<span style="color: silver">“How was your afternoon, Leia?”</span><br/><br/>“Interesting.  There are some really rare books here in the Cathedral.  I’m sure Rhett would have loved to see some of them!”  Orphelia ignored the sideways glance Thea gave her.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “He’s welcome to come to Caleta and see them himself.”</span><br/><br/>“And give up our network in Palaugrim?”  The Zairyonian laughed and shook her head.  “Never.  We’ve worked too hard to drop it.”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “It’s dangerous now, given the fighting going on there.”</span><br/><br/>“Perhaps, but a little danger never scared us.”  She paused but swallowed down the words on the tip of her tongue.  Instead, she commented, “So.. Guilford’s still alive?  Not some doppelganger or long lost twin?”  A shake of a head ended her attempt at humor.  What to say now?  Was she okay? A pointless question.  Was it good he was alive?  Similarly stupid.   “Will you be more free now?”  Orphelia couldn’t hide the touch of longing.  She was only here in Caleta for Thea’s sake but since the moment her friend had woken up, Thea had been running here and there.  The way Thea turned away from her told her the answer she needed.  She reached a hand out to take Thea’s.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Captain Abel will be teaching me how to use Divine Magic.”</span><br/><br/>Orphelia glanced over at her friend.  Thea didn’t seem very happy about this turn of events.  From her recollections, Thea had always admired her previous Captain.  She would have expected more enthusiasm about this opportunity to train under the man.  “I thought Lady QianHua was helping you with that?”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“She has been.  However, she’s never used it herself.  Captain Abel would be a better mentor in this discipline.”</span>There was a pause before Thea added with apparent reluctance,<span style="color: silver">“I probably won’t be able to come home when I’m training with him.  Master Guilford implied that it would be very demanding.”</span><br/><br/>Master Guilford? How polite.  It looked like Thea still needed some help with her heart.  And she’d love to help her younger sister but.. That would take time and.. Rhett.  Orphelia squeezed the hand in her grasp.  “Thea… I’d like to go home.”  The bump on her belly had started to show and was growing more prominent.  She wanted to show it to Rhett, be back in his arms where home was.  Maybe it was safer on Gless, maybe not given those attacks.  But she knew she wanted to be with her husband.<br/><br/>Lethe squeezed back on Orphelia’s hand, a silent conveyance of her understanding.  They’d grown up, gone their own ways.  She could always rely on her friend, but they each had new things their lives revolved around now.<span style="color: silver"> “I had Deimos working in Zairyon these past two weeks with Kanna and the forces there.  It should be a lot more stable now but not one hundred percent, of course.  Deimos said that Kanna should be staying in the area, would it be okay..?”</span><br/><br/>“Of course.  I’d say free housing is the least we can give to our free bodyguard.”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Thank you.  I’m so—”</span>The squeeze on her hand cut off her apology.<span style="color: silver"> “When did you want to leave?  I can’t spare any of my team, but I’m sure I can find an escort.”</span><br/><br/>“As soon as possible.  I don’t need the bells and whistles, Thea.  I can handle a bit of dirty work.”<br/><br/>There was a long pause before Lethe nodded slowly,<span style="color: silver"> “Okay.  I’ll send a message out to get a team ready.  Tomorrow morning then?  Before I start training with Captain Abel.”</span>She’d probably be late, but even for the sake of the greater good, there were some things she needed to finish before that.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~</div><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>She wakes up just to find that she’s curled up on the ground.  Her heat’s beating wildly in her chest. <span style="font-style: italic">Ba-bump. Ba-bump. </span>  She doesn’t know why, but she’s afraid.  Something is coming.  But if something is coming, she should stand up and face it.  Being huddled in a ball on the ground won’t help her.  Even though her mind realizes this, her body refuses to move.  Her legs remain bent against her chest, her arms securely pinning them in place.  No, she needs to—<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF"> “Lethe?”</span><br/><br/>And that one word saps all her resolve from her.  Never mind standing up, never mind meeting this head on.  Maybe if she stays curled up like this he won’t notice her.  It’s a futile hope, dashed by an amused laugh and the sensation of something kneeling in front of her.  She just clenches her eyes tighter, trying to deny that he’s there.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Lethe?”</span> The voice repeats, mirth still lighting the tone.  <span style="color: #0080FF"> “I know I said I was happy just spending time with you, but I was hoping I’d at least get to see your pretty face instead of the top of your head.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">No..</span> Why is he here? Her fingers dig into her legs in attempt to become even smaller, disappear from sight, from him.  <span style="color: silver">STAY AWAY FROM ME!!</span> She screams desperately, but her vocal chords are frozen.  They refuse to give her warning; Invidia is too strong.  Even as she tries to move back, she can feel the tainted hands of Invidia reaching out, grabbing hold of Gil and pulling him closer.  <span style="font-style: italic">No! Stop!</span> She doesn’t know who she’s asking to stop: Gil to stop leaning forward or her tainted self, greedy Invidia, from drawing him in.  <br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF"> “It’s okay. Don’t worry.”</span>  Something burning is touching her arm and it’s destroying the bitter cold that has locked her body in place.  She can hear faint screams in the back of her head as Invidia runs from this burning warmth.  Even with her eyes closed and buried in her legs, she can see bright light.  <span style="color: #0080FF">“You’re safe.”</span> Gil assures and the certainty in his voice lends her painful optimism.  She slowly raises her head, disbelief (she’s free? She’s not tainted anymore?) and hope (she’s free! There’s no more Sin in—) fighting in her heart.  Wide blue eyes look up at the too bright light, Gil and his Prayer? Providence?, before they widen further in shock.<br/><br/>Gil’s eyes are glazed, his skin a clammy white.  The fingers now trailing over her cheek are cooling under the burning layer of magic he’s surrounded in.  <span style="color: #0080FF"> “Yo-You’re—”</span> He tries again from blood stained lips, ignoring the blood seeping from his mouth, neck, chest.  <span style="color: #0080FF"> “sa..”</span>  He topples forward.  She’s screaming.  She’s pinned to the ground by Gil’s too heavy corpse, the one she created, and the screams (denial, rage, sorrow, all mixed together) just keep coming.  She may be safe (is she safe?), but Gil’s not.  <span style="color: silver">I CAN’T STAND IT IF I KILLED YOU.</span></div></blockquote><br/><br/>Icy dread pumped through her veins as she stared around her in confusion.  Panicked eyes focused on the body beside her: pale white skin, dark blue hair.<span style="color: silver">“Gil!”</span>She screamed, her attempts at distance crumbling before the horrible realization that he’s dead.  She’d just imagined that he was alive.<span style="color: silver">“Gil!”</span>She shook the other body to try to get a reaction, any reaction.<br/><br/>The body made a sound of annoyance and relief flooded into her.  He’s not…  Cranky blue eyes peer at her irritably: “Thea?”<br/><br/>He’s not.. here?  Comprehension slowly bled its way into her mind.  What?  How stupid.  Why would Gil be in her bed anyways?  Lethe raised a hand to her head, futilely massaging her temples.  It’s just Leia.<span style="color: silver"> “I’m sorry.”</span>The apology fell instinctively from her lips; her life has been full of apologies so far.  Sorry that I got chosen for the PKA and not you.  Sorry I’m on Captain Abel’s team and not you.  Sorry I couldn’t save you.  Sorry I’m still alive.<span style="color: silver">”I just.. had a nightmare.”</span><br/><br/>Leia stared at the downcast figure in front of her.  Thea just had a nightmare about<span style="font-style: italic">’Gil’</span>?  Curiosity overcame any irritation she had at being rudely awoken.  She hadn’t dared ask earlier, but now might be okay.  She turned over in the too-small bed (trust Thea to only have a twin sized bed in her room!) so she was facing her friend.  “About Gil?”  Thea froze at the name but reluctantly nodded her head.  “Why?”<br/><br/>The answer could easily be because of his unexpected revival.  After all the time Thea had put into crafting Guilford’s Memorial speech, it wouldn’t be weird for her to be dreaming of him.  However, something about Thea’s panic implied that wasn’t it.<br/><br/>Lethe shied away from the question.  She didn’t want to answer it, didn’t want to<span style="font-style: italic">admit</span>that she’d even been thinking about those words Gil kept throwing in her face.  And yet at the same time, who else could she speak with about this besides Leia?  She leaned closer, resting her forehead against Leia’s so she could whisper:<span style="color: silver"> “He said he loves me.”</span><br/><br/>“Okay.”  Despite her elation at being right, Orphelia could tell enthusiasm wasn’t the appropriate response.  There was something else.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“I’ll kill him.”</span>Blue eyes widened at the second admission.  What?<span style="color: silver">“He’ll die because of me.”</span>The two women stared at each other before the younger finally admitted:<span style="color: silver">“I don’t want him to.”