Ep.55: A Painful Betrayal, Part 4

Anaea rises and waves us over sharply.

Gwyn watches as Ramsey, Maka, and I make our way toward him. “Now that everyone is here… Cough! Cough! Cough!” Gwyn tries to stifle the painful coughing that is forcing fresh blood from his mouth to splatter onto his already stained clothes.

“Ummm… this is bad! This is bad! I think we should go home?!” Maka begs, his entire body vibrating from fear. “I-I mean, go back and get some help.”

“I can’t say what’s best…” Anaea says, torn on what to do. “Professor Gwyn, should you be moving around in this state?” she asks, ignoring the blood seeping between her fingers as she helps Gwyn keep pressure on the front of his wound.

“I’m sorry, Professor Gwyn. …I-I should have done something,” Ramsey whispers, his head bent low. “I’m useless.”

Gwyn smiles at Ramsey, taking a moment to think of what he can say to reassure the young prince. Before he gets the chance to, he notices my focus and solemnitude; my unwavering gaze locked upon the entrance to the temple. “Young Fukai, what’s on your mind?” Gwyn asks me.

“Professor Gwyn. I know this may be over our heads, but if we don’t stop Cinder here and now…” I turn and look at Gwyn with a focus that I’ve never felt before, “ … then we might as well just say goodbye to the land of Apo.”

Gwyn smiles despite the pain. “You have always been an interesting one, haven’t you, Fukai?”

“Huh?” I intone, confused by the comment.

Gwyn painfully sits up straight, grinning. “Listen carefully to what I say.” He points at the entrance. “Beyond those doors is nothing but one immeasurable peril after another.”

“Umm… See, guys? Even Professor Gwyn thinks it’s too dangerous for us,” Maka stammers.

“Maka’s right. The danger beyond this point is something out of your level. So allow me to give you a choice. The first one is that we go back to Coatlicue and ask the king for help. We will have to hope they make it in time, before the jungle is completely corrupted,” Gwyn states.

“Hmmm… that would be the logical choice… but I doubt they would make it in time.” Ramsey looks at me. “What do you think, Fukai?”

“I agree…” I say, hesitantly hopeful.

“Wow. Big thinker over here…” Ramsey drolls, not impressed.

“Ummm… there’s always hope, right?” Maka implores, hoping to convince me.

“I love the Deep Jungle. …I would hate to see it completely consumed by the Ashen,” Anaea adds, blinking back tears, refusing to let them fall.

“I know how you feel.” Gwyn pauses to look up at the sky as the rain stops, his expression somber. “I feel the same way too. Cinder must be stopped.” Gwyn smiles with certainty before he looks at all of us. “Fukai, Ramsey, Maka, and Anaea. Will you help a foolish old man fix the mistake of his apprentice?” he asks, looking at each of us with deep sincerity.

I look at Gwyn and walk towards the entrance. “Do you even have to ask?” I suddenly stop and raise both my arms up in excitement with a big smile. “Of course we willlll! Time to kick Cinder’s ass! Kekekeke!” I crow, grinning.