<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Gless - Town of Danaon</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>Alfrei returned to his hometown after the awarding ceremony. He couldn't stomach the tension in the Captain's mansion, add that to his own mixed emotions on the matter and you get an unstable concoction waiting to explode. Yeah, he could use the time off. The first five days of downtime they were granted had been used by the Lieutenant in an attempt to clear his head back in this quiet little town of Danaon, but to no avail. He tried spending a night in his Captain's mansion and that didn't turn out well for him either. Today, he decided it was best that he be on his own for now.<br/><br/>He was greeted by a variety of people upon passing through the town entrance. They were all familiar faces glad to see him return again. He forced a smile on his lips and then mustered strength to his arm to wave at the others. If he was already having a hard time with just this? How hard was it for the Seraphs who have been through much worse? Alfrei realized that the only reason he was able to stomach the awarding ceremony was because his Captain was there, giving them the courage and strength they need to choke down the undesirable act of publicity. In the back of his mind, he wondered how the other squad felt without their Captain there. No doubt it was much more hellish.<br/>He didn't realize he already made it home until he heard the voice of his mother.<br/><br/>"Alfrei! Welcome home dear!" she happily greeted and wrapped loving arms around the knight. "Friedrick! Our son is home!" she announced gleefully, dragging her son with him inside the house.<br/><br/>Alfrei quietly let himself be pampered by his mother and younger sister. They don't get too many chances doing that since he became a full-fledged knight. He wanted to keep busy, drown his thoughts, but his mother wouldn't let him do anything. Alfrei was forced to sit in their living room and simply waited for dinner to be served. On normal days, this was a cheerful household even if it was just the four of them but now, it didn't feel like that. His eyes wandered over the familiar furnishings of their house. The fireplace was dancing with controlled fire, regulating a nice room temperature in the cold night. Then his green eyes one frame among others displayed above. He walked over to it and held it in his hands, the photo of their squad.<br/><br/>"You're not giving Master Guilford any trouble are you?" a cheerful voice asked behind him, his sister Alexa.<br/><br/>Before Alfrei could turn around, he found himself wrapped in the arms of Alexa who was now looking over his shoulder at the photo frame he held. "So, when are you ever going to invite them to come over again? The last time they were here was like..." she trailed putting a finger on her right temple in thought. "two years ago maybe? I miss Master Guilford but Bryn and Nat mostly."<br/><br/>The knight paled at the mention of his Vice Captain's name. Of course they wouldn't know. He never told them anything yet, he didn't know how. The lack of response elicited a rising curiosity from the younger woman. Her longer hair that shared the same color as Alfrei's swayed around the knight's shoulder as she peered closer to look at his big brother's face. "Hey, what's wrong? You're crying." she asked.<br/><br/>He didn't intended for the tears to flow. He had successfully stopped them when they were in Jenault but now... their conversation prompted a stop of any and all movement in the house. Their parents found it strange that on the first five days Alfrei spent with them after his return was dedicated to honing his swordsmanship. He wasn't his usual self and they thought it was just fatigue wearing down on him but now... they knew something was up.<br/><br/>"Alfrei dear, what's wrong?" his mother asked, maternal concern evident in her tone.<br/><br/>It was the catalyst. The words finally came out and he told them everything that happened. What was supposed to be a happy family dinner became a solemn one, with Alfrei barely touching his food. The women of the household did all they could to calm him down yet they haven't had much success. He was still sulky and the baton was passed over to the pillar of the house. The ladies finished cleaning up and left the two men to themselves, allowing them time to privately talk. Sometimes men too could be hard to understand.<br/><br/>"Son, the reason you are the way you are now is because you are grieving. From what I understood, you never had the time to do so. This is why you feel conflicted. She must have been a great Vice Captain."<br/><br/>"Yeah. For me she's the best one there is..." he mumbled weakly.<br/><br/>His father smiled. He understood Alfrei more than his son did himself. "You loved her didn't you? More intimate than the love your fellow squad mates had for her."<br/><br/>Did he? Truth is, he never thought of it that way but it does explain the hole in his heart. It was probably bigger than anyone else who knew Brynhildr. "Listen son, sometimes things happen that are just out of our control. And when they do, it is up to us to find the strength to keep pushing forward. I know what you're thinking son, but let me tell you this, sometimes friends act selfishly with good intent. Do you understand?"<br/><br/>"What do you mean father?"<br/><br/>Friedrick sighed. His boy still has much to learn. "I'm saying that the other squad might have did what they did because they put your thoughts about the town first and foremost. The way I see it, they meant no ill will."<br/><br/>Alfrei gritted his teeth. Was it the reason why their Captain never said anything? How did he even see it that way when he couldn't? He couldn't easily accept it, he had to lash out. "Is that supposed to justify things?!"<br/><br/>"No son! No. Light no. I'm saying they put you people first but something out of anybody's control happened. No one is to be blamed."<br/><br/>His father was probably right. That's probably what really happened, and it was probably why things ended up the way they did. The thing is, everything had<span style="font-style: italic">probably</span>written all over it. "I don't know... all I know is that it hurts."