Lethe stared at the door in front of her reluctantly.  Why hadn’t she asked one of her squadmates to pass the summaries along?  Oh right, because Lady QIanHua was busy grinding all of them into the ground.  With a sigh of resignation, she lifted her hand to knock on the door.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Come in.”</span>A twist of the wrist and the increasingly familiar room came into view once more.  The last time she’d been here.. An uneasy look crossed her face before she could hide it.  There had been that debacle with Alfrei and Natalia.  Well, they’d gotten what they wanted.  They weren’t under her command anymore.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Please have a seat.  I’m almost done with this.“</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“That’s not necessary.  I’ll just drop these off.”</span>Prompted by her own words, Lethe finally entered the room.  She halted at the desk, keeping it between herself and Master Guilford, and placed the stack of papers down.  Her mouth opened as if to speak before she paused, uncertain if she should say anything.  It wasn’t any of her business; they weren’t under her command any more.  She was obliged to mention it though, what if they got killed because of her inaction?<br/><br/>After stamping the last document in his hand, Guilford turned to look at the woman standing before his desk.<span style="color: #0080FF">"If it's not too much trouble, I would like to talk to you. Please, have a seat."</span>he requested, almost pleading.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Is there something you needed, Master Guilford?”</span><br/><br/>Sensing her hesitation and the urge to flee the room, Guilford sighed heavily.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I know you don't want to talk to me, but you don't have to be so distant."</span>he paused, turning on the wards of the room with a simple push of a button under his desk.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I merely wish to spend time with you, that's all."</span>A pained expression lined his face.<br/><br/>One hand unconsciously wrapped itself around her waist at the expression, clutching at her other arm like a barrier between her and the other Seraph.  Had he looked like that in the aftermath of Eve’s attack?  Blue eyes looked sideways at the sudden spike of magic as the room’s wards were activated.<span style="color: silver"> “I apologize, we’re a bit short on time.”</span>A true but paltry excuse.  Mostly she didn’t want to be in this room anymore, with the man she’d almost killed.<br/><br/>Time, a commodity they were running out of fast. Still, if there was anything he had learned in his absence, one of them was to stop lying to himself. He was being selfish yes, but at the same time he was being honest to himself.<span style="color: #0080FF">"True. I am well aware that I am being selfish with my request..."</span>he trailed, one hand curling to a fist.<span style="color: #0080FF">"...yet this is me being honest. I'm making the time Lethe, for the one I care for."</span><br/><br/>She flinched away before she could control the reaction.  Even after his words earlier today, she hadn’t expected him to speak so openly.  The Guilford she’d known would have never said such things.  He would have never done something he thought selfish, never mind acknowledge it and then still act!<span style="color: silver"> “I think Hyuga needs to work on his endurance.”</span>She blurted out clumsily, desperate to get off the topic.<span style="font-style: italic">Stay away from me.  I’ll just get you killed.</span><span style="color: silver"> “He seemed out of breath earlier.”</span>Hands fumbled with the papers in front of her as she scrambled to find the report she’d written her observations on.  Were they here or had she left them in her room?<span style="color: silver">“Also, Lady QianHua had mentioned..”</span>something.  Lady QianHua had mentioned something about Natalia…<br/><br/>One brow raised in response to her voiced thoughts. Whether it was delight or curiosity didn't matter. At least he got her talking to him, putting aside the obvious effort to direct the conversation elsewhere. Guilford let out a hearty chuckle. She looked so cute when she was flustered.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I know. I've already sorted out the matter by giving them a new regimen for training. Remember Abel's Ordeal? I modified it a little for them. Good times."</span>He finally smiled as he allowed the memories to flow through his mind, picturing how they would both do if they were subjected to such an ordeal now. The Seraph tried hard not to laugh.<span style="color: #0080FF">"You know, you're a lot prettier than I used to remember.  If only you weren't so grumpy."</span><br/><br/>The sound of laughter cut off her attempts to remember what Lady QianHua had said about the blonde caster.  