"Nope." Flynn felt his hands tightening into fists as the doctor looked at him as if he was crazy, putting her bag back on the table. "When you said there was a hurt girl, I didn't figure you meant out there in those woods. I'm not going out there, not for any girl you think you saw."

"She needs medical attention and she's hysterical about the idea of coming to town," he argued. "Some- thing sliced open her chest, and while a Gel healed her, she doesn't look like she's doing well. I would rather someone see her on her own terms instead of stress her further by taking her to a location that causes her mental distress."

If the doctor noticed his pause in what attacked her, she didn't say anything. "And what you found wasn't a girl. Now get out. No one with half a brain isn't going to go out there."

Nothing the doctor said made sense. What could she mean, she wasn't a girl? "She definitely looks real enough. And she needed help."

"Look, anytime someone says they found a girl in those woods, they come back dazed and weak, men and women alike, or we find the man's body drowned a few days later. You've already seen the drowned one." The doctor snapped her bag shut, looking at him. "You're better off forgetting this one. Besides, you spend too much time out there, you might get ripped apart too. Miracle that one woman's been running packages and is still alive."

Flynn blinked. The dazed and weak sounded a bit familiar, a soldier stumbling from a woman's chambers with unseeing eyes. But that woman showed off more. She had lived in the lap of luxury, around nobility and insinuated herself next to the princess herself. The whole town itself... "Why haven't you let the Imperial Knights know?" he asked quietly, trying to keep his voice even. Yuri, Catherine, the drownings, something like this Ioder would definitely listen to. He had lived those events six months ago.

"Mayor did. Our request was laughed as soon as it was gotten." The doctor stood suddenly, her tiny frame seemingly towering over him. "Look, I know who you are. Not exactly hiding it well, Commandant Scifo. But there's nothing you can do here. And if you believe what's going on here, you're the only one. So just ignore what you saw, take your girlfriend, and go back to Zaphias. We take care of our own here."

"But-" Flynn took a breath as she walked calmly by him, fighting the urge to grab her and shake her. It was true, he hadn't heard a single request about a town besieged by something ripping the people apart, or odd drownings. Anyone in Zaphias would have passed it on after the bodies found there, remembering how much it took to make them stop. Ioder would have definitely been interested in finding Yuri, and Flynn himself would have believed every bit of it. But first it would have to make it to Zaphias, unfortunately. He turned, knowing she had already left, and just looked out the door. These were people he had wanted to protect. People that Yuri himself had sworn at some point to protect. And when it came time, their pleas didn't even reach his ears. Something like that... Flynn's lips tightened. He would have to change that. Even if it sounded completely unrealistic, no one needed to have their requests laughed at. It needed to make it to authority that could make the proper decision, and then decided from there. A flash hit him, that he could start that. The bones were there...

Footsteps made him raise his head, then a soft smile settled on his lips as a familiar Krityan came into view. "Judith. I apologize, it took me a while to get back."

She only walked up, looking him over with worried eyes. "I never expected to see you here first," came the light response, trying to balance her check. "Last place I would expect to see Flynn Scifo after fighting monsters that weak." Judith smiled, realizing he was unharmed, and poked his chest.

Flynn laughed a little at her, grabbing her finger. "Never. Actually... Judith, how good are your medical skills?"

An unreadable look closed off her face as she tilted her head. "Is it related to why you were here?"

"Yes. There's-" He let out a breath, frustrated at the memory of what he heard. "There's a girl I found. I think she- she was attacked by Yuri. She said it had dark hair, was hungry, and fast." The look in her eyes tightened his hand, making it shift to pain. He looked down, shifting his grip from her finger to her hand. "An Apple Gel closed her wounds, but she needs to be looked at. I would have brought her directly here, but she resisted the idea so violently I was afraid of causing her more harm.

She gave him an odd look, but didn't follow through on it. "Flynn, do you just want to see Yuri that badly?"

"It's not that!" Flynn let her hand go, raking a hand through his hair. "It's not that. If it's him... he's acting like a rabid animal right now. These people..." He made a gesture, sharp and helpless. "I made a vow to protect these people. Even if it means from him. And I need to do all I can for my people, and that includes those that have been attacked by..."

"Someone you love?" Judith reached up with her hand, brushing back a bit of hair away from his face. "Can you kill him if you need to, Flynn?"

The oddly gentle question made him pause, as well as the way she completed his trailed off sentence. He felt a part of him screaming, to forget what she had said. Knowing that would only get him killed. But... his hand rose, biting back a gasp as nails raked through the inside of his veins at the touch on his scars, barely on the pleasurable side. "I have to," he told her, watching how her eyes fell to the way he touched his scars, then back at his face. Long fingers traced his hairline, dancing around his skin as she looked at him. Flynn found his hand leaving his neck, brushing across her cheek and a bit of her lengthened ear. He didn't want to kill Yuri. But with how he was going, with the people he was putting in danger, the fact he was already dead... Judith didn't exactly understand, hadn't seen him yet herself, but she knew what it meant to have to choose. He felt his lips fall open as she leaned in, feeling her breath against his face. "Judith..."

