A/N: Hello, again. Another overdue update, but here it is! Hopefully this chapter isn't complete and utter scheiß. Been busy again with life and all its wondrous intersections. Here's to hoping that my writing gets up to snuff again.

Ridley Silverlake fixated her green gaze on Lord Larks. She stood beside Jack in Larks' room as he disclosed a mission for the two of them. It was difficult to not miss Ganz during this debriefing. Through her years of training, she had mastered an expressionless face, but now it was impossible to keep her eyes from tearing up.

Larks did not seem to notice her dismay and continued with listing objectives, glancing between her and Jack as he leafed through several pages of hefty documents. It took a great deal of fancy footwork to pull Jack from Vancoor for this mission, but Larks agreed to compensate Vancoor for the borrowing of one of their Sergeants.

Glancing away from Larks, Jack examined the familiar, tidy room, noting the overstocked bookshelf and the neatly arranged papers on the desk. He noticed that near nothing had changed since his departure. Although, there were definitely more maps laid out over the walls and small red flags pegged into certain areas of the map. There were opposing green flags strewn out that seemed to surround Radiata Castle. It took him a moment to realize that the green flags represented the non-humans. Looking back on the war, he realized how much progress he helped the faerie creatures accomplish. Surely, they would have been crushed without his help. He didn't even want to consider what would have happened to Ridley.

His eyes returned to Larks who had finished the debriefing.

"So we are to attempt to reopen trade with the Dwarves?" Ridley asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Indeed. Because of your… deep association with the non-humans, we have decided to elect you two as Radiata's Ambassadors in representation of humans."

Jack tensed. "Wait a minute. Humans were the reason why the war started in the first place. Electing us as representatives may only function to solidify the wall between humans and faeries."

Larks sighed. "I understand that, Jack. But as it stands, we have little choice. I realize that we need the non-humans just as much as they may need us."

"They don't 'need' us. They're fine without us. The only result of this negotiation is a possible repeat of history. Someday, another Cross will be born. And when that day happens, they will cause the end of both humanity and the non-humans."

Quirking an eyebrow, he leaned forward. "Another… Cross?"

"Okay, I don't know if you understand this or not… but Cross was a warmonger. Yes, I know he was a great knight, but he sent many humans out to die and couldn't shed enough fae blood. Surely, another bloodthirsty general will be born."

"If we don't settle the drift between the humans and nonhumans now, then that end certainly will happen."

Jack sighed. "I… I would love to accommodate, but there are a lot of trifles between the fae and their own rulers right now." He placed a hand on his head, closing his eyes. There had to be a way to negotiate healthily with the non-humans. If only Nogueira were still alive… He had a feeling Lord Zane would not be so welcoming to the idea of human interaction with the non-humans.

"We should talk to Lord Zane, Jack."

"I know that," he agreed, sighing heavily. "But he was barely reasonable the first time we met with him. And with Gawain gone, I don't think we'll make any headway with negotiations."

Ridley nodded. "I know… it's a longshot, but it's something we should at least attempt."

Jack turned to her, and then said, "Your father will have endless words with me if you attend."

She glared and rolled her eyes. "My father has no more say over what I do. When I left the first time, I shed any control he had over me."

Jack nodded. "We should get moving then…"

"Alright."

The two of them exited, heading to their rooms, donning armor and shields, equipping themselves with weapons and then prepared to head out. Larks closed his eyes, the wrinkles of worry encroaching his face. He hoped this would be the last necessary push for peace. He did hope that someone like Cross Ward would not rise up again, but it would be near impossible to prevent. They lost many good men to this war. He wished Dynas were still around. The mystery of his death still bothered Larks. Dynas had been healthy and quite astute in battle. It was hard to swallow the fact that he had been slain. Cross told him that Dynas had let his guard down… but with all that experience, it just didn't feel right to believe any kind of magic, curse, arrow or sword had pierced his flesh so easily.

Larks took a sip of his tea and sat back contemplatively. The tea was already cold. All he heard was the ticking of the clock behind him. He glanced to the papers lining his desk and sought to distract his thoughts.

Pen in hand, he scrawled his name over documents, skimming them over and setting them aside. Still, even work had a hard time distracting his thoughts.

Flau Hewitt wandered about Void Community, questioning whether or not she should tell someone she was leaving. There would be inquiries; certain things she did not wish to disclose would be brought up. Her intentions were grounds for exile. Nyx had warned her against association with Kain and this was strictly going against that order. She was doing one worse and seeking the woman who kept Void's activity to a minimum. With her return there would be riots and the revival of an inquisition. Olacion wasn't built on a clean slate of peace, love and the gods. It was built upon order and strict obedience. Surely, most of Radiata would be against an inquisitorial clergy, but Enjela was not remembered for her cruelty against sinners. She was a woman of peace and unity.

Flau thought about her neck for a moment and then left; she would rather keep the appendage above her shoulders than be hunted. As she turned to leave toward Vareth, there was a whimper in the dark, that stopped her abruptly.

Straining her hearing, she heard another sob and approached the lottery stand, long since closed after dark. The sobs grew louder and the moonlight pricked a touch of purple hair and green linen. Beneath the counter, a young boy was crouched in hiding.

