《My Friend Lukka》


 Final Entry (Prologue)

    Dear reader,


    I hope this final message of mine finds a sympathetic soul. My name is Abdosir, and I am nobody of importance, a simple fisherman in this village. Regretfully it would seem that the war has found us, even here in this secluded place.


    The village is on fire as I write this, I fully anticipate that this is my last will and testament. I fear I do not have much time left in this world. All I ask of you is to care for Lukka, the creature is sure to be looking for me when she returns, and I fear what might happen should she be left alone.


    As I look back on the events of the past year, I see the turning point was the day that strange ship stopped by. So isolated were we that we had closed ourselves to the world, we did not heed their warnings. Our desires to remain within our bubble, to continue to ignore the realities of the outside world has led to this moment.


    If I could remember the past, I am sure there would be more to regret. Sixty years I have traversed this world, and I can only recall a sliver of that time, bits, and pieces at best. These moments of lucidity you may find hidden within the pages of this journal, instances that I cannot recall at this moment in time.


    I can hear the screams now; it will not be long before they arrive here. This seaside hut is not safe, nowhere is safe, they will find me. I am scared, everyone is dying, all I can do is leave this letter in the vain hopes that someone might avenge us. To remember that we existed, that this place once had a village. Please do not allow us to be forgotten, at the very least I ask that you erect a monument to our memory, so that others might know of what occurred here.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    I can hear their laughter now, more screaming and the smell of smoke has become stronger. There is a hill that obscures my home from the nearest neighbor, but they will be here very soon.


    We do not know who these men are, they came with a small fleet, at most five in number. I can only recall their sail; it was crimson like the blood they spilled. A serpent plastered upon it, as if to swallow all who gazed upon it.


    I know not what they came for, why they chose us, or what our people have done to deserve this. All I can ask is for others to remember us, and if possible, seek retribution on our behalf. These people are vicious and violent, devoid of all manner of humanity, I beseech you, do not allow others to suffer the way we have today.


    They are banging at the door now; it will not take long for them to enter. I presume this to be my final moment upon this world.


    Reader, I am sorry to ask so much of you. However, I have little choice in the matter. Please care for Lukka, find her if you can. She is the most beautiful octopus in all the seas, a friendly girl. Do not allow her to come to harm, I wish her to live out the rest of her life.


    This is the final chapter, my final entry into this journal documenting my life since meeting Lukka. If you have the time, please read it, at least that will mean someone has remembered me. That my existence will not disappear with this village, a record of the man known as Abdosir.


    Best of luck to you reader and thank you for getting this far. I will place this scroll at the front, each is numbered in order. With this I place my life into this chest and sink it into the shallow water below, my final will and testament¡­

 Journal Entry 1

    Today is the first day of keeping this journal. It has been a long time since I have written. After all a poor seaside fisherman should not know how to write.


    However, I find myself slowly forgetting the past, my memories are slowly sinking into obscurity.


    My hair has become completely gray now, I scarcely remember the days it used to be anything different. It has been nothing but silence since the day my wife passed. Now I did not even have my children, my son¡¯s having been conscripted into the war. Made to fight in a land far away from their homes.


    They were fishermen, strapping, athletic young men, but they did not know how to fight. The magistrate took them, our village has nothing, how are we expected to feed ourselves without the young men. More than that, they were all I had left¡­ But it does not matter, we have no power to protest.


    It is in these moments that I realize how much I have lost. No longer do I possess the strength to fight, that fight withered away on the day I fled here all those years ago. Forever fearful of my past, afraid it would catch up to me one day.


    Decades have passed since then, and now I find myself forgetting why I fled in the first place or where I fled from. I have become weak, even as I write this, I can feel the bones in my hand creaking. Yet everyday I must go back out to sea, without son¡¯s, I do not have the luxury of sitting around lest I starve.


    I will go take a walk along the shore, the cooling breeze and soft feel of the sand between my toes I have always found calming. To sit upon an errant rock and observe the sway of the trees, the roiling waves and perhaps the occasional creature swimming across the surface.


    The seas could be vicious and cruel, but also full of love and beauty. You can never know what you will find.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


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    Today was a fortuitous day, the weather was perfect, the seas calm, I even managed to catch a few fish for dinner. The sunset was most awe inspiring, it always is, its soft glow upon the horizon as it dips below the mountains across the sea.


    Tomorrow if the weather holds, I may try to sail out to the reef and search for some larger fish. Maybe even go diving for pearls, I would have to give it a little try, just to see if I even have the strength anymore.


