<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><div style="text-align: center;">Lindela - Market Streets</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>The people rejoiced even under the hot sun. The<span style="font-style: italic">Liberation</span>campaign is going smoothly thanks to the efforts of those who volunteered to spread the word. The newspapers all had the campaign in their front page. Banners were hoisted in ideal locations for all to see, flyers riddled the streets, posters lined the walls with Guilford and Lethe's faces featured on them as the icons heading the offensive. It was great news and the people have more than enough reason to support the act and celebrate in its success.<br/><br/>They all cheered as they watched Wyvieras loom over the skies. Knights who were making their way to the docks became instant celebrities, whether they were rookies or veterans it didn't matter. Everyone who had been touched by the Light in some way wanted to contribute to the effort. Donations piled up and volunteers continued to line up for an extensive Pristine Knight Reserve Training programs. It has been a long time coming for them to save the less fortunate in the other two islands.<br/><br/>The same could be said of Gless. The people began charity acts to help support the entire knighthood who were going to be fighting in the front lines. As more and more knights got shipped to Palaugrim, more people pinned their hopes and blessing on them, the people were all eager to await the good news.<br/><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;">Palaugrim - Road to Rayitas</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>Guilford's squad traveled the roads of Palaugrim with several Scout units fanning ahead of their path. He had refused any offer of quickened means of traveling. Guilford did not want to just see Palaugrim, he wanted to get a good look and feel at it. He had a large knight force that trailed behind them at his disposal, they brought with them several caravans loaded with Advocates, Scribes, food, and medical supplies. Along their path to Rayitas, they fought and absolved Sinners, liberated villages that needed their help and cleared out nests of evil in every hostile area they passed. All these done under strict documentation by the Scribes. Palaugrim was a mess, and the High Council had the stomach to turn a blind eye to it all.<br/><br/>With each new village they encounter and liberate, they establish knight controlled outposts, deployed advocates, and have the map updated with its location. Carrier pigeons flew rampant, delivering messages across the body of the knighthood in Palaugrim. Important messages were delivered personally by only the most trusted and most skilled Scouts he had. For each knight that fell in battle against the taint, they come two steps closer to setting Palaugrim free from Sin's clutches. It was a good thing that there weren't that many losses on their side, there was so much work to be done.<br/><br/>What was supposed to be a few hours worth of travel became a day's worth with all the sidetracking they had to do. It was no surprise when nightfall came, that they were still a few clicks away from their destination, Rayitas. After a well-fought skirmish deep inside the western great forest, Guilford and his knight force made camp to give their tired bodies a chance to recuperate. Rest however, was not a luxury Guilford could afford. With him spearheading this operation, there isn't a single moment to lose. Although the knights weren't saying much to him, he could tell from their faces that they have longed for this day to come as well, a mutual understanding of sorts between those who took the oath.<br/><br/>Keeping themselves warm for the night, the rest of Guilford's squad gathered around their own bonfire in camp. Their Captain's presence is elsewhere, probably giving instructions for shift rotations and supply distribution. As a Seraph, Guilford and Lethe were automatically the supreme commanders in this campaign.<br/><br/>"The Captain changed don't you think?" Natalia asked, breaking the ice between her squad mates. None of them really talked much after Bryn's death. Everything just felt so different.<br/><br/>"Does it come as a surprise to you? That's how the Captain used to be." Georg answered while feasting on his night rations.<br/><br/>"You think so?" Hyuga added. Vlad simply looked at him and then to the others who have been in the squad longer. "We know so. If you ask us, we think he's grown softer over the years. Now, he's just back to being a Seraph." he answered.<br/><br/>"I think he's being hard on himself." Natalia mentioned, tone dropping down just a bit.<br/><br/>"Nat, as both a Captain and a Seraph, he is not allowed to not be hard on himself. Just think about the responsibilities he has to bear everyday. There's just no way he could take it easy." Alfrei stated, both hands busy with sharpening his sword.<br/><br/>"I know... but at the rate he's pushing himself, one day he will succumb to exhaustion. I'm just worried that's all." The blonde waved her hair back and tied it to a neat ponytail.<br/><br/>"That's what we're here for. To pick him up when he falls down." Joaquim joined in, good eye staring at the dancing fire before them. "Right now, the Captain's giving it all he's got, forgetting his personal needs for the sake of those who has need of him. All we can do is lend him our strength to the best of our abilities." he finished.<br/><br/>Abel who had remained quiet with them couldn't help himself but share a piece of his mind. "Your Captain is a strong man. Responsibilities like that of a Seraph, after some time carrying them, can either make you or break you. It all depends on the strength of heart, and how much one is willing to sacrifice for the cause. I didn't have the strength of heart, and thus I retired." Abel sighed and looked at Guilford's squad seriously. "I was supposed to be in his shoes once. But up until now, I still can't quite figure out just how much strength is needed just to step in them. Master Guilford, even under that strong facade of his, has shown signs of weariness. He needs all of you, now more than ever." the old knight continued and stood up, glancing over the other knights one more time. "Let us call it a night. Rayitas is just over the hill. We are to meet with the other leaders of the knighthood in town to discuss phase one of<span style="font-style: italic">Liberation</span>."<br/><br/>The other knights bid Abel goodnight and lingered in their thoughts some more before finding their place for the night. Tomorrow is another day in hell.<br/><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;">Palaugrim Day 4 - Town of Rayitas</div></span></span><br/><br/><br/>The sight of a large force moving in from the west alerted the lookouts of Rayitas. Taking out a spyglass, one of the lookouts scanned the incoming force from a distance. His wary look instantly faded and was replaced by a big smile.