Fin's POV
The night air was crisp, the cold biting at my skin, but I didn't care. My boots barely touched the tree branches as I glided between them. My body twisted midair, flipping over a fallen log before landing soundlessly on the snow-covered ground.
Come on, come on... just a little further.
This was my fifth attempt. I had tried slipping out in broad daylight.
Denied.
I had tried sneaking out at night.
Denied.
I had even tried convincing her like a normal person.
Big mistake.
Helga was like an iron wall, her protectiveness only intensifying after the whole "Hey, your father was a monstrous cult leader who wanted to turn you into jewellery" conversation. Not only was she watching me more closely, but she was treating me like I was made of glass.
But I couldn't afford to stay here.
The farm had given me almost everything it could in terms of achievements. I had milked every farming, town, and minor skill-based achievement dry. My progress had stalled. The only way to get more PP was to leave.
The only problem?
Helga.
I pushed my body faster, using my parkour skills to scale the side of a tree before vaulting off a branch, and soaring through the air like a phantom.
SNAP
A vice grip closed around my ankle.
Before I could even blink, I was yanked mid-air, my body twisting violently as the world flipped upside down. My momentum died instantly, and the next thing I knew, I was dangling like a caught fish, upside-down, staring at a very, very unamused Helga.
"That's five," she said, her voice flat.
My stomach dropped.
She held me effortlessly by one ankle, her other hand resting casually on her hip. Snow crunched beneath her boots as she adjusted her stance, holding me up as if I weighed nothing.
I folded my arms, scowling. "You know, if you weren't my mom, this would be really uncool."
Helga sighed, dragging a hand down her face before glaring at me. "Fin. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
I gave my best innocent look. "Going on a jog."
She didn't even blink. "Through the forest?"
"Yes."
"At midnight?"
"...Yes?"
Her expression darkened.
I braced myself.
...
We were back at the kitchen table, the room lit only by a single, flickering lantern. Helga paced slowly, back and forth, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. It felt like we'd had this exact conversation a hundred times by now.
"You can't keep doing this, Fin," she finally sighed, stopping to look directly at me, her arms folded tightly across her chest. "Do you even understand the danger you're putting yourself in? This isn't a game. There are people out there who would gladly hurt you, or worse."
"I'm not playing games. You think I don't know it's dangerous? But that's the whole point! I can't just sit here doing nothing for the rest of my life!"
"You're seven years old," she said sharply, eyes narrowing. "You're a child. You have no idea what's waiting beyond those trees."
"And I never will if you don't let me leave!" My voice rose, frustration bleeding through. "You've told me yourself. I'm not ordinary. I've been training, I've learned, I'm careful. What else do you expect me to do, Helga? Farm forever? Just stay here, trapped, because you're afraid of your past?"
Helga flinched visibly at that. "I'm not just afraid of my past. I'm afraid for your future. You have no idea how powerful these people are, Fin. They won't stop at anything if they find out who you are."
I shook my head stubbornly. "I'm willing to take that risk."
"But I'm not!" she snapped, slamming a palm onto the table. The lantern rattled slightly, sending distorted shadows around the room. "You're my responsibility, Fin. You're my—" She cut herself off abruptly, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were softer but tired. "You're my son. My job is to protect you. Even if that means protecting you from yourself."
I leaned back in my chair, exhaling sharply. "You keep saying that, but it doesn't feel like protection anymore. It feels like a cage."
Helga stood straight, her expression shifting from anger to sadness. "I know," she said quietly, voice almost breaking. "I know it feels that way. But there are things out there, things you can't understand yet."
"Then help me understand," I pleaded, forcing myself to speak calmly. "If you're so afraid for me, then teach me more, prepare me. But don't just lock me here. Because you're wrong—I can't stay. Not like this."
Helga shook her head slowly, eyes glistening slightly in the lantern light. "It's not that easy, Fin."
She stared at me silently for a long moment, the weight of my words hanging heavily between us. Finally, she sighed deeply, shoulders slumping. "Go to bed, Fin. It's late. We'll talk more about this tomorrow."
