With a groan, Illumia opened her eyes. She saw the unfamiliar ceiling and slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. She glanced around the room until she crawled off the bed and opened the door to leave.

Walking down the hallway, she entered the lobby of the inn. Her eyes scanned the faces of the humans who were in the lobby, but she couldn't find Sorey or Mikleo. "Where could they be...?" She remembered the fight with Lunarre and how she lost consciousness, but she had no inkling as to where her friends were. Deciding to scour the city, she left the inn.

The moment she stepped outside, she saw a few panicked humans run past her. Wondering what had them so frightened, she headed in the direction they came from. Walking up the stairwell, she could hear screaming. She broke out into a sprint and rushed to the sanctuary. People were pouring out of the building and running away.

Running into the sanctuary, Illumia saw more panicked people and hellions running around. The banners were burning and the entire sanctuary was in disarray. She found Mikleo trying to extinguish the normal flames while the dark flames remained burning. Among the crowd, she also found Sorey, Alisha, and another seraph.

Knowing now was not the time to ask questions, she summoned her throwing knives and used what little purification she could to extinguish the flames of the hellion.

The unnamed seraph turned to her when she saw her purification artes. She gasped at seeing her. "A-A light seraph? But how...?"

Illumia didn't say anything and focused on the hellion that was about to pounce on Mikleo. She tossed a throwing knife infused with her purification powers and was relieved when the small amount of magic was just enough to vanquish the creature.

"Lumi!" Sorey shouted.

At hearing his friend, Mikleo looked over his shoulder. His eyes widened at seeing her purify another hellion. "What are you doing here?!"

"Helping!" Illumia shouted back.

"What if you collapse again?!"

She was aware of the possibility, but that didn't stop her from protecting others. "If it means I can save a few more lives, I don't care!"

The unnamed seraph could sense the girl wasn't able to wield her full powers of purification and knew she would not be able to handle all the malevolence and the hellions. "Unlike the light seraphim, the power of purification is not my own. It is a power given to those who would draw the Sacred Blade and become my sword."

"Then I'll do it!" Sorey ran up the stairs toward the blade.

"Sorey?!" Alisha gasped.

"What?!" Mikleo shouted in shock.

"Do not be hasty!" The fire seraph yelled at the boy, causing him to freeze before grabbing the sword. "To become my sword is to serve as a vessel for me
to dwell in, and to assume the Shepherd's burden. Blessed with the power of purification and abilities beyond human ken. Cursed to be scorned by others and wrought with despair. To protect this land from the hellions means a constant stream of agonizing decisions. It is a lonely battle, the likes of which you can scarcely imagine."

This flabbergasted Mikleo. "That's the burden of the Shepherd? And you want Sorey to take all that on right here and now?"

The unnamed seraph hung her head. "It is not to be done lightly."

Sorey smiled at her. "May I ask you your name?"

She lifted her head. "Oh, of course. I am Lailah."

"Lailah... My dream is to investigate ancient ruins all over the world!" He then looked over at Illumia, who was protecting the people. "And I want to help a dear friend of mine who's been there for me for a long time." He met Lailah's gaze. "I believe that the legends of the past hold knowledge about how humans and seraphim might one day live in harmony together! I must find a way to make that happen! To bring humans and seraphim together again, as it was in the days of yore! And to repay the kindness my friend has shown me. If purifying the hellions will save both humans and seraphim... Then... Then it's the best chance I'll ever have to make that dream a reality!"

Mikleo was taken aback at Sorey's words. "Are you really okay with this?"

Illumia impaled another hellion with a throwing knife before pausing briefly. "Whatever you choose, I'll support your decision."

"Sorey..." Lailah mumbled the boy's name.

"That's why..." Sorey smiled at the fire seraph. "I shall become the Shepherd! I offer myself to you as your vessel and shall bear your burden!"

"I've waited long for this moment. For one who is pure of heart and free of corruption. A shining vessel to whom my words will reach." Lailah walked up the stairs and stood by Sorey. She took his gloved hand and blessed him with her powers. "Now, Sorey! Take up the sword!"

Sorey smiled confidently. "You got it!" Using the power gifted to him by Lailah, he places both hands on the grip of the sword. The symbol on his glove radiates brilliantly as he draws the sword from the stone. Power erupts from the blade as streams of light course through the air. A powerful gust blows through the sanctuary, startling everyone.

Once the wind faded, Lailah stared in amazement. "Sorey..."

With the sword in his grasp, Sorey was ready to use the power of purification. Lailah felt her own powers return and she used them to extinguish the dark flames Illumia had yet purged.

Turning to the dark flames, Sorey slowly approached.

Alisha was in disbelief. "Sorey...is that really you?"

"Get back, Alisha," he warned the princess.

After extinguishing more flames, Mikleo turned to his friend. "Hey! You'll be able to handle the hellions, right?"

