<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Day 10: Palaugrim - Sharen (morning)</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>Guilford and his team as well as majority of Sharen's defense stood atop the town walls. Their gaze was fixated onto the plains where a battle had just ended. An enemy small force, sixty strong, was found lurking in the nearby woods and was drawn out into the open by the scouts. However, just as the town's forces were about to attack, the Crests insisted that they should get a warm up before the real thing. Guilford consented and the five individuals were the only ones allowed to ride out and greet the enemy. It was clearly a lopsided battle yet the odds were in the favor of the Crests. Each individual showcased their skills before expectant eyes and those watching were proven wrong in thoughts that those people were crazy.<br/><br/>"I don't believe it! Where did those people come from?!" cried one of the knights in awe.<br/><br/>Guilford could only smile. Of course a lot of them wouldn't know that the five out there were just some of the other previous candidates for the title of Seraph. Had anyone of them defeated the God of Sin, they would have been no doubt awarded the highest rank by the High Council. The only shame was that they chose retirement over duty.<br/><br/>"Captain," Alfrei called out, voice a little shaky after witnessing something hard to swallow. "Shouldn't we bring them along with us to Luciano for the covert op?" he continued.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"No. Lance may not look it but he has keen battle instincts. I need him to run our offensive as a military advisor with the appointed generals from Rasova to maintain the advance of our forces. I believe he and Heinrich would be an incredible duo."</span><br/><br/>"What about the others?" Joaquim asked next, pointing out to the rest of the Crests who were stretching out on the field.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Silver's impressive defensive sense would be greatly needed by our borders. He will be advising the deployed troops there and will be running perimeter offensives along with the strike teams. Akira is an excellent spy, he will be advising the scouts with information gathering and coordinate with Lance and Heinrich in planning for future strikes."</span><br/><br/>"And the two ladies?" Vlad followed up.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Alona's swordsmanship is without a doubt the best there is. She will be overseeing recapture operations should any of our territories fall. Right now I have her tasked with heading to Port Rieds to help reclaim it. Word is, the port is putting up quite the resistance. With her leading the front, it should fall back to our control soon. Cora on the otherhand, despite being a powerhouse, is a very skilled cleric. She will be advising the medical teams and training them as well to further improve their recuperative spell mastery to help prolong our forces effectiveness."</span><br/><br/>"Ah, well, contrary to your praises, it would seem to me that they look like imbeciles out there with that... I dunno what to say..." Hyuga dropped to speechlessness. He was looking at the Crests' peculiar formation.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Thats..."</span>Guilford scratched his head.<span style="color: #0080FF">"...a bad habit of theirs. It's their stupid victory pose."</span><br/><br/>"V-Victory pose? Why would they have to do that?" yelped a shocked Natalia.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"If you must know... according to Lance it's a charm. He said he once saw a spiky haired guy wielding a large sword spinning it around above his head before latching the weapon back in place after a battle. He thought it looked... cool."</span><br/><br/>There was silence from his team, clearly none of them understood the supposed charm's significance.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Either way, I don't want anyone of you coming up with a stupid victory pose like that or I'll knock you out. Understood?"</span>Guilford sternly warned and made his way down the walls, his squad trailing behind him dumbfounded.<br/><br/>Several hours later and the team along with the Crests have finished running over the plans again for their final checks. It was time to depart. At the North gate of town, Guilford and his team were readying their steeds for the journey to Bastille. Lance and his companions walked up to them and called for the Seraph. He had in his hand, a water canister and two small cups. One look at the container and Lance's eyes told Guilford of the contents within. The Seraph walked over to his old friend and smiled.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Lance, I'm positive you know if I drink that, I'd be going against the teachings right?"</span><br/><br/>Lance snorted but soon burst into a chukle. "Man you really are stiff! Teachings smeachings! We're not defying anything with this! Do you remember what I told you a long time ago Gil?"<br/><br/>Guilford paused, recalling the first time they ever shared a drink.<span style="color: #0080FF">"It's not the drink itself that is Sin. It's how often and how much of it you consume and what you do after under the influence. Am I right?"</span><br/><br/>Lance's eyes lightened up in delight. "Bingo! That's it man! So c'mon! This is for your victory, for Bryn, and for your safe return."