At the end of the day, Knossos, or rather Evilus, did not act whatsoever. In a sense, the Loki Familia felt they just stood around, while their captain was getting beaten up. It was confusing to say the least. If there was a moment to break out and cause chaos, having the Braver and the Guliver Brothers distracted at the same time would've done the job. So either they had another plan ready…or the mysterious knight acted on her own. Whatever the reason however, it did not change the fact that morale in the Familia, and in the city Orario, was at an all time low. Especially with the Pallum.
Many hid away, hoping they could become but ghosts to the vengeful self proclaimed goddess. Others tried to flee, something that was not permitted, with the city on lockdown. The gods and the guild tried their best to placate them, but after they had heard and witnessed it was difficult to do. Most however, just began to pray. Pray for absolution, when the inevitable would occur. Pray for their deaths to have meaning. No matter how others, mortal or divine, tried to convince them otherwise…they fell into despair once more, with their goddess existing after all…and finding them wanting.
Aiz bit her lip as she saw another 'doomsday prophet' declaring to the Pallum that judgement day was upon them, and they could only pray for a swift death. She shook her head, moving away from the window, her mind racing with frustration. The moment she felt that burst of complete hatred, she knew it had to belong to someone that was the same as…them.
The hound. The witch. The count…and herself. Yet something felt off. As if something was lacking in this Pallum Avenger. Not in terms of hatred, everyone felt it in town when she 'cracked'. But one or two…fundamental things were not present. She didn't know how she knew, but she just felt it, in her gut. She didn't tell anyone about it. It didn't feel relevant. Not to mention…
She came to a stop before the door everyone else was gathering. The room of their captain. Aiz sighed. She glanced at Tiona, who shook her head. Still no response.
"I know the divine work in mysterious ways, but surely you can tell us something!" Alicia asked, growing a bit aggravated at the commotion outside. But the goddess leaned against the wall, arms crossed, with her eyes closed, not even looking at the elf.
"I'll say what I keep saying." She opened her eyes with a calm look. "The Goddess Fianna doesn't exist."
"But the witnesses-"
Loki shook her head, pure confidence in her words shining in her eyes.
"Don't matter. She doesn't exist. There was never a goddess like that."
If she proclaimed it like that, there was no room for objections then. And yet, the confusion remained. Bete scoffed, leaning against the wall as well with his right side. He raised an eyebrow at the trickster.
"So what, they got attacked by some sort of collective daydream that worked on all of the Pallum?"
Loki hummed, rubbing her chin in thought. Then she smirked a bit.
"Hm, that works. Hah…" She shook her head, almost wistfully. "Human imagination sure is powerful…It's capable of twisting even the most righteous knights."
"Loki?"
She paused, before waving her hand dismissively.
"Nevermind that. Maybe you'll figure it out, maybe not. We gods shouldn't tell you everything."
Everyone frowned at that. They hated it when the gods decided to act all mysterious. Before they could beat the answer out of their goddess however, the door opened, revealing Riveria. She wiped her forehead with a towel, before looking around, eyebrow raised.
"How's Finn?" Loki asked. The high elf nodded before letting out a deep sigh.
"Injuries are healed up nicely. But mentally…We all saw him."
They all grimaced. The way his eyes were just blank, walking into the mansion. Not responding to any words. His mind still back outside, battered by the words of the knight. Loki clapped her hands, before everyone else could go into a funk.
"Alright, we all worry about him, but duty calls. Chop chop, he won't go anywhere." She waited for everyone else to move on, leaving the hallway. Then she knocked the door, leaning against it with her forehead. "You hear me? Duty's not over yet. So hurry it up, will ya?"
With those words said, so did the goddess leave. Inside the room, Finn let out a shivering breath, the blanket over his head. He looked down, staring at his shaking hands, causing a dry laugh to escape him. To make everyone so worried about him…how pathetic.
Then again, wasn't he pathetic? Sure, he managed to stand up against divine authority itself…but then, what would he have done? Strike down a grieving entity? Strike down someone who was already at their lowest? Would he have been able to? She was stronger, much much stronger. A strength she was hiding, just to give him false hope, that he could do it. She had aces up her sleeve, aces she refused to use…Because he was not wor-
"About time they all left."
