[[Day 11 in Palaugrim (Morning) :: Zairyon]]<br/><br/>“Alright then, so we’ve got<ul><li>Economic: resource diversion from Palaugrim/Tethel to Gless/Lindela in the past =&gt; potential source of unrest?</li><li>Economic: Trade from Barrens?</li><li>Economic/Social: lower taxes, better trade, increased stability under Victorie</li><li>Social: Victorie has high approval ratings</li><li>Social: Leveling of hierarchy, meritocracy</li><li>Taint Spread: Isis?  Supris and Cheops manufactured for mass consumption, based off Sin Crystal? (90% sure)<br/> </li><li>Tethel: Sinners are now commonplace, Pure Sinners as well =&gt; people willingly selling family members to Sinners?</li><li>Transport: Ereck held by Pristine Knights; Reids back in Sinner control</li><li>Transport: New ports? Mandya, Yima</li><li>Transport: Luciano has its own Wyervia port</li><li>Army: recent drafting to bolster forces (War) =&gt; increase of ~4k troops? </li><li>Army: New special troops from Tethel? “barely human; black cloaks, at least 7 feet tall, clawed armored feet, Pure Sinner claws for hands (also armored)” =&gt; controlled by Victorie?<br/> </li><li>Pristine Knights as prisoners: 30 percent survival rate, some sort of conversion that appears higher with non-Pristine Knights (other prisoners?).. human experimentation?</li><li>Pristine Knights being transported to Barrens (exposed to taint?)</li><li>Eating (Sin) taint?????</li></ul>Am I missing anything?”<br/><br/>The inquiry was met with silence as ten pairs of eyes stared at the blackboard with everything they’d learned the night before.  Adair set down his piece of chalk and stepped aside to examine the points listed out as well.  All things considered, it was an impressive list for a last-minute night of snooping.  Gossip: one could never underestimate its power.<br/><br/>“Sorry for being slow..” Leon spoke up, trying not to flush when everyone’s attention turned to him, “But why do we care about the economic or social stuff?  Or even Tethel..?  Are they going to affect this war?”<br/><br/>“It could.”  Seraphim spoke up, arms crossed over her chest.  “War isn’t just about beating each other to a pulp, though that’s a big part.  The citizenry play an important role in wars: do they help us, are they neutral to us, or do they oppose us?  If they help us, everything goes easily.  If they’re neutral, we just avoid doing them harm and they avoid us.  But if they oppose us.. even if we raze Luciano and every Sinner and Pure Sinner, the land will always be at risk of falling into Sin again because the people will see us as oppressors.”<br/><br/>“They’ve all been tainted anyways..”<br/><br/>“No. That’s not enough.  That may affect their feelings towards us, but we don’t cleanse them and they immediately turn Pro-Light.  What I see on that board is trouble.  The citizenry like Victorie.  Immediately, we’re the bad guys trying to take down one of their own, especially given that apparently the Light side botched things up in the past, if we can trust what we heard about rations and poor infrastructure.<span style="font-style: italic">I</span>didn’t notice any problems with the roads.. That means most likely, they improved under Victorie’s leadership.  If I was still a civvie of Sovereign Palaugrim and all that up there is true?  I’m not happy to see the Knights.”<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Especially not given what we’ve seen in Gramhold.  Imposters or not, they’ve tainted the reputation of Pristine Knights.  Add on that we’re destroying their sovereignty and overthrowing a popular ruler...”</span>Lethe spoke up unexpectedly.  She had been mostly silent beyond contributing her two points, leaving the moderating to Adair for an unknown reason.<br/><br/>Valiar nodded his head in agreement, “Especially if or when there are casualties, which is inevitable.”  He exhaled loudly and shook his head, “This is going to be a disaster.”<br/><br/>“They’re tainted!”  YunQiao broke in angrily, “Surely they’d be happy to be released from their flaws.  They’re dooming themselves now; we’ll be saving them from Sin.”<br/><br/>“Stop thinking like a Glessian and think like a Palaugrimian.” Kanna chimed in, “’we’ don’t believe in that moral crap you guys are spouting about.  We don’t see Sin as taboo as you guys do.  Also, if you guys start trying to force your ideals and customs on Palaugrim.. No alcohol? Forced prayer?  All that other traditions you follow on Gless and Lindela but Palaugrim doesn’t?  It’s not going to happen.  Beliefs don’t change just because the sovereign changes.  If anything, you’ll have to worry about Palaugrimian ideals making their way into Gless and Lindela.”