It is in the season of spring, but on the highest mountain, the temperature always lower than the usual places, and for a place is surrounded by clouds, it is always in a low temperature that can tremble the bone deeply. Wearing the long sleeve clothes, Sorey is immune to the coldness here, moreover, he used to live in Elysia where also at a very high altitude that only clouds can be seen in there. However, it is different for Velvet who is being a human again, and she still wears his exposed clothing like the past, she must feel cold and she could not stand the cold before she is turned into a daemon. Stills, she neither whine nor senses it now. Accurately, the shock brought by the facts she was informed before overshadowed the cold. Even if it was the ending that everyone knew, even he himself had noticed it, and Velvet felt sad for it.
People are always troubled by feelings and will be saddened by natural things. Now this sadness and cold wind further stabbed velvet's heart. Sorey thought it would be better to keep concealing, but the facts have already been revealed, and that is something that no one can predict.
All Sorey can do now is to let her have a calm space and time before she releases malevolence.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP30wvoZhXM
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Back then, just after the reveal of the untold fact, Sorey and Edna left Velvet to let her have a moment of peace and they are having their conversation.
“Even for a great mountain like this, the geometry change.” Sorey said as he seeing around precisely again. Some new couloir and rift valley are defined between the rocks that Sorey may guess the vertical and horizontal movement caused by earthquake affected the geometry. Some faults also show the geometric structure along time.
“Why not? 500 years passed. Everything changed.” Edna answered.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8OLkbUKtX
“What happened in all the years?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizG4cXx7IG
“You don’t know? Then what have you done in these 2 months?” Edna teased.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHTykCYByB
“Well….Most of the time, Velvet and I stayed in a village called Tewks, we worked to repay the doctor healed and took us in there, he even gave Velvet a mechanical prosthesis!”
“No wonder after two months you still don’t get all the things in the world, even for a curious idiot like you…..It is a village in the separated rural area, very lagging behind, hard to believe they can provide a mechanical prosthesis.”
“What do you mean?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdknCSnGjh
“You awoke in the Artorius’s Throne, the area all around is protected by a secret guild which your friend Mikleo also contract with them. Of course, it is to prevent any malevolence from reaching there, and the village built there are consisted of the people who want to live in seclusion.” Edna explained.
“I doubt that you didn’t learn anything in this Era, you said most of the time you were living in the village, then how about the rest of the time?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv9H8VSSdU
“I went to Elysia again to visit my home and then go to Ladylake, I have learned the simple history trend this 500 years in the library but by the limitation in language, I can’t fully understand all the things…..”
“So you want me to teach you…..No, it is troublesome. I don’t want to be your history teacher or science teacher or language teacher unless I see a Normin dance.” Edna disagreed to tell him as too many things to tell.
“Oh….eh….Can you teach me to dance? I will dance for you!” Sorey just wants to know about things in this Era.
“No, I don’t want you to dance, I want Velvet.” Edna refused by giving an impossible mission.
“What?! Why?”
“It is hard, right?”
“But I really want to know about things in all those years……”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQrFk2dzc2
“It is simply hard to tell all a sudden, you better just go buy a history book then finding someone to translate it,” Edna stated indifferently.
“Won’t you be the translator?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JKn6RgKmd
“Ask Velvet to dance the Normin Dance in public then,” Edna stated the impossible mission again.
“.......Alright. I will ask the others….” Sorey knew Edna doesn’t want to tell then he won’t force her to do it.
“By the way, you seem not surprised by the fact she was a Lord of Calamity. Even if you were a Shepherd.” Edna admitted she thought the Shepherd would have a larger response when she revealed Velvet’s past identity but he didn’t. She expected him to show response as he was a Shepherd and a Lord of Calamity in his time had brought a lot of trouble to the world.
“Yes, I learned that there are various types of people in our previous journey, she is only one in humans and Maotelus has told me everything about her. I want to stay with her for a while.” Sorey answered with the reason of the accompany in the very beginning and insisted on his own will.
“So you have been observing her all the time.” Edna was not surprised by Sorey’s thought, he always wants to help others, but she wants to tease him for how long time she hasn’t seen him and then he came with another female with such shocking identity.
