Lethe resisted the urge to step back when Gil suddenly leaned in.<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: red">”Trying to escape? Like I’ll let you.”</span></span>She blinked furiously, silently relieved when Gil was no longer in her face.  Though Gil was a good friend of hers, having someone that close to her and her forehead—<span style="font-style: italic">ice cold lips curved in a smile as they whispered</span>—especially now was unsettling.  She immediately felt guilty for her relief when she heard Gil’s words.  He was only worried about her.  He already had so many issues, and unhealed injuries!, and was worried about her lack of sleep.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver"> “Thank you, Gil, but I’m fine.”</span>She forced a smile to her face, gratitude towards Gil’s kindness making the action a bit more bearable.  However, she happily, and quickly, latched onto the change in subject.<span style="color: Silver"> “And the Golden Sun is fine.  It’s a charming store.”</span>She returned his wave and turned towards her own squad’s quarters.  There was work to be done.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~</div><br/><br/>The room was devoid of sound, each member occupied with their own thoughts.  Deimos sat by a table, organizing everything that was in his pack.  Adair sat at the other end of the table, looking at the reports in front of him.  Leon stood awkwardly at the corner of a sofa that contained a thoughtful Seraphim, her hands crossed behind her head as she stared at the ceiling.  Valiar sat in an armchair by himself, meticulously wiping down his armor though it already gleamed.  YunQiao was fiddling with a book, scowl evident on his face, and Cricket sprawled across the other sofa, throwing a throw pillow up and down.  The first five had just informed the last two members of the fight that had transpired two days ago after Lethe had dismissed them.<br/><br/>“Why didn’t you call either of us?”  Cricket finally asked peevishly, YunQiao’s agreement evident in the sudden snapping of his book.  “We’re members of the squad too.”  Brown eyes glared at the other five.<br/><br/>Seraphim only sighed in response, refusing to move her gaze from the fascinating ceiling, “There was no time.  Deimos only went to the Golden Sun since he knew that’s where Adair would be.”  Silence from the pale blond Knight indicated his consent to that statement.  “I just happened to be there. Valiar heard it from his wife and who knows what Leon was doing when he found out.”<br/><br/>“Squads are composed of eight members for a reason.  Each of us have a role to ensure the smooth and most effective operation of the Knights present.  You left Valiar and our fellow Seraph squad unprotected because you were undermanned, a situation easily remedied if Cricket and I had been there.”  YunQiao lectured back, ignoring Valiar’s amused smile and shake of the head.  Never mind that Valiar had the most experience as a Knight and was perfectly capable of defending himself; the eldest Knight knew their last two members were just annoyed and using him as an excuse.<br/><br/>“Yeah!  I wanted to see evil!Lethe too.”  Cricket whined, ignoring YunQiao’s glare.  “It would be great material for a doujinshi!”<br/><br/>“Cricket!”  There was a slam of hands on wood and Adair was suddenly standing, glaring at the team’s crossdresser.  Livid green eyes bore into petulant brown ones before the brown eyes blinked and looked away, clearly realizing he had overstepped some boundary.<br/><br/>“Anyways, Captain could have been injured. More injured.  Like Stuffy said, we’re a team of eight for a reason.”<br/><br/>“We barely got there in time.”  Leon protested hotly, refusing to back down when the two annoyed gazes switched to him.  “Captain was already on a collision course with the bell tower when we got into range.  If we had been any slower..”<br/><br/>“She’d probably be looking at broken ribs, heavy internal bleeding, a potential concussion, and at least a week in the infirmary.”  Valiar finally spoke up.  “Not to mention the manifestation of Sin might be wreaking havoc even now with both Master Guilford and Captain out of commission.  Or Captain would have gone back into battle even with her injuries and potentially killed herself.”  The words had all of the team flinching.  “You’re right that we’re squads of eight for a reason and I can understand why you two are upset, but circumstances are the way they are.  The five of us happened to all still be on Lindela and happened to all hear of the same issue.  Next time, we’ll try to send a carrier pigeon to you two if such an event break outs but for now, let’s just be happy that this ended without further injuries on our side.”<br/><br/>Silence descended on the group once more, thick and oppressing.<br/><br/>The door opened with a squeak and there stood their Captain, her blue eyes roving over all of them.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Everyone...”</span>She greeted cautiously, noting the tension in the room.  Cricket bounded to her side, flinging his arms around her neck.  “Caaapppttaaaaiiiinnnn”  He wailed with his normal theatrics, “What’s this I hear about you calling Team Prissy ‘the strongest squad you know’?!!!”  Lethe smiled awkwardly, patting the arms wrapped around her as she walked further into the room, practically dragging the other Knight along.  “They-they’re team<span style="font-style: italic">Prissy</span>!”  Cricket sobbed in disbelief, “How can they be stronger than us?  