[NOVENA]

Executive Gloria… is quite the character.

And that's saying something, because Novena had grown up around Agnus , who is the Head Scientist of the Order of the Sword, as well as Nero; a fellow Knight in her batch back when they were still Knight-to-be. Agnus is quite famous (or infamous) amongst the ranks of the Order, what with his perpetual stuttering, mutterings and his absolute devotion to Demonology, not to mention his unmatched knowledge in his field of expertise. Nero, on the other hand, is a young Knight made from spitfire and natural combative talent.

Anyway, back to Executive Gloria.

Novena's new superior is unapologetically extravagant, not to mention shameless enough to wear, well, that… suit of hers. Questionable choice of outfits aside, Gloria is also exquisite, exotic, and undoubtedly a head turner, even without the loudness of her outfit. Chocolate skin, hair coloured like snow, not to mention her eyes.

A piercing pair of blues that it's always so disconcerting when you look into them. Or when their gaze is fixed on someone.

Like what is happening now, to Novena, that is.

Novena and her squad leader are perched atop the branches of a considerably tall tree, the clearing below crawling with Chimera Scarecrows and Chimera seedlings, and while Novena is being a dutiful Knight and doing her job, Gloria is lounging against her own perch, twirling a beautifully forged knife in her gloved hands, all careless pose and relaxed demeanour.

Novena turns her superior, smiling wryly. "Executive Gloria, please concentrate on the job at hand." Is it really a squad when it's just the two of them? Oh well, a thought to be pondered at a later date. "We aren't here for a leisurely stroll, no matter how tempting it is."

Gloria smirks, nude painted lips lush. "Aren't you such an uptight little girl," She drawls, more teasing than derisive. "It's not good for the complexion, sweetheart."

Novena can't help it, she rolls her eyes as she chuckles, shaking her head as she adjusts her grip on her Caliburn and the short sword. Both blades may be smaller, thinner and lighter than their regular counterparts, but they're still a sizeable pair of weapons. It's quite easy to get stiff, cramped hands.

"The state of my complexion is the least of my concerns," Novena retorts, huffing a breathy laugh. "I'd rather focus on these demons below us."

Gloria pouts, exaggerated and fake put-out. "Poo, you're no fun." But nonetheless, Gloria rises like a snake from her perch, all sinuous grace and fluid movements. Gloria swan dives off her perch, landing on a Chimera and her heels managing to pierce the fleshy parts of the plant demon. She then quickly dispatches it with one stroke of her knife, and the demon bursts like a popped balloon, fluid and demonic particles exploding outwards.

Novena herself leaps from her hiding spot, like a great hunting cat pouncing on her prey, and she skewers two of the Chimera Scarecrows, cutting them open with a twist of her body as she pounces on her next victim. With her Caliburn's longer reach and relatively wider blade, she uses it to block and parry blows from the demons, dancing around her target until she could lash out with the smaller short sword and end their damned existence.

The two women are practically dancing in the midst of the horde, each movement graceful and purposeful. The Executive Gloria is fond of flips and acrobatics, flitting to and fro as she killed demons left and right with contemptuous ease. Novena herself isn't as acrobatic, but the way she twirls, dips and pirouettes has its own flair, its own deadliness.

As they cleared out the area, Novena thinks that her own style and skillset complements her new squad leader's well. Probably the main reason why General Credo had reassigned her from his own unit to Gloria's. That, and the two of them are the only female Knights still in active service. Former General Regina had retired the previous year, passing down command of the Order to Credo as her last order.

While the Order of the Sword don't look down or prohibit female Knights, the Order – and Fortuna, really – is still largely patriarchal in command, an influence from their worship of the Dark Knight, Sparda.

Saviour knows how much of a struggle it was, back in her trainee days.

But it's a non-issue for Novena at the moment. She's a Knight, one of its better crops, and she's earned her place. Worked thrice as hard as her male peers, worked thrice as hard to earn her right to Ascend—

"You might want to duck, sweetheart!" Executive Gloria calls out, sudden and just the mildest bit nervous. Novena doesn't bother questioning it – never really questioned her superiors, not even once – merely just doing as she's told and just in time, too.

Knife-like claws the length of Novena's forearm rends the air, just mere inches from the younger Knight's face, and Novena yelps out in shock and fear, tipping over and losing her balance. She ends up sprawled on her ass, right in the middle of a horde of demons. Usually, she'd back on her feet in a flash, her weapons splayed out, but not right now.

Not right now, when a demon she's never personally encountered before towers over her.

