[[Day 8 of Month -3 :: Lindela ]]<br/><br/>With ten helping pairs of hands, it hadn’t taken long to transform the spare building beside the clinic into a basic medical ward.  The lack of supplies had, ironically, made the transition even easier: curtains and bedrolls were easier to set up than walls and bed frames.  Unfortunately, as Valiar had feared, the med ward was already about half full and he knew Seika was eyeing the next adjacent building speculatively.  It was always better to err on the side of caution, especially when transmittable diseases were in play.<br/><br/>Valiar’s musings were cut off by the pungent smell of soap.  His nose wrinkled in distaste and he looked around to find that he’d accidentally wandered into what looked like a laundry room.  A group of men and women labored in front of a massive, soapy tub.  Four gazes turned to look at him and he recognized a pair of yellow eyes.  “Deimos, a moment?”  His squadmate straightened and handed off the stick he’d been using to stir the laundry. Falling into step, the two Knights wandered upwards until they were on the top floor.  The smell of cleaning liquid lingered, eliciting a cough from the black-haired man.  “What did you find, industrial cleaner?”  The brunet strode over to the windows and tugged them open to let the breeze in.  “How did you find that?!  And do we still have any left over? That’s good.”  He looked outside before deciding he didn’t want the conversation carried off into the streets.  Returning to his squadmate’s side, the dark-haired Knight collapsed to the ground in a sitting position.<br/><br/>“We’ll probably need it for the next building as well.”  The weight of Deimos’s silent gaze burned the side of his head and Valiar sighed, “I know Seika doesn’t think it will stop here.  The other districts have reported similar cases; some seem to also think we might be having an outbreak.  As to what exactly…”  The cleric lifted a hand up, either in a show of helplessness or a show of supplication.  “If we’re lucky, just a cold.. or a flu.”  His hand dropped back to the ground.  “The symptoms are generic enough besides the excessive sweating, but sweating isn’t really an indication of anything.  No official inquiry yet but it’s probably just a matter of time until the Council set up a task force.”<br/><br/>Deimos canted his head to the side.<br/><br/>“Nah, well, yes, Lethe could probably get one set up, but..” Valiar didn’t want to bother his poor captain about such an issue when someone else could deal with it.  “I’ve already put in a request with the Sanctuary detailing my and Seika’s suspicions.  I’m sure Head Cleric Heidie will start the process; if we can see it on the ground already, she must also be seeing it in from high up.”<br/><br/>Satisfied with the answer, the rear guard took a seat as well beside his friend.<br/><br/>“Are things okay with you?  No trouble with the District Commander?”  A shoulder shrugged uncaringly.  “Does she need them back?”  Lips quirked downwards before smoothing back into apathy.  “That’s good, we need every pair of hands we can get… Although if it does get worse, just you ten alone won’t be enough.  Lights! If only we weren’t so short staffed everywhere!  I don’t even need Pristine Knights!  If we could get some healthy bodies to help with cleaning and basic nursing...”  The sudden return of Deimos’s stare quelled Valiar’s complaints; the black-haired man turned to look at his teammate.  Though his face remained impassive, Valiar could tell Deimos was working his mind towards something.. big, creative, innovative--the medic wasn’t sure what was coming, but he was sure it would be a solution of some sort.<br/><br/>The oppressive environment of concentration faded as a solution was determined.  The grey-haired Knight climbed back to his feet and then glided to the recently open window.  Looking down over the window, Deimos nodded towards one of the pairs in queue.  A worried looking mother clutched a fitful child.  Even from three stories away, Valiar could tell the infant was sick and most likely had whatever illness was plaguing Lindela.  What about the pair was unusual enough to earn Deimos’s interest?  It looked like many of his other patients; he didn’t need more sick people, he needed healthy bodies willing… to…<br/><br/>“Do you think they would?”  Valiar wondered over the rising swell of hope in his chest.  “You’re right, of course they would.  But someone needs to oversee them…” He followed Deimos’s new line of sight and it led into the distance, vaguely in the direction of his home.  “If we put a cleric in training to oversee the more technical side, then Marielle or some of the other Church volunteers can coordinate the volunteers.  Yes. Yes.”  Valiar grabbed his squadmate and squeezed him tightly.  “This could work.  Thank the Light for you Deimos!”  The veteran released the yellow eyed man and went running down the stairs, raising a racket as he descended.  “Seika. Seika!”<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br/>Cricket twirled a necklace around one finger as he sped through the eastern edge of District Twelve.  Really, “necklace” was a bit generous of a term; it was a loop of string with a fragment of empowered Regalia Quartz at the end.  