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"...N-no, that won't be necessary. Thanks. She just....looked familiar, is all."

---

"Justice and Obedience....hm."
Professor Greyhame briefly rubs his chin, thinking.
"....I have contacts in the Order proper. When we heard about the Fiends running alongside people, I immediately had to talk to them. Is there anything else you can tell me about this Justice?"

"Not many travelers are willing to jump into danger like that, its good to see there are still people with such courage out there." Taking note that this girl is reluctant to share her name, or at least side steps around the topic, Astrea finds it odd. "So what destination are you heading to? Are you part of any academies? Your skills say you were taught well."

"....thanks. You guys aren't too bad either, I suppose. For the Order. Um...."
The girl shifts awkwardly.
"I was just...wandering around, I suppose. Sightseeing. I saw some people in danger and I....figured I had to help."

Professor Greyhame seems more than a bit disappointed by hearing that the Seekers fled.
"I see. They identified themselves as the Seekers of Calamity, correct?"

As Rika, Reeve and Lin approach the screaming, they see a pair of villagers, caught out by themselves, surrounded by an ungodly amount of Fiends.
"Help us!"
"W-we can't get out! Help! Somebody help!"

So many, in fact, you're not quite sure you can really fight them all off without help.

Before you can move, however, you hear a calm, deep and smooth voice speak.
"I wield the blade as a whip to flay the flesh. Begone, beasts."

A white line cleaves its way through the lines of Fiends almost instantaneously.

In the blink of an eye, the Fiends crumple, divided in half, the Alphinite energy within the slash having burned the beasts from the inside out. The entrapped villagers sit their, their mouths hanging open, the sound having caught in their throats in shock. As you look to see who was responsible, a tall figure in a large, black cloak strolls forward, long grey hair barely concealing the feathers on each side of his head, a sword as long as he was tall slung across his shoulder. He approaches the trio.

"Professor Estelle's students, correct? The problem has been taken care of."

You recognise the man as Professor Greyhame.

"Destroyed? No. By all means, keep your Order when they answer for their failures. But if they must be destroyed to make that happen, then so be it. You speak as if I don't know what being on the other side of that is like. If you had, you'd understand why we're so angry."

Justice doesn't even flinch at being spat at.

"....in any case, this was not my plan. Had I known, I would've refused. My quarrel is with the Order alone. Believe me or don't, it's not my problem."

"....one client.....two clients....."
Anna seems to be dead asleep.

Justice considers Orrel's words.

"...indeed. I should've remembered that, shouldn't I? Sounds like something your father would've said. I would know. My father picked it up from yours."

He sighs.

"....if I am being honest, my role among the Seekers is to be their muscle. Strategy's never quite been my forte. Obedience....they're the boss' enforcer. The one who conveys the plans to the rest of us. They and Mercy drip feed the rest of us with their orders. Where they plan to strike next is beyond my knowledge. Ruthenia, perhaps. At least that's what that rat Wisdom was muttering...."