Author Note: Hey everyone! Are you all enjoying yourselves? Cause I am and I'm here to bring you chapter fifteen :D Warning this chapter contains some swearing.

Don't forget to review please.

Chapter Fifteen: A Greeting from the South

ARCADIA POV

Closing my phone, I put it on the table and start to rub my temples.

'God fucking damn it! LEYTE needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. He's going to get me killed one day that idiot.'

Heading for the bathroom, I turn the shower on and step in, not bothered by the icy cold water biting my skin. I needed to clear my head and the cool water was a welcome sensation. While I was planning on telling Castiel, it wasn't going to be this early, his call really caught me off guard.

'LEYTE better have something good for me when he gets back.'

He reported back saying her got a few SENTRYs behind us, all of them more than willing to get back at GALAHAD, even if that meant that they might not survive. As long as they could take a few of them with them, they couldn't care less. Not the most noble cause but it works in a sense.

'I'll have to train them when they get here. I've got more training and experience then all of them combined.'

Stepping out of the shower, I dry myself off and head to my room. Grabbing a plain red singlet and black shorts, I swiftly put them on just as shuffling noises come from the front door. Moving to investigate the noise, I find LEYTE at the door, two unknown figures standing close behind them.

"I take it you've have some success." I inquire, gaze flickering between the two mysterious companions. He grins and nods, giving a thumbs up.

"Sure did. This is DAGUET and ENIGMA. But this isn't everyone, turns out they had formed a little group out south. They were skeptical at first and said they wanted to meet you first."

I shook hands with both and asked them to sit down, LEYTE proceeding to do the same. As they sat down, I took in their appearance. Both seemed to be wearing some form of uniform, a black high collared coat, covering the lower half of their face and knee high combat boots. DAGUET had short curly brown hair and light brown eyes, ENIGMA had cropped blonde hair and hazel eyes.

'Interesting pair, wonder if they'll be of any use.'

The pair remain quiet, making no attempts at conversation. Instead both of them continued to stare at me like I was some kind of artwork.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I say sarcastically, snapping them out of their little worlds and watch as they mumble their apologies.

"Sorry, we just didn't really expect to actually see you." ENIGMA offers nervously. "It's kind of frightening seeing you in person. After all, not many who do live to tell the tale. You are of course a legend among us but from recent events, even the other SENTRY soldiers have begun to fear you."

'Do I really seem that scary to people?'

I was taken aback by it, while having people fear you could be useful sometimes, now probably wasn't such a good time. We need allies and I don't want to force people into joining.

"Well I would have preferred not to have been in that situation but fate decided otherwise." I reply, remembering the clash from which SABER had passed away.

"Is it the reason you wish to start a war against GALAHAD?" He asks, myself shaking my head in response. "Well, you may not be in it for revenge... but we are." ENIGMA's voice grows darker. "The things they did to us are unforgivable and any chance that allows us to get payback is more than enough motivation for us."

"I don't care what your reasons are, if you're willing to join that's great. When this is over you can all go and live happy lives. I've already created some identities that you can use, just give me numbers and I'll get things sorted. I'll even train you for free." The pair share a glance at each other before looking back at me.

"You'd willing train us? Seriously?" DAGUET asks, becoming excited. I smiled at his childish reaction.

"I said I would didn't I? I'd prefer to see you guy walk off the battlefield." I wanted them to be prepared for it. Having them die under my orders is something that I don't want to have on my conciousness.

"We're in then. Training from you is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"That's good to hear. Now for business, how many SENTRYs are back south?" Getting straight to the point, I wanted to know how many 'trainees' I'll have.

"Yeah, we're not all SENTRYs." ENIGMA swiftly replies. "Including us, there's nine SENTRYs. We also have ex-infantrymen and spec-ops, they total to eighty four. Your disappearance caused quite a stir, not just in our ranks. It shook the entire system, people leaving left and right."

'Didn't think I was so influential.'

