[[Day 10 of Month -4 :: Barrens]]<br/><br/>The brown haired demon stalked through the halls of her palace, fists trembling in barely contained rage.<span style="font-style: italic">Her</span>retarded toy?  A network of cracks appeared on the wall, the aftermath of the Sin Blast she’d thrown its way.  It had been<span style="font-style: italic">Eve’s</span>moronic idea to give Lillith’s teleportation ability to that idiot Vulcalina.  If Syndra had had her way,<span style="font-style: italic">she</span>would have teleportation and it wouldn’t have been destroyed by that stupid Seraph!  Her teeth ground together at the reminder of that blue-haired brat.  What an arrogant prick, and using her head as a stepping block?<br/><br/>She slammed the doors to her dollhouse open, the sound reverberating throughout the giant room.  The best of her collection was displayed here, countless dolls awaiting her commands.  The sight of them gave her no solace.  While it was entirely Eve’s fault for demanding she ‘distract’ the Seraphs, the ignorant bitch was correct in that her plot.. hadn’t<span style="font-style: italic">quite</span>succeeded.  Though parts of Palaugrim had crumbled away from her machinations, it still floated in the sky.  Anger transformed her lips into a scowl.  It<span style="font-style: italic">should</span>have been decorating the Barrens right now, along with Lindela.<br/><br/>Red eyes scanned her room furiously, halting at the sight of Pristine Knight armor.  When she walked closer, its display tag revealed to her its name: Sebastian d’Arques.  Syndra studied it critically but knew it was impossible.  There were too few d’Arques right now to go unnoticed but that damn Lightbringer would know something was wrong.  She’d have to wait until he was dead before she could try using it.  But..  It did give her an idea.<br/><br/>She stormed back to the front of her dollhouse, where a cowering Sinner was waiting for her.  “Get me everything we have on the Seraphs and their squads.”  Her order sent the Sinner scampering off and she turned to peruse her collection once more.  She was sure she’d have at least someone appropriate for this task..<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br/>[[Day 15 of Month -4, Night ]]<br/><br/>The crowd around her was growing upset, their mutterings mostly indiscernible.  Every now and then, certain phrases could be heard: why<span style="font-style: italic">her</span>? It’s all her<span style="text-decoration: underline">fault</span>.<span style="font-weight: bold">Murderer</span>.<span style="font-size: 75%; line-height: 116%;">She should have just</span><span style="font-size: 110%; line-height: 116%;"> died</span>.<br/><br/>Lethe said nothing in response, face studiously neutral.  She’d had too much experience as the Council’s representative to let such things bother.  Or, at least, let it<span style="font-style: italic">show</span>that it bothered her.<br/><br/>There was a general shift in the audience as the simmering resentment hit a tipping point.  In a second, the room would descend into a mob, individual restraint subsumed under the lust for destruction.<span style="color: turquoise"> “Little liar.”</span>One person separated from the damning jury, high heels clacking against the flawless floor.  Pink lips twisted in a haughty smirk,<span style="color: turquoise">“This is all your fault. You know that, right?  If you’d just left Palaugrim alone, we’d never be in this mess to begin with.”</span>Turquoise eyes widened in faux surprise,<span style="color: turquoise">“Santa Olivia, Luciano,”</span>she called the city by its Sin-name rather than its newly christened name of Mokaida,<span style="color: turquoise">“all those villages… the Shattering.”</span>By the end of the list, all pretense of civility had faded.  Hatred twisted the otherwise beautiful face,<span style="color: turquoise"> “I spoke the truth that afternoon, didn’t I? <span style="font-weight: bold">You won’t stop until every town has been razed or forced to convert.</span>”</span><br/><br/>In the face of such twisted hatred, it was easy for Lethe to retain her calm.  Before her didn’t stand an innocent of Palaugrim.  No, this was a demon who had deceived the people of Palaugrim into Sin’s embrace under the guise of humanity.  Her apathy wasn’t entirely feigned as she stared back at the vengeful Victorie.  It was harder to maintain in the presence of the woman who took the former Mayor’s place.<br/><br/>“Why?”  It was the mother who’d been desperately pleading for her daughter to live after that orange haired demon’s attack.  She didn’t remember where the attack had occurred; there had been too many before that demon had finally died, but she remembered the face.  The woman’s child was cradled in her arms, the body’s deathly pallor notice enough it was no more than a corpse.  “Why?” The woman repeated, neither accusing nor furious, simply curious.  Simply wondering for what reason she’d had to bury her child.<br/><br/>From this Lethe had to turn away, unable to stare calmly at the woman who’d done nothing wrong yet born the burden of a war she’d never wanted.  Was it right that innocent people were dying, had died, in this battle between Light and Sin?  Their only crime had been to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  They hadn’t deserved to die.  She should have protected them.<br/><br/>“When are you coming home?” Lethe’s head shot up at the unexpected question.  Someone wanted.. her half-formed hopes were dashed at the sight of the speaker.  A younger version of her, draped in the black cloak she’d worn when fleeing the Pass, looked at her wistfully.  “I really miss you.”  A shy smile crept onto younger her’s lips, “We can all be together again, you, me, mommy, and daddy.”  But those eyes that look at her aren’t innocent anymore, they’re greedy, possessive.  “<span style="font-weight: bold">We can all be together again,</span>”  There was no outward change, no skin turning dusky blue or eyes shining white but Lethe could hear it, had heard it so many times before: the deepening volume that warned of an imminent transformation—<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">“won’t that be nice?”</span></span>—into a Sinner.<br/><br/>Lethe lurched away, turning in any direction possible to avoid the sight of—Guilford dying.  Eve laughing. Fidelius yelling.  Eiji pleading.  Under her feet, the world shook, losing its previous placidity.  Its movement jarred her already confused mind, helping her stumble this way and that until she caught sight of a flash of light.  The Divine Light!  Impassive brown eyes stared at her with just a hint of curiosity.<span style="color: silver">“Cap..captain.”</span>The honorific fell from her lips, instinct overcoming her current wariness of the man,<span style="color: silver"> “Pl-please.. hel”</span>the word was frozen in her throat, unable to overcome the sheer indifference evident in her former Captain.  Abel just stared at her, waiting to see what would happen next.<br/><br/>Lethe gasped for breath as if she’d been drowning, blue eyes searching frantically around her.  She fell backwards, arms barely able to catch her before she hit the ground.  Where was she? What had that been?  She shakily scuttled her upper body around until she was on her hands and knees, the latter groaning at suddenly being forced to work after kneeling for so long.  She was.. she lifted her head to look around, finally recognizing the altar in front of her.  She was in one of the prayer rooms in the Cathedral.  The knowledge she was somewhere safe finally calmed her enough to ease back into a seiza position.  But..  She ran a palm over arm, feeling how every hair had stood up in fright.  What had been that feeling..?  It had felt as if someone had walked over her grave but.. much, much worse.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>[[Day 15 of Month -4, Night :: Tethel]]<br/><br/>Verlassen looked up from the book he was reading, glass frozen midway to his lips, at the sudden frantic beating of his heart.  His hand trembled with barely contained energy creating an unpleasant ‘pins and needle’ sensation all over his body.  He felt anticipation; his body barely felt like it could contain him.  Slowly, he forced himself to exhale, forced his body to relax as he tried to figure out where this sudden eagerness had come from.<br/><br/>All of his senses felt hypersensitive.  He could hear the faint footsteps of the guards at the end of the chambers.  He could smell a faint whiff of smoke.  He could feel the light cool breeze on his arm.  The last made him turn towards the window, open as normal to let the air and the moonlight in.  Today it lacked the latter.  It was a new moon.<br/><br/>He huffed in amusement as the answer suddenly revealed itself to him.  With a wry twist of his lips, he lifted his tumbler in a toast before knocking back the remaining alcohol.  Welcome back, God of Sin.<br/><br/>Black eyes drifted over to his wife, curious if she had noticed anything.  For once, she’d made no comment about his unusual actions, odd given her normally fawning attitude.  Shrewd blue eyes stared off in the distance.  Although she had no affinity with divine realm, Centienne was unnaturally perceptive.  There were times he would have almost called her prescient.  Blue eyes suddenly focused on him and they lacked her normal adoration.  All he could see was cold calculation as she assessed what he knew, how much use she was to him, and how best to get what she wanted.<br/><br/>This wasn’t his coquettish wife, the one forever wrapped up in her fantasies.  This was the queen who had kept her kingdom in tact through both the First War and the Blight.  The one who had manipulated the Council into saving her kingdom and then immediately betrayed them.  The one who had ruthlessly bargained with demons just to get her prince charming.  For an idle moment, Verlassen wondered how the First War could have ended if such a cunning mind had been put to service in the Light’s name.  And then he immediately discarded that thought.<br/><br/>“Shall we go to bed?”  He offered as he stood up, stretching his arms in a show of nonchalance.  What-ifs didn’t matter.  He was better this way.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>[[Day 15 of Month -4, Night :: Lindela]]<br/><br/>“You should see what he’s done with his shield!”  Roland grumbled good naturedly as he waved a fork around, “I had to turn it over every time I found a dent to make sure it was really the one I made!  It was as if it’d never seen a polishing cloth or buffing stone in its life!”  His tirade only came to an end when he started coughing.<br/><br/>“It’s not that bad!’  Adair retorted once the coughing fit has subsided, half indignantly and half in play, “Squad Ten just maintains a demanding schedule; you had a simple job as a Knight.”<br/><br/>At those words both Roland<span style="font-style: italic">and</span>Lesus gave him deadpan looks.  “Uh.. I got stuck on guard duty for<span style="font-style: italic">that one</span>, for over<span style="text-decoration: underline">five</span>years” the fork pointed accusingly at the only blond at the table.  “Want to try saying again that my job was ‘simple’?”<br/><br/>“Not to mention you were underfoot,” Lesus pointed out quietly, still audible over Grisia’s indignant spluttering.  “I was<span style="font-weight: bold">not</span>that bad!”  The former Advocate protested.  “I was a wonderful Advocate!”<br/><br/>“And a terror the rest of the time..”  Roland reminisced gloomily, “remember that time he almost got us kicked out of the Inn after he called the inn keeper fat and tried to offer her suggestions on where to buy better beds?”<br/><br/>(“They were as hard as rocks!”)