I pushed the chair back, frustration burning inside me. "Talking won't change my mind."
I turned away without another word, walking down the darkened hallway to my room. My fists clenched at my sides, the anger still bubbling beneath my skin. This conversation was far from over. One way or another, I would find a way out of here, even if it meant going against the only mother I'd ever known, in both my lives.
I pushed my bedroom door closed behind me, leaning against it with a tired sigh.
She wasn't going to change her mind, and neither was I.
"System," I whispered. The familiar interface appeared before me, faintly glowing, lighting up my face with a soft blue hue.
It had become a sort of ritual, checking my inventory whenever I felt trapped. It reminded me of how far I'd come, and just how badly I needed to move forward.
Current PP: 702
Just fifty-two. I grimaced. The points I'd managed to scrape together had almost completely dried up in recent weeks. The farm and town were tapped dry, and my pathetic attempts to run away clearly weren't paying off.
I waved a finger lazily, scrolling through my skills and abilities, each glowing faintly as I passed over them.
____________________________________________
[Skills]
Observation (Kenbunshoku) Haki (One Piece - Rare)
Rock Lee's Endurance (Naruto - Rare)
Faith Connor's Parkour Mastery (Mirror's Edge - Rare)
Jason Bourne's Kali Mastery (Uncommon)
Basic Rokushiki: Soru (One Piece - Uncommon)
Novice Swordplay (Common)
Fast Reading (Common)
Basic Cold Resistance (Common)
Basic Foraging (Common)
Enhanced Smell (Uncommon)
[Items]
Ranger's Cloak (The Witcher - Rare)
Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak (Rare)
Predator's Basic Camouflage (Uncommon)
Superior Healing Potion (Rare)
____________________________________________
I stared blankly at the list. On paper, these looked incredible. I had skills and items other people in this world would kill for. And yet, they felt almost useless, trapped in the little cage Helga had built for me.
I sighed, rubbing my forehead in frustration.
"Dammit," I whispered to myself, sinking back onto my bed. "This is messed up."
I stared at the ceiling, torn. On one hand, it was my only real path forward. On the other, it meant betraying Helga's trust completely. I needed to think this through.
"System," I said quietly, voice shaking slightly. "Are there any other available achievements nearby?"
I held my breath as the interface shifted.
[Nearby Achievements]
Defeat Your First Monster (Uncommon) – 200PP(Completed)
Defeat a Cultist (Rare) – 500PP(Not Completed)
Survive an Encounter with a Magical Beast (Rare) – 450PP(Completed)
First Act of Deception (Uncommon) – 150PP(Not Completed)
Discover a New Town or City (Uncommon) – 250PP(Not Completed)
My eyes froze on "First Act of Deception." Of course, the system would incentivize lying. The irony wasn't lost on me.
This whole thing felt wrong, and yet… and yet, it was enticing. The thought of immediate PP, and a chance to truly grow beyond the confines of this farm, it was tempting. More tempting than I'd expected. It wasn't heroic, it more pragmatic than anything, selfish even.
But wasn't survival itself selfish? Wasn't growing stronger selfish? Everyone in this world was looking out for themselves, Helga included. Who was I to pretend otherwise?
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
"Fin?"
Helga's voice was quiet and hesitant. I quickly dismissed the interface, turning toward the door.
"Yeah?"
A pause. "I just… I just wanted you to know, I'm not doing this to hurt you."
I stared at the door, throat tight. The guilt returned stronger now.
"I know," I whispered, barely audible.
"Goodnight," she said softly, footsteps retreating down the hall.
I sat there quietly. Was I really going to betray Helga's trust just to get stronger? Could I justify it, even to myself?
But as the night stretched on, the answer became clearer.
I couldn't stay here forever. I wouldn't.
My decision was made.
I'd do whatever it took to escape. Even if that meant tricking Helga some how, and as I drifted toward sleep, that small, nagging guilt faded into quiet resolve.
The world waited beyond this farm.
...
