《Diary of an Adventurer》 The Beginning? The Beginning? Dear Diary? I don¡¯t really know what to start with, but this shall be my first entry in my diary. Well, to begin with, I shall share some of my information. My name is Deilos, and I am seventeen. I am a male with blonde hair and green eyes. I am average height. My friends always say that I am a meek person or someone who has a weak stomach, probably because of that one time when we saw a dead rat that is close to rotting behind the shelf, which I threw up. I meant the smell was foul; of course I would throw up. I don¡¯t know why they didn¡¯t react at all. I guess I have a more sensitive nose. Also, my ears are a bit weird as they are a little pointy than others and curve a little than the other people''s ears. To be honest, I despise these ears of mine because, when I was a kid, they were made fun of by others. But I am also thankful for it, as it has given me sight to whom I can truly trust. My father said it was a birth defect because my mother was frail. But I never met my mother so I couldn¡¯t confirm. Father said that she died after my birth. There was a time when I asked my father about my mother; his expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he glanced away. He sat in silence, and his eyes showed deep pain. After witnessing that, I refrain from asking any question pertaining to mother. My father is a farmer whom I call a boring man, as he does not want to do manly things or something like that. Things like hunting, monster extermination, or even butchering, I don¡¯t really know; he abstains and doesn¡¯t want to hold any kinds of weapons, even a knife! That¡¯s why he always buys prepared food from a nearby restaurant or a food stall whenever he feels like eating meat. Also, my father¡¯s name is Vlakas. Anyways, I have four people whom I can call my best of friends; these are the people whom I trust my life with. Hank and Daelan are both loud and rowdy. Hank has quite the muscular body as if he¡¯s a bear; he can withstand quite a beating if he gets in a fight. Daelan is a fit guy who can move fast and deal outstanding blows to his enemies. Also, both are total perverts who always talk about ramming one in. Both are virgins like me. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Haley and Marge are upstanding girls; Marge keeps the three of us in check. Marge is like a sentry who always keeps things in order; whenever she sees us do something stupid, she will chew us out till evening. Haley, on the other hand, is a sweet girl who has a meek personality and sometimes hints that she cares for us, like handing us some snacks. Now that I think of it, she¡¯s a bit of a glutten if she always has snacks with her. Also, both have a petite body, which also means flat as a board. So the three of us guys have no attraction whatsoever to those two, as we all agreed in Oppai is truth. Our friendship began quite weirdly when we were just little kids. Hank and Daelan used to tease me a lot because of my ears, and eventually the other kids joined in. But when the other kids became more physical, like pinching my ears hard and begin hurting me, both of them fought the other kids and said don¡¯t do that. That is when I truly saw them as genuine friends, but they still tease me. Eventually two families settled in our village; that is when we met Haley and Marge. Marge confronted the two, who were playfully teasing me while Haley hid behind Marge. Hank and Daelan didn¡¯t give much thought, Marge, and continued teasing me. That is when Marge snapped and fought the two and won. Haley was watching the fight with me and even handed me a biscuit while both of our eyes were at the fight. That is how our friendship started. Now as to why I am writing this. My father said that if I wanted to become an adventurer with them, I needed to write a diary, no matter what. It was a long time ago, but I couldn¡¯t write back then, so I had to learn how to write before I could start writing this. My father teaches me the writing while me and my friends train our skills. Our party compositions are like this: Daelan is our damage dealer, Hank our tank, Marge the mage, Haley our support, and me the scout. Daelan and Hank role was much expected because of how they are, but Marge and Haley were a bit surprising. The three of us didn¡¯t even know that Marge and Haley have the capability to use magic until they just nonchalantly showed their ability to the three of us, which we were very surprised. Anyway, the reason as to why we wanted to become adventurers is because of the stories retired adventurers share with us. The village may be small, but the numbers of retired adventurers are quite high. Stories such as their heroic tale of saving an entire village against a monster stampede are where multiple monsters would go in one direction or something like that. A story of finding riches deep inside the dungeon, and many more. Those stories filled us with the determination to be adventurers ourselves. That is all what I can think of for what to write. I probably won¡¯t be writing as much as I am still new, or perhaps, should I say, I have no passion for writing. But I shall write down interesting events or something like that. End for today. Spring 82, X008 Spring 82, X008 Apparently yesterday was Spring 81, X008. When my father checked my diary, he shouted at me, saying, "Where¡¯s the date and year? Always put the date and year!!" With such a belligerent tone in his voice. It also felt like he just inspected all the right and wrong of my writing my diary and said that the only thing you got wrong is no date and said that he won¡¯t be inspecting my diary any longer. To keep things in mind, there are four seasons consisting of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season consists of no more or less than eighty-four days. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Tomorrow, me and my friends will test all our skills. It¡¯s a good thing my role is a scout, as I noticed that my ears are more sharp than others. Let¡¯s just say my senses are sharper than others. Marge said she knows a good place, but we can meet up at her house before preparing. Me, Daelan, and Hank have no idea where her place is, so she takes a paper and a pencil out of her satchel. She then starts drawing on it, and after she''s done, she hands it to the three of us. It was a makeshift map where the buildings are square. Two points that start from where we usually meet up and another point to where her house is supposed to be. Then she said I''d meet you there and left without even detailing what her house looks like. End Spring 83, X008 Spring 83, X008 I arrived at our meeting place; it seems like I was a little bit too early. No one was there yet except for me. It¡¯s quite an odd place to meet; it¡¯s in front of such a grandiose-looking gate. Its walls are made of bricks and as tall as two grown men if one is standing on the other''s shoulder. Inside the gate is a building that exceeds the gate; it looks as if it is the king¡¯s mansion. I can¡¯t even make up words on how to describe it; all I can say is that it''s magnificent architecture. Am I even allowed to stand here? Looking around the village, it is quite bustling, people bartering with goods and whatnot; each building looks unique. I don¡¯t know how to really explain this in depth; all I can write about it is how the structures differentiate from one another, like one looks chunky while the other is taller but thinner. I feel like I shouldn¡¯t be loitering in front of the grandiose-looking gate and waiting near the house, which most likely is Marge House, but the road is so busy there that it may pose a problem if I loiter there. Seriously, how long am I going to wait for them_ I didn¡¯t notice Marge was sneaking behind me as I was writing a while ago. I almost soiled my pants when she placed both of her hands on both my shoulders. To think Marge is such an affluent person as she came at me from the other side of the gate. She asked what I was doing, and I answered I was writing a diary. With a cheeky grin, she extended her right hand to me, gesturing to give my diary to her. I first hesitated, but she said, ¡°To enter this gate, one must pay a toll.