(30th Floor)
"Hey Finn." Lyze flew down from his scouting flight-path to the captain.
"Report." Finn said.
"About half a mile upfront. The large trees are shaking quite violently. Thing is though, they're quite packed so it would be hard to make them shake the way they are even for a large monster."
"Which means there's a Mammoth Fool ahead." Finn said. "It only makes straight charges, so it has plenty of blindspots." Finn turned to the following Familia and held his hand up, making them all halt in place as the carts came to a stop. "Usually when a monster like that is involved, we have to keep the supplies well away."
"It attacks the supplies?"
"It attacks the adventurers guarding the supplies. They are not enough to defend against a large monster like that nor do they have the speed to outrun it. So we can't risk our supplies being harmed." Finn then smiled at Lyze. "It really does make our journey easier, having you on the team Lyze. You're able to see targets well ahead of our scouts because you're able to fly."
"Happy to do my part." Lyze put his hands on his hips and smiled cheerily. It made Finn wish he could see the emotion reach the boy's eyes. Lyze still did not have the blindfolds on, so his eyelids were bare and closed.
"You know, I think you should stay in this form more." Finn commented. "You're a lot happier when you're like this."
"I can be angry or hateful in this form too if I try." Lyze said. "But the effect of Light magic is just so refreshing. It makes you wonder what is there to be upset about. Of course once I leave this form it will all come crashing back down."
"Hm." Finn nodded before he stuck his tongue in his cheek in thought. "Come with me a moment Lyze."
"...Sure." Lyze said confusedly as Finn led him to the base of the tree.
Once they were there, Finn turned around and put his spearhead in the ground.
"You're not still unhappy with what I did, are you?" The Pallum asked.
"I told you Finn. I understand why you did it. Your priority will always be the Familia as a whole instead of just one person in it. For that reason I forgive you. You ask if I'm upset. Not now, but I was upset before. Of course I was, because my privacy was still breached. But it's all done and dusted with...unless you have anything else that you want to tell me."
"No I don't." Finn paused. "I've been wanting to ask you something for a long time Lyze. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but your answers would be quite important to me."
"Go on."
"Why do you want to become strong?" Finn asked, holding his hand out. "What drives you to greater power? What inspires you or motivates you? Anyway you put the question, what is it you fight for?"
"...The answer to that is complicated." Lyze said. "Before I answer, I want to know your reason Finn. It will help me formulate my response better."
"When I was a little older than you are now, my people were attacked. My family butchered, I was the lone survivor." Finn tilted his head. "You know of the Pallum race's great Hero, right?"
"Dim, also knows as Finn by some. A name which I believe you took for yourself in place of your birth name captain. And from that alone I can guess what it is that motivates you. Coming back to the topic, he was one of the leaders of the Knights of Fianna, the younger half-brother of the Heroine Fianna herself. The Pallums took her as a goddess...until the gods descended and they found out she was nothing more than a mortal hero, not actually a goddess herself."
"And we were made a pariah race because of it." Finn said. "All other races lost respect for us. It was bad enough we were the physically weakest, but our misplaced belief in a false goddess made us the laughing stock of the world. Which is why people turned a blind eye to us when we were attacked. They did not even have enough of a modicum of respect for us to help when we were in danger. In realizing the state of my people, I took one of the names of my heroes, and I aspired to become the new hero of the Pallum race, a new name and beacon for all our people. To gain back our dignity, I become strong enough that other races are forced to respect me."
"You've done quite well in that respect Captain." Lyze said. "There's not a Pallum in the whole world that doesn't look up to you and admire you...with the exception of the Gulliver brothers perhaps who are infamously jealous of you. Other than those idiots, I'd say you've done your job quite well."
"But it will never be enough." Finn said. "I must keep ahead of the game, constantly growing so my hard work is not undone."
"Hard work, aspiring to be a hero." Lyze commented. "A noble drive regardless."
"So...what's your answer?" Finn asked.
Lyze bit his lip as he contemplated.
"I'm assuming it's Loki's change of behaviour that's had that question burning inside you?" The boy asked.
"Yes. Even her speech patterns have changed. She's nothing like she was before. And apart from special occasions, she barely touches alcohol anymore. She's suddenly very conscious but very reverent of you. She's spoken highly of your drive, but I want to hear it for myself."
"...Like I said Finn. The truth is very complicated." Lyze explained. "Honestly, it's a brain ache. But to put it simply Finn...no doubt you are so confused on the nature of my powers right?"
"It goes against everything that makes sense." Finn said. "The things you're able to do, it's like there is nothing you can't perform. More than that, you seem to have several versions of the same kind of power, and you yourself look like you're discovering new things all the time about your own power. Is it connected to your motive?"
