Finale Part 1

You look over the captured party, including the version of yourself. They all looked dejected except for the mirrored, human you with long hair and a more slender frame. He was smiling rather satisfactorily. You exhaled.

“I don’t even know why, but that face is kind of annoying.”

Lad nodded, giving the other Fin a glance. “Believe me… For us it’s even more annoying.”

“So… What’s gonna happen to these guys?”

“We’re going to decide. We made a deal with that other you, and the girls around him are more victims than anything so we have to take it on a case by case basis.” Lad explained.

“This part is being handled in your world, right? What is that, anyway?”

“It’s the ‘future’ I guess. Though you’re not from the past, this place is just backwards. If I wanted to bias you, I’d say that there’s more people living in Orr now than probably exist within this whole simulation.”

You smiled. “You still said it. What are your actual thoughts?”

Lad thought for a second. “My actual thoughts are that the people in here are just as much a part of my world as anyone else, in a sense.”

“Really? But everyone in here has died.”

“That’s true, but death is arbitrary and isn’t the thing we value in any case.”

You looked at him curiously. “Really?”

Lad pointed up to his head. “All the important stuff is here. The importance of the thing we call death usually refers more to the part where all of ‘this’ goes away. Otherwise it’s not significant. Think about an accident. If I died for a minute and then got brought back to life, I’m not less important because I died. Everything that’s important continues and the ‘end point’ in that case is arbitrary, right?”

You smiled. “Right. I think I agree”

Lad looked ahead. “We have a couple days before we reach the island, according to Lauda. I have to go attend to my people in the meantime. You can come to me for anything.”

“Anything?” You smirked.

Lad blushed. “Seriously? I’m not gonna do ‘anything’ with you, I’m just saying-”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m not really suggesting it.” You lied, rubbing the back of your neck.

I feel like this form made me hornier. It’s a bit embarrassing, sometimes.

You wandered over to the Lad side of the ship and looked over all the people. There was kara, who you recognized from the island, then you felt surprised to see a pink-haired boy standing with the Elf Princess Marina.

“Hey.”

Marina glared at you. “Just because the Slayer said we are working together doesn’t mean I have to like it, traitor! Look at you, you even became like them. Disgusting!” She spat.

You leaned back. What did I do to deserve this- You stopped and thought back to the moment the Elves were betrayed and cut out of the dealings in Aniyufar by the combined political and martial prowess of Marien and Fiona. You nodded bashfully once it hit you.

“Sorry. I honestly didn’t have much of a hand in all that. I wanted to work with you all, I promise.”

The Princess began fuming. “You didn’t-”

Luire took her arm in an attempt to calm her. “Aunt… We can’t disrespect Lad by causing issues. Maybe you should go below deck and lay down?” He insisted.

Her eyes shot open and a bead of sweat rolled down her brow as she stared between you and Luire.

“If I go down and ignore the influence this other group has, you’ll undoubtedly be corrupted right out from under me, nephew…”

“I see, I see.” Luire nodded placatingly.

“Is that so?”

“The fact that you don’t see it makes you more vulnerable, Luire. I want to protect my Sister’s child.”

“Thank you for that.” Luire smiled graciously.

“But there’s not much we can do right now.”

Marina gulped. “You’re right. All we can do is wait for it to happen.” She shuddered, hugging herself. Luire walked her to the stairs and patted her back to urge her down into the lower deck. He let out a sigh as he turned back towards you.

“Sorry, Hero. My Aunt doesn’t usually show this side of herself so openly. I think that some circumstances have drawn it out of her.”

“What about you? Aren’t you upset with me as well?”

Luire shook his head. “I follow my Aunts orders, but I always felt like I trusted you in particular for some reason.”

“S-sriously?” You gulped. His death, one of many, flashed in front of your eyes.

“You trust… me?”

“I don’t know why.” Luire chuckled.

“I hoped we’d all be able to work together because more than anything something really made me want to be on your side. It feels like something I’ve always wanted.” He stopped, blushing.

“Fuck… Sorry, this must sound weird.”

You covered your mouth with one hand and held back a wash of emotion. “It does… It does sound weird. But I’m the one that’s sorry.”

“Eh?” He cocked his head to one side.

