Chapter Text
For one to inhabit oddities that are truly beyond normalcy, the town has been surprisingly peaceful for many centuries. However, behind the tranquility that seemed to encase the place, there lie intense rules that are forever ingrained by all townsfolk within their hearts and mind.
Though it is not the town itself that was odd; but the territory just next to them. Vast and eerie, full of creatures of the unknown, and home to a being so powerful who was feared by all and remembered even by the youngest of children there was. The forest is not to be disturbed.
A magical place; a haunting place. It is all the same.
For centuries, stories have been passed down to the next generations, not even once allowing them to die down in the future. Stories became rules, and rules became fear. Implemented for every child, every parent, and even among tourists to remember… That the forest is strictly prohibited to enter.
The rules were simple. No one is to be allowed to enter, even taking a daring mere inch of a step, in the forest.
NO. ENTRY.
This is what has been placed when people take sightings of the large and wide forest. A warning that implies extreme danger due to the number of signs there are in one area.
For there is a creature that lies beyond the forest. So dangerous and so terrifying, it could scorch the world with its flames.
It’s not a dragon.
It’s not a beastly monster.
Not even a giant or a devil.
But a god.
A sun god.
And the sun god’s abode was the forest. And he is there for a reason.
~~~
Michikatsu’s school for the day just ended, and opting to walk to his home after an exhausting activity he and the other students were forced to learn. His friends had bid him farewells and went on their separate ways. So with a sigh, Michikatsu walks ahead, dying to get back to his home. He still has a few projects to do and he wishes to work on them fast despite his hatred for a few subjects.
The only subject he finds tolerable was something he quite adores as it was something he desires to learn. It was interesting and strange. Magic was something he wanted to know about since he finds it beautiful and powerful. To the point he even dreamed of having one for himself, displaying that he is different and unique unlike everyone else.
As a boy, Michikatsu’s imagination grants him to see things differently. To some, people view magic as if it was a terrifying invention from the gods, meant to plague people with abnormalcy or something that is just beyond comprehension. Many see it as a rare gift; an occurrence that was not bound to happen, or a blessing provided to these lands but not given to the humans, like they were not worthy to hold the power except to watch from the distance. But as for Michikatsu, he sees it as an opportunity… Power, knowledge, and just… Everything.
Well, he couldn’t exactly describe it. But all he knows is that he wants it. He wants something from it.
So here he was, making various turns down the empty road, unknowingly passing by the forest others seemed to fear. Michikatsu is only just an ample distance away from it, but even here, he could feel something chilling emitting from those slowly swaying trees. It’s like he’s being watched by an entity he knows not. In this distance alone, people ought to usher others who they think are teetering far too close to the forest, warning them with a vigor that they are not supposed to walk too closely. So with that knowledge, Michikatsu began to move, not wanting to be scolded by a stern old man who could also be walking by and would be giving him an earful of lessons if he is caught.
However, as he took steps further away from the forest, a movement caught his eye. Without a doubt, his attention was caught by the rustle of the visible bushes within those large trees, slightly spooked at the strange occurrence, which is an appropriate reaction considering that he was startled by the odd motion coming from that eerily silent and stern forest. For all Michikatsu has learned, the forest does appear as if it does not have a life, and the only signs that it was alive were the winds blowing through the leaves and animals occasionally passing by.
The exposure he was thrust into was slightly unpleasant because the weather appeared glum, with the clouds covering the sun, which does not help from the situation he is under the moment he saw movements from the forest alone.
Michikatsu continued to watch the trees, now standing still, with scrutinizing eyes and a feeling of suspiciousness. Like he knows that something is happening behind those large trees covering the depths of the forest. And just as he was prepared to leave once more, musing that he was only being paranoid, was when another rustling caught his sharp eyes. This time, Michikatsu did not hesitate to face the forest fully with a clenched fist.
“Hey!” He shouted when his alarmed eyes caught a figure behind one of the massive trees. “Get out of there, it’s dangerous!”
His breathing accelerated when he realizes that the figure behind those trees is only going further into the veil of darkness. Unbeknownst to him, a feeling entered him; beckoning him to move, to do something… to get close.
His sense of logic and his cautiousness disappeared. Like all the teachings and warnings that were repeatedly drilling into his mind had vanished.
