Hey, guys! Welcome back to Hear a Tale! Before we do anything else - time for reviews!

Thanks so much to Citrus Chickadee (Pretty much my only complaint with Octopath is that the characters don't get to interact with each other too much, haha. Thankfully, like you said, that's what fanfic is for!) and Guest (Thank you! In a game where most of the characters know some form of magic, though it's not made too relevant to their stories, I like finding ways for them to actually use it outside of battle!) for reviewing! I hope you guys continue to read and enjoy!

With that, on with the tale!

Relevant Events: Side Story "At Journey's End"

7. Heaven

Everything was exactly the same as Olberic remembered it.

True, time and the elements had weathered the terrain and the man-made objects left there, but the fact remained that the battlefield that had spelled the fall of Hornburg had been relatively unchanged over these past eight years. Ragged violet flags still stood, rippling feebly in the breeze. Abandoned breastworks and barrels stood rotting everywhere he looked. Even the royal tent near which the king had been slain still remained mostly intact, though it was dirty and riddled with tears.

The warrior had never imagined he would find reason to set foot in this place ever again, and yet…here he was. He and his seven traveling companions now stood on the very ground which had once been soaked in many of his fellow knights' blood. The ground upon which he had stood when he had lost king, country, and comrade, all in one fell swoop. The place in which his purpose and previous life had been stolen from him by a plot for revenge against another.

Gazing upon this place once again, Olberic found himself with no clue as to how to reconcile his feelings regarding it all.

To their credit, most of his companions seemed to recognize his discomfort, and kindly gave him the space he needed. Granted, at one point, Cyrus had seemed about to launch into an enthusiastic lecture regarding the historical significance of the site, but Primrose had delicately grabbed him by the arm and guided him elsewhere before Olberic could end up falling victim to the professor's tirade. He would have to remember to thank her for that later.

Gradually, most of the other travelers slipped away as well, still staying within each other's lines of sight, but all spreading out to comfortable distances along the path. Primrose - bless her - walked far ahead with Cyrus, no doubt taking the brunt of his scholarly excitement so that the others would not have to. Therion and Tressa took to searching the various crates and barrels scattered about, no doubt checking for any leaves or treasures that might have been left behind. Meanwhile, Alfyn and H'aanit took up the rear, both of them keeping a close eye on the road behind them and the cliffs surrounding them to ensure that no monsters or bandits were tailing the group. Soon enough, only Ophilia remained by Olberic's side.

The warrior and the cleric walked in silence for a time, their pace slow as Olberic took his time absorbing every woefully familiar sight along the way. Ophilia knew his story, knew his connection to the ruins through which they now trekked, but she did not press him for details. She simply waited for Olberic to decide whether or not he wanted to speak, and for that, he was grateful.

"...I lost many allies here, all those years ago," he said finally, his voice low and somber. "Such is always the case with war, I suppose…yet this battle's toll was particularly heavy."

Ophilia frowned, nodding slowly. "I realize words mean little in the face of such devastation," she said softly, "but…I am truly sorry, Sir Olberic."

The warrior shook his head. "I thank you for your sympathy, but apology is unnecessary. It…was a time long past."

"Eight years is not so long a time," the cleric pointed out. "No one here would blame you for still feeling that pain, I swear it."

"Mhm…just so." Olberic gazed once more across the battlefield, exhaling heavily. "I will not deny that the deaths of my king, many of my brothers in arms, and the kingdom itself still weigh heavy on my heart. Even after reconciling with Erhardt…the wounds left by that day still sting."

"I would be surprised if they didn't…"

Olberic's only response for a time was a quiet noise of acknowledgement. For several long moments afterward, a solemn silence settled across the two of them. Eventually, however, the warrior managed to find his voice once again.

"...Ophilia," he began, frowning. "I will admit, I was never much of a praying man. But even still, I feel I must ask…has your faith ever made mention of a life after this one? A…kinder place for the spirit to go, once death claims the body?"

Ophilia looked up at the man, eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Well…there are many across Orsterra who believe in the concept of Heaven and Hell, that is true. The teachings of the Flame do not make direct reference to any specifics of either place, but…I would personally like to believe that there is something waiting for us on the other side of this life."

"I see…" Olberic nodded. "It is good to have convictions on such matters, no matter what they might be. In my case, however…truthfully, I do not know what to believe. It is a pleasant thought, to imagine that my fellow knights and the king we served still exist on some far off plane of existence. I would even like to hope that one day, when my time is up, I might finally join them in rest. But…death is a mystery to all who live. We cannot truly know what awaits us once we breathe our last. In that sense, it is difficult to decide what exactly to presume…"

The cleric's expression softened, and she lightly patted the warrior's arm. "I understand," she said softly. "I once had those same doubts myself, to be perfectly honest."

Olberic blinked. "You…did? I would not have expected as much, knowing you now…"

"Yes…in fact, when I was young, I had very little faith at all." She sighed. "After I lost my parents, I believed that my own life was all but over. I was certain that I would simply never see them again, and that without them, there was little point in doing just about anything ever again."

"I see…but your adoptive father and sister helped you regain your sense of purpose, correct?" Olberic asked.

The young woman nodded, a smile coming to her face. "Precisely. Not only did they introduce me to the teachings of the Sacred Flame, but they also were unbelievably kind to me when they took me in. In fact, in becoming my family, they provided me with two things to believe in; not only the Flamebringer himself, but the goodness of humanity as well."

"The goodness of humanity, you say…?"

"Yes," Ophilia said. "Though I am a cleric, I am well aware that the structure of religion is not for everyone. But even still…I believe that all people need at least one thing to have faith in. Whether that is a god, the idea of an afterlife, or simply the notion that good people exist in the world, we all need something to value and put trust in. Lianna and Archbishop Josef…they provided me with that much. They made me see that there was still light in the world. And since then, I've decided that, while I can't really know for sure if I will reunite with those I've lost once my own life comes to an end, I will certainly hope for as much."

The warrior remained silent for a time, mulling over the cleric's words. Would it be enough for him merely to hope that one day, he would be able to see those who had passed before him once more? He supposed, if nothing else, there was no harm in it. After all, if there did turn out to be an afterlife, those hopes would be fulfilled, and if there wasn't one…well, it wasn't like he would have time to be disappointed, on account of being dead.

"I understand…" Olberic said finally, letting out a long breath. "I thank you, Ophilia. It would seem that I have quite a bit of thinking to do on the subject, and I greatly appreciate your counsel. In the meantime, however…let us not forget why we came to this place to begin with."

"Of course," Ophilia agreed. "We must find Kit, and ensure that he is not in danger…but after all is said and done, you are always welcome to speak with me again on this topic, should you need it, Sir Olberic."

The former knight smiled. "I will certainly keep that in mind."

With that, Olberic steeled himself, straightening up and putting thoughts of his old kingdom and deceased comrades out of his mind for the time being. He and Ophilia quickly gathered the rest of their companions back into one group, and the eight of them traveled deeper into the Ruins of Hornburg. A sense of foreboding building amongst them, they neared the heart of the ruins, where the traveler Kit Crossford was rumored to be headed, and where the mysterious Gate of Finis was said to lie.

Olberic could dwell on the past and the uncertain future after death another time. For now, there were far more pressing matters to attend to.

I'll see you guys next week for Tale 8: Innocence!