    The seas always seem to lend me strength, here my hips and joints are always aching. But in the seas the pressure is lessened, I feel as if I can move freely, like a bird in the sky or a fish in water. Truly sometimes I wonder if it would have been better to be born a creature of the sea.


    Speaking of creature of the sea, I came across a beached octopus on the way home. Poor thing was trapped under a piece of driftwood, his limbs were beginning to dry from exposure. I do not know why, but I did not wish to see it die.


    Once I removed the piece of wood, I noticed the unique color of the creature. An alluring azure blue tint, similar to the ocean in the light of the morning sun. Even as I observed it struggling to crawl away, its skin seemed to fluctuate changing hues to match the surroundings.


    If I did not know better I would the little one was eyeing me, watching my movements the way one might cautiously move away from a pack of wolves. That thought however was ridiculous, this creature was just that, an animal. It did not think the way we do, and simply acted on instinct.


    The little creature easily fit into the palm of my hand; it was not able to crawl away, easily getting trapped within the sand. So, I chose to give it a ride back home, scooping the thing up.


    I will say, it was quite nice. At first it rolled inwards, but a few moments rubbing its head with my finger and it warmed up. Strangely enough, after the first few minutes, it actually leaned into my hand wanting more.


    It was such an adorable reaction, reminding me of the time my sons were young. How much they loved being held, how much attention they wanted. Hard work yes, but I loved my children¡­ you only ever understand what you had when it is gone.


    I was sure that this creature¡¯s family was the same. It took some time to get the octopus to let go, but eventually it drifted off into the great blue. I will try to remember the feeling of its spongy body, the short time we spent together.


    This was another day filled with memories, which this journal will help me to never forget. If luck would have it, maybe one day we will meet again.

 Journal Entry 2

    Dear reader,


    I was told I should add this sentence to the start, I anticipate that if you are reading this then I am not around. It is understandable to think that these chronicles may one day represent the man who was once called Abdosir, who can know the will of the spirits. Like all the others before me, my fate is set, hopefully these scrolls might allow my essence to carry forward with you and others like you dear reader.


    Well enough with the disappointing outlook on life, I yet live and the morning sun is still as bright as it was yesterday. The azure of the sea is still as brilliant as ever, and the vibrant forests yet provide an ample bounty for these weary old bones.


    Exciting news my friends, this has been a wonderful week since last we spoke¡­ figuratively of course. You could be reading these years from now, but we will leave it at that.


    At the start of the week, I went out for my morning stroll upon the beach. Sometimes I like to take a dip in the refreshing waters, maybe sit around and allow the sand to massage these wrinkly old buttocks.


    Now you may be judging me but go ahead and give it a try. Early morning sand is quite nice, course but just the right temperature before the sun really begins to beat down upon it. Either way, that is besides the point. So, like every morning I enjoy watching the fishes dart around my feet, going about their business.


    Yet what do I discover¡­ but it is none other than that miniscule palm sized octopus from last week? Or was it a few days ago? Who knows these things, my mind is not what it used to be¡­ Well as I was sitting there, she rides up onto my foot.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    It was enjoyable time, she just sat there on her little tentacles punching out at the occasional fish. Now I say she, because the little girl let me hold her and all her tentacles were covered in suckers. We fishermen must know these things, so here is some advice, it is not good to hunt all the females.


    Sounds like common knowledge sure, but a long time ago, back when I was still a strapping lad overhunting to meet the taxes levied removed many creatures from the area, octopi being one. A important lesson we continue to tell, the sea provides its bounty, but we should not allow greed to overwhelm us lest our children end up starving.


    Anyhow, I digress. She clearly had the idea that I would protect her, she was right. Anytime a bigger fish swam by that could threaten her I was there to force them away. Clever girl managed to nab quite a lunch for herself, once she had her fill she was gone, back to whatever hole she made a home in.


    This whole week that has been our routine, she will sometime let me massage her head, but that is rare. Mostly she just keeps to my feet, always appearing like an apparition, zipping along and taking her place.


    Clearly, she has been eating well, by the end of the week she was larger than when we first met. Before I might have thought that I was seeing things, but I went back and looked at the last entry. She fit in the palm of my hand then, now she is the size of my palm. Baby steps for sure, but steps, nonetheless.


    I decided that it was not right to just keep referring to her as I currently was. Somehow, I managed to recall an old memory, one that I thought lost to time.


    I do not think it was the island, it was a different place, less sea, more mountains. There was a woman, I cannot be sure if that was my wife, the face was a blur.


