A/N: Did I make it in time? Well, according to USA time region, I'm still in time. LOL
Title: Fyrest Jouel
Disc: You know it. -_- Too lazy to repeat
He blinked. Lush green was spread in front of him. Looking down, he saw skirts spread upon the drape of grass he sat upon. Wait, skirts?! He hadn't had chance to digest the situation when his view moved to his left. A woman and man were sitting on a garden bench not far from him, they were talking about something. Who were they? Nothing on them reminded him on something. The male wore white buttoned shirt and black linen trousers. The woman wore yellow gown. He could feel his position shifted. The view ascended. He must be in standing position now. Then he heard a voice from his own direction.
"Mama!"
If he could feel his eyes, he knew it must be bulging out by now. It was definitely NOT his voice. The sweet tingling voice he never heard before belong to girl. The couple turned to him and smiled. He could see the scenery around him flashed. The body he resided upon was running.
Then he was suddenly cut into the blackness.
"You should fix this habit of yours." He heard a cold voice. This one he could recognize.
"Not as if I was intending to." He couldn't speak it out but his mind reached her. He wondered how long he had been in this state. He couldn't feel anything, couldn't see anything. He was barely existed. He was just a presence floating in who knew where. The previous event was the first for him, looking at the sorcerer's past. He couldn't believe the deadly sorcerer used to have such sweet voice. He could hear her scoff.
"Mind your own business little boy."
Mitsuru ignored her. Apparently they didn't have privacy in this wide border less space. He let his mind drifted to what he had expected as sleep.
The girl in front of her must be 2-3 years younger than him. She was pale with dark brown hair tied in high ponytail. Her iris was deep violet. She wore a long maroon robe and held a brown staff in her left. A blue crystal was shining brightly upon it. He noticed she wore a white glove at her left but none at her right. One of his eyebrows arched. Fashion?
"My name is Bresin. My master asked me to accompany you in your quest. The ship is ready as what Sir Lione here has told you." She turned his head slightly on Lione who stood at his left.
"When you have collected the entire needed jewel, we shall return and my master will give you his. It was his message." She continued. Her expression was blank.
"Then, shall we depart?" Meena inquired from his right.
"Thank you for helping us, Bresin." Wataru smiled, extending his hand in shaking gesture. The girl looked at his hand for a moment then shook it in disinterest.
"You're welcome." She said then turned, leading them to harbor. Wataru wondered whether the girl was sincerely willing to help them.
The ship was bigger than Zeema's. It was obvious in a glance.
"I believe Lione also has been briefed about this. Has he told you that the ship will send us and return immediately?" She said to them. Wataru nodded positively.
He looked at the west direction and saw the dusk turning into the night. They would depart tonight and arrive mid-day tomorrow.
Wataru didn't care much for anything. He directly went to his room which was shared with Lione and slept. It didn't differ much with the one he and Mitsuru shared. A bit wider but that ended the difference.
He woke up early morning and had breakfast with everyone. The girl joined them but she was eating in silence. He tried to weave a few conversations but all of them were replied curtly. He gave up after several unsuccessful attempts. Meena threw him an understanding smile. He knew she must have had attempted the same effort with her last night. She was sharing a room with her after all.
"Where do you think we should start? How to find "the wisest of all"?" Wataru said to no one in particular. He spooned his soup in disinterest.
"Hmm… I wonder too…" Meena said thoughtfully.
"We should ask the local first. They probably know something." Lione said. Wataru didn't believe it could be that easy but they didn't have much choice.
After the ship docked, they randomly ask anyone in the harbor. Wataru prefer to ask the oldies, because he thought oldies knew old lore better.
"Sir, do you know who is the wisest in the Forest of Knowledge?" He asked a tired looking bear who was about to heave another box to his shoulder.
The bear straighten. Wataru noticed he was about a head shorter from the bear. If he was facing a real bear like this in his world, he would have run thousands steps before even dare to look back.
The bear swiped a curious glance to the party and scratched his head. "The biggest Herbringer tree." He said without hesitation. Wataru looked back to his friends. All of them waved their head.
"Err… do you mind to be more specific?"
The bear sighed. "It is a tree near the stream with white branch and purple leaves." He turned his back on them and heaved the heavy box. "You can ask anyone on your way there. Everyone knows where it's located". He said before leaving.
They looked at each other after he left. "Wow…" Wataru blinked. "That was… fast and easy?" He scratched his cheek in confusion.
They asked a few more persons for the way to the forest. It seemed like the tribe living in this island used to be able to communicate with nature though these people with extraordinary capability had perished by now. The villagers seemed to visit the tree because they said it calmed them and made them happy.