She felt her cheeks start to burn with embarrassment, but the reminder of Captain Abel was like being doused in ice water.  Clearly Master Guilford still had good memories about those times.  As for her, any fondness she might have had was overshadowed by the too recent betrayal.  When she finally looked up, her expression was polite but frigid.<span style="color: silver">“I apologize.”</span>But her tone made clear that there was no sentiment to match the words.  She forcefully tidied the reports she’d been scrambling through, irritated at how riled up Gil—<span style="font-style: italic">Master Guilford</span>could make her.  How was she supposed to stay away and keep him alive if he always made her—argh! She sounded lovesick.  Stupid Leia.  She finally looked up to meet Master Guilford’s eyes.  He was alive. Okay.  Captain Abel had lied about it. …Not so okay.  She wouldn’t let him kill himself again.  Right.<span style="color: silver">“If there’s anything else?”</span><br/><br/>The sudden mood swing from her put a dead stop to the improving air between the two of them. It didn't take a genius to recognize a mood swing when it kicks you in the head. Gil's face inevitably dropped, trying to figure out what he had said wrong. The man soon realized what it was, like he won the jackpot only there were no fireworks or celebration to follow.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Sorry, I shouldn't have..."</span>he paused, a frustrated chuckle escaping his lips soon after.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Here I am trying so hard to fix things between us, only to mess it up because I was careless."</span>he sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Lethe, I'm glad I told you how I really feel, I'm glad just being able to talk to you, heck I'm glad just being able to see you,"</span>he paused, purple eyes catching sight of blue ones.<span style="color: #0080FF">"...but it pains me seeing you like this, especially when I know it was my actions that caused this."</span><br/><br/>The smile that lifted her lips was hollow.<span style="color: silver"> “There’s no reason to feel that way, Master Guilford.  I’m perfectly fine.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"You're not. I know it, you know it."</span>Guilford stopped, realizing he shouldn't press any further. A hand reached for the ward button beneath his desk.<span style="color: #0080FF">"What happened to me always being the stuffy one?"</span>He sighed, pressing the button to deactivate the wards of the room.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Death.”</span>Her hand went to her neck and she extracted the other reason she had braved Master Guilford to deliver the papers herself.  Slipping the Faith off her head, she placed it down on the stack of papers.<span style="color: silver"> “It tends to change those left behind.  Even temporarily.”</span>Lethe stared down at the memento she’d kept of Gil when she’d thought him dead.<span style="color: silver">“Please excuse me.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"I won't detain you any longer."</span>He paused and forced an awkward smile, feeling a sharp pinch in his heart at how eager she was to leave.<span style="color: #0080FF">"My doors are always open for you. I would appreciate it if you come by from time to time. Thank you for granting my selfish request if only for a little bit..."</span>he trailed off, watching her leave the room.<span style="font-style: italic">I just wish it would have lasted longer.</span><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~</div><br/>The click of the door behind her was reassuring: another barrier between her and Master Guilford.  How many more could she place between them until he was safe?  How far would Invidia reach?  Her hand tightened on the handle before it dropped to her side.  Speculation would get her nowhere.  She had to check in on her squad.  She hoped Lady QianHua wasn’t being too harsh on them.<br/><br/>Her walk through the hallways of the Cathedral was oddly tranquil.  All the rushing scribes, advocates, and other staff in the building had somehow vanished.  Were they all outside celebrating Master Guilford’s return?  Regardless of the answer, she was happy to have some silence to herself.  Of course, it wasn’t meant to last.  The thud of footsteps was approaching, much heavier than the sound of her own walking.  She affixed a smile to her face, checking with a sidelong glance that her face reflected the serenity expected of Seraphs.  It would do for now.<br/><br/>The sound of a familiar voice calling her name put her words to test.  Captain Abel.  She turned to the approaching man, eyes seeking refuge on the ground.<span style="color: silver">“Captain Abel.”</span><br/><br/>Abel stared at his former subordinate, unsure of what to say now.  