Chapter 05
In his sleep, Finn found himself floating in the sky once again, forced to watch his former life unfold. This time, he witnessed an argument he had with his mother.
“I just want you to see what this girl is doing to you, Henry, I hate seeing you like this,” she said with a mother's concern.
Finn winced, now realizing how he had been so consumed by his own selfish feelings that he had disregarded his mother’s words, thinking he knew better.
Finn watched as his former self shrugged off his mother, saying, “You don’t know what it’s like. I love her with all my heart, and I can’t even imagine a life without her. I just need to be alone for a while so I can clear my head.”
Henry walked away, leaving his mother to collapse onto a nearby couch, crying softly.
Finn’s heart lurched. He didn’t remember seeing that part; he was so caught up in his feelings that he hadn't stopped to consider how his words would impact his mom, who had done everything to provide him with the best life she could.
His mom had worked overtime night after night, doing anything she could to support herself and her son. He loved her for that. Why had he been so blind, shrugging off her concern after years of her being such a good mother? He silently berated himself, wishing he could go back and tell her how sorry he was and how much he cared about her.
Now, worlds away, he felt a heavy lump in his throat at the thought of never seeing his mom again.
“You loved her very much, didn’t you?” said a voice, beautiful and harmonious. Finn turned, startled, to see a being shimmering in warm golden light. As the light dimmed, he could make out the form of a woman, the same woman in the statues worshiping the goddess of the village he was in.
Finn nodded, unsure of what to say, and she looked at him benevolently.
“Who are you?” Finn asked, his voice still shaky from everything.
The goddess smiled and said, “I am Serena, the Goddess of Peace and Harmony. I appeared to you in this dream because I sensed great discord within you, a disturbance of peace and harmony. You are in my domain, and I am here to help restore your harmony.”
She made a gesture with her hand, and Henry from the dream lifted and merged into Finn, and Finn felt much calmer, unsure of what happened.
“What did you do?” he asked the goddess.
“I have simply helped your soul to accept who you were, who you are now, and who that has made you.” She said, as benevolent as ever. “You are ever your own person, to make your own choices. I have only guided your soul to help shape itself, because I can sense the dissonance between your body and mind, young Finn.”
Finn looked at the goddess, “You know what I am then?”
“Yes, I know that you were once a human in another world. I know that this has caused your mind some trouble in the process of adjusting to the new world, but I hope that brings you a sense of hope and wonder. Do not dwell on the past. Look to the future and the adventures this world will bring you.”
With that, the goddess smiled, and was suddenly directly in front of Finn, still floating in the sky, and she kissed his forehead, sending the warmth of her presence deep into his soul, and she was gone, leaving him to wake up, feeling refreshed and clear of mind.
Finn looked up, to see most of his Family were still knocked out, although Kael was in the corner meditating. The rest of the group was gathered around the floor in various places.
Finn pulled out his new gifts, and examined them all again, appreciating the time and care that must have gone into each and every one of them.
He decided to stay where he was, the panda still quietly snoring behind him. Suddenly, it occurred to him that there was a parchment tucked into his bag that he had not seen before, and he pulled it out to examine it. It read:
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Dear Finn,
In the gentle winds and whispering leaves of my domain, I have observed you with a heart full of peace. Your love and care for one of the Nebulanda, the cherished beings of my realm, have not gone unnoticed. It is rare to witness such a pure and tender bond, and it fills me with a sense of profound joy.
The Nebulanda, with their floating grace and playful spirits, are dear to me. They embody the lightness and tranquility that I hold sacred. Your kindness towards this delightful creature speaks volumes of your character, and it is a testament to the love that surrounds you in your new family.
I sense a shared spirit of adventure in both you and the Nebulanda. He has always been content exploring the serene expanse of my domain, yet I sense in him a yearning for wider horizons, for experiences that lie beyond the peaceful boundaries of my land.
On this auspicious day of your birth in this magical realm—a day we joyfully call 'The Celebration of Life's Dawn'—I extend to you a special gift. I offer you the opportunity to form a bond with the Nebulanda. Should he accept, your spirits will intertwine, and together, you shall embark on a journey of discovery and wonder.
May this bond bring you both endless joy and enrich your adventures in the vast, enchanting world that awaits you.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Celebration of Life's Dawn, Finn,
Serena, Goddess of Peace and Harmony
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Finn’s eyes went wide and his grin went from ear to ear as he read that he could form a bond with his panda friend, who in this world seemed to be called a Nebulanda.
Finn had come to learn that by the “domain” of the goddess, it was more than just a territory, but an actual designated amount of space that the goddess had full control over.
By being the goddess of peace, that meant that any form of violence physically could not exist within the domain, making it a treasured place for all adventurers and people. Knowing this, there was no danger for Finn to explore, and so, while the rest of his family went unawoken, Finn and his new Nebulanda floated through the gardens of the land, until Finn found a comfortable corner of a garden to relax in.
The garden was a masterpiece of meticulous care, each plant trimmed to perfection. At its heart stood a magical fountain, from which flowed an unending stream of water, shimmering and ethereal.
The water, rather than pooling on the ground, evaporated into the air, forming majestic clouds overhead. These clouds rumbled with a calming, thunderous sound, mimicking a gentle rainstorm. Yet, instead of raindrops falling downward, the water defied gravity, ascending in reverse towards an elevated platform above the fountain.