<br/><br/>“Or what about the time he called the Lord’s son a Sin-infested creature more vile than even a Pure Sinner?”<br/><br/>(“He was a terribly spoilt child!  And he tried to bully Adair!”)<br/><br/>“Lights.. that time when he accidentally proposed to..”<br/><br/>The teasing came to an abrupt halt at the sound of forks clattering to the table.  Lesus and Roland looked up from their mock pity party to see both Adair and Grisia frozen, eyes wide as they stared out in the distance.  The two men eyed the brothers uncertainly and then each other.  “Grisia..?”<br/><br/>The blond-haired man whirled to look at Lesus, pupils contracting to focus on his longtime friend.  “What? Sorry?”<br/><br/>“Are you okay?”  The former scout asked, black eyes flickering between Grisia and Adair uncertainly.<br/><br/>“What?”  Grisia repeated, “No, sorry.  I was just wondering why the Bells were ringing.”<br/><br/>“But there are no bells ringing…”  And indeed, the only sound that could be heard was the muted sounds of the street.  The four men looked at each other uncertainly, the pensive moment broken by Roland breaking into another fit of coughing.<br/><br/>“I don’t think I’m the one you should be asking who’s fine,” Grisia pointed out tartly, already putting aside the previous unexplainable moment, “I think<span style="font-style: italic">you</span>need to go see a cleric!”<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>After their contentious reunion, the two siblings had fallen into a routine once more.  Cricket showed up to push against the freaking door while Konan alternated between cheering for him, chatting to him, or just watching him.  Today she seemed to be in a quieter mood, just sitting on the ground as Cricket strained against the heavy door.  He’d gotten them halfway open but ever since then, progress had been slow.<br/><br/>An eerie whistling suddenly wound through the plane, catching both siblings’ attentions.  The purple-haired Knight backed away from the doors leading to his Light’s Blessing, turning to look in the direction of the unexpected sound.  Konan had similarly gotten to her feet.  There was a frown evident on her face as she peered into the mists that characterized the plane.  Neither knew what the sound was and they knew each other well enough to not have to ask.  The sound grew louder, not quite threatening but certainly unsettling when there was a sudden crack of thunder.<br/><br/>The entire dimension convulsed, suddenly stretching as if trying to tear itself apart.  A scream ripped its way out of Konan’s mouth and only long experience in battle kept Cricket from imitating her.  And then just as suddenly, everything returned to normal.  Konan collapsed to the ground, clearly unused to such pain.<br/><br/>“What.. what was that?”  Cricket asked even as he looked around warily.  He stepped closer to his panting sister, settling into a defensive stance.  The girl finally regained her breath only to look up at her brother with wide eyes: “I have no idea..”<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>Seraphim snorted in her sleep and turned over, “I’ll show you a knuckle sandwich…” The rest of her mumbling became indecipherable once more as soft snoring resumed.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>[[Day 15 of Month -4, Night :: The Cathedral, Gless]]<br/><br/>“Master Lethe! Master Lethe!” She could hear frantic steps running towards her and she stopped, turning to face her caller.  An overly devoted Scribe ran up, hands full of papers, no doubt more reports for her to read.  “I have the late—” The Scribe paused, a worried look crossing his face.  “Master Lethe..” His voice had lost its previous frenzy and was now replaced with concern, “are you okay?”<br/><br/>Lethe looked back at him in confusion.<span style="color: silver"> “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”</span><br/><br/>“You’re as white as a sheet..” The Scribe responded uncertainly before his eyes widened in shock, his brain finally processing what he’d said.  “I! Uh! That is! I mean!”  He scrambled to save himself, realizing he’d just accidentally<span style="font-weight: bold">insulted a Seraph</span>.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “I am?”</span>He thanked the Light that she didn’t sound offended.  No longer worried for his job, the Scribe re-adopted his concerned look, “Yes.. Are you feeling okay?  Do you want me to get you a healer?”  The white-haired woman touched her face self-consciously, wondering if she really looked as pale as he implied.  Her uneasy feeling from earlier—from whatever had woken her from her praying session still lingered.<span style="color: silver"> “No.. that shouldn’t be necessary…”</span>She trailed off; it was hard to be composed when she felt so unsettled.<span style="color: silver"> “If you’ll excuse me?”</span>With a polite bow, she excused herself and continued walking towards her squad room.<br/><br/>The Scribe looked after her in apprehension.  He was just a lowly Scribe; there was no way he’d presume to know Master Lethe’s health better than her but.. she definitely hadn’t looked that well.  Looking down at the reports in his hand, he resolved he’d given them to her tomorrow and check up on her then.  He may just be a lowly Scribe, but the least he could do to help the cause was make sure the Seraph was okay.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>The squad room was, understandably, empty when she arrived.  Lethe paused at the entrance, a sense of disquietude encroaching upon her.  The room was cast in darkness, a mess of shadows barely illuminated by the open doorway she stood in front of.  There wasn’t even moonlight to lend some visibility.  Lethe swallowed nervously, inexplicably wary of entering.  Lights Above, she was being ridiculous.  She flicked the lights on, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the sudden change.  