"Yeah. Just take care of the rest of the flames!"

Mikleo promptly returned to extinguishing the flames with his water artes.

Illumia continued to protect the people against the hellions when she noticed the larger enemy jumping off the walls and heading straight for the boy. "Sorey, behind you!"

Sorey turned just in time to block the hellion's attack. Using his strength, he batted the hellion away. Two more slime hellions targeted the boy, but he was too quick. He dodged one and slice the other in half.

Lailah used her power to purify the enemy. "All right! Now let's do this!"

"Lumi, protect the people!" Sorey shouted.

"Got it!" Illumia hollered back.

Sorey and Lailah fought side by side to eliminate the remaining hellions. From a distance, Illumia supported the two by throwing a few of her knives at some of the enemies that attempted to stray off. Within minutes, all the hellions were gone.

The light seraph dispelled her throwing knives, watching Sorey and Lailah approach the tainted flames. Using the power of purification, the flames returned to normal and the man who was once a hellion returned. The man was slumped against Sorey.

"Sorey!" Mikleo shouted.

Alisha, shaken with shock, took a few steps forward. "Are... Are you really..."

Sorey smiled at the princess. "Yup. I am the Shepherd now."

Illumia backed away from the crowd and tucked herself into a corner when the sanctuary doors opened. An elderly man accompanied by knights entered.

"Calm yourselves at once!" one knight hollered.

Lady Maltran glowered at the man. "Chancellor Bartlow."

"Lady Alisha. We received word that there was a civil disturbance among the commoners," Chancellor Bartlow stated.

"Indeed. However, it has already been quelled." Alisha gestured to Sorey. "By the appearance of the Shepherd."

The chancellor crossed his arms. "The Shepherd, you say?" He paused before declaring, "Citizens of Ladylake, I hereby announce that this year's Sacred Blade Festival has come to a close."

The knights turned and one shouted, "You heard him. Clear out at once!"

The other knights rushed past everyone and escorted the people out of the sanctuary.

"Milady, I should like to ask the cause of all this at a later time. Lady Maltran, your presence is also requested," the chancellor explained.

As the chancellor turned to leave, Illumia walked past him. She heard him mumble, "The Shepherd, of all things... Tch!"

"Guess not everyone's gonna be a fan..." She muttered. Walking up the stairs, she came to stand on the other side of Sorey.

"Now then, it is time for me to return to my place within you," Lailah stated.

"Oh, yeah. I am the vessel, after all," Sorey replied.

The fire seraph vanished, taking shelter within Sorey's body.

"Now that's a creepy sight," Mikleo commented.

"You'll get used to it," Illumia said.

Suddenly, Sorey stumbled. "What...the..."

Being the closest to him, Illumia caught him and slowly lowered themselves to the ground.

Mikleo kneeled beside his two friends and placed a hand on Sorey's arm. "What's wrong?"

"I was wondering when this was going to happen," Illumia muttered.

The water seraph looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"It's because I have entered his body," Lailah spoke up from within the boy. "I'm afraid he'll have a high fever lasting about three full days."

"What? Why?!"

"It's part of becoming the Shepherd," Illumia said.

"Yes," Lailah chimed in. "Presumably, the human body is reacting to the sudden presence of unknown powers inside of it. Those who make a pact with a seraph usually wind up bedridden for a time."

"So that's what happens to one who becomes a vessel," Mikleo mumbled.

Seeing Alisha rushing over to check on Sorey, Illumia gently let go of the boy and grabbed Mikleo to drag him a little ways away. "Let's leave Sorey to Alisha."

The water seraph didn't argue. "Okay... But..." He glared at her. "What were you thinking?! You should be resting!"

"And miss all this?" She threw her arms out, gesturing to the sanctuary. "No way! I saw you and Sorey being swarmed by hellions. There's no way I was going to let the two of you get hurt! And the people...someone had to protect them too. Those knights were useless..."

"Lumi..." he sighed.

She smiled at him. "I'm okay, Mikleo. You don't have to worry so much about me. I may be corrupted, but I am still me."

"Of course I'm going to worry about you, silly," he replied. "You mean a lot to me and Sorey... If you were gone, I..." He clenched his fists tightly, his body shaking at the thought.

Seeing his balled-up fists, she took them in her hands and held them gingerly. "I'm not going anywhere, Mikleo. Even when you get tired of me, I'll still be here."

"That'll never happen..." He whispered.

The seraphim remained close to each other until Sorey was carried to the inn. Alisha had paid for everything and the knight carrying Sorey laid him down on the bed.

When all was quiet, Lailah emerged from the boy's body and immediately set her sights on Illumia. "Hmm..." She circled around the girl.

Mikleo arched a brow in confusion. "What are you doing?"

"This is wonderful!" Lailah grabbed Illumia's cheeks and squeezed them. "I heard all the light seraphim perished, but here you are! You are very lovely!"