Michikatsu, without any hesitation at all and with complete disregard for his safety, moves hurriedly. Stepping over the spiked wires, dodging warning signs, and ducking in wooden yet broken obstacles for attempted blockage purposes, Michikatsu was deep into his adrenaline as he rushes after the stranger who is surely behind these visible trees.
Are they a tourist? Prankster? Risk-taker? Surely they’d know about the stories being spread daily in this town! Michikatsu was in complete disbelief. How stupid are they to be walking idly in the forest!? These trees alone are intimidating!
All these he muses as he enters the territory that no man ever passed for centuries. His stamina grows weak as Michikatsu is forced to press his hand onto the trunk of a surprisingly warm tree in hopes to gain his breathing back. And still, with no idea, warmth engulfed him like an embrace. “W-Wait! Where are you? Come back!” Then he delves deeper into the forest of old.
Without his knowledge due to the twist of events, the droopy and slightly discolored trees that Michikatsu passed by heaved like it was breathing, and suddenly, they stood proud and strong like Michikatsu’s presence alone brought them back to life. Michikatsu did not pay attention to this magical occurrence as his focus was captured by a person standing in the middle of a small opening, with trees surrounding them and light brightening the view before them.
“H-Hey, kid.” Michikatsu started, eyeing the boy whose back was on him. Michikatsu notices that this boy appears to have the same height and figure as him, standing there and staring into nothing. Perhaps, a kid who’s the same age as me? “Y-You shouldn’t be here. It’s not allowed!”
The boy remained unmoving which does not help at all since it frights Michikatsu quite a bit.
But all of the sudden, as if breaking from a trance, the boy spoke. “But why? I live here.” His voice delivered a soothing and calm tune, so soft that Michikatsu noticed he couldn’t help himself but relax as if his body recognized something… knows he is safe.
“You’re joking, right? We’re not supposed to be here in the first place,” Michikatsu’s face twisted into annoyance. “Come on, let’s leave. Before the sun––”
“Let’s play!”
Michikatsu was startled once again as the boy faced him fully. Michikatsu stared on, confused, when he realizes that this boy is smiling so wide his eyes sparkled from the light. Michikatsu is baffled, mouth gaping open as he struggled to form the right words appropriate in this situation, finding himself ignoring the surroundings due to the sudden declaration from the stranger. “W-What… Look, I-I don’t even know you?”
The boy did not appear to look bothered as he points at himself. “I am Yoriichi…” Then, he waits, eyeing Michikatsu with patience.
Michikatsu blinks rapidly like he did not expect such a turn of events. So, he sighs and said. “My name is Michikatsu.” Then he turns around to look at the path he used to enter here. His brow rose in confusion when the path he took looked quite different. “We have to go now. It’s not safe in here–– Woah!”
In a blink of an eye, his arm was held by a small but strong and warm palm, and the force moved him; pulling him deeper into the forest without further preamble. Michikatsu’s heart sped when he was dragged away by this Yoriichi. “Hey! What are you doing!? Get– ugh!” Michikatsu attempts to dislodge the unrelenting grip on his arm, quite a shock that this small hand is holding him tightly, displaying strength with little to no effort.
“Let’s play!” Yoriichi repeats, as he giggles and runs, taking Michikatsu further away from the light.
“W-Wait! Please, I’m scared!” Michikatsu continues to grab Yoriichi’s hands away from him, even going so far as to scratch and tighten his hand in hopes to let him go. “No, no, no!”
But Yoriichi only smiled, turning his head slightly to look at Michikatsu’s eyes. “Don’t worry. I live here, so it’s safe!”
Michikatsu digs his feet into the mud, as if friction could save him now. “How the hell do I know!? No one lived here. You liar!”
It happened all too quickly. One moment they were heading straight into the darkness, with little light trespassing through the trees, then suddenly, they were out in an open field, a larger opening this time, and light pouring brightly, creating a heavenly scenery before the two.
Michikatsu stopped struggling, his eyes widened in awe, and his mouth slightly gaped open. The hand on his arm did not let go. Yoriichi’s hand felt warm and his presence felt oddly… safe.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Yoriichi said, his smile did not waver as he, too, allowed himself to be blessed at the majestic sight. Because this field, while small and does not stretch too wide as tall and dark trees still surround it, is built like those only in fairy tales. There’s a running river that looks too clean, giant rocks and boulders that seemed to protect the river itself, and a fallen tree trunk that serves to be a bridge to walk across the other side.
“What the…” Michikatsu is speechless.