It was always hard to tell what she was thinking.  Her eyes were downcast, but that could easily be because she was trying to respectful.  She had been inscrutable in the Council Chambers, seemingly unaffected by what was being said.  However, his attention had mostly been on the Council.  He sighed but finally broke the silence that had descended upon them.  “Lethe, I’d like to teach you how to wield Divine Magic.”<br/><br/>Even though he’d mentioned it in the Council, he still expected some sort of response from her: surprise, perhaps confusion, or joy.  But she was as placid as ever.  He stared at the top of her head, wondering about the silence that had relapsed around them.  What was she thinking?<br/><br/>Lethe stared at the wood between her and her former Captain.  It was much too small, that distance.  She hadn’t thought he’d really meant those words in the Chambers, because why would he spend time on the spare?, so his repeat of them now was a surprise.  She didn’t want to spend more time with him.  Despite how well intentioned as they may have been, his lies still hurt.  He couldn’t trust her with the knowledge of Master Guilford’s health, but he’d trust her with accessing the Divine Realm?<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #0080FF">“ My body, my mind, my life? I don't know which of these I will lose first with careless use of this power”</span></span>No, he wasn’t like that. (Was he?)  Did it matter?  Just like she’d told Lady QianHua, she couldn’t be ripping through the dine realms so carelessly, especially now with the knowledge her stupidity had awakened Eve.  Though both YunQiao and Lady QianHua had been a tremendous help in getting her spell as far as it had, neither of them had ever wielded Light’s Blessing directly.  However, Captain Abel had.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “I’d be honored to have your tutelage.”</span>The words tasted like ash in her mouth.  She didn’t want to spend more time with him than necessary; he had lied to her, let her think she’d killed Gil, forsaken her… But this wasn’t about her.  It had never been about her; it was about what was best for defeating Sin.  The reminder of her purpose gave her enough courage to look up and catch her former Captain’s eyes.<br/><br/>Abel stared at the blue eyes staring back at him.  Lethe’s words had been polite, but the only emotion in the younger Knight’s eyes was resignation.  She didn’t seem happy to see him, but she also didn’t seem upset the way Squad Eight had been.  Was it because she now knew Gil was alive?  Or had she not cared?  And why resignation?  He’d have to ask Gil for his opinion.  Maybe the extra ten years with her had given his protégé a greater understanding of Lethe.<br/><br/>“That’s good to hear.”  He finally said, realizing the silences were dragging on too long.  At least when he was training her, she’d be too out of breath for them to hold a conversation, a welcome respite from this stilted interchange.  “Shall we start tomorrow?”<br/><br/>She knew she should say tonight, but she couldn't muster the will to do so.  She didn't want to spend more time with her former Captain and everything he represented.  If that had been her only objection, she may have still pressed on.  However, this day had been so long already, filled with emotional ups and downs as she'd read all the letters in Master Guilford's honor, found out he was still alive, that Abel had betrayed her, not even adding the conversation she'd just escaped.  Leia was still at large as well and she felt terrible enough about abandoning her friend.<span style="color: silver"> "Please."</span><br/><br/>“Eight am at the old training ground Two then.”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Ten am, Captain Abel.  There are some things I still need to finish.”</span>She ignored Abel's frown at her unusual resistance.  However, he agreed to her request, so Lethe bowed in farewell and then left, ignoring the gaze that burned in her back.  She had to check in on the people that cared about her before Abel whisked her away.<br/><br/>Abel stared after his retreating ex-subordinate, wondering how things had led to this juncture.  He wouldn’t say he regretted having the white-haired woman on his squad, but he wished they were on better terms than it currently appeared.  If this had been his squad when he was still in training, he would have been thrilled for a chance to work with his old Captain again.  Unfortunately, it appeared that he’d never been able to develop such a relationship with Lethe.  With a deep sigh, he turned towards Gil’s squad room.  Maybe his other ex-subordinate could provide some insight.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~</div><br/>The sound of metal clashing welcomed her into the training room.  She’d already stopped by the Library to gather Leia.  The other woman was reluctantly waiting outside; Lethe wanted to keep this stop as short as possible.  