The bridge choices highlight the first big encounter with Sorey dealing with the mistrust of humans. He wants to believe that the people will understand he's there to help, but the initial reactions of surprise and fear leave their mark. This is one of the instances where his compassion and kindness backfire on him--he wants to cheer up the people as soon as possible and sees no reason to wait to create the foundations the bridge needs, despite Lailah's misgivings and Edna's warnings that he shouldn't be so overt with his powers. It isn't that he doesn't see their concerns, because he does, but he wants to believe the best in humans and reassures the seraphim that no matter what happens he'll be okay. Though he tries to tell them--and himself--that he needs to get used to encountering people's scorn, he still feels the disappointment when he's shunned by the humans after he uses Edna's abilities. He is prepared to shoulder the burden by himself, but that doesn't make it cut less. It stings even more so because it's something he did in order to make the people happy that instead turned into something that they can't help but fear. Although it's obvious that it weighs on him, he doesn't complain about it to the others and just quietly shoulders the weight. But that weight is lessened, so to speak, by Alisha and Neif, who both understand that he wishes to help and has offered them what assistance he can. It doesn't erase how anyone else reacted to his powers, but it is proof for him and the seraphim that there are people who will understand him. Regardless of whether Sorey chooses to create the bridge foundations in front of everyone or waits until midnight, Alisha and Neif offer him their thanks and support and it is a consistent source of strength for Sorey.
Unfortunately, though, the choice at the bridge did not prompt him to be more subtle or less reckless. When war breaks out between Hyland and Rolance, Sorey immediately wishes to go and help his Hyland friends because he doesn't want a senseless slaughter to happen. He knows that he could save the people of Hyland--but it would be at the cost of the people of Rolance, as he is reminded. A battlefield is not a place for an uncorrupted Shepherd, and after the bridge incident he is more inclined to listen to Lailah's advice on the matter. It is a crack in his unwavering confidence in himself, and his seraphim are more than happy to offer him sound guidance. But just as he determines to not involve himself in the war General Landon shows up and threatens Alisha's life if he doesn't fight for Hyland. Though he is already aware that there are corrupt officials within Hyland, this is the first instance where he hasn't had a means of avoiding their ploys. He is torn--if he refuses to help and Alisha is killed, he will blame himself and malevolence could take hold of him. There is no real way for him to win with any choice presented and can only take the offer. He is forced to face the fact that he might have to hurt people in order to protect those he cares about, because that is the nature of war. Additionally, because he is the Shepherd, he also must do his best in order to protect himself from becoming corrupted by malevolence and bringing the world to ruin in the process. Until that point it was easy for him to reassure himself that he wouldn't become corrupted, but after the bridge incident and being pulled into a war against his will, his confidence is shaken and he is desperate to put an end to it and move on with his journey.
He once more heeds Lailah's advice to remember what is true and good in the world, even though it's easier said than done. On the battlefield he's called a monster by the soldiers of Rolance, and when he goes to save his friends they're as terrified of his battle power as the enemy is. Though he's glad to see them safe, it is yet another reminder that not everyone can accept him and the power he wields. Sorey is able to keep moving because he still has his seraphim friends, but on the battlefield he notably walks alone and away from humans. Rather than be disgusted with the humans fighting in the war, though, he looks for a way to save them at every turn and decides to quell the hellions that appear because of the battle. And when the Lord of Calamity himself shows up on the battlefield Sorey can't simply run away. He feels responsible for the people on the battlefield and defeating the Lord of Calamity is a sure way to end the spread of malevolence, even if it is an enemy that outmatches him. It's just short of being reckless; he knows that Lailah, Edna, and Mikleo's lives are on the line and he can't afford to fail, but his desperation to help put an end to things means he isn't thinking about it calmly. That causes him to rush into a fight he knows he's not ready for, and as a result he is overpowered by the Lord of Calamity and his domain causes him to lose the ability to see his seraphim friends. In those few moments he is truly alone--without human or seraphim companions by his side, and carrying a weight he can't manage on his own.
But once again he's saved, literally and figuratively, by Rose's arrival. She doesn't offer him words of thanks the way that Alisha and Neif did at the bridge, but she saves his life and rescues him from the attacking soldiers, which is an action that speaks louder than words. The war makes Sorey see humanity's ugliness, but it doesn't bring him to despair, and it also shows him the goodness people possess. An assassin like Rose comes to his aid, proof that anyone is capable of reaching out and helping others. Even one person is enough to make him keep his faith in humans. After that point on Rose travels with him and helps him to keep a human perspective in his party and helps him to see what he didn't before. Rose understands that there is good and bad in people and is able to give Sorey a bit of her understanding in order to help him temper his own expectations of humans. His own experiences with humans have shown him that there are times when subtlety and restraint are needed, and he doesn't need to show off his Shepherd powers to people who will fear him for it. In order to achieve his dream of humans and seraphim living together, he needs to understand humans better--and that's what he does, little by little during his journey. He hears the reasons that humans and seraphim alike are overcome by malevolence and turned into hellions, and he sees how assassins like Rose are able to entirely avoid being tainted by malevolence. Becoming corrupted in the war was a very real possibility that Sorey realizes, and he takes steps to ensure that he isn't placed in a position where he could be overtaken by malevolence.
