No POV

Somewhere in the forest, Nier stands with Faye's axe in hand. He looks at a tree with a gold handprint on it. He kneels and puts his hand on the tree as he cries and presses his head onto it. He then stands and readies his axe before swinging it on the tree. The first swing cut the tree and Nier keeps chopping it. Every swing, he remembers his mother being there for him and his sister. Every time he recalls a memory, he gets angrier and chops harder. As he recalls his mother right before her death, the last time he'll ever see her smile again, his emotions reach a peak.

Nier: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

Nier strikes the tree and the axe cuts through it. The tree falls and he cries again until he hears small footsteps coming closer. Yonah appears with a bunch of branches.

Yonah: Found some.

Nier: Thanks. Let's head to the boat.

Yonah nods and walks away with the branches. Nier then looks at the fallen tree and walks toward it.

Nier: 'It's been days since mom died. And that wasn't the only thing that changed. Ever since she told me that I had the soul of a god, I've been feeling different. I've been feeling... stronger'.

Nier grabs the tree and lifts it onto his arm without much effort. He walks and catches up with Yonah.

Yonah: Still hard to believe you can do that.

Nier: Same for me. If we go back to the Hestia Familia, please keep this a secret.

Yonah: Don't worry Big Brother. Can I tie it to the boat.

Nier: Sure. I'll just strengthen some parts of the knot if that's okay with you.

Yonah nods as she gets in the boat and Nier puts the log onto the pier before putting a hook on it. Yonah ties the rope to the boat and Nier pushes the log into the river. Nier gets in the boat and starts rowing.

Yonah: Big Brother?

Nier: Yes?

Yonah: Did something else change? The forest feels different now.

Nier: Everything is different. And it will be for a very long time at least. Maybe let's not think about it too much.

Yonah: Maybe you're right.

Nier continues rowing the boat until they reach another pier. The get off the boat and Nier grabs the log before walking with Yonah. They walk through the forest until they make it to the cabin and Nier puts the log down.

Nier: Yonah, can I use the axe for a little longer? I'm not sure my sword is made for this.

Yonah: No worries. I have to get mom ready.

Nier nods and chops the log as Yonah enters the cabin and sees Faye wrapped in cloth on the table. Yonah looks on sadly and enters as she grabs a candle and slowly walks toward her mother's body. She lights the candles around Faye and recites a prayer.

Yonah: Lo, there do I see my mother. Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do they call to me. Lo, there do they call to me.

Yonah then puts the candle down and gently places her hand on Faye's wrapped up body. She then leans in and place her head on the back of her hand.

Yonah: Lo, there do they call to me. Lo, there do they call to me. Lo, there do they call to me.

Nier slowly walks up to Yonah and gently places his hand on her shoulder. Yonah cries before quickly turning around and hugging her brother. Nier hugs her back and after a minute, they break off and Nier picks up their mother.

Nier: Find your way home. You're free.

Nier then walks as he carries his mother to the pyre that he and Yonah made for her. He places Faye down on it before Yonah comes and they use their weapons and rocks to create sparks that slowly ignite the pyre. The siblings step back and watch Faye's body burn. Yonah then walks back and ends up using magic to form a bow in her hands.

Yonah: Big brother, can we go hunting?

Nier: You finally know how to use that bow?

Yonah: Mom taught me as much as she could. She said forming this bow would be a good weapon for me, along with her axe.

Nier: Then let's get hunting.

Nier and Yonah leave the cabin and start looking for any animals to hunt. They look at the ground for any tracks and see marks in the snow, but not the kind of animal they are looking for. After a little more searching, Yonah comes across a deer that appears.

Yonah: Ah!

The deer runs away and the siblings run after it. Soon they slow down because they know the deer will keep running if they keep chasing after it.

Nier: Yonah, Wait until I tell you to fire.

Yonah: Okay.

They come across a bridge with broken planks and being blocked off at the end.

Yonah: Deer broke the bridge.

Nier: Hop on my back.

Yonah does so before Nier throws his sword and throws it to clear a path. Nier hops over the broken part of the bridge and sets Yonah onto the ground. They keep walking and see the deer running away. They follow its hoof marks and see some kind of cave the animal may hove gone through. Soon, a disfigured humanoid appears with an expression of rage

Yonah: Ah!

Nier then charges and stabs the creature his new sword before pulling it out and stepping back a bit. The creature turns around and attacks Nier. He blocks the creature's sword with his blade and pushes it back before impaling it into its leg. Yonah then charges and swings the axe into its back. She pulls it out and swings it at the creature's head, decapitating it. More creatures appear and the siblings fight them. After a few minutes, the last creature falls to the ground with Nier impaling his swords into its head. He pulls them out and the bodies disappear.

