only when he started to get his breath back that he felt the twinging throbbing pain in his shoulder and ramming the wall.

It was not unnoticed by his (literally) floored comrades either.

Zen and Mikleo lay on the ground as they tried to recover from what they had just saw and experienced, their eyes were wide and they immediately grew concerned when they saw the pain flinching across Sorey's face as he closed his eyes and lay his head back against the wall to cool the sweat dripping off of his body. Not to mention, ice clung to the floor in a veil of frost and almost stuck the downed heroes to the ground like glue and their breaths were practically mist now!

It was even colder down here than it was before!

"S-Sorey?" Mikleo popped up off the ground, looking over his brother. "Are you okay? What on Asgard possessed you to do that?"

Sorey, arms shaking, gripped his sore shoulder and grimaced.

"Had…to…get…huff, huff, huff, huff…get…away…huff, puff, huff, puff…Koff! Hack! Koff! Hack! Koff!"

The shepherd broke off into coughs and sputters as he recovered his breath.

Mikleo shushed his brother trying to calm him.

"Ssh, ssh! Easy does it, bro, easy!" The white-haired seraph gently took his brother's shoulder in his hand, only for him to flinch away immediately with a cry of pain after he did so.

"AUGH!" Sorey cried out. "Ouch!"

"Sorry! Hang on a sec, I'll heal it." Mikleo raised a glowing hand and placed it gently on Sorey's hurt shoulder, which glowed a bright blinding glow in response. He noticed the pain quickly leave his brother's face and it was quickly replaced with relief due to not being in pain anymore.

"Th-Thanks, Mikleo…I appreciate it." Sorey sighed, his words overflowing with relief.

Mikleo only clicked his tongue and turned his head away, trying not to glare at the two humans.

"Yeesh. What is it with you guys and hurting your shoulders?" He tutted.

Sorey and Zen both looked at each other and shrugged.

A while later…

Sorey, Mikleo and Zenrey walked through the stone ground and it was empty of any creatures or hellions of any kind. Thankfully the entire area was free of malevolence so there was no reason to worry about the cold or anything as this area had no reason to be cold in the first place. There was, however, this bizarre feeling of intrusion that made that made them feel like they trespassed on to a grand area —like they were breaking into a kings throne room.

It was like if there was a pin drop, it would be heard throughout the entire area!

The group crept along as they searched for the being they sought out.

Maotelus was a huge dragon with nowhere to go so there was no way he could vanish into thin air.

The group looked around but there was no sign of him anywhere…

This place was called Artorious' throne, apparently. It was a place that Heldalf had claimed as a battleground while Maotelus had claimed it as his shrine and people had worshipped him until they died down in their worship and had even forgotten about the dragon of light whom, years ago, used to be a seraph known as Lapichet and travelled with Velvet Crowe and other companions. Velvet had said how she had travelled with Mao and some others and had even uttered about how she had bonded with the great Innominat. He didn't know who that was, the Celestial record never even mentioned him!

Yet Sorey knew that Velvet was bonded with him and currently in stasis with him in Innominat's domain as he remembered what Velvet had told him in his dream…but he needed to hear more and was interested in hearing more from Mao himself but wanted to find him first.

"Hey!" He called out. "Mao, where are you!?"

Mikleo and Zen were about to shush the shepherd but refrained from doing so when they heard a distant pebble fall. Their hearts stopped as they looked all around them, eyes wide and full of alarm, and they even got ready to attack again encase it was another Hellion…but then their eyes relaxed when they saw someone peak out from behind a huge rock.

It…looked like a small boy.

He has piercing emerald green eyes and blonde hair with a swirl on top representing a halo. He wore a white cloak with a short blue cape, long black socks, black shoes, and a large black choker with a yellow jewel that looked somewhat like a bell. He looked feeble but polite as well and like he couldn't hurt a fly.

Mikleo blinked.

It was a seraph too!

He didn't know what a small child seraphim would be doing in these parts but he also felt charmed by the little fellow. Before he could even say "hello", though, the boy ran up to meet them when his eyes came to rest on Sorey.

"Well hi there, Sorey!" The boy greeted politely. "I didn't think you'd come back to see me so soon."

The shepherd smirked, bent down and patted Mao on the head whilst minding his bit of halo hair.

"Hey there, Mao! I hope ya don't mind but I could use your help." He said while gesturing to his friends with one arm.

"Wait-" Mikleo sputtered.

"-Mao!?" Zen finished, also sputtering.

Mao took a couple steps back, taking in the group of three's roughed-up appearance, and nodded in understanding. It was easy to see that these guys were struggling a lot and he knew that he would be remiss if he didn't help them when they helped him out a lot when they didn't really need to.

"I see. Well you can tell me what's going on and I'll see what I can do."

That's what Sorey did.

He explained what was going on, what he had figured out so far about the worlds state of affairs, how his friends were separated and how he needed one of them if he wanted to regain the power to purify hellions like he used to all those years ago. He told all to the young seraphim whom lended him a listening ear and it was a very welcomed listening ear too!

It felt like hours upon hours of explaining before Mao looked up at Sorey.

"You're headed to Gododdin, right? To meet with your friend Lailah? In the town where they worship the fire empyrean known as Musiphe?" He asked.

Sorey, Mikleo and Zen all nodded simultaneously.

"Uh-huh! That's right!" Sorey exclaimed.

The small boy sighed as he hung his head and gave it a slight shake.

"I guess this means that I'm gonna have to accompany you guys..."

Before anyone could even blink, small boy had become engulfed in a bright light and blew up into a humongous empyrean dragon. He expanded his huge wings and stared down at the two men and one seraph who just stared up at him right back, Sorey was fine but Mikleo and Zen had both turned pale as they beheld the massive white dragon. So…this was who Sorey had spent purifying for twenty five years…it was no wonder he was tired and rather weakened after that.

While Mikleo was stunned, Zen was quaking in his boots.

"U-U-U-Uuuuhhh…!"

Maotelus, despite his huge size, shrunk into himself timidly.

"My apologies. My size can be intimidating, I guess." He muttered while he looked away.

"It's okay!" Sorey chirped enthusiastically while not phased in the least. "Welcome aboard, buddy!"

Maotelus, despite being a huge white dragon, smiled (or what could pass as a smile on a dragon) at the shepherd gratefully and proceeded to lower one wing so the humans and seraph could use it as a stepladder to allow them entry to climb on to his back so they could fly there. The two shaken teammates of Sorey didn't dare argue out of fear of the huge dragon squishing then and just climbed up the wing while grabbing on to the massive white scales encase their foot slipped or something but it was difficult to do so with trembling limbs and quaking fingertips.

It felt like an eternity had passed by the time the group was safely made it on top.

"Hold on tight!" Maotelus roared as he took to the skies and everyone felt their stomachs go belly up.

They screamed as they soared to new heights (literally) as they were now on their way to Gododdin:

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

A/N: Hi, guys. Sorry its been awhile since I last updated, I hadn't played Tales of Zestiria for awhile and I thought I should take a break. I have a plan on where this fic is going. It might take me awhile to update but I shouldn't take as long as I did before and I want to thank you lot for your patience.

They should hopefully find Lailah in the next episode so we should get more action soon!

Thanks!

-Chloemcg