Chapter one

In the blink of an eye, eleven years had passed for Finnick Yggdrasil. Having turned sixteen that year, he grew to be six feet tall, gained a muscular figure, and tanned skin. Many could have mistaken him for an ordinary human; until they took a closer look. His cat-like eyes changed colors with his moods, his long pointed ears stuck out from his waist length hair that changed colors every so often.

Having strong nymph blood, Finnick was born with white hair that would change colors until the perfect fit for the bearer was found. "Phasing" as it is called, usually starts when the nymph hatchling is an adult, sixteen. However, Finnick was unique as his Phasing started when he turned ten years old; not to mention, the tips of his hair maintained its original white no matter how many times the rest of his hair changed. Some thought the early start was because his mother passed away suddenly when he was ten. Others hypothesized that his hair was meant to match up with his eyes. However, nobody could say for sure what the cause was. Finnick, along with many other villagers, believed the long hair did not suit him. Yet, from the moment he started his Phasing at ten, he could not bring himself to cut the silk strands. He rather liked the uniqueness his hair gave him.

Finnick had always been an avid learner; he learned how to read and write from his mother before the age of seven. His desire to learn only skyrocketed when he reached ten years old. As his father and sister mourned for the loss of his mother, he got work at the town's forging workshop. While they cried, he pounded metal into desirable shapes thanks to his mothers old friend, Galick Slivet. That was only one of the skills the elf forge master taught the boy. Finnick learned swordsmanship, hand to hand combat, magic, and more. The young man had learned skills such as foraging, cooking, herbology, potions, and sewing from Sera and Takami; his bosses from his second job at the apothecary. Luckily, both jobs were places that adventurers frequented. He learned how to read maps, of lands that were safe to venture through and their counterparts, and best of all he learned of all the various creatures that existed outside the forest he lived in.

No matter how many subjects Finnick learned, he had always favored spending time in the forge. He enjoyed the cleaning of metal on metal, the smell of coals burning, and the result of his hard work coming out unique from what the others had made. At the age of fourteen, he had become something of a celebrity. The entire peninsula of Kirimi knew of the items the young man could create as they were the most beautiful. Thanks to what he learned and the techniques he created many desirable items. Women loved the accessories that he could make, men felt like nobles when they had one of his swords, and farmers were glad to have sturdy tools.

In the center of town, the forge workshop stood two stories tall. The first level was a stone rectangle. In the front was the store, where people could stop in and browse the pre-made items. It only took up a third of the space, on the other side of the stone wall was the workshop. There stood two forges on opposing walls; each had tools that they would need to metal work on the walls in front of the work benches with anvils on the side. Across from the work areas that were on either side of the steps into the store, was where they kept the pre-made items. To the left were things that needed to be tested and to the right were items ready to be put out for sale. Between the two was a door that led to the grinding stone and a bench for fine work such as jewelry. It had a different set of tools and equipment in a crate next to the table. Along the right wall of the workshop were two more doors. One led to a small break room with another door leading to a bathroom. The door next to the break room led to the back of the workshop where they had a well pump and the water system they used to keep the forges going.

Standing at one of the forges, Finnick stood with a pair of long tongs holding a short sword in the hot coals. It was nearly completed, just needed to be straightened a bit more. Finnick turned and laid the hot metal on his favorite anvil and brought the hammer that he carried in his other hand down on the red metal. Between the clanging of the metal and his focus on his work, he was able to clear his mind… if only for a bit.

"You nearly done, kid?" asked the tall, green eyed, brown haired master of the workshop from the doorway between the workshop and the attached store. He leaned against the frame as Finnick ignored the distraction and continued to bang the hammer down on the flattening sword. Galick was used to the younger's focus when working on something. Neither spoke to the other until a hissing sound was heard. Finnick had dunked the once hot blade into a coolant, signalling the compilation of the blade.

"Gale…" Finnick realizes his boss had entered the workshop, "I just finished the fifth blade. All that is left is for Larken to sharpen it and for Scottie to test it." Finnick said as he placed the last sword on the rack with the other four that had been commissioned by some travelers who lost theirs in the Hinden Forest on their way to the peninsula of Kirimi. Galick nodded along with the young man as he was right per usual. Larken was excellent at making things but horrible at making sure they were relatively safe. Scottie was the exact opposite; he couldn't make a single decent thing out of metal but was able to test their items with a keen eye. He was also responsible for the store when Galick was not there or in the forge.

"It's already past one, have you even seen daylight today?" Galick asked in an accusatory voice. Finnick didn't feel even the slightest guilt; instead he glanced out the back door of the workshop and back at his boss. The sun shone brightly through the door. Though Gale couldn't see it through the thick black covering on the younger's face, he knew there was a cheeky grin. He wanted to be stern but he couldn't help but huff out a laugh when the teen shrugged his shoulders.

"Very funny, ya little chit." Galick chastised with an unconvincing roll of his eyes. Finnick finally snickered as he stretched his arms out above his head, his muscles ached from the repetitive motions. Even still, Finnick couldn't imagine going a day without hearing the cleaning of metal on metal.

"I went out for a breath of air a bit earlier, about ten minutes." Finnick shrugged again and the elder rolled his eyes this time in agitation. He had told the younger to take more breaks but the boy still wouldn't listen.

"Go get some more air, and something to drink while you are at it. When you come back, you can bring some new stuff to put out in the shop. There is nothing left to make, so shut the forges down for the day." Galick ordered sternly, Finnick just gave a short nod and strode over to the back door. Galick pushed himself off the door frame just as a customer pushed into the shop.