Yonah: Dragur? They've never come this close to our woods before.

Nier: We should keep moving.

The two of them keep walking and look for the deer they found. After a few minutes of walking, the spot the deer entering a ruined structure.

Yonah: He went in the old temple. But Mom told us to never go in there.

Nier: Unfortuantely, we're going to have to go back on our word for a lot of things from now on.

Nier goes up to the doors and open them. He and Yonah see the deer away from them and the latter forms her bow. Nier then puts his hand on her shoulders.

Nier: You sure you can hit it?

Yonah thinks for a second and her bow disappears.

Yonah: We should get closer.

Nier nods and the two of them go down a set of stairs and end up in a room with a gate. However, multiple Dragur are there and attack. Nier brings out his new sword and blocks a Draugr's attack before pushing them away. Yonah uses her bow to shoot the Dragur and Nier cuts them. Yonah then brings out her axe and charges. She lands a hit on a Dragur, but it gets stuck on what remains of its skeleton.

Yonah: No!

Nier: Yonah!

Nier charges and stabs his sword into the Draugr before fighting the rest of them. Nier then uses the Axe and his sword to slay the remaning ones.

Yonah: I probably should start trying to lift things a little heavier than me.

Nier: Don't be too hard on yourself Yonah. I been doing this even before you were born. You just need time and training.

Yonah: Is going to the dungeon an option?

Nier: Let's put a pin in that.

Nier then sees a chain that connects to the gate. He pulls it and the gate is pulled up, but it won't stay in place.

Nier: Yonah, try throwing the axe at that gear.

Yonah does so and the Axe freezes the gear in place. The two of them walk foward until the reach a got that closed when the other one was open.

Yoah: How do we get this one opened?

Nier: Try calling back the axe.

Yonah holds her hand out and calls back the axe, releasing the gear and causing the gate to open. The two of them keep walking as they search for the deer. Eventually, they come across some kind of shrine. Nier opens it and it shows the depiction of two wolves.

Nier: Skoll and Hati

Yonah: The giant wolves who chase the sun and moon?

Nier: Yeah

The two of them close the shrine and continue walking. Eventually, they see the deer feeding and have an opportunity

Nier: Yonah.

Yonah nods before forming her bow in her hands. She aims and then takes a deep breath before firing an arrow through the deer's heart.

Yonah: I got it.

Nier: Good.

Nier and Yonah go to the deer and Yonah gets a closer look at it. She kneels down and begins to feel sad that she took the life of an animal. Nier puts his hand on her shoulder, and suddenly they feel shaking. A giant hand soon appears and grabs the deer. 

Yonah: AH!

Nier grabs Yonah and picks her up as the creature reveals itself to be a troll.

Nier then jumps and kicks the troll in the face, knocking it back before he lands on the ground. The troll picks up a stone column and the siblings bring out their weapons.

Yonah: We've got to fight this thing?

Nier: Don't see much of a choice.

Yonah: I was afriad you'd say that.

Nier: Sorry.

Nier and Yonah fight the troll and dodge its attacks with the stone column. Yonah fires her magic arrows and Nier uses his swords to slash at the troll. Nier rolls out of the way when the way when the troll slams its foot down. Nier stabs his sword into the back of the troll's knee before using his other sword to cut its tendon. Nier then feels anger growing within him and pulls out the sword he impaled in the troll's leg before getting on its head. Nier then stabs it until it falls to the ground and Yonah tosses her axe so Nier can hack the its neck.

Nier: Drop... DEAD!

Nier delivers one more hack and it nearly decapitates the troll, but still kills it. The monster falls down and the siblings are still in disbelief of what happened.

Nier: *Panting*

Yonah walks closer to her brother as Nier pulls out the axe and gets done from the troll's corpse. He then hands Yonah the axe and she takes it.

Yonah: A troll was burning Mom's garden. What's happening?

Nier: I don't know. But let's go home.

The siblings start heading for the cabin and end up coming across more Draugr. During the fight with them, a strange humanoid with ice sticking all over its body attacks as well. It was surprisingly resistant to their frost weapons. Still, we managed to slay them and make it back to the cabin. The two of them saw that Faye's body has finished burning.

Nier: Yonah, go inside. I'll join you in a minute.

Yonah: Sure.

Yonah goes into the cabin and Nier collects Faye's ashes by putting them into a pouch. He then tightens the rope as he looks at it.

Nier: I love you Mom. Me and Yonah are going to miss you.

Nier then puts the pouch onto his belt and enters the cabin. He sees Yonah at her bed and looking down at the floor. Nier then walks up to her and is concerned about their mother's request.

Yonah: So, we're really going to the highest peak to spread her ashes?

