When Finn could think more clearly again, he found himself somewhere in the wilderness near Kaisan.
He sat against a large tree, hoping that what he had seen and heard at his home was just a bad dream.
But even after pinching and hitting himself multiple times, he didn't wake up.
Over and over, he asked himself why he deserved all this.
Slowly, he drew a deep red army knife from his pocket.
"Why?" he asked himself.
"Why shouldn't I just end it all? This nightmare and everything connected to it!"
He held the knife to his temple and pressed slowly, with increasing pressure.
Blood began to trickle down the blade and along the handle.
Shortly after, it mingled with his tears.
He couldn't do it.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Something was stopping him from ending it all.
But why?
What did he still want to do?
What meaning did his life have now?
...
"Do you want to know?" he suddenly heard a voice in his head.
Startled and bewildered, he looked around.
"Who said that?" he asked aloud.
"You know where I am!"
Suddenly, he could see a cave through the thicket of the wilderness.
Cautiously, he approached it.
"Come! I won't hurt you!" said the voice in a seductive tone.
Finn sighed.
"What could happen at worst? I have nothing left to lose anyway."
Cautiously, he entered the dark cave.
After some time, he reached a room filled with light.
The light came from an opening in the rock.
But what caught his eye more was what lay in the middle of the room.
On a small altar lay an intricately decorated ring, set with a fiery red gemstone.
"Put it on!" commanded the voice.
"Will I find a new purpose for my life then?"
"Yes. You will!"
Slowly, Finn walked to the altar.
As he stood before it, he felt an unusual energy emanating from the ring.
"Is this... a Nyd artifact?"
"Yes! If you wear it, you will gain unimaginable powers with which you can achieve all your goals!"
"But... I have no goals!"
"Yes! You do! You just haven't found them yet! If you put on this ring, you will find your purpose!"
Finn felt that the voice was right.
If he possessed this power, he might really find a new meaning in life.
Carefully, he took the ring and slipped it onto his right ring finger.
All at once, an incomparable warmth overcame him.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he felt safe and secure.