<br/><br/>Guilford sighed but his indecisiveness was replaced with a smile. He extended his hand towards the other, waiting to receive his cup. Lance poured the drink and shared a toast with the Seraph. The two men downed their cups in one go. Exhaling sharply after the unfamiliar liquid ran down his throat, Guilford handed the cup back to his old friend.<span style="color: #0080FF">"You know, I've always wondered how it would feel like to get drunk. Let's do this again sometime."</span><br/><br/>"Hoh? Now you decided to loosen up? I should make you drink more!"<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Cut it out. It'd probably make me swing my sword the wrong way."</span><br/><br/>The two shared a moment of laughter, it felt like the old days again. A solemn silence descended the six friends as they both looked at each other, unspoken words clearly understood in the silence. Lance then extended his hand to Gil for a shake and the other took it and grasped it tight. "Don't let anymore of your squad or yourself die Gil." he said, eyes brimming with seriousness. Guilford smirked at Lance's words.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I'll hold you all to the same."</span><br/><br/>A few minutes later and the North gate opened, with Guilford and his team thundering out in their steeds. Lance and the rest of the Crests watched their cloaked friend and his companions shrink in the distance until the gates closed down.<br/><br/>"Alright! It's time for us to hold the fort! Let's give this war everything we got!" Lance roared and his call was answered by a loud cheer from a huge number of knights who also saw one of their Seraph off to battle.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Day 10: Palaugrim - Road to Bastille (noon)</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>The first few hours of journey was uneventful. Guilford and his team rode their war horses like the wind toward their destination, the Fort of Bastille. In the Seraph's mind, this covert operation suggested by Lance to strike at the heart of the enemy was a very risky operation. Not only were they traveling to enemy territory, but they will be at risk of getting surrounded by the enemy main forces consolidated at Luciano should they make a mistake. However, the reason behind this operation was sound. Lance explained that at the rate Sin was spreading over the last ten years, it was safe to assume that the forces of Sin has the Pristine Knight forces outnumbered by at least six to one, worst case ten to one. It was easy to get a Sinner than training a Pristine Knight after all.<br/><br/>However, their saving grace was the quality of their forces. A trained knight can easily take out three or four sinners give or take, a skilled knight can take out a pack, and veteran knights can hold off a small force. This should allow them to stand on an even battle ground. Although the enemy has special units like Pure Sinners, and the Sin Generals, all capable of decimating a large number of knights, the Pristine Knight forces have many veteran and skilled knights to even the odds, they also have quite a handful of geniuses here and there. The difference would be in the leadership and use of tactics and cunning.<br/><br/>According to Lance, the longer they draw out the war between the two forces, the more disadvantageous it becomes for the Pristine Knights. To cut off the head of a poisonous snake is the quickest way to kill the dangerous creature. Guilford's target is Victorie, leader of Luciano and Sovereign Palaugrim, the one he believes is responsible for Santa Olivia's fall. The operation is simple, Bastille would the the staging point. Part of the Main Forces are being moved as they travel to the Fort and by the time they get there, Guilford could use the forces stationed there as a diversion to keep enemy eyes away from their movement into Luciano. At the same time, neighboring knight controled towns close to Bastille, as well as the border defenses will also receive reinforcements and were to simultaneously advance their forces to spread out Luciano's consolidated one. This will lower the risk of Guilford getting found by the enemy. The sooner they make it to Luciano, the better. By estimate, if all goes according to plan, Guilford and his team should reach Luciano by tomorrow. They key to this operation's success is keeping Guilford's whereabouts unknown to the enemy. He was not to engage enemy forces they may find along the way, and should a battle be unavoidable, they should not allow the enemy to escape.<br/><br/>__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Day 10: Palaugrim - Bastille's borders (afternoon)</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>Guilford and his team stood in horror over the borders of Bastille. From the distance, they could see some parts of town up in smoke and its forces deployed outside of its walls battling an onslaught.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Bastille should not fall! Let's go!"</span><br/><br/>Kicking their steeds into high gear, Guilford and his squad rode off the path cutting through the plains to reach the town faster. reinforcements should be on their way and if they could get there in time, they should be able to save the town. Hopefully, the Knight Commander in charge is still alive.<br/><br/>Knowing he had scouts trailing them, Guilford raised his left hand and gave the signal for them to make contact with the reinforcements and have them hurry. The Seraph felt two surges of holy power from the woods signaling that he was acknowledged. Satisfied, Guilford began to focus on the task at hand. First was to keep the enemy from further penetrating the town.