"In some way." Lyze replied. "It is but a means to an end Finn. My powers, at least the ones you have seen so far, are all root powers being drawn from a seed of power living inside me. It's a dormant power, the full extent of which I cannot yet access. But I know its nature. My master was the one who showed me what it was. But like I said, it is just a means to an end."
"And what is this end you speak of?"
"There was someone I loved...more than anything and anyone else in the world. They were my very soul. I lived to serve and please them."
"Kind of early for you to fall in love." Finn raised an eyebrow.
"I was surely in love, but not the way you think." Lyze laughed. "There was no romantic inclination with this person...urgh, I'm actually getting shivers now that I'm thinking about it. No, it was a familial love Finn. I...was separated from them at a point in my life, and the dormant power inside me is the only thing that will help me find her. The ONLY thing. But in order to bring it out, I must first become strong in body. Unbelievably strong. The only measure of strength that I believe would help me wiled this dormant power...is level 10."
Finn's eyebrows raised sharply.
"10? That high? Lyze, there has never been a level 10, ever. How can you be sure that that is the right approximation?"
"It's actually a lowball in reality." Lyze said. "It's the minimum that I must reach. But yes, that is my goal Finn. And that is why I strive so much, because I have a singular focus that means more to me than all the power in the world. But it is that very power that I need, which is why I cultivate it. So I can find my loved one again."
"Loki made it sound more grand." Finn rubbed his chin. "Why would she say that?"
"Any god who has looked upon my soul will glorify me Finn. I speak not from arrogance, but it would be in their nature to please me. It's one of the effects of that innate power. In reality, I'm a person with a selfish, yet pure goal. I care not for being a hero, although some insist I am one and that I have the makings of one. Mine is a singular cause, meaningless in the grand scheme of things, but sacred to my person."
"It does sound...simple." Finn said as he contemplated Lyze's answer. "But the willpower you possess, for the sake of one person?"
"Yes?"
"Lyze, your willpower SWAYS your Falna. It forces the blessing to let you accumulate power."
'Not quite. But it's a fair assumption.'
"Then consider it a proportionate representation of my love for her." Lyze said. "Sometimes the most simplest of answers are the right ones Finn."
"I suppose." Finn dropped his hand from his chin and pulled out his spear again. "I suppose I understand now. It has given me quite the insight."
Lyze nodded before pausing as he considered his next words. He very much wanted to say it...but saying it directly would probably not be the best way. Perhaps an allusion to it would be the best way.
"Finn?"
"Yes."
"This may be hard for you to believe...but one of my abilities allows me to see personalities. Specifically what fate befell those certain individuals. Meaning I can think of people that I know by name, and my insight allows me to see what became of them. My knowledge is still quite limited. But there are bits of knowledge I know that many others would not. You get what I mean?"
It was a lie, obviously. A cover up for how he actually knew what he was about to reveal.
"...Honestly, no." Finn said with a strained smile. "You've got me confused."
"(sigh). Finn, I'll put it simply to you. I know where Fianna and Dim are right now."
The Pallum's eyes widened.
"What?!" Finn exclaimed. "How?"
"You don't believe me do you?" Lyze said.
"...I'd like to honestly...but I don't see how that could be possible." Finn pursed his lips before shrugging. "But your powers are bizarre. There are times when you look like you know the future, hence why you escape death and serious injury so much. Assuming that you possess such insight or foresight or whatever you want to call it, what you say is true, where would they be?"
"That is not what I mean to tell you." Lyze said. "You know of the reincarnation cycle, right?"
"When we die, we are reborn again with new names and memories of our previous life wiped." Finn said. "What...Are you saying they are both reincarnated too?"
"Oh you have no idea." Lyze laughed. "Not only are they reincarnated Finn, they walk amongst us, in Orario itself."
"Are you serious Lyze?!" Finn asked. "Are you sure you're not pulling my leg?"
"I swear on the Falna." Lyze said. "They walk amongst us Finn...much, much closer than you think. As a matter of fact, you've met both of them already, one a lot more than the other."
"They're Pallums?"
"As they always were."
Finn thumbed his chin again in contemplation, thinking over every Pallum he'd ever met in life, which was a lot actually. In Orario alone, there were so many of them, especially in congregation in the Pallum's Hidden Tavern. Finn's brain went over every Pallum's face he could think of. For a moment, he thought of Lili, whom Lyze seemed ferociously protective of all of a sudden...
'No. Can't be her.' Finn thought. 'Fianna was strong willed and righteous. The girl is too dependant and weak.'
"Don't try and guess who they are Finn." Lyze said. "I guarantee you, if you find the truth one day, you will find that you would never have guessed it."
"What about the other heroes?" Finn asked.
"The others?"
"What about all the other famous heroes? Are they alive once again too?"
