<span style="color: #0080FF">"Yes there is something I wish for your help with. Give me a moment..."</span>he paused and looked up behind him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Alfrei! Is that prowess report done yet?"</span>he called out. His lieutenant jumped down from the roof kicking up a bit of dust upon landing to join both Seraphs. He almost immediately reached out to hand Guilford the prowess report, "My apologies for taking so long, here it is." said the man. Eyes narrowing just a little bit, Guilford sighed.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I do not recall being these cadets' instructor. Alfrei, I want you to go with Deimos and escort the cadets back to Instructor Octavia; number seven passed out and eight is locked in a dreamy haze."</span>he paused again, chuckling lightly.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I doubt they'd both make it back in one piece."</span>Guilford said while taking a look at the cadets, amused by Lethe's effect on most male cadets, and even more amused that she remains oblivious to it.<br/><br/>"Aren't we supposed to head back to rendezvous with the rest of the squad after this training is over?" Alfrei inquired just before moving towards the cadets. Guilford looked at Lethe, then back to his lieutenant.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I have something I wish to discuss with Master Lethe."</span>He responded, his tone dropping down a note. Alfrei's expression in turn changed, like he had his sword drawn and is standing on the battlefield. "Is it about... that?" he continued. Guilford simply nodded to answer.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Tell Bryn to have the rest of the squad return to Gless, get some well-deserved rest all of you."</span>Guilford said and turned to his fellow Seraph. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder lightly, urging her to walk with him along the streets of Lindela.<br/><br/><br/>____________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"I don't supposed you have been to the Barrens lately..."</span>he trailed and scrambled for his Traunz pouch. He then walked over to one of the shops, bought two famous carbonated honeydew drinks and handed one bottle to his companion.<span style="color: #0080FF">"When we were down there, I found a lot of this growing in pockets everywhere."</span>he continued, holding up a small glass contraption before Lethe's eyes. It contained a piece of crystal glowing an eerie purple and had a familiar feel of sin to it, although the one in his hands were greatly reduced.<span style="color: #0080FF">"This is the reason why my holy power is at at a dangerous low. It took nearly everything I had just to reduce its harmfulness to containable levels,"</span>he paused and tucked the crystal container away in the safety of his pouch.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I know what you're thinking. You're right, the Essence of Sin down there crystallized, but the real concern is that they are being mined."</span><br/><br/>Guilford continued walking the streets with Lethe, watching the people as they go about their daily lives. In his mind, those who seek chaos have finally set their eyes on Lindela. If they don't act soon, whatever little peace these people knew would become a nightmare.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Nearly a month ago, my squad went on an eradication mission in the depths of Palaugrim. We took out a nest of Pure Sinners along with several other squads while we were there however,"</span>he paused and took a gulp from his drink.<span style="color: #0080FF">"We were not able to investigate what they were doing in the nest, their aura of sin took a tremendous toll on most of the knights there that time. I think they were researching how to use this crystal."</span>he added.<br/><br/>Several more minutes of walking, the two had reached a quarantined part of Lindela. The place was trashed, definitely signs of a fierce battle taking place. Much of the surrounding structures as well as the ground were severely damaged. Several knight squads were stationed there to prevent people from coming too close. These knights were on cleansing duty.<span style="color: #0080FF">"This is the place where we took down a Pure Sinner two weeks ago,"</span>he paused, acknowledging the greetings from the squad leaders.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Normally, it doesn't take a whole day to cleanse a Pure Sinner's aura of sin. These knights have been here for two weeks now trying to cleanse the taint."</span>he continued.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I need your help Lethe."</span>Guilford added.