Chapter 3, To Move Forward

We've spent days now but we've found nothing. No lead as to whom the stars and earth are. We're almost exhuasted, but we refuse to give up.

"Did you find anything?" Mr. Tsubaki, Haruki's spy came in through the door.

"Nothing, I'm sorry." He answered. "It's difficult, there are inconsistencies in the records of the Aerial Isles."

"The thing we're looking for is someone who is always smiling and someone who leads us?" Queen asked and I nodded.

The other guilds have been helping us find clues to this mystery but even with our combined minds we have found nothing. Someone who is like hope and someone who leads.

"Argh! Aside from Haruki I don't know anyone who can bring a smile to our faces in the most difficult times!!" Sky shouted as she threw her bag away. "I really don't know anyone who can smile like Haruki!!"

"That's right!!" Storm exclaimed. "Haruki has always been smiling, even when he was about to be seperated from us."

"Haruki, he is our Sun. He always shines so brightly happily." Ella said and I noticed the tears building up. "Because of that... we... we never know... what kind of burden he is carrying."

"Haruki, I wonder, how much he trusts us?" Jade said and Lita slapped him.

"Lita?!" I exclaimed.

"Idiots!! Haruki trusts us more than jimself!!" She shouted as her tears began to fell. "He... he yrusts us more than anyone else, after all, he entrusted us with his life!!"

"Lita..." Jade looked down. "I'm sorry, it's just frustrating, he hardly tells us anything."

"Haruki doesn't want you to be involved is all." Lita answered. "The Tsuki Family, has a lot of secrets, some even I'm not allowed to tell you."

"Lita..." I immediately hugged her. "You have been tormented haven't you? By the guilt of not being able to help him?"

She just cried as I hugged her, and to be honest, she isn't the only one overcome by guilt. Lita, our kind hearted friend.

"Then, the only thing that's left is the Star?" Clover asked after I has calmed Lita down.

"Something or someone that leads us huh?" Silver asked.

"Any idea?" Neph asked.

"Something that leads us... something that urges us forward?" Ella was deep in thought as she mumbled.

"Maybe something that is similar to fate." Queen asked and a few of us tilted our heads.

"I get it, our fates lead us down different paths right? What if it's something similar?" Spark asked.

"Someone or something that is leading us forward?" Asami-chan mumbled.

"Who is it that urges you down your paths?" Leo asked as he appeared. "You already know the answer don't you?"

"Haruki." Sirius said without hesitation.

"Bingo. His fate is intertwined with yours, no matter what, your bond with him is what leads you down the path you go on." Scorpio added. "You have the pieces, go on, to the Island of Heroes', Hero's Forest."

"We'll definitely save Haruki." Storm said with a determined look in his eyes and I nodded.

-----

I've spent the past couples days just recovering my magical power and energy. I'll be meeting with Jason-san and the others later today. I've been helping the village in anyway I can and it feels like this place seems to be rather unstable in an economical sense. The nobles are divided into the Order, Chaos and Neutral Factions. They seem to raise different ideas on how the nation is to progress. I feel sorry for the people who have to suffer from their stupidity.

"Haruka, over here." I turned my head to see, Jason-san, Misha-san and Veronica-san calling out to me.

"Sorry for making you wait." I said and ran towards them.

"Um, Haruka will you be going without any supplies?" Misha-san asked.

"I don't really need to eat and I can use magic so I'm practical fine with nothing." I answered and just the Aishea-san came running.

"Please... take care... on your... journey." She said as Priscilla-baa-san and Eugen-san arrived after her.

"We wanted to give you something so here." Eugen-san said as he handed me a shield, this is... an iron shield with a spell of healing engraved into it?

"Please, don't worry about me. I don't need a weapon." I said as I was worried on how hard it must've been just to procure something like this.

"Take it. It's just going to rust away in the village storehouse anyway." Priscilla-baa-san said. "It is something that was entrusted to our village so many years ago. We have no use for it. Do take it."

"Then... I'll take it with gratitude." I said and thanked them. I want to thank them in any way possible but... what can I do? Ah, I know!!

"Is something the matter?" Aishea-san asked as I opened a small portal.

"If you ever need help, just blow this whistle." I said

I handed Priscilla-baa-san a whistle made from star stone. Each whistle has a different sound which can only be heard by certain individuals. The whistle I gave her resounds with the air, no matter where I am I should be able to hear it.

"You don't need to worry." Aishea-san said and patted my head. "But when we do need help, you'll be the first to know."

"Well then. We'll be going now." I said and bowed my head before leaving and joining Jason-san and the others.

"So, our target is Hermes Town to the East. Are you ready?" Veronica-san asked. "It will take a day or two by foot."

"Well, for most people atleast." Jason-san said as he floated. "I'm a spirit so I can levitate."

"I'm a dhampir so I can change into a bat." Veronica-san as she floated in the air as a bat.

"I'm a fairy so I can fly." Misha-san said. "What about you?"

"Ah, flight is no problem for me." I said as bat wings emerged from my back. "I'm a Demonkin after all."

"Is that so? Well, let's get going. Our goal is Hermes Town. Let's go!!" Jason-san said with an excited expression and went flying ahead.

I turned my head once more to look at the village before flying after the three. I'll come back and thank them when everything is settled. Haru will have a but of my memories after all. He'll know to thank these people for saving me.