From Moving Crates to Killing Gods-Chapter 51: Silver Master

I started wondering for a moment if my ears had started hallucinating words out of nowhere, but Finn repeated himself.

"Carry me. On your shoulders. You stand, I climb onto your shoulders, and then I can reach the roof edge and fix it."

I stared at him. "You’re heavier than you look."

"And you’re stronger than you used to be." Finn clapped me on the shoulder. "Come on, Allaran. Think of it as training. Besides, I’m the one who has to fix the roof. The least you can do is provide the lift."

I sighed, recognizing the logic even if I didn’t like it. "Fine." I positioned myself directly below the hole, bracing my feet against the silver surface.

"Ready?" Finn asked.

"No."

"Perfect." And then he was climbing onto me, one foot on my thigh, then the other on my shoulder, his weight settling onto my frame with a solidness that made my knees buckle slightly.

"You good?" he asked.

"I’m questioning every life choice that led to this moment."

But I held steady, my muscles straining in a way that felt almost familiar now, like the early days of the agility training. Finn straightened slowly, his hands reaching upward, and then I heard his fingers scrape against the roof edge.

Nothing happened for a long moment. Then, slowly, the silver began to move. Not melting, exactly, but flowing like liquid while remaining solid. It crept across the gap I’d created, smoothly filling the space until the hole was completely sealed, leaving no trace it had ever existed.

After that Finn started climbing me down. And when he finally dropped, I stared at the ceiling.

"The roof..." I stared, dumbfounded. "How did you..."

"My ability isn’t just sensing silver." Finn said quietly, his eyes still fixed on the now perfect surface. "I can control it. Move it. Shape it. I just... feel it, and it responds."

"But that’s..." I struggled to find words. "Finn, that’s incredible. Do you know what this means? In a city built on silver..."

He nodded, finally looking up at me. "I know. That’s why Damian has me training so intensely. He thinks I might be able to repair the barrier pivots and buildings, maybe even strengthen them."

The implications staggered me. Silver was everywhere in Argent, in every structure. If Finn could manipulate it at will...

"Does anyone else know?" I asked.

"Just you and Damian currently."

I nodded, then gestured toward the sealed roof. "And this? Now the girls know."

Finn considered for a moment. "They’re hiding here, surviving on their own. They already know how to keep secrets." He glanced toward the stairs, we could hear the muffled sounds of the children’s voices and Mia’s gentle responses. "Besides, I think... I think I want her to know what I can do. What I’m capable of."

The way he said it made something click in my mind. "Finn, you just met her."

"I know." He didn’t deny it, didn’t make excuses. Just smiled that dreamy smile again. "But some things you just know, you know?"

I didn’t know, not really. But watching him climb back down the ladder with an eagerness that had nothing to do with roof repair, I thought I might be starting to understand.

When we reached the bottom, Mia was sitting with the children, sharing out the bread she’d retrieved. She looked up as we descended, and Finn immediately launched into an explanation of the repair, his words tumbling over each other in his haste to impress.

"It’s completely sealed." he finished. "Stronger than before, actually. I made sure of it. You won’t have any problems."

"Thank you." Mia’s voice was warm. "I know your friend was the person that destroyed our roof, but still."

"If something ever breaks, let me know." Finn offered quickly. "I might be able to help you with repairs, and bring meat. Ones get extra food, I can bring some every day if you want. The kitchens have plenty."

The children exchanged glances, hope flickering in their eyes despite their attempts to hide it.

Mia studied Finn for a long moment, something unreadable in her expression. "That’s very generous. But you don’t have to—"

"I want to." Finn’s voice was firm, sincere. "I promise, I’ll do whatever I can to help. The roof, food, anything you need. You shouldn’t have to worry about these things alone."

Something shifted in Mia’s face then, a crack in the careful wall she’d built. "We’ve been alone for a long time..." she said quietly.

"Not anymore." Finn said it simply, like a statement of fact, and the certainty in his voice made even my cynical heart stir.

As we walked towards the door, Mia spoke.

"Thank you for coming back." she said quietly. "Most wouldn’t have. And thank you for the repair." This last comment directed at Finn, and the smile she gave him was small but genuine.

We left fast, promising to return with food and supplies. As we walked back toward the spire, Finn was uncharacteristically quiet, lost in thought.

"She faces exile next year." I said finally, breaking the silence.

"I know." His voice was tight.

"Does it change anything? For you? For our training?"

Finn stopped walking and turned to me, his usual easygoing expression replaced by something harder, more resolved. "It changes everything. It’s not just about survival anymore. It’s not just about us." He looked back in the direction of the building we’d left. "It’s about her. About all of them."

I nodded, understanding perfectly. We’d been training because we were told to, because it was our duty as Ones, because Damian had plans for us as weapons against the Corruptors. And because we wanted to do good... but now the abstract had become concrete. Our training had faces now. Names. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Then we better get stronger." I said. "Fast."

Finn nodded, determination radiating from him like heat. "I’ll bring them the best food in Argent."

"And blankets too." I added. "It’s really cold in there, I’ll help you."

As we continued toward the spire, I thought about Cami’s fierce defense of her small family, about Mia’s quiet strength as she was getting closer to exile, alone. About all the children in Argent who would eventually turn twenty one and be sent out into the wasteland.

My vow had taken me somewhere random today, but perhaps not somewhere meaningless. Perhaps it had taken me exactly where I needed to be.