Immediately, Flau recognized Cody and pulled him out against protest of his flailing arms and legs and hushed him after setting him on the ground. "By the gods, Cody! It's just me!" she hissed, looking around and making sure he hadn't drawn any unwanted attention. Jared wobbled past, muttering something about being cheated, but didn't bother stopping to interfere.

Returning her gaze to Cody, she let out a sigh and blinked. His eyes were bloodshot. He'd been crying immensely and he was shaking and dirty, covered from head to toe in soot. "What happened? What's wrong? Where's Rynka?" She kept a firm hold on his shoulders, afraid that if she let go, Cody would fall forward and pass out.

It took him several attempts to speak; he gasped between words, trying to calm himself. "She's… gone…" he wailed, hugging Flau around her shoulders.

Flau's eyes widened and she lifted him from the ground. Rynka was gone? How? Why? Did someone take her? She wanted to ask more questions, but was suddenly bombarded with the care of Cody.

Glancing right and then left, she dodged into the street and headed toward Vareth Institute. Somehow, it felt that Void Community was no longer safe.

She passed several of her own without a word, ignoring anything they said as she ran. Rynka's child couldn't be trusted with anyone in Olacion either. Vareth was too close for comfort to Void Community. She darted toward Vancoor. Perhaps leaving him with the strongest person she knew was the best option. Most of the run was a blur. She was through Vancoor's doors before she registered their arrival. Thanos glared up at her, his apathetic eyes surveying the new visitor.

He gave her a once-over and leaned back as she stepped forward. "Can I help you?" he asked gruffly, hoping her story might shock him out of his boredom. Unlikely, but he was hopeful. "I need to speak with the Chief…" Flau said between breaths. She pulled Cody from her shoulder and put him down beside her. He looked up at Thanos dazedly. The only thing he could think of was that mommy was gone and he was alone.

Thanos looked to Cody and then back to Flau. "May I ask why?" He crossed his arms, planting one of his boots on his desk and tipping the chair back. "It's a matter involving Void and Olacion."

He tried to stifle a chuckle, but failed. "You do realize that there's always something between those guilds, right?"

"This matter involves a child! Rynka's gone missing and I can't leave Cody with anyone else right now."

"Why's that? Aren't all you Void bandits in cahoots with each other?"

"I'm not sure, actually."

"Look, missy. The Chief can't be bothered with something so minimal."

Flau rolled her eyes. He obviously didn't understand the current events in the north part of town. Cody was hiding from someone in his own neighborhood. Flau assumed that Rynka had been assaulted or kidnapped by someone in Void. And to keep Cody from getting in a bad situation, he couldn't stay in Olacion. If Rynka became a target of Void, her son certainly wasn't going to be treated kindly. Especially if Rynka was to be interrogated, they might try to use Cody as leverage. Unfortunately, it was too much to explain to this receptionist.

"Can I talk to a sergeant or something?"

Thanos set the chair back on the floor and dug through his desk, pulling out a stack of papers and slapping them on the desk. A dust cloud formed above the heap and Flau coughed, waving the dust away. Cody winced, sneezing once. "These are all the jobs currently pending for an applicant." He had an amused smirk as he talked. "You want something done, you've gotta fill one of these papers out and submit 'em. There's no guarantee that it'll be picked up by anyone, but you can hope. Babysitting isn't really an appeasing job unless the price is right. Y'know. Easy money. You got the green, then you've got the scheme. No reward equals no job, got it?"

Cody's eyes were as big as dinner plates as he looked at the size of the stack. "You mean… you won't be able to help me find my mommy?" he asked, looking to Thanos.

Thanos tried to ignore the frown spreading on the boy's face and sighed, dumping the paper back into the drawer and snapping it shut. He stood, stretched and stomped up a row of stairs. Flau stood there at a loss. What now? She couldn't very well take Cody with her. She started to leave the building until Thanos rumbled down the stairs followed by a tall soldier with an eye patch and heavy armor. The noise drew Flau and Cody to a halt. Turning, her jaw dropped at the appearance of Gerald. She stepped instinctively in front of Cody, shielding him from sight.

"Heard that Rynka disappeared. Want me to look into it?" he offered, his piercing eye scrutinizing Flau as if looking for fault.

"You don't need to trouble yourself," she said, trying to avoid any affiliation with Void.

"Look, it's part of the job. Someone goes missing, we look for 'em. Sound fair? To my knowledge, she has a son that might be in need of protection."

Cody peeked out from behind Flau and looked up to the tall sergeant. He glanced down and his entire expression changed. A smile spread on his face and his eye grew big with admiration. "Hey, kid! Would you like to stay in Vancoor Theatre for a bit?"

Taken in by the appearance of a real warrior, Cody forgot all about the bad things that transpired and nodded, a smile growing on his own face. "Yeah!"

"Good! Thanos, the kid can stay in my room."

Thanos nodded. "I gotcha." He motioned up the stairs for Cody and led him to Gerald's room. Once they were gone, Gerald started asking Flau what she knew about Rynka's whereabouts. She disclosed the disaster in Septem Cave and told him of her assumption that Rynka's disappearance might have something to do with that. Gerald took note of all he could and assured her that he would do what he could to find Rynka.