¡± I reluctantly handed it to her. When she opened it, she skimmed right through it and said with such a disappointed tone, ¡°Tsk, perverts,¡± and handed it back to me. I feel like she just looked for keywords like her name and didn¡¯t really read any other part. She opened the gate and guided me inside. It was a stunning-looking garden with lush flowers scattered around. When we reached the building, she opened the heavy wooden doors, revealing a grand foyer adorned with gilded mirrors and intricate tapestries. I was in awe at how luxurious her house was that she had to snap her fingers right in front of my face for me to get back to reality. She guided me towards a room where I felt like my neck was snapping at how much I was looking around while walking with her. She gestured her hand at the door, implying that the door leads to the room where I should wait by, and said she would go back and wait for the others. I opened the door to reveal a sunlit room filled with elegant furniture and stunning artwork. The walls were draped in rich fabrics; everything just exudes richness. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Also, Haley is sipping on a porcelain teacup while her eyes close, as she is savoring the tea. A soft smile graces her lips, reflecting her quiet appreciation for that moment; each sip is like a tranquil pause in the world around her. She lets out a soft, satisfied sigh, almost a whisper, as if indulging in a secret. When she opened her eyes and noticed me, she blushed embarrassed. Someone was staring at her while she was indulging in her tea. Ah, that was somewhat awkward for me too. So, we just nodded as if we agreed to not talk about this moment. She also offered me tea as if it were fully signing the contract, and when I drink, the contract is sealed. Which I did drink the tea, and she shows a cheeky smile. Also, Marge¡¯s house is just something else; it exudes so much elegance and beauty, and yet it feels so empty. I can even count the number of servants I saw in one hand, and it seems like her parents aren¡¯t here. Well, that¡¯s all for now. There¡¯s nothing to write now that we are waiting for Daelan and Hank. I¡¯ll continue once everything is done. I can¡¯t believe how weak my stomach is. I guess I really have a weak stomach. I threw up after just feeling the tear of flesh as I stabbed the wolf. I began to wonder if I could really be an adventure if I was like this. Daelan and Hank laugh it off, and Marge tells them to stop while Haley checks on me. But after a while, Daelan said, ¡°Hey, at least you know how it feels. It may take a while to get used to it, but you¡¯ll eventually get there.¡± Then Hank slapped my back and gave me a thumbs up. At that moment, it gives me the determination to be an adventure with them. Ah, right, the context. So when Daelan and Hank arrived, both were like me looking in all directions. She gestured to Daelan and Hank to take a seat, and then she stubbornly pushed a table, not taking anyone¡¯s help in front of us. Marge laid down a map on the table and points and said, ¡°This is our location, and this is where we will go. It¡¯s a field with lots of monsters¡ªto be specific, slimes. No other monster should show up.¡± Daelan raised his hand and asked, ¡°How¡¯d you know this place? ¡±, with Marge replying, ¡°I¡¯ve been training there.¡±. Daelan just nodded and let out an audible "Oh.¡± Marge then explains how long it takes to get there while on foot. She said less than an hour if things go awry and thirty minutes should be the most optimal time to get there. We set out towards that place. The way there was peaceful; as we left the village, we reached an open grassy field with a strong breeze that carried the fresh scent of earth, and grass filled the air. We reached the place; it was a forest. The forest is filled with tall trees and the sounds of chirping birds. In the middle is our true destination; there¡¯s an open space and multiple slimes lurking around. We began the attack; it was a one-sided massacre from us. Marge was the one who could truly show off in this attack; her casting different magic as to show off was quite effective on the slimes. It makes the three of us guys attack look silly; after all, we just need to destroy the core of the slime; our attack was like bash and then poof. It¡¯s like a caveman bashing a club. Also, Haley used one of her support abilities, which strengthens our bodies. And that is when the wolf, who probably heard all the commotions in our attack, went towards us. The wolf targeted Marge, lunging, but Hank, who was near her, stopped the attack with his shield. The wolf was so focused on Hank that it didn¡¯t notice Daelan going behind and stabbed it. But the wolf was so vigorous that it didn¡¯t go down; it shook Daelan out, leaving his blade on its body, and changed targets; it went for Haley, but she cast a barrier on herself, stopping the wolf from attacking her. Then the wolf finally notices me, and it lunges at me with all its might, but I was holding a dagger, and it fierces its neck with my dagger when it lunges towards me. It''s blood pouring down on my face when I removed my dagger from its neck. which is also the reason Daelan and Hank laugh at me. And that is how I threw up after being covered in blood and felt that sensation. End. Summer 5, X008 Summer 5, X008 I woke up early in the morning to the sound of my father coughing loudly. Though I had just opened my eyes, I could feel a dull ache in my head. Ignoring the discomfort, I pushed myself out of bed to check on him. As I stood up, my legs wobbled, threatening to give way, and a wave of soreness washed over my entire body. Despite the exhaustion, I hurried to his side, my concern for him outweighing my own discomfort. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice filled with concern. At first, he gave me a surprised look, then replied with his usual calm tone, "You know how it is¡ªit¡¯s just the pollen allergies acting up again." "Oh," I said, still a little confused. I didn¡¯t fully understand, but he assured me it happens from time to time and there was nothing to worry about. After a moment of silence, my father spoke again, ¡°For you to worry about me, even though you yourself should be the one who should be worrying less about others.¡± I gave him a puzzled look, unsure of what he meant. He sighed, closed the book he was holding, and walked over to me. Gently, he placed his hand on my forehead, as if checking for something. "Seems like you¡¯re alright now," my father said, his voice calm but tinged with relief. "You were out cold for the past five days." Surprised, I blurted out, "Five days?!" "That¡¯s right," my father replied, his voice steady but carrying a hint of worry. "You were suffering from all sorts of illnesses. I even carried you in my arms, determined to find a priest to help you. That¡¯s when your friends arrived. The girl¡ªHaley, if I recall her name correctly¡ªimmediately used magic on you, and your condition stabilized. But the effort left Haley completely exhausted. She ended up teaching the others a weaker version of the magic she had used, and from that day on, they took turns caring for you. Every day, around the time you usually return home, one of them would arrive and cast the magic on you." My father placed his hand on my head and smiled warmly. "You have good friends, and you should cherish them." Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Just then, my stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence. My father chuckled lightly. "You must be hungry. After all, you haven¡¯t eaten for five days." And just like that, I woke up after being unconscious for five days. Before I had approached him, I noticed he was writing, as he often does. My father always writes, but there¡¯s something peculiar about his books. Whenever I peeked at them, the words seemed like gibberish¡ªmaybe some kind of like a foreign language. Whatever it is, it appeared to be entirely made up words. I¡¯ve never seen anything like them, not even during my visits to the library to study writing and reading. But there was one book that stood out. At the start of the page, there were some words I could actually understand, and they looked like this: Mana esselya tuvien: Ni ess? L¨²va, ar m¨¢ra n¨¢ tuvien le. / My name is Blank, and it is nice to meet you. I couldn¡¯t wrap my head around it. Who is blank? Why is it nice to meet me? And what the hell are these made-up words?! I didn¡¯t even bother reading the rest of the page because it all seemed so ridiculous. I also asked my father why he writes so much, and he simply replied, ¡°Sometimes, when your mind becomes cloudy with thoughts, it¡¯s better to write them down so you can clear your head.¡± I didn¡¯t get it. Maybe it¡¯s because my head is always empty¡ªnot that I¡¯m stupid or anything, but my mind is usually clear. There¡¯s no need for me to write things down just to think straight.