Nier: Yeah.

Yonah: I know I promised her, but I'm not sure if I'm ready.

Nier then kneels and holds his hands out in front of Yonah.

Nier: Neither do I. Try to hit me, without me knocking your hands away.

Yonah hesitates before forming a fist and trying to strike. But Nier knocks it away.

Yonah: This is gonna be tougher than I though.

Nier: Again.

Yonah does so and Nier knocks it away.

Nier: Again.

Yonah does so a bit harder, but Nier knocks it away as well.

Nier: Not fast enough. Try again.

Yonah punches again, but that one also gets knocked away.

Nier: One more time.

Yonah does so and Nier leans away, which causes Yonah to slip on the edge of the fire pit, but he catches her.

Nier: You didn't get lost in anger. That's good. Dad always told me that if anger is properly used, it can be a good weapon. The path ahead of us is going to be difficult. We need to be ready for this.

Suddenly, they hear something loud coming over the cabin.

Yonah: What's that?!

After a few minutes, loud knocking is heard at the door with a very threatening voice on the other side. Nier goes to the door to check it out, but not open it yet.

Stranger: Come on out! It's no use hiding anymore. I know who you are.

Yonah: (Whisper) What's going on? Who is that?

Stranger: More importantly, I know what you are!

Nier grows concerned by these words and now worries for Yonah's safety.

Nier: (Whisper) Yonah. Get under the floor.

Yonah: But you and Mom told me to never go down there. Who is that?

Nier: I don't know.

Yonah: What's he talking about.

Nier: I don't know. Get in.

Nier goes to a rug and lift a carpet before opening a compartment in the the floor. Yonah hops in and Nier closes the compartment and puts the rug back on top of it.

Stanger: Just tell me what I want to know! Not need for this to get bloody.

Nier opens the door and sees a fairly tall man with many tattoos on his body and wearing no shirt, despite the cold.

Stranger: Thought you'd be much bigger. But you're definitely the one. Long way from home, aren't you?

Nier: What do you want?

Stanger: Oh, You already know the answer to that.

Nier: Look sir, whatever it is you seek, I don't have it. You should move on.

Stranger: Hahaha. And here I though you're kind was supposed to be so enlightened. So much better than us. So much smarter. And yet you hide out here in the woods -- like a coward.

Nier: You don't want this fight.

Stranger: Oh... I'm pretty sure I do.

The Stranger smacks Nier's face, but doesn't seem to do much damage. Nier then looks at the stranger with anger in his eyes.

Nier: Leave... My... Home...

Stranger: You are going to have to kill me for that to happen.

The stranger then throws three more punches before Nier grabs the fourth one. Nier then squeezes the stranger.

Nier: I warned you...

Stranger: Finally.

Nier punches the stranger and causes him to roll back a bit.

Nier tries to walk back inside, but the Stranger expresses disapproval.

Stranger: No... No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Nier walks up to the stranger and sees him stand up.

Stranger: Fine. My turn.

The stranger uppercuts Nier and sends him over the cabin. Nier lands and slides before dodging the Stranger's slam attack.

Stranger: How incredibly disappointing. Come on then.

Nier then fights the stranger and uses his swords to cut him. However, no matter how much the stranger is cut, he doesn't even flinch. The stranger then ends up moving so fast he was like a blurr and tries to punch Nier. Luckily, he dodges the attack and slashes his frost sword at the stranger. However, his opponent seems to have ice emitting from his body and slams his fists onto the ground, causing a wave of ice to head toward Nier. He rolls out of the way and continues attacking the stranger. 

Stranger: So slow. Are you even trying?

Nier then punches the stranger, but ends up being slammed into the ground and thrown into the air. The stranger than jumps and grabs him before slamming Nier into the roof and grabbing his throat.

Stranger: Tell me what I want... Pain stops. Real Simple.

The stranger throws a punch and Nier dodges. The punch however, reveals the beds inside the cabin.

Stranger: Why are there three beds in there?

Nier's anger grows and he grabs the stranger by the face and rolls over before beating his face.

Nier: LEAVE... MY... HOME!!!!

Nier slams the stranger through the slanted roof and into the ground. The stranger then grabs Nier and throws him through a bunch of trees. Nier then gets up and places his hand on a fallen tree next to him as the stranger walks closer.

Stranger: Struck a nerve, did I?

Nier then grabs the tree and swings it, sending the stranger back. Nier then charges and rams the stranger through a fence and a boulder.

Stranger: Who are you hiding?!

Nier then crashes them into a bunch of rocks and falls down.

Stranger: Slow and way too young. You should have never come to Midgard.

The stranger's wounds begin to heal themselves at a fast rate, much to Nier's surprise.