<br/><br/>Adair glanced at Lethe who was watching everything impassively.  The papers in front of her were blank and her pen didn’t appear to have been touched.  Instead, she was playing with stone in her hand.  After another ten minutes of back and forth, he finally cut in.  “Enough.  We’ll have to discuss the socio-economic concerns later.  While all valid and important points, there’s nothing we can do about them.  We certainly can’t run a counter-propaganda campaign here, but we’ll need to make sure the High Council are aware of these issues.”  He turned to look at Lethe who simply nodded in response.  While none could say that Councilor Laith and Lethe were particularly close, they had worked together enough that Lethe could force the issue.  The conversation continued from there as the group of Knights and ex-Knights worked their way down the list.  A knock paused their conversation and Valiar disabled the privacy wards.  A smiling Orphelia came in with a plate of cookies, followed by two servants with more drinks.  Once the three Zairyonians had left, conversation resumed.<br/><br/>Lethe looked at the envelope that Orphelia had slipped her during their intermission.  She didn’t recognize the handwriting, which spelled out<span style="font-style: italic">Thea</span>, or the seal on the back.  Slipping a nail under the seal, she broke it and opened up the missive.<br/><div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Dear Thea,<br/><br/>I hope that your friend is feeling better today.  I would hate for you and your friends to come so far to visit Luciano just for her to fall ill.  The city is especially lively this time of the year in anticipation of the solstice.  If I am not too bold, and if you are free this afternoon, perhaps I can give you a personal tour?  Having lived here all my life, I think I may know some of the better haunts usually missed by newcomers.  Your friends, of course, are also welcome.<br/><br/>Please message me back at your earliest convenience.  You may also show the second enclosed letter to any of the guards to let you in.  Welcome to Luciano, dearest Thea.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: right;">Warmest Regards,<br/>Victorie</div></div></div></div><br/><br/>She folded the first letter back up and placed it on the table, weighted down with her pen so none could peek underneath.  The second letter was a standard order to allow the bearer and her guests entrance into the city.  This one she also refolded and placed aside as her mind poked with this newest issue.  Perhaps it had been too much to hope that was the last she’d see of Luciano’s Mayor short of a battlefield.  She sighed and leaned back in her chair, eyes closing as she pressed against her temples.  She missed the curious looks her actions garnered, though the others continued speaking as if nothing was amiss.  On one hand, she really wanted nothing more to do with Victorie.  Being with the other woman was a constant reminder of what she could become.  Her lips thinned at the reminder of her nightmares and she shoved them aside.  On the other hand, ‘Thea’ had no reason to refuse.  A newcomer to Luciano/Zairyon from a small town who had suddenly gained the attention of the most important person in Sovereign Palaugrim?  It would be very odd to refuse, and it might cause trouble for Orphelia and Rhett.  That was unacceptable.  She could delay a day or two, perhaps.<br/><br/>“These special troops.. human or Sin creature?”<br/>“You think it might be a new Sin creature?”<br/>“It sounds more likely than seven feet humans who happen to have feet and claws like a Pure Sinner..”<br/>“And a new Sin creature, given the God of Sin is dead and there’s only been two since forever is more likely?!”<br/><br/>The conversation continued in the pointless vein as Kanna and YunQiao debated the possibility of a new Sin creature.  Honestly, Lethe didn’t see the point of the debate.  Until they saw these special troops, they were speculating based off rumors.  As the volume started to rise, she finally cut in:<span style="color: silver"> “Enough.”</span>Both parties fell silent at the annoyed glare leveled in their direction.<span style="color: silver"> “Can we move on to another topic?”</span>With a sigh, she closed her eyes once more and pinched the bridge of her nose.<br/><br/>Adair stared at his curt captain and then the two letters lying in front of her.  She had been abnormally quiet today but something in the letters had changed her mood into peevish.  He looked up to see fellow worried looks.  No one knew what had her in such a bad temper.  “Very well then, onto the rumors we heard about Pristine Knight captives..”  Again, the conversation meandered in circles given the little information they had.  