A/N: OMG! Finally updated! 100,000 apologies for making you guys wait! . I received a review and a fave today which sent me into a guilt mode, so here's the eighth chapter. I didn't want to confuse ppl in making them think I didn't update, so yeah... I'm leaving the 'author's note' chapter in place. This really is chapter eight, but I don't want to delete it. I really hope I did okay on this one. There is a part in it I do not own. I fail at life and I love making my fanfics a part of the storyline. I will leave markers in what isn't mine and belongs solely to the game with my captioning and describing of what they're doing. I apologize in advance, but I enjoy doing it; I am very much canon, so I rarely change storylines. Mind you, I created the fillers between that one scene... so if I'm innaccurate with what everyone else thinks happened, I am truly very sorry. I am one person with a limited amount of thinking and I don't know how well I capture the characters' personalities to begin with. So, without further delay, here's chapter 8! Enjoy and review, XD I kid of course. Review only if you desire.

Rain poured through the white and green tiled streets of Olacion. A figure cloaked in a white priest uniform moved slowly toward the shrine. They staggered with each step, nearly falling. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, they fell to their knees, clutching their chest and breathing hard. Small sobs could be heard under the cloak. The voice of a woman cried to the gods asking for assistance to make it to the shrine.

The woman regained her composure and stood up straight as she walked into the shrine. The doors opened with a loud creak, then closed with a slam that echoed throughout the chapel. The woman walked toward the first pew where she found a small child sleeping. His blond hair spread upon the wooden surface. The woman looked down upon the boy and stroked his hair gently.

"Kain," she said softly. The boy opened his eyes quickly and looked up at the face of the one person he had longed to see for six months.

"Priestess Enjela!" he exclaimed as he jumped from the pew to stand before her. Enjela smiled down lovingly at him. "What…what's wrong?" he asked with concern. "You always smile so sadly when there's something wrong."

Enjela averted her gaze to the ground before them. "I have some very disturbing news, Kain," she said softly to the point that Kain had to strain his ears. His piercing green eyes tried to probe into her thoughts, but, as always, she was unreadable to him. She took a breath before turning away from him. "I have contracted the horrible disease that we have worked so hard to find a cure for," she said without glancing back. "I must leave this place. I don't want to burden anyone else with this plague."

Kain's eyes widened. "What?! No! I can't do this on my own!" Tears began streaming down his face at a rapid rate. He began to step toward her but she glanced back at him, which paralyzed his movement.

"I want you…to lead the people of Radiata. You are now the true leader of the order. Watch over all of them, and protect them from harm. Comfort the sorrowed, and give blessings to the humbled. You are the one people will look to from now on," she said looking directly at his eyes.

"But, what about the Stone of Miracles…?! I thought you went on a search for it! What happened?" he felt as if his knees would give out. She was going to leave again, and this time, she wouldn't come back.

She turned again toward the small child and placed her hand upon his head. "Lead them, Kain. Be strong, and you'll be fine. The gods have revealed to me that you will be the successor of this order. I must leave now, but worry not, I will always be by your side."

The woman stood up once again and left out of the chapel in silence. The boy reached his arm out to her, willing her to return as the tears continually flowed down his pale face. He was grounded to where he stood. It was as if her presence alone had paralyzed him and taken away his ability to stop her.

Flau had decided to retreat to her house. When she arrived, she began slamming things around, furious about the entire situation. Eon had kissed her, Kain told her to stay away from him, and she was now forced to choose some sort of path that seemed farfetched. No matter what anyone said, however, she was unconvinced to change the way she acted or did things.

After breaking a few replaceable possessions, she left her house and went to confront Nyx. A few unwanted thoughts tried to suppress the action, but she ignored them. On her way to Nyx's room, she spotted a servant from Radiata Castle making their way toward the Vampire Club.

Flau followed the mysterious visitor whom walked all the way to the back of the club and through the door toward the office. Flau creaked open the door slightly to look into the hallway. The man knocked firmly upon the office door. A clear "Enter," was heard from Ortoroz.

The man stepped inside the door, allowing Flau to quickly access the hallway. She made her way to the door, grabbing the handle before the office closed all the way. Within the room, she could hear the man address who he was. She grew slightly impatient, but waited for the man to explain himself.