He looked up, blinking. He didn't even notice the door opening. Then he closed his eyes with a tired sigh.
"I'm not in the mood, Tione."
The door closed, with the amazon standing there with a deep frown.
"Good. Neither am I. Especially since you decided to wrap yourself up like a kid." Finn grit his teeth, but the girl ignored it, pushing on as she leaned against the wall, pointing at him. "What's going on? And don't tell me it's because of how the fight went. You aren't that petty."
Finn couldn't help but scoff. She underestimated his pride. But she would be right. While he was upset at the end of the fight…if it were just that, a lack of ability, he could've lived with that. But that wasn't just another fight. It was something far beyond it…and its weight fully settled onto his shoulders. A weight he did not want to share. And yet…Tione's face softened up, as she narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.
"I promised Lyra I'd be here for you. Promised myself too. So c'mon, no tough guy act."
He stiffened up. Before he relaxed. Seriously, he didn't deserve these women. Resting his head against the wall, he looked up at the ceiling. He rubbed his lips together a few times, hesitant of bearing his heart. But in the end, he let out a heavy breath.
"I'm afraid, Tione." If she was shocked, she didn't say anything about it. Finn continued on, feeling shame suffuse his entire body. "She said she was doing me a favor. Of preventing me to become the light of the Pallum. That I would only get betrayed 'too'."
"Is she real?" Tione asked, causing the Pallum to chuckle lowly.
"Real in the way that matters. Her words…they felt like a prophecy. It made me think. If I were in her shoes…If the Braver would also be discarded by the people of the future, because I'm not what they think I am…I don't think I would've been so different."
The Braver Finn was an artificial construct. Carefully crafted to create the perfect hero for the Pallum race, to regain their hope. But because it was fake, he could now see how frail it was. Especially if…He shook his head slowly.
"Maybe this Fianna was like me. Someone who built a lie, for the sake of our people…the only difference is, I haven't been chained and betrayed yet by my own role."
Voicing out his concerns made him sound so pathetic. But at least it gave him a clear answer what bothered him so much. The goddess he worshipped could become corrupted. His dream could become twisted. Knowing that his actions, the result of them all, could end in failure like this, to turn into a weapon aimed at the Pallum themselves…he wasn't sure if he could ta-
"Now you're just being stupid."
He blinked, looking at Tiona giving him an expression of disbelief. He scoffed, looking away.
"It's the truth."
"It's dumb!" She shouted. She stopped herself from losing her temper, inhaling sharply before brushing her hair aside. "Okay, maybe you got rattled by that weird lady with the spooky powers! Big deal! But don't act like everything she said is fact!"
"I can't deny her. Not completely."
"Fine! Don't do it!" She jabbed her finger at him. "But don't tell me you actually think the Pallum deserve to die?!"
"No, of course not!" Finn exploded, aghast at even the mere thought of it. Yet the amazon was merciless, as she snarled at him.
"Then why do you look like you want to let her?!"
He froze at the accusation. He wanted to deny her, that he wasn't this far gone. But…wasn't he lying in his bed right now, doing nothing at this very moment?
"Because of pity?! Because you think she has the right?! Because you all deserve it?! That's all wrong, you know it! Your heart may be wavering right now, but I know that isn't the Braver I love!" Tears formed in her eyes, which she furiously tried to blink away. "You don't believe in this divine punishment crap! You didn't do this, all of this, because you worshipped a goddess! You did it because there was no goddess to begin with! Don't throw away your dream just because a goddess decided to appear now out of all times!"
…Was he about to throw away his dream…? To his horror…he realized something in him did. A part of him felt relief. That Fianna was real after all. Not accurate, not conforming to history, not even living up to the image of a pure, incorruptible image…but for just a moment, he thought he could put down the burden that he laid upon his own shoulders. To let someone else decide to path of the Pallum race, no matter what they intended. Not only that, a part of him agreed. The Pallum could be so…aggravating at times. Just celebrating him, instead of getting up on their own. After that moment, shame followed…shame that still remained in his heart.
"I…You're right…this is wrong…" He muttered to himself. But then he took a deep breath. "But I don't know if I can stop her."
Genocide was never the answer, no matter how low he got. With Tione calling him out, he knew what he had to do. She had to be stopped. Killed. But could he do it? Must he do it? If he did, wouldn't people just start to worship him, only to get disappointed?
