Hikaru spends most of his time amongst the local villages hiring artisans and tradesmen to both supply and renovate the keep. He offers financial compensation and a means to fight back against Kotowari. Knowing that they stand no chance against trained soldiers in open battle he trains them in the hit and run tactics of guerrilla warfare, hitting weak points and supply chains instead of direct confrontation.

He asks some of the others to help him, Armella was willing to teach hand to hand combat, Rhys was willing to show hit and run in the dark, Delilah was willing to show them how to disguise themselves and hide, and Ryuu taught them about personal pride. He uses their knowledge of local geography to help them find and gain advantageous places to strike and hide.

He also spends much of his time walking with the villagers working on their own farms and learning their skills. He sheds his normal garb for a simple haori and hakama with a small rice hat.

***

Delilah happily helps out when Hikaru explains his plans to her. She eagerly shows those who are interested (including the Wuxian refugees) the art of disguise. 

She makes use of the discarded clothes in the keep, as well as some alchemic and cosmetic tricks she keeps in her bag. But most of all is the confidence. Appearances are nothing if you don't believe it yourself. The best way to blend in is to pretend you're meant to be there in the first place...

One afternoon Rodrick brings his Salamanders back from the shadow realm to spend the night with their families. They've been working hard, and it's been a couple weeks worth of time for them... they've earned it. 

"Salamanders! I expect you to help train the others as you can. You've had vast amounts of time compared to them, so step up and help them. Show them some of the tricks you've learned!" 

With that message left to his men, he goes to find Hikaru... but not before ducking into his room at the castle and shifting into Rhys.

He finds Hikaru stands overlooking Delilah training the villagers and builders. Rhys walks up, his shirt hanging from his belt, his tattoos swirling in the late afternoon sun. "Hello, Hikaru, Ruby. How goes the training?"

She beams up at Rhys. "Rather well! Some of these students of mine are naturals. Could easily pull the wool over my eyes if I wasn't the one trainin' em." 

A few of them look uneasy at the elf, a few others surprised. But Delilah smiles at them, unfazed. "Our next teacher is here. Best get yourselves cleaned up. He's on a tight schedule, I'm sure..."

Rhys gives Ruby a silent nod and a smile, turning to look at the trainees. "You may call me Rhys. I have been asked to teach you about moving through the shadows. Remaining unseen. Hiding, and when the moment is right... striking hard and fast before slipping back into the dark. Listen to my words and teachings, and you will soon be a wraith among men... hiding where you thought impossible and moving under your enemy's very gaze."

As he speaks, he wanders around the training grounds sizing up the students, occasionally stopping and looking at a few a little closer before smirking and moving on, the entire time his arms clasped behind his back.

"Fifteen minutes, then meet me in the clearing of the western woods."

Rhys spins on his heels and kicks his glaive into the air, catching it without looking and walks toward the wall, using his glaive as a pole to vault himself over it.

Delilah smirks, watching the trainees scramble to make haste. She mumbles to Hikaru good naturedly, "He is a bit theatrical like his father, isn't he?" Looking toward the forest over the wall, she tilts her head. "I... might join the training, I think. Couldn't hurt, right?"

"Might as well! Couldn't hurt right?"

Within the next ten minutes, Delilah has packed up all her things and has made it to the clearing in the western woods. She looks around, seeing others starting to file in, and sits down patiently to wait.

Once everyone has made their way to the clearing, Rhys stands up from his hiding place at the base of a nearby tree, allowing himself to be seen. Instead of just his usual clothes, he is also wearing an odd looking cloak of sorts, mottled grays, greens, and browns all seem to blend together without ever fully mixing. The fabric itself is fairly shredded, and tucked into the rips and tears, is grass, twigs, and small pieces of bark. 

"Hiding is all about blending in. You want your surroundings to swallow you."

A few shocked gasps escape the people around the clearing. Delilah herself is even startled with how well Rhys was camouflaged. They all eagerly await his training... Hoping it will keep them alive just a little longer. Hoping what they learn can insure their victory.

Rhys spends the rest of the day showing them how to make the camouflage cloaks, how to best use them in different environments. How to creep from shadow to shadow, using the breeze and wind to help conceal your movement. How to crawl toward someone in the open, slowly and cautiously as to not draw their attention. He also teaches them knife play, misdirection and quick strikes. Targeting vital areas as well as nerve bundles to make the most out of smaller weapons that can be concealed easily. He shows them how to silently subdue someone, sneaking up from behind and taking them down in a chokehold or using a garrote or karambit blade. The entire evening, he dedicates his skills and theatrical talents to teaching.