The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

C24 - Omen

Chapter 24 – Omen.

"Could I ask you something, Velvet?"

"No."

"But-"

"I'm not answering another one of your stupid questions." She let out a long-suffering sigh of irritation, crossing her arms while tapping a finger on her arm. "You've been pestering me non-stop ever since we left Ladylake, and I've answered plenty already," she growled dangerously. "Drop it."

The Shepherd rallied valiantly in the face of the raven-haired woman's horrible glare.

"Please, Velvet!" he appealed, holding up the Celestial Record with a well-meaning, earnest smile. "What you've experienced long ago from a human perspective 1,000 years ago has the potential to become the most important findings of the century! Think of all of the information you remember from your time that might lead to monumental breakthroughs to current modern theories of that era! What you've already told me, the prominence of naval powers, the heightened human technology, the layout of the landmasses, all of it-!"

"Was far more than I should have fed your insufferable curiosity," she interrupted shortly, her left eyebrow subtly twitching in irritation as she turned away from the buzzing Shepherd towards the soft glow of the sunset.

The crunching of the group's footsteps on well-worn dirt was repetitive constant as they continuously climbed the mountainous trail, following the beaten trading path into the hilly regions with the setting sun to their side. A grand vista of rolling hills, untouched forests, and vast plains laid before them all; a picture of pure wilderness doused with the golden rays of the vibrant setting sun. A breathtaking view of natural splendor.

And then there was Sorey's face, blotting out the sun with his obnoxious grin.

"You mentioned the capital had stone walls to keep out hellions, right? Do you think you could give me an estimate of how high those walls were, what kind of battlements were at top, and what kind of mixture was used to adhere the stones together?"

He furrowed his brows and tilted his head to the side, bringing a single finger up to his lips. "...As it stands now, current academic research of the Graceful Asgard Period seems to support the theory of simpler, more utilitarian architecture than modern day buildings. If it's true that the capital of that time period was designed with such elaborate designs..." He refocused his eyes on Velvet; stars in his eyes. "That might even mean the complete disruption of a key period in human architectural history! Seriously, Velvet, you have to tell me-!"

Her left hand twitched murderously.

As the Shepherd continue to natter on and on about the most obscure faucets of history to the therion silently stewing in mounting irritation, Lailah and Edna exchanged amused smiles.

The fire seraph let out a soft sigh, her long hair waving amidst the gentle light of the streaks of gold in the sky behind her. "...How relieved I am that everything seems to have worked out between the two of them," she expressed warmly. "I suppose it was silly of me to doubt Sorey. He knew what he felt was right and acted upon his convictions, no matter how uncertain it seemed."

Edna's boots crunched repetitively upon the well-trodden dirt underfoot as she walked alongside the prime lord watching Sorey and Velvet up ahead on the mountain trail. "I guess they did end up sorting themselves out. Even if it did take forever." She turned and raised a keen eyebrow at the other seraph. "Besides, it looks like they're not the only ones who did." she added observantly.

Lailah's smile stayed as she bobbed her head in affirmation, her expression soft as she laced her fingertips together before her. "In the end, it seems that what I had considered as evil was in reality not so certain." Her voice was warm. "I had never truly considered what he had meant when he said those words that one time, long ago."