Yet while his mind was plagued with doubts, Tione's eyes were clear, as she smiled softly at him.
"If anyone can do it, it's you."
"Why do you believe that?" He asked quietly. She rolled her eyes in exasperation before pointing at him.
"Because Lyra and I wouldn't love someone who isn't the absolute best in the world. Because the Pallum of today wouldn't rely on you if you couldn't live up to the expectation."
His eyes widened. His mind remembered. The parting words of the blind girl, the girl who broke once, but came back stronger than ever. The definitive proof that the Pallum didn't deserve to die.
Back then, after apologizing to Bell, telling him the truth about the being that was Finn Deimne…Lyra caught up to him before he could leave. Under the night sky, he couldn't help but laugh at her hurried pace.
"Here to give me a good rant too?"
"Yup. But mostly about how you talked yourself down."
Finn tilted his head at the time.
"I don't think I did that. I was just being honest."
"I noticed the look you gave me." Lyra crossed her arms, giving him a flat look. More flat than it was possible with missing eyes anyways. "Did you really think I'd look down at you? For something I knew from the start?"
He stiffened up. Then he relaxed his shoulders, letting out a snort. Of course she out of all people would see through lies and trickery. And yet…she radiated the same warmth as always, directed at him.
"Fake or not. Made up or not. I love you anyway. Same as everyone else. Besides…" She pointed her thumb at herself with a smirk. "Don't look down on us. Pallums wouldn't have faith in someone who is completely fake. We aren't complete idiots."
"I never said that."
Lyra shook her head, jabbing at his chest, his heart.
"Sometimes you do believe that. It's the whole reason you started your own journey."
Finn's mouth twitched. For someone blind, she could easily see through him. How embarrassing. He sighed, remembering all the times he felt…frustration when he looked at his brethren. He looked up at the moon sky with a wistful look.
"Maybe I'm a little arrogant."
"And that's hot." Lyra clapped her hands together, clearing her throat. "But you feel inferior to Bell, in terms of your own 'heroism'." She flicked his forehead. It didn't cause any pain, but Finn leaned back in surprise by the action. "Who decides if something needs to be genuine to be worth anything? Bell is awesome, don't get me wrong, but so are you."
He frowned deeply at her, pointing at himself.
"I was going to murder innocent people. I said big words back there but…I would've regretted it. It would've torn at me."
In response, the blind girl shrugged casually. Almost dismissively.
"I won't say you didn't make mistakes. But heck, that's why we are mortals, not gods. Mistakes happen." She patted his right cheek. "And if you fell apart…you aren't alone. Failing…doesn't mean the end of all. I know that better than anyone else."
He looked at the scar tissue. An event that would break even the hardiest of adventurers. And yet, here she stood, trying to reach him no matter what. He didn't realize when he leaned into her palm, finding comfort in her warmth.
"What you did so far, it all has meaning. There's more than one type of hero." Lyra giggled, removing her hand as she crossed her hands behind her back. "Though I'd say there's always room for improvement." She smacked her lips before pointing at him. "You don't want to lose to our little rabbit? Well, maybe it's time for you to just trust your heart instead of trying to plan everything out."
Finn blinked a few times, returning to the present. Then, he let out a weak laugh. How could he forget that talk? Here she was, doing her best out there, here was Tione, trying her best herself…and here he was, focusing too much on the bad, the doubts, the worries.
Trust his heart…He inhaled, closing his eyes. What did he wish for? Not his mind, his guilt. His desire, in its purest form. What did he want? Memories flooded his mind, originating from his heart.
A young man, half his age, shining ever so brightly as he faced his rival, his opponent, for the sake of others.
He wanted a blinding fight like Bell Cranel had with Asterius.
A Pallum couple, saving their foolish son, proving him wrong that they were nothing more than cowards. They were proof that the Pallum race was never a lost cause. Even as they bled out, they only had warmth and love for him, as the light faded from their eyes, but not their souls.
He wanted to ignite the same hope and courage his parents showcased. He wanted to live up to their memory, at all cost.
He saw them during his journey. People that thought nothing of themselves…but decided to pick up a weapon, just to follow his back. Even if it was fake. No, especially if it was fake, they would chase after the light he was seeing, just for the sake of not staying within the darkness.