After my father confirmed that I was back to normal, I headed to the spot where my friends and I usually met. To my surprise, no one was there, even though this was the time we¡¯d all normally gather. It took a while, but eventually, they arrived. As soon as they saw me, Daelan and Hank started running toward me. But what caught me off guard was Haley¡ªI hadn¡¯t noticed her at first, but she was the one who reached me first, wrapping me in a tight hug. Daelan and Hank, on the other hand, were stopped in their tracks by Marge, who grabbed them by their collars. She had silently concluded that if both of them joined in, Haley and I would¡¯ve been squished in the process. With overflowing gratitude I thanked each of them wholeheartedly. Then, Daelan and Hank couldn¡¯t resist any longer. They surrounded the three of us, and we all ended up in a big, warm group hug. End. Summer 40, X008 Summer 40, X008 Nothing much has happened, and it feels like a drag to just write everything down. All I did was my daily routine of sleeping, waking up, eating, meeting up with friends, having lunch with friends, training our skills, and saying goodbye when dusk came. Then repeat. But tomorrow some event will happen, said by Marge. She didn¡¯t want to spoil it, so she said nothing; she said to just bring extra clothes tomorrow; one¡¯s we won¡¯t mind getting wet and some usual wear. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. What is she planning, I wonder? Well, whatever it is, it smells fishy. But she said it¡¯s going to be fun, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about. End of the day. Summer 41, X008 Summer 41, X008 Right now, we''re on a wagon heading to a port town. Marge mentioned we were going to the beach, and the three of us guys just stared at her, confused. "Huh?" we all said in unison. She then explained that it¡¯s a place close to the sea, and yet again, we three were dumbfounded. So then she went on a rant on what a beach is. The conversation went something like this: Marge started by saying, ¡°It¡¯s a place near a body of water, but the ground there is made of sand.¡± Hank, looking genuinely puzzled, asked, ¡°What¡¯s sand?¡± Marge sighed, clearly frustrated, and began her explanation. ¡°Okay, imagine you¡¯re holding a bunch of really tiny pieces of something that are smaller than a pebble. Not like dust, but not big enough to be a rock. They¡¯re small, rough, and kind of gritty. If you take a handful of these pieces, they¡¯re soft and slip through your fingers, like grains falling through your hand.¡± Hank nodded as if he understood, but the blank look on his face told me otherwise. Then Daelan chimed in. ¡°So, if it''s near water, doesn''t that make it a river or a lake? But with sand? So, it¡¯s like a river or lake... but with extra steps?¡± Marge shot him a glare, clearly ready to correct him, but then froze. She thought for a moment, sighed, and quietly admitted, ¡°Yeah, you might actually be right¡­¡± With a defeated wave of her hand, Marge pointed at the wagon. ¡°Look, just get in, and you¡¯ll see when we get there.¡± Daelan, ever the smartass, said, ¡°I know a river nearby. We could get there without the wagon.¡± ¡°Shut up and get in!¡± Marge snapped, rolling her eyes like she¡¯d heard this argument a hundred times before. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. So, we did what she said¡ªmostly to avoid another one of her daily lectures. And that''s how we ended up on this wagon, heading to a place called the beach.
Oh my God. So this is a beach. The water is so vast and beautiful, it almost looks like it¡¯s made of gold, sparkling and shimmering under the sun. And this is the sand Marge keeps talking about¡ªit¡¯s golden, stretching out as far as the eye can see. Not only that, there¡¯s tall water that crashes on the sand and makes such a roaring noise. Daelan and Hank looks raring to go. And that smell¡ªit smells delicious; it came from the stall that looks like the owner is grilling some kind of creature. Oh, so that¡¯s a grilled squid. I looked at Marge and pointed at the stall and asked her what it was and said that. She also said, ¡°There¡¯s some fish that you can even eat raw, but I don¡¯t know what fish are exactly safe to eat.¡± When Daelan and Hank heard that, their eyes widen and their mouth starts to water.
When the wagon stopped, Marge immediately launched into her instructions, so focused that she had her eyes shut the whole time. It went something like this: ¡°So, before we go in, there¡¯s a place where you can change into clothes you don¡¯t mind getting wet. Then, make sure to stretch before getting into the water. Oh, and the sunset here is amazing¡ªit¡¯s blah blah blah.¡± I didn¡¯t really catch most of it, but while she was going on, I glanced back and noticed Daelan and Hank were already gone. I turned toward the beach and saw them gleefully running toward the water. I told Marge, and she immediately sprang into action. It was the fastest I¡¯d ever seen her move. She charged after Daelan and Hank, slammed both their heads with a well-aimed strike, and dragged them back by their collars. When they came to, they were stuck in a seiza position, listening to Marge¡¯s lecture. Haley and I were given the okay sign to go to the beach.