"We should go." Her fingers dropped from his skin, the unknowable tension between them starting to fade. "Take care of that girl." She smiled at him, one leg sweeping back to step when he moved his hand to the back of her head, tilting to press his lips against hers. When Flynn slowly pulled back, she looked at him for a moment, studying him. "Are you sure?"

"We can talk about this later." His hand slowly fell, stroking down her arm. "But for right now, yes."

Something crossed her face, uncertain and hidden. But she nodded, reaching for her polearm. "Well, lead the way. I should be able to at least help you keep her from hurting herself so we can get her back here."

Dinner had been served by the time they returned, empty handed. Flynn had found the river easily, even found the tree he had marked, but where he had hidden the girl was empty. Not even a sign of a struggle showed, just broken branches from the concealing brush. It had been frustrating, and while Judith didn't say anything the entire trip back, Flynn felt humiliated about leading her on a fruitless trip. He spooned a bit of stew into his mouth as he thought back on it, frustrated. If the doctor had been right, and he hadn't seen an actual girl, it changed things. It turned this town into a danger zone, much like how Zaphias had been while Catherine had been there, another unnatural creature picking off its people. But if she had been real, she was so intent on not being seen she put herself into the possibility of dying. His hand was halfway to his sword when an arm entered his field of vision before he stopped, realizing it was only the serving girl. Her eyes darted between them, lingering on Judith with a slight blush as she took away her empty bowl.

"You're tense again," Judith noted after she left, her voice low and only carrying between them. "We can eat in our room, since there are so many people here."

"No." Flynn dropped his spoon, his eyes caught on her intently. "I know what you're offering, Judith, and I'm fine. I was only caught up in my thoughts, that's all."

"You nearly unsheathed your sword."

The words crawled along his skin, making his hands twitch. She was right. Flynn looked around the room, at the quiet conversation from the other patrons, then back at her. No one outside of the palace knew about how the events had affected him. And if the doctor was any indication, they all knew he was the Commandant. Showing just how broken he was out here... Flynn pushed away from the table, standing. "I hate how right you are, sometimes."

"I know." Judith stood as well, catching eyes as she stretched. She followed behind him, her presence almost watching his back for threats at they went to their room. It relaxed him more than he thought, making it easier when he felt her hand on his shoulder. "Flynn."

"The doctor said she wasn't a girl." Her hand didn't move, but he could feel her tense, coming to her own conclusions. "People who saw her and went to the woods ended up murdered, drained, or drowned. If she is a girl, she's badly hurt."

"If she's not, she's hunting this town." Flynn turned to her, watching as the hand moved from his shoulder to her chin, her eyes glancing away. Thoughts moved across her eyes, nearly hidden. He wanted to reach out, touch her, ask her to share, but as he did she lowered her hand. "It's not your problem, Flynn."

The words hit him, making his blood beat hard against his fingertips. "I made a promise to keep this people safe," he told her heatedly as her chin rose in defiance. "And I am not about to break that promise. This is my problem, and I will either-"

"Let Brave Vesperia take care of it and stop trying to take care of everything yourself!" The raw emotion from such a calm woman stopped him, making his lips part a little. Judith leaned in, the anger clear in every part of her. "You don't talk to anyone and try to care care of what happened to you yourself. I had to drag it out of you, and prove I would listen. You take on everything with the Imperial Knights and don't keep a steady Second-in-Command you can delegate tasks to. And now you're trying to take on this task, trying to solve this and keep them safe instead of giving it to someone already established here. You can't change everything by yourself, and you sure as hell can't keep closing yourself off because you don't want to trouble us!" Her hands caught into fists, something keeping her from introducing it into his face. "Do you really think we don't care about you? That we don't want to see you happy? That I don't want to see you drinking yourself into a fucking stupor every night I'm there because you're trying to fill something in your life and forget what's happened and it's not working?"

"I know that, Judith!" Flynn grabbed her, pulling her close. "Do you think I keep it from you because I hate you? Because I don't trust you? Judith, you and Estellise are the only ones I trust that won't laugh at me about what's happened. You're the only one that'll understand why my dates end the way they do, why I don't look at them like how they want me to." He laughed, pressing his forehead against hers. "I want to trust them," he told her helplessly. "But I've been nearly killed by my own men several times as we've broken Catherine's control, and we still don't know if it's all taken care of. They've tried to kill Ioder more times than that. It's hard, Judith. I want to trust them like I trust you. I don't want this, to take on everything." His head lifted, eyes meeting hers. "If Zaude had ended differently, even if it was just after Sodia stabbed him, Yuri didn't die, this-"

Her lips covered his, breaking off the words with gentleness. Hands brushed through his hair as she stepped closer, soothing him with touch, presence, feeling. Flynn closed his eyes, his hands lowering to her hips. This... this was good. Why hadn't anyone else done this while kissing him? Her lips slowly closed as she pulled back, her hands featherlight against his neck. "Your friends are trying to give you people you can trust," she told him softly. "You have to trust us, in our judgment. I'll always be here, to listen, but trust in Estelle. Trust in Ioder. Trust in us that you'll be safe now."

