"See ya'll tomorrow! This place, 1 P.M!"
"See you!"
"Bye!"
The five of them split up at a junction, each going their own way. Kaito and Miyuki headed north, further from the village center, Airi to the western side of the valley, Ryuo to the town center to his family's diner and Souta to the eastern side of the valley. The sun had started to slowly set, and everyone thought it a good idea to start heading home.
But in the aftermath, the victors wore crimson robes, the cloth still warm with the last wish of the moon before.
What did the poem mean? I wonder…I should have taken a look at the elders' faces as well, but I was too scared.
*click*
Souta almost fell off his bike.
What the-
That sound again
It sounded like a click of sorts…like…unlocking a door?
But it surely didn't come from inside my head. It must have been outside.
Souta looked around him, but couldn't see anything unusual.
Well unusual from the unusual that he deemed usual.
The forest's edge was still a gateway into a deep, grey mist.
The flower fields swaying back and forth in the wind, like a million, small, synchronized tentacles.
The clouds hung above, dark, looking like they could fall down at any moment.
The sun...a faint light. Souta wasn't convinced that it was even lighting his word up. It just existed.
Now that I think about it, this path doesn't seem familiar, did I take a wrong turn.
Maybe I'm just tired.
Too much socializing.
He turned back and started biking in the opposite direction to make sure. After a while he concluded that it didn't seem right either and returned to his original direction.
It's a valley, it's not possible to get lost here.
And I think I can hear a river somewhere close by, that should give me an idea of where to go.
He biked onwards for a while more, but the river never showed up.
Huh. That's weird.
Another crossroads.
Souta looked at the sun. It was on his left.
So…this way should take me east.
He chose the left path.
Why aren't there any houses around?
Not that I'd go and ask for help anyways.
Around him were still fields that looked like they were attended to. Getting closer to him was the edge of the forest.
It's not even that big of a valley, 15 kilometers wide at most. And a big part of it is forest.
The road took him to the forest's edge.
A Moon Torii gate?
Indeed, a huge, ancient gate with a moon on the top part was guarding the entrance to the forest.
How have I never been here?
Or have I?
Is this a shortcut?
Surely at some point if I keep going east I'll find the train tracks. From there I'll be able to just follow them.
But I don't really want to go into the forest.
Souta tried to see if he could make anything out.
I swear there are countless eyes looking at me from there.
The dark mist kept twirling around, blocking his sight deeper into the forest. The canopy also kept the sunlight away, which was also slowly falling behind the mountains.
Whatever, I'm not afraid.
But deep in his heart he knew otherwise.
He passed under the gate.
*click*
My mind must be playing tricks on me.
He disappeared into the dark forest.
The path was narrow, riddled with roots and large stones, making it impossible to bike. Souta hopped off his bike and started walking.
The ancient oak trees were sometimes over a meter in diameter. Twisted into all kinds of shapes, their trunks hid most of the forest behind them.
Souta looked back, but couldn't see the way he came in anymore.
I swear these trees are swaying in synchronization too.
Indeed, when he looked hard enough, the giant trees were moving a bit.
No wind could move those like that.
Why did I even step into this forest in the first place?
Behind the trees, thick undergrowth had conquered the forest floor. Sometimes a giant boulder rose from among the foliage. The trees didn't grow that densely, but their size made it seem like they were endless.
*bzzzzt*
What was that.
Souta looked around to find the source of the buzzing sound.
A firefly?
A group of fireflies?
They were surrounding his body. Souta tried to wave them off, but they wouldn't let him alone.
You don't even provide enough light to see in this place, just get off of me.
They followed him on his path, sometimes swirling behind the giant trees, sometimes disappearing for a moment but always coming back.
I guess they like me.
The thought made Souta chuckle a bit.
What was that book…lord of the flies? I'm sure this is what it was talking about.
It's nice to have some company.
The trees seemed to be getting more scarce by the minute.
Am I approaching the edge?
And what are they doing…?
The fireflies had stopped, and were buzzing around in a group on the edge of the path.
Maybe they don't want to go further? I guess they live here after all.
Souta was about to walk past them when he noticed something on the place where they floated.
Another path?
I wonder where it leads.
Or…do they want me to go there?
What am I thinking? They are bugs.
But so far…they've stayed with me.
I must be going crazy.
Guided by some instinct or other, Souta left his bike on the side of the bigger path and walked onto the narrow side path. The foliage was way overgrown, some plants reaching as high as his head.
Just a quick look, then I'll return.
Protecting his face with one hand and brushing the foliage aside with the other he made his way deeper.
I wonder if the flies are still following me?
*click*
I don't know if that's a yes or a no.
Suddenly he came to the edge of the treeline. The canopy wasn't in the way of the sunlight anymore, though the sun had fallen behind the mountains.
This seems to be a grove of sorts?
He could see that surrounding the treeless spot were giant trees.
Is that a…shrine? It's so dark I didn't see it at first.
Standing in the middle was a building, but the details were hard to make out.
Souta looked around the grove. It was a grassy field, overgrown with all kinds of plants. Mossy stones pointed upwards at some points.
And…what are those…?
Peeking from the field everywhere were strange, long, shining objects.
Souta walked closer to one.
A…spear?
Why is this field filled with broken spears stuck to the ground? There seem to be some banners of flags of sorts attached to some of them…
Weird.
There was no wind so the flags didn't wave in the air, but indeed, on most of the spears there was a red or white banner attached.
I should go check out that building. Perhaps it holds some answers.