After Gerald departed, Flau became aware of the turned events. She could no longer return to Void. At least not as a member. Without Rynka, it seemed like foreign grounds and enemy territory. Considering that Cody was safe, Flau decided to head to Void Community one more time and search for Rynka herself. At least she had told someone else before heading in without informing another.

With no time to lose, she darted back to Void, knowing she would get there before Gerald what with all her shortcuts. Dodging out of the theater, she jumped down a chute behind a barrage of trash and headed through an underground passage, running too fast to hear the stamping of her footsteps against the small stream of water beneath her feet. Eventually, she jumped out from behind another barrage of trash, flipping in the air and landing on her feet which didn't stay grounded for too long. At once, she ran through a long passageway and entered the Vampire Club. She waited to be attacked, but everything appeared to be as usual. The bar was filled with its perpetual drunks and visitors.

Servia looked up with a smile. "Hey, honey. Can I get you something to drink?"

Flau shook her head.

"Everything alright, darlin'?"

Flau gave a nod and walked into the game room, shuffling past a game of billiards and ducking beneath a group of drunks playing darts. She headed for the conference room and found no sign of anything; not even Ortoroz. Her mind shifted to Nyx. Would he know anything? Rounding on the door, she left into the hallway and approached the gargoyle statue, running a hand carefully along its wings and eventually finding the switch. At once, the door opened and admitted the young bandit.

A chill ran over her spine in the darkness. The powerful aura once again crept over her being. She shuddered and continued, trying to remember her objective, but the aura stifled her thinking. Step by step, she recognized the ultraviolet light glowing from Nyx where his legs should have been and approached, falling to one knee and bowing her head. She was unwelcomed, but figured some niceties might help her situation. It was only when he spoke, did she realize Ortoroz was also here. Icy fear crawled up her neck and she realized that barging in must have been a mistake.

"It seems that we're not alone anymore," Ortoroz said with a cold laugh.

Nyx nodded. "I could sense her arrival when she touched the statue. We will have to postpone our discussion."

"I understand. But please do not forget what I have said so far. I would hate to repeat myself," Ortoroz snapped, but it sounded more like a joke, especially when Nyx made a sound like a hiccupped roar, sounding similar to laughter. Footfalls initiated Ortoroz's exit, but were replaced by a pair that moved toward her. At once she was pulled to her feet and then from the ground as Sonata suspended her in the air by the neck and shoulder. Nyx zoomed into view, white eyes glaring angrily.

"She is only armed with her butterfly dagger," Sonata said, unlatching the knife from her belt and setting her down. Without her weapon, she felt like a small mouse before these enormous beasts.

"Why have you come here?"

"To ask about Rynka," Flau coughed, feeling around her neck to be sure nothing had been damaged. "She's missing. Cody is alone." She made sure to emphasize the last bit.

Sonata looked to Nyx who kept his gaze steady on Flau. "That is correct. Rynka has been apprehended by us."

"Why?"

"For abandoning you, of course."

Rage filled her gut faster than she could speak. "Why!? She didn't do any real harm! I got lost and became injured! The important thing is that I'm alive, right!? You shouldn't punish her for not knowing!"

Nyx glowered at her. "It was not an order I made."

"Then who!?" she clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened. Sonata could hear the blood pulsing through Flau's veins. The anger, hostility, and rage. He growled threateningly. Flau took a step back, collecting herself. "Then who…?" she asked, feeling her throat scratch from screaming.

"We received the decree from Nocturne," Nyx answered calmly.

She turned on her heel, furious as her mind siphoned through the possible persons who could have told him about this mess. Her mind reached one conclusion. She started on her way out, but Sonata was on her heels. "Wait… punishment for interrupting," he snarled.

"Punishment?" she asked, glancing back, feeling the tense hand drape over her shoulder and yank her back. He dragged her to one of the walls and pulled one of the candlesticks sideways, opening a hole in the ground below. With one heavy push, Flau fell into the hole, heavily cradled in darkness. She tried to grab on the ledge, but was kicked away. The drop wasn't far, but the ledge was just out of her reach even if she jumped. With one last snarl, Sonata covered what little light seeped through from the room leaving her in total darkness.

Her thoughts flowed with rage and hatred. This had to be Eon's doing. Rynka would not have suffered so heavily unless Eon sought revenge. This love-struck boy needed to learn his place even if it was a heavy price to pay. But he had caused another to pay heftily; it shouldn't matter to him what there was to be done.

Not daring to move unless there was some kind of light, Flau curled up on the floor, wondering what to do. She could hunt Eon… or she could seek Enjela. Both had dire consequences. Her rage slowly turned to worry. How could she help Rynka? Could she really find Enjela? To do any of this, she would have to seek out Jack or Genius. Finding either one would prove to be impossible from here. Her punishment wasn't given a duration. With each moment wasted, Rynka's lifeline possibly shortened.

If ever there was a time for rest, she wished it would fall upon her. But anticipation and adrenaline surged at each interval of silence.