</span><br/><br/>“You won’t kill him. Why would you think that?”  Lethe’s lips formed a silent word but the answer only confused Orphelia more.  “Envy? How?”  The solemnity in the eyes staring at her halted any other words she might have spoken.  Instead, Orphelia tried to reassure the other woman, point out how flawed the thinking was, “Guilford’s a Seraph, Thea.  He’s really strong. He won’t die.”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Do you think I’ll die?”</span><br/><br/>“Of course not!”  The response came automatically and yet it didn’t seem to be the right one.  Lethe’s attention had drifted past her at her words to stare at something in the distance.  What other answer was she supposed to have given?  “Thea…?”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Go to sleep, Leia.”</span>Lethe shifted so she was no longer facing Leia, a clear signal the conversation was done.<span style="color: silver"> “You leave tomorrow morning.”</span><br/><br/>Orphelia stared at the woman now ignoring her, feeling the burn in her eyes.  Did Thea think she was going to die?  She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to keep her breath even.  She didn’t want Thea to die.  But she didn’t dare say anything.  Thea already had enough difficulties.<span style="font-style: italic">Please don’t die, Thea.</span><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~</div><br/>The groundskeeper frowned and got to his feet as he saw a cloaked figure headed in his direction.  Whoever was approaching was almost hidden under the sheer amounts of pink flowers it was holding.  With a sigh, he sat back down. She’d been oddly absent recently, but he’d assumed it was from her undoubtedly increased workload.  Between the Liberation campaign and Master Guilford’s supposed death, Seraph Lethe had probably been drowning in work.  He was honestly surprised she was here, but who was he to judge?  When the figure had passed his little guard station, he stood up once more to lock the gates.  The least he could do was make sure she wasn’t interrupted during her mourning.<br/><br/>Lethe pulled out a carnation from the riot in her arms, carefully placing it down on the gravestone so as to not dislodge the others.  It was sad that she’d gotten used to balancing such a large number of flowers.  Her eyes swept over the familiar words:<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div><div style="text-align: center;">Lark Nciel<br/>Requiescat in Pace<br/>May his smile brighten the heavens.</div></div></blockquote><br/><br/>She moved onto the next tombstone, another name that had become familiar after her too many visits here.<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div><div style="text-align: center;">Alice Lavein<br/>Resquiescat in Pace.<br/>A beloved daughter and dear friend.<br/>Death is but your next adventure.</div></div></blockquote><br/>Carefully, she placed her meager offering down.  The flower shop had run out of everything but carnations because of the event yesterday.<span style="font-style: italic">May the Divine Light keep you safe in its folds, Alice Lavein.</span>After another moment, she moved onto the next tombstone.<br/><br/>Her armful of flowers slowly dwindled until each headstone had a blossom in front of it.  A small tribute for each man and woman returned to the Light’s embrace.  Finally, she wound her way to the last tombstone, the one she’d deliberately skipped earlier.<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div><div style="text-align: center;">Eiji Akiyama<br/>Resquiescat in Pace.<br/>Even death coveted<br/>the joy he spread.</div></div></blockquote><br/>Her first mistake as a Captain.  Her first squad member to die.  She reached out to empty the little vase that stood in front of the grave and placed the remaining Zinnias inside.  He hadn’t been ready for her squad, but she’d kept him anyways, for fear of hurting his feelings, for the determination in his eyes that strove to overcome his weaknesses, for his eager smile that would brighten her day, for many reasons that were all meaningless now.  He was dead because she’d failed him as a Captain.  He hadn’t been ready for the dangers her squad faced and her weakness had gotten him killed.  She stared at the grave in silence.  Finally, she slipped around the tombstone and leaned against it, hidden from view by the slab of granite.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Hey Eiji, Sorry I haven’t visited you in so long...”</span><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~</div><br/>The bells were just tolling half past ten when the door to Training Ground Two opened to reveal his errant student.  Abel frowned at the woman calmly approaching him.  He didn’t recall tardiness being one of her habits and her demeanor didn’t imply any rush on her part.  “Lateness could get good men killed.”<br/><br/>Lethe paused and bowed her head in acknowledgment of the reprimand.<span style="color: silver">“I had other matters I needed to take care of.”</span><br/><br/>But she wasn’t willing to explain what they were?  