Sorey and his team ran through the pouring rain of the Pearloats Pasture, his Seraphs hiding inside them. Their hairs were matted to their heads, their wet clothes clinging to their bodies. Cracks of thunder occasionally rang through the air, but no lightning was seen. The air, while thick with Malevolence, was also cold against their skin. "This weather is crazy! Where did this rain come from!?" Rose yelled over the falling rain. Alisha sneezed loudly while Sorey nearly slipped in mud. "They quickly had made it to Pendrago City, the Capital of Rolance. As they entered the gate, they saw the Platinum Knights facing off against a Lizardman Soldier. Upon the Hellion seeing the Shepherd and his posse as they ran towards them, weapons drawn, it jumped away to the walls and ran towards the cathedral. "Sergei!" Sorey called, gaining the knights attention. "He was one of the cardinal's subordinates... but when I approached him, he transformed into that daemon, and fought back." Sergei informed them as the rest of the Knights ran off to catch it. "So you could see them too, huh?" Rose asked, looking up at the wall, sternly.

"As of the Scarlet Moon a couple of days ago, yes. Almost all of Pendrago and Lastonbell could." Sergei stated. "Those daemons are called Hellions." Alisha stated, folding her hands in front of her. "If the cardinal's subordinate is a hellion, then..." Mikleo stated, coming out in a blue ball of light. The rest of the Seraphs followed. A knight ran up to them. "Excuse me sir. But the daemon escaped into the Shrinechurch." He stated. Lailah then said, "It looks like it's true." Her face was serious. "I believe he is likely a messenger of-ACK!" Sergei stated, lurching to the side as Edna jabbed him with her umbrella. Sergei looked around in wonder as Edna merely stated "I'm COLD. You can blather on... INSIDE." In retaliation, Lailah cutely sneezed. "Mind telling us the details after we find shelter from the rain." Rose stated, walking up. "If you please!" Alisha hurriedly added to be polite. "Our friends are feeling a bit chilly. Even a Seraph can catch a cold!" Rose explained. "Friends?" Lailah asked, smiling as her eyes betrayed her shock. Rose then smiled. "Not that you could tell, since you can't see them." She said.

Sorey and Alisha smiled as they nodded at her. "F-Forgive me! I should have been mindful of the Seraphim's presence!" Sergei hurriedly apologized. "Let us head to the knights tower." He then stated. "Your significant other is rather kind." Sergei said with a smile, completely misinterpreting the situation between Rose and Sorey. Alisha gained a dark, angry aura as Sorey and Rose blushed heavily. Mikleo, Dezel and Edna died from laughter as Lailah covered her mouth and a muffled "Oh my!" came from her. Sergei then walked off. Alisha glared at the two (mostly Rose) as the two in question tried to look away from each other. "Oh my god! I can't breathe!" Dezel wheezed. "You two should see your faces!" Edna laughed. Mikleo was leaning against Lailah, trying to contain his laughter. "What did you two tell him when entering Lastonbell?" Alisha asked, deadly calm. "Nothing! We swear! It was clearly a misunderstanding!" Sorey muttered as Rose merely smirked back at the other girl. She then held up her right index finger and made an '0' with her left hand.

She then mouthed 'Rose: 1. Alisha: 0.' Alisha's anger skyrocketed, but before she could do anything or go anywhere, she loudly sneezed. Sorey's attention immediately went to her. "Alisha! Are you okay!?" he asked hurriedly. He quickly walked to her and wrapped an arm around her, trying to keep her warm. Alisha blushed and just said with a smile "Yeah... Just really cold. Let's follow Sergei." Sorey nodded and helped guide Alisha towards the way Sergei went. Alisha merely looked over her shoulder at a shocked Rose with a Cheshire Cat grin. 'Tied.' She mouthed back, much to Rose's astonishment. The Seraphs laughed. "And she's got your number." Mikleo stated to the redhead, before following. Edna merely grunted with a smile as she followed. Dezel just chuckled at how dense Sorey was and Lailah lit up one of her papers to keep her and Rose warm. As they all passed the residential district, they saw people watching them walk by from their windows, adults looked at them warily as kids looked out sadly. You could see the want on their faces on how much they wished they could leave. "They all look so sad..." Sorey mentioned, looking at them with sympathy. "Maybe when we deal with the Malevolence, the rain will stop." Rose stated, trying to sound optimistic.

"While it is true Malevolence does highly affect the atmosphere of an area..." Edna muttered, idly slowly twirling her umbrella, letting water droplets fly off. "To the extent where the weather itself would change would take a lot of Malevolence and an extremely strong Hellion. One we probably could never defeat at our current strength." Dezel stated simply, shooting down Rose. Mikleo just remained silent, staring at the Church. He felt off about that place... almost as if something was suffocating the area around it... suppressing it. As they walked up the steps, they met up with their Turtlez Friend. The received a new map of the area from him, paying 400 gald. They then made it to the guard tower and entered into the warm atmosphere. Sergei stood at the front, waiting for them. The Shepherd and his Squires were handed towels so they could dry themselves off. "This should be a better place for us to talk. As well as dry off from the rain." Sergei stated, standing tall. "Did everything go okay? Can we get into the Church?" Sorey asked. Sergei winced.

