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A little while later, Marshall’s mother came back from answering the phone. Alexi and the woman talked for a little while as she helped Alexi pick out and try on some new clothes. Alexi finally settled on a red and pink jumpsuit, pink plaid skirt, teal boots, cherry hairpin, a small top hat and some cool arm-length black sleeves.

“There’s just one more thing,” the woman said. “Stay here; I’ll be right back.”

After she left, Alexi looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a brand new person. Hell, she felt like a brand new person. Even Total could barely recognize her.

She doesn’t even look like my Alexi anymore, he thought. She looks different. Oh well, I guess it’s just something I’ll have to get used to. She’s still the same person that I…

Just then the woman came back carrying a wooden box.

“This is something that I thought I’d have to hold onto forever,” she said, opening it. “Marshall personally made this cape for you before you left the band, but never got the chance to give it to you. It was pure luck that you happened to walk in today.”

Alexi looked at the cape. It was long and shiny, and looked like it was made with beautiful silver leaves. Silver; just like her last name.

“Marshall made this…for me?” she asked.

“Yes,” the woman said. “And this is also for you.” She handed Alexi a small case. Upon opening it, Alexi found a brand new violin and bow. They looked very expensive.

“Oh my God!” she said. But I already have a violin… she thought.

All of a sudden she thought about the explosion. Chances were that the violin she had once owned was now in pieces at the site of the destroyed temple. She stared at the beautiful new one in the box and memories came flooding back to her. “Marshall…”

“My son loved you very much,” the woman said, smiling at her. “In fact, you were the first girl he ever took a liking to.”

Alexi remained silent. He was the first boy I ever took a liking to, she thought. “Your son was a very generous person. He was so much more than just a great friend to me. Thank you ma’am,” she said after what seemed like an eternity.

“You’re very welcome,” Marshall’s mother told her.

Total noticed that there were tears in the girl’s eyes. He felt sorry for her and wished that his leaf arms would stretch all the way around her so he could console her.

The woman suggested that the two spend the night at her store. Alexi and Total took her up on the offer since the moon had come up several hours ago.

In the morning, after a few minutes of talking, the woman and Alexi parted ways. The stories made her think about so many things she hadn’t thought about in ages. But something still seemed off.

“She never gave me a price,” she said suddenly.

“For what?” Total asked.

“For the clothes, silly,” Alexi replied. “I can’t just leave here without paying; that wouldn’t be fair in the least.”

Looking around, Alexi compared the prices of other clothing items to the ones that she wore. Figuring the total amount to be about $100, she placed $200 on the nearby table and left with Total in tow. It would be a long journey back to the remains of the temple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(December 15th)

After getting lost and having to spend the night in the forest, Alexi and Total could see the remnants of the temple on the beach. It seemed like they were beginning reconstruction as the walls were slowly being built back up.

That which does not kill you makes you stronger, Alexi thought as she looked at the new walls.

“Now what should we do?” Total asked her.

“I think we should see if anyone needs anything,” Alexi said. “We might be needed somewhere.”

Slinging the violin case over her back, Alexi picked up Total and the two began to walk down the beach.

((Part 4 of 4 sghaovdhgo it's finally over!! O-O''
Editing stuff goes for this too lol
Don't be surprised if you don't see me for a few days >.<))

(( Wowee!! GJ, TRG! Awesome!! XD ))

Watching with skeptical eyes as Gloria snatched the bandages from the rattled girl's hands, Coline's brow furrowed. She could scarcely believe they allowed someone like her into the Order. So spiteful, so demeaning, so... so sinful.

Gloria practically radiated hate. It was almost as if the world had done her a great injustice, and any recruit would tell you to stay out of her way if you knew what was best for you--something Coline was rather good at. But it seemed like trouble went out of its way just to greet her this morning.

Where's your guard dog now, you little b***h?!

...

You're nothing! Do you hear me?!

...

Are you okay?

...?

That last bit sounded a lot more... real. Turning to the source of the sound, her eyes met with Stephanie's yet again. "Oh." she muttered, rather belatedly. "I'm--I'll be fine. Thank you."

"...It seems like you have everything under control." she said after an extended pause, gaze directed far from the two women. "It would be best to have a doctor have a look at the wound, but of course, the decision is yours entirely."

Coline's gaze soon fell upon her trident, an unreadable look in her eye, before making an angled slash to the side, effectively removing any traces of blood that may have tainted it, and latched the weapon onto her back. Then, turning her attention back to the tanned woman, she lowered her head for a deep bow. "...I apologize."