You gulped and collected yourself. “You deserved better, and you still do.”

Luire lifted a brow, staring at you with very little recognition. However, after a second passed, tears formed in his eyes seemingly without any input from his worldly body.

“This is weird… It must be the air.” He said genuinely with a bright smile.

“Are you sad?” You inquired.

“On the contrary. I actually feel pretty happy.” He chuckled awkwardly.

“I better go check on my Aunt to make sure she isn’t getting into trouble ‘completely on accident.’” He winked, turning to leave. You let him go.

“Knowing hurts.” You remarked quietly.

“Yeah…” Kara said from behind you. She had another Fox by her side that was a bit shorter and younger. They looked quite similar.

“Is this your-”

“Daughter? No. Descendent? I guess it depends on how you look at it.” Kara shrugged. She offered frankly.

“Depending on how you look at it, you’re my ‘Father.’”

“That’s a strange thing to say.” You looked at her.

“How? Are you my child?”

Kara shook her head. “No, technically you inherited being my dad by absorbing my mom.”

You felt a pang of guilt. “Did I do something bad to someone important to you?”

“No… You did something you needed to do to someone that wanted to hurt you. You did a good thing.” Kara explained cryptically with a small, weak smile.

You looked down in thought. “I feel like you helped me.”

“Only because you helped me.” Kara explained quickly.

“I don’t deserve credit.”

You shook your head. “I don’t know exactly what happened but good is good and bad is bad. There’s no scale, in reality. All the good things we do aren’t weighed against the bad by anyone. You should be proud of all the good things you’ve done, especially if it feels to me like you’re genuinely sorry for the bad. You should let yourself feel good about being a better person.” You explained.

Kai nodded. “He’s right, Kara. You did good. Especially for us.”

“Ah… Ahh…” Kara gulped and blinked. She turned quickly.

“I- I have to go find Lad.”

“Hmm.” You watched her go, her shoulders shaking as she left. You centred your gaze on Kai.

“Are we related?”

She grinned. “Yes! Directly. I can trace my line directly back to you. Without getting into how many, you are my VERY great grandfather.”

“Hoh. That’s interesting. Is it good, being related to me?”

“Not really.” She shrugged.

“Oh. Uhm… Sorry.”

“It’s not like you had to. I’m around because you did something funky a thousand years ago. I’m happy to exist. I’m happy mom and dad exist. You also did something very kind and selfless for the person I love, so even if it was bad, I’m still very grateful to you.”

“Wait… I did? What did I do?”

She chuckled, pointing over to Yeong. “You should talk to her about it.”

“O-okay. Do you need anything from me?”

“Nope!” she shook her head.

“See you later, gramps.”

“Kay.” You left the girl to go and talk to Yeong. The androgynous girl looked up at you with soft red eyes.

“Hello. I… Don’t remember what I did for you, but that girl said we should talk?”

“Yeah… I never really got a chance to thank you.” Yeong said awkwardly.

“What did I do?” You looked genuinely surprised by the revelation.

“You kind of saved my whole world, and me.” Yeong offered.

Your eyes widened. You suddenly remembered the void. Remembered being powerless and close to death, sustained by machines. Powerless except to reach out to other unique individuals. As that understanding washed over you, you shook your head.

“You did all that.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t do anything. I gave you the means and that's all. Everything you accomplished was down to your skill. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You’re the reason the world got saved, don’t mistake drive for providence.”

A smile crept across her soft lips. “Huh… Thanks, Hero.”

You eyed her. “Also. From my own personal experience. Don’t let other people dictate who or what you are.”

She seemed to take it to heart. “I… Thought that I was a man for a while. Then I got convinced I was a girl. I kept going like that because people I liked seemed to like me. Like it that way. I did change based on what I thought people wanted and it’s not like I hated it. I actually don’t mind being a girl and I don’t mind being a guy.”

You winked. “There you have it.”

“Wait… You can do that?”

“Obviously.” You shrugged.

Yeong looked floored. “I… Can be either. Both…”

“Neither, too. Who cares? The people that love you love you, right?”

Yeong glanced back at Lad, lips curling into a wide grin. They nodded. “Yeah.”

As Yeong left you felt a presence behind you. You turned to see Cao Young sizing you up. “Hi.” He said.

