A/N: Hello, everyone! I spent some time re-reading some of my chapters and I have to say I have a terrible habit of tangents. My deepest apologies for my inconsistencies. I come up with new ideas and I cannot even portray them well in writing. I may just rewrite Confessional altogether sometime for a cleaner presentation, but I will not scrap this story because I do have more in mind for it. That said, if I do rewrite Confessional, it will be shorter. I've realized that short stories tend to become rather long and elaborated with me and for that I also apologize if you wanted something short and sweet.

I do not think I'll have a bit where Eon gets with Flau unless it's a separate piece of prose, so I am sorry to disappoint those that wanted them together, but I just cannot do it in this fanfic.

There's also a big deal of useless fluff which I would love to shave off the story. Usually I let the story write itself and that's that. This one went WAY out of control. So I'll try to harness it back to where it needs to go. My writing is utter scheiss again, so I'll work on how it translates.

A big thanks to those who still read this and I'm sorry it flopped.

Sincerely,

Mayris

The walk to Fort Helencia was anything but eventful. Since the night that ended a bloody war, the pathways were still being cleared of the dead. Human and fae alike littered the dirt path and the stench was hardly bearable. Jack tried to keep his eyes level with the fort as they drew nearer while Ridley spent time examining the pained faces of the fallen.

Abruptly, she stopped and knelt near a cluster of human and fae remains. Blood soaked the dirt around them, eyes dull and faces contorted to monstrous rage. "Jack…" she shuddered, a hand resting on a knight's bloodied shield. Radiata's crest barely revealed beneath crusted blood.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. As much as he wanted to avoid the carnage, he accepted for now that his companion would mourn the fallen.

"I don't want this to happen again..."

Hesitation rested on his lips. He desired the same, but knew through experience that war was an unavoidable limitation that was often crossed due to human pride and non-human claim. Humans died. Their lives were short… but they also had the desire to progress. He knew that this much was true and that with progress, humans would war whether it was to build an empire and drive out opposing forces, or to determine beliefs amongst themselves.

"I don't want to live through another war…" She looked to him, fear overcoming her normally strong gaze. "We don't have to do this. We don't have to face Lord Zane…"

Jack let out a sigh. "You mean you want to run away? Is that it?"

She paused and her lips quivered before she looked down. At a certain point she would have punished herself for this cowardice, but being the harbinger of manslaughter enlightened her to the drawbacks of war's consequence. The soldier view of 'yessir' and 'yes'm' lost its luster after being forced to inherit the soul of a dragon. War was something she never wanted and was forced to experience at the perspective of a general. Now more than ever, she didn't want to be at the mercy of the ones she once fought for after being welcomed back to the human race.

"I do. I want to avoid this… because you're right!" She stood and fell into his arms, her body shaking with tears. "There will be another man like Cross who will want to eliminate the fae!"

Jack listened while stroking her hair, eyes closed and struggling to find a solution. "I know, Ridley. It's not what I want either…" Now he was repeating himself. He couldn't just support her desire to flee. They'd fled once before and still became tangled up in the war. They surrendered their lives, the comfort of home, their families and their honor. Enough sacrifices had been made. It was a cruel thing for Larks to ask this task of them. They'd dedicated their lives and lost one man to the salvation of the humans. Two, in fact. Now they were again pawns of Radiata.

He sighed and lowered his head to her neck. She shuddered as his warm breath bathed her ivory skin. "Then we won't go… we'll return and tell him we've changed our minds… We don't have to do as he tells us. We don't even have to be allied with Radiata…" He paused and pulled away, smiling. "Why don't we… just travel? Just become adventurers. We can go along the countryside. Surely there's another kingdom out there. We can't be the ONLY ones. Even if Tottaus says that's how it is, it doesn't seem feasible."

"What if we don't find anyone though… Where do we even start?"

"If we don't, then we come back. Simple."

Ridley shook her head. "I don't think that's my fate… I think the job we're given needs to be completed."

Jack sighed. "Honor, huh? Who are you, Ridley?"

"What?" She gave him a puzzled look.

He grinned widely. "I wanna know who you are."

