Ch. 7: Eyes of the Pokkle
We quietly walked through the dark shadows of the trees…-.
After receiving permission from the kind and queen, Riel and I entered the forest to search for the poachers.
Riel: “OO… sorry for all this trouble. But I can’t let this go…”
Riel spoke quietly as he apologized.
OO: “I want to protect the forest just like you Riel. Now more than ever, after seeing how you care for the forest…”
Riel: “…I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you would go that far. Thank you…”
There wasn’t much determination in his gaze, but I smiled and nodded at him.
Riel: “The trees told me that the pokkle from earlier have gone back…”
OO: “Huh…?”
I frantically ran to catch up with Riel as he picked up the pace.
Then…
Like a sorcerer, he laid his hands on the pokkle and sang some kind of incantation.
(He’s using magic to treat it…)
Riel: “Looks like it’ll be best for you to go back to the forest for a full recovery. The energy of the spirits is overflowing there anyway.”
As Riel spoke quietly, he got to his knees near the pokkle and started to gently stroke its neck.
Riel: “…I’m sorry about this.”
Riel whispered an apology, and the pokkle made a small sound as if to say everything was alright…
(Huh…?)
It looked at me as if trying to tell me something.
Ch. 8: A Determined Look
The pokkle looked at he as if it was trying to tell me something, then…-.
Riel: “Alright, let’s go. We can’t let the poachers cause any more damage.
Riel stood, his stance ready to go.
Then the pokkle weakly pulled at Riel’s clothes.
(Does it want Riel to stop?)
OO: “Riel, I think the pokkle is trying to say something?”
Riel: “What?”
OO: “It’s been looking at me while you were talking, like it wants to say something…”
Riel: “That’s…”
Riel looked away awkwardly.
OO: “Do you think it’s trying to stop us? Maybe it doesn’t want us to get into danger in the forest…”
Riel: “……”
Riel’s shoulders twitched slightly.
(Looks like I was right.)
OO: “Then…-.”
Rile: “Even still, I wish you wouldn’t stop me. It’s my duty as the prince to protect this forest and the spirits who live here. That’s the whole reason I’m here.”
OO: “Riel…”
There was an unshakable determination in Riel’s eyes.
Riel: “Don’t worry. I’ll have a servant take you back to the castle. I know you told Mother that you’d come with me, but… I can’t allow you to come into such a dangerous situation.”
OO: “But…”
————————
Riel: “I’ll chase down the poachers!”
Queen: “Riel. Think about this. Short-sited and impulsive actions fueled only my anger will surely end in failure.”
Riel: “But…!”
————————
I remembered Riel back then, shaking with rage, and felt myself worry.
OO: “I can’t break my promise with the queen. And besides… I really do love this forest and the spirits. So I want to protect them with you.”
Riel: “OO…”
Riel’s eyes went wide.
But almost immediately, his gentle smile surfaced…
Riel: “Thank you, really.”
Riel moved… and gently pulled me into an embrace.
At the sudden proximity, my heart leaped in my chest.
Riel: “I’ve never met a girl who was so brave, or who had such a strong heart.”
Slowly, Riel let me go…
Riel: “Let’s go. Together.”
OO: “Riel…!”
I tightly gripped his hand as he held it out to me.
Riel: “In exchange, I need you to promise me something. If I think it’s too dangerous and we need to run, you won’t fight me on it.”
OO: “Alright, I understand.”
Riel tightened his grip on my hand…-.
…
……
After that, we continued to walk through the forest in search of the poachers.
OO: “Riel… what are the poachers after?”
When I asked, Riel’s beautiful face fell to sorrow.
Riel: “…I think they’re after the pokkle. Many pokkle live in the forest, but they are rare. Which means they have a lot of value to the worlds beyond the forest.”
OO: “That’s horrible…”
My heart ached at hearing that sorrowful answer.
Ch. 9: Unforgiveable Sin
A chilly night wind blew threw the forest, causing the leaves to tremble as if worried…-.
Riel’s expression was grim as he told me how the poachers were aiming for the animals that lived in the forest.
Riel: “Many of the animals here can only thrive in this environment. That’s why they’ve been stolen and taken from the forest before…”
Riel chocked up for a moment.
Riel: “And yet there’s never an end to the people wanting to capture the rare animals…”
(How terrible… the poor animals and the pokkle of this beautiful forest…)
The more I thought about it, the more my chest constricted.
Riel: “I’ve also heard that even if the animals aren’t captured alive, their bodies are still worth a lot of money. There are all sorts of rumors about how they can be used in medicine for eternal life… there are people who trap the animals just because of that rumor.”
OO: “That’s so sad…”
(Just from a rumor… what a horrible thing to do.)
Riel: “Thanks. You really are a nice person.”
His gaze was affectionate, overflowing with warmth.
Riel: “I love this forest. And because I love it, I want other people to see how amazing it is. That’s why one part of the forest isn’t closed off, so people can come and go.”