He wanted to prove…that no matter how low the Pallum race was, there was always going to be someone who can rise up, against all odds and belief.
Finn didn't know when he rose to his feet, his hands curled into fists. Tione smiled widely at him. He couldn't help but crack a smile himself.
His dream wasn't a mistake. The Pallum themselves weren't a mistake. And neither… Neither were the Knights of Fianna. The existence and belief of the goddess, fake or not. He tightened his fist. And it was up to him to prove it all with his actions.
In the end, what he wanted was quite simple. He rolled his shoulders, before pushing his hair back with both of his hands.
"Tione. Thanks."
He was going to finish what he started with that Fianna by beating the absolute shit out of her, gaining absolute victory. Proving to her that the Pallum race was not done yet, and could surpass her hatred, her authority. And maybe…he could give her peace too. A big responsibility, but even as a youth, he knew the path he decided to take would become a rocky one.
Tione giggled, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"A hug would do as gratitude."
"Don't make this weird."
"No promises." Tione raised an eyebrow at him. "So, what's the plan now?"
He stood in front of his door, not looking at the amazon, before flexing his fingers.
"I'm going to surpass Fianna, no matter what. Whether it is the Fianna that wants to kill us all, the Fianna that sacrificed their lives, or the Fianna our race believed in, but turned out to not exist at all. I will prove to our vengeful spirit that the Light of the Pallum can exist…and will never extinguish. We may be hurt, stained, crippled, but we will never disappear. Not even her. Not even the knights." He put a fist against his chest. "Not just because that is my belief. But because…I feel like she is a dark future that I could become. A past that I could have been. And I plan to reject her completely. For her own sake as well."
Tione bit her lips together, fidgeting with her hands. Then she spun around, facing away from him.
"You are making it very hard not to jump you right now."
"I am having a moment here, Tione."
"I know, that's why I'm holding back!"
The two shared a laugh, even as her flushed face was a bit worrying. Finn stretched his neck left and right, before opening his door. As he walked down the hallway, he scratched the back of his head.
"I'll have to tell everyone…That's going to be a bit awkward."
"Eh, I wouldn't worry about that."
Soon enough, he entered the dining area. As if he was a giant Goliath, everyone's heads snapped towards him, sensing him at the same time. He saw their expressions visibly brighten up, his mere presence giving them courage.
"Finn!"
"It's captain!"
"Told ya he wouldn't stay down for long!"
"Free drink, woooo!"
"Shut up!"
Finn let out a small chuckle. He really was looking down on himself too much…this…this wasn't a mistake. His actions truly had meaning, if he could ignite a room like that. He saw Loki stare at him from afar, piercing through his eyes with her own, seeing deep into his soul…and nodded in approval, raising her cup with a smirk.
Having his beloved goddess' blessings, Finn cleared his throat. His back was straight as he addressed his Familia, his loved ones.
"Everyone. I have a selfish request to make." "I know the assault on Knossos is upon us. Evilus will throw everything at us, once we begin our assault. I know that I should not afford any distractions. But-"
"Captain."
Finn blinked. Everyone did too. They all stared at Bete rising to his feet, hands in his pockets as he sneered at the Pallum.
"Stop yammering about and just do it. Y'think I need a babysitter? That we need a babysitter? They're weaklings, your little commands won't change that much."
"Bete!"
Yet Alicia's outrage was not matched by the high elf amidst their ranks. Riviera rose to her feet, smirking at him.
"Much as I hate to agree, he has a point." She brushed her hair back before spreading her arms open. "We know the plan, and we know how to adapt. Besides, I doubt you can focus on anything but that Fianna. I can easily fulfill your role and more."
"Yeah, we got this, you damn midget! I'll handle any of her fuck ups!"
"Excuse me?! I can pick up the slack myself, thank you very much!"
As his fellow executives bickered, the wide smiles ruining any tense air, the rest of the Familia rose to their feet one by one, raising their fists in the air.
"Break a leg!"
"We can handle the load!"
"You can leave it all to us!"
"Braver! Braver! Braver!"
They chanted his title. They fully believed in him. Finn laughed, covering his eyes with his palm, shaking his head in amusement.
"You're all fools." Wiping his eyes, he nodded at all of them. "And comrades I'm truly proud of."