Re: REVISION
The bridge choices highlight the first big encounter with Sorey dealing with the mistrust of humans. He wants to believe that the people will understand he's there to help, but the initial reactions of surprise and fear leave their mark. This is one of the instances where his compassion and kindness backfire on him--he wants to cheer up the people as soon as possible and sees no reason to wait to create the foundations the bridge needs, despite Lailah's misgivings and Edna's warnings that he shouldn't be so overt with his powers. It isn't that he doesn't see their concerns, because he does, but he wants to believe the best in humans and reassures the seraphim that no matter what happens he'll be okay. Though he tries to tell them--and himself--that he needs to get used to encountering people's scorn, he still feels the disappointment when he's shunned by the humans after he uses Edna's abilities. He is prepared to shoulder the burden by himself, but that doesn't make it cut less. It stings even more so because it's something he did in order to make the people happy that instead turned into something that they can't help but fear. Although it's obvious that it weighs on him, he doesn't complain about it to the others and just quietly shoulders the weight. But that weight is lessened, so to speak, by Alisha and Neif, who both understand that he wishes to help and has offered them what assistance he can. It doesn't erase how anyone else reacted to his powers, but it is proof for him and the seraphim that there are people who will understand him. Regardless of whether Sorey chooses to create the bridge foundations in front of everyone or waits until midnight, Alisha and Neif offer him their thanks and support and it is a consistent source of strength for Sorey.
Unfortunately, though, the choice at the bridge did not prompt him to be more subtle or less reckless. When war breaks out between Hyland and Rolance, Sorey immediately wishes to go and help his Hyland friends because he doesn't want a senseless slaughter to happen. He knows that he could save the people of Hyland--but it would be at the cost of the people of Rolance, as he is reminded. A battlefield is not a place for an uncorrupted Shepherd, and after the bridge incident he is more inclined to listen to Lailah's advice on the matter. It is a crack in his unwavering confidence in himself, and his seraphim are more than happy to offer him sound guidance. But just as he determines to not involve himself in the war General Landon shows up and threatens Alisha's life if he doesn't fight for Hyland. Though he is already aware that there are corrupt officials within Hyland, this is the first instance where he hasn't had a means of avoiding their ploys. He is torn--if he refuses to help and Alisha is killed, he will blame himself and malevolence could take hold of him. There is no real way for him to win with any choice presented and can only take the offer. He is forced to face the fact that he might have to hurt people in order to protect those he cares about, because that is the nature of war. Additionally, because he is the Shepherd, he also must do his best in order to protect himself from becoming corrupted by malevolence and bringing the world to ruin in the process. Until that point it was easy for him to reassure himself that he wouldn't become corrupted, but after the bridge incident and being pulled into a war against his will, his confidence is shaken and he is desperate to put an end to it and move on with his journey.
He once more heeds Lailah's advice to remember what is true and good in the world, even though it's easier said than done. On the battlefield he's called a monster by the soldiers of Rolance, and when he goes to save his friends they're as terrified of his battle power as the enemy is. Though he's glad to see them safe, it is yet another reminder that not everyone can accept him and the power he wields. Sorey is able to keep moving because he still has his seraphim friends, but on the battlefield he notably walks alone and away from humans. Rather than be disgusted with the humans fighting in the war, though, he looks for a way to save them at every turn and decides to quell the hellions that appear because of the battle. And when the Lord of Calamity himself shows up on the battlefield Sorey can't simply run away. He feels responsible for the people on the battlefield and defeating the Lord of Calamity is a sure way to end the spread of malevolence, even if it is an enemy that outmatches him. It's just short of being reckless; he knows that Lailah, Edna, and Mikleo's lives are on the line and he can't afford to fail, but his desperation to help put an end to things means he isn't thinking about it calmly. That causes him to rush into a fight he knows he's not ready for, and as a result he is overpowered by the Lord of Calamity and his domain causes him to lose the ability to see his seraphim friends. In those few moments he is truly alone--without human or seraphim companions by his side, and carrying a weight he can't manage on his own.
But once again he's saved, literally and figuratively, by Rose's arrival. She doesn't offer him words of thanks the way that Alisha and Neif did at the bridge, but she saves his life and rescues him from the attacking soldiers, which is an action that speaks louder than words. The war makes Sorey see humanity's ugliness, but it doesn't bring him to despair, and it also shows him the goodness people possess. An assassin like Rose comes to his aid, proof that anyone is capable of reaching out and helping others. Even one person is enough to make him keep his faith in humans. After that point on Rose travels with him and helps him to keep a human perspective in his party and helps him to see what he didn't before. Rose understands that there is good and bad in people and is able to give Sorey a bit of her understanding in order to help him temper his own expectations of humans. His own experiences with humans have shown him that there are times when subtlety and restraint are needed, and he doesn't need to show off his Shepherd powers to people who will fear him for it. In order to achieve his dream of humans and seraphim living together, he needs to understand humans better--and that's what he does, little by little during his journey. He hears the reasons that humans and seraphim alike are overcome by malevolence and turned into hellions, and he sees how assassins like Rose are able to entirely avoid being tainted by malevolence. Becoming corrupted in the war was a very real possibility that Sorey realizes, and he takes steps to ensure that he isn't placed in a position where he could be overtaken by malevolence.