I was enraptured with Riel’s resolute gaze.
Riel: “…I want other people to love this forest, just like you do.”
OO: “Riel…”
I felt something I couldn’t put into words, and instead tightly gripped his hand.
OO: “Let’s make sure we catch the poachers.”
Riel: “Yeah, we will… they need to know that we don’t forgive anyone who causes harm to the forest. And… we won’t let something like this happen again.”
Riel seemed to be remembering something from long ago…
OO: “Riel?”
I called out to him and he started to speak.
Riel: “…long ago, one of the pokkle who was dear to me was killed.”
OO: “What…?”
I could hear the pain in his voice as Riel told me the story.
Riel: “When I was a child, there was one pokkle who I spent all my time with. We were best friends. And then… poachers came and killed it. It felt like they’d killed a part of my family. That’s why I can never forgive them.”
(To think that happened…)
The raging flames of revenge burned in his eyes as he glared towards the poachers we had yet to find.
Ch. 10: Bathed in the Light of the Sun
Riel: “When I was a child, there was one pokkle who I spent all my time with. We were best friends. And then… poachers came and killed it. It felt like they’d killed a part of my family. That’s why I can never forgive them.”
As Riel spoke of his sad past, my heart ached and broke.
(Riel…)
I searched for what to say to him…
Riel: “…quiet.”
OO: “……”
Riel pulled on my hand and we quietly hid ourselves in the shadows of a tree.
Riel: “……”
(That’s…!)
Nearby, a pair of men appeared with guns.
Riel: “It’s them…!!”
OO: “Riel…!”
Riel flew out towards the poachers.
Poacher 1: “Wh-who are you!?”
Poacher 2: “……”
Riel: “I am the prince of this country, Riel. You have committed a grave crime.”
I’d never heard Riel’s voice so low, and then he was suddenly leaping forward…-.
Poacher 1: “!? Uwaaaa!”
Poacher 2: “Gyah!”
In the blink of an eye, Riel had taken the poachers down.
He pressed both of them into the ground.
Riel: “I will never… ever forgive you…!”
A cruelty swam in Riel’s eyes.
I was shocked at this expression Riel had turned on the poachers.
Poacher 1: “F-forgive us!”
Poacher 2: “W-we won’t do it again!”
Riel: “And why would I believe you…!?”
Wrath and fury warped his voice as Riel brandished the staff he carried.
(Oh no…!)
OO: “Riel!!”
I shouted before I could stop myself.
I ran from the shadow of the tree and grabbed Riel’s arm.
Riel: “Stay hidden!”
OO: “No!”
Riel: “OO…!”
His shout of sorrow and anger echoed in the peaceful forest.
OO: “Riel… I know now why the queen and the pokkle… were trying to stop you.”
(It was because he would lose himself to his anger… and the kind Riel would disappear…)
OO: “That’s enough. Don’t take it any further…”
Riel: “OO…”
Riel’s body was trembling with anger as he held the two poachers immobile.
Then I heard footfalls on the grass…
Riel: “Jukab…?”
Jukab appeared and seemed to tell Riel something as he raised his head.
Riel: “……”
After a while, Riel sank into silence, but…
Riel: “…alright, I get it Jukab.”
With a quiet nod of his head, he gave a silent signal to the servants that had followed.
As soon as he did, a large number of people took Riel’s place and bound the poachers.
After that, Riel looked at me, some traces of that rage left in his eyes.
Riel: “Jukab also… also told me to stop…”
OO: “Riel…”
He hung his head, and Jukab looked at me imploringly.
(Jukab…)
I walked over to Riel and stood close by for comfort…-.
…
……
A little while after that…
Riel had been silent the entire time, but then he eventually looked at me, his expression calm.
Riel: “Would you walk with me a little…?”
I nodded and Riel seemed slightly surprised before he started to walk.
We finally arrived at our destination…
We were on an elevated area, looking out at the beautiful landscape as the morning glow started to spread.
OO: “This is…”
Riel: “Isn’t it beautiful? When I want to see the light like this… I come here once in a while.”
Saying as much, Riel put his arm around my shoulders.
Riel: “OO… I’m really glad you stopped me. Jukab was a little mad. Apparently he says I’m still a child who can’t control himself…”
OO: “Jukab… was angry?”
I thought that was strange, considering the kindness I’d seen in his eyes.
Riel: “…you didn’t know that?”
OO: “Not at all… I mean, he was so calm and gentle.”
Riel: “Haha, gentle huh…”
Riel seemed to be turning that idea over in his head as he chuckled.
Riel: “I see. I thought it was necessary for me to protect the forest, but really everyone else was protecting me… I… I need to become kind as well, and become a splendid prince…”
He tightened the grip on my shoulders.
OO: “…I think you’re incredibly kind Riel. That’s precisely why you were so angry… I’m certain that anger came from a need to protect the forest. But…”
I struggled to find the words for the feelings I was dwelling on.