"Lord Larks has summoned you to a meeting in Radiata Castle," he began. "All the guild leaders are required to attend this important conference. We will be discussing matters that deal with the non-humans. If you accept, we will have a guard escort you when you reach the castle," he finished.

Ortoroz was handed a small envelope with Radiata's seal upon it, allowing him entrance into Radiata Castle. The servant then bowed and walked toward the door. Flau quickly moved from her position toward the staircase that led to the dungeons below. The servant exited the room and stopped for a minute. He caught sight of Flau's shadow from the candlelight as she moved slightly, more out of sight.

His firm footsteps approached where she hid, but they stopped immediately when the door to the club opened and several people walked in. She recognized a few of the voices as the entered. She distinctly heard Nocturne, and then, after a minute, she heard Elmo's voice along with Joaquel. She froze in her spot knowing they would pass right by her. The Radiata servant left, leaving Flau a bigger problem to deal with. She raced down the staircase and hid behind a few crates. The trio passed by and went into the Void Community torture room where they met daily.

She let out a sigh of relief and stood, beginning to walk up the staircase again. "A meeting…? Maybe I should eavesdrop, but it's so difficult to get into Radiata Castle without being spotted by anyone," she thought aloud. "If it's about the non-humans, then that must mean…" she trailed off.

"A war," said the voice that she wanted so badly to disappear from her memories. She turned looked over her shoulder to see Eon leaning against the crates beside her.

"How in heaven's name did you get here?!" she asked backing away from him and turning red at the same time as she stood up. "What are you…some sort of stalker?! I'm going to call the guards if you keep following me."

"I told you: I've been assigned to follow you. Besides, there'll be others given the same job. Maybe I should make sure they don't interfere. However, I believe the situation won't matter anymore considering our standing with the non-humans," he said with a smirk.

"I know that! So, is Nyx going to call the watch on me off or not?" she asked impatiently.

"I don't know really. His kind doesn't exactly enjoy getting involved in human affairs unless they're in some kind of debt or equal to those whom they serve." He shifted himself to sit upon one of the stacked crates. "However, looks like now, we're all united. There's no point in distancing guilds now. If a war breaks out, then it looks like we all have no choice but to fight. Are you in?"

"I wonder what started this war anyway…" she said thoughtfully. "I'm going to find Rynka. Don't follow me, got it? I'm not going to visit Kain anymore. I've got other things to worry about."

"What other things?" he asked suspiciously.

She rolled her eyes. "I really hate to do this to you, but—" WHACK! Eon fell to the floor as Flau relinquished her fist. She moved quickly running up the stairs, evading glances as she made her way toward her house. Upon reaching the balcony where she, Rynka, and Cody lived, she spotted them gearing up. Cody was clinging to Ganz as he was tying a band around his head.

"Hey, what's going on?" Flau asked, looking immediately to Rynka.

"Something's not right here. We're going to scout out who's behind this rumored war. You in, Flau?" Rynka said, making the conversation brief.

"Absolutely!" Flau responded. "But umm…" she said, looking to Cody and scratching her head. "What about Cody?" she asked, glancing back to Rynka.

"He'll be safe here. I've trained him enough to know what to do if someone tries to kidnap him. Void is protective of their own kind, so I'm not too worried," she said. "Ortoroz will most likely watch over him."

The three of them left through the alleyways. Flau smiled as they neared a wall. Her and Rynka jumped gracefully over the top, landing crouched on the ground. Flau looked to Rynka, the third set of footsteps landing was absent. She turned toward the wall as well as Rynka. There was a clambering, scratching noise as Ganz climbed up the top, looking over at them before trying to jump down. His foot caught on the ledge of the wall and he plowed headfirst into a trash bin before landing on his butt. He gave Rynka and Flau an embarrassed expression as they shook their heads with disapproval.

Flau smiled and leaned down to him, bending her knees so that she was at his height on the ground. She prodded his stomach with her hand, making the gesture that he needed to lose some of his weight. She held in a laugh as she stood back up, still smiling. He gave her an offended look, but then sighed, scratching the back of his head as his embarrassment disappeared.