"I'm… Ridley Silverlake… You know this…" She planted a hand on her hip.

"Exactly. You're a Silverlake. The women in your family are nobles, right?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"They've all done great services for their family, right?"

"Most of them have been knights," Ridley informed.

"You're still a Silverlake. You've done great things for humanity. Quasar was put to sleep with the help of both Aphelion and you. I'm sure you've earned enough honor as you are."

She looked down. "But I'm not in service of my king if we leave…"

"Haven't you done enough with that whole 'saving the world' thing? I'm sure he's grateful to you for that. What we're doing now is simply added."

"Jack…" she started, eyes closed. "We should at least try…"

"But you're not happy with it," he whined.

"There are a lot of things I'm not happy with… One of them is Lord Larks in using us because of our previous alliance." She gave him a bittersweet smile, attempting to cover her anger with optimism.

Jack said nothing and returned the smile before taking her by the shoulders and leading her to Fort Helencia. "We'll do what we can…" he said finally.

…

The sun dipped beneath the horizon, leaving darkness as the only company on her voyage. She'd already lost sight of Jack by now. "Dammit!" she swore. She hadn't the slightest where he was headed and hadn't spent any time asking around while in town. Where was she supposed to go? The Dragon Lair Cave was starting to seem like an old wives' tale at this rate. A crazy loon and a farm boy were the only leads she really had. There was also Equinox, but he had no desire to disclose any information regarding its location.

Flau leaned against one of the tall pillars along the bridge and tried to come up with something. She could try going back to Equinox and beating some since into him considering her last contact had disappeared. But she'd already come this far and was already walking again as she decided to push forward. Maybe she'd find Genius.

Had she done this a few months ago, she would have found this method laughable. Considering the chance of actually finding Jack in the wilds she would have to rely on her instincts. This was more Rynka's territory and something she chalked up to motherhood.

To her right she passed the path up to the Ressan Tree. As far as she could see, Jack had not ventured that way. The only other option was Fort Helencia which was still under the control of the non-humans, specifically Zane, the leader of the light elves. Only once she had gone there and that was to escort Jack's sister Adele out of Radiata's clutches. As of now, she was unaware of the standing between her and the non-humans.

At the gates, there were two fae guards seemingly unarmed, though she knew better. She waited, knowing they felt her presence.

"You can come out of hiding, you know!" called one, readying a spell. "We know you're there and it's pathetic that you think you can hide."

"I am not hiding…" Flau stated, coming into view. "Just waiting. The shadows naturally cloak those of Void," she explained.

The fae refused to lower the spell and waited. Flau vaguely remembered this fae, but couldn't recall the other. This one was called Fan. She normally guarded the entrance to the City of Flowers. "What do you want? I suggest you turn away and go back home, human!"

Flau quirked an eyebrow. Though this wasn't her normal method of access, she would try for diplomacy. "I'm looking for Jack Russell."

"What makes you think he came this way?"

"Because I saw him?" she asked sarcastically.

Fan narrowed her eyes. "I don't like that tone of yours."

"That's too bad because that's the mood I'm in. Deal with it and let me pass. Or you can just tell me where Jack went, capeesh?"

Fan's wings bristled irritably. A human making demands. Not the usual reaction. But her fire was something Fan actually kind of… liked. The spell lowered, but her scrutiny remained intact. "If that's what you want."

"Really?" Flau rested her hand on her hip.

"Yeah, if you want to know where he went…" Fan glanced over to her companion. The male fae smirked. "Then you have to do us a little favor."

She didn't like the sound of that. "What is it?" Unease rested in the back of her throat as she spoke.

Fan smiled devilishly. "There's been a murder nearby. We want you to kill the perpetrator."

"A murder?"

Her male companion laughed. "A half-fae was taken out by some kind of monstrosity."

"Half-fae? I didn't know those existed."

"Have you ever heard of Algandars?" Fan asked.

"Yes…"

"That's how the Dark Elves were conceived… but this creature was born as a result of a dark elf and a human. Because the taint of humans was thicker than that of the purity of fae, a half-elf was born. One of our own is upset because this girl was part of her research and now she's nothing but a pile of blood and flesh. No soul and that's what Few wanted to study."