Finally, they turned to plans for investigating Luciano when they came across an issue.<br/><br/>“We need an invitation from a local to get in?”<br/>“Or a Soviereign Palaugrimian passport.” Ethera clarified as she readjusted her glasses.  “It’s not unsurprising given a War is going on.  There must be spies running about trying to get in.”  Her lips quirked up in amusement.<span style="font-style: italic">They</span>were spies trying to get in.  A muttered curse was the only response to her statement.<br/>“Can Orphelia or Rhett..?”<br/>Ethera glanced at Mei beside her; the other woman shook her head in negative.  “I don’t think so.  Luciano natives only.  They can invite us in, but they’d have to come as well as escorts.”<br/><span style="color: silver"> “Well then, it’s a good thing we have an invitation.”</span>Lethe finally spoke up, her decision made for her.  She lifted both still-folded letters to show the others.<span style="color: silver">“Victorie has been kind enough to offer me a personal tour of Luciano and carte blanche to invite those I want into the city.”</span><br/><br/>“You’re joking.”  Cricket cut in, having overcome his surprise first.  The look the Seraph leveled him told him what she thought of that statement.  “You’re not accepting her invitation, right?”<br/><span style="color: silver">“And why not?”</span>Lethe placed the letters back down on the table and crossed her arms imperiously.<br/>“Because she’s the leader of the Sin Controlled territory of Palaugrim, the one we’re currently at war with?”  Seraphim cut in with a frown, ignoring Cricket’s muttered “and the one trying to jump your bones?”<br/><br/>Lethe smiled back helplessly, her hands held out as if about to shrug.<span style="color: silver">“And what can I do about that?  We need to get into the city. We have a way in.  We need to see those new troops from Tethel; Victorie has access to them.  I can’t use the access pass and not accept her invitation myself.”</span>Blue eyes traveled over the unhappy faces of her squad, stopping on Seraphim’s.  With the barest hint of a smirk, the Seraph continued.<span style="color: silver"> “Que sera sera”</span>She ignored the twitch of irritation and muffled snort,<span style="color: silver">“I will pen my reply now.  We head out after lunch at 1 pm.  Same as last night: keep your ears open, your eyes sharp, and don’t do anything that reveals us.  In one night, we have already learned more than we ever knew about Palaugrim.  Let’s see what a second day provides us?  Everyone, dismissed.  Mei, Ethera, if you could stay behind?”</span>Her attention turned to her papers and she lifted up her pen as she tried to compose a response.  She pointedly ignored any attempts to speak with her and her team finally departed, no doubt to reconvene and plan from another venue.  Finally satisfied with an appropriate response, Lethe quickly wrote it down and folded it.  She’d have to borrow a seal from Leia.  Standing up, she spotted Mei and Ethera waiting for her at their seats.<span style="color: silver"> “Thank you for staying.  If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to ask a favor..”</span><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~</div><br/>[[Day 11 in Palaugrim (Afternoon) :: Luciano ]]<br/><br/>Lethe sat patiently on a stone bench, enjoying the sensation of sun and shade playing on her face.  Above her, leaves danced on the mild breeze, moving the spots of shade here, then there, then over there.  To her squad’s displeasure, she had separated from them at the gates where a soldier waited to escort her to this park.  It appeared that one of Victorie’s meetings had run late but the Mayor would be here as soon as she could.  Meanwhile, perhaps she would enjoy the view of this small park?  Truth be told, Lethe was rather happy for the delay.  Despite her confident words earlier, she wasn’t looking forward to spending more time with the other woman.  They were too similar, yet fundamentally opposite, for her tastes.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">The weight of her sword was heavy in her hand, her grip marred by a slippery red liquid.  Grey-blue silk brushed against her skin and waved in the Sin-tainted air.  A female corpse, light blue hair splayed around it, stood at her feet and shocked, enraged purple eyes stared back at her.  She could feel a smile distending her face to unfamiliar proportions.  A voice she didn’t recognize spilled from her lips, <span style="color: red">“Well, I’ll admit she was amusing, but this ends here.”</span></span><br/><br/>She jolted out of her reverie by a touch on her shoulder, fairly jumping in surprise.  