The room looked as normal as ever.  With a sigh at her own foolishness, the white-haired Seraph entered her squad quarters and let the door fall shut behind her.  It closed with an oddly echoing<span style="font-style: italic">thud</span>.  She was clearly going crazy.  She shook her head and took a seat at the table, pulling her files closer to her.  There were still some reports she needed to review before she could call it a night.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>Hasty footsteps moved about from the Cathedral’s West Wing, trodding the carpeted floor and expertly weaving through the busy-bodies still lurking about.  Guilford found himself headed for squad ten’s quarters, a troubled expression lugged around by the male Seraph as he went.  Something was amiss, though he could not really place it.  He was in the process of reviewing reports from the Scribes, surrendering to the fact that this was again going to be a long night, when this foreboding sense descended upon him.  Was it agitation? No, it took more than just agitation to involuntarily stir his divine magic; it was something else entirely.  Self-musing helped pass the time it took to reach the door to the female Seraph’s quarters, though it did not help Guilford find a plausible cause for his trepidation.<br/><br/>He took a breath before knocking twice,<span style="color: #0080FF">“Lethe are you there? May I come in?”</span><br/><br/>At the sound of a knock, Lethe realized she was still on the first page of her first report.  Instead, countless seals floated in the air, primed but not activated yet.  Safety. Privacy. Reinforcement.  She automatically processed the meanings in front of her, a byproduct of Lady Mei’s effective tutelage.  She finished the rune she’d been subconsciously forming when she realized someone was speaking to her through the door.<br/><br/>Who would still be here at such an hour?  She waved the seals away, letting them activate themselves, and walked over to the door.<span style="color: silver">“Yes, may I--oh! Gil!”</span><br/><br/>A touch startled, Lethe had just made herself real cute at the moment.  Guilford shook the thoughts away though, knowing that the reason he was here was not to<span style="font-style: italic">play</span>per se but to talk business, alarming business.  He looked around before smiling faintly at Lethe.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Hi… uhm…”</span>Guilford glanced around again for loitering Scribes, the coast was clear.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Lethe, do you have a minute? Can we talk?”</span>he asked in a low tone, all the while wondering why his throat was starting to dry up.<br/><br/>She stepped out of the way, a clear indication he was welcome to answer, and walked back into the room, only to pause.  What had she been doing anyways?<br/><br/>Guilford walked in and closed the door behind them.  As much purpose as he came here to begin with, he did not know where to start.  He paced around squad ten’s quarters, noting the difference they both had in design.  This room was simple, homey, and undoubtedly cozier than he thought he last remembered.  He turned to the female Seraph,<span style="color: #0080FF">“Uhh.. right, where was I?”</span><br/><br/>She frowned when she realized her fingers were unconsciously tracing runes<span style="font-style: italic">again</span>.<span style="color: silver">“You mentioned needing to talk?”</span>She flexed her fingers curiously before realizing she should offer him something to drink.<span style="color: silver">“Tea? Water?”</span>She’d never been one for fancy drinks, but Guilford had more of a sweet tooth than her,<span style="color: silver">“We might have some soda..”</span>Which one had he liked?  She was already staring in their  icebox before he responded, searching for any sweet drink.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Soda, I’d like that.”</span>he said as he sat down, knowing Lethe wouldn’t mind.  Now that she mentioned wanting to talk, how should he start without making himself sound like he was going crazy?<span style="color: #0080FF">“Felt anything strange lately?”</span>he casually opened, keen eyes watching her reaction.<br/><br/>The frown returned immediately, her search for melon soda temporarily halted.  One hand rubbed her arms against a chill that had nothing to do with the icebox she was crouched in front of.  Anything strange..<span style="color: silver">“No, I can’t say so.”</span>She pulled out a bottle and brought it over to Guilford, taking Valiar’s normal seat.<br/><br/>Smiling as he gratefully accepted the melon soda bottle, Guilford twisted the cap open, taking the first sip.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Can’t say so means there’s something…”</span>he trailed off, looking at the brand of this particular melon soda; he liked it.<span style="color: #0080FF">“It’s… not just you.”</span>he finally admitted.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Hard to explain but I had this… nagging sensation..”</span><br/><br/>A sardonic smile twisted her lips.  Not just her huh?  She doubted he had--she closed her eyes, forcing the uncharitable thoughts away.  What did she know?  He was a Seraph too, he probably had his share of sorrow as well.  He’d been broken up about Bryn dying..<span style="font-style: italic">but that was his first</span>her mind whispered traitorously, reminding her of Eiji and Fidelius and all of them.<span style="color: silver"> “Nagging sensation?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Like…”</span>he paused, thinking of the best way to describe that<span style="font-style: italic">nagging sensation</span>he made mention.