“Eh?....Not …. Not exactly…..After getting along for a while, I treat her as a friend, and I want to know more about her…...Well, I suppose I want to know more about Eizen from her too. To think that I know only a few things but kill him….” Sorey showed his sadness but not regret in the kill of Eizen.
“That’s not your fault like Velvet said, that’s the only way, I knew it a long time ago and I agreed with your choice. The journey with you has let me think that killing the one who was the closest to me to be acceptable.” Edna confirmed her thoughts on that incident while putting a hand on the boy’s shoulder to comfort him.
“Still, I hope it can end better…..I hoped to find a method to purify the dragon.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUuODfhdfV
“It is good enough for me…..Death is salvation for him.”
“Right…..You asked how I think about Velvet, now is my turn. What do you think about Velvet?” Sorey knew it is not good to be suck in the sadness, so he moved onto another topic.
“As I said, normal human, with empathy and feeling…..not as a Lord of Calamity I’ve imagined,” Edna answered with Velvet’s image combined from Eizen’s letter and from her short observation.
“Yes, that is what I am thinking too.” Sorey agreed with his observation in those days with Velvet.
“So you want to protect her? You feel sorry to her? Male chauvinism? Thinking that she is weak like the flowers that you need to protect?” Edna sarcastically asked if Sorey has any feeling towards the girl.
“Eh….I am not sure, all above maybe. I know she is strong, but I have seen her weak side. She committed serious crimes, and she always blames herself for this, to the extent that she doesn’t feel that she should be alive. Yet, I want her to regain hope to live, I want to let her be happy again.” The boy answered with confusion.
“It’s like saying that you have to stay with her for the rest of your life. Really, you can say sentences like this anytime and anywhere. You just sacrificed yourself to purify Maotelus when you didn’t know whether there a possibility to be alive after the purification. And you make a choice like this again, you know that you are not a Shepherd anymore. Are you gonna give happiness to oneself without your own happiness and freedom? Such self-sacrifice is not a smart choice, Sorey. You should not value others more than yourself. Everyone has to look out for themselves first.”
Edna stated her concern as she worried Sorey would break himself when he always tries to help others. He has already sacrificed himself once the last time to save the world. She appreciated the selfless of Shepherd but it is also a twisted way to live and she doesn’t want the boy to get hurt.
“.......I……” Sorey is surprised by Edna’s speech, he hasn’t thought that much in his action and he thinks she has a point.
“...Thank you, Edna, you are right, I will think about it, but…….I can give up on the one in need. I am sure that helping others is not wrong too.” Sorey smiled to express his gratitude for Edna’s concern but he insisted his will too, he wants to help Velvet.
“.....You never change.” Edna sighed speechlessly when she saw such expression, the pure, bright and brilliant smile as sunshine. In the journey, no matter how unsatisfactory things happened, this teenager in front of her still has a way to smile and face. That’s why she can’t do anything with him and she can’t hate him.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe9tNV5ovS
The teenager is no longer the Shepherd, he doesn’t possess the strong power, and he won’t be treated differently because of the monstrous power. Yet he is still a Shepherd, as long as he is being himself, his existence is already a Shepherd, doesn’t need any power, the light deep in his heart will affect his surrounding, seems that they really have educated a great Shepherd.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLK2B0nPes
Edna opened her umbrella and turned back to him to hide her expression, hoped that the boy will always hold the hope in his heart and doesn’t get the negative effect from the Calamity he traveled with.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ3jalzELa
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Meanwhile, Velvet still indulging in her own contemplation. She is still clenching her fist hard like it helps her to focus and feel the pain her friend felt. She is sad, but she is not even crying. She has assumed Eizen’s death or dragon transformed since awaken, all is in her prediction. After all, Eizen has been with human all the time, accompany the guys like pirates, even if he managed to avoid the malevolence, he will get tainted in time. She cannot be optimistic after 1500 years passed.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjrsCydYAJ
*
Before the final battle, Velvet had expressed her valid concern for Eizen’s condition. Then he answered relaxed “I can't let it bother me. I've got more important reasons to stick around.” he told her to get the thing done even if he turned into a dragon during the battle. He admitted he has resigned himself to become a dragon one day
“I've long since come to terms with my fate, whether it comes a hundred years from now or mere moments.” His death is nothing should be surprised.
