<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Day 9: Palaugrim - Sharen (morning)</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>Guilford and the rest of his team waited outside the sealed gates of Sharen. He had given the orders to fortify the town defenses and increase the town's border security. He had also sent word to Hiribah to deploy a third of its forces to Alera to support the other town. Abel had finally sent him word of his whereabouts and actions as well as that simple request to bolster Alera's troops. The last line in Abel's message however, was somewhat unusual.<br/><br/><div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;"><span style="font-style: italic">"Are you sure about your reasons for starting Liberation? Or are you fighting out of personal vendetta?"</span></div></div></div><br/><br/>Was he fighting out of personal vendetta? Did he truly mobilize the entirety of the Pristine Knights for the sake of avenging one woman? Did he put the lives of all the people of Palaugrim, knights alike, for the sole reason of getting revenge? While Abel might have been his former Captain, seldom did the man question his motives, a testament to the older knight's trust on his judgment, but for him to ask that question now, something greatly bothered the retired knight.<br/><br/>Guilford sighed. Nobody wanted a war, yet they all know they cannot leave Sin breathing down daily on the necks of these people. War will come whether they wanted it or not, it was all just a matter of time. It does not make any difference whether they moved first or moved second, the only difference would be how much they would have already lost should they choose to move second. While the Seraph understood that strife and insurmountable hardship accompanied each war, and that both choices and sacrifices must be made, he also knew that loved ones die and people will change, this was the truth of war. In the end, the people will simply need someone to blame for it, someone to take responsibility. This was a role he gladly chose of his own free will.<br/><br/>"I can't believe your former Captain would question your motives." Georg mumbled behind his Captain.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"It cannot be helped. Each individual has a different take on war. Many don't want it knocking on their doorsteps, especially when they have a lot on the line. Some people are just content being able to go on about their daily lives, caring less about the world around them as long as they don't get involved. Those people will curse me, think me a fool, blame me for the losses that have yet to come, yet there are many others who are looking towards a brighter future, wishing things would be different. Those people will exalt me, praise me, think me a hero, their savior..."</span><br/><br/>Guilford sighed.<span style="color: #0080FF">"It's hard to know where your heart lies if a lot of lives are at stake, but in the end, I am doing this for all of them."</span><br/><br/>"You're not thinking about Santa Olivia are you Captain?" Natalia asked in a mellow tone, a hint of sadness in it.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Not just Santa Olivia. I am thinking about the four islands, the grand scheme of things, the bigger picture, the people I have dragged into this war, the people that I will soon drag into this war, those who have died, those who still live, those that need to be saved, those I cannot save, people I failed, people who depend on me, the safety of my men, my friends, my family, the importance of my duty, my responsibilities, the promises I made, the vows I need to keep, and a lot more... each day these are the thoughts I carry with me. Each time I wield my sword, I do it for the people. I carry with me the hopes of more people than my shoulders could bear. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that my already weary shoulders could still carry this heavy burden. I do not even have time to think of myself."</span><br/><br/>Nobody could say another word. Just the thought of how much weight their Captain carries was more than enough to silence them. How could he remain so strong despite claiming that his shoulders are weary? How can he continue forward under all the pressure that no doubt torments him daily? If it was any other, would they be able to handle it like their Captain does? Surely Abel couldn't. He retired for Light's sake! Yet he had the nerve to question this man's reasons for fighting? Insolence!<br/><br/>"Ohh Light forgive me but I feel like punching your former Captain." Joaquim remarked, pissed off at the last line on the retired knight's message. It garnered a light laughter among his team.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"I cannot blame them for thinking that way. Abel and people like him have their reasons why they retired from service. Whatever they were, I do not need to know nor do I want to. Honestly, when Bryn died, Lethe told me to rest and truthfully, I considered hanging up my sword right there and then. What made me choose not to? In the end, it was my duty. I couldn't give it up like the many things I have already sacrificed."</span><br/><br/>Another air of silence descended upon the Seraph's team. This time, there were no witty remarks, no halfhearted words, not even words of comfort, nobody needed them now. The silence was broken at the sound of a Wyviera's engine looming overhead. The flying machine landed just a few yards away from Guilford and his team and the sound of the metallic doors hissing open piercing the otherwise tranquil surrounding.<br/><br/>Five people disembarked the transport, each of them distinguishable by their non-Pristine Knight gear. All of them carried themselves with dignity by the way they strode over towards Guilford. The group was being led by an orange-haired man. His red armor had the golden engraving of a lion at the breast plate, and he carried with him a wicked looking long spear. He extended his hand towards Guilford in an attempt at formality.<br/><br/>"The Crests officially at your service Master Guilford." he spoke in a well-mannered tone.<br/><br/>Guilford shook the man's hand but the other pulled him closer for a friendly hug.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Stop it Lance, you're embarrassing me in front of my squad."