For Finn and Jake, they were one of these rare breeds. They lived their life, driven only by their own ambition and goals. They would walk forward together, aiding one another whenever possible. There was the older brother, Jake. He was a dog beast, one imbued with magical abilities and traits like a human. He was shorter than Finn, but this was only the case when magic was not introduced. Jake had learned and mastered some of the basics of Titan magic, though he had hit his prime long ago. His life had been lived, adventures that Finn neither knew about nor would ever possibly understand. How could one truly understand another, without having first lived their experiences?
Finn, the younger brother, was a human boy. Found and raised by Jake's mother and father, Finn had lived the first parts of his life unaware of how different that he was from his family. Their excuse was that Finn had simply been born with a different condition, but under their fur he'd be the same as them. As time progressed, they found that there was a sort of pang in their heart from lying to their family. He couldn't be kept in Worth Woodsea forever, and that was something that they had known from the beginning. Still, to protect him and his heart from the unknown, they lied to him for several years.
Once he hit an age where his understanding of the world had grown, they broke the news. This was their first real glimpse at the unique and steadily developing personality of their adopted family. Finn laughed, shaking his head, and claimed he did not care. The claim was true, of course. In his mind he was their family, and they were his. Regardless of race or any of those unimportant factors that could be brought up in the future, he was a Merten through and through. Nothing would change that, and the realization that they had feared for nothing was a bonding experience that brought them all closer together.
In time, Finn left his home of Worth Woodsea. Mother and father left in the woods, Jake decided that he would accompany his brother through thick and thin. More than brothers, they were best friends. Companions who would tackle the world through any obstacle, and they would come out on the other side stronger for it. They had both made the promise to do anything for the other, but Jake had reservations within his heart that he'd never speak out loud. His life had been lived well for years. He needed not for Finn to sacrifice for him. Instead, he would ensure that he'd do anything and everything he could do for Finn. That was a silent promise, made to himself, and one that he would plan to keep.
When Finn had been whisked away to Baska, Jake had expected his brother to lose the tournament. It was not that he doubted his brothers immense skill and abilities. Truth be told, Finn was probably close to the pinnacle of physical prowess when compared to anyone else within Fiore. That being said, the boy lacked several things.
While he had an abundance of confidence, he lacked true skill against other humans. Finn's killing instinct was created and molded through survival in the Worth Woodsea. The fact that there were other humans who were not as strong as him, regardless of whether or not it was an intentional decision in his brain, likely caused him to lower his guards. Others would have certainly trained for years, entire lifetimes to master the extent of their own skills. One person who had completely understood and mastered what they were capable of would have been more than enough to deal with Finn, even if they weren't as physically endowed as he was.
As it had turned out, that was indeed the case. The final round had been the extent to which Finn could push himself, finally falling to a mage known as Maarschalk. The man had been massive. Even Jake, the one imbued with Titan magic, would have felt intimidated at first. It was not a sign of weakness, but rather an important aspect of survival. One had to allow themselves to feel based off their surroundings, so that they could truly use their instincts. That was something Finn had not known, and even now that the fight was over he had yet to learn it.
So it was Jake's responsibility, as older brother, to lead his brother forward. Finn would need to expand who he was in order to surpass this rut that he had allowed himself to fall into. Jake couldn't simply explain this one away. He'd have to let Finn come to his own answer, and whatever that answer was, Jake would support. Even if, Glob forbid, Finn turned into some evil being...
Well, the family swore they would always be together. Nothing would change that.
"Jake, where is this entrance you were talking about?"
The words snapped Jake from his own thought process, the dog looking up at Finn and then shrugging. "I dunno man! I just know it's in the area. I'm sure of it!" Finn stopped looking, his sword that had been swinging and cutting through branches and foliage that blocked their path coming to a halt as well. "Who told you about this dungeon again?"
Jake took on a thoughtful look for a moment. Could he tell Finn that the dungeon had been set up by their own father, so long ago that no one had truly been that deep within the Crocus woods to have found it? Or that his father had brought in the creatures that now defended it? Could he tell Jake that their dad had put in a treasure, deep within its confines, to be evacuated one day by a family member who needed it?
Finn would love that, of course. The idea that their father was so cool and "Rad" would likely catch his attention more than anything else about the dungeon. Still, Jake didn't know where he was mentally after the fight. He needed to be careful.
"I can't reveal my sources man. Just trust me. The info is good. I checked before to make sure it was here. I just uh. Forgot."
Well, it wasn't a total lie. Jake knew for a fact it existed. He also didn't remember where in the hell it was. He promised to help Finn, not to never lie to him. A little white lie wouldn't hurt him, right? Especially one about a dungeon such as this.
"Good enough for me I guess!"
Pushing forward together, Finn went back to swinging his sword. The branches and plants that obstructed his path would be sliced from their housing. Soon, they'd find the dungeon doors in the form of two large, overbearing doors that had been carved into the very cliff face.
Pushing the doors open, magic would activate within the dungeon. Torches left long ago would begin lighting the path, illuminating the insides of this dungeon. It was time to begin.
WC: 1330