The sand feels so strange under my feet¡ªsoft, yet gritty at the same time. Exactly like Marge described. Haley, however, seems completely unfazed by it. I guess she and Marge must have come here before, back when they weren¡¯t in the village. Why didn¡¯t they ever invite us before? Oh, right¡ªthey did. But the three of us would always shrug it off and say, ¡°There¡¯s a perfectly good lake nearby.¡± How foolish we were. I should stop writing and just enjoy the day. I''ll write more as the day comes to a close. Summer 42, X008 Summer 42, X008 My head still hurts. Why did I just accept it and eat it without asking Marge first? But Daelan and Hank have it worse¡ªthey still look like they¡¯re on the verge of death. We¡¯re on the wagon, heading back to the village, while Marge shoots daggers at the three of us for being so dumb. Haley¡¯s doing her best to calm her down, practically begging her not to strangle us. It all began when Marge finally gave Daelan and Hank some freedom. I¡¯m pretty sure they promised her they wouldn¡¯t do anything stupid, and then Marge asked Haley to come with her to check out a stall. The second they were out of sight, Daelan and Hank immediately started shoving anything that even looked remotely edible into their mouths. Since Marge had mentioned some fish were safe to eat, their brains must¡¯ve decided everything was fair game. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I glanced over and saw Marge and Haley busy bartering at a nearby stall, completely unaware of what the two of them were getting up to. Daelan walked up to me, grinning and holding out a piece of raw fish. "It tastes great, with a sharp kick to it," he said. I took it and ate it, and he wasn¡¯t lying¡ªthe taste was actually pretty good, with a sharp, tingling sensation on my tongue. He then returned to where Hank was and got right back to whatever they were up to. I saw Haley return with some kind of treats, but moments later, my vision started to fade. The last thing I remember before blacking out was Haley dropping the treats, her voice panicked as she called out for Marge. Then I heard Marge scream, ¡°Those dumbasses!¡± just before everything went dark. Apparently, I had eaten a poisonous fish¡ªone strong enough to take down a grown man. Marge was furious, not just because of that, but because her plans to relax and have fun were completely ruined. Instead, she had to babysit the three of us, with Haley. Hopefully, we can make it up somehow. End of the day. Summer 43, X008 Summer 43, X008 Marge is still upset about the whole beach incident, but tomorrow is her birthday, and the three of us are hoping we can make things right. For birthdays, our tradition is to get the best food. It started as a friendly competition to see who could pick the most impressive dish, but Marge and Haley always seemed to win¡ªboth in quality and quantity. I used to wonder how they managed to afford such luxurious meals, but now it¡¯s clear¡ªthey¡¯re the rich types. The three of us were trying to come up with the best way to make up with her. For half an hour, we couldn¡¯t think of anything. Then Hank suggested we stick with the usual food plan, but this time buy dishes that relate to the beach. And not only that¡ªhe said we could arrange the food to spell ¡°We¡¯re sorry.¡± At first, I thought it was a ridiculous idea and almost dismissed it. But then Daelan suddenly yelled, ¡°You¡¯re a genius!¡± I flinched at his sudden outburst. Still, with both of them so eager, I couldn¡¯t really argue. So, I reluctantly agreed, but only on the condition that I¡¯d contribute money, not help with the food. I had my own plan in mind, just in case things went south. It¡¯s to use the things I¡¯ve been collecting that I found on the beach¡ªthese weird little bits from the sand. They kind of look like snail shells, but not exactly. I just call them shells anyway. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. One of them was small and smooth, shaped like a tiny oval bean, with a shiny surface. What caught my eye was the crack down one side¡ªit didn¡¯t look broken, more like it was meant to be that way. It felt so smooth. Another one was heavier than I thought it¡¯d be. It was rounded, almost like a little bowl, with grooves all over. It was mostly white, but around the edges, there was this faint bluish-purple tint, like the colors had faded but were still holding on. I also found a broken shell, lying in the sand. Inside, there was a small, round thing, shiny and smooth. At first, I thought it was just a rock, but it didn¡¯t feel rough like one. It was soft to the touch, almost too perfect to be real. It was about the size of a nut, and it had a soft glow, like it was catching the light in a way I¡¯d never seen. I¡¯m going to do my best to turn these into accessories. Before the whole passing-out debacle, while I was on my way to the changing area, I¡¯d seen stalls selling things like this¡ªthough they didn¡¯t have the round object and were held together with some kind of string. And before Daelan handed me that poisonous piece of fish, I had been collecting these out of sheer curiosity, storing them in my satchel alongside my diary and pencil. Girls like accessories right? Because I''ve seen mostly girls flock over that stall. Hopefully it work. We also asked Haley to make sure Marge shows up, but we didn¡¯t tell her the details¡ªjust that there would be a surprise for Marge. End of the day. Summer 44, X008 Summer 44, X008 It¡¯s Marge¡¯s birthday now, and I¡¯m crossing my fingers that everything goes well. I made the accessories: a necklace and a bracelet. The necklace features the round object with some shells to complement it, while the bracelet is mostly made up of shells. I almost forgot to mention¡ªour birthdays always happen at a secret spot that only the five of us know about. Daelan found it. It¡¯s the opposite of the forest where we first showed off our skills. That¡¯s the southern forest, the one with the wolf incident. This spot is in the northern forest. The northern forest is considered safe, so the villagers never worried about us going there, even when we were kids. They¡¯d just tell us, "Come back before dark, or we¡¯ll send a search party and punish you severely." To get there, when you enter the forest, you¡¯ll find a trail. Follow it for a bit, then head east. We¡¯ve marked a few trees along the way to make sure we don¡¯t get lost. The place where we celebrate birthdays is an open clearing with a single massive tree at its center. It¡¯s as if all the trees that should have spread out across the space somehow grew together to form this one giant tree. We even carved out the inside to create a kind of makeshift house, so we can still gather there even in the winter. I got to get going, Daelan and Hank should already be there getting the surprise ready.
Perhaps, this won¡¯t work after all. Seeing it first hand, yep this won¡¯t work. No- no, think of the positives¡­ Yeah, this will work. I could see Daelan and Hank so proud of their work that¡¯s it¡¯s hard to tell them. I meant they did a great job. It¡¯s um very creative. Well, whatever happen happens, time will decide.
It already looks like this is going to be a complete disaster. Haley¡¯s reaction pretty much confirms it. When they arrived, Haley already had her hands on Marge''s eyes, covering them, but now it looks like she doesn¡¯t even want to remove her hands from her eyes after seeing the surprise. I could hear Marge asking if they were there yet, and when they stopped moving, she asked if she could see it now. But now she¡¯s getting irritated with Haley for taking so long to remove her hands. It¡¯s only a matter of time before she forces Haley¡¯s hand away from her eyes¡ªshe¡¯s still struggling right now. I am already preparing to dropped into a seiza position, bracing for her lecture, when I glanced over at Daelan and Hank. They were looking at me with confused expressions. Well, they¡¯ll figure it out when it happens. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. I¡¯m using the few minutes I have left to write this, as this may be my last entry.
