Ansel sat by the window. The cold glass pressed lightly against his forehead as he stared blankly at the gray sky. A heavy weight settled in his chest. It tightened with every breath.
He felt an overwhelming guilt gnawing at him. Just because he had hit Heka. Not just once, but without even giving him a chance to speak, to explain what had really happened.
The anger that had surged through him earlier now twisted into regret. And his mind was a chaotic storm of confusion and remorse. He couldn't think clearly; his thoughts were tangled, and his heart was restless.
The memory of the moment haunted him. Heka had stood there, silent and calm, while Ansel's fist had struck him. No words, no warning, just a sudden blow fueled by fear and misunderstanding.
Once Clancy came to him, Heka's close friend. Her eyes were filled with concern as she asked. "Do you know where Heka is? I've been looking for him everywhere."
Once, Ansel was relieved when he found Heka. Then suddenly, a vivid vision struck him like a lightning bolt when he saw Heka inside a florist's. He was standing tall and resolute, a gleaming sword in his hand. It was what Ansel saw.
Beside him lay Mr. McVeigh, motionless, drenched in blood. The vision was so clear, so real, that Ansel's breath caught in his throat.
That vision explained everything and made him furious. Without wasting a second, Ansel rushed inside. His heart was pounding with a mix of dread and determination.
Every time he saw Heka, standing quietly among the vibrant blooms. Ansel's mind was clouded by the haunting image of Mr. McVeigh's bloodied form.
Without thinking, without giving Heka a chance to explain. Ansel's hand moved on its own, striking Heka.
Ansel figured out the reason why Heka did it all. Neither he nor Mr. McVeigh had ever hurt him.
The terrible moment that had befallen Heka was not caused by Ansel or anyone else. They were the cruel twists of Heka's own destiny. It was a fate he had to bear alone.
The realization hit Ansel hard. He felt a deep, gnawing guilt that settled into his bones. Yet, despite this, he found himself unable to apologize to Heka. The vision of Mr. McVeigh's lifeless body haunted him relentlessly. A shadow that darkened every thought.
Hence, all Ansel wanted was to escape, to go far away. Somewhere he could find peace and calm his troubled mind. But no matter where he looked, no place seemed safe or quiet enough to soothe the storm inside him.
Restless, he pulled out his phone and leaned back against the window frame. His eyes flicked through Instagram and TikTok, searching for a distraction. Then, a video caught his attention, a strange, eerie clip about goblins appearing in the famous Aokigahara forest in Japan.
He focused on a video about the goblin that appeared in the Aokigahara forest. It caused the Aokigahara forest to be temporarily closed.
There have been many exorcists from several countries who were invited to expel the creature. However, no one managed to get rid of him.
Every exorcist who came, was always greeted by many people standing in front of the Aokigahara forest. They not only stand up, but also pray. So, the exorcist who had come could rid the goblins and save the world.
"Should I try?" Ansel said arrogantly.
He seemed to underestimate the abilities of all the exorcists who came. However, they failed to get rid of the goblin.
But then doubt crept in, chilling his confidence. "Can I really do it? The goblin must be incredibly strong... No one has been able to drive it away."
The question lingered in the air, heavy with uncertainty. Ansel's mind raced. With the challenge he needed to face to find redemption? Or was it a path that would only lead him deeper into darkness?
Although Ansel found himself strangely drawn to the mysterious presence of the goblins haunting the Aokigahara forest. His curiosity was tempered by a profound indifference toward the outcome of any confrontation.
Whether he could defeat the goblin or not mattered little to him. There was no burning desire to prove his strength or to force a victory. The fight, if it came, was not something he felt compelled to pursue aggressively.
Deep down, Ansel was aware of the limits of his own power. He knew, with a quiet certainty. What he possessed, his skills, his abilities would not be enough to overcome such a formidable creature.
The goblin was something beyond ordinary threats. Something steeped in dark, unfathomable forces that even the most skilled exorcists had failed to dispel.
Despite the hesitation that lingered in his mind, Ansel found a strange solace in the idea of stepping away from his current turmoil.
The goblin's presence, terrifying as it was, offered him a reason, a purpose to distance himself from the chaos that had engulfed his life. It was not about fighting or winning. It was about finding a space where he could breathe, reflect, and perhaps, in time, heal.
Hence, before taking any action, Ansel knew he had to seek advice from someone wise and experienced, Mr. McVeigh, his beloved grandfather.
The old man had always been a source of guidance. A steady presence in the chaos that often surrounded Ansel's life. If anyone could help him understand how to face the goblins in Japan, it was Mr. McVeigh.
As Ansel was passing in the backyard, he noticed Mr. McVeigh. Then he approached slowly, his steps measured but purposeful.
Without hesitation, Ansel called out. "Grandpa, do you know there is a goblin appearing in the Aokigahara forest?"
Mr. McVeigh paused, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. He admitted quietly. "I don't know much about that. But do you want to try to fight?"
Ansel's eyes lit up with determination. "Of course, I want to try."
The old man's expression grew serious. "You'd better not go alone. Take Andrew with you. It's too dangerous to face something like that by yourself."
Ansel nodded, appreciating the concern in Mr. McVeigh's voice. "Okay, I'll take Andrew."
The reason Ansel was so determined to confront the goblin in the Aokigahara forest went beyond mere curiosity or bravado. He wanted answers about why these Immortals were appearing in the human realm.
After his fierce battle with Fayfiend in New Haven, news had spread rapidly about the creature's appearances in various places.
Though those threats had been eliminated. The goblins in Aokigahara seemed different. It was more elusive, more resilient.
The forest itself was steeped in a dark history, known as a place where spirits lingered and where many had vanished without a trace. The goblins' presence there was a mystery wrapped in shadows. And Ansel felt a deep desire to uncover the truth behind it all.
With Mr. McVeigh's advice in mind and a plan forming in his heart, Ansel prepared himself for the journey ahead. Although he knew the path would be perilous.