Chapter 6, The Gate That Connects Worlds

We've spent days searching for the Heroes' Forest but we've found nothing. Where in the world is this forest?!

I leaned against my seat and sighed before reaching for a drink.

"Neph, you still hanging on?" Rose asked as she handed me a cookie.

"If it wasn't for Haruki I'd never do this much paper work." I answered.

"I'm starting to get annoyed. We've searched the netire map of each continent and we haven't found a single thing!!" Storm exclaimed in anger. "Where is it?! The Circle!!"

"Think. There must be something we're missing." Sky said.

"As it was dedicated for the Hero wouldn't it be somehwere only the Hero could go?" Flora asked.

"Doubt it. They said it was used in times of need." Dia answered. "So it might somehwere secluded but still reachable by us."

"No matter where it is we'll definitely find it." I said as I got back to searching the map.

There has tp be something we're missing. Something that isn't part of the map. Anything, any clue we can find.

"How do we find the way there anyway?" Queen asked.

"Leo said it opens in times of need. A pedestal that connects." Yue answered. "They said it has something to do with Haruki and Haruka."

"Something to do with them?" I turned to the map. "We can narrow them down then, to here; Morganite Town, The Guild and The Aerial Isles, right?"

"Indeed." Yuri said as she placed a teacuo beside me.

"Something that connects the two, what about the sealed chamber?" Ray asked as he set down a tray of breads and pastries. "After all, that was where the two first met."

"Speaking of which there are inscriptions on the wall of the room and something that resembles a magical circle on its floor!!" Tsubaki-san said.

"Then our destination is the sealed chamber of the Aerial Isles." I said and we got up.

In the sealed chamber, we searched every nook and cranny of the room to find nothing. The big lump of magical crystals is still there. Partially cracked though most likely when Haruka left it.

"Nothing. What about everyone else?" Storm asked.

"Didn't find squat." Queen said angrily. "Where else could it be?!"

"Queen, calm down. I know you're angry but you need to calm down." Clover said trying to calm her down.

"Damn it!! Isn't there anything else?!" Chris exclaimed.

"Well, we've searched everywhere." Alpha said as he sat down.

"Not everywhere. There's still one place we haven't gone to yet." I said hesitantly.

"Where?!" Dia said angrily and grabbed my collar.

"Are you guys really sure you want to go back 'there'?" I said and she realized where I meant.

"That's..." Big bro looked hesitant.

"We have no choice! Even if it means, going back to that island." Asami said with a hesitant but determined look. "Let's go. To that island."

"Alright then." Master said.

We exited the chamber and went up to the port where a ship was ready to take us there.

"So, where are we going?" Flora asked.

"To the place where we slept for three years." I answered as we flew through the sky towards the island in the distance.

"You mean!!" Rain had a worried expression when he realized where we were headed.

"It's the last place any of us would want to go to but... it's the only island we haven't checked." Rose said.

"We're nearing the island." Ella said. "Be ready to land."

The ship soon slowed down and landed near the islands edge, the others were the first to go down, we who had spent three years on this island are still hesitant about coming down. After all, this island took three years of our lives away from us but... there could be something here.

"Keep your eyes peeled for anything." Storm announced.

I looked around a bit but I felt like hoping back into the ship and going back to the main island. This place, isn't exactly nice. It's small but, maybe, just maybe, the thing that can save Haruki and Haruka is here. Please. Haruki has done so much for us, I want him to be able to smile again.

As I was about to give up, I suddenly tripped on a rock and felt into a bush. As I picked myself up, I saw something. A wood, it's carved but I can't see the rest underneath the bushes, brambles, rubble and wood that have covered it up.

"Guys! Come quick." I shouted out but the island is small so we were all close.

"What's up?" Rogue asked as I pulled out my sword.

"Quick, help me remove the bushes, quick." I said as I chopped down the bushes.

It wasn't long till the surrounding bushes and logs were removed and now we were able to properly approach it. A door, about a metter long, lying on the ground with a frame made from stone.

"What do you think?" I turned to them.

"There shouldn't be anything on this island, anything of worth has been long gone." Asami said and we were all excited.

"At the count of three." I said.

"One. Two. Three!" Rain pulled the other door open and an updraft blew.

"What's down there?" Selene asked.

"We'll know when we get there." Dia said and lit a a branch on fire. "Let's go."

"Yeah." I answered and went down with her.

The doors hide a ladder that go down at least two ten meters down, from there, a stone staircase leads further in. We went down and reached the bottom after a long walk. We were exhuasted but what stood before us was a tall gate. Similar to the Star Gate. Om it's frame were words in Aerial Language.

"Asami." Master urged Asami to read them.

"To the ones who seek the light of hope, be warned. Only the one who hold the stars in their hands may open this gate." She said. "For this gate is the gate of the Hero."

"Lita, anything on the other side?" Aria asked her.

"It connects to batious places." She said as she placed her hand on the door. "But, it's definitely connected to that place. The Heroes' Forest!!"

"Then, if we open it we can-" Yue was excited but Lita stopped her from opening it.

"One wrong move and we could end up in a different world with no way to go back." Lita said. "Give me a bit of time. I should be able to narrow down the gate openings."

"Let's do that. Until she's found the right opening, we'll all prepare ourselves." I said and the nodded their heads.

Hatuki, just a little more and we'll make it to where you are. So please, hang in there, for just a little longer.