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Like someone was plucking the string that connects me to the divine realm,”</span>he scratched his head,<span style="color: #0080FF">“like… there’s a ladle in my magic reserves stirring.. I don’t know!”</span>he gave up, looking frustrated.<br/><br/>Lethe shook her head,<span style="color: silver">“No, I’m afraid not.”</span>Blue eyes studied her partner in concern,<span style="color: silver">“Are you okay Gil?  Maybe you should rest.”</span><br/><br/>Guilford sighed.  Of course, he must be tired and is finally starting to break.  Another sigh escaped his lips.<span style="color: #0080FF">“As much as I want to, we both know we can’t.”</span><br/><br/>She rolled her eyes, standing up even as he was speaking.<span style="color: silver"> “Yes we can, how much use will we be if we collapse from exhaustion?  Go home and sleep Gil, Corwin must be waiting for you.”</span><br/><br/>Guilford looked at Lethe again, this time with curious eyes. She was somewhat.. distant should he need an appropriate word. No, perhaps detached was the right one. What could possibly be troubling her?<span style="color: #0080FF">“You’re right, it must be nothing.”</span>he conceded, looking down at the half empty soda bottle.<span style="color: #0080FF">“However, it’s not just me who looks tired.”</span>he shot a glance back at her.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“I just returned from the prayer rooms,”</span>She deflected with the reassuring smile she’d mastered over the years under Laith’s tutelage.  It promised a calm assurance she rarely felt.<span style="color: silver">“I’m fine.”</span><br/><br/>Unsure what to make of it, Guilford simply nodded.  He set the half finished bottle down on their small coffee table and stood up. Perhaps this was one of those baseless assumptions he often finds himself worrying about.. or something else entirely.  He lightly shook his head to clear the haze in his mind.  So much to think about, so little time to make sense of them all at once.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Well then, thank you for the drink,”</span>he walked closer to her.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Now, about something else…”</span>again there was this unfamiliar feeling. Different from that nagging sensation.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Mind if we can uhh.. turn on the privacy wards?”</span><br/><br/>Lethe looked at him in bewilderment, wondering why he wanted such a thing.  She waved a hand and the runes she’d unconsciously written earlier flared, revealing their presence.<span style="color: silver"> “They’ve been on this entire time.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“T-they were?!”</span>he stammered. Surprise, surprise. Now Guilford felt like a fool for asking. He cleared his throat, it was running dry again for some reason even after a cold drink.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Uhh.. right, Lethe,”</span>he paused, trying to catch blue eyes with his purple ones.<span style="color: #0080FF">“You’ve uhh, never been to my family house before have you?”</span><br/><br/>If anything, her confusion grew at the seemingly random question.<span style="color: silver">“Unless you mean your house in Caletta, no.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“N-no not that one..”</span>Stupid him! What in the Light is he losing composure for!?  Guilford took a deep breath.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Are you sure you’re okay Gil?”</span>Lethe placed a hand on his forehead to check his temperature.  There was no reason for him to be stuttering.<span style="color: silver"> “You’re not getting sick are you?”</span><br/><br/>The questions made him even more nervous. This was actually the first time he would try to have a<span style="font-style: italic">real</span>normal conversation with her, and at the rate he’s going… it’s probably going to end up in a mess. Regardless, he was not going down without a fight. Seraph, he’s a Seraph.<span style="color: #0080FF">“I-I’m fine! Yeah! I mean.. I think..”</span>he could feel his heart thumping so loud that he was pretty sure she could hear it.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “I really think you should rest. You’re kind of flushed.”</span>She was now starting to get worried.  First he was talking about a nagging sensation, then about his divine magic being unsettled, and then he was asking about his<span style="font-style: italic">house</span>and now he was stuttering like crazy.<br/><br/>He just needed a moment of silence! Just a moment! But her hand came upon his forehead… Light save him! He was going to melt away! Not good, definitely not good! WIth a swift motion of his right hand, he unconsciously held Lethe’s and looked at her.<span style="color: #0080FF">“ I know I’m not making any sense right now but..”</span>he paused, stopping his thoughts from wandering away from this moment.<span style="color: #0080FF">“I just wanted you t-t-to..”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #0080FF">Say it! Mr. Guilford Rosenwulf!</span></span>he grilled himself.<span style="color: #0080FF"> “I want you to meet my.. parents.”</span>he might not get the chance to ask again, now was as good a time as any.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">”<span style="font-style: italic">Why?</span>”</span>He may as well have asked her to pick up tap dancing.  Why in the Light’s name would she go meet his parents?  They’d never met when they were on Squad Seven together nor in the ten years since.. Why would she need to meet them now?<span style="color: silver">“Maybe you should lie down..”</span><br/><br/>Perhaps he was creeping her out now. First he started his way here with the intention of asking about a certain unease, and now it devolved to this? What was he thinking?! Pressing matters are at hand and he was supposed to be at the top of things duty-wise but.. he couldn’t help himself falling into this.. pit of whatever it is he was feeling. Lie down? Yeah, no. That might not be a good idea,<span style="color: #0080FF">“I really.. can’t give you any other reason other than I just.. want you to meet them.”