</span><br/><br/>"Geez Gil, you're too high and mighty now for a hug? Come on! It's been ten years!" the other cried in protest.<br/><br/>When the other freed him from the hug, Guilford turned to look at the other members of the Crests. First was Akira, the black-haired man, he was wearing his personalized Scout gear that was well kept despite long years of absence from the service, and his usual bored expression lined his face. He however, used to be one of the few renowned Scouts back in the day. A very skilled man when it comes to espionage operations. His greatest feat was penetrating the fortress of the God of Sin for valuable intel along with one other Scout. Him and the other Scout saved countless knights with the information they were able to gather. "Been a while Gil. Don't go giving me lame missions now you hear me?" Guilford simply smiled.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I will try to find something suitable for your talents."</span><br/><br/>Next was Alona, the red-haired woman. She had the phoenix crest dangling around her neck. A sword master renowned for her comeback victories despite losing situations. Her light armor was well shined and her older<span style="font-style: italic">Judgment</span>looking fine even after ten years. She always had a preference for this ten year old sword for it held the most balance out of the later revisions. The seriousness in her features didn't fade too even after all those years. She may not look like it but she may be the only one capable of wielding the<span style="font-style: italic">Judgment</span>sword to its full potential. She smiled at Guilford and extended her own hand for a shake. "It's good to see you Gil." she greeted.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Likewise. I'm glad you're here."</span><br/><br/>Silver took the initiative to walk over to Gil and patted his shoulder with his massive arms. His long gray hair swayed with the wind as the two exchanged greetings. This bulky man wore the turtle crest. His defining skill was his ability to use his personalized shield crafted by none other than himself. He carries no other weapon and uses his shield both for defense and offense, a specialist of sorts. His greatest feat was defending a key knight encampment from an onslaught of Sinners and Pure Sinners until reinforcements arrived. There were no casualties that day on the knight side. "I look forward to fighting with you again Gil." he said calmly and nodded at the Seraph.<span style="color: #0080FF">"As do I Silver. It's been far too long."</span><br/><br/>Last and not least was Cora. She carried a large ornate cross hammer known to many as the Grand Cross. Despite her small frame and height, she carried the weapon with great ease and wielded it with even lesser effort. Despite her unbelievable destructive prowess, Cora was one of the most skilled clerics that used to be in the service. She was the one who modified the widely used Healing spell to be more potent and one of the only two who can cast Divine Sanctuary, the pinnacle of the healing arts. Instead of shaking Gil's hand, she bonked the Seraph's head with the blunt side of her Grand Cross. "That's for breaking your promise!" She lined up the cross hammer for another hit but Guilford stopped it with one hand.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I get it. It's still not too late to keep it right? I'll come visit when this is over."</span>Cora pulled the weapon back and pouted. "Forget it. I'm already twenty-five. I've grown tired of waiting."<br/><br/>Guilford's team was left awestruck at the arrival of the Crests they heard about from their Captain. All of them expected a more serious bunch of people but seeing how laid back they were, it was easy to misjudge their abilities. Lance looked behind Gil's shoulders and finally acknowledged the rest of the Seraph's squad. His brows knitted close together upon noticing something.<br/><br/>"Where's your self-proclaimed girlfriend Gil?"<br/><br/>There was silence. Lance took the hint and understood the unspoken. He immediately drew his right hand back into a fist and punched Guilford as hard as he could. The Seraph took the hit cleanly and simply wiped away the blood that seeped from his lips. Guilford knew the reason why Lance punched him, Lance loved Brynhildr greatly but his Vice Captain only ever had eyes for him. The sour mood slightly lifted when Lance's features began to soften, followed by his words.<br/><br/>"You promised me Gil! When we retired, you said you'd keep her safe!"<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Yeah... I did promise..."</span><br/><br/>"What... happened...?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"She... kept me safe instead..."</span><br/><br/>Lance understood the meaning behind Gil's words. For him to be kept safe, simply meant that they were fighting something strong and that there was a miscalculation of sorts that might have happened. Masking his grief with determination, Lance returned to his former self, less the cheerfulness. The situation was worse than they first predicted if Guilford already lost one of his knights. It was time for the sleeping lion to wake up from its den.<br/><br/>"Here. This was supposed to be for her when she was ready." Lance said and handed Guilford the tiger crest. "Let's head into town. You can tell us all about it."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">_________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Day 9: Palaugrim - Santa Olivia (afternoon)</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>QianHua's words rang heavily inside his mind...<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“So all of Palaugrim will be caught in a pointless war because he can’t control his grief.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Freed from Sin or freed from this mortal world?”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Countless innocents will die, already have died!”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Foolish man, and foolish Cornelius for giving him such leeway.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Santa Olivia has fallen! It’s nothing more than a mass graveyard now!”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“...because of a temper tantrum!”