It's been so long since I've been outside! The fresh air! The open skies!

I started to skip, slipped, and nearly fell into a puddle. Even that couldn't dampen my mood!

Thanks to Leaf's help three days ago, my workload has been extremely light recently! It's just that the past two days were rainy, so I wasn't able to head outside. Although today's clouds threatened a downpour at any moment, it wasn't raining right now, so why worry?

Of course, I wasn't just out here to enjoy the breeze No matter well-trained my platoon was at gathering information, there were still some things a normal citizen wouldn't tell an ordinary holy knight. As I wandered the streets, eavesdropping on interesting conversations, I couldn't help but praise the weather once more. This kind of stormy weather is truly the best for the Storm Knight! Not only is the air clean and fresh from the rains, all the girls are indoors staying dry. I haven't had to wink at more than twenty of them in the past hour! Unfortunately, if the girls were indoors, much of the populace was too. I wasn't deterred by this, though. My most trustworthy source for city gossip could be relied on, no matter what the weather!

A little bell tinkled as I pushed open the door. A rush of warm air greeted me, which might have been the reason so many people had taken refuge in the bakery at the corner of the Central Market and Main Street. Or more likely, the pastries were just that good. They had clients from the working class to the Twelve Holy Knights. Even Ice sometimes sneakily crept in to buy and sample their new cakes, locking himself up in his room afterward to improve upon their original recipe.

Looking through their cake displays, I sighed. Ice was definitely furious enough that he would be completely unwilling to make me any until he cooled down. Who knew how long that might take? Although the owner of this bakery was none other than Ice's father, his son had definitely surpassed him by now. But instead of buying cake, I should buy something that will last for a while. Otherwise, without sweets, I'll have nothing to eat when I'm up working in the middle of the night. I ended up choosing several plain buns.

I lined up in front of the counter with a matronly clerk. While I waited for my turn, I sent a few winks to some of the girls in the other lines and around the shop. I stopped when I noticed a few of their boyfriends/husbands glaring at me.

"Next in line, please." I moved forward.

"Good morning, Clarissa." I shot her a wink. "You grow more radiant each time I come into the shop."

The middle age woman laughed. "Then I must look like a goddess with how often you visit! Though it's rare to see you in here before noon."

I smiled and decided to shoot a few more winks around the bakery. "A man has to look his best before the girls after all. That includes sleeping in. Not getting enough sleep is a huge taboo among beautiful people, you know." Actually, the real reason I don't come out early in the morning is that if I'm seen alone in the city at that time, people instantly assume I must be sneaking back to the Temple. Then the only gossip I will hear for a week straight are guesses at who the Storm Knight must have been spending a night with.

She chuckled heartily, strands of brown hair coming loose from her neat chignon. "It must be quite nice living such a carefree lifestyle. Oh, and have you heard the news...?"

Sensing that we were going to be chatting for a while, the people in line behind me moved to a different clerk's counter. I felt sorry for troubling them, but there normally wasn't a great number of people at this time, since it should be just late enough that the breakfast customers would have dispersed and left for their jobs.

Most of Clarissa's gossip was ordinary run-of-the-mill speculations about relationships, chatter about rising or decreasing prices, and some information about different performers who would have events in the city soon. But right after some complaints about blueberry prices increasing because they were about to go out of season, Clarissa offhandedly said, "Did you hear the ruckus earlier today? About half the platoon of Leaf Knights were running around hollering at the top of their lungs with ugly expressions on their faces. During their visit to the hospital wards too!"

I was alarmed. Holy knights are supposed to be among the most gracious and elegant of the professions. How could the Leaf Knight Platoon, filled with the nicest knights from the Temple, be shouting like hooligans? "What were they yelling?"

"Who knows? No one could make it out. They only stopped when the Sun Knight Platoon told them to knock it off."

It was so serious that even the patrolling Sun Knight Platoon had to intervene?! At least it's marginally better than pulling a stunt like that in front of the Judgment Knight Platoon. Vidar can be a softie, but not when the public peace is disturbed.

