<span style="color: Silver">“Well, if we must be overworked, at least it’s for a good reason.”</span>A smile crossed her face at Gil’s words as she looked up from the mysterious note in her hand.<span style="color: Silver">“I’m glad to hear more people are taking up the armor.”</span>Her gaze turned in the direction of Palaugrim, murmuring mostly to herself,<span style="color: Silver">“There is still so much more to be done.”</span><br/><br/>“Captain?”  Adair asked, having heard enough to know she’d said something but not enough to decipher her words.  With no conflict to be had, the squad has regrouped by their Captain now that she was no longer speaking with Master Guilford.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver"> “Nothing, Adair.  Pardon me.”</span>Lethe shook her head, turning her attention to the group assembled around her.<span style="color: Silver"> “I apologize for the delay, it looks like we’ll be detained once more.”</span>She gnawed on the corner of her lip again, her unfortunate tell of mental conflict.  They needed to check back into the Cathedral to report their progress, but she had hoped to dismiss them before night fell.  After three months on rotation, her squad members deserved what few nights of their own bed that should could grant.  If they waited for the cadet training to end, they probably wouldn’t be able to all get home tonight.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver">“On second thought, never mind.  Please hand in your reports to me.  I’ll drop them off at the Cathedral.”</span>Or another option was she could finish up all the reporting for them.  It looked as if she wouldn’t get the comforts of her own bed tonight.  Despite her words, none of her squad were moving.<br/><br/>“Thank you, Lethe, but we can turn in our own reports.”  Seraphim countered with an easy smile, slipping an arm around the smaller girl for a quick hug.  After working together for six years, the pink haired woman figured she was allowed some liberties on their illustrious captain.<br/><br/>Said illustrious captain was scrunching her nose in disagreement.<span style="color: silver">“No, thank <span style="font-style: italic">you</span>, everyone, but I insist.  If the Cathedral is as short staffed as Guilford is implying, we’ll probably be sent out again sooner than I wanted.  All of you, home.”</span>She ordered, levelling a flat stare on her squad.  Valiar threw his hands up in surrender, adding with a gruff laugh, “Well, if that’s what you want.”  The last remaining member of her first squad knocked his elbow into Leon, pulled out his report, and handed it over with a thanks.  One by one, the others also pulled out their reports and deposited them in her waiting arms.<br/><br/>“Here, let me help you put them away.”  Seraphim laughed, carefully placing them in the bag Deimos had suddenly procured.  When the last report was in, the pink-haired veteran moved to take the bag, only to find the other Knight had zipped it closed and swung the bag over his shoulder.  “I still need to finish restocking” was the only curt answer given to them.  Seraphim only laughed again in response and turned to punch Adair in the shoulder.  “Come on, oh gallant one, let’s get you back to Grisia and figure out how he’s driven Lesus insane this time.”  The vice captain was reluctantly dragged away, leaving only Lethe, Deimos, and Guilford’s lieutenant on the ceiling.  The former was eyeing her subordinate, contemplating the merits of ordering him to hand over the bag.  The pale blond Knight only smiled in response.  “Shall we get going, Captain?  I believe Master Guilford wanted you to check on the cadets.”<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver">“Meh!”</span>Lethe responded sulkily, knowing she wouldn’t be able to dismiss her Provisions Manager. Smoothing her face into placidity once more, she belatedly followed her fellow Seraph to the ground to greet the cadets.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><br/><br/>The trainees shared a breathless laugh, the adrenaline pumping through their veins still making them shaky.  Around them, the former Sinners were passed out from the strain of being<span style="font-style: italic">Absolve</span>d, held up only by the<span style="font-style: italic">Penance</span>’s embraces.<br/><br/>“Oh.. Oh my light.”  One of the trainees stuttered out, “I didn’t think we were going to make that.”  He laughed again, hysterical in his relief.<br/><br/>“But-But we<span style="font-style: italic">diiiid</span>.”  A fellow shaky voice drawled out, “<span style="font-style: italic">And</span>we were able to absolve them and we<span style="font-weight: bold">totally</span>rocked.”  She lifted a fist up to the other girl next to her, exchanging a victorious fist bump.  “Good job, Seven.”<br/><br/>The impromptu leader was still heaving in exhaustion, though a flush was crawling its way over his face at the sounds of agreement the rest of his team was making.  Before he could stutter out a response, the thump of boots hitting the ground drew all five cadets’ eyes to the newcomer.<br/><br/>“Ma-Master Guilford!”  As one, the trainees scrambled to their feet (not all were successful), trying to get in a semblance of order.