Chapter 09

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Elara and Toren watched Finn as he went off to fulfill his normal schedule he had devised in his time in the village. They had both taken a step back to allow Finn room to make choices for himself, and find himself while he had the guaranteed peace within the domain.

“He really has been diligent with his schedule, hasn’t he?” Elara said, watching Finn and his Oscar, who had been side by side since the moment they met. “It feels unreal that it has been nearly five years since the day we found him in that forest.” She said with a sigh. She looked down at the baby nestled in her arms, an elvish snowball of a little girl, baby Thalia was sound asleep in her arms.

Toren looked up and nodded, “He has been very vigilant in forging his own path. Perhaps it's for the best; proximity to us will only put him in harm's way”

A look of regret covered Elara’s face, “I am sorry, Toren, it’s my fault you and our entire team is at risk-”

Toren shook his head, dismissing the apology, “You needn’t apologize...", “You needn’t apologize, as I have told you, I do not blame you for the trouble your past brings, nor does anyone in our team. They all chose to follow you on their own, and will stand by you till the end. What we need to do is continue to work on plotting our route to the next village, we can’t stay here forever, and we need to make our way to the Eldritch Ruins.”

“Yes, now that Finn is older, and Thalia has been born, we will need to continue our journey soon, but I worry for the safety of them both, bringing them with us will be so dangerous, but we don’t have anywhere else we can send them to be safe. The goddess Serena was already so generous in allowing us to stay here as long as we did…” Elara said, her brow creasing even more with concern.

Toren pulled Elara into a hug, careful not to wake the baby. “You have a lot on your shoulders dear, the fate of your entire lineage lies on your shoulders. That’s more weight than I can even imagine. But I know that if anyone can handle it, you can.”

Elara nodded, her expression hardened by determination. "We'll spend the next few days preparing for the journey. It's not just the distance we must cover but the magical barriers that protect the ruins. We'll need to be at our best, both in strength and in spirit." She gently rocked Thalia in her arms, whispering a vow to her sleeping child. "And we'll do it as a family. No force in this world or any other will tear us apart."

- Break -

Finn, in his usual routine, found himself sitting in his favorite spot within the village, a secluded garden that had become his sanctuary for meditation and magic practice. Today, Oscar lay sprawled nearby, watching Finn with an air of calmness that seemed to echo the Finn's level of focus.

Today, he felt an unusual pull towards the deeper mysteries of magic, encouraged by the recent dream visit from the gods. His thoughts wandered to Earth, to the life he once lived, and to the incredible journey that had brought him here. This mixture of emotions and memories swirled within him, creating a potent focus for his magical energies.

As he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, Finn allowed the rolling thunder and sounds of water trickling to fade into the background, and he visualized the two planets, Earth and his new home, floating in the vastness of space.

He felt the urge to reach out with his magic senses, as if he could bridge the gap in between the two planets, his two lives. On Earth, his mother would be wondering where he was, or maybe she thought him dead, mourning him. He felt the intense wrench of guilt in his stomach as his emotions stirred wildly. The intensity of his emotions and the raw power of the ambient magic began to intertwine in unpredictable ways.

Normally, at his rank, a person would not be able to utilize much magic beyond its simplest form, due to the lack of development in a normal rank person’s soul and body. However, through Finn's constant practice of magic via daily rigorous training and study, he was beginning to grasp concepts that would typically be beyond his level.

The air around Finn vibrated with energy, enveloping him in a soft glow. He was so focused on meditating that he hardly noticed his physical state, instead, was fighting an internal war as the psyche of Henry, a disillusioned young man who wasted his life, and the young child he now was as Finn fought one another, it felt as the version of Henry was pulling him to Earth, to resolve old feelings and bindings he still had on Earth, while his new self as Finn, a young child with talent and curiosity, given a new chance at life to start from scratch, longed to stay here on his new home to build a new life.

All around the village, the surge of magic emanating from Finn's meditation spot sent ripples of concern among its inhabitants.

Mirabel, immersed in her afternoon reading, felt the disturbance like a cold wind. Dropping her book, she rushed out, her heart heavy with worry, knowing instinctively that Finn was at the center of this unprecedented flux of magic.

At their home, Elara and Toren were deep in discussion over their imminent departure. The sudden surge cut through their conversation like a knife. Exchanging a glance that communicated their shared fear, they immediately set off towards Finn, their steps quickened by a surge of adrenaline. Kael, who was only a few rooms down from the pair, was only moments behind them.

Branok, standing amidst the glowing embers of his forge, paused as the wave of magic washed over him. "Oh no," he murmured, recognizing the signature of Finn's magic amidst the tumult. Dropping his tools, he made his way out, anxiety etching deep lines on his brow.

Meanwhile, Cadan, Lia, and Ariella were outside the protective bounds of the village, engaged in their tasks. Unaware of the unfolding drama, they remained oblivious to the magical surge that shook the core of their temporary haven.