I thanked Clarissa for the news, paid for my bread and left the bakery.
~~~

After running back to the Church, I dashed for the bathroom. I didn't need to go, but interrogations should be finished for the morning, and the person I was looking for could be found in the bathroom of the Judge's Complex. If I didn't hurry, he probably would have left by now.

I threw open the door, but stopped short. Eh? W-Why is Judgment still here? He's even sitting on a stool with sweets on another stool next to him. Don't tell me he feels like having a picnic here?!

Judgment's head turned towards my direction. H-He saw me! Even if I run now, there's no use!

I tried to smile in a friendly and non-intimidating way while making excuses. "A-Ah! It's very damp today and I decided to come in to wash off any mud on me! S-Since it's so wet outside, it makes complete sense you would eat your cookies indoors! Wow! It sure is clean in here! No wonder you would come here to –"

Judgment picked up the basket of confectionery and stood up, staring at me with that overly serious expression. Then he sighed. He walked towards the door, and I quickly jumped out of his way. I didn't relax at all until the echo of his footsteps faded from the hallway. AHHHH! Judgment looks like he's in an even worse mood than usual! It must be because I found his secret picnicking spot and now he has to find a new place! I had a feeling this is one rumor that should definitely stay a secret. But strange... Judgment doesn't like sweets...

Different footsteps were approaching the bathroom. I moved even farther away from the bathroom door, in case the owner of those footsteps was an interrogator knight covered in gore.

A jovial voice greeted me. "Ah. Storm Knight! And what could have brought this hermit out of his room? Don't tell me you expect to find paperwork here of all places!"

I unhappily complained, "What took you so long? I rushed here just to find you, and found the Judgment Knight instead! I nearly died of shock!"

This person, the janitor for the Church of the God of Light, is very useful! He cleans up after all the public facilities in the Temple and Sanctuary, so his ears are everywhere. If I need some juicy gossip about specific holy knights without alerting their suspicions, there is no one better to ask than this guy.

"Ohohoho!~ You came looking for me, I see. You should know by now that information never comes without a price!" This sly old man leered at me, but thankfully I had brought along...A bottle of this!

I pulled out the container and chanted, "A bottle of the conditioner used by this very own blue head! I guarantee with a month of using this special formula, your balding head will have hair as thick and lustrous as mine! Of course, anyone can tell you've been desperately trying to dye those gray hairs of yours, but no worries. This concoction has been specially developed to restore hair damaged by frequent dyeing –" Oh shoot!

Even after seeing the expression on my face, this janitor uncle responded calmly, "Who hasn't figured out that Storm Knight's hair must be dyed? Even if I wanted to use this as blackmail, it would hardly be worth anything!" I sighed with relief.

"But for you to give up such a large jar of your precious conditioner... You must be after something equally valuable, hm?"

"The Leaf Knight Platoon. Have you heard anything... unusual about them recently? I want any and everything you have about them."

Instead of his usual all-knowing smirk, this janitor uncle revealed an odd expression. "The Leaf Knight Platoon? They're some of the cleanest-living people out there, and their captain is nearly a saint. What could they have possibly done for you to be digging up rumors against them?"

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Don't compare my reasons to the way your scheming mind works! I just want to know why they were acting out of sorts this morning!"

"Oh really?~ Well, I suppose it won't hurt their reputation too badly to let you know those leaf knights have been streaming in and out of their captain's room all morning. Must have started just after you left."

"How do you know when I left?" Although this guy loves grubbing for information, he definitely should not have enough free time on his hands to know exactly when I've exited or entered my room.

"The stack of paperwork in the hallway they knocked over was fairly small. If you'd been gone for over an hour, the papers would have been at least to the height of your door. That's right! Currently, the corridor is half congested with documents! You probably shouldn't have the time to chat with me.~"

I glared at the sneak. "You've hardly told me anything worth the entire jar of conditioner. But it's true that I should be heading back. If you have anything else to say, make it clear and concise."

He adopted a serious face and rattled off, "When the leaf knights came back, it looked like they were carrying something very long and heavy. They were treating it very gingerly, so this probably was a person. Half of the Sun Knight Platoon, who should have been out patrolling, also helped to escort this person. The sun knights left the Temple after seeing the person to the Leaf Knight's room, but the leaf knights have been coming in and out of that room periodically. Even the Sun Knight went to visit."

The only person the Leaf Knight Platoon would take to Leaf's room is Leaf himself. But he didn't seem to be in any shape to stand up and walk back on his own. Even Sun went to visit him... Leaf must be in a serious condition if they had to bring Sun to heal him!

I lobbed the container at the helpful janitor and sprinted away, nearly slipping on some of the damp footprints left in the hallway.
~~~

LEAF!

I was completely prepared to kick down Leaf's door to check his condition, but two of his platoon members were guarding the entrance and blocked me from going in.

"What's going on?!" I glared at the guards.

The one on the left shushed me and answered quietly, "The captain is asleep right now. Please speak more softly."

I nodded quickly and whispered, "No problem." I reached for the doorknob. The knight on the right stopped me.

"We really want Captain to sleep soundly, without any disturbances. We'll tell you when he wakes up and you can see him then."

When Sun gets seriously injured, he takes several days to wake up. Leaf's recovery ability is definitely not nearly as good. What if he wastes away before he can open his eyes again?