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Take a look! It's Master Guilford! He's finally here!"</span><br/><br/>The other couldn't help himself. He just had to climb up their post and toll the bell as strong as he could to let the whole town know.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Master Guilford is coming in from the West!!"<br/>"Master Guilford is coming in from the West!!"</span><br/><br/>The lookout just had to keep repeating himself for the townspeople to hear. Then his words finally sunk in, a moment is all that it took for the cheers of people to resound from within town. Everyone is happy to learn of the Seraph's arrival. How could they not be? Guilford played a major role in the liberation and defense of Rayitas long ago. Not once have the people here forgotten the man's deeds and kindness.<br/><br/>Even though they were still far away, the defensive iron gates slowly rose up to welcome their arrival. From their distance to town, Guilford could make out numerous people atop the stone walls and clay rooftops cheering for him. A lot of them were knights, and a lot more were civilians. No doubt he has made them worry because of his delayed arrival. Nevertheless, he was satisfied now that he finally made it. Their journey, even though filled with peril, was a meaningful one. A lot of people have been freed from Sin's clutches, and an awful lot more brought under the guidance of the Divine Light.<br/><br/>"Captain, we're getting close to town. You should really wipe off that seriousness in your face and start smiling." Alfrei protested, not wanting to cause unnecessary worry for the townsfolk.<br/><br/>Guilford sighed. Lethe was more suited to this than him. He was not parade material but more of a field operative, a knight of the Divine Light and not a mascot. Not that he thought of Lethe as a mascot but she received formal training for these types of things. His thoughts wandered for a moment towards his fellow Seraph. How is she faring with all those injuries? Shaking his head sideways and releasing a pent up sigh, Guilford plastered a smile on his lips and waved to the townsfolk. It garnered an increase in the roar of the people. Should anyone still be asleep in bed, he would have to personally apologize to them later. For now, it was not the time for wandering thoughts, there's tons of work to be done.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">_________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/><br/>After a series of pleasantries with the townsfolk and parading the streets to bolster morale, Guilford was finally given reprieve, only to find himself inside the town hall that was converted into a Knight's Strategy Hall. Already he was going over plans with the High Commanders of the knighthood in different sectors of Lindela. These were the very people who approved of his proposal when he spread the word of his presence in Palaugrim. They were more than eager to take up the sword and fight Sin under his command. A fact that he will also be forever grateful for.<br/><br/>As of the moment, they were discussing the true situation of Palaugrim in a nutshell. The High Commanders were gracious enough to fill him in about in-depth Palaugrim events. They were mostly offensives mounted by the Sinners, border control movements, territorial gains and losses, skirmishes against high Sin concentration areas, but none of them knew about the existence of the tainted crystals, nor were they aware that it was already widespread in Palaugrim. It was most alarming.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Alfrei, I want you and the others to set up sound wards around the hall. We'll need to keep this in the knighthood loop to avoid panic."</span>Guilford ordered and watched his men go to work.<br/><br/>Some thirty minutes later, the sound wards have been activated and Guilford called for Hyuga to educate the High Commanders about the tainted crystals. It was a long lecture filled with numerous questions but both Guilford and Hyuga did their best to keep things as simple as they could. After learning of its existence and understanding the horrors a crystal the mere size of a fist could bring, silence enveloped the hall.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"That explains why we've been hard-pressed by Sin. If what you say is true about it, how are we supposed to fight it without you Master Guilford?"</span>asked one of the High Commanders.<br/><br/>Hyuga took the spotlight once more. He detailed the nature of the crystal and explained how to contain one. They all agreed it was risky to do so without a Seraph should the worst happen, but all of them also agreed that it's the best option they have at the moment.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"As for fighting a manifestation, it's going to be tougher than fighting a pack of Pure Sinners but with teamwork between squads and a solid strategy, it is doable without my aid. Abel will fill you in on formations and strategies that you all can use, it's not entirely new but rather modifications to the ones you all have memorized by heart. I don't see why making adjustments is going to be a problem with these."</span><br/><br/>The lecture went on with Abel drilling the formations into the High Commanders for them to cascade to their subordinates. It took especially long since these knights should have it memorized until it came as second nature to them. It was already afternoon when they finished.<br/><br/>Then came the strategy discussion. With the crystals in mind, Guilford proceeded with his proposal of cutting crystals and supply routes. Phase one will be all about taking over the docks surrounding the entirety of the island from two sides. There will be three forces involved, two of them having the size of a mere suppression force while the last will be the main force and decoy.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Should it be impossible to subdue a dock, you have permission to destroy it. Any questions so far?"</span>he asked. When nobody raised a hand, it was a sign to conclude the meet.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Good. I will dispatch scouts to personally deliver what we have discussed to those who were unable to make it to Rayitas. All of you, thank you for the efforts and get some good night's sleep."</span><br/><br/>Night had already fallen over town when their strategy meet finished. Guilford heaved at the stress that was already at its peak. Excusing himself from the rest of the dismissed High Commanders and his squad, Guilford stepped out to catch some air alone in one of the highest bell towers of town. He could feel the stress catching up to him yet he refused to give in.<br/><br/>In his mind, this is nothing but the beginning and he could not afford to feel exhausted.