Chương 46: Search for Herwasha

The sun was already beginning to dip as Ace and Amelia made their way through Azuma City. Amelia carefully held the glass bottle Tony had given her. Ace walked beside her with his hands behind his head.

"So... where exactly is this Herwasha Forest, do you know?" Amelia looked at him.

"I thought you knew."

"Why would I know?"

"Because you were the one who said we'd go."

"I said we'd go. I never said I knew where it was." Amelia sighed.

"You're completly unbelievable." They stopped a passing man.

"Excuse me, sir?" The man turned.

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"Do you know by chance know where Herwasha Forest is?" The man stared blankly at them.

"... Nope." Ace blinked.

"That's it?"

"That's it... I don't know nothing.." He then walked away. Amelia watched him leave.

"Well... that was helpful wasn't it?" They continued down the street until they spotted an elderly woman. Amelia approached her.

"Excuse me, ma'am. Do you know how to get to Herwasha Forest?" The woman immediately froze.

"... Herwasha?"

"Yes." She slowly pointed toward the city gates.

"Why would you two want to go there?" Ace shrugged. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"We need to get something for a friend." The woman's expression became horrified.

"A friend?"

"Yeah."

"Something from Herwasha?"

"Yeah." She stared at them for several seconds.

"You're both insane!!." She walked away. Ace watched her leave.

"Okay... seems we're getting closer." Amelia stared at him.

"How exactly are we getting closer?"

"She knew what we were talking about."

"Which compared to the last guy is something.."

"That's not the same as knowing where it is you know..." They continued searching. Eventually, they found a shopkeeper standing outside his store. Ace walked over.

"Hey! You know where Herwasha Forest is?" The shopkeeper immediately pointed toward a distant road.

"Herwasha? Course I do""Follow that road north for about an hour." Ace looked at angels"Finally.. we know.." Amelia smiled.

"Thank you so much mister!" The shopkeeper raised a finger.

"But I should warn you youngsters.." They stopped.

"Don't go there if you value your lives..." Ace faced him.

"Oh we know the dangers which is exactly why we're going""People who enter that forest tend to disappear right?" Ace stared at him.

"Yeah, i think we'll be fine.."" The shopkeeper walked back inside.

"Very well then, I can't stop you" Ace looked at Amelia.

"Well, at least we finally know where we're going." Amelia sighed.

"Yeah." She looked down at the bottle.

"We just have to get the flower, come back alive, and save Mochi." Ace started walking." Sounds simple enough." Amelia hurried after him.

"Why did you say that?!" Ace shrugged.

"What?"

"Every time someone says something is simple, it immediately becomes ten times worse!" Ace gave her a deadpan look.

"You're overthinking it, Amelia..." Amelia narrowed her eyes.

"Well, I'm blaming you if something goes wrong."

"Fair enough." The two continued toward the northern road. Neither of them noticed the dark forest looming in the distance. The two continued down the long path leading away from Azuma City. The further they traveled, the quieter the surroundings became. Amelia slowed down a little, rubbing her eyes.

"I'm still pretty tired..." Ace glanced over.

"You did rest on the train back, didn't you?"

"I did..." Amelia sighed.

"But I hardly have enough energy to use all my power right now, so..." Ace reached into his bag and tossed something toward her.

"Here. Take this..." Amelia caught it.

"This is a granola bar?"

"Yeah, it should help. Even if it isn't much." Amelia looked at the bar, then at Ace.

"Wow... are you sure?"

"Don't make me change my mind. I'm starting to get hungry myself." Ace replied.. Amelia smiled.

"Well, then..." She snapped the granola bar in half and handed one piece to Ace.

"You can have half. I'd feel bad eating the whole thing myself, otherwise." Ace paused.

"... Alright." He took the piece. Amelia looked at the other half. This is probably going to be sweet. Poor Ace, he probably doesn't know I hate sweet foods... I'll just have to eat it not to make him feel bad... She took a bite. Her eyes widened.

"Wait a minute..."

"This isn't sweet at all..." Ace gave a small smirk.

"You noticed, huh?" Amelia tilted her head.

"How'd you know?"

"I know you like savory foods. So I got a plain one." Amelia stared at him.

"You got it just for me?" Ace immediately looked away.

"N-No. I just... wanted to know your taste, yeah. It was for me." Amelia smiled warmly.

"Thank you so much." Ace scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." He started walking again.

"Let's just keep going. Herwasha Forest can't be that far from here now." Amelia quickly caught up.

"Alright! Let's go, go, go!" She raised a fist toward the road ahead.

"Herwasha Forest, here we come!" Ace glanced at her enthusiasm and smiled faintly.

"Just don't get too excited. Remember, people apparently disappear in there." Amelia's smile froze.

"... You really had to remind me of that?" They continued down the path, to Herwasha forest