You have ME on your squad!! Oh, and those loafers too.”  A hand flapped dismissively in the direction of everyone else, “But—but ME.  And you too! How can they be the strongest?”  He hmph-ed in disbelief, one arm retracting to cross his arms over his chest before realizing that would require releasing his death-hold on the Captain.  The arm shot back into place around her neck.  “They’re probably the strongest at having sticks up their—“<br/><br/>“Cricket!”  Adair quickly cut off the other Knight before profanity could ensue.  Any further admonishment the Vice Captain might have released was cut off by a laugh.  All eyes swung to the white-haired Seraph who was laughing uncontrollably on the sofa.  Somehow she got one arm around the faux-pouting Knight in her lap, the other reaching out to snag Seraphim in her hug.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver"> “Master Guilford’s squad may be the strongest squad that I know of, but you guys are the <span style="font-weight: bold">best</span> squad I know.”</span>She praised sincerely, squeezing her arms around the two in her grasp.  An aura of contentment rose from the room’s inhabitants, all happy their Captain looked so pleased.  This time the silence was pleasant as all basked in the warmth of friendly company.<br/><br/>With a smile and a sigh, Lethe reluctantly removed her arm from around Seraphim and pushed Cricket off her lap.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver"> “Everyone, gather round. Adair, please bring the blackboard.  Valiar, activate the wards.”</span>Her squad all took seats on the central sofas, aware whatever they were about to hear was<span style="font-style: italic">very important</span>if Lethe wanted the room’s wards activated.  She sighed again and then got to her feet, professionalism descending over her demeanor.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “I’m sure you two have been informed of what happened two days ago?”</span>She received nods from YunQiao and Cricket.<span style="color: Silver">“Very well.  To recap: A Pure Sinner was taken out in District Eight two weeks ago.  Despite two contingents of Pristine Knights on the premises cleansing the area nonstop, they were unable to clear the taint.  Putting that aside for now, as you are all aware, after the Battle with Sin, its taint remained and left the lands inhospitable.  The essence of Sin solidified into crystals.  Master Guildford and his squad have recently found information that implies these crystals are being mined.”</span>She paused to let the information sink in before continuing.<span style="color: Silver">“In addition, Master Guilford believes that these miners are also trying to figure out a way to harness these crystals’ powers.  Needless to say, this could be a <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">very bad</span></span> thing.  In addition to being an easily transportable item that can spread Sin’s influence, they are extremely difficult to subdue.  It took four members of Guilford’s squad and myself half an hour of constantly imbuing holy light to get the crystal to stabilize.  <br/><br/>Even then, it ended up breaking and thus the manifestation two days ago.  Master Guilford believes that the crystal will take the appearance of the last person to touch it.  However, we are drawing this hypothesis on two instances.  We also have reason to believe that whoever is utilizing these crystals have found a way to hide the taint.  I saw these symbols,”</span>Lethe sketched out what little she could remember of the runes and then finished with her copy of the door’s emblem,<span style="color: silver">“on the walls and this one on the door.  In addition, if or when the crystal is subdued, it then needs to be contained in a special container with a specific seal and constantly suppressed with holy magic.  Two weeks of it sapped Master Guilford’s holy magic to the point Deimos and I saw at the cadet training, though we need to factor in regular exhaustion and degradation due to lack of appropriate rest.”</span>She scanned over the bullet points and the drawings on the blackboard and then concluded.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver">“In sum, some people are using crystallized Sin to spread Sin’s influence.  They have found a way to hide the source from our detection, though Sin’s influence still seeps out.  If the crystal is not properly subdued, we have a manifestation of Sin to battle that probably mimics the last person to touch it.  The crystal requires constant suppression with holy magic.”</span><br/><br/>Her team stared at the blackboard in disbelief.  What was written on there could destroy all the work the Immaculate had invested after the Battle with Sin.  No, it could easily throw them all back to before the Pure were even established.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver">“We and Master Guilford’s squad will leave for the outreaches of Palaugrim in two days’ time to investigate this issue.  We are authorized for a week’s time.”</span>Her team finally reacted, sounds of disbelief prominent.<span style="color: Silver">“Adair, Deimos.  We need more time than this.”</span>Solemn blue eyes locked with green eyes and yellow eyes, respectively, conveying the unspoken order.<br/><br/>“I guess we’re meeting with Master Guilford’s squad now to discuss tactics?”  Seraphim spoke up, knowing of the white-haired Knight’s insistence on preparation.  However, she received a head shake of negation in response.