Novena, in her frozen state, could hear her leader hiss out a curse in a foreign tongue, and trained responses kicks in, finally. Novena gets her legs under, and just as the reptilian demon rears its clawed arm back, Novena moves, launching herself backwards and away from the new arrival, away from claws that would've torn her apart.

It an Assault, the forest-dwelling cousins of the Frosts that live up in Lamina peaks, and this is honestly the first time she's faced an Assault up close and personal in all her years as a Holy Knight. Then again, it made sense; first few years of her service, she was strictly kept within the city walls, then a brief stint as part of His Holiness's personal guard.

It was just a couple years back that she's been assigned to patrols outside the protected areas of their island. And ever since, she's been meeting her demons – literal ones – one after the other.

Novena twists, both feet alighting on one of those Chimera Scarecrows, and before its thorny limbs could lash out, Novena's already moving once more. She hops up lightly, only to twist her body to cleave the demon in two. Dull silver glitters from the corner of her eyes, and she ducks down, folded in half as two Chimera seedlings leapt for her head. They miss her by a wide margin, but one manages to land on a Scarecrow.

The seedling pushes its nasty tentacles into the other demon, making its burlap body shudder and contort. Bigger, stronger roots burst from its head, winding down the Scarecrow's body and rooting deep, and the Chimera seedling's bud blooms into a grotesque flower. Vines slither out from orifices, thorns sharp as any blade.

Novena grimaces as she hastily backs away, eyes flitting over to the horde. They've killed quite a bit, Novena is sure about it; the ground is slippery and drenched with demon bile, and the air is thick and hazy from the demonic particles lingering. They've killed quite a bit, as between Executive Gloria and Novena, they're quite the speedy fighters, but why isn't the horde thinning out?

"We need to fall back, call reinforcements." Novena calls out, lips twisted in a displeased frown as her leader joins her, their backs to each other and their weapons out, surrounded on all sides. Off to the side, Novena can see the Assault demon beheaded, already dissolving into nothingness. "Why are we sent on the most ridiculous patrol routes? It wasn't like this in the General's unit!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Executive Gloria manages a light laugh, absolutely uncaring of their current situation. "But where's the fun in that?!" And with that honestly ridiculous statement, Executive Gloria leans back into Novena, making the younger Knight yelp in surprise as she's practically forced down, as the older Knight flips over her, heeled boots kicking away at the Demons and forcing them back.

Novena briefly turns her eyes skyward. "Saviour help me."

With renewed vigour, and quite a bit of exasperation from Novena, the two female Knights finally manage to clear out the demons, the air practically black and heavy, the ground so drenched it's more of a fledgling marsh than anything else.

Novena is off to the side, nursing bruised ribs (nothing new), cuts and lacerations everywhere (again, nothing new) and her hair far shorter than it is (new, and very surprising). And another Assault, probably a pack mate of the first one they killed, had gotten the drop on her earlier, and if Novena hadn't reacted as fast as she did, it's her head that would've been taken off, not her hair, unwound from its bun and then promptly shorn off.

She toes at the dark locks, lips pressed tightly in dismay. She had grown her hair out, as any proper Fortunian women do, but that Assault just had to cut it off, huh?

Rude.

Her expression must be particularly open, as Gloria had taken one look at her and had chuckled. "Don't be too disappointed, love." The exotic woman says, amusement warming her ice-like eyes and making her fierce features just a tad softer. "That's the least of the worries one could have, especially when dealing with demons."

Novena paws at her uneven hair, now just falling to the tops of her shoulders instead of falling all the way to her rear. She grimaces, flicks at the jagged edges and fixes her superior with a tired look. "Excuse my rudeness, but may we return to HQ?" 20 years…. 20 years of carefully maintained, trimmed, and cared for hair. All gone, in just a blink of an eye.

Novena feels like throwing a tantrum.

Gloria laughs once more, wholly amused at Novena's expense, but nonetheless they begin their trek through Mitis Forest, thankfully encountering no more demons on the way. If there were more, Novena isn't sure what she would do; do her best to throw the demons off of cliffs (won't kill them, but it would be extremely satisfying) or slice and dice them, until they're nothing more than tiny nuggets of demonic flesh (messy and horrid, but just as satisfying).

Novena moves swiftly but gingerly behind Gloria, wounds making her body ache, but it was nothing she wasn't used to. Being a Knight, after all, means that these things are the norm, these are part of the package for serving their Saviour Sparda. Novena has quite the nice collection of trophy scars, in fact, ones that she's quite pleased with.

"Oh, here," Gloria tosses something Novena's way, and only the younger Knight's trained reflexes allowed her to catch the item, light green in colour and as large as Novena's fist, which means not much. "Would taste something horrid, but it'll help."