Wait... it actually works? Well, sorta, I guess. And just to be clear, I wasn¡¯t talking about the plan Daelan and Hank came up with¡ªthat was a total disaster. I meant the accessories I made. They kind of helped calm her down. So, at first when Marge finally breaks free from Haley clutches, and saw Daelan and Hank plan, her reaction was much expected. She just blurted out, ¡°What the fuck is this?¡± Daelan and Hank explained proudly how they¡¯d searched the village, eventually finding a shady merchant selling fresh fish straight from the sea. They went on about how expensive it had been, and how, after they bought everything, the merchant just took off without a word. They even cooked it themselves, since they didn¡¯t have enough money to hire a chef. So, that¡¯s why the food is in this state, they cooked it themselves. Marge facepalmed and yelled at them, "None of these fish are even from the sea! Most of them are all freshwater fish!" She stepped closer, glaring at them. "Which means they came from a river or a lake." With a look of pure disdain, she added ¡°You guys got scammed, and honestly, you shouldn''t have bothered cooking them¡ªthey all look awful." Both Daelan and Hank curled up into the fetal position, sucking their thumbs. Marge then turned to me and walked over, crouching down to face me. I couldn¡¯t keep my eyes on her and looked away, but in a sadistic tone, she said, "Look at me." It was like instinct¡ªI couldn¡¯t help but obey and forced myself to meet her gaze. In that same cold tone, she said, "I expected more from you, Deilos." But before she could say anything that might break me like it had with Daelan and Hank, I quickly offered her the accessory I had made, then lowered my head to the ground in submission. I stumbled over my words, trying my best to explain. "Aft-after we finished e-eating, we w-were planning to gi-give this to y-you." The silence hung heavy, and I braced myself for a barrage of insults¡ªbut they never came. That¡¯s when I looked up and saw her admiring the accessories, though what really caught her attention was the necklace¡ªspecifically, the round object. I called out to her, and she flinched slightly before taking it. She acted like she hated it, but it was obvious she loved it as she immediately put on the necklace and bracelet. She huffed, crossing her arms. ¡°Alright, I forgive you three... this time.¡± Her atmosphere from that time was gone and she is somewhat back to her usual self. After a while, Haley came over, asking if I was okay. I had noticed her earlier, standing off to the side while Marge was tearing into the two of them. She was shaking, clearly terrified of Marge. I asked her to hold out her hands and placed an extra necklace I¡¯d made into her palms. I¡¯d found two of those round objects and still had some shells left, so I figured, why not make another one. She seemed taken aback, her voice rising in a bit of panic. "Eh? Why? I¡¯m not upset with you three, and I didn¡¯t really help enough to deserve something like this." As she tried to hand it back to me. I replied calmly, my tone in stark contrast to her panicked state. "It¡¯s for everything you¡¯ve done for us. No need to hesitate. And if that doesn¡¯t work for you, let¡¯s just call it a late birthday gift." I gently closed her hands around the necklace. She gave a small nod, a bashful smile tugging at her lips as a blush crept up her cheeks. "Thanks!" she said, her voice soft and sincere. I think my heart skipped a beat in that moment, but I quickly brushed it off, reminding myself that I¡¯m into busty girls¡ªdefinitely not her. And that¡¯s how the day ended¡ªDaelan and Hank still in that state, and the three of us reluctantly ate the food they¡¯d cooked. Surprisingly, it was edible¡ªjust needed a little salt or something. Also, Haley¡¯s birthday was on the 14th of Summer, which we just did the usual tradition. End of the day. Autumn 23, X008 Autumn 23, X008 I don¡¯t really get it¡ªwhy does my dad want me to write this when it¡¯s so boring? It¡¯s so boring, in fact, that I keep procrastinating. I don¡¯t even see what he sees in writing. Honestly, there¡¯s nothing to write about except the same daily routine I already wrote down. I guess my life¡¯s just too boring to have anything else to write. Well, there are two things I actually want to share in this diary, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m writing today. The first is that I¡¯ve been training to avoid the feeling I had when I stabbed that wolf, along with the blood and struggle that came with it. So, I came up with the idea of throwing the dagger instead of getting caught up in close combat and struggle again with the aftermath of blood pouring down on me when I killed it, I now just throw it and then dead. The only downside is retrieving those daggers so it won¡¯t fully eliminate all them. I would still feel that sensation when I take it out. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I could say I¡¯m good enough to throw daggers, though I haven¡¯t mastered it yet. But I can still hit the target¡ªnot exactly where I want, just a little bit closer to it. If we¡¯re talking about body parts, it¡¯s like aiming for the heart and hitting the stomach instead. So, a miss, but not by much. A bow might be more efficient, but it will take me longer to train with it and master it. Since we can finally qualify as adventurers next year, and we¡¯ve wanted this for so long, we decided it has to be next year and not any other year. The second thing is that Daelan¡¯s birthday is tomorrow, and as usual, we¡¯ll follow the tradition¡ªbut with a twist. He wants to have a mock battle with everyone. He says he wants to test his skills and see ours too. Haley and I were a bit reluctant, but Marge and Hank were all fired up. I guess there¡¯s not much we can do when everyone else is so excited about it. End of the day. Autumn 24, X008 Autumn 24, X008 Daelan was so excited about the mock battle that he went all out, even renting an arena in the nearby town. The arena came fully equipped with specialized battle accessories: protective gear that absorbs damage until it reaches its limit, at which point it shatters. These things aren¡¯t cheap¡ªrenting the arena alone costs a small fortune, paid in those hefty gold coins that make your wallet weep. And, of course, the accessories only work within the arena¡¯s boundaries. Take a step outside, and they¡¯re just overpriced trinkets. But hey, at least they look cool. Daelan also stocked up on a generous supply of stamina recovery potions. With a proud grin, he announced that he¡¯d spent every last coin he had, leaving him unable to afford any healing potions. The moment the words left his mouth, I heard Marge, standing beside me, muttering under her breath, ¡°Yeah, right. I can¡¯t believe he has the nerve to say that, grinning like an idiot, after begging me on his knees for money.¡± I pretended not to hear her and kept my expression neutral. ¡°But Haley¡¯s with us,¡± Daelan added, his confidence unshaken. ¡°She¡¯ll handle the healing.¡± Haley, ever composed, simply nodded in agreement. As I mentioned yesterday, each of us would face Daelan in a one-on-one match. The lineup was set: I¡¯d go first, followed by Haley, then Hank, and finally Marge.
It was a complete and utter defeat¡ªthough, to be honest, I never really planned to win in the first place. When we both took our positions, I tried to talk my way out of it. My voice wavered as I stammered, "A-are you sure you want to do this? I mean, you''re way faster and stronger than me..." Daelan just grinned, his mischievous smile widening. "Relax, Delios. It¡¯s just for fun. I¡¯ll go easy on you... probably." With no way out, I had no choice but to fight. The moment Haley rang the bell, I flung a handful of daggers at him, hoping to catch him off guard. But Daelan parried each one with ease, his movements smooth and precise. I could see him adjusting his stance, ready to close the distance and strike. Panic surged through me, and before the blade could reach me, I raised both hands and shouted, "I surrender!" Daelan froze, his blade just inches from landing the finishing blow. His expression shifted from focused determination to mild surprise. After a brief pause, he lowered his sword and nodded, accepting the victory. But there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, like he¡¯d been hoping for more of a challenge.
I still can¡¯t believe Haley managed to pull off a win like that. When they took their positions and I rang the bell, Daelan charged straight at her. I could see the panic on Haley¡¯s face, but she quickly cast a protective barrier around herself just in time. Daelan didn¡¯t let up, though. He kept hammering at the shield, strike after strike, until it finally began to crack. As the barrier shattered, Haley, seemingly without thinking, closed her eyes. Then, almost instinctively, she swung her staff with precision, landing a solid hit right on Daelan¡¯s face. He staggered back, dazed, before collapsing to the ground, knocked out cold. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The shock on everyone¡¯s faces was palpable¡ªeven Haley, who had just opened her eyes, seemed stunned by what she¡¯d done. It was clear she hadn¡¯t fully processed what had just happened. We waited for Daelan to regain consciousness before we could continue.