Before either of them could respond, the recruit up and left, but not before a single drop of crimson fell from her own bloodied head.

Coline continued to walk at a steady pace, paying no heed to Gloria's threats. But upon hearing the sand shifting a good distance behind her, she stopped, and with an inward sigh turned to look over her shoulder. Truthfully, she was half-expecting another pelt to the head, but was relieved to find that this wasn't the case.

At least for now.

"What do you want?" she asked. Though the question itself suggested otherwise, her tone showed a distinct lack of interest.

Gloria took a step towards the object of her hatred.

"I want to see your ugly face smashed against a rock," she said with vehemence, managing to straighten herself up further as if fuelled by some ungodly desire, "I want to see my dagger sticking out of your stupid ******** skull."

Stephanie looked between the other two women with terrified eyes, not sure what was going on or what was about to happen. As the tanned dualist approached even further, staggering across the distance between herself and Coline, Stephanie was pinned to the ground with terror once more.

"So you listen to me, c**t, because this is the only warning you're going to get," Gloria spat, halting her advance just a couple of metres away. "Yeah, you've had it real easy, haven't you? All that's gonna change. Jessie isn't here to protect you anymore, so now you're going to get what you've deserved all along."

The thought didn't make her smile as much as it should have. In fact, her expression was totally grim. This wasn't some kiddy game, playground stupidity. It was all-out war.

"You might think you've won now," she thereby added, throwing up her arm to point threateningly. Her other hand remained fast at the top of her injured thigh, as if it were providing a support. "But I will hunt you. Everywhere you turn, I'll be there. And eventually, I will destroy you."

Replacing her arm at her side, Gloria drew herself up even further, holding Coline's gaze in a hard, iron vice for a few seconds longer before turning away. It seemed her speech was over... which proved truly the opportune time for the newcomer to butt in. Gloria blinked and drew back upon seeing him there - the priestess' bodyguard. A familiar figure, but still a total foreigner to their training grounds. 'That will be enough,' he said.

Of course, the dark-haired girl, in her current temper, did not take kindly to his interference, or his authoritative, chastising tone. "Who the hell are YOU, pig?" she answered insultingly, turning her nose up at the intruder.

As he continued to speak, however, her expression grew darker and darker. She seemed to fluctuate between insolence and outright rage as he carried on at her. Threatening her. This guy wanted to be the new instructor? What a laugh. He thought he was such a big man, swanning in and giving her orders as if he'd been around forever. She was there before him. ********, even Coline was there before him. If he was so big, why hadn't he stepped in to halt the two girls in their squabble? Jessie would have. That just showed what kind of men they were, didn't it? Totally different. What a laugh. What a clown. This ******** couldn't teach a fly to eat s**t, and he certainly wouldn't be teaching her.

Eventually, her tone settled on... disbelief.

"You're a joke," she muttered, keeping her eyes firmly on the sand as her thoughts were given voice. "You're a clown."

Her head snapped up. She fixed him with a gaze more malevolent than that which she'd given Coline, reaching out to grab his ugly leathered shoulder as he turned to go. "Just so you know, you ugly b*****d, I don't take orders from anyone except my Captain," she harshly informed him, bringing her face so close that she may or may not have inadvertently spat on him. Did it matter? "Our real Captain."

Pushing herself away, she fell back a step, and would have turned once more to go, had the strangest emotion not overtook her. The hatred which she felt for this... new man, who proclaimed himself to be their leader, had managed to overcome the hatred she had felt just minutes previously for the other women, for the world at large. It was a different kind of hatred, springing from loyalty, rather than jealousy; faith, rather than dislike. It was a brighter kind of hatred, if such a thing exists, like a light, blue ripple in a vast, black ocean, eventually rising up like a beacon.

It felt like camraderie. Something that deserved to be rallied against. Therefore, as strange as it may have seemed, she knew the perfect ally. It felt like this, at least, was something they could agree on.

Turning her head alone, she called out to the woman she'd just sworn to kill.

Her statement was gruff, certainly, but not clipped, or at all resentful. It wasn't masking any deep dislike or ill-will. In fact, it was rather... soft. "I'd at least expect you to do the same," she said, pausing. Her tone grew even more mild and sympathetic. In fact, it was downright benign. "Considering all that he did for you."

She even gave the girl a small nod. 'I'm with you, if you're with me,' it said. Then, she turned to go.