"I've... secured the permissions... but after the last incident, I'm afraid we are under high scrutiny." Sergei informed them. Rose just let out an exasperated breath. "So what else is new? They weren't our biggest fans in the first place." Rose said with a sneer. Alisha elbowed her in the side for her attitude, playing it off as crossing her arms in front of her chest. Rose rubbed her ribs, also playing it off as crossing her arms, giving the Princess Knight the stink eye. "Yeah. Good point. We have nothing to hide. Let's do it." Sorey stated. Lailah looked at them with a smile. She then turned to Mikleo. "Look at that! Ever since both of the girls joined Sorey, he's been more proactive." She said with a smile. Mikleo let out an exasperated sigh. "Too bad that is much more trouble for us..." he stated. As the two were talking, Sergei said "Thank you." Sorey nodded. "It was my decision to begin with. And besides, I've really wanted to see the shrine inside the Church." He informed the Knight.

Sergei then obtained a nostalgic smile. "There's something about you that reminds me of the pope. He too would never hesitate to spare expenses for the sake of his people." He informed them. "Oh boy... another masochist..." Edna stated, bored, sitting at one of the tables. Sorey gained a pained smile "I-I see..." he said. "I've also take the liberty to prepare lodgings for you all. I pray that the Seraphim will also be able to rest well tonight." Sergei informed them all. A knight then looked at Sergei. "But captain! It's been three days since we've last heard from Boris after his infiltration! I believe we should hurry!" he explained. Sergei then gave the knight a cut eyed look. "Who's Boris?" Alisha asked, tilting her head slightly, her almost dried hair slightly bouncing in her side ponytail. Sergei ignored the question and hurriedly said "The rain may be affecting our food supplies, but I shall prepare our famous Drago Stew for you!" The knight stepped forward slightly and said "Aren't you the least bit concerned!? He's your only brother!" The Shepherd's group looked shocked as Sergei glared at his knight. Sergei then looked to Sorey and said "I do not wish to burden you with my troubles anymore then I already have. Please... rest for now."

Sorey just stared at Sergei, until Lailah go this attention. "Sorey. It's a kind offer. Let's accept it." She informed her Vessel. Sorey then looked to Sergei and nodded. "We will. Thank you." He informed him, bowing. Now all dried, Sorey and his group left (Not before Alisha being given a note by Sergei), running in the rain towards the inn, the towels protecting them from the rain. Upon entering the Inn, Sorey purchased two rooms, one for the girls, the other for the boy. They all sat in Sorey's room. The room had a nice homey feel to it. It was a double bed with a soft comforter and pillow that Rose was enjoying. There was a desk Alisha was sitting at and a small couch in the corner. A candle was lit on the desk, giving off a soft glow for the room. "So. What's our plan of action for tomorrow?" Mikleo asked. Alisha pulled out the note and said "Sergei handed me a summons to the palace. I'll be meeting the King of Rolance tomorrow at dawn." "Well I think it would do us some good to look in the Church to help us find anything on Phi's condition of the world as well as more Intel on Innominat and why Heldalf wants him." Sorey stated. "Then, if you don't mind, I'm going to join Alisha. Looking in a musty, old church isn't fun for me." Edna stated, sitting on the ground in between them all and twirling her umbrella, idly.

"Your presence is greatly appreciated, Lady Edna." Alisha said with a smile. "Be careful... Royalty here is much difference then Hyland's..." Rose stated, her voice sounding far and distant. This caught everyone's attention. "Rose?" Lailah called. "Oh! Don't worry about it! It's nothing!" she called out, smiling. Dezel merely tipped his hat, hiding his face to the dancing shadows cast by the light. "I... If you're sure." Lailah muttered, regarding Rose with a confused stare. "So, we're splitting up?" Mikleo asked after a long pause. "Only for a little bit. I won't be too long. I'm just going to tell him that the King and I want peace between Hyland and Rolance, and what the Chancellor wanted upon my arrival here. I'll also ask for safe passage for us as we travel Rolance." Alisha informed the group. "I'll also make sure she is kept out of trouble. Who knows how much Malevolence is in this city." Edna stated.

"That's the thing... I can't feel any of it. It's almost as if the entire city was a blank slate." Sorey said, looking a bit frustrated. "You don't think Eleanor found a way to purify the land, do you?" Rose asked. "No. They headed towards Westronbolt Gorge, not in our direction." Dezel stated. "That's right. But can't you feel the difference in the air around the Church? I know we haven't been close to it, but I could feel it from the residential area." Mikleo stated, crossing his arms over his chest. "Now that you mention it... I can feel it from here." Lailah informed, shivering. Dezel seemed to have stiffened while Edna's knuckles on the hand holding her umbrella turned white as she gripped it hard. The 'doll' hanging from it just regarded them all, unmoving. "Then we have our plan. Everyone. Get a good nights rest. I feel like tomorrow is going to be a long day." Sorey said, standing up and stretching. Alisha and Rose left as the Seraphs went into their vessel. Sorey blew the candle out and was greeted by darkness.

As he went to lie down, a flash of white appeared in the room. He saw Ceres, watching him with a smile. "You are part of Velvet. She had a feeling something was going to happen. If you need us... we'll be here." She whispered with a smile, poking his forehead gently and vanishing. Sorey just blinked, before letting sleep take him away... to a white mind-scape.

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A lot more story dialogue, but yay! I managed to get Sorey to Pendrago safe and sound! But... why does Pendrago not feel like there is any Malevolence when there was a Hellion? What is up with the Shrine Church in Pendrago? And why is my stupid Exceed Claire keep hitting me in the head!?

Claire: Because I feel like it. *Is holding a paper fan*

Author: I hate you... Now then! You all know the drill by now!

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