Finn dragged his bloodied, broken body through the Forsaken Forest, a place so feared that even Immortals hesitated to enter. Yet he pressed on, seeking the one thing that could finally end his suffering. When he collasped beside the lake's shore, its aura washed over him. Visions surged through his fading consciousness, revealing fragments of his past lives. 99 lifetimes and not one had been peaceful. This, at last, would end the cycle.
The Lake was no ordinary place. It was said that a touch of its black, lightless water would erase everything that a person was; body, soul, fate and leaving only memories behind in the minds of those who once knew them. 500,000 years ago, a daring or perhaps deranged Immortal had braved the forest and stolen a vial of the black water, and brewed it into a potion to boost power. All who drank it, including Immortals, vanished without a trace. Not even their souls could be summoned back. Even the Reincarnation Hall failed to locate them.
Now, Finn reached for the same oblivion. The final refuge no mortal or Immortal could escape.
With the last of his strength, Finn pushed himself forward and let his body fall into the lake's black embrace. He expected the cold bite of water, but none came. Instead, a strange weightlessness lifted him, a void he did not expect. The surface swallowed him without a ripple, and he drifted downward into an endless world without form. There was no light and no sound, only absolute darkness in every direction. For the first in his life and all his lives before, he felt at peace, utterly disconnected from it all. As his pain faded away slowly, he surrendered himself to the abyss.
Instead of sinking forever, Finn felt his body slow, then settle gently onto something solid. The surface beneath him was warm and comforting, almost alive. Very different from the void he just crossed. As he steadied his breathing, soft whispers drifted through the darkness. He could not make out a single word, yet the murmurs wrapped around him like a calm breeze. This was a calm he had longed for. A Calm the world has longed for. If only he could share it with everyone.
From the darkness above, 7 orbs drifted downward, each swirling with gold, silver and deep black gas like auras, like tiny worlds forged from starlight and shadow. They hovered over Finn's head, circling slowly, bathing him in waves of pure, revitalizing life energy. The warmth they released seeped into his bones, easing his soul to the core. Then, the orbs shimmered, and from each one, a figure emerged. 7 silhouettes, distinct in form, yet all dressed in the same flowing robes fit for royalty. They gazed at him with a gentle, almost parental warmth, as though witnessing a child take his very first step into a vast, unknown future.
Finn pushed himself upright and bowed deeply, his voice steady despite the awe tightening his chest. "This humble boy greets these seniors. May I know who you are?" For a moment, the seven figures exchanged soft glances. Then one stepped forward, her tone warm enough to melt the ageless snow of the January Hills. "There is no need for such formality, young one. We are kin after all." The figure's form flickered with gentle light as she continued, "As for our names… your tongue could never shape them, nor could your mind fully grasp their meaning. Call us whatever you wish." A serene hush settled over the space as she spreads hands. "Welcome, Finn, to the Before and After."
She stepped a little closer, her voice like a soft echo rolling through eternity. "This place you stand in… we call it the Before and After. It exists outside of worlds yet touches all of them. It is everywhere and nowhere, a realm crafted for us alone." Her gaze drifted around the warm darkness, as though seeing shapes Finn could not yet perceive. "But understand this, though we dwell here, we do not command it.
-This space bends only for the Fated One, the single soul who can shape it into a paradise of endless creatio or twist it into an unforgiving prison. Maybe both." She looked back at Finn, her expression dimming with sorrow. "Sadly those fated for this place is born to great misfortune. Great pain is the mark they carry." Her voice softened. "You have suffered, young one. For that… we are truly sorry."
Finn swallowed, gathering the courage to lift his eyes. "What… What happens now?" he asked quietly. The woman's expression softened, her form shimmering like the moon in deep night. "That, young one, is for you to decide. We will not bind you. Whatever path you choose, the seven of us will lend all we can to guide and support you." Her words settled over him, hearing a freedom he never had before.
Finn hesitated before asking another question burning in his chest. "Then, can I return? To the world that is," She nodded gently. "You can. But understand this. If you return, you will not go back as the boy who fell into the lake. You will be changed. Power far beyond mortal or Immortal measure will take root in you. And with such power comes responsibility that will shape the fate of countless lives. Are you prepared to be a King above kings?"
Finn closed his eyes, feeling the weight of countless lifetimes press against him, and yet, a spark of clarity ignited within. He had made his choice. He would return to the world, not just for revenge, but to also bring order to the chaos that had swallowed everything he loved. His village had been razed, his family gone. Every familiar face erased from the living world. They would surely be reborn, and though they would never know him as the little boy they had lost, he would build a better world for their new lives. He would wield this power not for himself, but to spare others the agony he had endured ninety-nine times over. Every tear, every scream, every lonely death he had felt, he would ensure no one else would suffer so unjustly.