The journey to Ravenwood had never felt more ridiculous. Kael couldn't believe how absurd things had gotten. He was carrying the Heartstone, a powerful artifact capable of world-altering destruction, but right now, he was more concerned with Finn's ridiculous jokes.
"Kael, I think the Heartstone just whispered to me," Finn said, holding the glowing artifact up to his ear. "It says, 'Please stop carrying me around, I'm embarrassed.'"
Kael rolled his eyes, but couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. "Finn, you're impossible."
"Don't blame me," Finn said with a grin. "I'm just trying to keep spirits high. If we're going to stop the Shadow King, we might as well have a good time doing it, right?"
Soren, who had been silently brooding since they left the Heartstone shrine, shot Finn a glare. "Not the time, Finn."
"Not the time?" Finn raised an eyebrow. "Soren, you know what they say: if you can't laugh at the end of the world, what can you laugh at?"
Nyx, rolling her eyes, muttered, "Finn, we're literally walking toward certain doom, and you're telling jokes about the apocalypse?"
"Exactly!" Finn said. "Why cry when you can laugh? Besides, if I'm going down, I'd rather be in a fit of laughter than with a frown." He struck a dramatic pose, holding an imaginary glass of wine. "To the end of the world and terrible puns!"
Kael laughed, even though he knew it was ridiculous. Still, he appreciated Finn's strange ability to lighten the mood, even when everything felt like it was collapsing around them.
As they continued through the forest, they came across a small stream. Tessa, who had been silent for a while, suddenly broke out into song. "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream—" she started, but Finn immediately interrupted.
"Life is but a dream!" he sang loudly, off-key.
Tessa shot him a glare. "Not the time for karaoke, Finn."
But Finn didn't care. He was already on a roll. "Why not?" he said, twirling in circles. "It's the perfect time for an impromptu concert! I'll call it 'Songs of the Doomed Heroes.'"
Kael couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. It felt good to laugh, to forget about the looming threat of the Shadow King, if only for a moment.
"Alright," Kael said, wiping a tear from his eye. "That was funny. You know what? You're right, Finn. We should enjoy the journey while we can."
Just then, the ground shook violently, and the trees around them seemed to shudder. Everyone froze, their humor vanishing in an instant. But then Finn, with his usual lightheartedness, glanced around and whispered, "I swear, if that was the Shadow King laughing at my jokes, I'll be really offended."
Soren glared at Finn. "Finn, this is serious."
But Finn's face lit up with a grin. "I know, I know. But at least I gave you guys a good laugh before the world ends, right?"
Kael looked at his friends and smiled. Despite the overwhelming odds and dangers ahead, Finn's infectious energy made them feel like there was still hope.
Suddenly, a strange figure appeared in the distance. It was tall, cloaked in shadow, and seemed to flicker in and out of existence.
"Uh, guys…" Nyx said, her voice wary. "I think we're about to meet someone. Someone who's not going to laugh at Finn's jokes."
"Great," Finn said. "First we have the Shadow King, and now we've got his personal stand-up comedy critic. I'm feeling so loved."
The figure approached slowly, and as it got closer, its glowing eyes locked onto them. "You think you're funny?" the figure growled, voice dripping with menace.
Kael's heart raced. This was it—the confrontation they had been dreading. But Finn, ever the optimist, grinned.
"Well, I do try," he said, throwing his hands up dramatically. "But I guess I'm just an acquired taste." He then muttered, "Mostly acquired by people who like bad puns and terrible one-liners."
The figure didn't respond with a laugh, but instead, it raised its hand, and the ground beneath them cracked. "Enough of this nonsense," the figure said, its voice booming. "You will pay for your insolence."
"Oh boy," Finn said, dramatically wiping his forehead. "I was really hoping that would end with a punchline."
But it didn't. Instead, the figure raised both hands, sending a wave of dark energy toward the group. Kael barely had time to react, but before he could do anything, Tessa leaped into action, drawing her weapon and slashing at the air, cutting through the dark energy with ease.
"We don't have time for jokes now," Tessa said, gritting her teeth as the figure disappeared back into the shadows. "We're in a real battle now, Finn."
"Well," Finn said with a grin, "if this is going to be a fight, I'll give it my best punchline. 'What's the difference between a sword fight and a comedy show?'"
Before anyone could answer, he threw his arms up in the air and shouted, "Timing!"
Kael couldn't help but laugh, even though they were in the middle of a dangerous situation. Sometimes, even in the darkest moments, a bit of humor was what kept them going.
Finn's antics may have been the strangest form of support, but Kael appreciated them nonetheless. As long as they could laugh, there was hope.