This year marks the 10th anniversary of Tales of Zestiria, and it is about time to think about #sormikweek2025. As the fandom has long wandered off new horizons, it might also be the last one... So first of all-
Are you in for this year?
Count me in!
I'll try to participate
No thanks
Voting ended onJun 18, 2025
I'm thinking about a Seven Wonders theme, would you like that? Suggestions are of course more than welcome. Last question, should we make something special to celebrate the 10th event? Idk maybe some challenge, rewards, stuff? Tell me in the comments what you think💙
Hello there, I have a question about Sormik Week 2025. I know it is usually in August, but I see no announcement has been made. Will it be in a different month this year, or has it been cancelled? The reason I ask is because I had an entry prepared. ^_^
Hello anon, sorry for not responding earlier!!
Yes, sormikweek was supposed to happen this month, unfortunately summer has been quite hard on me and I didn't find the time to take care of the event.
It should still happen in a couple or month or so, I will make an announcement for it as soon as I can <3
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Tales of Zestiria, and it is about time to think about #sormikweek2025. As the fandom has long wandered off new horizons, it might also be the last one... So first of all-
Are you in for this year?
Count me in!
I'll try to participate
No thanks
Voting ended onJun 18, 2025
I'm thinking about a Seven Wonders theme, would you like that? Suggestions are of course more than welcome. Last question, should we make something special to celebrate the 10th event? Idk maybe some challenge, rewards, stuff? Tell me in the comments what you think💙
Title: New dawn, new light
Word count: 82,747
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/characters: Sorey/Mikleo, Sorey, Mikleo, Lailah, Edna, Zaveid; mentions of Zenrus, Alisha, Rose, Sergei; basically every single character seen in the game gets at least a mention
Summary: ‘My dream will live on, as long as I don’t forget.’ Sorey has returned, and he hasn’t forgotten.
In case it wasn't already obvious, all of the Zestiria spoilers. Like, all of them. This probably isn't enjoyable to read if you've never played the game, even if you don't care about spoilers. (And if you've only seen the anime - I'm sorry, game canon took priority here.)
Read the full story on AO3!
The first part of chapter 1 is under the Read more link.
(I realized belatedly (after finally picking a title) that this might work for @sormikweek after all, as Day 1 this year was Spring/Dawn. So hopefully it's not too presumptuous to tag it as such?)
Chapter 1: Reunion in the ruins
Truthfully, Mikleo realized almost straightaway whose hand had seized his, who had saved him from a rather spectacular fall. It was not until he looked up to see the glove, once just a fun find in the ruins, that he tentatively dared to let the thought in.
The silhouette above him was the most definite confirmation of his deepest hope, and what allowed him to take in what had happened. He was back, and he’d found Mikleo here in a long forgotten temple.
First things first, however. Mikleo firmly grasped the hand with his own, the both of them working together to pull him up from the hole. He distantly recalled being in almost the exact same position so many lifetimes ago, a situation which had ended in a splash. That thought quickly faded into the background the moment he set foot on solid ground, landing down on his knees.
No longer hindered by the light from above, Mikleo could look his savior in the eyes. Sparkling, bright green eyes, accompanied by a smile, one that Mikleo had missed so badly it almost physically hurt to see it again now. Those were the things that mattered, and the only things Mikleo had taken in before a soft squeeze from the hand he was still holding stopped his thoughts in his tracks.
“Mikleo.” His voice was almost hesitant, as if he was wondering if he was even allowed to speak his name out loud. It was all he needed to hear.
“Sorey.” It was the only response Mikleo had, the first time he allowed himself to even think his name ever since he’d grabbed that familiar hand.
Sorey’s reaction was immediate, his smile widening and spreading to his eyes. That was the last straw for Mikleo, who stumbled in his rush to wrap his arms around him, nearly toppling the both of them over from their kneeling position. He gave in to his impulse to hug Sorey tight, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to force back the tears that were starting to burn behind his eyelids.
Sorey took a moment to respond, but then he brought his arms around Mikleo in return, his grip tightening quickly until they were simply holding onto each other for dear life. Their embrace was so achingly familiar Mikleo couldn’t stop his tears anymore, letting them flow freely as he let go of any reservations he might still have had. This was real.
He could feel Sorey’s body trembling slightly under his arms, or maybe it was Mikleo himself. It didn’t really matter. No matter which way he’d pictured their reunion, he’d always known deep down he wouldn’t be able to control his emotions. He didn’t want to, either. He didn’t want Sorey to feel guilty, but he did deserve to know just how badly he’d been missed.
It took a long time before either of them made an effort to move apart. In the end, it was Sorey who very carefully pulled himself away, just enough to hold Mikleo at half an arm’s length. He’d definitely been crying as well, a helpless smile still dancing on his lips as he very gently raised his hands to rest against Mikleo’s cheekbones. Studying his face, Sorey swept away the last of his tears with his thumb, then let out a deep breath.
