<span style="font-style: italic">"Now, now, I'm sure Master Guilford and company are tired from their journey. You young ones should let them rest."</span>said a voice echoing behind the already thick crowd that gathered. The kids groaned one by one, seemingly unhappy with what they were told. However, their respective guardians have already plucked them out of the knights and gave way for the old Mayor to approach Guilford.<br/><br/>"It certainly has been a while. I'm glad to see you're doing well Master Guilford." he greeted with a hand extending for a shake. Guilford obliged the gesture and firmly grasped the Mayor's hand in return.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I could say the same. How is everything?"</span><br/><br/>The Mayor gestured for Guilford to walk with him. The knight turned around to his squad only to see that they were still preoccupied with some of the townsfolk but became puzzled when he could no longer see Lethe's squad. Perhaps he had let his guard down way too much to not notice them slipping away. No matter, they should be around somewhere.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"I don't see Euri anywhere. Where is he?"</span>Guilford finally asked after matching paces with the Mayor for a walk around town. "He's out on patrol with his unit. Euri has been diligently mastering everything you taught him and shared the knowledge with those who are able. He's done a fine job protecting this town in your name. It's good to not have to rely on the knighthood for once." said the Mayor, chuckling lightly at the thought.<br/><br/>Guilford's eyes widened a little at the comment and news about Euri.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Sorry, it has been really tough on our side..."</span>Guilford trailed but changed the subject quickly.<span style="color: #0080FF">"But Euri, he's grown to be a fine man. If he was a knight, I'd definitely have him on my squad."</span>he continued, thoughts drifting towards the man in question. "Hohoho! Indeed, he takes after you quite well. Euri without a doubt has great potential to be a knight, but I recall it was you who told him not to enlist." the Mayor recalled. Guilford smiled in response.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Yeah. I don't want him to live his life chained down... like mine..."</span>he trailed off, thoughts wandering back to when he first became a knight.<br/><br/>The Mayor stopped his strides, surprised at what he just heard. "Master Guilford, do you regret being a knight?" Guilford's head shook lighty at the question.<span style="color: #0080FF">"No, not at all. I'm just... weary I guess. I feel like I have given my everything and more, yet unable to accomplish anything."</span>The Mayor smiled sincerely and turned to face the Seraph. "Master Guilford, I belive you taught Euri how to give even when there's nothing left to give, to fight when no one left has the will to carry on..." he trailed and clasped Guilford's right hand between his. "You have done a fine job, accomplished difficult feats a regular man could only dream of, sacrificed more than any man could ever have for the sake of humanity. Master Guilford, I may not know how difficult the path you chose to walk on is, but I do know a lot of people are thankful to you, and a lot more in need of your help."<br/><br/>The words washed over him, so simple yet full of wisdom. Guilford could feel the warmth of the Mayor's hands in his own, a gentle warmth filled with hope. He was right to have come here. He heard exactly what he needed to hear.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I guess you're right. I can't give up now can I? Not when there are a lot of people still in need of my help."</span>The mayor hummed in approval and continued walking, Guilford right beside him. "Why don't you spend the night here? I'm sure the people would love to have your company over supper. We could use the great hall for a feast! I'm sure Euri would love to see you too." the Mayor requested.<br/><br/>Guilford hesitated for a moment, recalling that it was not just his squad with him this time around.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Uhh... I'm not sure. I do have Master Lethe and her squad accompanying me this time. Knowing her, she's probably on edge when things on our end didn't go quite as we planned. I may have to go apologize to her for dragging her around too."</span><br/><br/>"Lethe? The female knight you always talk about?" The Mayor grinned.<span style="color: #0080FF">"The one and only."</span>Gil replied. "Hah! I can finally get to see the woman who holds your heart! I never would have thought I'd live to see the day!" the Mayor exclaimed with glee. Guilford felt a sudden rush of warmth go up to his face.<span style="color: #0080FF">"P-Please! I would appreciate it if you kept that between us. My rank cannot afford me to indulge--"</span>"I know lad, I know. Duty first, I heard it from you countless times. But I'm sure one day you'll understand that<span style="font-style: italic">duty</span>has nothing to do with it." the Mayor winked.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Uhh.. err... R-Right, but before that Mayor, please have a look at these leads... I wanted to ask you if you caught wind of anything while I'm here."</span>Guilford asked, showing the piece of paper Vlad gave to him.<br/><br/>"Hmm... this is a topic best discussed indoors. Now come, have your squad and the others settle in, we'll prepare the best meal we could offer for everyone!"<br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/>A cool gentle breeze blew across Jenault. The sun was already beginning to set, the ambience turning from golden to orange. Guilford's squad had themselves gathered, a little exhausted after playing with all those kids, the content smiles on their faces indicating they had a good time. They all shared a quiet moment, coming to appreciate the beauty of this town their Captain dearly loved. Alfrei broke the ice, thinking out loud. "It's hard to believe isn't it? That a place like this existed in Palaugrim." Humms of approval resounded from the rest of the squad, each have lingering thoughts about the town.<br/><br/>"I find it more amazing that these people have so much freedom here. They don't depend on the Divine Light at all, but they don't fall to Sin's clutches either. It's a delicate balance yet they found a way to keep it in check." Hyuga remarked, taking down notes in the process. "Perhaps... perhaps this town might hold the key for the two forces to coexist." he trailed off, mumbling the rest of his words mostly to himself.<br/><br/>"Any sign of Master Lethe's squad yet? It's been a while since they vanished. We might have made a bad impression on them for being carefree." Bryn commented, flipping her hair that danced in the breeze back. Natalia just gave her a head shake. "Can't blame them. Unlike our squad, the High Counil rarely lets their squad sortie on Palaugrim. It wouldn't come as a suprise if they're shocked by how normal people deprived of the teachings would act." Georg uttered.<br/><br/>"I've been trying to sense them for a while now, but I can't seem to get a lock on them. Should we go look?" Vlad suggested.<br/><br/>Bryn shook her head in negation. "Nahh. If anything important comes up, I'm sure one of them would at least let the Captain know. We should just let them have their time around Jenault. This area is relatively safe after all."