Once tomorrow came, she'd have even less time to spend with her old friend.  Even with Master Guilford’s return, the threat of Eve’s next attack still loomed over them.  Once the demon learned about the other Seraph’s survival, there would no doubt be retaliation of some sort.  Another worry for another day; right now all she could do was hurry to master Light’s Blessing, a task that would inevitably keep her away from home and by extension, Leia.  Looking up from her gloomy thoughts, Lethe saw that there were two spars going on as the other three ran the perimeter of the room.  Lady QianHua ruled over the entire room, acerbically adding commentary to the commotion.<br/><br/>“If you plan to use claws, you better make sure you hit something.”<br/>“Are you sure you weren’t adopted? I don’t remember Cao’s being so bad at swordplay.”<br/>“My<span style="font-style: italic">five year olds</span>are in better shape than you! Keep running!”<br/><br/>The venomous glare Cricket sent the ex-Captain was ignored with skillful ease.  There was a commotion and then YunQiao went flying towards the wall.  She lifted a hand to summon her keyblades when vehement grey eyes pinned her still.  The black haired man slammed into the wall and then slowly slid down it.  A triumphant Seraphim heaved with exertion, one fist still out stretched, in the middle of the training field.  The pink haired woman yelped and then whirled around, barely bringing her arms up in time to block the katana now trying to bisect her.<br/><br/>“That’s a terrible response.  Don’t block any blade strikes.”  Lady QianHua scolded, forcing more of her weight onto the female Knight.  There was a flash of magic and then Seraphim screamed, falling away from the stalemate in a spray of red.  The shriek halted all movement, even YunQiao’s unstable attempts to stand up.  An impassive QianHua stood over the fallen Knight, her katana sheathed in blood.  “And that’s why you should never block blades with your limbs.  Magic to sharpen blades or specializing in piercing things are common enough.”  The woman turned to look at the still shocked Squad Ten around her.  “You think you’re all good because Lethe has you on her squad?  You’re<span style="font-style: italic">better</span>than the other Knights I’ve seen, but that means nothing.  Any half-decent squad from the First War could trounce you all.  Now stop sniveling.  Cleric, heal her and we’ll go again.”  A flick of her wrist had drops of blood falling from her katana as the purple-haired woman walked to the entrance where Lethe still stood.  “Also, you three stooges, get back to running!”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Thank you for training them, Lady QianHua.”</span><br/><br/>There was a scoff from the older woman as she surveyed the resumed movement in the room.  “You’ve been too soft on them.”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“It appears so.”</span><br/><br/>“I had hoped to leave Caleta now that things have settled down.”  Blue eyes darted in her direction but she continued speaking.  “But it appears that your squad needs.. a lot of work.  And I’m guessing that even with the other Seraph’s return, you’ll still be busy?”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“I believe so.  Captain Abel will be training me in Light’s Blessing starting tomorrow.”</span><br/><br/>There was an irritated huff from QianHua but she nodded her head.  The other retiree could wield the finicky magic while she couldn’t.  “I’ll need somewhere else to live, then.  Mei and Ethera will be joining me shortly and I may ask Skassia to come.  My nephew is a disgrace.”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“He’s not that bad, Lady QianHua.  He’s one of the best casters in the forces.”</span>Lethe responded calmly, watching as Valiar turned his healing towards the still dizzy YunQiao.<br/><br/>“Him and that whiny blonde girl, isn’t it?  What’s the point of being the best among trash?  Well, you go off for your training.  I’ll get your squad in a semblance of acceptableness.  We have a long road ahead of us..”  With those ominous words, QianHua stalked back to the center of the room.<br/><br/>The other woman’s grumpiness elicited a bubble of amusement from Lethe.  Lady QianHua had never had tolerance for mediocrity; her Pure Magic Squadron had been one of the best for a reason.  However, as unkind as Lady QianHua was being, it was true her squadmates needed to improve.  If Master Guilford had nearly been killed by Eve, there was no chance her squad, in its current condition, could even dream of survival.  They needed to get better, and so did she.  With one last look at her squad, her<span style="font-style: italic">family</span>, Lethe turned around and walked back out of the room without a word.<br/><br/>She might be the spare, but she’d keep them safe.