His glorious task was to find a home for the numerous Regalia Quartz shards Stuffy had procured before the attack on Lindela, preferably, to use Stuffy’s words, “in remote areas with little thoroughfare.”  The reminder of his fellow knight had the purple-haired man huffing in annoyance.  While he was glad Stuffy had recovered from whatever had happened during the attack on Lindela, he wouldn’t have minded if that stick up Stuffy’s ass had stayed lost.  Really… Though his running never paused, Cricket lifted the trinket to eye-level and stared at the fragment.  What<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>the point of these?<br/><br/>Though it glimmered in the light, the gem shed no answers and after a moment of staring, the purple-haired Knight sighed deeply again and turned his attention back to running.  Coming to a halt, he checked around him.  Mountain to one side; field and then empty air to the other.  A look behind him confirmed the only tracks he could see were his own.  Remote area with little thoroughfare: check.<br/><br/>Walking to one of the bushes, Cricket looped the Regalia Quartz around one of the branches and then marked its location on his map.  Task completed, he extracted another shard and continued his search for his next drop-off location.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>From: Cora Dalyngridge, Cleric<br/>To: Councilor Livius<br/>CC: Head Councilor Cornelius, Chief Cleric Heide, Seraph Guilford Rosenwulf, Seraph Lethe Urilla<br/>Date: Day 12 of Month -5<br/>Subject: Status Update re: Epidemic ([Confirmed]) on Lindela<br/>Report #: CD7832PLA3<br/><br/>This report provides a status update on Report CD7832PLA1, which first reported a possible epidemic on the island of Lindela.  The epidemic has been confirmed as present; diseased persons have been identified in roughly sixteen percentage of the general population and in thirteen districts, with the majority concentrated in the eastern side of the island.  The breakdown of patients are as follows…<br/><br/>...currently unknown.  Until identification is complete, we are tentatively labelling it the [Sweating Sickness] as excessive sweating appears to be the only consistent symptom among all diseased people and the only one particularly unique from common colds.  We have already considered and ruled out the possibility of it being a particularly potent cold.  The level of sweating and its resistance to holy magic mark it as unique…<br/><br/>...testimony, it appears the Sweating Sickness may have first emerged three weeks ago.  Holy magic treatment (applied by parent clerics or Knights, before identification of the Sweating Sickness) have indicated that holy magic was more effective when the cases were rare.  As holy magic treatment to diseased people spread, it appears its effectiveness has dropped.  Previously, holy magic cured for a few weeks at a time; its current effective time appears to be two to three days.<br/><br/>Please refer to the below table for a list of all attempted medicines and their level of effectiveness so far.  Due to the significant time lapse between the first illness and identification, a variety of home remedies were attempted by parents and caregivers.  Based on the below, it appears that...<br/><br/>...cases have been confirmed as fatalities attributable to the Sweating Sickness.  Currently, the path of infection is unknown.…<br/><br/>...The task force recommends that additional quarantine wards be set up but currently does not see a need to enforce travel restrictions among the districts or on the islands.  The task force recommends that retired clerics and nurse practitioners be requested to return to active duty for the duration of the epidemic.  For a complete list of recommendations, please refer to Appendix F.</div></blockquote><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br/>[[Day 14 of Month 5 :: Lindela]]<br/><br/>There were times that Valiar hated being right and this was one of those times.  He took a deep draw from his coffee, letting the lukewarm liquid slide down his throat.  In twenty minutes or so, the caffeine would kick in.  Until then, the familiar mantle of exhaustion rested heavily on his shoulders.  He took another sip of his drink, methodically consuming the pale brown liquid, even as his attention was focused on the lit building beside him.  Despite it being night, every floor was illuminated.  Through the panes of light, he could see silhouettes moving around, no doubt their new nurses hard at work.<br/><br/>The only silver lining had been Deimos’s suggestion had panned through.  It had been easy enough to recruit the worried parents to act as nurses.  The teachings of the Light encouraged volunteering and helping, and the fact those being helped were their own children, their neighbors’ children, or the local elderly had only made the offer more attractive.  He had reluctantly returned some of District Commander Carey’s Pristine Knights to her command.  As much as he would have preferred having Pristine Knights around to tackle this outbreak, he knew there were other tasks that could use them more, especially now that he had a virtual army of assistants.<br/><br/>Swallowing the dregs of his coffee, Valiar turned away from the window he’d been brooding by.  No matter his thoughts, there was work to be done.  He shrugged his shoulders to loosen them even as he headed towards the break room.  