Novena blinks at the exotic woman's back, before looking down at the item on her hands. She almost drops it, upon registering what she's holding.

It's a Vital Star, a curious little item that holds a life-giving elixir within its glass case. It's extremely rare, not to mention expensive, and it's made via a complicated process involving a demon's natural healing factor, herbs and natural medicines, and a whole lot of science.

Novena sits through Executive Agnus' lessons, as required, but she can't fully comprehend the scientist's excited ramblings and frequent stuttering about the creation of Vital Stars.

"E-Executive-!" Novena blubbers, panicked and a whole lot flustered. The younger Knight picks up her pace to level with Gloria, trying to hand back the valuable item clutched in her hands as Novena protests the excessiveness of using the Vital Star on her measly injuries. "This is a little too much, I think!"

Gloria just shrugs, the bright blue feathers adorning the epaulettes of her suit ruffling as she did so. "I have spares, sweetheart. Save it for a later date, if you wish," Gloria looks over her shoulder so give Novena a secretive smirk, and Novena, for some reason, feels unease stir in her stomach. The exotic woman winks playfully, and the moment passes, leaving Novena unsettled. "But I find that even small sips can help, if not outright heal those cuts on you."

Novena hesitates. The Executive makes a fair argument, and Novena has already spoken out of turn, daring to question orders like she did. So much for 'not once questioning her superiors'. Then again, ever since being assigned to their two-man (or rather, two-women) team, Novena has been making questions, sometimes taking a fraction of a second to wonder about the thought process of her new superior.

After all, Executive Gloria is like no one else. She keeps managing to throw off Novena, much to the younger Knight's stress.

Anyway, back to the Vital Star in Novena's hands.

She carefully twists the top, removing the glass stopper, and brings the Vital Star to her lips, tipping it back and swallowing a small mouthful. She almost vomits it back up, the taste revolting and the liquid seemingly burning her throat, but Novena powers through, hacking and coughing as she clumsily reseals the Vital Star.

Oh, wow, ew.

She can feel her body tingle all over, and she watches her cuts heal and dissolve, red mist sloughing off her body to disappear and leave only faint marks behind, like her hour old wounds are years old, just a pale white against the tan of her skin.

Remarkable.

Gloria sings a little 'I told you so' as they walk up the path to the Order's HQ, the stark white castle contrasting against the dark grey sky signalling oncoming rain. At the sight of the massive establishment, Novena sighs in relief, a small smile curling her lips. The Headquarters has always been associated with the concept of 'home' to her, ever since she was a child.

After all, she and most of her fellow brothers and sisters in faith were raised within the Order's very white walls.

She lags behind a little as they cross the bridge, staring at the proud symbol carved into the castle's face, the symbol of the Order of the Sword, the symbol that Novena proudly wears and upholds. When Gloria calls out for her once more, this time fondly exasperated – Novena does have the habit of suddenly stopping and just stare at things that caught her attention – Novena resumes moving, hand trailing across the metal railings framing the sides of the bridge. Novena's positive she could navigate the HQ with a blindfold on, but she hasn't gotten around to trying that theory yet.

Maybe it was arrogant of her, but then again, she is raised within the walls of the HQ, along with the other orphans, her fellow Knights. They know the HQ halls and corridors like they know the back of their hands, know the people within it, and of course, they know their duty, the importance of pledging their life for the fulfilment of their Saviour's covenant with human kind

Novena and her superior finally made their way inside, the inside of the HQ far busier than the outside, with Knights and other personnel bustling from one place to another, harried and hurrying. The HQ is more akin to a beehive at the moment, but it was understandable; tomorrow is the Festival of the Blade, after all.

The celebration of Sparda's Rebellion, the celebration of Fortuna's founding.

"I'll go report to our illustrious General-" Gloria murmurs, taking a gentle hold of Novena's elbow. The Executive nods her head in the general direction of the medical bay, obviously wanting Novena to still report to her doctors to ensure her health and no demonic infection occurs despite having consumed a small bit of the Vital Star earlier. The Knights couldn't afford to lose their warriors; the populace of Fortuna would be in grave danger if it happens. "-While you go get checked up. I'll debrief you tonight."

Novena doesn't bother arguing. Besides, a nap – even if it's in the medical bay – seems tempting. A whole day of patrolling and their tiresome encounter with the horde had drained her quite horribly. "Understood, Executive."

Gloria smiles at her, fond and sultry at the same time. "You did well today. Take your rest." And with that, Gloria turns sharply on her heel, sashaying away to make her report.

So Novena does what is asked of her as well, easily making her way to the medical bay. Novena greets her fellow brothers and sisters of faith, nodding respectfully at her superiors but soon enough, she's in her destination. The medical bay isn't far from the entrance, after all.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged- what the hell happened to you?" Novena almost starts, not expecting the voice of one of her best friends.