</span>he said, as best as he could possibly manage in his state. Guilford looked down, he was still holding her hand, if the warmth building up between them was any indication.<br/><br/>Her worry had no chance against Guilford’s adorable confession.  She felt her heart melt and she shook her head in exasperation.<span style="color: silver">“I think it’s a bit late for them to make sure I’m not some terrible influence on your life.”</span>She laughed, tugging him along.<span style="color: silver">“We’ve already known each other twelve? thirteen? years.  And I’m sure they’re lovely people.  They’re <span style="font-style: italic">your</span> parents ago.”</span>She stopped in front of the couch and pointed at it imperiously,<span style="color: silver"> “Now go lie down.  I’ll wake you later.”</span><br/><br/>Lie down.. like he was some kid! But he seriously wanted to. If it meant preserving this moment a little longer, he would indulge, selfishly.  Guilford looked at Lethe, a bit hesitant but mostly relieved she was somewhat.. receptive.<span style="color: #0080FF">“I-I’m not being a bother right?”</span><br/><br/>Lethe lost her haughty look, amusement replacing it on her face,<span style="color: silver"> “No, you’re not.  I have to finish reading those reports anyways.”</span>She waved at the stacks of paper she hadn’t finished earlier.<span style="color: silver">“And since I apparently can’t get you to go home, you may as well stay here where I can make sure you get some sleep.”</span><br/><br/>Guilford glanced at the reports, then back to Lethe. He was supposed to sleep while she read reports? She’d keep an eye on him? He sighed, feeling composure starting to return at the mention of work.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Are those the reports from today?”</span><br/><br/>Lethe shrugged in response; considering how far she’d gotten with them before he showed up, she had no idea.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“I’ve gone through most of them already. I should be able to summarize the ones I’ve finished for you and then we can read the remaining together?”</span>Seeing her suspicious glance, he added convincingly,<span style="color: #0080FF">“Two heads are better than one after all.. and then we can both get some sleep after.  As you said, how much use will we be if we collapse from exhaustion?”</span>He parroted back, knowing she couldn’t dispute her own words.<br/><br/>Her glance grew more severe at the familiar words but she finally conceded with a huff.  There was no way she could argue with that and she was just glad to see Guilford was returning to normal.<br/><br/>Time was of the essence if they needed to get work done together. With that in mind, Guilford took the initiative. Putting both hands on her shoulders, he guided her to the sofa and urged her to take a seat.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Wait here.”</span>Guilford made a move towards her table before she could find it in herself to object.<br/><br/>Lethe shook her head but took a seat, wondering how it had ended up as Guilford’s way..<span style="font-style: italic">again</span>.  She wasn’t petty enough to take another seat after Guilford had already directed her to this one though she didn’t realize until he settled right next to her what his intention had been the entire time.    She eyed him suspiciously before deciding if he wanted to sit<span style="font-style: italic">right</span>next to her.. She turned so her back leaned against the sofa’s arm and draped her legs over his lap.  He could very well be her leg rest then!  She stuck out a hand demandingly.  Well, reports?<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Nope, I’ll hold it for you. Just relax.”</span>he said, finding enough courage to smile.  (He got a kick for his trouble. Reports!) With the papers safely in his grip, he moved them closer for her eyes to see.<br/><br/>She adjusted herself as well, leaning forward so her head rested on Gil’s shoulders.  Lethe hadn’t realized they’d be<span style="font-style: italic">literally</span>reading the same reports when she first settled back.  Blue eyes skimmed the information at the top.  It was from Squad Captain Marion of Lindela’s eighth district.  A Reaper sighting in the district?  She reached out to turn the page, much too used to getting her way.<br/><br/>Finding himself slowly getting immersed back into work mode, Guilford unconsciously moved his right arm and wrapped it comfortably around her. He’d be the report holder, and she can turn the pages. Still, Reapers in Lindela? A feeling of dread intrusively crept its way into his surreal moment.. such is work. He continued to read the next page, there was one in District Five’s proximity as well from Knight Commander Vicar, that makes two.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Lance is in District 5.”</span>he mumbled mostly to himself.<br/><br/>Blue eyes glanced away from the report at the unexpected comment.<span style="color: silver"> “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”</span>She reassured,<span style="color: silver">“Lance isn’t that weak.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Yeah, I know. I’m just glad he’s there.”</span>he responded, shifting her weight a little more towards him.<span style="color: #0080FF">“That leaves us with District 8, I can send Alfrei to look into this.”</span><br/><br/>She hummed in response,<span style="color: silver"> “Are you sure?  More of my squad lives on Lindela.  I can have them look into it.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“It’s a Reaper sighting. Who lives close enough to District 8?”