Talking about the source of malevolence, she supposed herself was the biggest threat to Eizen in that time. He always stays with the pirates who may release malevolence, but no one will release more malevolence than a Lord of Calamity like her. His death was assumed. Still, she felt that her heart had been dug a hole, and it felt like she was feeling the general guilt when Laphi was killed. It is not like the sadness could be diluted with a clear expectation in mind. Even if Eizen said that they are just two ships who happened to share the same course, she was grateful to have the reaper in her journey, without his ship, she couldn’t sail around the world to achieve her goal.
“Heh....allow me to express my gratitude. To think I'd ever meet a group of companions bold enough to not even flinch at my curse.” Even to the Lord of Calamity, the reaper expressed his gratitude after the lord expressed her gratitude. Although she always said she doesn’t care, she cared each companion deep down her heart, no matter the fact that their relationship was fleeting. She felt that they could really be a bunch of best weird friend for the rest of her life but she also knew that her fate has come. She wouldn’t be alive and she shouldn’t be alive after sacrificed so many lives for her goal.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUpdXziXJi
Fate is always that cruel.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzx9aEmc8F
*
Since living, she has witnessed the demise of different things, whether they are ruined by herself or can only be helpless. She is used to the death happened on those who are close to her, so she doesn’t cry anymore. However, she still can't get used to the pain of parting, even for the death she only learned from hearing, she hates her powerlessness. Eizen had helped her a lot in many ways, and she thought she hasn’t given anything in return, even if it is Eizen’s choice to come with her along.
Perhaps this regret is a pretense. It was her own choice to leave everyone, and that was the only choice she could make at the time. After that, Eizen will definitely make a choice that makes him regretless, but what makes him fall into a dragon? Again, the source of great malevolence, except for ones like her own existence, can't be other. For no reason, he does not take the initiative to approach such a presence. He does know that it is harmful to himself. If she thinks about it, it really means that her own malevolence affects him. Even if she knew herself was harmful to him, for revenge, her selfish self has not driven him away. As a result, she has harmed him. Wanting to improve his relationship with his sister may be just the hypocritical thought to make herself to feel better.
“I am still the incurable selfish woman.” She self-depreciated.
Indulging in sin and not going to change anything, what’s done is done, and she clearly understands this. She thought that all she could compensate was to take care of his sister, who he cared the most and treasured for his lifetime, like how she loved her little brother. That’s the only thing she can do for him, seems that now someone is capturing Seraphim, then Edna will be one of the targets, she won’t let that happen on Edna. For making herself to feel better.
‘Rustle’
She can hear the stepping sound, guessed that Edna and Sorey have come back, she turned ahead.
“Hey, we are finished, you ready to go with us?” Edna asked the raven-haired girl.
“Edna? You mean….?” Sorey blinked as he heard the question, it is like Edna is going to travel with them.
“Yes, I am going to travel with you guys, you okay with that?”
“I’m fine, what do you think, Sorey?” Velvet completely agreed as the compensation to Edna’s dead brother.
“Absolutely fine, just surprised. I’m glad that you will come with us!” the boy exclaimed.
“Surprisedly smooth but good, then let’s go! I have not left here for a while.” Edna won’t tell that she is interested in Velvet and Velvet won’t tell that she is guilty to Edna and Eizen.
“So let’s go check on how Rohan is doing, to Marlind.” Sorey cheerfully pointing the direction.
“After 500 years, you are so confident that the seraph still blessing there.” Edna teased.
“Because Uno is still in Ladylake!”
“Well, well. What a weak base you believed.” Edna helplessly responded.
“What will be in there?” Velvet asked as it seems there is no longer a place she is familiar with.
“It is the city of the great tree, people pray to the tree for the blessing. The last time I’ve been there is when there was an epidemic, artworks are greatly destroyed in that time, but we had restored the blessing there and the medicines were delivered to there. I expect there may be great with their artworks again.” Sorey remembered the view of the city when he was a shepherd.
“Artworks….not like I know how to appreciate them.” However, she remembered Eizen and Eleanor will explain the artworks for the team automatically in her journey.
“You can tell the story in the carving in ruins, the same as the art. You may find some of the art that you like too, cheer up!” Sorey started to be excited to the artworks there he will find.