Regardless, it was useful information. If people were leaving because of me, then I could persuade more to switch sides. Not to mention it was good thing I brought that old boarding school, this was a few more then I was expecting in such a short time. Grabbing a piece of paper, I quickly draw a rough map leading to the school and hand it to ENIGMA.

"Here's the location of our HQ. Get everyone over ASAP, I want them to get comfortable here before we do anything else." They quickly nod and take the note, standing up to leave.

"Understood, we'll move as fast as we can... but I'm sure once they hear they'll get training from you we wont need to tell them to move." ENIGMA chuckles lightly and steps out the door, waving to DAGUET to follow.

"That was easier than expected." I mutter quietly as they rounded the corner of the street. Closing the door, I move back into the lounge room and sit down what needed to be done first in my head, how I should go about training them, what equipment we need, that sort of stuff. As a plan was beginning to form, another small detail creeped back into my thoughts.

'Iris wants to go to the beach... how the fuck am I going to do this?'

I'd completely forgotten about it and she was leaving in two days.

'Guess I'll have to ask LEYTE to stay behind and keep things going. I'll have to pay him back for it later.'

Looking around the room for him but he had already left. Calling out to him, I told him to come back here.

"You called Oh Mighty One?" He snickers, a frown was all he received.

"Iris wants me to go to the beach in a few days. I need you to watch things here, I'll get all the technical stuff done. You just have to baby sit for a while." I smirk.

"Oh so you get to have all the fun while I take care of the kiddies? You're horrible you know that." He pouts and I roll my eyes.

"Shut the hell up, I'll bring you ice cream in return. A whole tub." As soon as the word 'ice cream' was said, excitement and hunger flared in his eyes.

"Make sure it's strawberry." He squeaks excitedly. Agreeing to his request, I get and head to my room.

'Guess I should start packing.'

LEYTE POV

I was ecstatic and slightly disappointed. The idea of being her by myself was a bit daunting given the situation but ARCADIA was trusting me to take care of things in her stead.

'I'm so happy! I'm actually useful to her.'

Grinning, I decided to grab my claymore and practice a little, the sudden rush of excitement giving me a boost of energy that I needed to work off. Besides, there wasn't any harm in making sure I looked like I knew what I was doing. If I was going to be ARCADIA's second-in-command, I needed to look sharp, composed and strong.

'Ohhh, just the idea of being her wingman is working me up.'

Lifting the claymore, I start with a few practised swings, adjusting my grip on the blade. Slowly moving the blade, I work through the techniques ARCADIA taught me a few days ago. Balancing my weight, I move my body, retracing the intricate steps, hoping I was doing it right. After some time, the blade almost felt weightless as it sliced its way through the empty air. Again and again, I continued practising, even though I didn't really have to, I wanted to become stronger, more skilled, more prepared.

'I don't want the same thing to happen like last time.'

The last clash DULUTH and I had with ARCADIA and SABER, our defeat was, humiliating. I wasn't trying to kill them but to be beaten so easily, after all the praises and claims from the scientists it really hit my pride and my confidence. The look in ARCADIA's eyes that day, I felt scared for the first time in my life.

'I really thought I was going to die.'

I shook my head to try and rid myself of those thoughts and concentrate, sighing as they didn't go away.

"You learn fast." A voice sounds from behind. Looking over my shoulder I see ARCADIA standing in the doorway. "But you'll never get it perfect." She adds.

"What makes you say that?" I ask, feeling a little insulted.

"Because it works to my style, not yours. While I can show you things, teach you my ways, in the end you'll have to create your own style." Shifting my gaze to the ground, I ponder her comment for moment. She had a point, her style was much more different then mine, that much I remember. Hers is more of speed and agility whereas mine is more of power, almost polar opposites.

"So you don't think I can be as tough as you?" I tease, a small giggle escaping from her.

