"It's so hot out!"
"Why are you clinging to me?!"
"Because you're cold, duh..."
Ciel, held onto Kou as they were walking in the forest. It was pretty hot, an unusual weather for Kou. But it didn't matter. As for Ciel, he was using Kou as practically a human ice-pack.
"So where are we supposed to go, really? Do you even know your way around here?"
"Of course I do! How do you think I found my way to your clan? I need to check something on the way, so we're currently headed to the Twilight Forest. Then, it's probably around 260 miles or something until we get to one of the Voldrald outposts."
"TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY MILES JUST TO GET TO THE OUTPOSTS?! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WALK THERE?!"
Ciel smacked Kou in the head to shut him up.
"Don't shout, dumbass! And yes. If we get to the outposts and they identify me as the heir, it will take less than a day to get to my father."
"Oh gods, what am I getting myself into?" Kou thought, as they continued to walk. And walk. And walk...
"So what is this Twilight Forest you keep talking about? I've never heard of that."
"...Well, as the name suggests, it's a forest. It's not a regular forest though...-"
"Let me guess, as the name suggests, it's a "twilight" forest?"
"Let me finish." Ciel clears his throat before speaking again. "The Twilight Forest was the forest that the Twilight War happened. Twilight War, isn't really a famous war. But it should be. There was at least a six hundred thousand men who died in that forest..."
"Then... then why are we going there?" Kou asks, with a touch of fear in his voice.
"The war broke the forest. The once thriving forest was burned down, by either magic or weapons. Both of those things. But nearly a year after the war, the forest grew larger. Some kind of... miracle, had happened. The trees were colorful and were much larger then they used to be."
"Ciel, why are we headed there?"
"You'll find out..."
"You're not planning to make me a sacrifice or something, are you?"
"No, probably not."
***
After hours upon hours of walking, they had finally reached a forest. Squirrels climbing up trees colorful, dark-toned trees with rings. Birds chirping all around the forest...
"Is... Is this the place? This forest isn't haunted, is it?"
"Haunted? What are you, five?" Ciel sighs at Kou's cowardice and ignorance. Sure, it was cute at times. But other times, it was plain annoying. He wouldn't deal with this... He shouldn't have to.
As they started to go deeper in the forest, Kou got closer to Ciel. But Ciel knocked him away, wanting him to act his age. But they started to hear whispers. Kou, started to hear whispers. He nudged Ciel.
"Did you hear that?!"
"No! For gods' sakes!"
"Ciel, I'm being serious!..."
Ciel, although hearing the sounds, didn't pay attention to them. They went deeper and deeper into the forest. In the center, there, sit the largest tree of them all. Contradictory to all the other trees around, the tree was white and had green rings. From behind the trees, a cloaked figure came out.
"You're not welcome here, strangers. According to nature. Especially you."
The figure pointed at Ciel. Ciel didn't react.
"I'm not here to deal with nature, Vessel."
The figure takes off his cloak. Revealing to be a man with brown hair, brows and sapphire eyes. He sighs and approaches the strangers.
"What is your purpose for entering the forest of the dead?"
"Oh, so it's true that all the trees are made out of the corpses of the fallen men? I thought that was just a myth to scare off children." Ciel responds, smirking. There's a certain air of confidence coming out of him.
"State your business."
"Okay, okay, whatever you say. I'm only here to take what's mine, before it gets stolen. I'm here to take the flame."
"The flame of the forest? Nonsense. You wish to bring it back."
"I do not wish to bring back the disaster, I merely wish to keep it from getting stolen. Stolen by the ones that will bring back the disaster."
"What disaster are you talking about?"
"You lie, Voldrald. Even if you tell the truth, I and the nature is very much capable of keeping it safe. In your hands, it won't be as safe as it is here."
"You do not know the threat that is coming."
"And you think you do? If it is written into existence by the ones you defy, then it is to happen. Whatever you may do to try and stop it."
"By the ones I defy? More like the ones you and all else are deceived into worshipping. You give and expect nothing else, fool."
"That isn't correct. Because, I shall not give you what you want even though you expect it."
Ciel grits his teeth. "This is my problem! Nature shouldn't be involved!"
"It is under good protection and is in good condition in here. You dare to say you could protect it better? Even you would agree that is nonsense. I suggest you leave the way you came before Nature is involved even further..."
Ciel clenches his fists, his knuckles turning white. He groans in frustration and turns back around, walking rapidly.
"Ciel, wait up!" Kou, yells behind him and hesitantly follows the angry man.
"Fucking Nature. 'under protection' my ass!" He kicks one of the trees, an acorn falls on top of his head. He grabs the acorn and throws it away with his full strength.
They continue to walk. Until Kou actually catches up and holds Ciel's shoulder.
"Ciel, will you tell me anything about whatever is going on? What disaster?"
"None of your goddamn business, okay? Stop asking. This is my final warning before I actually snap at you."
"Hey, I deserve to know! You're my friend and I am sure I'm your only friend. Not only that, but we're in this trip together, whether you like it or not."
Ciel doesn't respond. He continues to walk out of the forest. "We'll walk around the forest, wouldn't want oh-so-great Nature to kick my ass!" He screams atop his lungs towards the trees, as if trying to get someone to hear his voice.
Kou, finally realizing he won't get a word out of Ciel's mouth about this "disaster", gives up. "Do you... hate nature?"
"No, I hate the Goddess of Nature."
"So you hate nature."
He's acting childish, Kou thinks. But they still continue, they get out of the forest in a few minutes then start walking around the giant forest.
"So this was a detour. We didn't get what we wanted. Guess the Goddess of Nature hates your guts, huh?"
"Feelings mutual at that." As they keep walking, they both start to get tired as well... "Gods, I wish I could just create a runic seal to make us faster..."
"You could though, right?"
"No, dumbass. I need to apply something to the runic seal. And last I checked, there is not a swiftness magic. You either apply your art into the seal or apply a regular magic into it. No in-betweens there."
"Well, theoretically, if you had an adjustment art that was swiftness, you could do it."
As they keep walking and having pointless conversations to keep entertained, night starts to settle in. The noise of a waterfall is heard nearby, but they keep walking for a little longer. When sleep creeps up to both of them, in the middle of one of their conversations, Ciel interrupts Kou.
"Hey, why don't we go to sleep for today. It's already gone pretty dark, we'll sleep by the waterfall. In dawn, we continue walking."
Kou yawns and rubs his eyes.
"Yeah, sure, that's okay for me. Where do we sleep though?"
"In the grass. I'll try to make something out of leaves, no promises. And definitely no shelter..."
Ciel, gets to work, while Kou sits by the waterfall. They're standing in where the waterfall takes the drop and forms a large pool in the ground. Kou takes off his shoes and soaks his feet.
After at least half an hour, Ciel barely ties leaves together to create a makeshift blanket and two pillows. He calls out for Kou to get out of the water, then they settle in for the night.
"No blanket for me?"
"You're not affected by temperatures, idiot. You'll be fine. Me on the other hand, let's hope I don't catch cold."