[color=A0A0A0][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]

After departing the mausoleum, Fleuri returned to his own family's mausoleum to return the remaining flask.  He would need to remember to inform his family to restock the cache, lest they be caught unprepared if anyone were to ever desecrate his honored ancestors.  [i]Perhaps this time we should include a blessed dagger or a magical scroll or two,[/i] he thought as he hurried back to rejoin the other knights.  Before leaving, however, he checked again to make sure the entrance had remained locked and undisturbed.  When necromancers were involved, you could never be too careful.

The trip back to the Crown of Thaln was uneventful, yet Fleuri spent the entire journey filled with dread.  While he was still a little shaken up from the battle with Damon, he was more concerned by the realization that Gillian- that foul-mouthed, uncouth, irreverent living reliquary- was the one who had been keeping the princess company.  There was no doubt that his mentor Parnella- the person whom Gillian had picked up on all of those nasty traits- would have a good laugh when she heard about this.  Fleuri's embarrassment over this was such that he couldn't even look at the Crown Knights in the eyes when he returned their equipment.  It was a bit of a surprise, and a relief, when he got back to Candaeln and was able to confirm that Gillian didn't manage to get himself thrown into the dungeon.

Fleuri spent the rest of the night pondering about crime and punishment.  Tili would not go unpunished for her attempt to commit regicide, yet it seemed likely she'd be given some degree of leniency or mercy due to her having been blackmailed into doing it.  However, it made Fleuri wonder if any of Jeremiah's bandits had similar sympathetic motives or sob stories.  What about others, like that still at-large guard captain who sold her town out to bandits?  Were any of them, in the committing of their crimes, simply trying to provide for or protect loved ones?  Would they receive similar leniency if captured?  If offered an opportunity for partial redemption like Tili was, would any of them take it?

Perhaps if he studied Reon's teachings more, he would find his answer.

---

Fleuri didn't get quite as much sleep as he had hoped, largely because he had stayed up pondering things.  The next morning, while attending to his now blood-stained formalwear, Fleuri was summoned to a lecture by Tyaethe.  He initially wasn't sure if it'd be about ballroom etiquette or fighting undead, but judging by the labeled figures that Tyaethe drew, it was clearly the latter.  [i]I suppose that fight with Damon could've gone better,[/i] Fleuri thought to himself.  Tyaethe circled the figures, three with a red circle, three with a blue one, and asked what those groups represented.

[i]Blue circle are sapient humanoids, red circle are undead,[/i] Fleuri wordlessly concluded, thinking back to his early education at the hands of Reonites.  Jarde was the first to answer, incorrect about the first point, although it was true that sapient undead and vampires could easily pass themselves off as living beings.  Gillian was the second to answer, giving a confident, long-winded, and characteristically vulgar explanation.

[i]Why is Gillian here anyway?  He wasn't part of the mission, and those Reon-blessed arms of his are probably quite effective against all variants of undead,[/i] Fleuri wondered, glancing at the living reliquary.  [i]Did he say something stupid to Tyaethe when they were conversing at the ball?[/i]

After Gillian finished, Fleuri raised his hand to give his answer.  "Those in the blue circle are sapient beings.  Those in the red circle are undead."

[@Raineh Daze][@PaulHaynek][@ghastlyInc]