Many stories depicted the forest as dull and a haunting place. With nothing but trees occupying every land that goes on and on. Numerous times, the townsfolk will pass on these stories to children, telling them that the rumors had proven the forest stretched on for many, many miles, and all you could see is just those tall trees that people could get lost easily.
However, this sight before him contradicts that.
A tug caught Michikatsu’s attention, and he moved to look at Yoriichi walking forward with an excited gleam in his eyes. “Let’s play in the water!”
“W-What?”
“It’s not cold, don’t worry! I’ll keep it warm. And I know this place very well.”
If Michikatsu was in his usual paranoid self, he would’ve questioned the boy further.
However, this somehow earned Michikatsu amusement as he huffed in disbelief. “Do you really live here? I find that hard to believe.” Though his questioning sounded as if he was interrogating Yoriichi, excitement bubbles, and his heart throbbed as he eyed the river ahead of him. A drastic change of feeling renewed him as this sudden enthusiasm had appeared out of nowhere; the child within him is begging him to go ahead, longing to jump into those enthralling clean water.
“Yes, I live nearby.”
Both are approaching the river now. “In what part of the town?”
Yoriichi chuckles, eyes focused on the river that is now next to them. “You misunderstood. I live in this forest.”
Michikatsu’s brow lifted high, forced to face the strange boy as another wave of disbelief passes him, and rather than taking those words by heart, he smiled with an amused expression and followed up with a tone that implies he was making fun of Yoriichi. “What, like you got a house in here?”
“Hm… Of some sort.”
Michikatsu did not notice as life around them suddenly lightened, and if Michikatsu give it much thought, he’d swear it appears like had welcomed another presence. He, who was doing nothing except expose himself to entertainment and joy shoved to him.
And as the two friends play with one another, Michikatsu also did not realize that Yoriichi is brimming, glowing similar to the sun, with the water growing warmer around them.
It felt like years that passed by when Michikatsu looked up at the sky to see that night had already come by, surprising himself. The stars winked and the moon greeted them, causing Michikatsu’s heart to lurch. This eventually broke him from this strange trance that was unknowingly placed on him.
One moment he was having fun, then the next, a feeling that he recognizes entered him; telling him that he doesn’t belong there and he should just leave. So, as if he had woken up from a dream so blissful and tempting that Michikatsu realizes he should be home at this very instant. But he wonders how quickly time flew, to the point that it’s scaring him when he had realized once more that this forest isn’t an ordinary one at all.
So, he quickly removes himself from the warm water and immediately rushes straight to where his clothes are. This led another boy to stop, becoming alert and apprehensive.
Yoriichi, who was below the water, surged up and observes his new friend who was fussing over his clothes. “Where are you going?”
The voice alone should’ve sent signs, but Michikatsu felt immense panic and dread since all that mattered at the moment were to go home before he is caught. “It’s nighttime. I have to go!”
With those words sprouting from his mouth, suddenly, a heavy gust of wind blew on him, causing him to shiver from the onslaught of the unforgiving cold. Yoriichi had a frown on his face, and his eyes no longer hold the brightness in them. “You’re leaving?” Yoriichi asks with a quiet voice, appearing to look upset and sad at the notion of his friend leaving him alone.
Michikatsu hurriedly fixes himself, ignoring the harsh cold that seemed to wash over him endlessly. “Y-Yeah… And y-you should– should go h-home, too.”
“This is my home,” Yoriichi whispers, dull eyes remaining to observe Michikatsu without a blink. Despite the wind blowing on them, Yoriichi did not appear to be bothered at all. Even though he remained in the water, it should cool the water down enough to lose its warmth.
He must have a house nearby. Michikatsu muses, which is close enough for him to be knowledgeable about the forest. Maybe he’s a risk-taker who’d love to play around the forest.
“Anyway, we have to leave this place. Who knows what dangers that lurk here.”
Yoriichi shook his head with a persistent look on his face. “I’ll protect you.”
Michikatsu has to fight himself from rolling his eyes. “Okay… W-Well, just…” He is beginning to think that this boy is stubborn. Not wanting to end the fun despite the danger they are very much exposed to. However, the next words he omitted were out of kindness, unknowingly saying things that weren’t supposed to be said. “You know what. We c-could continue playing––” The wind blew warmly now as if someone was blowing him hot air, “––and we could just meet up somewhere outside this forest this time.” Then, the wind turned harsh once more.