He’d just put his mug away and then return to the examination room.<br/><br/>“Ah-Ah-choo!”<br/><br/>He turned a concerned gaze to his coworker; Cleric Jenna was approaching him, clearly headed in the opposite direction, and rubbing at her nose.<br/><br/>“Are you alright, Jenna?”<br/><br/>Pale brown eyes looked at him before a tight smile appeared on the younger cleric’s face.  She nodded decisively, but it lacked her normal cheer.  “I’m fine, thanks Valiar.  Just a bit..” She waved a hand at the other building.  An outbreak was tiring on all clerics, regardless of how many years of experience they had.  For a new graduate like her, it was no doubt even harder.<br/><br/>The black-haired Knight shared a sympathetic smile, his gaze also darting towards the other building.  He wanted to tell her not to push herself too hard but it’d be a waste of breath.  There wasn’t really the concept of ‘conservation of strength’ when dealing with a plague.  They needed to identify the plague, contain it, and eliminate it as quickly as possible before it could spread further.  “It’ll be okay,” he said instead, though both knew the words held no certainty, “The Divine Light will guide us and keep us safe.”<br/><br/>Jenna bobbed her head in reply, a tremulous smile playing on her lips.  Just those familiar words instilled some level of comfort but even they couldn’t hide the cold fact they all knew: not everyone would survive.  Death during an epidemic was inevitable.  However, neither voiced those thoughts; instead, Jenna softly repeated the words before continuing down the hall towards the quarantine ward.<br/><br/>Remorseful black eyes stared after her; it was a pity that not even a year out of training and Jenna already had to deal with one of the hardest parts of clerichood.  Illness, especially a widespread one like this one, was never pleasant.  With a shake of his head, and a reminder of how long their waiting queue still was, Valiar hurried towards the break room to drop off his mug.  The caffeine was finally starting to kick in and there were more than enough patients waiting for him.<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br/>[[Day 13 of Month -5 :: Grand Cathedral, Gless ]]<br/>“There you are.”  The not-quite-accusation had Lethe pausing.  With an unexplainable feeling of guilt, the White Seraph slowly turned to face her accuser.  Master Jung waited patiently behind her.  When he saw he had her attention, the old swordsmaster continued, “Let’s go.”<br/><br/><br/>“To where?” Lethe asked, feeling like a particularly obtuse student.  Had he been looking for her? Why? She didn’t recall having any meetings set up with him today; had she somehow forgotten?<br/><br/>“I agreed to train you and Guilford; recent events have delayed it but I think have also stressed the need for it.”  He turned and started walking down the hallway, Lethe trailing him like a lost puppy.  “I believe Guilford is in his squad quarters now?” She nodded despite it being a rhetorical question, “we’ll go collect him and begin.”<br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br/>“Put your mind and spirit into it!” the seasoned master scowled.  In his eyes, Guilford lacked focus and was falling behind by a mere second from the sword dance routine he had the two Seraphs doing.  The goal was simple, flow like water, calm and in unison.  However, the blue-haired Seraph seemed to be distracted, much to Master Jung’s distaste.<br/><br/>“I expect nothing less than your full commitment when I agreed to train both of you. Recent events demand that you do.”<br/><br/>The younger Seraph flinched, knowing the words were directed at him.  True, he had been distracted lately, especially with a certain something sensitive in mind: the Hidden Truth, the one thing that kept him from giving this training everything he had.  On the other hand, Lethe seemed fine, much more so than he actually thought she’d be.  He’d wondered if now would be the best time to let her into the small circle of those who knew, maybe.. just maybe.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Sorry. I’ll try to focus.”</span>Guilford appealed.<span style="color: #0080FF">“It’s not so easy given what’s currently going on..”</span>he tried to reason.<br/><br/>“All the more reason for you to dedicate yourself to this training. Reasons don’t matter, results do. The sooner you complete this training, the more confident you will be in your future endeavors.”<br/><br/>Chastised, the male Seraph let out a soft sigh. He looked at his training partner and smiled apologetically. He hated having to drag her down.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Let’s try this again from the top shall we?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“Actually,”</span>Lethe replied with an uneasy look at the other Knight,<span style="color: silver">“perhaps we should take a break..?”</span>Her attention turned to their instructor and she smiled apologetically as well,<span style="color: silver">“If we--I could just have a few minutes?”</span>Despite the old man’s unapproving frown, she straightened and let her sword come to rest at her side.  When Master Jung had turned away, she discreetly activated a privacy ward.<span style="color: silver">“Are you alright Gil..?”