This platform acted as a collector, gathering the upward-flowing water. From its edges, the water cascaded down in a mesmerizing display, creating a curtain of liquid around the fountain.
The effect was spellbinding, crafting an atmosphere where the sound of thunder and the sight of reverse rainfall coalesced into the most captivating spectacle Finn had ever witnessed. The entire scene was a harmonious blend of nature, magic, and artistry, leaving an indelible impression of wonder and tranquility.
Finn found a spot where he could meditate and focus. But first, he held out the parchment gifted to him by the goddess. It sounded like all he needed to do was to request a bond with the panda-like creature.
He instinctively felt out with a sense he had always known was there, and realized he could sense the Nebulanda. He closed his eyes, and reached out with that sense, until he felt a connection with the Nebulanda. When he did, he felt the Nebulanda assent, and then was flooded with a feeling he had never felt before.
It was the magical linking of their souls, making the Nebulanda linked to Finn for the rest of their lives. It was warm and comfortable, he could now feel a general sense of the Nebulanda’s general condition, where he was at, and had a general sense of understanding the creature’s intentions.
Feeling this, Finn sat cross legged, and allowed himself to feel everything around him. The sense that could link with the Nebulanda could also feel out the ambient magic all around him, and he felt the magic around him wash over him. Finn got lost in this feeling, feeling out every detail.
He didn’t know if it had been a few minutes or several hours, but he felt it when his body felt so in touch with the ambient magic that he couldn’t tell the difference, and realized he could manipulate the magic around him.
He allowed the wave of magic to flow through him, and when it did, he made an effort to concentrate it through his body, to his hands, and felt his body act as a vessel for the magic, letting it flow through like a circuit, until he could feel the magic build up in his hand, opening his eyes to see that he now had a crackling ball of magic sitting in his hand.
It wasn’t anything impressive by any means, he had seen Toren create balls of magic 10 times bigger and brighter, but Finn was just proud to have done it at all.
For the rest of the day, he allowed himself to practice that motion over and over until he could create a ball of magic in his hand with ease, and toss it into the sky where it exploded into harmless sparks. After a while, he would feel depleted and tired, entering back into a meditative state, where he would feel refreshed, and continue practicing, and restart the cycle.
Eventually, he felt uneasy and turned to see all of his family now standing behind him, and he realized they had been watching him for some time, and they all cheered for him as he sent off the ball of sparks into the sky. Toren presented the staff he had gifted Finn yesterday, and Finn took it, watching as it shrank to a usable size for his small body.
Finn concentrated, and felt as what had been taking his full concentration to muster now took only an intention as the staff acted as a medium to channel his will, and he felt as the staff sucked up the ambient magic to create another blast of magic sparks. The group cheered once again, and they led Finn back to the Inn, as it was time for dinner.
Finn did his best to explain what he did and inquire about magic. Together, the team did their best to draw out pictures and used simple words to explain things.
From Finn’s understanding of everything they said and drew, there were “ranks” that a person could reach. Finn, being a baby, was at the lowest rung, but had something in his nature that allowed him to channel magic, and that was why he was able to control magic, even if it was at the lowest level of magic.
There were ways to increase your rank, but this was something he would need to wait for until he was older, with the ability to talk fluently, fight, and cast spells better. However, the prospect of learning magic and becoming more powerful was exactly what Finn was working towards, and he vibrated with eagerness at their words.
Finn spent the next few weeks buried in his magic book, exploring the gardens, practicing his speech, channeling magic, and enjoying life. Eventually, he realized something shocking, Elara was pregnant.
He realized in his young innocence he must have missed it, but he was now aware that she was in fact becoming more obviously pregnant, with her consistently growing belly and strange cravings, he realized that this must have been the reason they had been on the path to Serene’s Domain, because this would be the safest place to have a child.
Finn became excited at the prospect of having a little “sibling”, someone closer to his age to become friends with and learn with.
As the months passed within the tranquil embrace of Serene’s domain, a new sense of anticipation grew within Finn. He watched as Elara’s belly swelled, her radiance matching the serenity of their surroundings. Her cravings, her gentle smiles, and her tender touch on her growing belly became a daily reminder of the new life that was about to join their family.
The day finally arrived when Elara gave birth to a daughter. Finn's heart swelled with an emotion he hadn't known before. There she was, a tiny being cradled in Elara’s arms, her tiny fingers curling and uncurling in the soft light of their room. Her arrival was like a new dawn, a fresh beginning in a world already brimming with wonders.
Finn felt a profound connection to this little girl, almost like a sibling bond. She represented someone he could share his discoveries with, someone who would grow up alongside him in this magical realm. He imagined teaching her the words he had learned, showing her the gardens he had explored, and one day, sharing with her the joy of creating magic.
In that moment, as he watched his new sister in Elara's arms, Finn realized the depth of the journey he was on. It wasn't just about learning magic or exploring new lands; it was about growing with and being part of a family. A family that, although not connected by blood, was bound by something equally strong – a shared life in a world full of magic and possibility.
As Finn gazed at the sleeping face of his new sister, a sense of protectiveness and affection filled him. He knew that their adventures were just beginning, and he couldn't wait to see the world anew through her eyes.
With a heart full of hope and excitement, Finn whispered a promise to the sleeping infant, "I'll be the best big brother I can be." In the quiet of the room, with the soft hum of magic around them, Finn felt an unspoken vow forming – to guide, protect, and cherish this new life as part of his unusual family.