"Don't elves live forever?"

"Not if they have human blood which introduces us to death."

Flau sighed. "What did this girl look like?"

"About fourteen, blond hair, orange eyes, fair skin. She lived in a human village not too far from here. She'd gone out to meet Few and never arrived. There's word that the perpetrator fled to Radiata."

"Did anyone see them?"

"There's speculation on that…"

This event changed things drastically. Flau didn't want to be a hitman against her own kind… not today. She had too much to do and little time to do it. "I'm sorry for the loss of that woman… but I really don't have time to go after the murderer. I need to find Jack. Or Genius. Or anyone that knows where the Dragon Lair Cave is!"

Fire singed the grass around Flau and she rolled out of the way to avoid getting hurt. "Wh-what are you doing!?"

"How is it that a mortal knows of the Dragon Lair Cave?" The male fae accused. It was then Flau remembered his name was Shin, recalling her first encounter with the entrance to the City of Flowers. His voice filled with harsh anger that made her shudder. "Answer me!" he screamed, his voice sounding far too mature for his childlike body.

Flau stayed hidden behind a nearby stone, but did as told. "Kain… of Olacion. I'm seeking Enjela."

There was silence. For once silence bothered Flau. These creatures had wings to fly and she judged distance by footfalls. There were none. She wondered if they were still hostile. There were no more blasts of fire. Another minute passed before she heard the fort doors open and then close. Flau debated running back to Radiata. But the non-humans weren't exactly hunting her. It sounded like they retreated… why? She was unarmed.

"Are you going to hide there all night cowering? Or will you come out and we can speak?" asked a very soothing voice. Flau couldn't tell the gender of its owner, but that it sounded melodic.

Legs shaking beneath her, she managed to push herself to her feet and stand fully. Her eyes scanned the fort and she saw a light elf in the doorway hovering a few inches from the ground. Teal wisps of hair fluttered in the small breeze and his eyes matched their color. Beneath his left eye was a very dark red scar.

Flau had to consciously pull her thoughts from this vision and instead looked down.

The light elf took a moment to look her over. He could feel the aura of Aphelion on this girl. "I've been told you seek the Dragon Lair Cave. Why?"

"To find Enjela," she answered immediately. Having heard small snippets of what this cave harbored.

His formerly harsh expression softened. "I heard she left Radiata of her own volition. Why would you wish to bring her back?"

"She set off to find the Stone of Miracles. Bringing her back might be able to rid the world of Algandars," she said carefully, trying to pitch the idea in their favor. With all the power she'd heard it had, it would probably be able to cure the world of the disease along with all the others.

"The Stone of Miracles? You must be gullible to believe something like that would be within reach of human hands," he stated with a small laugh.

"I've heard little of the Dragon Lair Cave, but I'll go on a will of my own faith to chance that Enjela might be there and there might be the possibility of her finding the stone. And faith isn't something I throw around often."

The fae blinked and smiled, placing a hand on his forehead. "I'll show you where this cave lies. I'll even walk you through it. But I refuse to lift a single finger to help you. And if you get lost, you're on your own getting out. It'll be entertaining to say the least. Much more fun than what I'm doing here."

She could only give him a nod. Finally there was a chance to bring Enjela home. "When do we set out?"

"Immediately. I hope you're armed," he chuckled.

Flau reached down and felt her empty holster. Looking down, she closed her eyes. "I'll not use any weapons. I'll arm myself with faith."

"Such confidence. You'll die ever faster." He turned and left through Fort Helencia, expecting her to follow.

Not losing sight of him, she ran after, hearing the heavy gates close behind them.

They wasted no time in the fort, walking right through and heading out the other side. He walked over to one of the pig statues and waited. "Well, human," he started as she reached him. "Say your goodbyes to this realm."

She glowered, not liking how he mocked her. Reaching a hand out, she touched the statue. He watched her curiously before also reaching forward, focusing on their destination. The world hazed around them, drawing them into a thickening fog. Emptiness and chilly air swirled around them. Light faded, beckoning darkness as thick as the fog.