I sat quietly on the edge of the town fountain, watching the sunlight glint off the rippling water. The murmurs and chatter of townspeople drifted around me, blending into background noise as my mind churned restlessly.
I kicked at a loose pebble, sending it bouncing across the cobblestones.
This was pointless.
"Hey."
I glanced up sharply at the voice, half-expecting trouble. Instead, standing in front of me with her hands clasped nervously in front of her, was Stephanie, the noble girl whose face I'd recently introduced to the dirt. I stiffened, preparing myself for some kind of ridiculous revenge attempt.
But as I watched, her expression wasn't angry or even annoyed. She looked awkward, almost shy.
"What do you want?" I asked, raising an eyebrow cautiously.
Stephanie hesitated, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I—I was hoping we could talk. Just for a minute."
"Talk?" I echoed incredulously. "Last time we 'talked,' I was busy kicking your ass."
She flushed immediately, cheeks reddening in embarrassment. "Yeah, I know. About that… I wasn't exactly myself that day."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "You weren't yourself? What's your excuse?"
"No, really!" she said quickly, raising her hands defensively. "Look, those girls, they're my cousins. I just wanted to impress them. They have all these stupid expectations, and I… I don't know, I just got carried away."
I eyed her warily, still unconvinced. "You got carried away into throwing things at my head?"
Stephanie winced visibly. "Yeah… that wasn't my best moment. Sorry about your pie."
I sighed, feeling my irritation fade slightly. Honestly, I wasn't in the mood for grudges right now anyway. I had enough on my mind.
"Can I sit with you?" she asked cautiously, her eyes hopeful but guarded. "Just for a bit?"
I studied her face closely for a moment, trying to gauge if this was some kind of elaborate trap. But she seemed genuine enough, just embarrassment and awkwardness. Finally, I shrugged indifferently.
"Sure," I said, scooting slightly to make room. "Sit. Just don't throw anything at me this time."
A faint smile appeared on her lips, relief washing over her face as she took a seat next to me, smoothing out her skirt.
"Thanks, Fin," she murmured.
"Whatever," I replied casually, leaning back against the fountain's edge and looking up at the clear sky. "Just don't expect me to make small talk."
She laughed lightly at that. "I won't. But… I really do want to know more about you. You're different from the others around here."
I glanced sideways at her, suspicious. "Different how?"
She shrugged gently, her eyes meeting mine earnestly. "I don't know yet. But I'd like to find out."
I scoffed, kicking my legs lazily as they hung over the edge of the fountain. "Different?" A dry laugh escaped me.
If only she knew.
She adjusted herself on the cold stone seat, leaning back slightly. "So, Fin, what's life been like?"
I rolled my eyes, I never liked small talk but I'll indulge. "Annoying as hell. Especially when no one listens."
Stephanie laughed again, softer this time, and shook her head. "I know how that feels, at least. Being a nobleman's daughter isn't exactly as fun as it sounds either"
I glanced over at her. "You mean living in a big fancy house with servants and endless pies to ruin for other people?" I teased.
She elbowed me lightly, a smirk on her face. "It's not what people think. You think your farm is suffocating?" She gave a small sigh, eyes distant. "Try living in a mansion filled with expectations. Every step I take is watched. Every word I say is judged. Power, that's all my family cares about. Nothing else matters to them."
I raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. "Doesn't sound so bad to me. At least you have options. Money, resources, opportunities—"
She laughed bitterly. "Oh, we have all that, sure. But everything has strings. If I step out of line even once, the consequences..." She shuddered. "It's not exactly a fun place to grow up."
Something in her voice sounded familiar.
"So what?" I asked quietly. "You just stay there, trapped forever? You don't want to get away?"
Stephanie's eyes flicked toward me, a spark of surprise crossing her expression. "Of course, I want to leave. More than anything. But it's not that easy. I'm not exactly strong like you, Fin. I can't fight my way out."
I scoffed lightly. "Yeah, but you have resources, money, influence. What could possibly be stopping you?"