    All I could remember were the sounds, the crying, and screams. So much sadness, it reminded me of a name I forgot long ago. Lukka, the name of my daughter, or what would have been my daughter¡­

 Journal Entry 3

    Dear reader,


    Welcome back, some time has passed since our last correspondence. These letters have really helped with my memory, I am recalling things, things that I did not know I had forgotten. Most are fairly mild, nothing of particular note.


    Anyway, I have news on Lukka. Oh right, Lukka is what I decided to call the little blue octopus. She is quite a troublemaker that one. I went fishing a few days ago, had my cane pole with a worm speared on the bone hook.


    So, I go out onto my rock, submerge my feet in the water as always and Lukka comes around again. Not surprising, this has become the routine like I mentioned last time. I swear, I think she was watching me the whole time, she waited, real patient as I caught a nice sized fish.


    Well, she was waiting for her moment to strike. The fish must have been like twice her size, the little glutton darted over and latched onto my catch. If that was not enough, she looked me in the eye and proceeded to continue eating.


    Then, as if she did nothing wrong took her usual spot. I swear, if she could smile, she would be, and she would make sure that you knew it too.


    She thought that I would do nothing, and she was correct. I simply could not get mad; she was just too cute. Although her antics forced me to spend more of the day sitting there it was not all bad, I did catch another fish. What was different was that Lukka seemed to have eaten her fill, and even better she felt safe enough to curl up onto my foot and take a nap.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    I think Lukka and I are quickly becoming friends. Everyday this week after our morning fishing play that day, Lukka always comes out to greet me.


    It is as if she knows exactly where I am as soon as my foot touches the water. Eventually she will always appear, it is very strange how she manages to find me every time.


    I have noticed she has been eating a lot more, before one small fish was enough. Now it takes two, or a medium sized fish. If she keeps eating like this, I might have to take the glutton out to the reef when I go out fishing next time. That is for when she gets a slightly larger, for now I do not wish to deliver a quick snack to the larger fish out there.


    Yes, the reef would be good for her. That reminds me of a garden, a place full of red flowers. It was someplace important, I think¡­ I remember two little boys. Were those my sons running through the¡­ hedges, I think. Was that what they were called?


    What are these places I am remembering? I asked the other villagers about my family the other day. Told them that I was having trouble remembering their faces. I wanted to know what they looked like, their hair, eyes, who were they?


    Nobody could tell me¡­ they did not know what I was talking about. Sometimes I wonder if my memories are my own. I cannot remember how I got here, only that I have been here for as long as I can recall.


    None of the villagers even knew about the red flowers. Close to the end of the week, a few days ago there was someone who could. A traveling merchant, his ship stopped by to resupply, he comes by a bit, bringing news from the outside.


    Just between you and me, I think he is a damn cheater. I mean how else can you explain him always winning at dice¡­ it is unnatural.


    Anyway, the merchant said something about roses, and that the nobles had mazes of shrubs full of them. Strange, why do I remember these things? Who am I?


    Oh well, I can figure it out later. For now, it is feeding time for Lukka. I Need to try catching a bigger fish for her, to see how much she can eat now¡­

 Journal Entry 4

    Dear Reader,


    Things have not been so great lately; the effects of the war have finally started to catch up to us here. A brand-new war tax has been raised, this on top of the already existing taxes on goods has left many struggling. We are a poor and insignificant village; I am not sure how the magistrate expects for our village to pay.


    We expect to barter goods, but agriculture here is limited, the salt carried over from the sea tends to affect the crops. Whereas our abundance of seafood cannot be transported for sale in the cities, much of which does not last the trip. It is the difficulty of living in such seclusion, for the central government to be squeezing us tighter, does not speak well of their progress.


    Based on some the few merchants that stop by the war has entered a prolonged stalemate. However, since the bulk of the imperial army is made up of mercenaries and auxiliaries, the costs have been mounting. As rich as the empire may be, this kind of prolonged war is clearly not ideal for a mercantile power, one that relies on trade and its naval power.


    It was however welcome news, the fact that the empire was not losing, merely being forced to pay for their lack of a standing army. Our overlord¡¯s weakness on land was countered by their naval prowess, which had left the enemy reinforcements incapable of crossing to this island battlefield in the east. The news of possible increases in taxes to pay for the increasingly large mercenary armies on the other hand, was not seen positively.