"That is true but I wouldn't call myself 'tough'. Just experienced." The faint smile fades away, replaced with a more serious look. "And that, is something you have to learn yourself. I could show you all the techniques in the world but they wont mean anything unless you have the experience to effectively use them."

It was a valid point. Without experience, all the training, the studying, would be useless to me. I can't fully understand what's being taught to me unless I use them in real combat. Raising my head, I turn and face ARCADIA.

"This may be sudden, but would you mind sparring with me?" An eyebrow deftly raises, eyes examining me. She turns around and heads back into the house, reappearing with her katanas and steeping outside.

'Wow she's actually going to spar with me?'

Without warning, she dashes forward and I barely manage to bring my claymore up in time. Pushing her forward, I step back to put some distance between us, locking my eyes onto her and waited for her next move. Shifting her weight slightly to the left, I bring my claymore to the side and block her speedy attack. Using her other katana, she moves to attack, causing me to bend back in an awkward position to avoid her blow. Pain erupts in my back and I end up being kicked across the yard, landing face first into the ground.

"Switch the angle of you blade next time instead of bending back like that." She instructs, walking slowly towards me. Swiftly standing back up, ARCADIA leaps forward again and I block once again. Swinging both her blades, I try to keep up with her and keep blocking her while watching her stance for any sudden changes. Again and again, always her attacking, always me blocking, I found it hard to find any openings or changes. After some time I soon spot one and step back to dodge her kick before noticing a subtle smirk forming.

'What's so funny? Why is she laughing at me?'

*SMACK!*

Grabbing my jaw, I let out a small groan of pain. I spat, ridding myself of the metallic taste in my mouth and glared at ARCADIA, who only returned it with indifference.

"One must always be prepared for anything LEYTE." She says smugly, raising a hand to try and hide her smirk. While I had spotted the kick, I didn't think about her using it as a ruse, having the real attack come afterwards and had promptly learnt it the hard way. A backhand from ARCADIA really hurt.

"It was a cheap shot." I pout. "Don't think I'll let you get me like that again."

"Hmmm, is that a challenge? Because if it is, then I accept." A threatening aura starting to emanate from her as she ran a finger along one of her blades. "From this kind of confidence, I think I may be going too easy on you."

'Good, I don't like it when she goes easy.'

Loosening my stance, I bring my claymore forward to attack but ARCADIA easily blocks it. I was fairly certain I had the advantage of strength over her and so I used it to push her back into the nearby wall. Letting out a small grunt, she glares back at me and I snicker at her current predicament.

"Not so high and mighty now." I snicker in a teasing manner, annoyance flares in her violet eyes.

"I wouldn't be so cocky now, not when you can't follow through with it." I giggle a bit from her response.

"Is they mighty one going to punish me now?" I query, watching the smile grace her lips.

"Of course I am." Kneeing me in the stomach, I stagger back a bit. Gasping for breath I quickly look up but was surprised when I couldn't see her.

'Where the fuck did she go?!'

Panicking, I look from left to right before feeling a sudden presence from behind.

"Miss me?" A voice whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. Whirling my blade around to strike, it was caught by ARCADIA who smirked as she twisted the blade from my grasp and sent it flying across the grass.

'Holy shit she's fast!'

A fist connected with my jaw and another in my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs again. I move to punch her but was too slow in my movements and she grabbed my arm, elbowing me in the face and then threw me into the fence. Crumpling onto the ground, I grabbed my nose, checking to see if it was broken. A sharp point pricked at my neckand I cracked an eye open to find ARCADIA looming above me. Slowly I stood up and raised my hands in defeat.

"You still need a lot of practice... but you have however, improved since last time." She says slowly. "When the others arrive I expect you to train with them, learn from them. Give them a few pointers since you have already been taught a few things from me." Lowering her katana, I somewhat shakily rub the spot where it had been and watch as she walks away but pauses at the door.

"Is something wrong?" I ask but she shakes her head and said it was nothing before quickly disappearing through the door, leaving me alone in the cool night air.