Ep.25: A Land of Ash, Part 5

“Hey! Don’t underestimate us! We are a lot stronger than you think!” I declare.

“Maybe one day, young ones, but today is not that day.” She turns away from us and begins tuning her shamisen.

I look at the mysterious woman with almost palpable rage blazing behind my eyes. I barely manage to hold it in before addressing her again. “That’s for us to decide, not you.” I snarl through my teeth, running towards her ready to deck her real hard in the face.

“No! Please stop, Fukai!” Maka grabs a hold of me.

“Yeah! We need to think this through!” Ramsey helps Maka, grabbing my other side.

“Let me go! Let me go!” I pin her down with eyes of fury. Rage and an ember of hatred emblazoning my gaze. “She could be the reason,” I gesture at the ashen jungle all around, “for all of this!”

Ramsey grabs me by the shoulders and looks me in the eyes. “Yes, she could be the reason why the jungle is starting to turn ashen, Fukai,” Ramsey tries to calm me down, “and I know this jungle holds a lot of meaning for you, but it’s also possible that she’s not the cause of this.”

I grind my teeth in anguish. “Dammit!” It takes all I have to hold back my anger, forcing it back down. “I hate to admit this, but you’re right.” Ramsey and Maka let go of me, following my admission, and I look up at the mysterious woman. “The things that are happening in this jungle are unnatural and must be stopped.” I plead and look at Ramsey and Maka, then turn my attention towards the woman. “And you seem like a person who knows how to fix it.” I say as I reach out to her. Hoping to get a response, I attempt to smile. “So please, tell us what we need to do to heal the land of Apo?”

The mysterious woman turns and looks at us with a smile on her face as she begins to play the shamisen again.

“The heroes will rise,

from the smallest ones with the bravest hearts, to overcome.

The demon will whisper lies in their ears,

plaguing the heroes’ hearts.

The Ashen trying to destroy them from within.

Fear not, for the heroes will always prevail.”

The three of us stand there, caught up in the mysterious wonder of this woman. I can’t help but be moved by her words. Then, I blink for a second and she is gone. “Wow! How did she do that?” I exclaim in wonder at how she has disappeared, scattered like ashes in the wind.

“One thing for sure, she is not normal.” Ramsey continues to stare at where she was sitting.

“Hey guys! You got to see this!” I shout.

As Maka and Ramsey turn around, the ashen jungle around us begins to blow away in the wind, scattering like some distant memory. “Father.” I say, my voice barely audible. I can’t believe my eyes. “No…” The things we have witnessed and are witnessing are a tragedy. “No…” I reach out, barely touching an ashen tree before it just blows away within my hand. “How is this happening?”

“I’m sorry, Fukai. I can’t answer that.” Ramsey puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“Ramsey.” I say then look over at Maka.

“Is there anything we can do?” Maka inputs, sitting on the ground looking up at me.

I wipe the tears from my eyes. “Yes, I believe there’s something we can do.” I smile.