"Put it this way, the Argonaut heralded the Age of Heroes." Lyze sated. "When he was alive, so was all the other iconic saviours we know of. As the First Hero, his presence meant all others were present too. It was a part of HIS nature." Lyze paused for dramatic effect. "And once again, he too walks amongst the living. That should tell you something."
"...How can you be so sure?" Finn asked.
"I'll say it front of Loki if you want." Lyze said. "If that would be confirmation enough for you, I'm willing to do it."
"No, I'll take your word for it. It's just...mind-blowing." Finn breathed as his chest became heavy with excitement and trepidation. Why wouldn't he be so? His heroes were apparently alive once more as a result of the reincarnation cycle. "You really won't tell me their identities?"
"Nope." Lyze shook his head. "Maybe someday, but not today."
"Fine...I'll see to it that you do tell me."
"By the way Finn, I've been wanting to try something for a long while now."
"What?"
"I've been practising another form of magic. It is one where I can transmit my thoughts into the minds of others." Lyze held out his hand. "I think it will be useful for intelligence gathering. I won't have to come back to you all the time. Whatever it is I see, I can send it directly to your brain and you will see it in live time."
"Were it anyone else, I would have called them mad." Finn shook his head. "I'm assuming you want to test this power on me?"
"Yes."
"Go ahead. What's the worse that can happen?"
"Okay." Lyze put a finger to the middle of his forehead. "I will transmit to you a moving picture in my mind of somebody and the words I think they are saying. You should receive it exactly as I'm picturing and hearing it in my own head." Lyze stuck his other finger into Finn's forehead. "I can do it this way and remotely as well."
"I'm ready."
"{Broadcast!}"
A purple stream of magic flowed from Lyze's fingers into Finn's forehead. Those of you who are familiar with Lyze's set of powers...yes, it was Gowther's mind techniques.
Finn's eyes widened as he saw the image in Lyze's mind. It was crystal clear and perfect.
"I don't believe it!" The Pallum exclaimed. "It's in my head...but it doesn't feel like my own thoughts. It's like a foreign thought not of my own making inside my head."
"That's exactly what it is." Lyze said as he removed his finger. "Now this proves I can transmit sounds and pictures to you. Which means you will get the most detailed recon one can get."
"Can you do this with just one person?"
"I should be able to do multiple people at once. Won't know until we try."
"Excellent." Finn smiled brightly. "It really was the best decision we made, bringing you into our Familia."
"I must really be a good boy as of recent times. You keep on praising me."
"Don't push it." Finn chided playfully before he raised his brows. "By the way, who was that guy dancing and singing '~Never gonna give you up, Never gonna let you down~' inside my head?"
The only answer he got was Lyze bursting into mad laughter.
---
The ground suddenly began shaking as a series of thundering footsteps approached all of them.
"Looks like it found us anyway!" Gareth shouted while holding his axe up. "Get ready!"
The dwarf's warning was followed by a large mass of red fur and heavy blubbery muscle, equipped with two large tusks roaring as it pushed through the trees, knocking some large ones over.
"Get ready Lyze." Finn said as he looked back at the boy only to see him gone. "Huh, Lyze?"
The Pallum found his junior again facing down the galloping mammoth as it closed the gap between it and the Loki Familia.
Lyze got into a stance as he drew Excalibur. The holy blade began to fill with golden magic as it became almost too bright to look at. Lyze then calmly swung the sword around as a shockwave of holy magic sliced through the air towards the monster.
The Mammoth Fool saw the incoming attack and put its brakes on, but its momentum had been too forthcoming and so its feet dragged through the soil. It was forced to see its fate quickly fly towards its face as the slicing pressure felled large trees all around it.
Boulders, vines, trees, hidden minor monsters in the area and everything besides the Loki Familia who were behind Lyze were not spared from this attack. Eventually it sliced mammoth clean through, turning it into dust. But the shockwave carried on as it continued to bisect trees in the distance, the impact of the trunks hitting the ground making large tremors as they did so.
"I guess that takes care of that." Lyze grinned at them all as he rested his sword on his bare shoulder.
Riveria responded by bonking him with her staff.
"Oh come on!" Lyze rubbed his head. "I took care of the problem didn't I?"
"And made our path more difficult than it should have been!" Riveria pointed to all the felled trees. "How do you expect we get over those?"
Lyze said nothing. But he sauntered over to where the trees were and telekinetically began lifting the trees and throwing them aside.
"He's still trouble where it's worst." Finn sighed and shook his head. But in his heart, the Pallum was relieved of a heavy weight on his shoulders. Still though...their conversation left much to be contemplated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment and Review!
Discord: discord.gg/HUMQ4aQ4
Read ahead on my Patreon:
Patreon/ Vulkizaro_Zoromi
For commissions:
Ko-Fi/ vulkizarozoromi