The One Who Was Chained

24

I returned to find Finn exactly where I left him. But this time, Klika was with him.

"Where did you find her?" I asked.

"She was flying around, probably looking for Mairen. She's been in there for what, four days now? And speaking of Mairen, did you find anything that might help us?"

"Yes." I responded. "She said something about a blue sea monster with orange eyes-"

"Sybin." Finn said out loud. "If Sybin has the key, we're doomed."

"Who is Sybin?"

"Sybin is one of the many sea monsters that dwell in this ocean. He is perhaps the most dangerous of them all." His voice trembled slightly. If Finn was afraid of this thing... we had no hope.

"But we don't know for certain if the key is actually with Sybin though. Alan could just be leading us in a circle again." I hoped it was true.

"I know Alan. This is exactly the kind of thing he would do."

"That's what you said when you made me go down into those caves." I reminded him.

"Do we have a choice?" Finn started pacing across the grass. "I know that Mairen is important, but should we really go that far? There is a reason why he left the key with a sea monster that is impossible to find and impossible to kill. Because no one is supposed to escape those cells. If that's her fate, to die down there, I don't want to get myself killed trying to change the inevitable."

"We must go. I promised Mairen I would get her out. I don't break promises."

"Can you please just make an exception." Finn grumbled. "Once you see Sybin, you'll wish you didn't go."

"Lucky for you, I don't make exceptions either." I snapped back. Finn sighed, digging the toe of his boot into the dirt.

"I have no choice. I won't let you throw your life away. At least with Klika and I, you will have a chance. And if you choose to turn back, that option is always there."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Nothing." Finn reached out to rub Klika's head. "I hope you're up for a long flight." He mounted the wyvern, and I hopped into the saddle bag. Finn whistled, and Klika shot off into the sky. And this time, I wasn't afraid.