His hands twitched on her hips, the acknowledgment that they were friends warming him. That was it, wasn't it? None of the others, none of his dates wanted to be his friend. Yuri, Judith... first and always, they were his friends. Her lips parted again as he kissed her, his hands sweeping up her torso. As they reached her chest, moving to cup a breast, her hand reached down and grabbed it as she broke the kiss. "Flynn."

"I don't know what we have, Judith," he told her honestly, his hand flexing in her stern grip. "But I want to do this for you. You... I've felt something happening all through this trip. I know it's something you want."

"It's not something you want." Judith stepped back, releasing his hand as she did so. "I've felt it too, and I didn't want to put you in this position. I've heard it often enough. How your dates wanted you to have sex with them. How you didn't even think of them like that. I've even overheard people talk about that bitch Nadia and what she said to you. You aren't broken, no matter what she said. And I'm not about to make you think you have to do it to make this happen or keep our friendship going. If I want to be fucked and it doesn't bother you, I can do downstairs right now and ask that serving girl if she doesn't want to spend her night alone or a guy at the bar if he wants the best night of his life. That isn't what I want from you. Okay?"

Flynn closed his mouth, unable to say anything. How could he, when this was the first time anyone had told him that? Finally, "You were interested in our serving girl?"

She laughed. "If the fact I'm interested in men and women alike is the only surprising thing from that, I think we'll be okay." She ran a hand through his hair as his cheeks started to burn. "Get some rest, Flynn. We'll stop by Dahngrest tomorrow and drop off the request, and then get you back home. We can figure out the rest as it comes along, right?"

Flynn nodded, leaning a little into Judith's touch as her fingers continued combing through his hair. "That sounds good. Judith...?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Moonlight pried his eyes open. No matter how attractive it sounded, Flynn couldn't sleep at the thought of just handing the problem over to Brave Vesperia. It would help a lot to have Karol's assistance, but he couldn't just leave them here. He couldn't just let them see the Commandant leave them in their hour of need. If he stayed, tried to help out while Judith went and got her guild, that would work. And it would show cooperation as well, between himself and the guilds. Not to mention the thought that the girl might be real, and might be close to death wouldn't let him go. Flynn slowly pulled himself from Judith's arms, trying to make as little noise as possible as he dressed and left. He didn't buckle his sword until he left the inn, but he knew better than to leave it behind. If Yuri, if Catherine, if the girl was like any of them, he would need it more than against the weak monsters he would encounter

Despite the night-chilled air, he had worked up a sweat by the time he reached the river. Monsters seemed to increase at night, and though they were still weak, the sheer number started to wear on him. He entertained the idea of dunking his head in and taking a drink as he turned towards the river, then stopped. Sitting by the river, wet hair shining in the moonlight, was the girl. Her legs slowly gathered under her as she stood, not quite steady yet, and she looked around. She was still so pale, but she looked better. More animated. Her movements stilled as she saw him, one hand moving to where it looked she had a weapon hidden.

"I won't harm you." Flynn raised his hands, stepping into the open. "I only wanted to check up on you. You look better."

"You are... the one that helped me." Just as it had been, the words forced out of her lips as if she wasn't meant to speak in such tongues. "You gave me that Gel, made me feel better. Thank you." Her arm relaxed, a small smile crossing her face. "It's all better now."

"That's good to hear." He didn't come closer, only watched her warily. She stepped into the river, then turned to him. "You shouldn't do that. The water's cold and you're still recovering."

"Cold is good." She lifted a leg slightly as she spun, a smile crossing her face. "Keeps me awake, keeps me from sleeping when things hunt. You scared off the hungry thing. That's good. It hunts me, hunts others here."

Breath stopped in his chest as he took in the words. So something was hunting this town. "What is your name?" he asked gently, watching her tilt her head. She was so childlike, almost as if something was wrong with her. Maybe that was why they didn't call her a girl... maybe that's why she didn't want to be seen. She blinked at him, then smiled.

"Liliya." Water splashed around her feet as she came closer, icy eyes large and searching. "You look sad. Something hurting."

Flynn took a step back. How had she...? "I'm fine. I'm only worried about you. You should get some professional medical help, back at the village-"

Liliya's hand touched his cheek suddenly. "It hurts. You don't forgive yourself. Not for what happened, both times. You don't forgive yourself for what you've done." Flynn tried to pull away, his hand going to his sword in alarm as what she said told him she wasn't human, she wasn't what she thought she was, before she grabbed him in that unnatural grip he knew so well. "Let me show you that you can forgive yourself," she breathed, her face leaning in close. The scent of water filled his nose as he felt her lips against his, his head felt light-

And nothing but darkness.