Gloria knew with full certainty as she limped away across the beach that the next few days would be interesting. It was the only thing that she knew amidst the tangle of emotions left in the wake of her receding sea of passion. Perhaps her vendetta could halt for a time. Just until they screwed this new instructor over, or screwed him right out.

But if the little b***h sold out... if she proved after all that she couldn't be loyal to their Captain - her Captain... no, their Captain - it would be totally unforgivable. She'd pay in blood, and much, much more.

A great distance back on the beach, Stephanie still sat, kneeling on the bloodstained sand. Giving a little gasp as the new instructor disappeared in a plume of acrid smoke, Stephanie blinked, turning her eyes to stare off after Gloria, and then after Coline.

She glanced down at the ugly, discoloured sand beneath her. She reached out to touch a bit, picking it up in a little clump. It stuck together like an evil clot, sluicing a fresh, cherry-red stain onto her fingertips.

A tear rolled anew down her cheek, and she began to cry.

December 14th - Evening


Gloria caught up with Lorika as she stepped into her bedroom. "Priestess, may I speak with you?" she said, with some urgency in her voice, and more than a little touch of poorly suppressed aggression in her eyes.

The green-haired lady looked round at her in surprise, finding her elbow caught solidly in the dualist's gloved hand. Gloria had slipped into the doorway from nowhere, and her body, back to the doorframe, now formed a block which would have prevented the door being closed.

Really, it didn't seem like Lorika had a choice whether she was spoken to or not.

"Why, of course, Gloria," she answered pleasantly, though her expression was a little pinched. "You know my door is always open to you."

Not just when she chose to wedge herself there, either.

Gloria released her gently and stepped inside, causing Lorika to step back. As Lorika watched, she then reached for the door and shut it, smoothly and smartly, waiting until it was firmly closed before advancing a step further.

"Do you know what happened today?" she hissed, the muscles in her arms flexing involuntarily as she placed her hands on her hips.

"I haven't the foggiest idea what happened to you today," the priestess replied offhandedly, turning towards her desk. She approached it, followed closely by the material scrape of her robes on the stone floor, and continued to speak lightly while reaching for her tea set. "Did Jessie teach you to sneak up on people like that?"

Gloria narrowed her eyes at the other woman, not to be put off. She'd expected the priestess to be wishy-washy and detached, just like all the other spiritualists, but Lorika was going to listen to her, and she was going to take her seriously. On that, she was determined.

"No, but that is exactly what I want to talk to you about," she said, looking very out of place in the cool, teal room wearing that day's combat gear. Blacks and reds, leather and toughened skin. An unattended cut sat blissfully below her left eye, with an unashamed smear of dried blood just beneath it. She looked tousled, sweaty, and sandy... but not at all weary. The star of the combat division stood firm, balanced and proud.

Lorika examined her out of the corner of her eye, pouring out two cups of hot tea from the service Meta had no doubt dropped off ten minutes earlier - miraculously not late for once. "I must say, you are looking tremendously well these days. No one would have known you were destined for such great things when you first came to us," she said, with an air of counselling, but also of awareness that she was completely ignoring Gloria's point.

Obviously, her visitor wouldn't stand for it. Gloria rolled her eyes, took a pair of determinedly advancing steps and grabbed the two cups of tea in Lorika's hands as she turned around to offer them. "And none of it is thanks to that new combat instructor you have assigned us," she spat, snatching both cups and putting them back down on the desk behind her. Her body formed a firm block again - Lorika couldn't hope to reach them now.

The priestess' blue eyes, ringed by shadows of stress and unhappiness, darted from the cups, back up to Gloria's face, then away again. "Ah."

"I should have known someone might have something to say on the matter," she continued after a pause. In fact, the new instructor was also the reason for Gloria's having to corner her here in her room. She'd had to tail her carefully that night to choose the precise moment when he wouldn't be hovering around her like he usually did, the nasty little kiss-up.

"Not just me, but I'm the representative," she told her, "What, you need a petition or something? You should see this guy on the field. People can say what they like about the Captain, but at least he never abused his students. He had poor Stephanie in tears today!"

Yes, poor Stephanie. She could cry as much as she liked when it was to Gloria's advantage.

Lorika eyes remained on the wall. "I see..."

"He had Jonathan on the floor with his arm twisted for ten minutes, Casey took a potion for a broken leg from when he was using her in a demonstration on blocking kicks-"

"Alright, alright," the priestess breathed, glancing back towards her, "I knew he was a little rough. He admitted so himself. But he's very qualified."