The village converged on Finn's usual retreat, finding him enveloped in a storm of magic. Purple and blue lights flashed around him like wild lightning, and his body seemed to be the eye of a magical tempest. Oscar clung to to his side, eyes wide with fear, silently pleading for the pandemonium to end.

Elara's voice pierced the charged air, a desperate plea for Finn to return from the brink. But her words were lost in the maelstrom, and in the blink of an eye, Finn and Oscar vanished, leaving behind a stunned silence and the afterimage of their departure.

The sudden absence of the chaos was almost as shocking as its presence. The villagers, led by Elara and Toren, stood in a solemn circle, the weight of the moment settling on their shoulders. The realization that Finn was no longer within the safety of Serena's domain sparked a flurry of action, driven by a resolve to find and protect one of their own, no matter the cost.

- Break -

On the other side of the world, an unconscious Finn comically popped into physical reality once again, his familiar by his side, bewildered but unharmed. He gently laid next to Finn, waiting for him to wake up once again.

In his unconscious state, Finn dreamt. Even in his dream, he felt tired. He felt like he was battered and beaten. He watched his former self, Henry, as he crept toward Melvin and Chloe, who had been doing a puzzle together.

Finn recalled this was a summer when he and his friends had saved up to take a trip to Bali, a destination chosen for its promise of adventure, relaxation, and the vivid experiences it offered. They had rented a small villa near the beach, a perfect backdrop for what Henry had hoped would be a memorable moment in his life.

This trip was supposed to be the highlight of their post-high school freedom, a celebration of their youth and their bond before university life set them on diverging paths. Henry had envisioned Bali as the perfect setting to confess his feelings to Chloe, away from the familiar settings of their everyday lives, under the tropical sunsets and amidst the exotic beauty of the island.

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The day had been filled with laughter and exploration, the three of them weaving through Bali's vibrant streets, lounging on its sun-kissed beaches, and sharing stories over meals of exotic local cuisine. As the day turned into night, they found themselves in the cozy, dimly lit living room of their villa, the air filled with the easy comfort of their friendship.

Henry had stepped away for a moment, planning to gather his thoughts and finally share his feelings with Chloe. His heart was pounding with anticipation and nervous excitement. But as he returned, hoping to find a moment alone with her, he instead stumbled upon Melvin and Chloe, their figures silhouetted against the soft light, locked in an embrace that made Henry's world come crashing down.

The sight of them together, so intimate and absorbed in each other, was like a physical blow to Henry. The puzzle they had been working on lay forgotten, its pieces scattered and incomplete – a stark metaphor for Henry's shattered expectations. The realization that Chloe and Melvin shared something he had been too afraid to express until now, something he could never be a part of, filled him with a profound sense of isolation and betrayal.

This moment, meant to be the culmination of a dream, turned into the catalyst for his descent. The joy and anticipation that had fueled his journey to Bali evaporated, leaving him feeling lost and adrift. The vibrant colors of the island seemed to dim, and the laughter and music that filled the air became distant echoes.

Finn, watching through Henry's eyes, felt every ounce of that heartbreak anew. The pain of that discovery, the realization of his solitude, and the subsequent choices that led him down a path of regret were all too vivid. This memory, buried deep within Finn's subconscious, was a stark reminder of the moments that can define or destroy us, shaping our futures in ways we can never anticipate.

Finn continued watching, as Henry turned, dropping the gift he had been holding for Chloe on the floor, a beautiful necklace covered in charms and pictures, each representing something about her and all their experiences. Henry didn’t even seem to notice it fall from his fumbling hands, he felt sick, so sick, his heart raced, all sound ceased other than blood rushing in his ears, his heart beating like a bass drum.

Finn felt every emotion all over again, and when Henry started rushing out the villa, he didn’t even hear the voices of Melvin and Chloe calling after him. Finn was pulled along, tethered to his old self, and watched with a strange feeling in his heart. Henry ran and ran, until he couldn’t anymore. He felt dead inside. Lost. Betrayed. In retrospect, and now as Finn, he had realized that his reaction was extreme, and Melvin did nothing wrong.

Henry had kept his feelings secret, and took far too long to tell chloe. But at the time, all Henry could feel was betrayal and depression. He had booked a flight back home that very night, flying home and changing the course of his entire life. He never even made an attempt to talk to them again after that. He had just moved on, without ever really letting it go.

- Break -

Finn woke up, the discomfort of the vivid dream lingering in his mind. He blinked, looking around, as the events caught up with him. He had been meditating, as usual, until something happened and he had been overwhelmed with a variety of sensations and feelings. He remembered that he had experienced a sense of travel, that had been strenuous and confusing, he had absently compared it to something that felt like a roller coaster through the infinite cosmos.

Clearing these thoughts away, he took stock of his surroundings. It looked as if he were in a vast, sprawling forest, but unlike any he had ever seen. The trees towered above him, their trunks wide and covered in luminous moss that cast a soft, ethereal glow, illuminating the area in a spectrum of gentle blues and greens.

The canopy above was dense, filtering the light in a way that created a perpetual twilight, imbuing the space with a sense of calm and otherworldliness. In a moment of panic, Finn looked around frantically, but was relieved to see Oscar laying by his side, patiently.

