Chapter 14, The Hero's Forest

"Goddess Lita, we have heard that you and your Hero have fallen in love." I stood there before the council of the gods. Though not one is present physical they communicate via the crystal balls before me. "Is this true?"

"Yes but-" I was about to abswer when voices howled.

"You have forgotten the rules of this world!!" Voices roared. "Humans and divine may not marry!!"

"But-" I argued.

"Silence!!" The voice of the supreme leader roared. "After the great threat of your world passes you shall return to the Heavens. Is this clear?"

"Yes." I answered and turned my back and left the room.

Why? Why is love between divine and humans forbidden? Haruki... Haruka... why is love forbidden?

Of course I already know the reason. Humans and divine-no, even mortals and divine, love between the two is prohibited because gods and mortals live different lives. What is a billion years to them is a mere second in our eternal life. That is why our love is forbidden. To ensure no god is hurt.

"Lita, how did it go?" Charlotte, who had blonde hair, golden eyes and white skin asked. She was dressed in a cute maid-like attire.

"As you can guess. It was a major scolding." I answered her.

"It'll be fine." She said, the two of us are closer than we appear.

"I'll head back down now. I still have things to take care of." I answered her.

"Take care." She smiled and I answered with a smile.

I descended back to the land, where I met up with Aria and the others. I don't want to be apart from them but... Haruki and Haruka, I'm sorry. I've caused them to suffer so much.

"Lita, did you find it?" Neph asked.

"Yeah. I found it." I answered. "The right path to the Hero's Forest. We can go whenever you want."

"Alright. As we agreed to. Five from each of the other guilds can come, for our guild members ten can go." Storm said as he clapped his hands.

"Five of our best men will go with you." Tsubaki said.

"The fiancées aren't counted among the members that will go." Dia said. "Meet here tomorrow morning."

"Alright!!" Everyone shouted.

The next day, we headed for the Aerial Isles. Our plan was to first secure a path to the Heroes' Altar then have Capricorn teleport Haruki in. He is currently in the mansion, sleeping is all he does lately. Besides the occasional walking around with an empty look on his face. I could force his memory back up but he'd probably go insane the moment I do.

We headed down to the bottom of the doorway that leads to the Gate and when we arrived I had everyone stand back for a bit.

"So hiw do you open it without everyone getting sent flying?" Rogue asked.

"Simple." I answered and tied a red string on their fingers. "This red string will connect all of us, it's made from Aries' wool and imbued with Gemini's power. Now, we just enter the Gate."

"Everyone ready?" Aria asked and voices answered in agreement. "Go on, Lita."

"Oh Gate of worlds, Gate of the Heroes. Open." I said as I placed my hands on the door. "Sealed Gate of Unification. The Opening is, the Heroes' Forest!!"

As a blinding light engulfed us, we opened our eyes and before us was a forest shielded by the mist. Deep and lush with vegetation, vines hanging from trees that tower to who knows how high. There's so little light here, the only source of light are strange berries that hang on trees.

"Where do we go?" Neph asked.

"Straight ahead." I answered as I looked at the cobblestone pavement.

We walked forward, cutting through the plants and shrubs that have overtaken the path. Ivy has taken over the pillars that must've once held torches or light sources. We pushed deeper and deeper and soon the road split into nine different paths, each lined with a magical crystal.

"Let's split first. Two to each path." Clover said and I nodded. "Me and Queen will take the fire path."

"Neph, you're with me. We're taking the Water path." Jade said.

"Ryu, you're with me." I said. "We're taking the wind path."

"Dia and me will take the earth path." Storm said.

"Rue and I will that the light path." Flora said.

"We'll take the dark path." Aria said as she held Rose's hand.

"We'll take the space path." Asami said as she held Yue's hand.

"We'll take the time path." Ella said as she held Lucia's hand. "Let's go."

"Yeah." I answered and we entered each of our individual paths.

As we walked down the path the fog grew stronger, so much that I had to cast a light spell just to light our way.

"You okay?" Ryu asked and I nodded my head.

"Ryu, since its just us I want to ask." I spoke to him. "You, you were eeally scared weren't you? When you saw what happened to Haruki and Haruka when you were kids."

"Yeah. Ever since I was a kid, Haruki and Haruka were always helping us out. Not just me, the other sub family heads' children." He answered. "Takeshi, Hinata, Eve and Charles. We owe the two a lot."

"We all do don't we." I said. "We need people like them. So that we don't get lost."

"You're a goddess, why would you get lost?" He asked.

"Nevermind." I told him.

As we walked further I accidentally trip and when I pick myself up he was gone. I was all alone, I looked around but when I headed back I felt like I was walking in a circle so I marked my path and sure enough I was walking in a circle.

Just then, I realized my divine powers weren't working. Did something happen to me? No... this is!!

"Now. Face the Trail to show whether you have the Right." A voice echoed in the air and suddenly the mist parted to show me Haruki and Haruka, who were sitting on a log.