She turned fully to me, a sad smile on her lips. "You don't get it. All those resources, they're not mine. They're my father's. And he'd never let me go willingly. I'm like a prize horse he's grooming for some arranged marriage or some political favor. All I have right now is a dream of freedom. A foolish, hopeless dream."
I felt a pang of guilt, I'd never once thought she might feel as trapped.
"You know," I murmured, leaning back and looking up at the sky, "Maybe we're not so different after all."
She raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "How so?"
I shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable. "We're both stuck. Different scenario, yet same problem."
She smiled faintly, clearly amused. "Yeah. Guess so." Her gaze softened slightly, her voice lowering. "But you seem strong, like you've decided you won't stay trapped forever. It's...admirable."
I couldn't help but chuckle, bitterness slipping into my voice. "Admire all you want, but I'm still stuck here." I clenched my fists in frustration, glancing at her again. "But trust me, it won't stay like that for long."
Stephanie gave me a thoughtful look. "Then when you leave… promise you'll take me with you?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
She flushed slightly, averting her eyes. "I just mean… maybe it wouldn't be so terrible if someone had my back. Someone who actually understood."
I felt the corner of my lips twitch into a small smirk. "Are you seriously suggesting we run away together? After you threw my pie on the ground?"
She blushed fiercely, folding her arms indignantly. "I said I was sorry about that."
I chuckled quietly. "Yeah, whatever. I'll think about it."
We sat quietly for a moment, the silence oddly comfortable. My eyes drifted over the bustling market, where people continued about their daily lives, completely unaware of our conversation.
Stephanie broke the silence, her voice quieter now. "Do you think we'll ever actually get out of here?"
I sighed, my humor fading. "Honestly? I don't know. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that I'm not staying on this farm forever. If there's something I can do about it, I'll do it."
Stephanie tilted her head slightly, curiosity evident in her eyes. "You always sound like you're planning something. What's actually going on inside your head?"
A dry laugh escaped me. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Stephanie sighed, smiling faintly. "Fine. Keep your secrets, then. But whatever you're plotting... let me know if you want a partner in crime. Anything is better than staying trapped in that mansion."
I eyed her warily, but couldn't hide the amused smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. "We'll see."
It was weird. I never thought I'd share common ground with anyone here—let alone Stephanie, of all people. But strangely enough, it felt good to have someone to share my frustration with, even if I couldn't tell her everything.
Stephanie slowly rose from the fountain's edge, straightening her skirt as she glanced toward the busy streets. She let out a soft sigh.
The silence stretched comfortably, until she finally stood up, brushing her skirt off gently. "I should probably head back. They'll notice if I'm gone too long."
I nodded slowly, watching her as she turned away. She paused, glancing back at me over her shoulder, giving me a genuine smile. "Thanks for letting me sit. And for listening."
I waved her off lazily. "Don't mention it. Just try not to throw anything next time."
She rolled her eyes with a small laugh. "I'll do my best, Fin."
And as she walked away, I leaned back against the fountain, feeling strangely lighter.
...
I left town later than I intended, holding yet another meat pie wrapped in parchment. Honestly, I was getting addicted to these things. Warm, flaky crust and that rich, savory filling.
It was divine!
As I trudged along the snowy path toward home. It was peaceful, but the closer I got, the more my senses stirred uneasily. I quickened my pace, unease growing sharper with every step.
My nose twitched, I could smell smoke.
3rd Person POV
Fin's steps quickened, his heart beginning to pound heavily in his chest. The smell grew stronger with every stride.
His boots kicked up snow, scattering icy flakes behind him as the trees cleared, giving way to the familiar open fields of the farm. But the sight that greeted him froze him mid-step, breath catching painfully in his chest.
The farm, his home, engulfed in flames.
"Helga…!" Fin yelled, dropping the half-eaten pie onto the snow.
Then, without hesitation, he broke into a sprint toward the blaze, calling upon every ounce of his agility. His body blurred with speed, a single desperate thought pounding in his head.
He had to find Helga.
End of Chapter.