Concerned turquoise eyes stared down at her.<span style="color: turquoise">“Pardonnez-moi.  I didn’t mean to startle you.”</span>Lethe forced a smile to her face and shook her head.<span style="color: silver">“No, I was just lost in thought.”</span>Even when standing, the other woman dominated her height; it was like staring up at Adair or Gil, at least when the former went over-protective Vice Captain on her.  (Gil, and Victorie it seemed, naturally exuded a sense of determination.)<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“My apologies for being late.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“It’s nothing.  I’m sure you were busy with Mayor work?  It can’t be easy being the leader of Sovereign Palaugrim.”</span><br/><br/>The blonde only laughed in response, tucking Lethe’s hand into the crook of her elbow.<span style="color: turquoise">“No, but it’s a worthwhile endeavor.  Seeing Luciano and Sovereign Palaugrim flourish after all the neglect the Glessians heaped upon us: it inspires me every day to work my hardest.”</span>The two headed out of the park and down one of the streets.  It wasn’t very crowded, more like a neighborhood street than a main throughway.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“I confess I was still young during that time, is it as bad as you imply? I suppose Konan and my uncle shielded me from the worse of it.”</span><br/><br/>They meandered through the city, sticking mostly to smaller lanes that were less populated.  All the men and women on the street waved as Victorie passed but seemed to stay away when they noticed her companion.  Some even smiled parentally, inferring more than Lethe was comfortable with.  However, she didn’t let her unease show.  It was easy to get caught up in Victorie’s words, in her vision of a Sovereign Palaugrim where everyone was equal and merit, not lineage or connections, was the basis for advancement.  Gless (and Lindela) also used meritocracy, but there was still bias.  To dream of a world free from such constraints: it was a dream she could imagine herself fighting for, if she hadn’t already pledged herself elsewhere.  Perhaps when this war was over, she could—the thought sobered her immediately.  The pretty neighborhood they were walking through transformed into rubble before her eyes.  Santa Olivia blossomed in her vision, overlaying the cheerful street with stains of blood and fire.  The ground under her feet felt oddly slick, as if inundated with an unknown liquid.<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“Is something wrong?”</span>Victorie looked between the suddenly still girl beside her and the house she was staring at.  There didn’t seem to be anything unusual about the building; they’d already passed countless like it during their stroll.  She looked further down the street and then behind them but nothing seemed out of place.<span style="color: turquoise">“Thea?”</span>The purple-haired girl turned her head at the sound of her name but her eyes were still unfocused.<span style="color: turquoise">“Thea?”</span>Awareness slowly bled into the blue eyes before they focused on the too close face.<br/><br/>Lethe squeaked in surprise and stepped back but was unable to move far with her hand still trapped in the crook of Victorie’s elbow.<span style="color: silver">“Oh. Oh! I apologize!”</span><span style="font-style: italic">Ice cold lips—</span>She stepped back once more to break the train of thought but lurched forward instead as momentum worked against her.  She slipped her hand out of Victorie’s grasp and covered her flaming face with her palms.<span style="color: silver"> “Truly, I’m so sorry!  I don’t—”</span>She knew exactly what had caused her to lose her focus, but there was no way she was sharing it with the leader of the Sin-controlled territories.<span style="color: silver">“I’m sorry, Mayor Victorie.  Please forgive my inattention.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“Please, just Victorie.  Calling me by my title places an unnecessary distance between us.  Perhaps we should rest somewhere?”</span>Thea nodded in agreement and the two resumed their walk, this time in a different direction.  However, the purple-haired girl’s attention didn’t seem entirely focused on the conversation anymore.  Her eyes kept wandering down the houses they were walking by and frowns kept playing with her lips.  It was only when they were seated on the secluded rooftop terrace of the restaurant Victorie had chosen did Thea’s attention seem to focus back on her now that they weren’t walking anymore.  Had something about the neighborhoods set her pet off?<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“So where are you from, lovely Thea?”