</span><br/><br/>Raucus was kind enough to provide his old bones with a steed. Abel had been riding non-stop to make up for the distance between him and Lethe but was stopped at the sight of Santa Olivia's ruins. Before him lay what was once a peaceful and prosperous town, now reduced to rubble because the Pristine Knights... no, because Guilford started<span style="font-style: italic">Liberation</span>. Does the man truly know what he was doing? Abel wanted to bet on his former subordinate's sound judgment but the sight before him prevented him from finding peace.<br/><br/>"Guilford... do you truly understand your actions? Do you have any idea of the implications this will cause? How far have you thought into this?"<br/><br/>Abel recalled a similar scene like this back in the day before the four islands came to be. Rimiera, a town much like Santa Olivia now, reduced to shambles when the God of Sin advanced to their last stronghold. His squad was the closest to respond to the call for help but they came to late. The town was being devastated by the creatures of Sin and by the time they got there, most of it has been destroyed. They fought valiantly but all they succeeded in doing was clean up duty. No one else needed saving... not a single soul. It was there that he first heard the words coming from one of his two newest knights at the time, the promising young man was staring at the rubble alone, watching the sunset over the countless dead bodies.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"To give even when there is nothing left to give. To fight when no one left has the will to carry on. I want to be that man for the people."</span><br/><br/>It was those words that proved to Abel that Guilford was wise beyond his years, probably the reason why he began to place more trust in the fledgling knight. He did not know if the young man clearly understood the weight of his words, however he could not help himself but believe. Stringing his thoughts back to the present, Abel turned his back at the massacre and contemplated...<br/><br/>"Was I mistaken to believe?"<br/><br/>_________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Day 9: Gless - Grand Cathedral (night)</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>"Councilor Cornelius! Santa Olivia has fallen and Guilford made the information known to the entire knighthood! Even to the people of Palaugrim! That Seraph has gone mad!" Livius roared and slammed both hands on the long table.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">You're wrong, Guilford is trying to be the pillar of strength we would all need...</span><br/><br/>"Does he intend on causing an uproar?! What is he planning to accomplish by making the information public knowledge?! I do not comprehend Councilor Cornelius!" Mihai seconded.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">He's merely preventing the knighthood and the people from succumbing to fear you moron...</span><br/><br/>"If it was up to me I would revoke his Seraph status and place him on exile!" Aurel scoffed.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">And who do you think will stand up for you when Sin once again bears its fangs on us?</span><br/><br/>"Besides, what is Lethe doing letting him go off like this?! Surely she wouldn't consent to all of this!" Livius roared again, slamming both fists on the table once more.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Guilford doesn't want Lethe to be a part of this, he intended to do this alone from the start.</span><br/><br/>Cornelius had a bad headache since morning and all day long he heard beside him was the whining of the councilors who thought they knew better. If it was any relief, Laith remained quiet on his left side, but the pointy stare he gets from the other councilor time and again indicated he also had words to say. He had explained to the best of his ability that it was not his intention to sacrifice Lethe for the sake of Guilford. Though he always favored the man over the other, Laith was his complete opposite. Taking a deep breath, Cornelius raised his right hand, signaling his intent to speak. The other councilors quieted down, eager to hear what he has to say. Using the same hand he raised, Cornelius ordered an attendant to hand a copy of Guilford's personal message to him to the other councilors.<br/><br/>"Lethe's seal was not among the ones who approved of<span style="font-style: italic">Liberation</span>. This is all Guilford's doing."<br/><br/>The councilors except for Laith were shocked after reading the copy of Guilford's personal message to Cornelius. Mihai couldn't control his temper. "He dares threaten the High Council to get what he wants?! This is treason! No this is beyond that! This is utter madness! We cannot let this slide!"<br/><br/>"What is Abel doing then? Why isn't he stopping that man!? Guilford is plunging the islands into all out war for what? Petty vengeance over the death of his Vice Captain?! This is selfish! Unreasonable!"<br/><br/>Truth is, Cornelius also received a message from Abel. He knew the reason why but letting these councilors know would be a meaningless effort. He was getting sick of them berating this man's effort and treating him like they knew his true intentions. They were clueless, the poor souls.<br/><br/>"Silence!!" Cornelius' voice echoed within the chambers. His anger visible even through his wrinkles that lined his face. "You spineless cowards know nothing! That man has chosen to bear the burden that we cannot! He has chosen to accept responsibility and fulfill his duty! A Pristine Knight's duty! How dare you think you know better?!" He was bitter, angered by the mindless judgment from what was once a just council.<br/><br/>"Over the years we have done nothing as Sin spread, thinking only of ourselves and how to save what we fear we would lose! Admit it! We have lost the will to fight Sin! Isn't that why you people devised the<span style="font-style: italic">Salvation Plan</span>?! Because you have given up on the fight and chose to save a few?! Guilford made the choice to save us all! If anything, you should be grateful that he is doing this for us and taking all responsibility!"<br/><br/>There was a long silence. Nobody could contest the truth behind Cornelius' words. It stung them but it is what it is. The Council Leader then turned to Laith. "I want you in my office now."