I can¡¯t say I expected something like this to happen, but it did¡ªand, honestly, I can¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride in having seen it coming. Daelan and Hank, who¡¯ve trained together from the very beginning, have witnessed each other¡¯s skills up close, even hunting monsters side by side. So, it wasn¡¯t entirely surprising when they decided to settle things with their fists¡ªno weapons, no distance, just raw, unfiltered combat. They stripped off their gear and accessories, leaving nothing but their determination and strength to decide the outcome. The moment I rang the bell, they lunged at each other without hesitation. There was no holding back, no dodging¡ªjust brutal, bone-rattling punches that landed with heavy thuds. Strangely, they laughed with every strike that connected, their faces lighting up with a mix of pain and exhilaration. It was as if they were savoring every moment of the fight. At first, I thought Hank¡¯s stronger build would give him the upper hand, but Daelan¡¯s precision and speed turned the tide. He landed more hits than Hank could handle, balancing the scales and leaving them evenly matched. As the fight dragged on, their faces became canvases of bruises and blood, each blow bringing them closer to collapse. It was only a matter of time before one of them fell. But in a twist of fate, they both landed a punch simultaneously, their fists connecting in perfect unison. The impact sent them crashing to the ground, unconscious, resulting in a hard-fought draw. Haley was the first to react, sprinting toward them with her healing magic at the ready. She worked quickly, tending to their wounds. Once Daelan fully recovered, it was Marge''s turn. This next fight feels like it¡¯s going to be an easy win for Daelan, especially if he closes the distance while Marge is preoccupied with chanting her spells. I don¡¯t know much about her abilities, but I¡¯m certain her magic requires time and focus to prepare¡ªjust like during the wolf incident in the forest. If Daelan can disrupt her rhythm, the match will be over before it even begins.
What I had just witnessed sent a shiver down my spine, even though it only lasted for a split second. Daelan, probably thinking the same thing I was, held back for a moment. He gave Marge the chance to finish chanting one of her spells before charging at her. It was almost like he wanted to make it fair¡ªlike he wanted her to have a fighting chance. As he closed the distance, Marge summoned an earth wall, the ground erupting between them. Instead of being stopped, Daelan used it to his advantage. He stepped onto the wall, launching himself high into the air to avoid the obstacle. It was clear he¡¯d seen through her plan: she was stalling, buying time to chant a more powerful spell. Mid-air, he flipped gracefully, positioning himself to land behind her and deliver what he must have thought would be the winning blow. But then it happened. In that split second, as Daelan hung in the air, Marge¡¯s eyes locked onto his. Their faces were inches apart, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. A slow, sinister smile spread across her lips. Before Daelan could even land, she unleashed a surge of electricity. The crackling energy lit up the air, and Daelan¡¯s body went rigid before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Just like that, it was over. In that moment, it hit me¡ªMarge had anticipated everything. She hadn¡¯t just outsmarted Daelan; she¡¯d revealed her ability to dual chant, something I hadn¡¯t even known she could do. She¡¯d turned the entire match in her favor. I¡¯m pretty sure I was the only one who noticed it¡ªthat smile of hers. It sent a chill down my spine, stirring up memories I¡¯d rather forget. Haley rushed to Daelan¡¯s side, ensuring he was okay. That¡¯s how the day unfolded. Despite everything that had happened, it turned out to be an enjoyable day, and I can confidently say everyone had a good time. I think everyone had fun, even Daelan, though he was still out cold by the end of it. End of the day. Autumn 49, X008 Autumn 49, X008 Today is Hank¡¯s birthday, but he mentioned that his family has this tradition where, whenever someone comes of age, they throw an over-the-top celebration. Because of that, he invited us to join this big event instead of sticking to the usual birthday celebration the five of us normally have. He told us not to worry too much about our behavior and just to be ourselves¡ªthough he did add that we should avoid wearing anything too extravagant. While he addressed all four of us, it felt like the comment was aimed more at Haley and Marge, who have a tendency to act like proper ladies or aristocrats. Which, to be fair, they are. I remember the first time we celebrated birthdays together¡ªHaley and Marge showed up in these elegant dresses, acting all prim and proper, like they were nobles or something. The three of us guys just looked at each other like, ¡°What¡¯s up with them?¡± We shrugged it off as some weird phase or fad they were into at the time. Little did we know, they weren¡¯t just putting on an act¡ªthey were actual aristocrats. Anyway, we decided to prepare for the night and meet up with Hank, who would then lead us to the celebration. But he seemed a little uneasy about something and started giving us the directions towards the place. I couldn¡¯t help but feel like this part was directed at Daelan, who has a habit of falling asleep as soon as we¡¯re done with whatever we¡¯re doing. There have even been times when we came back the next morning, and he was still snoozing in the exact same spot. As for me, I don¡¯t have much else going on, so I figured I might as well work on my throwing skills or find something to kill time until the celebration. That was something. The whole experience was enjoyable, even though a few things got on my nerves. Here¡¯s how the event unfolded: I actually overslept, but thanks to the directions Hank had given us, I managed to reach the destination. On my way there, I noticed the village was quieter than usual. I wondered where everyone had gone¡ªeven at this hour, there are usually people roaming around. When I arrived, I got my answer. The place was packed, and it seemed like almost everyone in the village was there. It felt more like a festival than a simple celebration. Even though Hank¡¯s house was on the smaller side, they made great use of the outdoor space. Multiple lights were hung around, brightening up the area and creating a lively, welcoming atmosphere. I wandered through the bustling crowd, scanning the sea of faces for my friends. The sheer number of people was overwhelming, and I felt utterly lost. Just as I was about to give up, I felt a gentle tug on my hand. I turned to see a young girl staring up at me with bright, eager eyes. ¡°Hey, you! Let¡¯s play!¡± she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. I tried to brush her off. ¡°I¡¯m too old to play with you,¡± I replied, hoping she¡¯d leave me alone. The girl tilted her head, her expression puzzled. ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t we almost the same age?¡± Her comment caught me off guard, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little insulted. ¡°If we¡¯re the same age, why am I taller than you?¡± I shot back, trying to defend myself. She didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°I have friends who are the same age as me and as tall as you,¡± she said matter-of-factly. I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came out. Defeated, I exhaled heavily. ¡°Okay, you win.¡± Her face lit up with a gleeful smile. ¡°Okay!! Let¡¯s play hide and seek! You¡¯ll be the seeker!¡± I nodded reluctantly and began counting. When I finished, I started searching for her. I¡¯ll admit, she was good¡ªso good, in fact, that I couldn¡¯t find her. Just as I was about to give up, I heard a voice calling out, ¡°Endora! Endora, where are you?