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[hider=Before boarding]

Cambiel's arrival had caused a commotion, but he had been expecting that. In fact, he'd been rehearsing in his head what answers he would give to the questions he most anticipated. What he hadn't anticipated was one of the monsters, a humanoid covered in intricate scars, storming off in a huff, though not before threatening to sew his mouth shut. [i]What a charming woman,[/i] he thought bitterly, making a mental note to stay away from her. He didn't know if she was going to make good on her threat, and he was in no rush to find out.

[color=gray]“Hey, this angel is part of our group too? Are you sure that’s wise?”[/color] Another of the monsters, a were-rabbit, spoke out. [color=gray]“No, in fact, why would an angel take interest in our mission in the first place? Is there something you’re not telling us here?”
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Cambiel opened his mouth to give her one of his rehearsed lines when he heard someone else speak for him. [colour=ed145b]"...Are you blind? He's an angel of Eros, the Goddess of Love. You know, THE most revered known Goddess and also the only Goddess that even anti-mamono humans allow worship? Also the one that openly gives blessing to Mamono couples?"[/colour]

Well, that made everything a lot easier. Lying wasn't strictly a sin, especially when you were lying to further the Chief God's goals, but it still made him uncomfortable whenever he did it. He turned to see who his saviour was and was greeted by a Goblin.

[colour=ed145b]"Okay, him being a male is also a weird question but he's still a representative of Eros."[/colour]

Speak for yourself, Cambiel thought. A male goblin questioning the existence of a male angel was really throwing stones in a glass house.

[colour=ed145b]"Now, if he's a representative of the Chief God instead..."[/colour] the goblin drew a thumb across his neck. Slightly concerning, but from Cambiel's perspective, death was the least of his worries when it came to monsters. It was what they did to you while you were alive that was the real concern.

[colour=ed145b]"But good to have an angel for this mission will be great! We'll leave all the diplomacy to you then."[/colour]

Well, that went better than expected. The goblin was strange and he had technically threatened him, but he had stood up for him, and for that he was grateful. At least he wasn't getting mad at him just for being an angel.

[colour=ed145b]"By the way, why were you late? Your kind rarely does-"[/colour] The Goblin stopped itself and smiled. Cambiel decided he didn't like his smile one bit.

[colour=ed145b]"Ah~, I know, the choirs were hesitant to let you go?"[/colour]

Oh no.

[colour=ed145b]"So they wanted you to make them sing and praise Eros first, hmm, yeah, I totally get it then. It's all good!"[/colour]

Oh, please, [i]no.[/i]

[colour=ed145b]"By the way, did you do Goddess Eros as well? How was it?"[/colour]

By instinct, Cambiel flinched away from the Goblin's over-friendly touch. He wanted to say something, to tell the Goblin he had everything all mixed up, that it wasn't like that, but his tongue completely betrayed him, and the only sound to escape him was a mortified [colour=gold]"Huh?"[/colour]. Barely five minutes he had known this beast, and it was already accusing him of... doing [i]that[/i] to his fellow angels!? They were his sisters! Or... well, if they came from Eros, would they be his half-sisters? Cousins? Whatever! They were related to him somehow, and the very thought that they would even [i]imagine[/i] each other in that way was disgusting!

Almost as disgusting as that [i]smell.[/i] Cambiel broke focus with the Goblin as a vicious cloud of pheromones assaulted him, and he looked up to see, of all creatures, an Orc standing before him. Not just an Orc. If that stench was any indication, then the group was to be accompanied by a High Orc. Oh, how wonderful. Trapped in a wooden box for goodness-knows-how-long with that pungent odour occupying his nostrils. He'd endure it for now, but if he found one single Devil Bug on board, he would be holding that brute responsible. Thankfully, the Orc seemed more interested in the Goblin than himself, and Cambiel took the opportunity to quietly excuse himself. The less attention he drew, the better, and if those two were occupied with fighting each other, they wouldn't think about him. Besides, he needed to find something to plug his nose with.

Unsurprisingly, it was the human who greeted him with the most kindness. Shizuka, he called himself. Cambiel returned his kindness with a quick bow and a quiet [colour=gold]”Thank you, sir knight.”[/colour]. But despite his kind words, he noticed the suspicious look in the knight’s eyes. He suspected something. Most of them did. It was going to take more than a uniform to earn their trust. But earn their trust, he must. Whatever possessed them to help humans, the Valkyries needed to be informed.

With the introductions over and done with, it was time to make his way aboard. He didn’t have much hope on it being a pleasant journey, but with a but of luck and some favour from the Gods, he wouldn’t have to put up with it long.

[/hider]

Two days doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but when you’re a spy trapped in an enclosed space surrounded by enemies who may or may not have figured out your true identity, two days may as well be an eternity. It was almost a relief when he saw the Varjan Fleet. At least now he could focus on the enemy in front of him, rather than the one behind him.

It still didn’t make any sense to him. Why turn against your fellow man like this? There were plenty of monstrous realms to attack instead. Did the Varjo not realise that all they were doing was creating the perfect environment for monsters to come back in, or worse, driving the locals into the arms of the Demon Lord? Bearing that in mind, Cambiel had no problems cutting down the invaders. As of this moment, they were schismatics, traitors to the holy cause, ignoring their duties and aiding the enemies of the Chief God for the sake of their own personal gain. They had strayed from the path, and Cambiel would correct them.

His hand found its way to his bow. How ironic, for a soldier of the Order to be slain by such a divine weapon.

But Skarsneek apparently had a different plan. He wanted to hit them himself, while the rest of the group ran off to warn the villagers. He didn’t doubt the Goblin’s bravery, or his fighting skill, but it felt like too much of a risk to send him off on his own.

[colour=gold]”And leave you to face them alone? Not likely!”[/colour] the angel scoffed. [colour=gold]”I’m coming with you. We can slow them down more if there are two of us. And besides, maybe seeing me might show them they’re on the wrong side”[/colour]