They all marched to Alsterea, hearts heavy, eyes set to the horizon. The flames behind them had faded from sight, and they had stopped to camp out besides a forest. Kyren looked to his armor. "We can't march into Alsterea with these emblems on us..." He said, brushing off his chest plate, running his hand across the blazing sun. Sin nodded, looking to his necklace. "I'm sure all of them are already informed of the all out assault on Alsterea. if we walk in looking like a rag-tag band of survivors, we'll be captured and probably handed right over to Erea." He said, and everyone looked at their various brands.
Carlos began laughing darkly. "Why not let them hand us right over? We can eat them from the inside out... and send their filthy souls to burn in purgatory, to atone for their sins..." He said, laughing a long cold chuckle. Nadia looked to Carlos. "Carlos... are you o-" And as she reached to his arm, he swatted her arm, venom dripping from his words. "I'm not Carlos... I'm Dameon... the world is filled with darkness, and I will cleanse it all... send each last soul to repent." He said, cackling maniaclly. Aidan walked over to him. "Amen, brother... but now is not the time to rid the world of vermin... right now... we need to plan... stage our assault on them calmly... then, when the moment turns up... we strike, visciously, without remorse, and make each of them beg for forgiveness." He said, and Dameon smiled wickedly, his once warm eyes sharp and cold. "I second what you say, wise brother. I will quell my spirit for now... but when the time comes... I will fight like a demon against those sinners." He said, and Aidan nodded. "Yes, but abstain from such violence until then." And Dameon nodded, becoming calmer.
Michael looked reproachfully at the monk. "Wasn't he... nice and generous and junk at one point?" He said, confused, to Balhd, since Carlos was under his command as a troop. "Yes... Carlos seems to have a mental problem..." He said, looking down at the myrmidon. He didn't like myrmidons. Michael though, had no qualms with anyone. "Yes yes... enough questioning... go now." He said, and Michael looked at him. "Excuse me?" He said, angered at his air of arrogance.
"I don't like you. Go away. As commander, I order you to take positioning at the back of the troop, away from me." He said, and Kyren picked these words up. "YOU, are not the captain, I am. I lead these men, not you." He said, and the paladin looked at the stone-faced cavalier, and through his helm, rolled his eyes. "Please, you're inferior to me-" and at those words, an iron sword was slipped easily through his visor, and was centimeters from his face.
"Do NOT test my patience. I took responsibility the moment my men took you into my troop. Regardless, I don't ask much of you. Fight besides me, and hold loyalty, in the most general sense that we are the very last survivors of Bolstar. Other then that, you do as you wish. I just ask a little respect and not to act as if you command MY units." And Baldh looked to his troop, to Carlos, Aidan, Nadia, Siham and Heresy for support, but they all looked indifferent. He sighed. "Fine, but I'm not taking any pushy orders." He said, looking defeated. "Don't expect any." He said, putting hte blade away, as they began moving forward again.
Lysalia sat on the back of Kyren's horse. "What are we gonna do?" She whispered. Kyren shrugged. "No idea... we're just a rag-tag band of warriors... all we know is how to fight... maybe... when we cast off our banner, we could become mercenaries or something... I don't really know... just give me time to think... so much has happened lately..." He said, and she nodded, leaning around to kiss him on the cheek.
Soon, night fell, and Sin sat far from the fire, at a tent, leaning back on the grass, hand over his eyes. "Why... the hell is my past following me... after all I did to get away?" He said, and Terra silently walked up from behind him. "...What past?" And Sin jumped up. "Uh, nothing." He said, flashing a sheepish grin. She frowned. "Not to be rough, but it seems the whole reason why Bolstar was sacked was because of you." She said, and Sin frowned. "Great, more guilt. Thanks. Have you any idea how much this drives me all insane?" he asked, and she nodded. "I have a good idea..." She said, looking away. Sin sat up. "What, you have an unwanted past too?" He asked, mockingly, trying to lighten the mood. Terra took this to offense, and walked away briskly after leaving Sin with a quick "Yes."
SIn laid there, and slumped back into the grass. "Sin... you're such a fuck-up." He said, slapping his forehead.
August sat at the opposite side of the fire, looking towards were Terra had walked away from, and looked to Sin, and Terra looked upset, and Sin looked like he was angry at himself. She wanted to get up and walk over to him... but she couldnt find the courage to get up in front of all her friends. Lysalia sat besides her, with Kyren. "...What's up August...? You look antsy..." She said, and Autumn blushed. "Oh... really?" She asked, and looked towards the ground. "Gah... I'm always so predictable... Lysalia... do you think I should go over there and talk to Sin...? I kinda... have a crush on him..." She said quietly. Lysalia smiled at her. "Then just go over there." And August lowered her head. "Easier said than done..." She said, wringing her hands.
Glen yawned. "Marshmellowwws..." He said, thrusting his arm into the fire, shocking everyone, and he pulled out a flaming stick, and speared a passing squirrel with it, thrusting it back into the fire. Jacquelin smiled. "Now, THATS a dinner." She said, pulling off a leg once it was charred black. Glen held it in place, alseep again. Jacky decided to steal his squirrel, apparantly named "marshmellow." Keith and Hiyo were chatting, while practicing spells, and Dameon was sitting there, carving crosses and sticking them into the fire, while quietly chanting 'death to sinners', Nadia knitting a doll while smiling, Aidan reading an old religious book of sorts. Kitch creating a new spell, creating a ball of crackling energy, apparantly, an incarnation of his ADD problem.
Kyren sat there, and began unstrapping his armor. Everyone looked to him. "We shed our symbols of Bolstar." He said, calling Hiyo over. "Cut this out with your knife of magic." He said, pointing to the symbol of the blazing sun. Hiyo nodded, cutting it out, and handed the piece of metal to Kyren. "Everyone... this morning coming, we march, and without our emblem. We will all start anew... for we have nothing left... when I figure out what the hell else we're doing... that's all..." He said, turning and going to his tent, like everyone else did, and August sat there, alone. "... I should've talked to him..." She said, putting out the fire before going to bed.