</span>Had no one ever complimented the other girl?  She always blushed so enticingly at every compliment.  How fun it would be to corrupt her, once Victorie figured a way to keep Thea in Luciano.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Piura, May—Victorie.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise"> “Piura.. that’s near the borders, isn’t it?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Yes, thankfully inland enough that we’re rarely disturbed by, ah, the Pristine Knights.  Although, I guess that might change with the war.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise"> “Unfortunately, it’s very possible.  I understand they’ve been cleaning out every village they come across.”</span>Victorie’s face transformed into a scowl,<span style="color: turquoise">“Embrace their ideology or depart this world.  Unbelievable.  And they claim themselves righteous.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “I. Surely.  It can’t be that bad?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“I wish I was lying but..”</span>Victorie shook her head in resignation, her face falling into a weary expression.  With a heavy sigh, she looked up and seemed to catch sight of Thea’s expression.<span style="color: turquoise">“Pardonnez-moi!  I didn’t mean to bring up such an unhappy topic.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “No.”</span>Thea countered with a wry smile, her eyes once more focused on something invisible to the eye.<span style="color: silver">“We cannot close our eyes to the truth.  War has come once again.”</span>The purple-haired woman sighed as well.<br/><br/>How was it that Thea could seem both so young and so old, Victorie wondered.  For most of their (admittedly short) acquaintance, Thea seemed like a young girl innocent to the world and then there were times (a presence that had drawn her attention when she’d walked into Lady Moon’s soiree, poise that matched her movements throughout the dance once the awe of her presence had been shaken off, the resignation that colored those last words) when she seemed too weary of this world.  It was intriguing, more so than this pointless war going on.  With Lillith out of commission and Raim mysteriously vanished, it would seem there was even more work for her to complete.  But their plans would go on even without Palaugrim in their grasp.  As long as they made the Pristine Knights pay for every step forward they took, losing Palaugrim was a trifle compared to the overall picture.  She had enough confidence in her skills to have ensured all of Sovereign Palaugrim would resist the Divine Light’s dogma much longer than Luciano physically stood.  There was a good reason she had been the second exalted.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“I’m worried.”</span>Victorie returned her attention to her companion at the unexpected confession.  Thea lifted her gaze from the tabletop to meet hers with a shaky smile.<span style="color: silver">“I’m afraid Piura will be attacked as well.  Many of my friends are still there, and I’m not sure how much longer until we return.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise"> “Are Lady Orphelia and Lord Rhett asking you to leave?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “No! Not at all!”</span>A vehement head shake reinforced the words.<span style="color: silver">“They have been kindness incarnate.  But we can’t stay here indefinitely and, well, even here we wouldn’t be safe would we?  I don’t.. Something tells me the Pristine Knights won’t stop with just changing the boundaries.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“No, it’s unlikely they’ll stop there.  Given that they’ve dedicated their so-called Seraphs to this effort, I expect they won’t stop until every town has been razed or forced to convert.”</span>Turquoise eyes flickered to the dejected woman across from her.<span style="color: turquoise"> “But there’s no need to fear.  They won’t get that far.”</span>She leaned forward with an impish smile, inviting her companion to join in on her secret.<span style="color: turquoise"> “Tethel has lent us some of their special troops.  Those invaders have no chance.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Are you sure?”</span>Thea whispered back, also half bent over the table.  Despite Victorie’s words, worry was still evident in her features.<span style="color: silver"> “I’ve heard.. things.. about the Seraphs.”</span>She nibbled on the corner of her mouth before expanding,<span style="color: silver"> “Not.. all kind.”</span><br/><br/>Victorie reached a hand out to smooth an errant strand of hair reassuringly.