The memory played over in her head, causing Flau to smile. Rynka looked to her curiously as they ran and Flau jerked her head back at Ganz, causing Rynka to place a hand over her mouth, letting out a few silent giggles. They really liked having Ganz around. He was a good person, but they also knew he too would be laughing at his previous predicament.

The night did well to cloak them, allowing easier access to the streets that they passed. No one would've stopped them anyway; not at night. Void members were proven to be stronger then. Bandits had inborn abilities with the night that gave them precisely what they needed to become dangerous predators, much like the black panther who hides in wait.

Rynka informed them of what was going on as they traveled across the grassy plains. "I heard rumors of a brigade moving out. Had to pump that pipsqueak Elmo to get the dig on it…" she said, walking a little slower. She then added. "Didja hear? A man spotted that kid, Jack, and that knight, Ridley leaving Radiata an hour or so ago…" she added, looking back to them.

"M-Master Jack!? Lady Ridley!?" Ganz exclaimed, stopping in his tracks. "Lady Rynka, did anyone see which way they were going?" he asked, looking to them.

Rynka shrugged. "The guy refused to follow. Instead, he reported right to the castle. Half the story was gone in an instant. Although, word is, neither is ever returning. They've been marked as traitors to the humans. At least, that's what the word is 'round the streets," she said after stopping and turning to him. "You knew Jack too? That kid who was always pokin' around Void Community?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip.

"I did. Master Jack was one of my subordinates of the Radiata Knights. As well as Lady Ridley. I can't see why they'd do something so dramatic as to betray the humans. How can that be?"

"A war…" Flau said, looking up suddenly. "I eavesdropped on Ortoroz a bit today. He was being summoned to the castle for an important meeting tonight. Do you guys think that…?" she asked.

Rynka nodded after thinking about it. "Maybe. It's definitely probable. What do you think, Ganz?"

"I'm not sure what Radiata is planning, but I am sure that Master Jack and Lady Ridley are not blind to these occurrences. Let's move out and find that brigade. Maybe it will provide us with the answers necessary to fill in the blanks!"

Rynka and Flau nodded before the three of them ran off, continuing their trek into the wilderness. Rynka put her arm out, stopping Ganz and Flau, looking to the ground below. She knelt down and ran her hand along the sand on the trail before standing. "These tracks are fresh. We're not far from them," she whispered in an almost inaudible voice before continuing at a much quieter pace, Flau and Ganz following suit.

(Game Play)

Ganz led the way now, eyes sharp. He stopped abruptly, as did the others upon hearing voices echoing over a rock face. He stood, watching and listening with Rynka and Flau right behind him. Several, large tents were set up around an even larger, ornate one where a tall, tanned man with a small crop of white hair and heavy armor was sitting within. Two guards flanked either side of him talking and joking with each other. The three bandits spotted another set of rocks where they could get a closer view and a better hearing distance. On three, they dodged from the ones they were hiding behind to the destined mound, backs against the mound of rocks. The three of them now leaned out from the mound and listen in. Rynka peered over the rock, looking at them

She spotted the man clearly, now able to take in his sinister, brown eyes and devilishly malevolent grin. "The guy in that tent… What the heck is he up to?" she asked, narrowing her eyes only slightly to get a better look, trying to see right through him.

"I don't know for sure, but I do know that he's plotting something. He's up to no good," Ganz said, narrowing his eyes as well. Cross; he was more than just a little devious. Ganz remembered how the man loved to rub Ganz's nose in the fact that he had managed to become a favorite of Dynas. It was just a little chagrining to Ganz, but he didn't join the knights in the first place to play favorites.

They all quieted and were able to hear the knights speaking to Cross clearly over the rocks; it acted similar to an amplify theatre. "But that's when they all appeared!" one of them exclaimed.

Cross looked to him and said, "We brought the blood orcs all that way, just so we could unleash them on the City of Flowers…" He paused and added, "Who would have guessed those buffoons would be wandering around there?"

All the while, the three of them were inching closer and closer to the tent, making their way behind the one Cross was sitting in. With their backs to the far wall of the entrance, they quietly snaked over to the right side of the tent, listening more intently. Ganz felt his blood begin to boil a little, his anger rising at the words he heard coming out of the twat's mouth.