“Don’t worry, the boy will just explain everything to you, he will start talking or thinking about the reason behind wherever he discovered something new. And in this Era, everything is new to him. Though it may be short when his best friend Mikleo is not with him and you don’t expect an accurate explanation from an ancient person to a modern drawing.” Edna teased.
“But Art is something timeless!” Sorey protested.
“See?”
“It doesn’t matter to me.” Velvet signed, she is not interested in the history and story at all, but she won’t mind that there is someone to explain it for her, accurate or not.
“There, you see the bridge.” Edna pointed somewhere far away with a defined structure.
The bridge is no longer the one in his time, it becomes a bridge divided the river into two different water levels. Small turbines moving as the water flows from the higher level, a small house is built on the higher-level side seems like to serve the maintenance. Stone cutting in simple geometry decorated the bridge to hide the ugly part and show the beauty of the bridge with its structure.
“Oh! the bridge is…...interesting and impressive!! It is not just an art but also look like so technology for some purposes.” Sorey got the exploring fever when he saw the bridge.
“ That is the small hydroelectric generator in modern. Do you see things like artificial lighting and air-conditioner? They worked with the energy from electricity which is the offering from this generator.” Edna explained with her modern knowledge, and Sorey doesn’t taunt that she insisted not to teach him the modern things initially but now she does it automatically.
“If the technology is at such a high level, people can live relying on themselves but not seraphim. How is religion remain unchanged?” Velvet asked as she amazed by the fact.
“Just to show the miracle to human and the believer boosts the belief with architectures and works of literature. The Celestial Record is updated and become a very popular book among human. Something like that sustain the religion. Oh, Sorey, you are a big fan of that book. Have you bought the latest version?” Edna explained and just remembered that Sorey is also a big fan of the book.
“No….I don’t even know it has a new version.” Sorey shocked again by the revealing.
“Too bad, you should go see your friend Mikleo writing!” Edna said.
“Mikleo wrote the book?!” Sorey could not stop being surprised.
“He was one of the writers.”
“How come a book of map and ruins with tales become popular?” Velvet is completely confused as she thinks not everyone is interested in such knowledge.
“Some stories of Shepherd has been recorded, make a legend of adventure among children and also being taught in school. The children like to play the idiotic role play of Shepherd nowadays.” Edna laughed as she remembered some kids playing the stupid drama.
“Besides, just map and ruins are interesting enough!” Sorey exclaimed his point.
“Only you and Meebo will say this line.” Edna wicked smiled for the point.
“Edna, you say like we are weirdo…...” Sorey said.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcNfiMctQ5
“You are.” Edna taunted Sorey in an indifferent tone.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPerquqjfT
“True, haha…”Velvet smiled as she can’t agree more.
----------------------------------------------TBC----------------------------------------------
A.N.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjynmz8xq81
I hate to draw Velvet for her ragged clothing with so many belts, just how she put her ragged legging on and off?!19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOouzfqqWyA
Edna's clothing is another type of troublesome........now I start to think Sorey is the easiest to draw if I don't draw his cape.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNuOBaHo1P
BTW, it is a direct reference from one of the Velvet facial expression in game.
I try to describe more change in Rayfalke Spiritcrest but I find it is not possible to apply many changes after studying the factors affecting geometry. As the location is not near to the sea, hard to apply change because of natural erosion, and it is not a volcano so lava is not the option either. Then the rest are the collision of plates, earthquake, the aerolith and etc. , which I think better not to apply too many changes as that will affect the living in surrounding districts and then the culture(etc.) in surrounding may change……..Thus, the geometry of the place didn’t change much.
I try to give a reason for Velvet to concern Edna to visualize her mind and same for Sorey, to give a reason that he concerns Velvet. I am not familiar with Edna at all but I love her character in the skits (PS. I only have the half revision of the TOZ and don’t understand Edna fully) and I try to show that in the chat and I think she will concern Sorey as he is important to her( in or not in romantic).
…..anyone finds the hidden Eizen x Velvet? I am a fan for Eizen x Velvet and also Velvet x Eleanor and also Rokurou x Eleanor(AKA simply universal love to all relationship) so no surprise if you find hidden couples in the following chapters….(in here, the couple is not exactly referring romantic relationship but kind of like kinship and friendship too)
P.S. some part of the conversation is referred from a conversation between Shirou and Rin after Illya is killed in Fate UBW
ns3.16.50.172da2
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