Instead of a scary dark forest, the Forest of Knowledge was beautiful and full of sunlight. Wataru noticed the breeze which had made the branches dancing gave an effect of tree whispering to each other. It didn't freak them out though. As what the villager had said, it soothed their feeling, except one. Bresin looked uneasy ever since she entered the forest. She even looked tense. They had asked her whether there was anything wrong but she just gave them a negative head wave. Wataru decided to ignore her though her grasp in her staff was obviously tight and white. If she didn't want to confide in them it was fine.
They reached the so called Herbringer tree. Indeed, it was outstanding compared to others. Wataru had seen many trees with weird branch and leaves color in Vision world - a contrast of Earth's scarce leaves color collection – but he must admitted that this tree was gorgeous. The diameter of the tree must be twice his hug. The branch was sparkling white and the leaves were decorating it in imperial purple. All of them were taken by awe.
"I never know that such tree like this exists." Meena said after a few moments. All of them nodded in agreement. Or Wataru believed all of them were, since he didn't turn back and checked.
The stream not far beside them sang a rippling harmony. It was a nice atmosphere which left a peaceful impression. Wataru promised himself that he would take Mitsuru here at least once before they returned home.
"And… what should we do here?" Wataru murmured.
A strong breeze suddenly blew, rendered them to protect their eyes from flying dust and earth. The leaves were scraping each other wildly. Then the wind suddenly died.
What do you come here for, traveler?
Wataru eyes bulged. He looked everywhere wildly to identify the voice's source.
Meena and Lione increased their awareness. "What is it Wataru?" He asked him while anticipating attack from any direction.
"Didn't you guys hear that?"
Bresin looked at him with her normal blank expression. Meena and Lione looked at each other before turned back to him. "Hear what, Wataru?" Meena asked confusedly.
Not everyone can hear me out traveler.
Wataru's head shot up. He heard the voice again. The others looked at him with mixed worried expression, except Bresin. She calmly notified the other two. "I assure you he's not under any magic spell. Because I will know."
Then an understanding dawned upon Wataru. He turned to the Herbringer tree. "Is it you who are talking to me?"
The foliages danced gently with the breeze. I am.
Wataru was out of words. From all the weird things happened to him in Vision, this was the first time he heard a tree speaking.
"I…" Wataru stammered then decided to start anew. "… My name is Wataru. Here are my companions, Lione, Meena and Bresin." He introduced them though he knew none of them would hear the tree's reply anyway.
What are you here for, Wataru the traveler? It repeated its first question.
"I… We are here to ask you about magic jewel. The one like I had in here." He thrust forward his sword hilt. Then he realized, he must have become stupid. How could a tree SEE?
And what do you need the jewel for, Wataru?
Wataru paused then looked to the ground. The answer was not something he ashamed of but it wasn't a thing that he would like to announce to everyone. However, when he tilted his head back up, he answered without any hesitation. "To save someone important to me."
The leafages chaffed again. There was a pause before the next voice reached him. I can give you.
Then the whole forest emanated a loud sound of chaffing leaves. There were no wind but all the branches and figs seemed to sway – to move. Wataru half believed the forest's trees must be talking with each other. He swiped his glance nervously to his surroundings. Meena and Lione were uneasy too. Bresin were frowning slightly and looked tense. Wataru shoved it away. She had been tense ever since they entered the forest, so it wasn't an indicator for anything. Then another strong breeze blew past them. It was so strong until they need to cover themselves from flying leaves lifted from the grounds. In less than a second, the forest silenced down.
I can give it to you under a condition.
"What is it?" Wataru turned his attention back to the Herbringer tree.
Tell me before tomorrow afternoon, which will be the wisest in this Forest of Knowledge after I'm gone.
Wataru frowned. He wasn't familiar with the region. He couldn't even name the trees. How did the tree expect him to choose?
Think carefully. You only have a chance. One answer.
"I…" Wataru stuttered.
Go, Wataru the traveler. Take a look to the forest and return here before tomorrow afternoon to give your answer. This question will be yours only to answer.
Even though Wataru couldn't see its expression, he could guess from the tone he had heard that he was dismissed. It was a one-sided final decision.
"I will come back with an answer." Wataru said, determined. He had to.
He thought he heard the trees humming when he left the tree. His friend left with him in silence. After a few yards away, Meena couldn't handle her curiosity.
"What was it about, Wataru?"
Wataru halted. "It gave me a question to answer. If I can answer it correctly, it will give me the magic jewel."
"What is the question?" Lione injected.
"Who can replace it to be the wisest in this Forest?" Wataru said while tilting his head up to the sky patched with leaves. Wataru inhaled deeply. It was very freshening. Meena and Lione thought deeply.
Wataru smiled. "Don't worry. It has said that the question is mine only to answer. So this time, I can't get help from you guys." He threw them a wry smile.
"Oh…" Meena said disappointedly.