"U-um, thank you..." Illumia mumbled bashfully.

"I can sense the malevolence within you, but it is only a small fragment. Could you possibly be Illumia?"

The light seraph blinked in shock. "You know my name...?"

Lailah smiled. "Yes. Many years ago, the notebook of a Shepherd was discovered. In it, the people of Ladylake found the drawing of a light seraph known as Illumia. Your name has been carried with the tales of the Shepherds. Many of the humans in this city adore you simply because it is the only detailed depiction of a seraph that has been discovered."

"Asura kept a journal?" Mikleo asked.

Illumia nodded. "He did, but I don't remember him ever drawing. Or perhaps that is one of my missing memories."

"We can worry about your lost memories later, but for now you need to rest."

She laughed nervously when she saw his stern expression. "Okay. Since there are two beds after all..." She crawled onto the empty bed and curled up. She grinned at the water seraph. "Happy now, Mikleo?"

He sat down on the chair next to her bed. "I won't be happy until both you and Sorey are okay."

"Worry wart..." She muttered.

"You say something?"

She quickly flipped over, her back now facing him. "Nothing!"

●・○・●・○・●

Illumia woke up two days later. Sorey was still asleep and Mikleo was sitting in the chair reading. Lailah was nowhere to be found, but she deduced the fire seraph was resting within Sorey. Seeing the water seraph was absorbed in a book, she didn't want to disturb him and quietly crawled off the bed. She only made it halfway to the door when she was noticed.

"Where are you going?" Mikleo asked, lifting his gaze from the book.

"Out," she simply replied. "I could use a little stroll after sleeping for two days straight. Wanna join me?"

He closed the book and stood up. "Since there's no one else to make sure you don't get into trouble."

She wanted to mess with him to show she was much better. "No, no. It's okay. I wanna cause trouble. Be back soon!" Laughing, she dashed out of the room.

"Wha...Lumi!" Mikleo shouted. "W-Wait!"

Illumia dashed out of the inn while laughing. She ran down the street and hid behind a stack of boxes, patiently waiting for the boy. The moment he passed by her hiding spot, she jumped out and scared him. "Boo!"

Frightened, Mikleo jumped with a shriek. He then glared at her unamusingly.

She laughed. "Got you."

His glare vanished. He was slightly embarrassed from being scared. "Looks like you're feeling better."

"Much better, actually. Sleeping really does help. But now, I could use a little stroll. Do you still wanna tag along? You don't have to if you want to keep reading your book. I wouldn't want to interrupt you."

"I could use a break. A stroll around the city sounds nice."

She smiled gently. "Then could we check out the vendors near the sanctuary? I'd love to see what kind of knickknacks the humans are selling."

"I can't say I'm not curious either. Let's go."

The seraphim walked up the stairs to the stalls located on the street leading to the sanctuary. They browsed the many things being sold and were bantering back and forth whenever an item caught their eye. They spent a couple of hours looking around the stalls until they ventured to another part of the city.

It wasn't long before the seraphim reached the back alleys where they fought Lunarre. They came to a stop and looked around.

"We've only been in Ladylake for three days and we've already faced so many hellions," Illumia commented. "Not only that, but Sorey's become the next Shepherd. This is not how I imagined our journey to be."

"When we fought that fox guy, that was the first time I've seen you cast seraphic artes," Mikleo spoke up. "Gramps was right. Although your power isn't at full strength, you're still really strong, Lumi."

She hung her head. She didn't feel strong and didn't know what made him think she was. "I couldn't even purify that fox hellion..."

"In the past week, you've fought against tons of hellions without getting proper rest. You purified so many even with your weakened powers. And that battle with the fox man in Elysia... I could see how strong you are without your purification powers. Your combat skills are amazing, Lumi. You should be proud."

She was grateful for his honesty and kindness. "Thank you, Mikleo."

Mikleo smiled and gazed into her eyes when she lifted her head. "Not to mention, you saved me in those ruins. Watching you fight all those hellions was incredible. It's a good thing you were with me."

"I'm happy I made it in time," she replied. "And now that Sorey has the ability to purify, it takes some weight off my shoulders."

Mikleo crossed his arms with a displeased look. "If only I could take some off, too..."

Unlike the water seraph, Illumia knew he could become a Sub Lord for Sorey and gain the power of purification. However, she didn't want to say anything just yet before their friend woke up. "You just might be able to soon."

This stirred Mikleo's curiosity. "Really? How?"

She placed a finger over her lips and winked. "You'll have to wait a little bit longer. I'm sure Lailah also would find it easier to explain everything when Sorey wakes up."

He sighed. "All right."

Illumia and Mikleo continued their stroll around Ladylake for a few more hours until the sun began to set. They returned to the inn and waited until Sorey woke up.