</span>he asked her,<span style="color: #0080FF">“if they have divine magic, it should be fine.”</span>he added.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Adair then.  And Valiar. “</span>She paused before nodding to herself,<span style="color: silver"> “Yeah.. Then Valiar can spend some more time with Marielle and Annabelle.  I’ll tell Adair tomorrow.”</span>She’d also make sure Cricket kept his eyes open while he was doing his other duties.  She flipped through the last pages of the report but saw nothing else.  Plucking it from Gil’s grasp, she tossed it onto the coffee table.<span style="color: silver">“Next?”</span><br/><br/>Guilford read the next report briefly.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Ahh this one is about the supply shortage in District 3. It’s been taken care of..”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Gless or Lindela? and which supplies?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Lindela, it was mostly boosters and medical needs. Apparently, they’ve been diligent in hunting down Sinners and some knights got into a skirmish with them. Not pretty having civilians involved but they managed to deal with it.. at the cost of minor injuries.”</span>he summarized and urged Lethe to move to the next report.  She flicked her hand, letting him know she was willing to move on.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“This one is about…”</span>he continued, summarizing the rest of the reports he had already read and dealt with until they reached the last one. When it was over with, Lethe let the last report fall onto the coffee table, adding to the mess of papers already there.  With a sigh of relief, she uncurled from her position hunched around Gil and fell back onto the sofa, arms stretching above her.<span style="color: silver">“I’m glad more veterans are returning to the armor.”</span>she admitted with a pleased smile, before her tone turned wistful,<span style="color: silver">“Though I wish there wasn’t a need for them..”</span>Even good news these days seemed accompanied by a shadow of bad.<span style="color: silver"> “Maybe send a few of them to Lindela’s third district?  The Knights there may need some more training if they’re accidentally getting civilians involved.”</span><br/><br/>Guilford cracked his neck twice, getting rid of the kinks he felt before leaning back and deflating on the sofa. It was tough reading like that but every minute of it was worth it.. so worth it. For some reason, he felt refreshed. However, Lethe’s mention of her hope of not having a need for more returning veterans reminded him of reality.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Yeah.. they should be living their lives in peace but here they are, fighting another war..”</span>his voice faded at the mention of war.  Purple eyes stared at the ceiling, looking at the rotating blades of the magic powered fan above. The blades spun around, reminding him of the cycle that he was hoping to break.<span style="color: #0080FF">“I’ll get reinforcements sent to District Three. Don’t worry about it..”</span>he yawned, finally feeling exhaustion sinking in.<br/><br/>Lethe watched Guilford as he spoke, seeing the weariness seeping back in.  They were both tired.  But.. she reached a hand out, grasping the few strands of hair she could reach.  His head was too far away right now.<span style="color: silver">“Hey,”</span>She tugged on his hair to get his attention,<span style="color: silver">“This will end some day.”</span>It had to end someday.<span style="color: silver">“We have to be the change we’re seeking in this world.”</span>She smiled up at him,<span style="color: silver"> “The Divine Light will guide us.”</span><br/><br/>Turning his gaze towards Lethe who demanded his attention, Guilford’s weary eyes met her blue ones. She said that their strife would someday end. It sounded like a dream, but with the two of them here working towards it? That dream would one day be a reality. No, they would<span style="font-style: italic">make</span>it a reality. He looked at Lethe for a moment, thinking how they would be if that day were to come. Well, it was still far away, for now this would have to do.<span style="color: #0080FF">“You’re right. Let’s not lose hope.”</span>he mumbled, noticing there was enough space to lie down next to her. Would she mind? Probably not at this time, rather, he hoped she wouldn’t. Taking a breath, Guilford lay down beside Lethe.<br/><br/>There was a grumble of discontent as she shifted over, almost feeling squished between him and the back of the sofa.  It was a ridiculously comfy piece of furniture (the reason she kept it around) but not really meant for two people to lie on.  When she finally settled, she was half on top of Guilford.  One finger thoughtlessly traced shapes on his chest as she thought over the reports they’d just read.<br/><br/>Realizing the folly of his ways, Guilford rolled a little to his side, letting his partner dominate the bigger space; she owned the sofa after all. Now he was looking at her, admiring he--wait, what was she doing? A rune?<span style="color: #0080FF">“What’s that for?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Hmm?”</span>Lethe looked away from the wall she’d been staring blankly at, turning her attention to Guilford.<span style="color: silver"> “What’s what for?”[.color]<br/><br/>He hadn’t succumbed to sleep yet and his attention was active enough to notice that the shape was some sort of rune. [color=#0080FF] “I meant the shape you just traced.. that was a rune right?”</span><br/><br/>She looked at her finger curiously, but of course there was no trace of what she’d been drawing.<span style="color: silver">“I have no idea..”</span>She confessed honestly,<span style="color: silver">“Can you remember what it looked like?”