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Alfrei! I will come in from the rear of the town alone, we cannot risk the enemy forces seeing me. You lead the squad to the front and provide backup to the knights already engaged. Plug any holes in their defensive line and push the enemy back! I will coordinate with Knight Commander Kavita and secure the town proper should any enemies have already made it inside!"</span><br/><br/>He hated it. Normally he would have lead his squad to the front lines instead and lead the counterattack, but their operation was far to sensitive for them to risk fighting in the open. Tightening the lace that held the hood of his cloak in place, Guilford rushed to the rear of the town. It was already barricaded and several squads have been stationed there for defense. Skillfully maneuvering his steed, Guilford willed the beast to leap over the first barricade and commandeered it through the others, avoiding the squads that scrambled to stop him from entering town. He had to dodge and swipe arrows and knock a few knights off their feet before managing to break through the barricades. He would have to apologize later as he did not have time to introduce himself.<br/><br/>As he raced deeper into town, Guilford could see Sinners already causing havoc in the town square. Several knights were engaged in battle here and there and people were being led to safety by pairs of knights. There was a dedicated group holding off any Sinner that tries to pursue located in the town square. This group was in charge of taking care of any leaks from the front while protecting those who were being evacuated to safety. They were the town's last line of defense.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Pure Sinners!!"</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Pure Sinners broke through from the front!!"</span><br/><br/>The scream from one knight on a rooftop was filled with dread. If Pure Sinners managed to break through the line, they will no doubt be accompanied by several packs of Sinners as well. Guilford's steed bucked beneath him in protest. Though it was a war horse and was used to battle, it was still afraid of the incoming onslaught, a sign that there is considerable threat.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Hold the line! We cannot let them get past us! There are people behind!"</span><br/><br/>The female voice was filled with iron authority. Guilford immediately searched for the owner and noticed a young female knight in the middle of the contingent.<span style="color: #0080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">Good, the Ice Bi-err...Kavita's still here</span></span>, the Seraph thought in relief. He had grown tired of forcing his steed to ride forward so Guilford leapt off from its back and took to the roofs. He decided to run the rest of the way to the town square and intercept the incoming Pure Sinners.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/><br/>The knights tensed and shifted in their position. Charging at them was the horrific sight of two Pure Sinners, accompanied by several little Sinners that tore down anything blocking their path. They could hear their dreadful battle roar and it sent chills running down their spines. It was not an everyday occurrence that they get to face off with such fearsome adversaries. As the malice-filled beings drew closer, the knights' Faith necklaces burned in protest when the Pure Sinner's aura of sin began to envelope them, and those in front gritted their teeth when they saw the Pure Sinner in front beginning to channel its dark arts.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Hold steady!"</span>the female voice roared without a hint of fear.<br/><br/>The knights reacted to the order by casting layers of Prayer to protect them and tightening their formation. The front liners raised their shields in anticipation of the attack and planted their footing steadily on the ground, knees slightly bent to absorb impact. The Pure Sinner finally released its channeled dark magic and a large black bolt of negative energy surged forward. It ripped the cobbled road as the black bolt of magic pierced its way toward the knights.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Fortify now!"</span>The order was given seconds before impact.<br/><br/>The defensive casters positioned behind released their magic and bolstered the defense of the front lines. Their magic formed a layer of holy wall using the shields of the front liners as its base. The knights pushed their shields forward just before the black bolt made impact and a violent fizzle followed by a large explosion ensued. When the smoke cleared, the knights shifted back to position and readied themselves for another wave, some of them heaving from exhaustion. This time, the smaller Sinners were making a beeline for them.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Lower stance! Offensive casters line up!"</span><br/><br/>Six knight mages lined themselves behind the front who were now knelt in position, shields still poised defensively. Their<span style="font-style: italic">Judgement</span>swords were pointed forward, aimed at the legs of the Sinners running for them. Their swords began to glow and when the Sinners were in range, they released the bolts of Banish in three volleys. The Banish bolts hit most of the Sinners causing them to tumble down before coming to a halt on the destroyed cobble road, howling in pain. The knights cheered upon stopping the attack but dreaded when they noticed that the two Pure Sinners began cooperating and were now countering.