Chapter 18, Seeking Strength and Love Song

As I held Lucia's hand, I felt it tremble in my hands and I knew she was scared. I gripped it tightly knowing she's being brave and moving forward on her own. Her personality has always been that of an easily scared girl. I'm no different in a sense, but for Haruki, I'll be brave.

"Ella... this place is scary..." Lucia complained. "I'm... scared!!"

"Just... hand in there." I told her as a cold wind blew sending chills down my spine. "Anyone... would be scared of this, let's just go..."

We walked further when finally a whisper of voices and sounds caused Lucia to scream. She was crying but she persists on moving forward. When I tell her we can stop she shakes her head and insist we move forward.

"I won't stop. Haruki is waiting for us. Thanks to him, I can move forward without fear." She said with a strong resolve.

I smiled, I'm glad I have nothing to worry about from her. She has always been strong, she moves forward keeping the past behind her but never forgeting it. I'm guessing, her resolve and that determination in her eyes is what caused me to look up to her despite her being younger than me.

If I had to guess, among us royals, she's the bravest. As we walked further, she suddenly stopped and I saw why, a deep, deep, deep, drop. It seems to go very deep, nothing on the other side as well. We were about to turn back when we saw a figure hovering above the drop.

"Who are you?!" I demanded.

"Your fears." It answered and suddenly the thing we both dreaded the most engulfed us. Haruki never regaining his memories, Haruki disappearing, Haruki dying, Haruki ascending, everyone we know and love dying. We both embraced each other knowing there must be an end.

As we held each other close, we watched our greatest fears repeat in what must be an endless loop. It goes on for half an hour till Lucia starts sobbing and finally just closing her eyes despite knowing even with our eyes closed it'll continue.

"How many more times must we relive this?" Lucia asked as he hugged her knees. "This endless nightmare?"

"It has to end..." I answered as I hugged her. "I mnow it."

"You're so strong, Ella." She said as she smield with tears. "The exact opposite of me."

"You're strong too." I told her. "You continued on despite being afraid. I'm so proud of you."

"I'm not strong, I just... want to with Haruki again." She said.

"Yeah. Me too." I answered her.

We both know that this dream will end, Haruki and everyone is waiting for us. So, like Aria who is brave and capable of facing everything in her path, we'll be brave.

"You two have done well." The figure said and it suddenly changed to Haruki?!

"Haruki?!" We exclaimed. "Why are you here?!"

"I'm sorry. But, I had no control over this." He smiled and held our hands. "My precious lovers, you're so strong."

"Haruki... will we see you again?" Lucia asked as she held her chest. "If we can't... then..."

"I'll return to wheree you are, so be strong." He said and kissed our foreheads and we felt weak.

When I came to, Lucia was beside me, a barrier looming over us. I hope the otehrs are fine.

----

Yue lead the way, with a resolve to get to the end. She has been strong, ever since we first met. Like Haruki, who was always strong.

"Asami-chan, are you okay?" She asked and I nodded my head. "We can take a break if you want."

"No need." I told her. "Haruki wouldn't stop here and neither will I."

"Is that so?" She asked with a smile.

"Haruki would always move forward, because he is so strong." I answered and she giggled. "What's wrong?"

"You've probably never known this but when I first met Haruki, he was actually pretty weak." She laughed. "But there was determination in his eyes. That determination made me fall in love with him."

"Wasn't he always strong?" I asked.

"No. When we first met, he was weaker than me. But he had a reason, a wish, a will, a mission." She answered. "That mission gave him strength to move forward. The same as us."

"Haruki was weak once too?" I asked surprised.

"Far more than you think." She answered. "Which is why, you don't have to worry about being weak."

"W-what are you?" I was at a lose for words.

"I noticed it, you think you are weak. Haruki was too." She answered and she was right. I always weak, among the fiancees I'm the weakest. "Which is why, you don't have to rush it. Slowly but surely we'll all grow stronger."

"You think so?" I asked.

"I know so." A voice answered and we turned our heads to see Haruki. "I'm sure you'll grow stronger, so don't rush it."

"Haruki!!" We tried to hug him but his body wasn't there.

"This is... an Illusion?" I asked.

"Just a little longer and we'll be together again." He said. "Asami, don't rush, you can grow stronger, Yue, don't be afraid to say your thoughts."

"How did-?" Yue was cut my him.

"I know you, I've been watching you all." He smiled. "Now then, go back, I'll wait for you."

He kissed our foreheads and we lost consciousness when we woke up next we were in a barrier, Yue shook her head. So even she can't undo a spell like this.

-----

Rose and I walked forward, carefully, very carefully, after we heard that voice resound in the sky. As we walked down the path, Rose's face was devoid of emotion. Her eyes burning with her resolve to help Haruki. We both moved forward, knowing something is up. She suddenly stops and I see why. A figure, as if vibrating appeared in front of us.

She held her wand and was about to attack when attacked us, I suddenly felt weak and I looked at Rose who was standing firmly. It attacked us repeatedly and we soon were wounded and badly injured. Both on the ground, our bodies covered in countless wounds.

"You... are.. weak." It said as it pointed at me.

'It's right... I am.' I thought to myself.

"You don't have the right to stay beside the Hero." It said and a part of my chest started to hurt.

"Don't listen to it." Rose said.

"You couldn't help your own friend in pain." It said as it pointed at her.

"So what?!" I exclaimed.

"It's true, I, who had been watching Haruki for so long should've noticed taht he was in pain but I didn't. I know I lack the ability to stand beside him but!" I started to stand up. "Haruki... I love him more than anyone. For the sake of my love, I won't give up here. Because, Haruki is waiting for us."

"Yeah." Rose said as she stood up and held my hand. "Haruki is waiting for us."

---

Third Person POV

"I may be weak but... there are people I want to protect, people precious to me. For their sake, I'll never give up!" Aria shouted and suddenly a warm light engulfed Rose.

The light slowly healed her wounds and as the light poured out from Aria, Rose recalled Sky saying Aria had this kind of ability. To heal others, depsite her lacking the affinity for healing magic. Anthem of Love. Her ability which she has has bever noticed.

The light spread out to all directions and a melody began to play in the air. It chased away the darkness and as Aria cleared her throat, she sang in a beautiful voice that gave her the title of Diva. A gentle melody, so calming and comforting. She sang in a clear voice.

'No matter the darkness that engulfs you

No matter what kind of pains you experience

As long as the morning sun rises, as long as the day comes, move forward,

For the sake of the ones awaiting you at the end of your adventure'

The melody spreaded to the ends of the forest filling it with light and life

'Even if the days look bleak, don't stop moving,

Even if the morning sun has been blocked by the shadows,

Even if the light disappears leaving you in the dark,

There will be light with the passage of time, so don't give up'

As she sung the last part of the song, everyone that waited for them and those who were trapped in the barriers all turned to the sky which was now a bright blue hue.

'So that you can smile again, so that we can be together again,

So that the tears we've shed will not be in vain, so that pain that will never be frogotten,

I'll move forward, knowing that the future outside this cage of despiar is filled with hope,

So, my precious love, wait for me'

The lights filled the island and as her and Rose's wounds healed, she lost consciousness. The trial was over, all had overcome it.