<br/><br/>"I know it does son. And I do know that unconsciously, you already have your answer. You just don't want to accept it." Friedrick sat next to his son and placed a firm hand on Alfrei's shoulder. "Listen, a man who blames others for their faults is a man who cannot see past his own weaknesses. You're a good man son. Do not blame others for what happened, and most importantly, do not blame yourself. Find the strength to keep moving forward with your head held high, it's the only thing you can do in her honor and yours. I know how hard it is, but you're my son, and I have faith that you can do it."<br/><br/>It took a long time for the words to sink in. Deep down he was relieved to hear his father's words. He was right and Alfrei knew it. There were no<span style="font-style: italic">probablys</span>in there, just the good old truth. Now he felt compelled to apologize to Master Lethe when she wakes up. That's right, he should do it. Alfrei gripped his father's hand and smiled gratefully.<br/><br/>"Thank you father."<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;">Gless - Grand Cathedral, Training Grounds</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>The sun was already high up in the sky. It was a good day, at least for the others. Guilford was once again called for by the High Council, those geezers didn't know when to quit but it was understandable. They were more excited about Palaugrim's liberation than the ones who actually played a hand in it. The reason was probably because they never even dreamed that Palaugrim would ever be freed from the taint. They did, after all, devised their stupid<span style="font-style: italic">Salvation Plan</span>to solve it their way. Alfrei actually thought that it was a good thing his Captain was able to keep his head despite what they went through in there, and was now thankful that Master Lethe and her squad was there too. He knew the two Seraphs once again did the High Council a huge favor that they never saw coming from them. Right about now, if there was a rank higher than a Seraph, those two would probably be getting them even if they protested.<br/><br/>He shoved the thoughts away. Right now, the young Vice Captain along with the others from their squad had their eyes on the training grounds. It was being prepped for a selection test and it will soon be filled with knights fresh out from the PKA. There had been a mandate for them to fill the vacant slot in their squad. Guilford was supposed to be the one to do the selection but Alfrei was insistent that the task be left to him. It was his way of apologizing to his Captain for his rather rude behavior a while back, and also to let the man take a break which was now foiled because of the High Council's demand for his presence.<br/><br/>"Oh look, here comes the newbies!" Georg stated with sarcasm. None of them approved of having to fill the vacant slot with a newbie but all the requests for transfer from more seasoned knights have been declined by the High Council. Instead, those knights were shipped out to Palaugrim to continue the groundwork laid by the two Seraphs. A shame, it would have been good to have another able knight in their ranks rather than a chick to babysit, but it had to be done.<br/><br/>"Stop complaining my friend. We should be thankful we're getting a new member." Joaquim said, choosing his words carefully. Nobody could replace Brynhildr, especially not a newbie. The word replacement doesn't feel appropriate. "We could always have him or her as an official member to shut the High Council up and just leave him or her here during missions." he added.<br/><br/>"And then what you brute? Crush his pride in the process? I know you mean well but think a few more steps ahead." Hyuga countered. "Whoever we choose there will definitely brag about being in the Captain's squad. If we leave him or her here as you were implying, the others would think that<span style="text-decoration: underline">we</span>think the newbie is incompetent. Not only will it shatter his pride and self confidence, it would also tarnish our Captain's reputation. Do I need to say more?" he snappishly finished.<br/><br/>The older knights shrugged their shoulders. Hyuga was in a bad mood in what seemed like forever. The only time he lightened up was when he was going through their Captain's books like a kid who was given dessert. Still, his argument was valid. "So uhh, Vice Captain," Vlad paused and bowed lightly for stuttering. "Sorry, I still have to get used to calling you that, Vice Captain Alfrei." The former Lieutenant simply shook his head sideways. "I don't mind. What is it?"<br/><br/>"I was wondering how you would plan to do the testing?" Vlad continued. Arms folding on top of his chest as he gazed at the newly knighted forming on the grounds.<br/><br/>"Simple. We're originally an offensive squad. You and Hyuga are enough for our defense. We'll look for someone who excels in combat, it will be a duel in three modes, normal, difficult, and realistic. Each knight will be given three attempts to land a hit on all of us for the first difficulty, we can filter out those able with that. Whoever remains will have two attempts on the next, and whoever remains will have one on the last."<br/><br/>"Wait... you're saying we're going to have to duel them all? And when you say realistic--which isn't normally a difficulty--what do you exactly mean by that?" Georg asked for clarification.<br/><br/>"Yes, we'll duel them all. And when I say realistic, give them no quarter. To make things interesting, the one who lets a newbie hit them will be buying tonight's dinner. This is an order."<br/><br/>The others immediately grabbed hold of their money pouches. Nobody's going to buy dinner tonight that's for sure. "You're on Vice Captain!" Georg confidently boasted. Natalia protested. "This is unfair! Can I use magic?!"<br/><br/>"If you keep it on the down low. Just make sure you don't end up hurting them. Take your time everyone, we're gonna be here all day."