¡± It was a familiar voice, so I turned toward its source. There stood Hank, his eyes widening in surprise the moment they met mine. Before I could even utter a word, I felt someone brush past me¡ªit was the young girl, darting toward Hank with uncontainable glee. She motioned for him to pick her up, and when he did, she whispered something in his ear. Hank carried her closer to me, and with a smug grin, she declared, ¡°Haha, I win! You¡¯re a loser!¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Hank shot her a half-hearted scolding look and set her down. ¡°Mom¡¯s looking for you. Go on,¡± he said, nudging her gently. She stuck her tongue out at me before skipping away. He turned to me with a grin. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t coming. We waited forever for you.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, rubbing the back of my neck. ¡°I overslept.¡± Hank laughed and slapped my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug. ¡°Daelan¡¯s gonna laugh his ass off when he hears this,¡± he said, his grin widening. As we walked around to meet the others, people kept greeting Hank, wishing him a happy birthday again. It seemed they had already greeted him earlier, before I arrived. Each time someone called out, ¡°Happy birthday, Hank!¡± he smiled and nodded politely, though I could tell he was growing a bit overwhelmed. When we finally reached our friends, I was surprised by the crowd surrounding them. Daelan was hanging out with a group, drinking alcohol even though he had only recently turned the legal age. He looked thoroughly drunk, belting out songs with the other revelers. Haley, on the other hand, was helping some elderly folks, using healing magic to massage their aches away. Marge was surrounded by children, dazzling them with her magical tricks. It hit me then¡ªmy friends weren¡¯t just well-liked; they were famous. In the time I¡¯d been away, they¡¯d carved out a place for themselves in this community. ¡°Huh,¡± Hank mumbled beside me. ¡°I only left Daelan for a moment, and he¡¯s already drowning in alcohol. And the girls are busy too. Guess it¡¯s just the two of us for a while.¡± I took the opportunity to ask him why there were so many people here. Hank hesitated, his expression turning serious. ¡°I don¡¯t want to bring up bad memories for you,¡± he said, ¡°but if you¡¯re sure you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± I nodded, assuring him I was fine with it. ¡°Remember when you were unconscious for five days?¡± Hank began. ¡°Daelan and I figured you¡¯d been cursed by something. We told Haley and Marge, but Marge didn¡¯t believe us. Even Haley sided with her. So, Daelan and I decided to investigate on our own. Blah, blah, blah¡­¡± I didn¡¯t want to recount everything Hank said verbatim, so I¡¯ll summarize it instead. Hank and Daelan gained recognition after they began subjugating numerous monsters in the southern forest. They would bring back the corpses and consult the local priest to determine if the creatures had any lingering curses. If the monsters were safe, they distributed the remains to the villagers, who could use them as materials or even food. If a curse was detected, they¡¯d have the priest cleanse it before handing it over. When Haley and Marge caught wind of their activities, it seemed like they realized it was too late to stop Hank and Daelan. Instead, they decided to join in from time to time, which eventually earned them their own share of fame. Later, the group encountered and defeated an unknown monster¡ªone that left no trace after death. When they returned to our usual meeting spot to discuss what the monster was and how to report it to the authorities, they found me waiting for them. That¡¯s essentially what Hank told me. I asked Hank what the authorities thought of the monster. He paused for a moment, thinking, and then said they did report it¡ªbut his tone was full of uncertainty. I doubted his words, but I decided to let it go, figuring Marge probably wouldn¡¯t forget about it¡­ right? Then, two adults and the same young girl approached Hank. The woman, her voice soothing and gentle, said, ¡°Son, it¡¯s time for the ceremony.¡± Before leaving, Hank introduced me to his family. His mother, Enara, exuded a gentle and caring aura, her presence warm and comforting. His father, Harun, bore a striking resemblance to Hank, with the same strong features and confident demeanor. And then there was that little brat¡ªuh, I mean, his little sister, Endora, the same girl who had roped me into playing hide and seek earlier. When Hank introduced her, she stuck her tongue out at me again, clearly proud of herself. After the introductions, Hank told me, ¡°Just join the others and follow their lead. You¡¯ll figure it out.¡± I nodded and watched as he walked over to a table at the center of the gathering. On it sat a massive circular pastry, topped with a single candle. The crowd began to gather around him, and I was swept along by the tide of people, losing sight of my friends in the process. The chatter died down as everyone fell silent. Then, Enara¡¯s voice rose above the quiet, soft and melodic, as she began to sing. The lyrics were simple¡ª¡°Happy birthday to you¡±¡ªbut she sang them over and over, each time with a slightly different tone, as if weaving a spell with her voice. The crowd joined in, clapping in rhythm, their voices blending together in a harmonious chorus. I didn¡¯t know the song well, but I hummed along, caught up in the festive atmosphere. When the song ended, Hank leaned forward and blew out the candle. The crowd erupted into cheers, their applause echoing through the night. It was a moment of pure joy, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile. That¡¯s when I spotted Daelan, Marge, and Haley making their way toward me. Marge and Haley looked like they were about to say something, their expressions a mix of surprise and genuine happiness to see me. But before they could get a word out, Daelan stumbled forward, a wide, drunken grin plastered across his face. He shoved a drink into my hand and, without warning, tilted it toward my mouth. ¡°Drink up, buddy!¡± he slurred, his laughter bubbling over as the liquid spilled down my throat. And that¡¯s the last thing I remember. When I woke up, it was morning. End. Winter 48, X008 Winter 48, X008 I wasn¡¯t expecting gifts for my birthday, even though they were just from Haley and my father. It was the first time I¡¯d ever received gifts. We don¡¯t really do gift-giving; it¡¯s not something that¡¯s ever been part of our tradition. The concept of exchanging gifts doesn¡¯t really exist for us. Now that I think about it, Haley and Marge did try to give us things during our first birthday tradition together. When the three of us guys had our birthdays, both Haley and Marge offered us some items, but we all just said, ¡°We don¡¯t need it,¡± thinking it was just random stuff. After being turned down by each of us, Haley and Marge eventually stopped trying altogether. The three of us never really understood the concept of gift-giving. I only brought it up to Haley because of that one time at the beach when I overheard a conversation between a guy and a girl. It was almost the exact same situation as mine. The girl seemed hesitant to accept the gift, but when the guy said something¡ªthose specific words¡ªshe finally took it. Then they hugged and kissed. A wave of jealousy washed over me, and without thinking, I muttered, ¡°Lucky bastard.