She looks over, and true enough, Nero, the white-haired prodigy of a Knight, is seated on one of the cots as well, right arm wrapped up in a sling as usual. His customized red and blue coat is off, as well as his shirt, revealing his pale white torso swaddled up in a thick layer of bandages, making him a quarter mummy. Novena winces when she notices large tears on his back, stitched together but still gruesome.

"Language," Novena reprimands absently and reflexively as she makes her way to Nero's cot, carefully peering around his shoulder to look down at his new collection of scars. "What happened to you?"

Nero pushes her back, grimacing. "Hunt took me to Lamina Peaks," He begins and Novena winces further. Mitis Forest – her recent patrol route – might be swarming with more demons than anywhere else on the island, but the demons that made their lairs in the frozen tops of Lamina Peaks are absolutely brutal. Novena even heard whispers of a Greater Demon inhabiting the peaks. "Landed myself in a nest of Frosts."

Now, Frosts are familiar to Novena – having fought a few before – and they are, basically, ice lizards.

"They wouldn't happen to have forest-dwelling kin, would they?" Novena asks wryly, fiddling at her hair as she makes herself comfortable. The question was mostly for her own humour, already knowing the answer, but Nero's expression upon realizing was worth it, Novena chuckling at the white-haired Knight's expense.

Nero grimaces. "Yeah, they do. Assaults, they're called." He reaches over, unbothered, and tugs a little at one of the strands of Novena's hair. "Horrible hair dressers."

Novena, despite herself, chuckles. "That they are."

The two of them fall into comfortable silence, Novena moving to an empty cot beside Nero's while doctors looked her over, and making sure she's in tip top shape. It wouldn't do for Knights to fall ill just as the Festival draws near; all needs to be present, in order to hear the Gospel and renew their vows.

Novena turns back to Nero when she's cleared, clothes removed and taken to the acquisitions officers to be changed or fixed and her own torso the same state as the white-haired prodigy's.

"So, how's Kyrie?" The female Knight asks, and as she expected, Nero blushes quite furiously, his impressive scowl failing to hide the redness of his face. "Please tell me you finally bought that thing you've wanted to give her for a long time."

Novena might be raised within the HQ, but that doesn't mean she was isolated, especially during her trainee years. She remembers, how this spitfire of a boy, with pure white hair and the sky in his eyes joined her batch, outstripping them in sword fighting and demon hunting in just a few tests. Remembers how little Nero had stood up for her when some of the older trainees harassed her for her gender.

Nero, for all his rough and gruff attitude, is a good man, and an even better Knight. He's just really, really rough around the edges. It's one of the reason's Novena pursued his friendship, and it wasn't long until she succeeded, which promptly led her to meeting Nero's 'adoptive' family.

Kyrie, the sweetest girl in all of Fortuna, unmatched by her kindness and compassion. And Credo, the Order's current General and one of its best in all of the Order's history.

Nero glares at Novena, who only laughs because Nero's ears are horribly red, starkly visible against the pale white of his skin and hair. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up hag." He growls, but he softens immediately afterwards. Not surprising; any mention of his secret crush, Nero turns into a helpless puddle of goo.

Having known Nero and Kyrie for quite a handful of years, it's equal parts hilarious and exasperating to watch them dance around each other. Not that they're aware of what they're doing. As far as Novena knows, there are a few betting pools going on within the ranks, and no matter how unpopular Nero is, he is still one of the top Knights of the Order, despite his low rank, so people like to talk.

There are rumours of General Credo betting on 'marrying before the end of the year', but no one can confirm its authenticity.

Whether because they're too scared to confirm it or not, Novena doesn't know. She doesn't want to know either, to be honest, because it's one thing to ask your best friend about his courting advances, it's another thing to ask your superior about his younger sister's courtship.

Novena shakes her head, smiling as she reclines on her cot. "Best give it to her tomorrow." Novena comments, remembering Kyrie's ecstatic announcement of the honour bestowed upon her. "And don't be late. I'll rip you apart, the moment you hurt Kyrie."

"Ain't happening, hag." Nero returns, and the quiet steel in his voice assures Novena.

She would hate it if anything happens to Nero and Kyrie, her siblings in all but blood. She's lost her parents young (barely even a year old, according to her personal file) and she's lost a lot friends and peers to the demons crawling within their lands. She doesn't want to think about what would happen if she loses these two.

The two injured Knights fall into silence, not picking up anymore conversation as they settle in their spots. It's fine though, it's comfortable.

It's peaceful.