He wanted to grouse that he didn’t have time to be idling away, but training her was currently his only task.  Maybe she had ‘Seraph’ duties like Guilford had mentioned.  What did he know?  Speaking with Guilford last night had made the situation appear even worse.  “What do you know of Divine Magic?”<br/><br/>Lethe finally met his eyes but all he could see was cool professionalism.  He recalled her being more expressive than this, but that may have been the squad’s influence.  Really, all he knew about her was she was skilled in magic.  Everything else: could he trust his memories and his assumptions?  He had thought Guilford would have accepted the faked death better, but then again, that had been ‘Ricauld’ and not Guilford.  Or maybe it was Lethe’s influence?  He bit down on his sigh, wondering again if all their conversations would be this stifled.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“If I may show you?”</span>Lethe had stepped away during his inattention, placing a good seven feet between her and him.  So she already knew about Divine Magic?  Then again, Guilford had already known as well so perhaps this wasn’t that surprising.  Lethe lifted a hand above her head, summoning her six—no, eight? When had she made another two?—keyblades in a circle above her.  What was she doing with them?<br/><br/><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: silver">brighter than the highest noon,<br/>redder than the blood that flows,<br/>buried within the streams of life,<br/>is where your power grows!<br/>i pledge myself to conquer,<br/>all the fools who stand,<br/>before the mighty gift,<br/>bestowed in my unworthy hands!</span></div><br/><br/>Abel gaped at the sight of his former subordinate opening a gate between the Divine Realm and the mortal one.  He knew she was good at magic, but to already have created a spell based off Light’s Wrath!  Of course, he remembered feeling the release of divine magic in Luciano.  He had assumed it had been from Guilford, but perhaps he had underestimated his female subordinate, again.  Blue eyes that had stared at him (accusingly, his guilt whispered) closed as Lethe went through the process of dissipating the magic harmlessly.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “I would like to keep the gate open longer to draw upon more divine magic as needed.  Right now, I can only open it long enough to pull out a set amount, as with my other spell.”</span>She had<span style="font-style: italic">another</span>spell as well?<br/><br/>“I.. That’s very impressive, Lethe.”  Abel finally managed out.  Perhaps this would go faster than it had with Guilford, if she was already experienced with using it.  “Why the keyblades though?”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Lady QianHua suggested I use them as foci rather than my own body.  After Luciano, I haven’t had time to.. return to my normal physical condition.  In addition,”</span>Lethe shrugged with apparent nonchalant,<span style="color: silver">“my body can take less strain than if I use another focus.”</span>She didn’t have the physical strength to maintain divine magic within her like Guilford did.<br/><br/>The old Knight tried not to groan at the mention of the other Captain, especially when he remembered her words to him in Fleur Terres.  He scanned over Lethe with his magic and noted that her words were true: exhaustion and stress lingered in her body.  It wasn’t enough to seriously hinder her, but in a high-level fight, it could cost the other Knight.  She’d never fully recovered from using divine magic in Luciano and then he’d forced Guilford’s death and workload on her.<span style="font-style: italic">It was for the greater good!</span>He tried to remind himself, even as he remembered the broken members of Squad Eight he’d gathered for Guilford.  It had been for the greater good.  It had been necessary to stand a chance against Eve, against the God of Sin, should he return.<br/><br/>“It’s a good idea.  Luckily, you already have a strong grasp of accessing the Divine Realm, so it should make the process faster.  We’ll focus on being more efficient with your magic usage and see if there are any other ways you can express the divine magic.  But first,” He paused ominously, “physical conditioning.  Especially in light of what you just said, we need to make sure you’re physically strong enough.”  He’d make it up to her for forcing Guilford’s supposed death, and its aftermath, on her.<br/><br/>Lethe glanced around the room in dismay. The obstacle course Captain Abel had put up was enough to make her want to discard professionalism and groan.  It’d be easy to maintain distance from her former Captain; she doubted she’d have<span style="font-style: italic">any</span>pleasant thoughts about him by the time she was done with his training.<span style="font-style: italic">It’s for the greater good.</span>She reminded herself as she donned the weighted clothes and started the run around the room.<span style="font-style: italic">It’s for the greater good…</span>