The Unforgettable Memories

The place where Orano came was quite different from other parts of the forest.

This part of the forest was a charming area of the Black Forest with the blue resin it produced, the blue plants it had, and small puddles. And although this area was not one of the most dangerous places in the Black Forest, its mysterious plants and functions were unknown.

Orano slowly looked around and said,

"This place looks different than the other areas."

He then pulled out his compass and looked at it. But for some reason, the compass worked better and stopped spinning randomly here. 

Orano then looked around and said as he walked through the forest,

"Just as I thought. It works more smoothly because there is not that much magical energy here. Which means I can find the Rift now."

And just as he said that he saw the Rift flying on top of a puddle.

He looked at it with shocked eyes and said,

"Right here?"

He then looked at his compass again. But even though he found the Rift, the compass pointed to another place. It was very confusing for Orano since this never happened before. But he just brushed it off and started to examine the Rift.

He said,

"So, in the end, we're going there." 

He then stood up and said,

"There's nothing we can do. I have to tell Caitrin and the others about this."

But just when he was about to walk away, he felt something flying towards him. He then quickly pulled his sword once more and blocked the incoming attack. But the surprising thing was, the thing that attacked him, was the ivy that lied on the ground.

It was just like they became alive out of nowhere. 

They tried to attack Orano, but he blocked them and tried to get away. 

But unfortunately, as he turned around to block an incoming attack, an ivy stick itself on the back of its head and stopped him. Then a couple of more ivy did the same and made him get down to his knees.

Now he was just standing there, looking at the ground with soulless eyes, and didn't move an inch. He looked like as he was getting brainwashed.

And just a couple of seconds after that, he finally dove into his inner world.

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On the other hand, Caitrin was still on the other side of the Black Forest. But there was something that happened that she didn't expect.

She saw a fairy, just like Yuma said. 

It was almost the size of a human hand, with wings like a butterfly, and shone brightly. 

Caitrin was fascinated by it and she couldn't take her eyes off it. 

She then said to herself,

*Sometimes believing is more real than reality.*

But just then as she tried to take a closer look, the fairy moved as if it wanted to show her a place, and then began to fly deep into the forest.

Caitrin then said loudly and nervously as she tried to go after the fairy,

"Hey! Wait for me! Where are you going?"

She then yelled with anger,

"Why does something have to happen every time? How am I going to find the Rift now?"

She then sighed and added,

"There's nothing I can do I guess. I have to find follow that fairy first, then find Orano and the Rift and get out of here as fast as I can. Maybe then I can ask him to get me out."

She then started to quickly walk and made her way down the path with the fairy.  

The area which Caitrin was at, was one of the most open areas of the forest. It had no dangerous creatures in that part of the forest and it was an area of different types of plants. 

At first, she was going around comfortably and looking for her way out and she wasn't having any trouble at first. But after a while, she started to feel like she was losing her way after crossing each path. 

Every place she passed seemed familiar to her, or she always found herself on a dead end. This was slowly starting to make her more nervous.

And as she looked around she said to herself with a nervous voice tone,

"I hope I'm not accidentally going to places that are more dangerous. Otherwise, I don't think I can protect myself."

But as she walked through paths, she finally reached the three that Orano walked in before.

She then stared at the tree in front of her with amazement and said,

"This tree looks so big. I wonder if Tatsumi went by here."

She then saw the damaged vines and added,

"So he passed through here. Then I'd better start looking for him right now, or it looks like I'm going to lose my way again."

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But there was something Caitrin didn't know. 

The vines that captured Orano had knocked him out and sent him into a hallucinatory dream. A dream in which he got deeper into the darkness and sunk by the second. And as he sunk into the dark liquid that held his body strongly, he heard a voice.

A familiar voice that he missed so much to hear.

It was her mom's voice. Her voice was so delicate, reliable, and warm, that as soon as he heard it, all the feelings of longing in his heart hit him in the face. Orano sought out his mother's face with curiosity and sadness. 

And at that moment, he finally saw her.

There she was. Still wearing the same things, looking the same, and having the same smile as the day they got separated from each other. 

She looked at Orano and said with a warm voice,

"Tatsumi. You know that I love you right. And if something bad happens, you can talk to me anytime. I will always be here for you."

Orano could her mother's voice, but couldn't see her. Even though he tried to look everywhere, he was unable to find her.

Then at that moment, he felt his mother's warm hand over his hair and stood there with shock.

Then his mother said,

"Did you missed me?"

"Of course I miss you. How I couldn't?" Orano replied as he didn't want to miss the chance to talk with his mother.

His mother then smiled and said,

"Then stand up now and show me how strong you are, once more."

His mother's words deeply affected Orano from the heart. He knew that she was right. He knew he couldn't stay like this forever. He had to be stronger.

But as he stood there longer, he started to hear another voice. This voice was familiar too, but it sounded closer than his mother's sound. 

"Tatsumi! Hey! Ta-"

And like the other voice, it got closer and closer.

"Wake up! Hey! Can't you hear me?"

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