Gloria regarded her with something between a sneer and a look of disgust. It may, however, have been directed more at her thoughts amidst the pensive pause. "He came swanning about the field the other day," she informed her darkly, voice lowered, "Throwing his weight around, dropping threats. I'm not joking here. He didn't even do anything to break up a fight, just stepped in to read us all the new rules afterwards. His new rules."

"When was this?" Lorika asked her sharply, meeting her eyes for the first time. Gloria's eyes seemed to flash with relief. She was being taken seriously.

"Day after the explosion."

She hadn't quite expected the priestess' animated reaction. "That idiot!" she cried, whirling around and clapping her hand to her forehead momentarily. She then removed it again, gesturing erratically. "I hadn't said he was anything at that stage! All I'd said was maybe we might need him to step in and take a few lessons to keep you guys busy, not that he was running the whole shop!"

"Really?" Gloria asked, unfolding her arms. Well, wasn't that a turn up for the books? Her image of Drax as a pompous meathead solidified. "That a*****e. Throwing his weight around like he was king, when you hadn't even appointed him yet..."

Lorika groaned, hand returning to her mouth as she shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Gloria. If I had known he'd run away like that I'd not have breathed a word about anything."

"Well, it's easily solved," the tanned woman replied, shifting up to sit on the desk. Lorika glanced around with a mild look of horror as her sandy leathers made contact with her writing station, but didn't utter a peep. "Just get rid of him. He can go back to being your bodyguard or whatever."

Her hand became limp again. "I can't do that."

"Yes you can!" Gloria insisted, bouncing back to her feet again. Unfortunately, she left a trail of sand where she'd been leaning. "Priestess, I know why you think this guy was the right choice, but trust me, he's not. This guy isn't a teacher. He's a goddamn thug, and these are kids he's dealing with. Newbies, like Stephanie and Coline. He's gonna beat someone into a pulp one of these days, I can see it happening."

Unfortunately, Lorika could see it happening, too - perhaps more vividly than Gloria. The tanned student was, after all, unaware of his heritage - a heritage which would probably send a few people fleeing for their lives if they knew what it entailed. The same could have been said about Jessie, but...

As if picking up on her thoughts, Gloria's persuasive tirade continued in the same vein. "I mean, the Captain was a dark elf. All these things they say about dark elves, I know, but the second you take a class with him you realise it's all bullshit. If Thomas took a few minutes to talk to him he'd see it, too. I saw it, time and time again. People went in terrified, they came out inspired. That's a real goddamn teacher."

"You don't need to tell me," Lorika replied. For a moment, it sounded as if she might say more, but then she just shook her head again and turned away.

Gloria sighed, leaning back against the desk again. "Trust me, if this were a movie, he'd be Mr. Miyagi and this new guy'd be Kreese of the ******** Cobra Kai. Nobody wants that psycho as their instructor."

"You're right, you're right," she said wearily, shaking her head once more.

"So will you get rid of him?"

"No."

"What?!" Gloria cried, rearing up again. "Why not?! You're the head honcho, just say the word and-"

"If I remove Sto- Drax from his position," Lorika began, with authority Gloria hadn't expected after their cosy chat, "I'll be resigning the combat division - the largest in the Order - to go without supervision or instruction for an unspecified amount of time. I'm down two instructors and waiting on a reply from the Ministry-"

Gloria hurriedly cut her off. "I understand it's difficult for you, but surely you could contact-?"

"If word gets out," Lorika continued soberly, turning back to her querent, "That Jessie has left before the end of his contract, it will mean trouble not only for us, but for him, and for the officials who hired him, which will in turn cause more trouble for us. Between you, me and Lacine, no one here has any idea the kind of national incident that could occur if the full story was revealed..."

Gloria's posture had become a little sullen, her expression tense. "I understand that," she replied quietly, using the time to calculate her remaining options. "I do. No one can know he is gone."

"So that means we have to rely on our own resources, and unfortunately Sto- Drax is the best we can do," Lorika concluded, stepping towards the door. "Now, unless you'd like your tea, it might be best if you leave," she said, opening the door. Gloria didn't move, regarding her in intense frustration, and so the priestess rolled her eyes pointedly. "Before Drax himself comes to check up on me."

Gloria continued to stare at her, jaw clenched tightly. The conversation had been going in her favour. Then, it became clear that the priestess believed they didn't have a choice. What could she say to argue with that?