"Them showing up was a real surprise!" the knight exclaimed.

Cross smirked and said, "You're telling me. What a disaster that was! Ha, ha!" He continued to laugh and the other knights slowly joined in before they were all laughing at the crude humor.

Ganz turned away from the entrance's direction, looking down in anger, but controlling it very well. "Sir Cross brought that blood orc? What was he thinking? It's his fault Lady Ridley was hurt…" He stepped away from the tent, his voice still in a whisper. "Unbelievable! Everything is clear to me now! This settles it…"

The girls listened carefully before following suit and stepping away from the tent wall as well, looking to him.

"I know what I must do!" Ganz exclaimed quietly, running to the back of the tent and beginning to leave the campsite.

"Wait, Ganz! Wait for us!" Flau cried, her and Rynka turning to follow him.

(End of Game Play)

He paused halfway down the road, doubled over, hands on his knees, breathing harshly. Rynka and Flau caught up, their speed much faster than his. "What's going on? Why did you suddenly run away?" Rynka asked, looking to him with concern and urgency all the same.

He looked up, finally catching his breath. "I must find out… exactly what Cross is up to," he said, looking to them pleadingly. "I fear that Jack and Ridley… may be in danger…"

"Where were you planning to go? You can't possibly believe you'll find them out in the wilderness. No one knows where they went…" Flau said, shaking her head in disappointment.

Ganz stood up and nodded. "Y-you're right…" he said, sighing. "What do I do then? I can't just stand here and do nothing. I must find Master Jack and Lady Ridley. We could try to investigate Cross farther."

Rynka and Flau looked to each other and then smiled. "Ganz, ever wondered whether or not we knew our way around the castle?" Rynka asked, a grin on her face.

Ganz stared up at them before fixing his hunched posture. "That sounds good too," he said simply, feeling just a little embarrassed.

"This'll take a bit of planning, but we'll be able to get into the castle within a few days…" Rynka said, thinking about it. "By then, we should have a bit more info thanks to Void's gathering abilities. Most likely, Ortoroz will leak some important stuff," she added, motioning them to follow her back to Radiata. "In any case, I believe we've gathered quite a good amount of information from this small expedition," she said, smirking evilly and slamming her fist into her hand triumphantly.

Flau giggled a little and the three of them made their way back to Radiata, each left to their own thoughts. Flau's eyes wandered to the ever brilliant sky above. She smiled idly, closing her eyes. Suddenly, Kain's voice filled her mind and she staggered as she walked. Opening her eyes, she found she was still walking behind Rynka and Ganz. She bit her lip, choking down the tears. She missed that voice; that angelic music of his deep vibrato that lingered in his pale, smooth throat. She looked down, fighting an urge to picture it as thoughts arose in her head of what she wanted to do to that throat. What was with all of those sudden thoughts?

Her mind flitted back to the present as the three of them stopped beneath the street light they always rendezvoused at. Rynka nodded to them with a smile. "I'm retiring for the night. Flau, you're on watch again?" she asked, pleading slightly. Flau nodded mechanically, eager for several reasons to take watch.

Ganz saluted them both and said, "I believe I'll train a little longer before turning in." The three of them said goodnight before parting their separate ways. Flau was numbly walking, trying to suppress the urge to run. She needed time to gather herself, trying to think of what she'd say before approaching the kind, beautiful priest…

Her thoughts were interrupted when something jumped from the overhang of a walkway, landing before her. The catlike eyes shining in the dark only added to her mind's unease. She took a step back, but found that the purple-clad ninja merely mimicked her like a mirror, stepping forward. She shivered, finding this very stimulating. He turned several degrees as she continued walking back, he smiled beneath his mouth piece, eyes triumphant.

She tried to analyze his gaze, but found herself against the wall of the bridge overhang. Her body went frigid, hands pressed against the cold bricks. He didn't stop there, he walked until he was pressed against her, hand reaching up behind her neck and cupping her cheek. She moved her head to the side, now able to hear every detail of his breathing. It made her shudder even more. His other hand found its way around her waist, snaking around to her lower back and holding it there. He lifted his face to her ear and whispered three simple words, "I want you…"