pink, blue, gold, and orange was just a glimpse of what I felt led to more enchanting sights. Large islands with what appeared to be gold castles and cities of life floated above and below us.
"To answer your question, yes." He spoke quietly as his eyes still lingered on the horizon. "Happiness is the last thing you feel because you're met with the truth of your purpose and the relief of fulfilling what was asked of you."
He turned his gaze as he shifted his body to face me, and I noticed the outline of gold feathers that came from his back and arched in a way that proved he was being carried by a pair of wings.
"My purpose was fulfilled. Just like Mother's and Father's. The only difference is that I decided to continue my duty in Dad's stead. That way, Mother wouldn't be alone in the kingdom of peace."
"What do you mean?" My eyes sought answers in his, but they were filled with relief as his smile grew. He reached out to hold the gem on my necklace, staring at it with interest before he nodded his head with a proud expression.
"Just know that Mom and Dad are in peace," he reassured me as his eyes lifted to meet mine. "They're happy, proud, and watching over you."
He paused and muttered, "Dad liked the speech you made."
"H-He did?" My eyes were brewing tears at the mere mention of Dad's approval, and Flynn confirmed it as he nodded his head. "He didn't realize how fast you were maturing since you finally allowed yourself to be you. Now that you've unlocked this, I know without a doubt that you'll be okay and surrounded by those who will always lift you up. Even in dark times."
He closed his eyes, and I watched as a flow of energy moved down his arm in a spiral motion until it embedded into the jade gemstone.
"What is this crystal gem supposed to be?" I asked, my eyes glued on its glowing body while the gold chain glowed wildly.
"The Blessed Stone of Creation," he revealed. "Some call it the Creation stone, crystal, or gem. Whatever you choose. It's a crystal that's given to a demigod successor. It stays with them for the remainder of their time in the land of the living until they ascend to their next duty if they so wish to embark on that next adventure."
I was scared to ask, but swallowed the lump in my throat and proceeded with, "Is that what you decided to do?"
His smile was priceless as he slowly nodded his head.
"I never got to live an adventurous life," he admitted. "At least now I can...and I have."
"You say it as though that adventure has ended," I whispered while my heart clenched in sadness. He looked at me with sad eyes before he reached out to press both of his hands on my shoulders. "Sadly, my adventure has come to an end. I merely had to wait for the next person to appear with the very stone of my duty."
"You're not saying...you're...the current God of Creation?"
"Demigod," he whispered. "I was never meant to rise to the throne. That was already predetermined for the last born of the Rosedale family."
My shock had to be evident because he nodded his head and closed his eyes.
"It's a lot to understand, Finnick. It's not my place to give you this much when you're still in the land of the living. However, I wanted to make sure you understood that I'm not abandoning you. My time is merely up."
"Then...is this truly goodbye?" My lip trembled as I asked the heartbreaking question. After all these years, and the agony that came with each loss, I'd been given the chance to see Flynn once again.
Only for it to be our last time…once again.
"I don't think of it as a goodbye," he admitted as he squeezed my shoulders. "I think of it as a new beginning. One where you become one of the main characters in the story. You weren't written in the manuscript, but because of the love a specific girl has for you, it began to be unwritten."
My eyes widened at the revelation and he merely nodded. "The Goddess of Space and Time. A woman of great power who will change the universe as you know it. The woman destined to love one but who ended up with four. A demigod who will need protection when she least expects it."