Your ears twitched. You looked at him closely. “Hi?”

He cocked his head to one side. “So you’re the guy she couldn’t get out of her head, even when she said she had.”

“She?” You ask. Young motioned towards Kara, standing in a group getting comforted by Lad.

“Oh. Yes. I suppose. And you’re the one we were supposed to defeat.” You looked at him smugly.

“I feel like we have an adv-”

Cao Young crossed his arms over his chest and calmly stated. “Nah. I’d win.”

“So why are we even talking? I bet you’re itching to try us out.”

He sighed deeply. “Because I lost to him. You know the one. The sensitive guy with the albinism.”

“Lad.” You shuckled.

“I… Lost as well. How’d he get you?”

“I hit a wall. I don’t like losing. But I just started thinking… If I lose to you, I’ll also win. Even after I knew what his Aura was doing to my head I couldn’t shake the idea that he genuinely got my best interest at heart. Yours too, right?” Young offered seriously.

You nodded. “Yeah. He’s… Quite a Hero.”

Cao Young grinned. “Or quite the villain. Imagine what would happen if he had bad intentions?”

“Perish the thought.” You waved your hand dismissively, looking at him closely.

“You know what’s interesting?”

“What?”

“His trait doesn’t work on himself. He should be a narcissist, logically. But he feels perpetually like he is weaker and worse than he actually is. It’s probably why he’s always trying to be better.”

Cao Young laughed heartily. “That’s true! That’s so true. I’m a member of the Lad fan club and I’m not alone. Now that I lost to him, the only thing I can do anymore is believe in him.”

You smirked. “How frightening.” You perked up.

“Did I do anything bad to you?”

“Nah. We’re good. I already talked about it with people, but I’m planning on swimming ahead so that Lamasu doesn’t freak out when we show up.” He giggled.

“His face would look so stupid. I’ll see you there.” He slapped your shoulder, expression turning as he felt your muscles and the uniqueness of your physical makeup after the addition of the Elemental traits.

“Oh fuck. Never mind, I’d lose.” He winked, jumping into the water and speeding off.

Master. Your heart rate is increasing. You are showing signs of fever without sickness. Mirra observed.

“That’s called anxiousness, Mirra. People feel it under stress. I’ve talked to a lot of people today. It’s taking a toll”

It seems as though it would be wise to stop, Master.

You smiled. “It’s not a bad thing. This is also what healing feels like.”

I see. Healing is pain?

“In a sense.” You shrugged, looking around. There was no one that really stood out, but you could not help but rest your eyes on Jeane. You smiled gently and approached her.

“How are you doing?”

“I feel fine. I am glad we made it through without having to fight.” She commented, hand over her belly. She was of course not showing yet.

“Me too.” You hugged her tightly.

“Why do you want to stay close to someone like me?” You wondered out loud.

“E-eh? W-what is this all of a sudden?” She stammered.

“Love of my lives.” You said. Her face became bright red. She gave up and just hugged you back.

Finally she answered. “If there had to be a reason, you would be like every other thing in my life.” Jeane leaned back, beaming.

“The simple fact that you exist in my heart without reason makes you different from anyone else. In all of my study and learning, you are the only thing that I feel like I could spend a lifetime trying to understand. That is ‘love’ to me. It’s a process of constant understanding and adjusting. To put it succinctly, I will neer fully understand you, so I will always love you.” She fanned herself.

“That… Came out of nowhere.”

You lifted her hand and kissed it. “I wasn’t a great husband.”

“H-husband? What? What?” She looked around.

“But you are an amazing wife, Jeane.” You smiled brightly at her.

She looked down, steam seeming to come off of her. “Proposing like this… I seriously do not understand you at all.”

You grinned. Teuta approached as well, standing beside you both. “I… Feel a bit like a third wheel.”

You held out your hand. “Come here.” She took it, allowing you to pull her in to make a small circle with you, Jeane and her standing in it.

“Teuta, did you do everything you wanted to do in this life? Did you avoid the things you didn’t like?”

“Of course.” She nodded.

You breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank god.” You hugged them both.

“I don’t know what happens next. I’m just gonna say that now so that it doesn’t become a thing later. I… Don’t know what’s gonna happen to me, but if I’m not around for some reason, Jeane-”

“No!” She shouted.