Finnick untied the black cloth from his face as he walked out the back door. With easy steps, he strode over to the water pump. He wiped his face with the rag as he used his free hand to crank out a bucket of water. Being shirtless had its perks as he raised the bucket over his bent form and poured it over his neck and shoulders. He repeated the process twice more before he brought up some water to soothe his parched throat. He unceremoniously gulped down ladle after ladle of the cool liquid.

As the water dried off his tanned form, Finnick took in his surroundings. The leaves had begun to turn an array of yellows, oranges, and reds. The stores and stalls along the roads had villagers selling their wares or shopping. The stands that sold tea and lemonade had switched over to cider and coffee. Light clothes had been switched over to furs and wool's. It was peaceful, calm, and everything Finnicks mother wanted it to be. As he walked back to the workshop, the corners of his lips had tilted upward. His good mood was not obvious unless they were to notice the color of his eyes. They had changed into a warm yellow that resembled a tulip.

Finnick performed his ritual for leaving the workshop quickly; cleaning up what he had used, locking up the back door, and putting out the forge fires. Soon enough, the only light came from the cracked door Gale had been leaning on. The teen made quick work of loading himself down with trinkets and tools to be taken out to the sales floor. With what seemed like impossible ease, he carried the load into the store. Glad that no customers were in, he plopped the lot onto the store length counter that Galick sat behind. Finnick laid the items out and sorted them between charmed and magic-less.

"Between an elf and a nymph, elves are meant to be stronger. Yet you carry loads like that without breaking a sweat and I am not convinced." Galick chatted as he strode over the younger.

"Race matters not when you work hard to achieve the strength you want. I have seen fairies as big as my toe carry a single tree by themselves." Finnick replied with an indifferent look on his face. He was used to such comments. Compared to most of the villagers, he was stronger. He truly believed his strength was nothing special, it was just something he had earned by working hard. However, it was exceptional for a Nymph to be that strong. They were known to be shorter than most human females, even the male nymphs. Not to mention, Nymphs tended to train with magic more than their bodies. Finnick had always been outside the norm for Nymphs but no longer paid it any mind.

"Aye, I suppose you're right." Galick said as an odd expression crossed his face. It was not the first time Galick noticed the similarities between himself and Finnick. He was not sure if it was because he had nearly raised him or if it was something else. Galick shook his head and looked down at the nearly sorted pile of goods to be put out.

"Let's get these put out, I have been here since four this morning and need a good nap." Finnick suggested with a hidden smirk. Gale nodded in agreement and suggested Finnick put out the jewelry while he put out the smaller tools and blades. With that, they both set to work but just as they were about to finish the front door was pushed open.

"Finn?" a light, calming voice called out. Both men stopped, having recognized the voice, to find an eleven year old Coridella standing there. Her brown hair fell down to her elbows when down, but it was pulled back into a tight braid that day. Her green eyes that seemed to have all the answers seared the store until they found her elder brother.

"Coridella! What are you doing here?" Finn inquired as he moved toward the front door in worry. She normally did not leave the house unless needed. There was always so much to do in her opinion. Instead of getting an immediate answer, the three foot ten inch girl threw herself into her brothers open arms.

"You were taking too long and father was getting impatient." Cora responded after a few moments. Finnicks eyes flared a brilliant red that only showed a portion of the rage he felt. Shetter, their father, was a pitiful man who had lost the love of his life and was left to care for their two children. Instead, he fell into a deep despair that gave him the excuse he needed to abuse various substances. The only time that he was sober was when he had to work. It was during those times that he was the doting father that their mother hoped he would be; otherwise he took his inebriated grief out on his children. Finnick did not mind as he was strong and could take care of himself. However, Cora was eleven and had not yet begun to learn any form of defense. Finnick wanted to ask his sister what happened to make her walk all the way to the workshop. He refrained, knowing that she would not answer him. It only made him fear the worst but there was nothing he could do about it unless she told him. The small girl seemed to shrivel into the older boys arms but this time, he didn't back away.

'Galick, I think father is doing something unthinkable to my sister. Could you bring Sera over to talk to her in the brake room?' Finnick asked his boss telepathically. Galick looked taken aback for a moment before he nodded and left out the front door of the shop.

When Shetter turned to substance abuse, Finnick took on the role of caretaker for the girl in his arms. Even though he was only ten, he grew up fast and learned how to care for Cora over time with the help of Sera and Galick. Though Finnick was young, he did not mind caring for his sister. He fed, clothed, and cared for her the best as he could. Sera was the apothecary's owner and Finnick's second boss. Oftentimes, Coradella would doddle behind him to his various lessons or to work when he was at the apothecary. The women there adored her and played with the young girl as her brother worked. The term "It takes a village" was the definition of these two children's upbringing.

"FINNICK! WHAT DID I JUST HEAR?" Sera hollered as she whipped into the store. Finnick shook his head and pointed with his head to the girl who had jumped in shock.

"Could you please wait just a moment in the break room? We will be there in just a couple of moments." Finnick requested and the once worry ridden Sera relaxed a bit. The thirty something year old woman nodded and followed Galick into the workshop.

"Even if I ask, you won't tell me but you need to tell someone. You know Sera, she will listen without judgement and won't tell a soul what you said. I need to know that you are safe, Cora." Finnick pleaded with her as he pulled her from his chest. He looked into a pair of watery green eyes that seemed to plead back but he shook his head. He wouldn't let it go this time.

"Ill talk to her but I don't guarantee anything." Cora bargained but Finnick took it. He swooped the small girl into his arms and carried her into the break room where Galick and Sera sat across from each other. Galick needed no prompting and left the room. Finnick placed her where the larger man sat and grabbed his jacket from a near by chair.

"For courage…" Finnick whispered and then stood. With a nod to the older women, he walked out of the room and closed the door. The largest sigh he had ever released, escaped from his lips. It felt like he was the one who needed courage to hear the results of the meeting nearly an hour later.