[[Day 8 in Palaugrim :: Fleur Terres]]<br/>QianHua sipped on her morning tea, enjoying the sight of sunrise from her office.  Soon, all the little ones would wake up and it would be a hectic morning getting them all washed, fed, and to school on time.  She was lucky to have Seien and Ensei with her.  Maybe she could convince some of the others to come back as well?  A smile blossomed on her face at the thought.  That whimsy had been nostalgia speaking.  Seeing Lethe and her squad had reminded the ex-Captain of what it had been like to have a squad.  But..  She suddenly laughed at her thoughts: she wasn’t sure the kids would be able to handle all eight of them!<br/><br/>With another chuckle, QianHua turned to look at the painting of the eight of them.  Time and sunlight had faded the picture but all were still visible.  A crowd of women, ranging from teenager to mid twenties, smiled back at her.  My Light, it had been a hassle getting all of them together… and getting authorization to congregate all of them!  Men!  Her laughs trailed off at the sight of a sealed message on her desk.  She’d gotten it late last night but put it off till now. Opening the message, grey eyes read the words with increasing worry.  Santa Olivia had been destroyed?  What Kanna was describing didn’t sound like a normal raid.  If anything, especially given the symbol that hung above the city, it seemed more like… a declaration of war.<br/><br/>The ex-Knight was immediately standing, turning towards her room.  This couldn’t wait any longer.  Back in her room, in front of her closet, she reluctantly reached for the kimono hidden away in the back.  Each crease and fold brought her back in time to a harsher world.  By the time she was fully clothed, the Captain of Pure Magic Squadron stared back at her in the mirror.  She may not be a Pristine Knight anymore, but war would rip apart her town, slay her orphans, and threaten her many younger sisters, scattered all over the world.  As the eldest, it was her duty to keep them safe.<br/><br/>Wooden soles clacked against the hardwood floor as she made her way down the hallway and the stairs.  At the door, Ensei and Seien stared at her with both curiosity and apprehension.  The twins clutched a familiar sword that almost dwarfed them.  Accepting her katana, she strapped it to her side and let her right hand rest familiarly on the hilt.<br/><br/>“I’ll be back in an hour or two.  Please escort the children to school.”  Both heads nodded obediently.  A horse stomped the ground outside; a carriage was waiting for her.  With a final nod of farewell, QianHua took a seat inside the carriage and let it whisk her off to Alera.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/><br/>Her overly-elaborate outfit drew many confused looks from the Pristine Knights at the garrison gate.  She ignored them all.  “I need to speak with the Knight Commander.”  She declared.  When no one responded, she turned her grey gaze to oldest-looking officer.  “Now.  It’s urgent.”  The man nodded slowly and turned to walk off, ignoring the questions from the younger Knights.  In short order, Knight Commander Raucus stumped into the room.  He looked at the kimono-wearing woman and sighed.  Nothing but terrible news could bring QianHua here in full regalia.  “Get out.  Keep quiet.”  He ordered the other Knights wearily, knowing she wouldn’t be offended.  They had worked together in the past before her retirement and she knew the implications of her dress as much as he did.  Her stop here at the gate tower, rather than coming to his office directly, was evidence she wanted to keep her presence relatively secretive.  He couldn’t blame her that discretion.<br/><br/>When the room was empty, Raucus took a seat at one the table and nodded his head in invitation.  The former Captain perched on one of the chairs.<br/>“So.”<br/>She drew a letter from her kimono and pushed it across the table.  Lifting it, he read the message as a frown deepened on his face.<br/>“Yes. That was my reaction as well.”<br/>“Are you sure of the veracity of this message?”<br/>“It is from one of my former squadmates, Kanna.”<br/>He grunted at the name, remembering the brunette. A true personification of Sin knew no fury like a woman scorned.  He’d rather face a pair of Pure Sinners than be on the receiving end of that woman’s berserker rage.  Although, he glanced up at the statuesque woman across from him, that really could have been said for<span style="font-style: italic">any</span>member of the Pure Magic Squadron.  “I will inform Bastille and the other fortresses right away.  However, this isn’t the only declaration of war.”<br/>His words gained QianHua’s immediate attention.<br/>“The High Council has approved a campaign against Sin here in Palaugrim.”  Grey eyes narrowed angrily on him but he continued speaking.  “<span style="font-style: italic">Liberation</span>is being led by Masters Guilford and Lethe.”<br/><span style="font-style: italic">Were they mad?</span>QianHua wondered in disgust, remembering another reason she’d stopped being a Pristine Knight.  The freaking High Council, sitting in their ivory tower… While Palaugrim was partially in Sin, and the Pristine Knights and forces of Sin certainly clashed, it had been a relatively peaceful coexistence for the normal person.  Now, with a war.  “That is all I had to share.”  was all she said aloud, standing back up.<br/>Raucus stood as well, looking warily at the displeased woman in front of him.  He didn’t really want to ask, but he needed to know: “Will you…?”<br/>“I will consider it, but as of right now, I don’t believe so.  Seien and Ensei will make their own decisions, but I doubt as well.”<br/>Alera’s Knight Commander sagged in unhappiness.  All three would have been useful in the fight against Sin.  “And Fleur Terres?”  The two maintained a hands off relationship.  Raucus didn’t mention QianHua’s, Seien’s, and Ensei’s presences in his jurisdiction and the three generally took care of the rare Sinner or criminal that appeared in Fleur Terres.  Less Knights in Fleur Terres to know of their presences, less chance the High Council would know and less areas he had to deploy his already thin troops.<br/>“It will depend on the influx.  I have an orphanage to run as well, not just play policewoman.”<br/>The two exchanged nods of farewell and then headed off in their respective directions.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~</div><br/>[[Day 8 in Palaugrim (Morning/Day)  :: between Santa Olivia’s ruins and Puerta Ciel ]]<br/><br/>Leon glanced around him uncomfortably, the heavy silence pressing down on his vocal cords.  