</span><br/><br/>The inquiry lightly startled the male Seraph. His well-being was being questioned, something he had no apparent answer to, at least not at the moment.<span style="color: #0080FF">“I-I’m fine.”</span>he stuttered, looking away to avoid eye contact with the other. He clearly had his mind elsewhere, and part of it involved her of all people.<span style="color: #0080FF">“I guess I’m just exhausted from having to deal with the aftermath.”</span><br/><br/>It was half the truth.<span style="color: #0080FF">“How about you? You seem oddly chipper given what’s going on.”</span><br/><br/>Lethe’s uneasy look grew into incredulity as Gil spoke.  Why was he so.. hesitant?  He normally was much more composed than this nor did he normally make so many excuses.  However, she hid her thoughts from her face when he turned his attention to her.<span style="color: silver">“I wouldn’t say I’m chipper,”</span>she contradicted,<span style="color: silver">“but we need to improve.  As we are now, as the Immaculate is now,”</span>her attention turned to look in the direction of the main Chapel of the Grand Cathedral,<span style="color: silver">“we can’t defeat Sin.  I don’t think so, and nor do you, do you?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“I know. We don’t stand a chance…”</span>he trailed off.<br/><br/>She shook her head helplessly,<span style="color: silver">“so we must do what we can.  This training, the third rite…”</span>It was her turn to sigh,<span style="color: silver">“well, we’ll have to cross that bridge later, won’t we?  For now, we have to do what we can, and that’s learning what we can from Master Jung.”</span><br/><br/>Guilford’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Third Rite.  As she said, it was a bridge they would have to cross at a later time. However, it was the one bridge that needed to be crossed<span style="font-style: italic">of their own free will</span>, free from any influence of neither belief nor duty.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Yeah… I guess you’re right.”</span>he murmured, eyes falling down to the hilt of his sword.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Say, can I ask you something?”</span><br/><br/>Lethe peeked a glance at Master Jung.  He had clearly seen their private conversation and although annoyed, he was pointedly giving them space.<span style="color: silver">“Sure, though brief might be best.”</span>She flashed a smile to show she meant no offense.<br/><br/>Guilford scoffed but returned the smile regardless. He had not intended to take much more of their time; he just had to get something out of his chest.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Everything that happened recently, even what’s currently happening now, don’t you think it’s a bit too much for the people? Do you think the Divine Light meant for this to happen? Is this all a test?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: silver">“A test?”</span>Lethe parroted, brows furrowed in confusion.<span style="color: silver">“A test of what?”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Faith? Resilience? Worth?”</span>Guilford tried to find the words to best explain what he meant but to no avail.  A blank look of incomprehension covered Lethe’s face; she clearly had no idea what he was trying to say.<span style="color: #0080FF">“We believe the Light would never give us anything that we can’t handle right? But what exactly is the extent of that? How much can <span style="font-style: italic">we</span> actually take?”</span><br/><br/>A bemused smile quirked Lethe’s lips upwards,<span style="color: silver">“and how would I know that? Isn’t it when we rise to the occasion that we truly see what we’re capable of?  Start with what’s possible, then try the improbables, and then, someday, we will be doing the impossible.  Did any of us think a decade of peace was possible twelve years ago? Fifteen years ago?  These last ten years, wouldn’t they be considered the impossible when we were still trainees?  Of course we dreamed of it, but it was just a dream then.  And then, it became reality.  So, really Gil, how much <span style="font-style: italic">can</span> we actually take?”</span>She shook her head at the futility of answering such a question,<span style="color: silver">“Only the Divine Light knows.”</span><br/><br/>Guilford sighed at her words, a mix of uncertainty and depression began swirling at the pit of his stomach.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Yeah…”</span>he paused, her last words ringing clear inside his mind.<span style="color: #0080FF">“And the Divine Light was there every step of the way right?”</span>he tried masking his sarcasm as best as he could. She didn’t know anything yet and it would seem her belief in the Divine Light would forever remain unshaken if not for what he and a select few knew.<br/><br/>A distinct clearing of the throat made it clear Master Jung’s patience had come to an end.  With an apologetic smile to their teacher, Lethe released the privacy spell but the peaceful smile she sent Guilford’s way made clear her answer.<br/><br/>He would have to try again some other time, perhaps when they were no longer in the prying eyes of the old swordmaster. The only good thing that came out of their short exchange was that he now knew how deep the roots of her faith ran, perhaps too deep to be ripped out now.