Love Far Beyond the Ashes

Entering The Deep Woods

Risu pov: As we reached the mystical forest, I got more and more uneasy. I really wanted to be with Iofi and bring her here with me after so long.

"Oh, your back?" Aki-senpai said in shock

I ignored that and walked past her looking for Oga, but I didn't see him. "Where is Oga?" I asked Aki-senpai.

"Oh, he left for a few minutes." Aki claimed

"Damn it," I growled.

"Why are you in such a bad mood because you ate your nuts?" Ollie asked

"Because I'm stuck watching you without Iofi..." I said

"Jeez, that was uncalled for." Anya said

"I just meant Ollie speaking of where the hell is everyone else?" I asked

"Huh Subaru-senpai!" Reine called out

"What!" Her sister called back.

"Okay, we thought you weren't here. Carry on with whatever you are doing!" She said

"Where are Moona and Pekora?" Aki asked me.

"They are with Mumei and Kiara," I said.

"Oh really?" Aki asked

"Yeah, Moona left me with Ollie..." I sighed

"Ollie can't be that bad," Aki said.

"It's honestly worse than taking care of a kid somehow, I mean Reine can keep her in check though," I said.

"Reine has always been good at keeping people on leashes," Aki said.

I nodded in response. She was at the same time, it was ironic that she was the one being put on a leash.

"Risu?" Oga said as he returned with some lumbar

"Oh, Oga, just who I wanted to see!" I said

"What do you need?" I asked

"We are going to look for Fubuki-senpai; do you want to come with us?" I asked

"Yeah, sure, I do want to know why she suddenly disappeared after I protected her," Oga sighed.

"Yeah, let's go then..." I said

"Risu-senpai Ollie is stuck in vines, and Reine and I can't reach her." Anya said

"You see what I mean?" I told Aki; she looked in astonishment.

"She is pretty much a child, huh?" She asked

"Yeah, she is a problem child, but she is endearing as all hell and she is also very cute," I said.

"You really still hold her in high regard even though she's such a problem to you," Aki said.

"She isn't as bad as I say she is; actually, she's really great, but it's frustrating when she doesn't do some things," I said.

"Well, one person can't do everything," Aki stated.

"Wait, Anya, what the hell do you mean Ollie is stuck in vines!?" I asked as I finally processed her words.

"Ollie, how do you function?" Reine asked

"I honestly don't know," Ollie replied back.

"You know, if I help you get down, you better give me a shitton of nuts," I said.

"Okay, just get me down!" Ollie said

I climbed up the tree and untied her, watching her plummet and slam into the ground.

"You are free," I said.

"You could have let me down gently!" Ollie yelled

"Cram it, you don't feel pain." I sighed

"Yes, I do in my heart!" Ollie said loudly.

"Whatever," I said as I fell down from the tree, landing on top of her. "Aki, we are heading to the deep woods," I said.

"The deep woods!?" She said it in shock, gulping a tiny bit.

"What are the deep woods?" Ollie asked

"What's the problem?" I asked

"Well, what are the deep woods? Then I'll tell you," Ollie said.

"The deep forest is where the monsters lie to rest, all the beasts that will tear you apart," I said.

"Nope, I don't want to go there!" Ollie said shocked

"The beasts are so gentle," Reine said.

"Really?" Ollie asked

"Yeah," Reine said softly.

"Let's just go..." I said

We walked to the outskirts of the mystical forest. There was a clear difference between the two parts of the forest.

"We need to go in," I said.

"Why?" Ollie said in fear

"Oga can help you if you want," I said.

"Eeeeeh, no, I'd rather stick with Reine," I said.

"You are really going into the deep forest?" Botan was confused as to why I would even want to do that.

She wasn't scared at all, just confused.
"Well, we need to see if Fubuki-senpai went there," I said.

"I'll help you, then, Omarun; we're going with them," she said.

"What about Lamy?" Polka asked

"She may be too scared to go into the forest," Botan said.

"I should be fine if it's with you, Shishiron," Lamy said.

"Ugh, well, then, I guess we should invite Aloe and Nenechi," Botan said.

"Can I come too?" Subaru-senpai asked

"Of course I will feel safer with my older sister watching me!" Reine said

"Let's go then," Subaru-senpai said with determination.

"Are you sure you won't be scared and turn into a sitting duck, senpai?" I asked

"Hey, don't tease me!" Subaru-senpai yelled

"I'm sorry, I just am in a weird mood today," I said.

"No, I'm okay with it!" Subaru-senpai said

"Ollie, please don't freak out when we are there; we don't want to scare the beasts," I said.

"How would I scare the beasts?" I asked

"Who knows?" I said.

I knew how she would scare the beasts, but I was just pretending not to know anything whatsoever because I was being nice to her, which for some reason was really tough for me right now.

I stepped into the deep forest and felt the air shift. I haven't felt this in so long that my eyes have adapted so I could see through the dark. "Try not to get separated," I stated.

"Don't worry, they won't stray away," Oga said.

"You haven't met these people; they will all disappear, and now that Ollie is in Reine's life, she is more likely to get separated trying to stop her from running," I said.

"Well, let's hope that doesn't happen." Oga said calmly

"Yeah, let's," I said.

I called out to make sure everyone was there, and they were, so I began to go deeper into the dark abyss.