Ida and I share a laugh about what happened, then she warns me about Jessica, "I know you are trying to talk about her becoming an Acer again. Do you realize how much convincing she will need?"

"Yes, and I am prepared to start slow then make my argument. I mean, it's not like I'm sending her to war again; I just want her to maybe get out of her house. I know deep down this might be what she needs. Even Asher agrees this might be good for her.”

"Well then, if I can talk you out of this, did you at least bring the right paperwork for her?"

"Yes, and all she needs to do is show up to the meeting tomorrow, and if she decides it's worth her time, she can sign the papers to rejoin with her rank still intact."

"Alright, just don't spoil her mood, okay, kiddo?"

"I'll try not to, but I cannot guarantee anything at this point."

Ida leads me to the back of the tavern, revealing a set of private stairs, up to four different stories. The second story is Ida’s entrance to the inn part of this building, the third is Ida's apartment, and the fourth used to be a place people rented out, but now Jessica lives there permanently.

But once you have gone through the sheer amount of stairs, you are greeted with a small hallway leading to a black door with a little sign on it that reads “go away.” And that happens to be Jessica's front door. Which ones we arrive at said door Ida knocks on it twice and announces herself and a guest. 

Then I hear it, her voice, Jessica's voice. But it is not the one I remember from all those years ago. She sounds weaker, more tired like she is still losing her will to live. "Who is Ida?" I hear her ask.

"You have to open the door to see for yourself, Jessica!" Ida barks at her.

She raises her voice but still in that depressed tone, and I hear her walking to the door, "don't mock me, woman, do you think I got this way from playing-" the door opens, and her words are cut off upon seeing me. "Andra? Is that you?"

"In the flesh Jess," I responded, opening my arms.

She rushes to me and returns my embrace. We split, then she placed her hands on my shoulders and asks, "What are you doing here? Wait tell me in a bit, please come in. I was making tea before you came in".

She ushers me inside her small home, Ida does not follow. She is busy running the inn and fixing up my old room. Jessica's house is a cozy place to be. Everything and anything has a reason for being there. Some areas of the floor are covered with different kinds of books. The walls are covered in memorabilia of her old days, having her old weapons mounted and portraits of her when she was given every new rank, as well as mine and the other's portraits, just like Asher had said. 

Jessica sits me on her small sofa near the large window. Just a few feet away from me lies the kitchen where she can boil some water for tea. 

As I sit down on the sofa, a small creature charges at me not a few seconds later. It moves too quickly at a speed that a routine eye would not be able to follow, but I know who this tiny creature is. It first runs at me in a small form of a gray cat, then jumps and changes its form, into a little steel dragon. It was Shivrey, the little dragon I had taken from my first mission. I remember the mission fondly. It was my first one after I had graduated from the academy. I had to take care of some dragons threatening a town. I fought them in their den, but I felt awful when I saw the little egg. It was a mother protecting her young from young adventurers. She was heartbroken because all of the eggs were smashed except one. Instead of killing the mother entirely, I struck a deal with her. But part of the deal was that I needed to make sure the egg was properly taken care of. I took no monetary payment for that mission; I had gotten enough that day. I chose to give the egg to Jessica as a birthday gift. After all, she has the most knowledge about dragons and as a joke because, in the association, she is known as the "Dragon Acer," even her insignia has a dragon on it.

It only takes a few seconds for Shivrey to burrow herself in my lap. Jessica brings over some tea, and she sits down on the chair just parallel to me. She notices Shivrey's place of seating and looks at her as if to call Shiv a traitor. 

Then Jessica clears her throat and asks me again, "What brought you here?"

“I was sent a letter from the lieutenant-general asking for my immediate transfer into the ongoing case here in Noctius,” I told her. “But as of recently, I've learned it was because Ridley was taken off the case and demoted for some reason.”

"Really now? I heard she was demoted, but I didn't look into it further. But when did you get in?" she asked.

"Last night, but I collapsed near Asher while on my way to the inn, and he wouldn't let me leave until the morning.”

“That does sound like him, but he is a doctor, so that is expected of him,” she chuckles while sipping her tea.

“Yes, but while I'd love to chat about the people in this town, I don't think I can while it is baffling of a case is still ongoing, not even the lieutenant-general can solve this, Jess, so many people have died in these few years,” I tell her while grabbing the paperwork out of my bag the expression on her face changes as she sees me do this.

She breaks eye contact with me, and she looks out the window, "And you want me to help?"

"Only if you want, there is a meeting at eleven tomorrow you could attend, and you could join with your status intac-" she cut me off.

“Andromeda, do you remember why I left?” she says while still looking out the window.

“Well, yes but to you kno-” she cut me off again.

“I left because I was taken advantage of. They took advantage of my obedience to take orders and carried them out without question. I willingly went to fight in an ever-losing war. I blindly followed every single order. I lost every man and woman in my troop. I lost Soren, Andromeda…” she wept, tears welling up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away.

I walk over to comfort her, taking her in my arms, “Jessica, you know who I am. You know that I won't force you to do anything. But do you see what life you have led in these past few years? Take a look around you, this place is a mess, and I remember you used to be a clean-freak. Do you see what this retirement is doing to you? You have made no effort in trying to lead a normal life. Even Asher agrees with me. And he is your doctor,” I say calmly and still holding her in my arms.

“I know I am wasting away here but my energy has been spent on my old job, from the age of 15 ‘till five years ago I was already wasting away. That war was just the straw that broke the camel's back,” she adds.

“I know Jess, but have you heard anything since you left?” I ask her

“No, I have tried to learn anything. It all hurts too much.”

“Then I'll tell you. Beo is MIA and has not been seen since the ceremony. Victoria has done the same but still is seen sometimes, and she is hunting down the last of the higher vampire and daemons. The only letter I have gotten from them was from Victoria when I asked her if she and Beo were doing ad if they would come back, and the thing that stuck with me was when she said, ‘What good is it to fight alongside the very people who have forsaken our kin?’ I understand what she says is true, but I haven't heard anything else aside from that from her”

Jessica breaks away from me and sits up, and begins to talk, “Victoria is right. That is all the association does to drive rifts between people. As she said, all they do is forsake us… But have you heard anything from Beo?”

“Not really, but I know they are with Victoria. Those two are like a pair,” I sigh.

She only nods and gets up from her seat to take the teacups to the sink.

I gave Shiv a few more pats on the head before I get up to leave, but I will say one last thing before I go, “Jessica, I do hope deep down that you will join us again. But that is your decision and your decision alone. I have done all I can to convince you, so I will leave the paperwork on the coffee table for you. Maybe getting out there,” I gesture to the window, “will do you some good and put you on the path of healing.”

“I will think about it, Andromeda, and thank you,” she mumbles as she makes her way back to Shiv.

I look at the time, and I leave the apartment.