</span><br/><br/>Lining his finger with a little magic, Guilford traced the same shape she just did on his chest. He had little mastery of it but it was Protection if he had known better.<span style="color: #0080FF">“This. You traced this on my chest.”</span><br/><br/>At the familiar rune, Lethe straightened up, no longer lounging on her fellow Seraph.<span style="color: silver">“Are you sure?”</span>But it was a rhetorical question.  She’d been drawing that all evening after.. A frown appeared on her brow, disturbing the previous peace.<span style="color: silver"> “Gil, have you ever felt like someone just walked over your grave?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“On more than one occasion yeah..”</span>he admitted with a sigh, remembering his bouts with the Black Knight.<br/><br/>She clearly wasn’t listening to him as she continued,<span style="color: silver"> “Because I had that sensation earlier this evening.. And I’ve apparently been unconsciously drawing Protection and Safety runes ever since..”</span>She frowned at the symbol Gil had just drawn.  It matched the ones currently lining the walls.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“What time?”</span>he asked almost immediately, wanting to make sure of something.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Around what time did you start feeling that?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “It was only that once.”</span>Lethe clarified,<span style="color: silver">“and right before I left the Prayer room.  It..”</span>Her mouth tightened in a look of barely contained displeasure,<span style="color: silver">“interrupted me when I was praying.  And I left after that.”</span>Praying had given her no solace.<br/><br/>He had wanted to hear at least a semblance of timeframe but given what she said, that was probably around the same time he felt it too, when he was immersed in the reports. Not wanting to draw any more baseless worries into the air, Guilford smiled at Lethe.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Hey…”</span>he called for her and reached a hand out to brush her cheek.<span style="color: #0080FF">“We’ll deal with it like we always do.”</span>he tried to assure her, but she wasn’t in a mood to be assured.  Blue eyes narrowed at him as things started to make sense.<span style="color: silver">“Is that what you were asking about earlier?  With that had I felt something strange comment?”</span><br/><br/>Guilford grinned sheepishly.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Yeah.. I was not sure how I could make it sound like I’m not going crazy.”</span>he chuckled lightly, more as an excuse to his poor expression of thought.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“What’s going on?”</span>She moved to roll off the sofa but was stopped by him. Guilford looked her in the eyes and could do nothing else but smile.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Like I said, we’ll deal with it like we always do.”</span>he reiterated.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Besides, I’ve already taken the liberty of checking every corner of the Cathedral.  Nothing is amiss.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “I don’t think it’s in the Cathedral.”</span>Lethe responded, turning her head to look at the runes on the wall.<span style="color: silver">“You said it felt like something was stirring up your divine magic.”</span><br/><br/>Truth be told, he had arrived at the same conclusion. He just didn’t have enough to keep making assumptions. However, worrying now would only serve to be counterproductive for both of them. They were clearly exhausted.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Okay, let’s look into this tomorrow. How does that sound to you?”</span>he asked.<span style="color: #0080FF">“I don’t want to sound like I’m putting this off but we just don’t have enough to go on worrying right now.”</span><br/><br/>In the face of such a logical argument, Lethe could only concede.  At most, she could have gotten her squad here and seen if any of the others had felt something but..  With a sigh of defeat, she slumped back into Guilford’s embrace.  That wouldn’t do much.<span style="color: silver"> “I want to visit Lance tomorrow then.  And talk with your Knights.”</span>The others who had trained under Abel would be too out of the way and as for speaking with her former Captain himself..  The memory of his impassive gaze had her shivering and she huddled closer to Guilford.  She would ask if she had to, but only then.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Sounds like a plan.”</span>he responded, yawning again despite trying to muffle it.<br/>He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes, hoping moments like these did not have to feel so fleeting.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br/>[[Day 16 of Month -4, Day :: The Cathedral ]]<br/><br/>Brown eyes stared tiredly at the building in front of him, head tiling backwards to be able to see the top.  The Cathedral was so<span style="font-style: italic">large</span>.  Of course he knew about it—who among the Immaculate didn’t?—but he’d never actually stood at its foot.  It felt like it was looming over him, just like his decision.<br/><br/>“Hey, don’t stand in the middle of the entrance.”  A voice spoke up from behind him even as a purple-haired woman in a Knight’s garb hurried by.  Hazel eyes conveyed her annoyance at him but she said nothing more even as he stumbled to the side.  He raised a hand to his suddenly pounding chest.  Calm down!  He wasn’t a kid anymore!  He took another deep breath.  No.  He was done with running away.<br/><br/>He strode into the Cathedral with a confidence he didn’t feel, following the signs to the recruitment table.  “Hello.”  He fell into parade rest, hands clasped behind his back.  “My name is Dietrich Kloet.  I’m a veteran of the First War,”