The tanned, battle-hardened woman reached up, angrily swiping once at the crusted blood on her face. Nothing came off on her fingers but the greasy remnants of sweat left to settle. Concerned, Lorika stepped forward again, reaching up to brush her fingers against the prominent scratch. It disappeared under the sudden wash of holy magic.

"He's not."

Lorika looked at the other woman curiously as she withdrew her hand. Gloria stared back at her, determination alight in her dark eyes. "Not what, Gloria?"

"He's not the best you can do," she replied curtly. She looked the other woman full in the eye. "The day he left, the Captain told me I could teach the classes myself..."

Brushing away, the warrior headed for the open door. "So just think about that before you say you don't have a choice."


~~~~~


December 17th - Evening Prayers

"I can't wait to hear what this big surprise you've been teasing about is," Damien said, grinning back at Gloria, who sat behind him. He was leaning backwards, with his head upside down, and quickly found that to be a most difficult angle to maintain. So, with only the slightest loss of balance, he righted himself and turned around properly, eyes lighting up teasingly. "If you've been having me on, you're so in for it..."

"Ha," Gloria replied, giving him a light push on the forehead. "You won't be saying that once the priestess is done speaking."

"Oh really?" he replied skeptically, smirking at her. To his right, one of the boys thumped him, prompting him to turn back around as Lorika stepped out in front of the crowd.

The service began almost immediately, but Gloria didn't let it rest so suddenly. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his ear. "Just wait. I've done us all a very good favour. You'll be thanking me."

He glanced round at her, lips pursed mischievously, but didn't say anything. Damien went on to pay closer attention to the service than he ever had before, with only the occassional lapse in concentration.

The end of the service came, however, with nothing that seemed relevant transpiring.

With a frown, he whispered, half to himself and half to Gloria. "I thought you said...?"

"Before we conclude, I'd like to make another announcement about staff changes," Lorika said, "I apologise for all the turmoil lately. I'm sure you all agree it's understandable..."

Damien glanced around as he felt Gloria slipping in beside him.

"You're probably all sick of this by now, so I'll get right to the point. As of now, Drax is no longer instructor and head of the combat division."

"No way!" he gasped, a little too loudly, "The pig's on his way out!"

He looked to his girlfriend, who sat facing forward, ensconced within an air of triumph. "How'd you manage that?!"

Gloria just turned to him, a small, mysterious smile on her face, as the Priestess continued. "His replacement for the time being is Gloria, who most of you will be familiar with to some extent."

"What?!" came a cry... or two... or three. The hall erupted into conversation, even moreso than that which had been provoked by the announcement of Drax's early retirement. Towards the back of the hall, Stephanie looked on in something akin to dismay.

Lorika gave everyone a moment to gather themselves. Then, she took a breath, and continued.

"Gloria is a field veteran awarded the honour of..." she paused, her lip curling slightly in distaste.* "...Most Honourable Sentinel Squasher during the war. She led a total of twenty seven infiltration missions and took part in a further thirty. This was, of course, in between her training, in which she gained rapid distinction for her natural power, tenacity and determination."

The last of the titters had died out while she was speaking. However, she still waited a moment before continuing. "Our old Captain thought very highly of her, and I ask that you treat her with a similar respect."

It was a warning wrapped in a nicety, but it definitely went over one person's head. "Three cheers!" cried Damien, shooting out of his seat. "Hip hip!"

"You goof..." Gloria chuckled, subsequently finding herself pulled to her own feet. She laughed again as the congregation continued to cheer her. On the stage, Lorika smiled and applauded, mirrored to her right by Lacine. There were quite a few stunned faces in the crowd, including the sour-faced Thomas, but the enthusiasm of most of the combatants - particularly her inner circle - more than swamped it.

"Hey, good on you, Gloria!" said Jonathan, standing up to clap her on the shoulder. "Now we can get back to learning what the Captain was teaching us. You can remember, can't you?"

"Remember?" Gloria smirked, "I'm gonna drill it into you so hard you'll be wishing Drax never got his a** kicked out."

She was only half-joking, but only a few could've suspected it.






* It hasn't been made clear, so I thought I'd make a note - if the Introduction were out yet you'd get this reference better. Lorika (amongst others, including Jessie) found the awarding of such strange titles (all the Overseer's compositions) very odd indeed. Her distaste is therefore a bit of an inside joke. It's not directed at Gloria, but her weird title.