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

Chapter 24: Sent to Rolance!

Alisha blushed a bit and motioned Medissa to follow her. They walked towards her balcony and sat down in the chairs. "You alright?" Medissa asked. "It just feels like Sorey forgot about me... I feel like I'm being cheated on, even though neither of us are dating." Alisha said with a sad sigh. Marie came out with a med-kit and saw Medissa sitting in one of the chairs. Marie gave a small squeak of fear as she took in the appearance of the older woman. "Y-You have company, Ma'am!" Marie said, shaking slightly as she put down the med-kit. Alisha smiled at the maid. "Yes. Please do not mind her appearance. After the Scarlett Night, she underwent a horrid transformation." She told her helper, extending her injured hand. Marie pulled out a bottle of a peach coloured gel and began applying some to the hand. "What happened?" Medissa asked, examining the hand. "Oh... nothing. Don't worry about it." Alisha said, a small blush of embarrassment on her face. When Marie finished applying the healing gel, she began wrapping the hand in bandages as Alisha spoke with Medissa.

Marie, upon finishing, got up after putting the equipment and started leaving. As she left, she took a quick glance over her shoulder, thinking how she would need to inform Lord Bartlow. Alisha and Medissa got up and began making their way down to the Church in the middle of the city. "How's Dyle?" Alisha asked with a smile. Medissa's smile fell and she gave a sad sigh. "The Malevolence Kamoana, the dogs and I emit has finally left him bedridden. His skin is slowly turning green and he is spasming once in a while. Yet, he smiles. He says 'the pain and suffering is worth it as long as you all aren't alone anymore.'" She said, emotion heavy in her voice. As they entered the church, a little girl ran towards them. "Alisha! Medissa!" Kamoana called, jumping at Alisha, who caught the excited girl in a hug. "Hey there sweetheart!" Alisha said with a bright smile. "And what are you doing here?" Medissa asked with a stern look. "Dyle was able to get out of bed for a bit and all of us came here to pray to Uno!" Kamoana said with a smile, pointing towards the top of the shrine.

There stood a sickly looking Dyle and Uno, who was healing him a bit. Orthie and Russ were running around, the former chasing the later and so forth. Medissa's face turned to fear and she ran towards her husband. "How are you, Kamoana?" Alisha asked with a gentle smile, sitting down with the young girl. Alisha spent a good few hours hanging out with the Therians. That is until Chancellor Bartlow walked in with a smug smile on his face. "Well, well, well. What have we here?" he said, a proud smirk on his face. Dyle quickly stood up with the help of Medissa and Kamoana hid behind Alisha who glared at the man. Both dogs growled at the man. "Bartlow..." Alisha acknowledged. "I was going to look for you at your home, but had the feeling you would be here." The man said to Alisha. He then regarded the Therians. "Though... I didn't expect you would be here... talking to daemons and monsters." He continued, a look of disgust on his face. "How dare you!?" Dyle yelled out weakly at the man. "Watch your tone. I am the High Chancellor of Hyland." Bartlow snapped back. "What do I owe to the pleasure of your time Lord Bartlow?" Alisha asked.

Bartlow glared at the girl, then gave an evil grin. He walked to her and gave her a piece of paper. Alisha unfolded the paper and read the documents. Her eyes widened. "The High Council has stated that you, Alisha Diphda, will go to Rolance to ask for a peace treaty." Bartlow stated, smiling smugly. "What!?" Kamoana exclaimed. "That is suicide! They will kill her on the spot!" Medissa yelled at the man. "Exactly." Bartlow said with an evil smile. Alisha's hands were shaking. "Damn you Bartlow..." Alisha muttered. "Good luck Princess. I'll let Your Majesty know that his child has been sent out for negotiation purposes. I'll tell the Council and Maltran not to expect you back... ANY time soon!" the man said, laughing maniacally as he exited the church. "Oh... and one more thing." Bartlow said, halting at the door. He looked over his shoulder at the shaking girl. "You leave... immediately..." he stated. With that, he left the church. Tears fell from the girl's eyes. "That man... he is full of Malevolence..." Uno said with a dark look. "Princess..." Dyle called out weakly. Alisha looked towards the air and felt something like a guitar chord strum inside her.

"Sorey... What do I do now?" Alisha softly cried.

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Sorey and Velvet's group all made it to the end of the gorge and found themselves in a map room. "Are we at the end?" Rose asked. "Think so." Mikleo said in both Sorey's and Rose's head. Rose flinched in fear. Seeing Rose's reaction, Mikleo said "I wonder if she ever really get used to this." Mikleo stated, exiting Sorey and Rose along with Lailah, Edna and Dezel. "This mural seems to depict the trail that the one who is to be the Shepherd must undertake. I did not expect to find such a thing here." Lailah explained. "Woah... the Shepherd's trial, huh?" Sorey questioned with fascination. Velvet looked at the four symbols and felt them slowly calling to her. That feeling was felt throughout the rest of her group as well. "Is this blotch here supposed to represent the continent of Glenwood? The this insignia thingie marks where the Shepherd is supposed to go. Is that right?" Rose asked.

"Lailah, is that the case?" Sorey asked. Lailah flinched and said with a serious voice "Tonight's dinner: Mabo Curry!" Rokurou and Magilou died from laughter as Lailah flushed with embarrassment. "Another untalkable topic..." Velvet said with a defeated sigh. "Don't mind her. She gets a little random sometimes when things come up that she can't talk about because of her oath." Sorey explained, looking defeated. "Oath? Like a diet?" Rose asked, confused. Lailah giggled. "No. An Oath is something you do to gain incredible power. In Miss. Lailah's case, she can't talk about anything related to the Shepherd or the previous Shepherd's. So Maotelus blessed her with the Silver Flames of Purification." Laphicet explained for Lailah. "Oh! That makes sense." Rose stated. "So there are four places with that mark?" Mikleo asked. "One in the North part of Lakehaven Hieghts, two in the Southern end of the middle of the continent..." Dezel pointed out. "And the last one is in the direction of Westronbolt Gorge." Edna finished.

"Well, if they call it a trial, that means something good happens if you finish it, right? Like maybe, you get some awesome equipment and some sweet power-ups!" Rose asked. "Yeah... Hey! Maybe I'll get the strength to overcome any kind of domain!" Sorey said, excitedly. "Umm... no amount of Seraphic power will give you that." Magilou commented. "Oh? How come?" Rose asked the Witch. "You see, Malaks, or Seraphim, are used as tools for the Shepherd to use amazing power. The Shepherd has his own domain that he emits upon being created. If Sorey's own power were to increase over time and countless battles, then his domain would get stronger as well." She explained to the Squire. "Still, we just might have hope against Heldalf after all." Mikleo said with a smile. "Uh, guys? English please? What's a domain? And what's a held-elf?" Rose questioned. "Well, it's, uh..." Sorey said, not really knowing what to say. "Know what? Forget it. We'll talk about it over a meal." Rose said, turning around. "We got what we came for, right?" Rose asked, looking over her shoulder. "Yeah, looks like our expedition has come to an end." Sorey explained with a smile.

"Cool. Let's go. I just got bored all the way back into my gourd. Didn't know you could do that." Rose said, walking off. "For real..." Edna said, deadpanning. "Looks like it." Dezel said with a defeated sigh. "No comment." Lailah said, looking confused at Rose. Sorey chuckled and followed Rose out. Before Velvet followed, she asked "Did you memorize or copy it?" Laphicet took out a book from his satchel that he was wearing and opened it. On a page was a hastily drawn copy of the map. "Good job. Let's go!" Velvet said, following the Shepherd out.