You've probably noticed that I've written a lot of these 'collecting secondary characters for the Gate of Finis' stories. The reason for that will become clear soon...


It would take something truly monumental to make Zeph leave Clearbrook without an apothecary.


Beyond the Village

There were many things that Zeph admired about Alfyn. From his selflessness and compassionate way of dealing with his patients to his willingness to put his own life in danger to save another's… Well, that he didn't admire quite so much, just once he wished Alfyn would think before he threw himself into another dangerous battle… Yet, he supposed, all those incidents with the local snakes, bats and salamanders had prepared him quite well for this journey he'd set out on this last year.

Because, really, there was only quality of Alfyn's that Zeph was truly envious of: his wanderlust. Or, perhaps, that was putting it the wrong way. It wasn't so much that Zeph was jealous that Alfyn wanted to travel, but more that he was jealous that he was able to. With Nina here in the village and all of Clearbrook relying on just one apothecary, Zeph didn't have much opportunity to leave the village in search of herbs, much less leave to go on a journey as Alfyn had.

Even if he had the ability to travel, to leave the village on an adventure secure in the knowledge that someone would be taking care of everything while he was gone as Alfyn was, he wouldn't know where to go, what to do. Would he set out to heal the world as Alfyn had or would he set out in search of difficult to procure ingredients that he could bring back home and use to save even more lives? Or would he simply travel, setting out far beyond the borders of Orsterra in search of the edge of the world or undiscovered lands?

Those thoughts too reminded him how envious he was of Alfyn. Alfyn had known exactly what he wanted to do, exactly who's path he wanted to follow. And Zeph… All Zeph wanted to do was keep Nina safe, from any and all harm.

Which was why his decision to follow Alfyn to the Gate of Finis was a far easier one to make than one might think.

It was late the night that Alfyn returned that he asked the question. They'd gone around the village together with Nina, giving everyone their check ups and teaching Nina the basics of the life of an apothecary, and had heard all of Alfyn's exciting stories from his travels. To hear that he'd finally learnt the name of the man who'd saved him all those years ago, that he'd saved a man that Graham had also wanted to save… To hear in hushed whispers to Zeph alone that he'd read his letter, that he'd taken a life…

Everything Alfyn told them sounded almost too fantastical to be true. Their friend and partner, the little kid who'd almost died and was now alive with more stories than ever to tell… It almost felt like he was a completely different person now than when he'd left.

Then Zeph watched him refused payment yet again and drink what little the villagers had given them at the tavern and everything seemed to return to normal. That was, until Alfyn stopped him on the bridge in the middle of town on their way back home.

"Hey, Zeph, I've gotta question for you." Alfyn suddenly asked, stopping in his tracks a few steps behind him as he looked into the river.

"What is it, Alf?" Zeph retraced his steps to stand by his friend's side, staring into the river besides him and hoping he could perhaps see what he was thinking in the gentle current.

"Wanna come with me when I set out again tomorrow?"

"You're leaving so soon?" Zeph couldn't help but ask, he'd only just gotten back after all!

"Yeah..." Alfyn refused to meet his eye, scratching the back of his neck as he clearly tried to think of a way to say something difficult. It wasn't often that Alfyn hesitated with him, they told each other everything after all. Whatever was on his mind was clearly something most concerning indeed…

"What's going on, Alf? Why are you leaving so soon?"

"There…" Alfyn sighed and shook his head. "There was another traveller we met on our journey. He didn't travel with us, we just helped him however we could when we crossed paths. And now it looks like he's gotten himself caught up in something bad."

"So you're going to save him?" Zeph asked, a smile coming to his face. That was just like Alfyn, to worry about anyone but himself.

"Yeah. But..." Alfyn's hands tightened on the bridge fencing. "Ophilia and the Professor both think… Well, they think he's bein' used as the vessel for Galdera."

"The Dark God?!" Zeph exclaimed. "Alf, do you have any idea-"

"That's why I need your help." Alfyn turned to him with a smile. "If this is true and Galdera rises, Orsterra's goin' quite literally to hell. Can you come with us, help us take the God down?"

"Alfyn, what you're asking of me…" Zeph shook his head. "If what you say is true, I cannot risk leaving Nina now."

Alfyn sighed and turned back to look into the river. It was the same river they'd gone rafting in as children, the same river they now got their water from for their concoctions. Yet right now, this night, Zeph could see that river, the river that had sustained the entire village for longer than Zeph dared to count, disappear in the blink of an eye as Galdera raised His head, taking the lives of all those who depended on it.

"I suspected you'd say as much." Alfyn shook his head before turning to look at Zeph again. "But, there's a lot more than one life on the line here, Zeph."

"I know, Alf. I know, I just..." Now it was Zeph's turn to avoid his gaze and stare deep into the river. "What possible help can I be? I can barely swing my axe."

"We need as many healers as we can get, Zeph. I'm not askin' you to fight." Alfyn chuckled. "I'm not even sure if I'll be fightin' myself. But people like you and me and Ophilia and Lianna and Ogen and Vanessa..."

For a moment, it seemed like Alfyn was going to continue to list of names of people Zeph had never met for hours. With that many people other than himself already gathered to heal, did they really need him too?

"Well, people like us are there to act as support to the others." Alfyn winked at him. "And you can never have too much support!"

"Alf, I…" Zeph sighed. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't interested, that he didn't want to come and support them however he could, but he couldn't leave Nina. He couldn't leave the village now, not when the threat of danger was so high. But if he went with them, he could help stop the problem at the source. If he stayed… He sighed again. "Can we leave the day after tomorrow, to give me time to pack and find someone to take care of Nina while I'm gone?"

Alfyn beamed at him. "So you're comin'?!"

"Of course." Zeph playfully punched his shoulder. "Someone's got to worry for you, after all."

"Yes!" Wrapping his arm around Zeph's shoulders, he gave his dear friend a sideways hug. "With you there, Galdera doesn't stand a chance!"

"I don't know about that, Alf..." Zeph laughed as they watched the ripples in the river once more, a silent promise to protect this village from harm taking root in his heart once more. "But I'm not going to let you get yourself killed, you can count on that."