Through the tunnels of the sewer, back onto the surface of the floating island, they ventured down the ethereal steps that led back down to the ground. There were hardly any words said on the walk back, crossing through the ashen fields and back into the woods.
As nightfall came, the once golden leaves turned to their somber blue. Luckily, he was able to retrace his steps back to the trail, only having to avoid the attention of forest beasts before finding the massive tree mansion again.
"We're here," Finn quietly said, looking up at the abode.
"Woah, this place is crazy big," Nova remarked.
"Don't know how you missed it before," Jasper said.
Finn glanced back while approaching the front, finding that Charlotte was still quiet, though he didn't say anything. Of course, time was needed to process what happened and grieve. As he reached the entrance to the treehouse, he found there was no handle that needed to be turned–the door was already open.
He looked over at Jasper, who gave him a look as well with a shrug as they both wordlessly agreed it was off. One of the only rules he could recall when staying at the woodsy hospice was to keep the door shut at nightfall.
Finn kept his dagger ready, with Jasper right behind him with a sword and shield at the ready as the abode was quietly entered. There were candles still lit, providing light to the area of fine collectibles, though it still felt weird.
"Old man?" Finn called out.
He began to ascend the spiraling steps, finding a noise meeting his ears with a few steps taken. It was a distinct sound; lips smacking and swallowing as if a meal was being ravenously consumed. From the noise, he presumed a beast made its way in, dining on the food left out by the old elf, or the elderly one himself.
He quickly moved up the last few steps, practically lunging into the second floor as he raised his dagger, though stopped just short of attacking what was chowing down.
"Ah–? Hold on–you?" Finn let out in utter confusion.
What he found at the table was not a beast, though perhaps somebody with the manners of one; a golden-haired man shoveled pie into his face without any grace, only looking up after being addressed.
["Sleuth Status"]
[Name: Seung]
[Age: 22]
[Designated Class: Crusher]
[Level: 44]
The hot-headed man hit his own chest to help himself swallow before wiping his mouth messily, "Whaddya want?--Oh, it's you. The assassin guy."
"Finn," he corrected the crusher. "When did you get here?"
The others had come up the stairs as well, finding the presence of the unexpected guest at the wood-anchored manor.
Down the steps, Finn slid his coat off, leaving it on the rack before stepping out the door and onto the grass. The brisk air of the nightfallen woods met his skin nicely, feeling a certain freedom.
Standing a dozen feet away, Seung was stretching, rolling his shoulders as he lifted his hands, which were surprisingly absent from the gilded gauntlets.
"Don't worry. If I wore them, you'd be smelling colors after one hit to the chin," Seung remarked.
"You wouldn't hit me anyway," Finn said while rubbing his wrists.
"Is that so?--" Seung asked with a smirk.
The words of provocation were met promptly as Finn found himself immediately face-to-face with the hot-headed fighter. It caught him off-guard for only a split-second, unadjusted to the agility possessed by the [Crusher].
He moved his head to the right as the wild haymaker passed right by, not having much time to react before flipping back as a follow-up strike came. Even without being hit, the air following each movement pressed against his skin.
"Don't just run after running your mouth!" Seung challenged.
The Crusher pushed the pressure again, running right at him before sending his fist sailing for his nose. Finn watched the knuckles close in before ducking to the side while throwing a kick up, falling onto his own hands as he let his shin smack right against the mouth of his rival.
It was the first time pulling off such a move, finding his natural movements heightened by his [Capoeira] skill, though even as he felt the dropkick connect directly, Seung remained unmoving on his feet.
'Seriously? Is this guy a brick wall?' Finn thought before using his hands to push off the ground, jumping to his feet as he moved back.
There was a smile imprinted on Seung's lips, spitting out a loogie of blood, though there wasn't even any sign of bleeding as though his skin was made of steel. In fact, the assassin felt his shin throbbing, questioning if he hurt himself more than the crusher.
Finn kept his distance for the moment as he watched the fierce man, thinking for a moment as he took in everything from that initial exchange.
'As I thought, this guy doesn't fight with any kind of technique or style. He's pretty much just throwing his fists around, but even still...Damn, his speed and power are incredible. Even without using skills or his gauntlets, he has this much strength?' Finn thought.
He couldn't help but over analyze the person before him, finding it more akin to observing a monster than a human. As the man rushed him down against with his fist cocked back, the reflex to dodge was more ingrained in the assassin's body, knowing the strength being those knuckles.
"C'mon! Don't talk then tuck your tail between your legs!" Seung provoked while throwing wild haymakers.
Finn was kept on the backfoot, not moving his gaze from following each fist thrown by Seung. As he weaved through the strikes, pressed to only dodged, he instead pushed forward.
He cut beneath a straight aimed for his nose before swinging his hips into a kick that sailed for the crusher's head.
"Oh?—" Seung reacted.
Finn felt his shin stopped just before connecting, finding it blocked by the man's forearm. Before he could pull back, a vice grip took hold of his ankle.
With a single tug, his entire balance was pulled out from beneath him, bringing him to land on his hands.
"Do better than that, or I'll kill you!—" Seung enthusiastically threatened.