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Reform now!"</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"But Captain! We won't be able to hold off two of those bolts! Just one almost toppled us over!"</span><br/><br/>Kavita looked back and still saw people. She gritted her teeth, they cannot disperse, not yet, not with people behind them still trying to get to safety!<span style="font-style: italic">"It doesn't matter! Hold your ground! We cannot let their attack through! There are still people behind us!"</span><br/><br/>The knights grunted but remained in position. Dying in the line of duty, in service of the Light, how bad could it be? Kavita squeezed herself in the front line and the knights adjusted to give her space. She leveled her own shield with the rest of the knights. These were her men, she would share their burden. Fierce eyes stared at the Pure Sinners and watched the black bolts of negative energy come at them. Kavita counted the seconds away and time seemed to slow down for her as her memories began to resurface involuntarily. Why was this happening now? Was she really about to die from this attack? She closed her eyes...<br/><br/>..<br/>...<br/>....<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Good work, I'll take it from here."</span><br/><br/>Despite the violent fizzle she was hearing, there was no mistaking that she heard a voice. Kavita opened her eyes only to see a cloaked person holding the large black bolts of negativity at bay with just gauntlet protected hands glowing with a fierce white light.<span style="font-style: italic">Who is this person?</span>she asked herself, awed by the amazing display of power before her. She watched the cloaked being throw the bolts back at their casters and made a dash straight for the enemy with impressive speed.<br/><br/>"H-Hey W-Wait!" she called out in vain. She was supposed to be protecting this town, it was her job, her duty. But why does she feel so relieved? It was then that Kavita realized that she unconsciously placed her hopes in that cloaked person who saved them.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/>Guilford sped his way towards the two Pure Sinners that threatened the town. Both hands were channeled with a full-powered Banish spell and he was just waiting for an opportunity to strike. The Pure Sinners were agitated by his advance and showered him with smaller bolts of negative energy. Guilford slipped and swayed passed them effortlessly, striking down a bolt or two with his Banish infused fists as he continued to close the distance. Aiming for the Pure Sinner to his right, Guilford pulled his right hand back and fired his first Banish bolt and leapt to the air. Once airborne, he spun his body midway to the left and threw his second Banish bolt. The first bolt he threw from the ground was defended but the Pure Sinner was staggered by the power of his magic causing its defense to crumble. The second bolt hit the Pure Sinner's face, piercing it through and through. Guilford watched the Pure Sinner turn to white dust and shifted his attention to the one on the left. (good thing these Pure Sinners were too slow)<br/><br/>Reaching back with his right hand for his sword, Guilford waited to fall into slicing range before drawing his blade.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"You who seek to bring chaos to the world,"</span><br/><br/>The Pure Sinner raised both elongated arms in an attempt to defend but Guilford's<span style="font-style: italic">Nirvana</span>was much too sharp even for its hardened skin. The Seraph unleashed a flurry of high-speed mid-air slashes and the moment he landed back to the ground, he was already sheathing his sword. A final scream of agony sounded in the air as the last Pure Sinner faded into white dust.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"...may you rest eternally within the Light."</span><br/><br/>Guilford locked his sword in place and looked at the front gate, no more forces of Sin were coming in, a clear sign that Alfrei and the rest of his squad was doing well. It's only a matter of time before the reinforcements arrive and then they could push the enemy back.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/><br/>Kavita was still staring in awe at the cloaked person in the distance who defeated two Pure Sinners with ease. In her mind, she could only think of two people who could actually accomplish such a feat but last she remembered, Master Lethe snubbed her and Master Guilford was in Sharen. Could it be possible that there are other people out there who possess such power? Her thoughts were interrupted by one of her knights screaming in relief.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Reinforcements! Reinforcements are coming from the rear!"</span><br/><br/>The news made Kavita steel herself once more. Today she had escaped death by the skin of her teeth but that could only mean that her service to the Light will continue. Putting aside their cloaked savior for later, Kavita took a deep breath and began barking orders. Their town was still under siege and they still have to drive the enemy back, or better yet, with the reinforcements, annihilate them.<br/><br/>"We're moving out! Whatever happened up front, it would seem that the boys have gotten themselves together! Let us show these Sinners that the Light will not yield! Onward to victory!" she roared and charged to meet the enemy head on.