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

Chapter 34: Split Up!

After everyone quickly went back into the inn, they had all split into different groups. Magilou, Eleanor, Alisha, Rose and Sorey sat in one group with Magilou working on Sorey's appearance, Eizen and Edna sat in one group talking in hushed tones, Dezel and Rokurou were drinking (Dezel saying something about wanting to forget?), Lailah, Clio and Mikleo were talking with Grimoirh, Attak and Bienfu, and lastly, the Crowe's were discussing something over a map and a written passage Maotelus wrote. "AAAAND... done!" Magilou said, finishing the Illusory Arte. Sorey looked into the hand mirror Alisha handed him and regarded his face. His hair was brown again and his eyes were once again green. "Thanks Magilou!" Sorey said with a smile. "To think you were equally as great at this Arte as Exorcist Mayvin." Eleanor commented. "Well... While working under that bastard, I did learn a thing or two." Magilou said with a pained expression. "And it won't revert back?" Rose asked. "Nope. Only the caster or someone more powerful can take it down." Magilou explained.

"Perfect timing, because I just came up with our next course of action." Velvet said, approaching them. Sorey smiled up at her and waited for her to continue. "After some quick discussion between Laphi, Phi and I, we decided the best course of action would be to split up." Velvet said, causing everyone to freeze. "WHAT!?" Rose and Magilou yelled. Lailah looked around worriedly as everyone started getting up and surrounding Velvet... everyone, except Sorey. He was looking at Lailah. "What do you think Lailah?" Sorey's voice resounded in her head. She smiled lightly. "I would have to agree with Velvet. We all got dragged into something that is becoming much bigger than any of us. Splitting up may be our only option in finding a way of saving the world and defeating the Lord of Calamity." She replied. Sorey smiled. "You don't seem surprised I can contact you this way." He spoke. "It was only a matter of time before you grew in power." Lailah giggled.

"-Sorey! What do you have to say about this!?" Mikleo asked, rounding on the Shepherd. Sorey turned his eyes to the group, all looking at him expectantly. "I agree with Velvet." He said. "But... why?" Eizen asked. "Because splitting up could help us cover more ground. Ever since all of us got together, I felt like someone planned for this to happen. I don't know who or why, but someone did." Sorey said, his calm expression turning into a frown. Clio, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke up. "If we split up, then maybe I should go back to my home. See what they wanted." She told them all. "Are you sure, Ms. Clio?" Attak asked, walking up to the Dragon Seraph. Clio gave the Normin a sad smile. "If I go back, maybe Gloss and Xorsinth can forgive me for my transgression from earlier." She explained, rubbing the Normin with her index knuckle affectionately.

"Then it's decided," Phi said, walking up to the group. "From this point on, our paths have changed directions."

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"Are you sure that was a smart idea?" Rokurou asked Velvet as she led the way through a field, making her way towards Guinevere. "Yes. We were personally challenged by the Exorcists themselves. We would only be getting in the way of Sorey and his group during his trials." She told them, walking confidently towards the direction the Wind Trial was in. "Then why are we going to the farthest trial first?" Magilou groaned. "Because. He was the first Exorcist I ever faced and killed." Velvet said, a fire burning in her eyes. "Oscar..." Eleanor said with realization. "Exactly." She said, marching towards Westronbolt Gorge.

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"Off to Pendrago we go!" Sorey said with a big smile. "You're a bit to chipper there, pal!" Rose said, punching his arm, smirking. "I always wanted to try their Drago Stew! I was told that whenever you have a cold or flu, one nice, steaming hot bowl of that stew can cure you even better than any medicine!" Alisha said with an equally big smile. "You both are way too optimistic. Alisha, you are from Hyland. There is no way the guards or even the King will want to meet you! And Sorey, you are a wanted criminal in Rolance. Just be lucky I had those spare clothes for you." Rose explained, dampening the mood. "Oh, Rose. Let them enjoy their time! This is the first time either of them have been this far!" Lailah said with a giggle. "That's right. Sorey lived on a mountain surrounded by a species only people with a strong resonance can see and Alisha is a Princess that wasn't allowed to leave her own kingdom, in fear of her starting a rebellion against Bartlow and his cronies." Mikleo replied.

"True..." Rose said with a sigh. "I wonder how Gramps is doing..." Sorey wondered. "Last I saw, he was angry with me dropping of the Therions." Alisha replied. Sorey thought back to his dream with Velvet and smiled. "He's probably okay." Sorey said, smiling up at the sky. "And what are you so happy about?" Rose asked, poking Sorey's arm. Alisha hooked her arm with Sorey's, looking up at the latter with an innocent smile, while Rose glared at the former. Before Sorey could reply, Dezel yelled "Dodge!" Rose, Sorey, and Alisha broke away and spread apart as a gigantic Boar ran past them. It skidded to a halt and turned around, it's glowing red eyes glaring at them. It roared in anger. Sorey quickly examined the Hellion. It was a purple boar with some wickedly sharp teeth and its body was covered in red crystals. "A Behemoth!" Lailah said, getting her paper out. Dezel got his whip ready and Mikleo appeared from Alisha and had his staff ready. "I'll sit on the back burner Sorey. Have fun." Edna said in the Shepherd's head.

"A Beast Category Hellion. Be wary of its charge attacks." Mikleo warned. "Right!" The three humans said, before launching at the beast. The Behemoth roared and charged at them again.

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Clio yawned as she landed in front of a ruin somewhere in the Plitzerback Wetland. She stepped through the force field surrounding the land and grew surprised. It grew bigger than last time. "Clio! Great timing!" a boy called, running towards her. He had wild red hair and his eyes were a dark blue. Clio smiled and looked down on the child. "Yes, I am. Now then, Seb, what's wrong?" Clio asked. "We need your amazing healing abilities! More and more people have turned up, filled with Malevolence!" Seb said, grabbing Clio's hand and dragging her through the rows of houses and tents until the reached a large building. Clio could feel the malevolence from outside the building. "Oh no..." Clio said with a gasp. They rushed inside and all the nurses and doctors working on the corrupted seraphs turned toward her direction. "Clio!" a female nurse called, rushing towards her and hugging her. Her hair was snow white and her eyes were fire red. "Erato! What happened!?" Clio said, dropping her bag and summoning her Kusarigama.

Erato had twin, bladed fans out and motioned for Clio to follow her. They made their way towards the basement, where they could hear a girl screaming. "She has nearly turned into a Tiamat-Class Dragon! The only known Dragon Seraph that can heal these ones are either the Dragon Elders or you! The Dragon Elders are busy, and we've tried our best, but we need your expertise!" Erato explained. Clio threw one of her scythes around the screaming girl that was already in a cage and yelled "I'll need you to assist me Erato!" "Obviously! What are best friends for!?" Erato said, using her bladed fans as regular fans and letting out a soft, soothing wind. "Then let's do this!" Clio grinned, her eyesight going dark as she slipped into the screaming girl's body.