OO: “I love when you’re smiling Riel.”
As I said it, Riel broke into a delighted smile.
Riel: “I’m certain there are other people out there who are just as kind as you. With a warmth just like that of the rising sun…”
Riel lightly touched his fingers to mine.
Riel: “Haha… everything feels so calm. I’m sure everything will be fine when you’re here. That’s what I think…”
We stood there together for a moment, hesitating…
Then, carefully, we entwined our fingers together, the warmth in my heart echoing his.
As the sun ascended into the sky, it poured its brilliant light over us and the forest.
END
Secret Story: Forever at My Side...
I was ruled by my anger and hatred…-.
(That’s right, in that moment, that feeling became my everything…)
It was her… OO reached out to stop me from what I would do with the poachers…
And Jukab admonished me.
(Somewhere along the way… I knew. Within me is a rage and hatred I can’t control, like a whirlpool of anger.)
As I hung my head, I couldn’t even look up as OO moved close to my side.
(She’s like one of the animals… protectively watching over one of her hurt comrades.)
I could hear OO breathing quietly beside me, and I became acutely aware of her presence.
(I can’t continue like this…)
I slowly looked towards her.
She quietly looked back at me… and in the depths of her eyes, I saw compassion and affection.
(Ah… how could there possibly be such a beautiful person.)
Riel: “Would you walk with me a little…?”
I was nervous as I asked her, no longer wanting to be around what was going on, but without a word, she smiled and nodded.
After that, the two of us walked further into the forest.
OO was unfamiliar with the path through the forest, and her steps were hesitant…
Riel: “OO…”
I held out my hand to help her, and her face flushed red.
OO: “Thank you…”
She gently took my hand, embarrassed, just like a sweet goddess.
(You are like the spirits of the forest… still with some purity.)
At last, the night brightened.
We arrived where the forest was brought to light with the coming of the morning…
The morning glow caught our eyes as it spread over the beautiful landscape.
OO: “This is…”
Her eyes sparkled like those of a child.
Riel: “Isn’t it beautiful? When I want to see the light like this… I come here once in a while.”
I slowly looked away from her and turned towards the beauty of the morning in front of us.
Then I spoke slowly.
Riel: “OO… I’m really glad you stopped me. Jukab was a little mad. Apparently he says I’m still a child who can’t control himself…”
She tilted her head, confused, as she looked at me.
And I beheld that pure expression on her face.
OO: “Jukab… was angry?”
Riel: “…you didn’t know that?”
OO: “Not at all… I mean, he was so calm and gentle.”
Riel: “Haha, gentle huh…”
(Even though I said Jukab can be a little difficult. I see now… so that’s what you were seeing.)
I was coming to realize many things.
From her, from Jukab, and from the forest itself…
I was coming to realize just what I didn’t actually know, and the truths about myself as well.
Riel: “I see. I thought it was necessary for me to protect the forest, but really everyone else was protecting me… I… I need to become kind as well, and become a splendid prince…”
I reflexively tightened my grip on her shoulders.
OO: “…I think you’re incredibly kind Riel. That’s precisely why you were so angry… I’m certain that anger came from a need to protect the forest. But… I love when you’re smiling Riel.”
(…she gives me such kind words.)
I couldn’t help smiling at that, putting my thoughts into words.
Riel: “I’m certain there are other people out there who are just as kind as you. With a warmth just like that of the rising sun…”
(I want to touch you… to touch your warmth.)
Giving into that impulse, I gently touched her fingers.
Riel: “Haha… everything feels so calm. I’m sure everything will be fine when you’re here. That’s what I think…”
(I want to touch her more…)
But I didn’t know if it was alright for me to push for more, so I stood there fretting…
Then after a good amount of time had passed, our fingers intertwined.
OO: “Riel… your hand is a little cold.”
Suddenly, OO spoke even as her gaze was fixed on the path of the sun.
Her face in profile was beautiful in the light of the morning.
Riel: “And your hand is always so warm…”
(Now that I think about it, I wonder how many times our hands have touched. I love them… your hands.)
I tightened my grip, and our shoulders met with a thunk…
OO: “Then how about I warm your hands up like this sometimes?”
Riel: “Only sometimes? I would be happy… if you would always do this. And be by my side, always…”
OO: “Riel…”
Suddenly, she turned and met my gaze.
I realized we were closer than I had thought…
Riel: “Hey, then what about the temperature of your lips?”
OO: “……”
It was quite natural… when our lips met.
(It’s warm…)
As soon as I thought that, my heart ached as it demanded… more and more…
Riel: “Will you… warm up my lips too?”
Even though I knew I should wait for an answer, I…
I couldn’t deny the desires of my heart, and I stole her lips once more.
[You are still a child…]
I thought I could hear Jukab’s voice.
But regardless of that, I couldn’t help wanting her.
END