<span style="color: turquoise">“Don’t worry.  It’ll be fine.”</span>Her words had no effect though.  If anything, Thea appeared more worried.<span style="color: turquoise">“Would it help if you saw these special troops?”</span>She watched in amusement as the other girl’s jaw dropped in shock.<span style="color: silver"> “I.. are you sure?”</span><span style="color: turquoise">“Sure.  I’d hate for you to leave here upset.”</span>Victorie’s attention was already on something else though.  All of Thea’s nibbling had made one side of her lips rather red and maybe she could help fix that?  Just as she was going to lean in, Thea suddenly sat back.<br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “Oh! Thank you!  I don’t.  I’m sorry to imply I doubt, but, uhm,”</span>Relief had Thea babbling.  It might have been cute, if she hadn’t just inadvertently foiled Victorie’s intentions.  With a forced smile, Victorie sat back as well.<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“It’s nothing, Thea.  Though I have to warn you, they may appear a bit scary.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver"> “It.. it should be alright.  I’ll just remember that they’re here to protect us.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“So, how have you enjoyed living in Piura?”</span><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>They ended up in an army facility close to the city’s tower.  Just like Gless had its Grand Cathedral, Luciano had a Mayoral tower as its center of government.  Lethe glanced up at the massive tower curiously but said nothing as Victorie was leading them to one of the squat buildings at the tower’s base.  The uniformed men all snapped to attention as she approached, some slower than others.  It must be a mix of new recruits and more experienced men.  Gradually, the number of people decreased until no one was around besides the two of them.  Victorie didn’t falter at all though as she approached and rapped on the wooden door that separated the building from the outside world.  There was a moment’s pause and then the Mayor pushed open the door.<br/><br/>Lethe flinched away from the influx of Sin.  Kanna was right; whatever was in here were definitely Sin creatures.  She couldn’t imagine any human retaining their human form with such a strong taint present.  However, Victorie had no apparent troubles with the miasma.  Interesting.<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“It’s fine, Thea.  Come in.”</span>The Seraph turned a smile to the other woman and bravely stepped in.  Toxic Sin immediately pressed against her, trying to find an entrance.  She missed the comforting burn of her Faith or her cloak of holy magic.  The former had been removed for this trip and the second suppressed by the seal pasted to her stomach.  It wouldn’t do for Victorie to realize a Pristine Knight was standing beside her.  Lethe’s eyes slowly adjusted to the dim room and she resisted the urge to step back.  Unsettling.  They were very unsettling.  A mass of draped black cloth loomed in front of her, balanced on two claw-like legs.  Like Kanna’s informant had said, it did appear to be naturally made of metal rather than armor on top of feet.  Unlike Sinners or Pure Sinners, these creatures appeared humanoid.  Could it indicate they were more toxic than Pure Sinners?  Only Sin’s exalted demons had human-like appearances.  Was it the same with these?<br/><br/>“How may we serve, Mayor?”  A raspy voice came from the folds of fabric, glowing red eyes staring down at the two of them.  Sinner had white eyes and Pure Sinners had sockets for eyes.  It was another indication these might be closer to the entities formed when a Sin Crystal shattered than Sinners or Pure Sinners.  If they were as strong as a shattered Sin Crystal… Her eyes darted down the length of the room.  It was hard to tell where one clump of cloth ended and the other started.  She could count maybe twenty in just this room?  But the room also looked much smaller than the building, from what she had estimated from the outside.<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“I just wanted to check how you were doing.  Is all well?”</span><br/><br/>“It will be better when we can hunt.”  Red eyes strayed to the unknown person half hidden behind their master.  “Is she?”<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“No.  Come here, Reaper.”</span>The giant walked forward with surprising grace for his size.  He stopped a step away from the Mayor.<span style="color: turquoise">“Who do you serve?”</span>Ah, another pointless display of dominance for the foolish Palaugrimians to believe in.<br/><br/>“Mayor of Luciano, we serve only you.”