I opened my mouth to argue with the well-meaning sentries when Adair picked up about half the papers clogging the hall and offhandedly mentioned, "Don't worry, Knight-Captain Storm. I fixed up Knight-Captain Leaf's arm myself. He should be completely fine with a bit of rest."

Arm? What about the rest of him?

Seeing my doubtful expression and probably judging (correctly) I was about to argue some more, Adair turned to the leaf knights and said, "Just let Knight-Captain Storm have a quick look. I'm sure he'll be on his way after that."

I nodded in agreement. The leaf knights reluctantly moved away from the door.

Leaf was lying on his bed. Thankfully, I didn't see any traces of blood anywhere, although his face seemed flushed. When I moved closer to take a better look, he shifted and opened his eyes.

Ah! I woke him up! But that doesn't matter now!

"Leaf! You're O.K.!" He's not going to waste away and die!

The two sentries poked their heads in the doorway and scowled at me, but their faces lit up when they saw their Captain was awake. "CAPTAIN!"

Leaf smiled apologetically. "It looks like I made everyone worry. I'm really sorry about that."

The guard who told me to be quieter said, "No, Captain! It's alright! We're just glad you weren't badly hurt after falling off the roof!" The other guard ran off cheering, probably to tell the other leaf knights the good news.

Leaf fell off a roof? I can guarantee that someone like Leaf, who takes an average of two seconds to pull out an arrow and fire it at a rapidly moving target, definitely has top-notch reflexes! He should have been able to recover after realizing he was about to fall.

Seeing my frown, Leaf hurriedly assured me, "Don't worry, Storm! I'll stay on the ground the next time I have a headache, so even if I fall, the ground won't be as far off!"

Headache? And those dark circles around his eyes...

I stuck my hand on Leaf's forehead. It confirmed my suspicions. "Leaf. You have the flu."

I stared at the leaf knights gathered at the door. "Why would you let Leaf go up on a slippery roof while he's ill?"

They fidgeted nervously. Leaf defended his platoon. "I was fine earlier, so nobody noticed anything! Since one of the nurses complained about the roof leaking in places, I was trying to help them fix that. Everyone else was inside taking care of and cheering up the hospital patients. It's not their fault, Storm..."

"Ah... But it sure was scary seeing Captain fall right past the window of the room I was in." There were several murmurs of agreement among the leaf knights.

"The kid I was visiting nearly had a heart attack, but I told him it was a training exercise for leaf knights."

"Are you serious? What if that kid decides to do some 'leaf knight training' on his own?"

"I nearly tripped over the stairs trying to run down fast enough..."

"I ran into a wall because I was so focused on staring out the window to see if the captain was fine."

"Next time, just apologize to anyone near by, then open the window and jump out. It's the fastest way to get down."

"Oh shoot! We forgot to apologize to the hospital before leaving!" A hush descended over the crowd. Leaf sighed.

I glared at them. "Hurry and go explain this to them! After scaring them so badly, they deserve that at least." Otherwise I'll end up writing apology notes for all the complaints stemming from the incident.

Those kind-hearted fellows actually sprinted away in their haste to clear up the misunderstanding. Only the door guard knight stayed behind for a moment, watching his captain worriedly.

"Don't worry. I'll watch over your captain. You should go help the others calm down the patients." After hearing this, he nodded and ran off after his comrades.

Leaf sneezed. "Storm, are you sure you're O.K. with that? You probably have a lot of things left to do..."

"After you helped me out a few days ago, my workload has been so light, I even managed to go to sleep at midnight yesterday! Since you helped me when I was sick, now that you're sick, I'll help you." Although, he most likely picked up that illness when he was lending me a hand.

He smiled. "I'll have to trouble you then." Leaf lay back down and rolled onto his side. "I just want to sleep right now..."
~~~

After moving the rest of my documents out of the hallway, I spent the rest of the day correcting those in Leaf's room. Leaf spent most of that time asleep, but whenever he woke up, I went to bring back bowls of congee for him to eat. All of them ended up being heavily seasoned, but I comforted myself with the fact that many seasonings had medicinal properties, so they had to be somewhat good for Leaf.

Later, after the sun had long set, I listened to Leaf's even breathing and the pitter patter of the raindrops against his windowpane. It was really a soothing sound, and I began to nod off. After an unknown amount of time, I heard someone calling, "Storm?" softly. I opened my eyes to a dark room. The candle had burned itself out.

"Nn... Leaf?"

Someone shook their head in front of me. "Go to sleep in your own room. Leaf will be fine."

I nodded at the person and stood up to leave. "Your words are so clear and easy to understand today... It's inconceivable." I yawned and walked out.

A/N:

? Did they even call the flu the flu back then?

Say hello to the original characters that showed up and don't bully them too badly. Q.Q