"I need to walk around the forest for the time being. Familiarize myself with the region." Wataru looked around and murmured more to himself.
"From the information we have collected, the forest was not dangerous." Lione said thoughtfully. "But you need to keep your guards up anyway." He advised. Wataru nodded approvingly. "I will."
"We will wait at the village, I remember seeing an inn at the corner after the market, did you remember?" Meena said to Lione. Lione nodded.
"I will return before sunset." Wataru said to them reassuringly before they parted ways. Bresin gave him a nod. She looked relieved to the prospect of leaving the forest. He wondered what would have troubled her under this peacefully tranquil forest. He shrugged.
"Oh well… It's no use wasting time in guessing." He rotated and walked back into the forest.
Meena kept looking at the window. It was nearly dusk and he had yet returned. She sighed. She couldn't help for being anxious. She turned her glance back to her inn room. It was small but neat and clean. It was minimally designed with traditional painting and sculpting.
Her companion slept soundly across her bed. The girl was another puzzle to her which has yet she could crack. She could feel her shell even from far away. No, not magic shell or whatsoever. She didn't have any capability in identifying magic. She was talking about a mental shell. The girl was protecting herself from the world so powerfully until it repelled everyone who was going to approach her. She wondered what could have happened until she sealed herself that deep.
She slid her gaze back to the window. She saw something approaching. Her ears stood straight like a pet anticipating its owner back. It was black figure because it was walking apposite from the setting sun. But even though it was pitch black, Meena could be sure that she wouldn't falsely recognize him.
"Wataru!" She jumped from her bed and rushed outside the door. Ready to greet him back.
Wataru couldn't be happy with his explorations today. He didn't have a clue on his question. The forest was very safe. The animals, rodent, birds and etc didn't even get scared of him when he had approached them. They seemed to have gotten used of human's presence. He agreed it was a nice walk he had never had before in his world nor in his first visitation in Vision. He frowned and clutched his head. He shook it in attempt to clear his mind. It was less than one day and he had yet found the answer.
When he realized, Lione was looking at him intently. He didn't say a thing but Wataru knew he was slightly worried. He threw him a smile. "Don't worry I was just thinking." He sighed then threw himself from sitting to laying position in his bed. He bent his knee and put his other ankle upon his other knee. Putting his hand behind his head, he continued his musing.
Morning came and he rushed to finish his breakfast. He didn't remember being asleep. He needed to return to forest. Slightly panic, he skidded around the forest. Which? Which of them would be the best candidate? Yesterday he had seen a big old tree. It couldn't compare to the charisma the Herbringer tree had but he saw it was the biggest and oldest.
Today he reached another section of the forest. He was walking upward following the stream. Suddenly he saw a goat. Wait, it wasn't a goat. It did look like a goat but it has sheep-like fur. In addition, it had a long beard. It was going to drink the stream crystal water, but sensing some other living being, he turned to Wataru. He looked at him in disinterest and continued to bend down and drink. Not even troubled by approaching Wataru, he bent his feet and sat down beside the flowing stream. Wataru stood beside him, looking at him with awe. It was huge. Twice bigger than a normal cow.
The creature was closing his eyes, but now he opened one of them and looked to Wataru.
What do you want from me?
Wataru jumped. He thought after hearing a tree had spoken, nothing could shock him more. He was wrong apparently.
"You can speak too!" He exclaimed. The creature whizzed mockingly.
Humans… He shook his head disapprovingly. You just never hear close enough. All of us can speak. He rose up, Wataru stepped back. He looked menacing in too close up.
"All… of… you?" He bumbled, blinking stupidly.
The creature looked at him morosely. The forest. You just need to hear well. He walked pass Wataru who was chewing this information.
"You mean all of you can…" Wataru was going to ask him but he noticed he was all alone. "… talk…" He finished his sentence in vain.
He said he needed to hear well. He didn't understand. Sitting down, leaned his back on his tree, he closed his eyes. It confused him even more. Suddenly he felt something fell to his scalp. Jumping up, he was surprised to see pine's brown hard fruit fell to the place he had seated. Then he thought he heard a soft hum. The trees were swaying slightly – as if laughing on him.
He frowned in irritation. "I can't believe I can get offended by tree!" He said at last. The trees appeared to sway harder. He knew he wasn't imagining things. He sighed. If anyone saw him right now talking to the trees, they would have thought he had gone out of his mind. He would too if he was in their position.
He picked up the pine fruit, intending to throw it back to the trees. But instead, the fruit cracked in his fist. He was startled. He was expecting a harder fruit shell like the one in his world. Sweet fragrant came out from the fruit. Speaking of which, the sun was high upon his head. It was noon and he had yet had his lunch. He took a gulp and pinched his eyes shut, anticipating weird taste or churning stomach. None of them came nonetheless. The fruit was as sweet as honey and it was as soft and watery as orange.