Santa Olivia… had been… terrifying.  That scene of senseless massacre: had it been normal once?  Those cruel atrocities: were they the true face of Sin?  He shuddered at the memory of a long forbidden symbol floating over the ruined city.  It had been his first time seeing it complete.  Just remembering it—he shuddered again.  Was this what he had signed up for?  To be one of those corpses dangling from a crumbling wall?  Is that what waited for him at the end of this road?<br/><br/>He had been so overjoyed when he first heard of this assignment.  A real chance to take on Sinners! Make his name!  Although it would soon be a year with Master Lethe’s squad, he had been disappointed when he realized most of his jobs were now PR events.  While being the newest member had initially garnered him some attention, public fancy had quickly returned to the established favorites: Lethe, Adair, Seraphim.  It was worse than the routine patrols on his previous squad!  Stuck at one dance or another speech, he had felt his ambitions slipping from his grip.  But then there was this chance!  Now it seemed more like a nightmare.<br/><br/>He was secretly glad Captain had ordered them away.<br/><br/>Hazel eyes glanced at the members around him.  All of them appeared discomposed in their own ways.  Everyone thought—okay, he<span style="font-style: italic">could</span>be a braggart, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know how to shut up and observe.  When you were an orphan at an overflowing orphanage… these were important skills.  YunQiao looked more constipated than usual.  Despite the caster’s self-delusions about masks of emotionless, his unhappiness was always clear on his face.  Cricket’s braid was wrapped around his head, the remainder drawn into a complicated bun.  The man could style hair better than most of the girls Leon grew up with and he could do it with barely any thought.  A complicated hairstyle meant he had a fancy night prepared or needed to keep his hands busy.  It was obvious which of the two cases today represented.  Even Deimos had appeared shaken by the event if the way he’d sat closer to the group last night was any indication.  Valiar had appeared the most normal, though more subdued given the group’s general mood.  Had the oldest Knight become accustomed to such sights from the last war?  Would he end up becoming desensitized to such atrocities?  The question had him looking forward to the other two veterans.  Kanna hadn’t appeared too disturbed, but she’d been gripping her pen unnaturally tightly when she’d written a message for the carrier eagle.  Seraphim had hidden herself away but the slam of fists on trees couldn’t be muffled that much.  Adair also looked normal, but only because he almost always looked worried about Captain.  What drove his teammates?  Why did they choose the path of being a Pristine Knight?  Were they also afraid after what they’d just seen?<br/><br/><br/>Finally, his gaze and mind wandered to the last member of the group: Captain.  She was—restrained.  Whatever she had seen with the holy sight had affected her deeply, on top of the mess that was Santa Olivia.  However, she seemed to be clinging to Kanna’s directive: Control yourself.  But if he’d learned anything in his months with her, it was that she wasn’t emotionless.  He hoped she’d let it go soon.  Bottling it all up: it led nowhere good.  He knew.  His wry smile faded quickly.  Whatever she’d seen: he was selfishly happy he hadn’t seen it.  Was it wrong that he wished to not see these images if it would have spared Captain?  She would have taken his miseries to shield him from it.  Was it wrong he couldn’t reciprocate?  With a heavy heart and heavy mind, Leon followed the rest of his squad silently.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~</div><br/>[[Day 8 in Palaugrim :: Luciano ]]<br/>The Mayor’s study was lavish and ornately furnished, as befitting the leader of Sovereign Palaugrim.  A massive desk dominated the center of the room and there was a small furniture set to the side for guests.  The Recamier was currently occupied with the mayor.  Victorie stared blankly up at the ceiling, her normally vibrant turquoise eyes a dull hue.  Instead, a mousy looking woman sat in the mayoral chair and flipped through the reports there.  Short dark brown hair, chocolate red eyes, and almost sickly white skin characterized this woman.  Spindly hands flipped through the various messages splayed about her.<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Santa Olivia is completed.</div></blockquote><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Advancing on Dock Rieds.  Scouts say that the Knights haven’t realized the hidden Sin stores under the docks.  We expect to re-take the dock quickly.</div></blockquote><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Hiribah’s operations were detected and the entire town has been suppressed.  Lillith foolishly engaged the Seraph and has been severely damaged.  Survival is questionable right now; I think she retreated to her lair, but hard to tell with her.  The Knights appear to be going after Syndra in the catacombs…</div></blockquote><br/>The woman’s lips quirked up for a moment at the words before her face resumed its normal expressionless mien.<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>… I leave Robin in charge of Acier Terres and will head for Ereck via Tobago to disrupt Knight activities there.  Has there been any word from Tethel or the Barrens? --R</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Foolish little sister.  Trying to take on a Seraph.  She held no love for the two light-infested wretches but she could appreciate the amount of power they contained.  Perhaps they could convert one of them?  She tapped a finger thoughtfully but paused at the sound of footsteps.  Her hands raced to wrap up the last messages and then she vanished.<br/><br/>Victorie blinked drowsily and then sat up.  There was a knock on the door.<span style="color: turquoise"> “Come in.”</span>She ordered, striding to her desk.  She picked up the messages and handed it to the official who had just come in.<span style="color: turquoise">“Send these out, high priority.”</span>Turquoise eyes scanned over the map in front of her, noting the troop positions and enemy positions.  Everything seemed to be going according to plan.  She picked up her robe and slung it over her.<span style="color: turquoise">”I’ll come inspect the troops before they leave.”</span>With that declaration, both humans left the now empty room.