<br/><span style="color: turquoise">“What is your purpose?”</span><br/>“To defend the people of Sovereign Palaugrim.”  There was a rumble from the other cloaked figures who all dropped to their knees as well.  Lethe couldn’t tell if it was from amusement or agreement.  With a glance at Victorie, she took a step closer.  Something seemed off about Reaper.  Her intuition, though already screaming about the excessive taint she was submerged in, was still suggesting something else was amiss.  She reached a hand out tentatively, but froze as red eyes stared at her.<span style="color: turquoise">“It’s fine, go ahead.”</span>Trembling fingers closed the last distances between her and Reaper.  A shudder wracked her frame at the sensation of touching pure Sin with her bare hands, no Prayer or even cloth as a barrier.  However, in that one instance, she had felt—the creature growled in apparent agitation and she drew back immediately.<br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“Reaper!”</span>Victorie pulled the frozen Thea behind her.  Angry turquoise eyes glared at the disobedient creature and a discreet twitch of the hand had it falling into an even more submissive posture.<span style="color: turquoise">“Don’t mind it, Thea.  It’s just not used to such refined company.”</span>With one more glare, Victorie led the shocked girl out of the room.<br/><br/>They were halfway back to civilization when Lethe finally shook the burn of Reaper’s enmity from her back.  It had definitely not been happy with her, and she had a suspicion as to why.  Looking up at the furious Victorie beside her, she guessed she should calm the other woman.  She stopped walking and tugged on the other woman’s elbow to stop the blonde.<span style="color: silver">“Please don’t be unhappy, Victorie.  You did say they were.. scary looking.”</span>She glanced back at the building housing the newest Sin Creatures but turned a smile at her escort.<span style="color: silver">“I can’t disagree with that but, it’s also reassuring that such ferocious men are there to defend us.”</span>The words tasted like ash in her mouth but she had choked down worse.<span style="color: silver"> “How many.. are there?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: turquoise">“Three thousand, though more will come if needed.”</span>Victorie would have to speak with them for their disobedience.  Just because her form was that of a human female didn’t mean they could flout her orders.<span style="color: turquoise">“But it’s unlikely we’ll need more.  Between them and our normal forces, Sovereign Palaugrim should be safe.”</span><br/><br/>Three thousand?!  If they were really sin manifestations like she suspected, did Gil have enough troops with him to fight them?  The last manifestation in Lindela had taken her entire team and her Heaven’s Judgment.  Assuming two or three squads could take on one manifestation, he’d need at least six to nine thousand troops to take down just them, not including normal troops, Sinners, Pure Sinners, and any other reinforcements.  She could only pray they had enough manpower to finish this campaign even as she smiled and accepted Victorie’s lead once more.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>[[Day 11 in Palaugrim (Night) :: Luciano, Mayor’s Tower]]<br/><br/>Victorie flipped through the missives in front of her.  They had piled up while she was gone, though she couldn’t regret her recess.  If only she had convinced Thea to stay, that would have made her break even more enjoyable.  She closed her eyes and exhaled, forcing Victorie’s personality into a box and putting them aside.  When her eyes snapped open once more, they were expressionless.  She sped through the missives.  The Knights had attempted to re-capture Dock Reids with no success.  The imports of Sin crystals into Lindela had failed.  The Supris and Cheops jewelry lines were still very popular and were gaining popularity in the villages on the Light-Controlled side of Palaugrim.  Retaining Isis had been a good move, if she said so herself.  The attack on Bastille had been foiled.  They were starting a new treatment method in the Barrens that looked promising.  There was still no message about Raim though it seemed Lilith may still be alive.  She’d arrange a set of Sin crystals sent to the other demon’s lair.  It wasn’t like they were lacking any with how abundant the plant was on the Barrens.<br/><br/>Finished with her missives and orders, she let Victorie’s personality back out of its cage.  Victorie lifted her pen once more and jotted another order down and stamped it with her seal.  On the front, she simply added “Piura” for its destination.  It was time to learn more about her pet.