Yoshiro
"May the blood of our ancestors guide your soul." Reverent Jackson said as he gently pushed the small boat where my father's belongings are.
This is the 'send-off'. Our race doesn't do what humans do when they lost one of their members. Instead of putting them in a coffin and burying them 6 feet underground, we put them or their belongings on a boat and will let it go with the flow of the river until they reach the land of the dead.
The boat will go with the flow of the river and will soon vanish. The demi-gods will take the boat to the land of the dead where their soul will be judged. But I believe that my father is still alive. I know that he is. He's not the successor of Hades for nothing. That pool of mud will not kill my father. He has the protection of the King of Underworld. Such tricks won't kill him.
The elders believe that my father is already dead. They say that once you were taken, there's no going back. It doesn't matter who or what you are. Even if you are the successor of the most powerful god, once Lucifer takes you, you can never escape. But my father is different. He's strong. I know that for sure he's alive. And I'm going to take him back.
"Are you sure about this, Yoshi?" My friend Akibara asked. "You know what the elders will do once they find out about your plan! You might—"
I closed my backpack and looked at Aki. "I know what I'm doing, Aki. I know how dangerous this plan could be. Okay?" then I touched both of his shoulders. "But I have to do this. I need to save my father."
"I know that, Yoshi. I'm just..." he sighed. "You know you are like a brother to me. And you know that I will do everything I can to help you."
Indeed. Aki and I are like brothers. Our bond is no longer just a friendship. We may not be blood-related but our bond is stronger of that than anything. We swore to protect each other no matter what the circumstances are.
"I'm coming with you. But you have to promise me one thing, Yoshi," he said as he looked me in the eye. "You have to promise me that no matter what happens, you and your father will come back home alive." He heaved a sigh.
"You have to promise me that no matter what people might say to you, you will never listen to them. Okay?" he said. I nodded as confirmation.
I'm a man of my word. I will never turn my back against Aki.
It was late in the evening when Aki and I meet at the plaza. Tonight we are going on a journey to find the sacred tree and open the portal to Lucifer's kingdom. I know the danger that this may bring upon us. But I have to do this. My father needs me. He's the only family I have left. I can't afford to lose him too.
"Shall we?"
And we started walking towards the west forest. The side of the city in which we are not allowed to set foot. An extension of Lucifer's kingdom where the sacred tree is located. The forest of Scelestria. The place where souls that neglect Christ resides. A place for the unholy sinners who's sin is not enough for damnation. And as their punishment for neglecting Christ, they are to be trapped in the forest of Scelestria wandering forever.
There are rumours that those who enter the forest will never go back. As the forest also serves as a gateway to the first circle of Lucifer's kingdom. The Palace of Superbia. Where people with so much arrogance and pride resides. As their punishment they will not eat lowly foods, starving them forever.
The elders say that those who entered the forest of Scelestria are arrogant people. Thus, committing the first of the seven deadly sins. The sin of pride. They know the danger the forest may bring but still proceeds as their ego and pride gives them strength.
The old man Arnus once said, 'Death to the fools and damnation to the ignorant.'
Aside from the danger that the forest might bring upon you, the reason why entering the forest of Scelestria is because of the Sacred Tree. In order to protect the order of the world, no one is to enter the forest and open the door to his kingdom. Death will be bestowed upon those who disobey this order.
And we are about to break the rules. Aki being involved in this is already a huge mess. Akihabara, the son of the Archangel Nemesis, enters the forbidden forest. The council will surely do something about this. I'm sure that they will send the elders to look for us. Or if not, they will ask the oracles. But their vision will never reach the forbidden forest. It will give us enough time to do what has to be done. Not unless they will ask for the help of those in the higher anarchy.
"Yoshi. I will ask you one more time, are you really sure about this?" Aki asked me as we stopped in front of the border. Separating the town's forest and the forest of Scelestria.
I have doubts and fears. I've decided to do this out of sadness and frustration. But there is one thing that I know I am certain. I am going to save my father and will ask him to tell me about my mother. I still have a lot of questions I have to ask him. About my mother. About me. And the gift that the gods have given me. I need him to be there when the selection begins. I want him to be there with me.
So with a brave look in my eyes, I looked at Aki and said, "I am."
And so we stepped foot onto the forbidden forest.