Chapter 15, Wind Way's Trial of Regrets

A trial? It must've been originally meant to keep unworthy people from approaching the grounds. Anyways, I need to know what will happen if I'm to clear it. I approached Haruki and Haruka, I called out to them but they didn't reply.

"Haruki! Haruka!!" I desperately ran after them.

As I ran after them, everyone slowly came into view and I thought that everything was fine when suddenly my body was bound by chains, I turned to see the High Congress watching me. Suddenly, everyone in front of me began to age and turn to ash and bone. "W-what is this?!"

I sat down, huddling myself as the endless cycke continued, I hugged my knees wondering when it will end. How many times must I watch the people I hold dear die? How many times must I relive Haruki's ancestors' ascension helplessly? How many times I reliive the lives of the Heroes' who I could not help? I sit, hugging my knees close and covering my ears, closing my eyes, trying to block out the endless loop of despair before me.

"Lita, what's the matter?" I heard a voice so familiar ask and I turned my head to him. Haru's ancestor and the very first Hero, Tohru, standing there with his short black hair and white skin unchanged, his brown eyes staring into mine.

"W-why are you here?" I asked as I stared at him.

"My poor, sweet, naive Lita, do you even have to ask?" He said as he sat down beside me. "Enough of this, it wasn't your fault, what happened to me, Gou and pf course, Haru as well."

"That's not true! If I was stronger, I could've done something!" I exclaimed and he gripped my hands.

"You've already done so much." He said. "None of blame you. Not me, Gou, of course Haruki and Haruka as well. We're thankful to you, because you gave use the power to protect those we love."

"Even so!" Just then, another personed appeared in front me. "Haruki!"

"Lita, you need to stop blaming yourself." He said as he took my hand. "My precious bride, stop blaming yourself. I love you and I'm thankful, because of you I can protect those I love."

"But! I've caused your family so much problems!" I said. If I hadn't been so weak, I could've done so much for his family.

"This family came into existence because of you." Tohru said as he pulled me to my feet.

Behind the two, the Heroes gathered, everyone, every branch of the Hero Family was standing behind them.

"Thank you, Lita." Tohru said and placed his hands to mine.

"Thank you!" They all smiled and I felt the heavy emotions on my chest melt away as if they weren't there.

"I'm the one who has to thank you." I answered as tears started to pour out my eyes. "Thank you, for being by my side all this time."

"We all always be by your side." Tohru said as he gripped my hand and slowly disappeared into the darkness.

This times, the world wasn't dark, because there were people who had inherited his light, and that person needs me so I need to get to where he is. Right now!

Suddenly, a golden light engulfed me and when I had come to I saw that Ryu was unconscious beside me. He must've also fallen victim to the Trial.

I stood up and looked around to find an empty area, surrounded by a barrier but it's clear, this isn't the right path because the path ahead is covered by a tightly woven mesh of vines and ivys that cover a tall wall. No point in trying there, once Ryu snaps out of it, we'll get going.

----

Ugh... what happened? The last thing I remember was that I was walking down the path with Lita when I tripped and... after that, I think I heard a voice?

I open my eyes and look around, but the sky is too bright and I instantly know I'm in the Hero's Forest anymore. Just as I'm abouto stand someone pats my back.

A girl with bright green hair tied in two ponytails on her head, with spring green eyes and white skin. "Ryu, hurry up. Otheriwse Haruka is going to catch you." Her voice said and I know that voice too well. Eve! The one who was born to the Fairy - Hero Line.

"Wait up a bit..." I said trying to stand up.

Wait how tall am I?! I'm already standing don't tell me I'm!! I touch my face and know that I'm back to my seven year old body. What's going on?!

"Yo, what are you waiting for?" Takeshi said as he pulled me forward.

"Hey, have you decided what you're giving Haruka and Haruki for their birthday?" Charles asked, his blonde hair still it's original color, his white skin a little pale but his gray eyes are rather calm.

"I'm probably going to give them a bracelet or something." Hinata said as she walked forward, her golden hair cut in a short bob and her sky blue eyes reflect the sky with her white skin beautiful, like snow. "That's okay right?"

"I don't mind." Haruki said.

"Ah! Here he comes, Let's split up and run!" Eve said and Haruki took my hand.

As we hid bear the clump of bushes by the road, Haruka found us and we were about to run when, Haruka hurt his leg. I help him up and he and Haruki suddenly push me aside and I see, for a second Haruki and Haruke being slashed before my eyes ckose fron fear and I lose consciousness.

Why? Why did this happen to them? I always asked this question repeatedly. That night, just after midnight, Haruka was sealed in the Aerial Isles and Haruki's memories were sealed. He'd forget about us and himself, after that, Haruki started to recover.

That day, we were having a meet up with them when Eve suggested we play tag. Just as it was Haruka who was it, Haruki and I had wandered a distance from them and ended up near the road, Haruka found us and we were about to run when Haruka tripped and we helped him when Haruki and Haruka pushed me aside. I saw how they both were attacked and I stood frozen unable to move. As I approached them I lost consciousness because of fear. If I could've been braver maybe I could've helped them in time. Haruki and Haruka who helped me all the time, if my life could be exchanged for theirs.

"That's not what we want." Haruki suddenly appeared infront of me as I was crying my eyes out in my room.

"Haruki?" My hoarse voice asked.

"Don't say that, I'm not happy that you think it should've been you." He said as he sat beside me.

"But!" I protested but he placed his hands on my lipss.

"We're happy with how it turned out. I met lots of people thanks to that incident." He said. "Ryu, you are strong, much stronger than us. You're nice too."

"That's not true!" I exclaimed. "You're far kinder, far stronger than me."

"Ryu. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses." He said as he sat beside me. "You're truely someone special. You care for us a lot, but never forget we care for you too. We never blamed you nor will we ever blame you."

"H-Haruki." My eyes started to tear up.

"Besides, there are people who need you." He said and everione appeared in front of me. He held my hand. "I need you too. You're family."

"Haruki." I held his hands.

The pain that has been eating away at me for so lobg was so easily lifted, as if it was never there. Haruki, you and Haruka are people that are necessary for this world, which is why, I will save you, this time.

As I realized this, the world became bright and I opened my eyes to see Lita beside me.

"Ryu! You're up!" She smiled.

"Ugh... where am I?" I asked.

"It seems to be a dead end." She said as hse modded to the wall infront of her. "And, it seems we can't go back yet."

I turned my head to see a barrier preventing us from going back.

"Probably, we're stuck here until the others' trials' over." She said after catching me up.

"I guess so." I answered. I hope everyone is alright.