Calmed once again, Finn continued taking stock of his surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of unfamiliar flowers and the sound of distant, unrecognizable creatures. The ground beneath him was soft, covered in a bed of moss and fallen leaves that cushioned his landing.

Scattered around him were rocks that seemed to pulse with an internal light, and the underbrush was dotted with plants that sparkled as if dusted with stars.

In the distance, he could see a river, its waters glowing with the same bioluminescent quality as the moss, creating a pathway of light that wound through the darkness of the forest. The sky, visible through breaks in the canopy, was a canvas of swirling colors, not unlike the auroras of Earth but far more vibrant and ever-changing.

Finn stood up, brushing off the moss from his clothes, his eyes wide with wonder and a hint of apprehension. He was no longer in the safe confines of Serena's domain. Wherever he was now, he needed to find shelter and gather his bearings.

He was so focused on these thoughts, that he didn't even notice a boy around his age that had approached him with complete silence.

“Hello.” The boy said, looking up at him. Finn was pretty sure that his own age was around 5 now, and this boy seemed to be around the same age, probably 4 years old if he had to guess.

“Uh, hello, I’m Finn…and you?” Finn said.

“Cosmo.” The boy said. Finn wondered if the boy was just awkward, or if he hadn’t developed many language skills yet. Cosmo, had black fluffy hair, and warm brown eyes. He wore tattered clothes , and Finn realized he was bleeding in a few cut areas of his clothes.

“Hey, are you okay Cosmo? Did someone hurt you??” Finn asked with concern.

“Got lost...” Cosmo said shakily, “can't find mommy…” Finn dropped to one knee and pulled off his backpack, thankful he had gotten into a habit of wearing it everywhere he went.

“It is important to be ready at every moment,” Lia had told him during one of her lectures about survival and safety as an adventurer. “Ensure you always have your bag with your most important valuables secured at all times, you never know when you’ll find yourself in a situation where you’ll need it.”

Now, Finn was more grateful than ever for her guidance. He pulled out some simple magic healing ointment. “Is it okay if I put this on you, Cosmo? It will help the scratches heal and take away the pain.”

Cosmo nodded, and Finn took a small amount of the ointment to apply to Cosmo’s wounds. He winced as Finn gently applied it to the scratch, but otherwise made no complaints. Finn watched as the red scratch marks faded almost immediately, and Cosmo smiled. “Thank you mister!” He said sheepishly.

“No problem little buddy.” Finn said, and started rummaging through his bag to see what else he had that would be useful. He found some of his emergency rations, pulling it out. At the sight of food, Cosmo started, but said nothing. Noticing that, Finn looked at him. “Are you hungry? I have enough for both of us.” Cosmo’s hands fumbled with each other awkwardly, and he said “yes, I haven't eaten much in days…”

Finn stared at the Cosmo in disbelief and worry. “Days? How long have you been out here Cosmo?”

“Don’t know,” he said, “Something happened to village…had to leave…monster attacked, got lost…” Cosmo began to tear up again. While he had been talking, Finn had been pulling things out of his bag to produce a very basic cooking set.

Finn laid out a foldable stove top, which was essentially a campers kit, with an ignitable crystal, and an area to put food to cook. You could use magic to ignite the fire crystal, or natural means, like wood and a flame. Finn channeled magic into the crystal, and it began heating up, and placed the rations onto the built-in cooking surface.

Within minutes, the rations that had been magically preserved in a block were now laid out and sizzling, before the pair. Finn produced a pair of plates, and offered one to Cosmo, who was watching with astonishment.

Finn allowed Cosmo to take as much as he wanted, before grabbing whatever was left. For the Oscar, Finn took out a full bamboo plant, comically too large to fit inside of any normal bag, reaching to about the size of a two story building.

Oscar took it happily and began munching on all the leaves. Finn would save the rest of the bamboo that the panda wouldn't eat, planning to use bamboo, known for being highly versatile to create a variety of different tools and resources.

Once they had finished eating, Finn packed up the remnants of the cooking gear, cleaned it off with water and a simple water crystal, which was a common crystal that had the inherent nature of water.

Depending on the size and quality of a crystal such as this, they could produce anywhere from an average water bottle from Earth, anywhere to an entire river. The former was on the normal rank side, while the latter was typically a gold rank crystal, making it rare and valuable.

The one he had was Bronze rank, making it 2 ranks higher than himself, and would last him long enough to find another source of water. He used the crystal to fill water pouches for himself and Cosmo, and they got up, ready to search for Cosmo’s home village.

Finn was grateful for the company, and a worthwhile goal, it gave him a purpose, direction, and a distraction from the situation he was in.

With his goal in mind, he was ready to set off and help return to his home, if there was a home to go back to. He was worried about the story that he was able to get out of Cosmo, it sounded like his village had faced some kind of conflict that had caused his people to evacuate. He was afraid of what he might find, hoping dearly there was a village to return him to.

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