“What are you talking about, not being around? If you are going somewhere, I will go with you!” She blurted it out, covering her mouth as she said it.

“That… Uhm. I do not know where it came from.”

You nodded, placing a hand over her belly. “I care about everyone here, but whatever I decide to do. Whatever I aim for. It’s gonna be for this. We already talked about it. Things have to change. You have to make decisions for the baby, too.”

She hugged you tearfully. “Why are you saying you are going to leave…”

“I- I might not.” You frowned, remembering the prophecy. Teuta gave you a knowing look.

“Is it you?”

“I think so.” You smiled.

“I’m expecting it.”

She took a deep breath, nodding and holding Jeane. “I’ll take care of her. No matter what happens.”

You smiled. “Once a Knight, always a Knight.”

She huffed. “I’m a priestess.”

“Of course.” You nodded to her. She smiled and nodded back.

“We have a day. We’ll spend some time together before we get there, okay? Alone time.” They both nodded. Teuta stared over your shoulder. You turned to see Fiona standing behind you, lip quivering.

“Fiona…”

“The fuck are you saying, ‘you might leave!?’ What are you talking about?” She stomped forward.

“Who the hell said you could? That you HAVE to? I’ll burn this whole world down before I HAVE to let you g-”

You stepped forward and embraced her. She seemingly did not know what to do with her hands as you hugged her tightly.

“No, you won't. Because all of this is for you. This whole world. Just don’t let it go to your head, okay?” You chuckled lightly.

“F-for me?”

“You get to be the ‘main character.’ I want you to be. You talked about that, right? If this was a story?”

“You think I was serious?” She mumbled.

“I don’t think you knew how serious you were being. For a long time I didn’t understand you. Now I know. You lived a life before where you did not have a choice. You did not have a chance. I know for a fact that you are a Hero, Fiona. The only thing that made it me instead of you was Fate. You were every bit as much a Hero as me. Maybe more. You deserve a chance and a choice. But I’ve made all my choices. I’ve done everything there is to do. You need to live that life. You’ve done a lot of amazing things.”

“Stop talking nonsense, idiot…” She wiped her eyes.

“We’re two halves. I’m a part of you, you’re a part of me.”

“No. You are you and I am me.” You asserted.

“From now on, live for you. Not for ‘us.’”

She nodded. “Fine.”

After the day spent alone with the ones you loved, you all arrived at the barrier. Just as Lauda claimed. Beyond it you could see a small island with a small, out of place wooden cottage sitting neatly in the centre of it. You observed the Aoian ship nearby. Lamasu moved over at the same time Cao Young boarded. Lauda walked over to face Lamasu.

“Sibling…” He greeted begrudgingly.

Lauda smiled far more cordially. “Hello Brother. How are you?”

“Worse, now that I know I died somehow. I have no idea how that could even-”

“Diamond Eyes.” She offered frankly.

“Hoh…” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Bastards.” Lamasu looked around impatiently.

“Well? What are we waiting for?”

The closest members of your party approached the barrier. You pushed your hand inside and surprisingly were easily able to enter. As was Lad. The two of you exchanged a look. Before you could both celebrate, you saw everyone else barred from entry.

“What?”

“Do we have to go in alone?” Lad asked, falling into deep thought.

You began to step forward abruptly. “I guess so. Let’s get it over wi-”

“Wait.” He grabbed you and pulled you back.

“What?” You looked at him.

“They’re expecting us to go into a negotiation under-equipped? I may be good with my trait but I’m not an exceptional negotiator and neither are you.”

“What are you suggesting?”

Lad glanced back at Marrien pointedly. “I think we need to bring in the experts.”

“My mother?” You lifted a brow.

“You want me to take my mother into this strange place?”

“I also have another person in mind… But ultimately it’s up to you.”

“Who?”

Somewhere in a dimly lit office, Lacy was massaging Steph’s head due to a migraine. His right ear twitched.

“Itchy…” He mumbled.

Lacy smiled, continuing the massage while scratching his ear for him. He shuddered lightly, enjoying the touch. “They say if your right ear is itchy, one of your friends is talking about you behind your back.”

He felt annoyed. “Who has the guts to do that? Silly superstition…”