He understood. The tree must had intentionally giving him something to eat as lunch. He bowed deep. "I don't know you understand or not, but thank you for the meal." The tree seemed to sway slightly. A few trees swayed too, but only to a certain direction. Feeling they were trying to tell him something, he walked following the direction they were showing. After a few yards, he saw his third wonder today, after the goat-like creature and laughing trees. In front of him sat a tall bird. The feathers were combination of red streak and orange.
The bird looked at him curiously. The forest has never let anyone pass this deep into it.
Wataru gave a wry smile. "I'm sorry to disturb your rest." He eyed the bird cautiously. It was laying down now but he was sure once it stood up, it would be thrice his height. He could be flattened in no time.
I'm sorry I couldn't converse with you now. It is my nap time and I never sleep pass my nap time. The bird said with its red eyes closed.
"Yes, please do. I'm leaving now anyway." Wataru said while walking backward. He walked back to the direction of Herbringer tree. His mind was full of confusion. There was so much he had learned today. But none of them could answer the question. He bit his lip nervously. The time limit was nearly up. He had to come up with an answer no matter what.
His friends had gathered around the Harbringer tree. Even Bresin who was looking very reluctant.
Have you found the answer, Wataru the traveler?
Wataru's attention snapped to the Herbringer tree. Which of them? The oldest tree he had found? The goat-like creature? The bird? Or anything he had encountered earlier? He bit his lip in hesitation. He couldn't give a wrong answer. It was his only chance - his first step to help his friend.
"I…" He paused. "It was the…" He tried again and stopped. His shoulder slumped shamefully. "I… I don't know." He murmured.
Is that your answer?
"Everything is so extraordinary in here." Wataru explained. "I'm just a mere human. I'm not even wise, how do you expect me to find the wisest? I can't even understand what the trees were trying to convey to me without a misunderstanding." He shot up with frustration.
It was a long pause. Everything was a silence. Wataru could feel his hope shattered. He looked down at the leaves covered ground. He wondered if Mitsuru was the one standing here, would he have found a more satisfactory answer? How he could help his friend if now he had messed up even the first chance? He wasn't a crybaby and he knew he had cry too much in these few days. However, he felt like crying now.
To understand one's weakness and admit it is a form of wise.
Wataru's head shot up to hear the Herbringer tree's voice.
The wisest is not someone you can choose. It will be decided by nature. It can be the creature you've met this morning, it can be the tree you found yesterday, it can be the squirrel you approached yesterday, and it can be whatever. The Mother Nature is the one who will decide.
Wataru blinked. Did this mean he had not given a wrong answer? So what would be the conclusion?
I have promised you. I will give you the magic jewel. I hope you never forget the lesson you've learned today. Your honesty is the one that you should never cast off, Wataru the traveler.
The trees suddenly covered in mist. The branch slowly blackened from the root.
"What happened to you?" Wataru asked in panic. The forest seemed to hum low and sad.
Magic jewel is something powerful, Wataru. It is a condensation of life. When I told you that I will give you one, I was talking about giving my life.
Wataru shocked. He never knew anything about it. He knew it was powerful of course. But 'a condensation of life'?? He was killing the tree to save his friend. But without this tree's life, his friend's life couldn't be claimed back. He paled. He couldn't decide. Mitsuru was important to him. Very important. But was it worth to sacrifice others for him? Was this the way he wanted to save him?
Don't think too much, Wataru. The tree assured him. I know my time has come. It's something destined.
"But…" Wataru shook his head and his words faltered. The blackness had starting to reach the paling foliages. The forest's hum was getting louder. It was a painful sound.
You want to save your friend, don't you? Hold on to that feeling and never sway.
"I want to… I want to but…" He panicked. If he didn't cancel the tree's action, it would be dead anytime soon. But if he canceled, how about Mitsuru?
Go to the West. You will find what you need. It said before the whole tree turning black and dead. A bright crystal was floating upon it in contrast. Slowly, it descended to Wataru's hand. Wataru grasped it tightly. He had failed to decide and now he had killed a living being. He couldn't sacrifice Mitsuru. He understood that very well. A tear trickled down. He clenched the shining crystal tighter and closed his eyes. He prayed. He prayed fervently that he would be forgiven. He apologized. He apologized that he had chosen his friend instead of a new life he had just being introduced to. He stood there in silence, along with whole forest.
A/N: The title was coming from Old English. It means First Jewel. I was trying to picture the importance of Wataru's decision to save Mitsuru. The concept that the jewel is condensation of life had been in my mind ever since the first I saw the movie. Because the jewel is so powerful, therefore, it cannot be produced easily nor found easily. For the Herbringer tree, any of you realize which manga had inspired me of its physic? *me laugh evilly*