Stranger: So, care to try again?

Nier: Anybody tell you that you talk too much?

Another small brawl happens and it ends with the stranger smashing Nier through the rocks.

Stranger: You won't talk? Fine. Maybe whoever it is you have stashed in that house will.

The anger in Nier turns to rage from hearing the stranger's threat and it reaches its peak. Suddenly, his arms are on fire and he bursts out of the rocks to slam the stranger's face into a tree. Nier then turns and rams the stranger through several parts of the forest.

Stranger: Who is it?! Who are you afraid I'll find?!

Nier then slams the stranger into a large stone before being punched back.

Stranger: Let's find out.

Neir then engages in a brutal fight with the attacker and holds nothing back. However, no matter how hard he hits, the stranger does nothing but express disinterest. Nier then grabs the stranger and throws him at the stone before beating him against it. As the ston cracks, Nier gets and idea and throws the stranger down before knocking the stone down as well. The stranger gets crushed under it and the area begins to split apart.

Nier doesn't say anything and slowly walks away. However, the ground shakes and he loses his balance.

Stranger: Leaving so soon?

Nier turns around and sees the stranger is alive and throws the stone off of him. Nier then punches the stone and blocks the stranger's attack by grabbing both his fists. The two of them end up on opposite sides of the crack in the ground. 

Stranger: When Odin sent me here, I just needed answers, but YOU, you had to act all proud.

The struggle between the two causes the ground to crack and get torn apart further.

Stranger: Throw whatever you have at me... I'll keep coming. That inexperienced body will never keep up. But before I end this, I want you to know one thing... I can't feel any of this.

The stranger then pushes Nier back and punches him high into the air. The two engage in a struggle until the stranger knocks the boy down. Nier then uses his sword to stab into the earth and slow his falls. As he climbs back up, stranger continues to taunt him.

Stranger: You've seen it with your own eyes, you can't hurt me. Nothing can. This fight is pointless. Your struggle is pointless. It didn't have to be this way.

Nier than launches himself up and throws his frost sword into the stranger's shoulder and smashes him. However, the stranger knocks him onto the other side.

Stranger: You can't win. I feel nothing, but you... You feel everything. Yet you, you keep trying.

Nier then looks at his arms and sees them filled with cuts and bruises. He then focuses on his wounds and to his surprise, they begin healing themselves at an astonishing rate.

Stranger: I'm not my brother. And if you'd given me what I wanted, it wouldn't have ended this way. But no...

The stranger then dashes and Nier dodges him.

Stranger: Let's finish this.

The fight continues as Nier and the stranger are locked in a brutal battle. Nier continues to attack with increased speed and strenght, but the stranger still claims to feel nothing. The stranger jumps up and tries to do a slam attack at him. Nier dodges and grabs the stranger's leg before picking him up and slamming him into the ground. Nier then wraps his arms around the stranger's neck and is prepared to do what it takes to protect the last member of his family.

Stranger: I'd hoped that you, of everyone I'd faced, would finally make me feel something. But you can't.

Nier: RRRRRAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

Nier then snaps the stranger's neck and it makes him stop moving. He then tosses the stranger's body over the edge. Nier lies on the ground, battered, exhausted and covered in blood.

Nier: *Panting*

He then struggles to get up and slowly walks to the cabin, despite the pain.

Nier: Who was he? He knew me? Did he know my past? How did they find me? Could they tell it really was me? Mom... What do I do?

Nier then recalls his sword and it goes into his hand.

Nier: Yonah isn't ready... to carry your ashes to the top of the mountain. Hell... I'm not ready.

Nier nearly falls to the ground and uses his sword to hold himself up. He then looks at the cabin with determination and gets up before putting his sword away.

Nier: But staying here is no longer an option.

Nier then enters the cabin and goes to the spot he hid Yonah. He takes off the rug and pulls open the floor. Yonah looks at her brother in relief.

Nier: Yonah.

Yonah: There was so much... I thought... You're okay.

Nier: Yeah.

Nier then picks up Yonah and gets her out.

Nier: Gather your things. We're leaving.

Yonah: But we're not ready.

Nier: You're right. But we have no choice now. We have to get moving.

Yonah: Sure thing.

Nier then looks at a piece of red cloth wedged between the floorboards before closing the hidden door and puts the rug back on top. He then packs his backpack and helps Yonah with hers. They put them on and go outside the house. The two of them look at the tallest mountain where they are to spread their mother's ashes.

Yonah: The mountain... it's going to be a LONG trip.

Nier: Yes. but an important one.

Yonah then grabs Nier's hand and he holds her's back. The two of them look at each other and nod before they start walking away from the cabin and begin their journey.