Michikatsu felt dread the moment he eyed Yoriichi.
“But the forest isn’t dangerous!” Yoriichi insists, a pleading look on his face. “Trust me, I know!”
“Why? You’re some kind of a daredevil? A brave kid who likes to do reckless things? Or some kind of an expert in navigating this area? Is that what you are?”
Yoriichi paused, then nodded. “I know the place very well, that’s all.”
Michikatsu has to sigh, brows furrowing at the disturbing thought; imagining Yoriichi walking around the terrifying forest with complete disregard for his safety. “Haven’t you heard of the stories around? This forest is magical. It’s not to be trifled with. It’s not even a playground!”
But Yoriichi simply frowned, lowering his eyes. “I know… But I lived here for cen–– years now, and I know how to survive in a place like this. Trust me.”
Michikatsu felt anger and annoyance seeping within his mind, controlling him, as he opened his mouth once again to further educate this boy, who was still in the river, in a scolding manner and impatience… when an external force; an unknown and strange feeling, passes through him without Michikatsu’s awareness. Like something is entering within him. Tapping his heart and his soul inside.
Yoriichi repeated, but this time, there was something in his tone that is lulling and pleasant. “Trust me…”
It took a moment of silence. However, with a sigh, Michikatsu shakes his head in disappointment and resignation. “Alright, fine. We could meet here. This place… isn’t so bad, I guess.”
Yoriichi’s tone did not change. “So, you’ll continue visiting me?”
Like a switch, Michikatsu’s mouth moved without his control. “Yes.”
“You wouldn’t leave me?”
“Yes.”
“You’re my friend now?”
“Yes.”
Yoriichi grinned, moving in a way that the water around him was disrupted by the stillness. “Then, see you tomorrow, Michikatsu!”
Michikatsu snapped out of himself, confused. But shrugged anyway as he uttered, “Sure. See you!”
Throughout his journey back to where he came from, he felt eyes watching him and a miasma wrapping him quite possessively that he shivered not from the cold.
~~~
When Michikatsu left the forest, all of the sudden, this warmth that engulfed him vanish the moment he no longer stood on the territory. He turns around, staggering, and fear including apprehension and disbelief welcomed him immediately as if he had shocked himself for entering the forest with no hesitation.
“What the heck did I just do?” Michikatsu mutters, gulping down the thick lump in his throat.
The forest watches him.
There, he muses… The strange atmosphere the instant he went inside, the abrupt changes of feelings when he played with the kid, and this unknown force that seemed to call his heart and mind; telling him to stay in the forest… scared Michikatsu immensely.
He broke eye contact with the forest, holding the knowledge that if he stared at it for too long, there would be a calling that would beckon him back.
That was magic. Michikatsu concludes. Magic intercepted my logic and reasoning. It… For some reason, wanted me to stay there.
And that kid he met in the forest isn’t just some ordinary kid, now that he realizes as he left from the forest, grasping the safe knowledge that magic isn’t clouding his mind anymore. It wasn’t just a kid indeed. But a magical being that lived there for a long period.
However, how he comes to realize this after leaving the forest is beyond him. All he knows is that the magic has done something to him that disrupts his logical self. As for all certainty and complete honesty, Michikatsu never plays with children he doesn’t know. He never talks to people who are new to him. And he is always a paranoid person, a cautious kid, who knows what he was doing. He is smart and knowledgeable.
He knows what he is supposed to do and what isn’t.
But when he entered the forest out of unwanted whim, it felt like he is at peace… and that he could stay there for as long as he wanted because it is… It is safe, warm, and welcoming. Like it could be his home––
Stop it, Michikatsu screamed within himself. His legs pumped away from the call of the forest, beckoning him again. Get out, get out, get out!
Not even once did Michikatsu think that his action brought an impact on his life. And not even once did he think that it is all far too late. Because while he runs, there was a memory he had easily forgotten the moment he steps away from the forest. As if it had vanished from his mind when he left the warmth the forest gave. The voice that lingered on the back of his head remained there forever.
(Trust me)
Michikatsu has forgotten he made a deal with a magical creature. And even though he forgets about that disturbing memory he couldn’t seem to recall, and promises to never return, he could never break the magic that was now instilled deep within him.
So, once he is in the safety of his home, there was this feeling surging within him, aching and burning, to go back and play with Yoriichi again.