“You’re… wow,” he finally said, the word lingering in the air for a bit until Mikleo properly processed it.
“Really? That’s all you have to say?” The words were out before he could stop them, taking them both by surprise. He hadn’t meant his first real words to Sorey to come out like that, but when Sorey started laughing, still holding on tight to him, he didn’t really regret them either.
Instead, he took his time to study Sorey in return. He had changed, even if the most important things had stayed the same. His hair was different, for one – his build for another. Sorey had grown just enough for the Shepherd’s cloak to fit just a little tighter, for his shoulders to be a little broader, and for his face to have sharper lines than Mikleo remembered. He allowed his hands to wander, carefully stroking Sorey’s face and tucking some long, blond strands behind his ear. His hair wasn’t nearly as long as it had been when armatized, but the messy ponytail still trailed quite a bit down his neck and back.
“You’re so beautiful,” Sorey interrupted his musings, sounding almost in awe. “Just… amazing.”
“You’re amazing.” Had he even told him so before? He should have. He would. “You found me.”
“Of course.”
He hadn’t skipped a beat, and Mikleo just smiled. “You knew it was me.”
“Always. How could I not?”
Mikleo helplessly shook his head. “Sappy as ever.”
“Aw, man. I thought you’d let me get away with it just this once.” They shared a quick laugh at that, Sorey then rising to his feet and pulling Mikleo back up with him. He was still taller, albeit just by a tip of a finger now, which really shouldn’t matter anymore, but still. Mikleo just – noticed.
Then again, with the way Sorey locked him in another embrace, they fit together too well for Mikleo to have many complaints over that fact. It helped to ground him, too, because this might just all be too good to be true. Because Sorey did know it was him, which was of course what he’d been hoping for, but Mikleo could still sense the change in him, if his appearance hadn’t already tipped him off. “You came back.”
Sorey didn’t miss the tone in his voice. “Yes. Is it – do I look okay?”
“More than okay.” Mikleo leant back a little to be able to look straight into his eyes. “You’re here, and you’re perfect.” Edna would probably have some choice words to say if she ever caught wind of that, but it was worth every nickname she could think of to see Sorey smile at him like he did now, beaming at him.
“Really?”
“Well, one little thing.” Mikleo fidgeted with the collar of his cloak, making sure Sorey’s eyes were still on his. “Could you – take off the cloak, just for a bit?”
“Did I get it dirty again?”
“No.” He smiled. “No, it’s just… The one I missed and wanted to see again is Sorey. Not the Shepherd – Sorey.”
Evidently, that simple sentence was convincing enough. Sorey hurried to unfasten his cloak, at least making an attempt to fold it neatly before putting it aside and pulling Mikleo close again. The top button of his shirt had come undone in his rush, and for one moment, Mikleo could pretend they were back in Elysia before everything, when they were just Sorey and Mikleo, the resident ruin nerds. But Sorey’s appearance was a stark reminder of how much had changed, how much time had passed, and oh.
“I missed you,” he whispered, most of the words lost against Sorey’s shoulder. “I missed you so, so much.”
“I missed you too.” He’d heard him anyway. “I missed everyone, and everything, but I always missed you the most. I’m sorry – I tried so hard to get back to you as soon as I could, but…”
Mikleo just shook his head. “No apologies. We both knew, and we both agreed. You’re back now – you remember, even. How? We looked into every possibility, but we all thought…”
“Mikleo, how could I ever forget about you?”
And that earnest, soft-spoken and heart-felt little line stopped the rest of his thoughts dead in their tracks. They got lost in another embrace, finding confirmation again that all of this was real and happening right now. Mikleo honestly couldn’t tell if he was laughing, crying or both, emotions bubbling over in one big mess, but it was okay. None of these feelings could breed malevolence, and neither of them were human now anymore, anyway. They were Sorey and Mikleo, two halves of a whole, perhaps previously also a Shepherd and his Sub Lord, but those roles were history. Part of them, they’d always be, and though this closeness almost made Mikleo miss their armatus, he also knew it could never hold up against this moment.
Once again this is your friendly reminder the sormik celebration is never truly over, late entries are ALWAYS welcomed ;) You’re free to use any of the previous years' prompts, as long as you tag @sormikweek I will make sure to retweet/reblog your entries!
You can find all work made for this year under the tag #sormikweek2024.
I apologize for the shorter event this year (and for this late closing post), I will do better next time, especially since it will be the 10th anniversary of Sormik Week. I already have a theme in mind but I'd like to do something special for the occasion, do you have any ideas to make it more fun and challenging?
Feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions or questions!
I’m sorry I couldn’t create something more elaborate for Sormik Week. But I couldn’t let it go by without creating something for my favorite boys. ^_^ And I hope to do better next year. Happy Sormik Week. :D
