Lady Calamity and the Shepherd (Tales of Berseria × Tales of Zestiria Crossover)

Chapter 23: Even Deeper into Tintagel Ruins

Everyone just stared at the Iris Gem. Velvet turned away from the others. Sorey and Mikleo turned to face Velvet. "Velvet..." Sorey called, softly. She flinched. "Was... Was that us?" Mikleo asked. Finally everyone looked at her. "Velvet... how long have you known about Laphicet?" Magilou asked, afraid for her oath. "Since we entered the Earthpulses. And Arthur showed me what had happened." Velvet said with no emotion. "Velvet... was that us?" Sorey asked the question again. "Velvet, you know Maotelus?" Lailah asked. "Yes. His name is Laphicet, named after my brother. I gave him a name when he was just a number." Velvet said, dodging Sorey and Mikleo's question. This was frustrating both boys. As people kept asking her questions, she was able to dodge answering Sorey and Mikleo's advances, until Rose yelled "ENOUGH!" This made everyone freeze and the dog Seraph jump where he was sitting. Everyone looked at her. "Velvet! Seeing as though you won't look or acknowledge either of them, I'll ask the question. Were those babies Sorey and Mikleo?" she asked.

This made everyone look at her. Sorey looked at Rose with a thankful glance and she merely smiled and winked. "... Yes. Those were Sorey and Mikleo. I believe I turned Mikleo into a Seraph and blessed Sorey." Velvet finally answered. "Then why did I call you my mom?" Sorey asked the older girl. "I... I'm actually not sure..." Velvet said, equally confused. "Oysh. What do you think?" Edna asked the dog. "Hmm... It seems that you all need to go searching for the reasons behind the world's Malevolence and why your female friend, The Previous Lord of Calamity is here. I say head back to your sleeping area." Oysh said, tilting his dog head and panting. "Hold up!" Rose said, catching everyone's attention. We haven't found anything yet. And there's more ruin left to explore!" Rose said, a smile on her face. This made Mikleo, Laphicet and Sorey smiled. "Well then, I guess there's only one thing to do..." Sorey said with an excited smile. "Yep!" Rose said. "KEEP GOING!" all four of them cheered with glee.

"Oh my..." Eleanor said with a smile. "Heh. Guess we aren't done with this little expedition yet." Mikleo said with a smile. Velvet let out an annoyed sigh. "Ugh... more ruin searching..." Magilou groaned with fake pain. "Hmph." Dezel grunted. Rokurou let out a loud laugh. "No vacation from THIS vacation." Edna said, hiding her excited smile. Eizen noticed and ruffled his sister's hair. "EIZEN!" she growled, trying to jab him with her umbrella as he expertly dodged. "Then let us proceed further. Sorey, are you ready?" Lailah asked the Shepherd. "Thanks everyone!" Sorey said with a smile. "All right Oysh. We're going to go further into the ruins for a bit." Sorey told the dog Seraph. "Gahahaha! You folks are a blast. I tell ya! Be careful out there!" He told them as the group walked off. "See ya' later, mystical doggie!" Rose called back. "Bye Oysh!" Laphicet called out, waving excitedly. And with that, both groups split off into different paths. With Velvet's group, they were coming across werewolves as well as undead druids. "So... a son, huh?" Eizen questioned as he and Velvet fought some Hellions. "Apparently!" she replied, fighting back a werewolf.

"So what's it like? Having a son?" he asked, punching a druid, sending the skeletal mage into a wall. "Don't know. But now I have a need to protect him." Velvet said, slamming her daemon hand onto another werewolf and eating it. "Why didn't you tell us?" Eizen asked, sounding betrayed. "I'm sorry! I was currently wondering how I could be his mother and how Laphicet was holding up! I'll leave all those on the back burner and tell you when I have a problem like this again!" She snapped, turning to face him and glared as the Malak glared back. Meanwhile, Magilou, Eleanor, Laphi, and Rokurou just watched them with pained expressions. "Well... someone is a tiny bit jealous..." Magilou said. "Velvet..." Laphicet groaned. "This isn't going to end well..." Eleanor said, silver flames lighting along the blade of her spear as she thrusted it at a Druid. "Let them fight it out." Rokurou replied, fighting alongside Eleanor. Meanwhile, the Shepherd was facing off against Serpents and Savage Wolves. "So... Your mom is the first Lord of Calamity! How does that feel?" Rose asked, dodging a lunge from a wolf. Lailah then shot a blast of fire at the Hellion, purifying it. "Not sure... feels weird though, seeing as though I have been adventuring with her for some time now." Sorey said, fused with Edna. He punched the gauntlet towards a Serpent, sending it flying.