¡± I¡¯m pretty sure they heard me because they both turned to stare at me, their eyes filled with disdain. My father¡¯s gift was a necklace of some sort. I don¡¯t fully understand why he chose to give me something like this, but he insisted that I should always wear it at all times. The necklace has a simple design, but what catches the eye are the three gem-like stones. They look fragile, as if they could break easily, but they¡¯re actually quite tough. He seemed really proud of the gift, so I¡¯ll do as he said and keep it on. On the other hand, the gift I received from Haley is a magical device that uses a mana stone. It creates light by pressing something¡ªshe called it a button, I think. It¡¯s like a lantern, but instead of relying on oil, a wick, and a flame, you just press the button, and it lights up. The only catch is that I¡¯ll need to replace the mana stone once it runs out of mana. When Haley first handed it to me and explained how it worked, I was on the verge of refusing it. It felt too precious, too extravagant. But before I could say anything, she stepped closer. I could feel the warmth of her breath near my ear as she whispered in a soft, soothing voice, "It¡¯s for when you¡¯re alone in the dark. And I know full well you¡¯re afraid of it." Her words sent a shiver down my spine, not from fear but from the intimacy of the moment. When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and she quickly turned away, offering me a shy smile before hurrying off to join the others. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. At that time, I tried my best not to fall for her. So I kept thinking about large breasts to sway my mind from her. Nothing really happened after that. We carried on with the usual birthday traditions, except now there was an awkward tension between me and Haley. There were moments when one of us would try to start a conversation, but it would just fall apart. And just like that, my birthday came to an end. We said our goodbyes, and with that, they headed home. Then that¡¯s when it hits me, a memory from long time ago. It was a dark autumn night, and we were going around the village asking for sweets. It was a tradition for kids to dress up as monsters or something similar, believing it would ward off evil spirits. As we roamed, Daelan mentioned that the area we were in had fewer houses to visit for treats. He claimed to know a shortcut to a part of the village with more houses and led us to a pitch-black alleyway. Haley and I hesitated, seeing how utterly dark the path was. We wanted to find another way, but Daelan insisted this was the shortest route. He boasted that he had memorized the path and could navigate it even in complete darkness, telling us to just follow his voice. To our dismay, Hank and Marge agreed to his plan. Once we entered the alley, Daelan suddenly suggested we start running to get to the other side faster and collect more treats. As we ran, I noticed something¡ªHaley was crying far behind us. Even as a child, I had better hearing than most, and her sobs were unmistakable. Despite my own fear of the dark, I wanted to help her. I called out to her, and she answered. I told her to extend her hand toward my voice and to keep calling out to me, while I stretched my hand in her direction. With every second I spent enveloped in darkness, my body began to shake with fear. But then, finally, I felt her hand brush against mine. I grasped it tightly, my voice trembling as I said, ¡°Don¡¯t let go.¡± I¡¯m sure she could feel the fear in my trembling grip as I held on. Eventually, Daelan realized the two of us were missing and began shouting our names. I used his voice to guide us out of the alleyway, relief washing over me as we emerged into the dim light of the village. When we came out of the alley way I noticed Haley was giggling but I didn¡¯t pay mind on it. Perhaps at that time Haley realized I was more scared of the dark than her and that¡¯s why she giggled at me. Then she decided to give me this magic device. But now, the darkness doesn¡¯t frighten me as it once did. Then finally when I gifted her that necklace she used this chance to gift it to me. Because I would most likely accept the gift this time as I acknowledge gift giving at that time. End. Winter 49, X008 Winter 49, X008 Dear Diary, I have a confession to make: I¡¯m not actually average height. I¡¯m shorter than I¡¯d like to admit. But that¡¯s not even the worst part. WHY DO I STILL LOOK LIKE THIS?? I thought by the time I turned eighteen, I¡¯d finally grow into my looks, but here I am, still looking like I¡¯m a teenager! I look like people who are fourteen!! It¡¯s so frustrating. All my friends have matured¡ªthey look like proper adults¡ªwhile I¡¯m stuck here, seemingly frozen in time. It¡¯s like I¡¯m aging slower than everyone else, and I can¡¯t help but feel out of place. And then there¡¯s the way I look¡­ I don¡¯t even know how to describe it, but people say I look feminine. They tell me I look ¡°beautiful¡± instead of ¡°handsome,¡± and my long hair definitely doesn¡¯t help. My father asked me not to cut it, though. When I asked why, he explained in an almost heartbroken voice that it¡¯s tied to some tradition of my mother¡¯s. Still, he said he wouldn¡¯t complain if I decided to cut it, especially if it ever felt like a burden or got in my way. I miss the days when I was the tallest among my friends, even if it was only by a little. Let me have that moment, okay? I know it¡¯s silly, but it¡¯s one of the few things I can hold onto. I think I am becoming crazy as I am beginning to argue with myself like this. Now that I mention it, maybe I really am aging slower. I¡¯ve noticed that elderly people often have fully gray hair, while younger individuals tend to have more vibrant, colorful hair. When I try to recall memories from the past, I remember my father used to have dark brown hair. But now, it¡¯s mostly gray. I also remember that we used to move around a lot, living in different places over the years. My father worked various jobs before settling into what he does now. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. If I rack my brain hard enough, I believe his first job when I was very young was as a craftsman. He made something¡ªI can¡¯t quite remember what, but it was dangerous. If my memory serves me right, one day when my father was away, I played around his workplace and tripped over something. This caused a massive explosion in our house. When my father returned, I remember him holding me in his arms. I felt so incredibly sleepy that I closed my eyes, but something bright and persistent kept me awake, even through my closed eyelids. After a while, I began to feel better. Then my father scold me so harshly for what I did. We also ended up having to move to a new house. I think this became my first memory because of how intense it all was. Our new home was close to a forest. The house was abandoned, or at least it seemed that way. I remember my father reading a note aloud that said anyone was free to live there as long as they maintained it and didn¡¯t let it fall into complete ruin. The house was somewhat intact but clearly hadn¡¯t been cared for recently. My father did some repairs, and soon it was as good as new. After that, my father tried his hand at something he called tattooing¡ªor maybe it was just painting, since it wasn¡¯t permanent. What fascinated me most was that it glowed, which captivated my younger self. He often showed me his work, asking for my opinion or just letting me watch. One day, I asked him to do it on me. He worked quickly, almost as if he had been preparing for this moment. He painted something on my abdomen, and when he finished, it glowed brightly before disappearing. I was surprised when it disappeared quicker than his previous ones, but he explained it was a new technique, it¡¯s for a party trick. Eventually, my father stopped doing it. He said it wasn¡¯t bringing in any clients, so he turned to foraging in the forest instead. I think I remember all of this so vividly because of those glowing ¡°party tricks¡± of his. Finally, when he had saved enough money, we moved to this house¡ªthe one where I am now, writing this diary. When I asked my father about all of this, he said he didn¡¯t know what I was talking about. ¡­Am I actually crazy? Did I make all of this up? But even if I did, I still want to write it all down. End.