A few weeks later, Raul found himself deep in a certain forest. Forest of Elan. It was a sanctuary for the Knights of Fianna and where they met their tragic ends. Each step took Raul deeper into his memories. The time when he was suspicious about the Knights of Fianna... the time when he had spats with Dim... The time they overcame the differences and saved a village... the time they took the entry trial together...

Raul couldn't help but smile when he remembered those fun times.

As expected, the layouts were different from the last time he visited. It had been more than three thousand years, after all. Even so, it was as if something guided him to where he had a campfire with the Knights of Fianna.

Taking a breather, Raul sat down on a nearby log.

He didn't exactly know where all of them died. So maybe it was acceptable to put some flowers here, right?

So he did. Opening his bags, Raul brought out the flowers he bought in the last town he visited. Putting it down on the ground, Raul put his hands together and closed his eyes, praying for the lost lives of the Pallums.

Deep inside his heart, he hoped that somebody else also got reincarnated like him. He heard of the exploits of the Braver Finn, but he knew that somebody else might have used his name and not the real Dim. It was one of the reasons why Orario was his destination.

Raul heard the sound of something falling to the ground and a gasp. Somebody else was here? Raul opened his eyes and looked around.

This time, it was his turn to gasp.

"Lazar..."

"...Aki."

"Lazar!" The familiar figure of his past life's lover greeted him with a tight hug. He could hear the sob coming from the girl embracing him.

"It's been a while, Aki."

Without another word, Raul returned the hug.

They didn't say anything anymore. Everything was conveyed through the hug.

After a minute, Aki's reincarnation released the hug, giving Raul a clearer picture of her appearance. It was a picture-perfect resemblance of Aki, just like how he looked like Lazar. No wonder both recognized each other in an instant. Although...

"What's with the Felice disguise?"

"Lazar, you idiot! This time these ears are real!" Aki twitched her ears. "See?!"

"A-Ah, I see. By the way, It's Raul now, not Lazar."

He saw Aki's tail moving left and right. "Raul. Raul. Raul. Hmm... Raul. Raul."

Raul's face reddened in embarrassment. "Stop it! That's embarrassing!"

"But why? We're lovers, aren't we?" Aki pouted. "Raul. Raul! Raul? Raul~"

"Gah! We were lovers! This is our first meeting in this life! And what's your name here?"

"Nggh, does that mean Raul doesn't want us to be lovers again? And it's Anakitty. But you can just call me Aki again!"

"That's not what I mean!" Raul shouted in frustration, making Aki laugh. "Sheesh. I'm thirteen now. How old are you?"

"Thirteen too."

"Let's not get physical until we're older, yeah?" Raul proposed to Aki, although he didn't look at her to hide his red face.

"Raul?"

"Yes?" He answered, turning his head to Aki, but when he did, it was to feel her lips on his cheek.

"Thanks for always being gentle with me," Aki smiled at him.

Raul scratched his cheek, not the one Aki kissed, of course. "Of course. Speaking of, I didn't think you'd also visit this place..."

"My hometown is near this place," Aki revealed. "I've visited this place every year since I got strong enough to fend the monsters on the way. Even thousands of years after the incident and Finn's revenge, I still can't forgive myself for stopping you back then, Raul."

Raul frowned. He hated seeing that expression on her beautiful face.

"Aki, remember that you've done your best to lead Cormac after that."

"...I guess you're right, Raul. Thanks," she sent him a grateful look. "So you come here just to visit them?"

"I'm heading to Orario, actually. I initially wanted to become a knight, but looking at the situation, maybe being an Adventurer would be better. Besides, someone is using Finn's name in Orario. I want to see if it's really Finn or not."

Aki's ears perked up. "I also wanted to go there! Although I haven't prepared anything... Are you willing to wait for me and go together?"

Raul smiled at her. "So you won't abandon your training as a page and become royalty again?"

"Raul!"

They both laugh at the memories.

"Just so you know, after realizing I'm not royalty this time, I'm doing my physical training diligently!"

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"It's true! Raul!" she groaned, trying to convince him that she didn't neglect her training in this life. "Speaking of, if you want to pay respect, there's a big tombstone nearby. Let me guide you."

"A big tombstone?" Raul questioned as they walked. "I don't think it was put in our time?"

Aki nodded. "The stones looked new."

Seconds later, they both stopped.

""Finn!""

Aki ran, followed by Raul. After a few seconds, they arrived. There was no one there but withered bouquets of flowers under the tombstone. Raul approached and looked at the stone. On the surface, the names of the Knights of Fianna members and the civilian Pallum who died were inscribed. Raul only recognized some of them. There was Fianna, Helga, Melia, Gren, and Berl. However, there was also Dim, Alf, Duval, and even Finn there.

He knew for a fact that Alf and Duval didn't die here. This monument was erected by someone who wanted to honor all the Pallums who lit up a path for humanity.

The conclusion was clear.

Either the one using Finn's name was the real Finn, or it was somebody else who wanted to show the world that they existed so that others would follow in his footsteps.

Raul laughed. Somebody with that much courage to show the world would only be Dim.

"Finn was really Finn, then?"

"I'm pretty sure," Raul nodded. "That aside, you never met the one who built this tombstone?"

Aki shrugged. "Our timing is always off, I guess. I haven't met anybody for three years since I'm strong enough to visit here each year."

Raul just let out a breath. "That Finn. Say, Aki. What do you think about joining him when we arrive in Orario?"

"Why?"

"So we can deck him every day!"

"You're a genius, Raul!"

And so, the two left the forest full of memories with steeled hearts and hope. No matter what, they would find another piece of their past, a piece that was gone too soon before.

"This is..."

"Fianna Causeway. This is also my first time seeing it," Aki said inside their caravan. The 'in this life' went unsaid because they were hitching a ride to Orario by offering some merchant their protection. The ride did not provide a private booth, so they had to watch what they said.

They were passing the Fianna Causeway, a giant canyon separating two hills. Legends said the canyon was formed when Fianna illuminated the path to humanity's counterattack.

The legend didn't lie, but it wasn't correct either. For the starter, Finn was the one who did it, not the original Fianna. Second, he did it as a suicide charge to kill Balor. Sure, it resulted in a pathway to the Great Hole, but Raul guessed it was better for morale that Finn's mental state be concealed.

After all, Ryulu did say that Finn was a hero. Turning the lie into a reality... Without realizing it, Raul's eyes were wet with tears.

"Raul..."

He didn't register the feeling of embrace from Aki behind him.

"I... I guess I can't feel nothing when I see it with my own eyes," Raul chuckled amidst the tears.

"We're going to see him there," Aki reassured him. Raul nodded, wiping his tears.

"Thanks, Aki. I can always count on you to rein me in."

"It's my job, after all," they shared a laugh.

Still, as their wagon moved along the way, Raul couldn't help but compare things to how it was thousands of years ago. Where they had outposts for supply was now a grassland. Where several of his men died was now just a road. Countless men sacrificed their lives to give humanity a chance to conquer the Great Hole, and all of them were killed for nothing in the end because it only got sealed after the intervention of Gods.

"Turn those lips upside down, Raul. Or do I have to kiss you myself?"

"Gah! I said wait until we're older for stuff like that!"

Aki giggled. "Cheer up. We've almost arrived at our destination."

"Yeah..."

Orario. The center of the world. Dungeon. Raul gripped the handle of his sword, ready to face whatever challenge awaited him inside.

A/N: We're almost in Orario. Hang in there, everyone!