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver"> “Master Guilford wishes to meet the day after tomorrow to discuss everything and then head out.”</span>Lethe actually<span style="font-style: italic">scowled</span>at her own words, displeasure evident in the utter lack of time to plan.  His squad had been more overworked than her own so she could understand wanting to give them more time to rest.  However, by failing to prepare, they were preparing to fail and she had no intention to fail.  Not only would it justify her squad being further restricted, it could very well tip this emerging war against them.<span style="color: Silver"> “Adair, please inform your brother that we will be meeting at his store.  I’ll cover the costs of closing the shop down for the day.”</span>The amber-haired Knight nodded his head in response and stood up before giving a look to Seraphim and Valiar, who both nodded to his unspoken request.  Deimos stood up as well, stretched, and prowled out the room.<br/><br/>Lethe wiped down the blackboard and then turned to her remaining squad members, glower still evident.<span style="color: Silver">“Let’s begin.”</span><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~</div><br/><br/>The bell tower rung six o’clock and the priests began their morning prayers, joined by a rare addition.  While it was known that the White Seraph lived nearby and occasionally came for services, her busy schedule normally prevented her from coming.  For her to be here, and in the dawn services no less!, was enough to send the few trainees awake into a tizzy.  As for the Knight herself, she seemed oblivious to the whispering her presence elicited.  She knelt at the first pew, hands clasped and eyes closed.  For once, the trainees thought the morning prayers too short and had to be shooed out of the church.<br/><br/>“Lethe, what a surprise to see you here, and in your normal garb no less.”  The head Advocate chuckled, approaching the white haired Knight.  She was well aware that the young woman would occasionally sneak in disguised.  While she normally did not condone deception, she understood the other woman’s reasoning.  Lethe was one of the most religious young women she knew and she could appreciate the other’s desire to pray in solitude.  It also helped that the trainees were more attentive when not craning their necks to see the famous Knight.<br/><br/>Said Knight had just opened her eyes to look at the approaching Advocate.<span style="color: Silver">“Advocate Selenity.  Good morning.”</span>The white-haired Knight reached down to steady herself as she stood up.  After an hour of kneeling, even her knees had gotten unsteady.<br/><br/>“Good morning, Lethe.” Old eyes scanned over the simply garbed woman.  “Is all well?”<br/><br/>A noncommittal smile was her only response.<span style="color: Silver"> “If it’s not too much trouble, may I have use of a Chapel?”</span>It was just easier for everyone if she used a chapel for her prayers.  She would distract no one in the hidden room and feel no pressure to leave before she was ready.<br/><br/>“Of course, child.”  Selenity paused, before offering.  “The confessional is always open if you wish more guidance.”  The Knight only bowed in thanks but said nothing.  The head Advocate placed her hand on the other woman’s head.  “May the Divine Light guide you and keep you safe.”<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver"> “May the Divine Light guide you and keep you safe.”</span>Lethe murmured back, politely waiting for the elder woman to leave.  She slipped into the chapel at the back of the Church.  It was perfectly positioned to catch the sunlight, the reason why she preferred this room.  Kneeling back down, Lethe felt her mind and body relax.  She was surrounded by the holy presence of the Church and bathed in the divine light; here, her nightmares had no access to her.  She clasped her hands once more and fell back into prayer.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~</div><br/><br/>The visit to the Church had helped settle her nerves and the white-haired Knight was now on her way to the Golden Sun, an hour earlier than the time Gil had indicated and half an hour earlier than she had told her squad to convene.  She liked to be the first to her meetings.  Lesus sat at the entrance way, seemingly reading a book.  The sign on the door was flipped to “Open” but she predictably saw no one else inside the store.<br/><br/><span style="color: Silver"> “Good morning, Lesus.”</span>She greeted the black-haired man with a smile.  He had been a Scout a long time ago, though better with a sword than most Pristine Knights.  In fact, all the inhabitants of the Golden Sun were impressive.  Grisia had once been the Immaculate’s best Advocate; Lesus a Scout and mage of indescribable skill; and Roland was the one of the few blacksmiths she trusted with her sword and armor.  She chatted with Lesus for a few minutes, the two casually swapping intel so both knew what was going on down low and in the Cathedral.  Now armed with another two contacts in Palaugrim (just in case), Lethe bid the other a good day and headed into the shop.  Not five minutes after her arrival, YunQiao and Valiar were milling about as well.  They were all picking up on her habit of being early, Lethe noted with an amused smile.  One by one, her team filtered in and was ushered to the living room.  As a group, they recapped everything they had discussed the past two days and once satisfied they all knew what was expected, they settled into easy chatter to wait for the other squad to arrive.