    Many will grumble and curse, but the truth is that it is peaceful here in our lands. The empire has always ensured security of the sea lanes, their constant patrols and power in the region deters any acts of piracy, at least in the form of coastal raids. Even the intermittent tribal conflicts have diminished under their rule. As far as our way of life, we have seen little change, our nominal overlords barely interfere with our local chieftains, opting to collect their due and leave us to our own devices.


    Well, I think I have spoken enough about politics and conflicts, quiet the distasteful subjects if you ask me. If only people could get along, put aside their greed and live simply, that true of this coastal village. The pristine and simple landscape offers many treasures, the joy of watching the waves ebb and flow, the excitement of the first catch, and the beauty of the moon and star¡¯s reflection at night.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Speaking of beauty, Lukka has decided to find a new home. One much closer to my own, the girl followed me as I walked along the coast, I could feel her tapping my foot every few feet. Once the two of us reached my hut she darted off to a little rock formation nearby. Everyday this week I see her speeding away from that place whenever I enter the water.


    She is still slightly cautious, she can touch me, but I must be allowed to touch her. It is fine, I know to give her adequate space, the ocean is her domain after all. We have kept up our usual afternoon routine, it is a routine know, as she has learned to use my foot as a platform to hunt her prey. Personally, I think she is just lazy and does not wish to move herself, I have noticed her increased size and weight. It is slight, but still noticeable.


    This week however there was something new, for the first time ever, Lukka presented me with a gift. I am not sure where she learned the practice, but she appeared this morning with a small shell. A gift I assume, possibly for all the fish, who could know, it was a wonderful gesture, and I could not help but smile at the thought what others may think.


    Last night was terrible, my dreams were rife with pain. There were many people, their faces obscured, washed away, the way a picture in the sand might look after the tide has rolled in. Even though I could see nothing, my body shivered, disgust and hate came to mind.


    There was one, a particularly corpulent man, his frame rounder than it was tall. Then there was the chest, filled to the brim with shining gold coins. I was so enthralled with the wealth, oblivious to the figure, until the knife found purchase in my back. This was followed by a sudden and intense pain in my head, then I found myself once again on the floor of my hut.


    I was once again safe, was that a dream or a memory, I could not tell which is which. It must have been a dream, I was just a fisherman, a simple who has lived all my life in this village, secluded from the world. My wife had died long ago, and both my sons were drafted into the war, fighting far from home.


    Yes, that is correct. I am just a simple man, my name is Abdosir and I am alone¡­ No, not alone anymore, now I have Lukka, she needs me.

 Journal Entry 5

    Dear Reader,


    Apologies, it has been some time since our last entry. Things have been hectic around the village; the harvest celebration was less festive than normal. It is understandable, the yield from the fields were smaller than even the paltry amount we normally see. The lack of strong field hands and increased taxes have sapped the life from those of us who remain here.


    The sea¡¯s bounty has been the only means by which we have managed to sustain the village. Times are harsh and I fear for the future, already I have heard grumblings amongst some of the others, mainly the middle-aged men. I and the other elders have somehow been able to calm them, to ensure peace within the village, but for how long. That is the question that gnaws at the edges of my mind, there is only so much a person can endure.


    It is not all bad news however, some of the villagers were lucky enough to find a beached whale calf. The entire village was quick to arrive and strip the large animal down to the bones, it took a few days to get everything sorted. Meat was immediately sent for salting, or smoking, with other prime slices being cooked that first night for the village to celebrate. Another bonus and stroke of luck was the arrival of a traveling merchant from the east only a week or two later.


    This merchant brought word about the war in the east, the empire had managed to push further inland, with the enemy on the backfoot. Maybe it would not be long before the young ones returned from the war, with their pockets weighed down with gold and silver. In addition to the information the man provided, he also paid a good price for the whale bones. He even threw in several items he called crab traps, some newly developed fishing technique from the islands in the north.


    Personally, we did not see the need for such a strange box shaped iron contraption, but the merchant offered it free of charge. A gift for as he put it ¡°such pristine whale bones¡±, apparently the nobles in the empire enjoyed sculptures carved from such material. The tastes of the southern nobles, or their desires to preen themselves before others means little to those of us living on the peripheries of the empire. However, if their excesses mean additional funds and food for our village, then I wish them the best.


    The crab traps were not that difficult to understand, just as the merchant showed us, we placed the bait and planted them at early in the morning and returned the next day to retrieve them. It was extraordinary how many we managed to haul in that day, almost triple our normal catch. Although they were crabs, food is food, there were even some nice sized fishes caught within.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    The floating piece of wood attached to the front would stick up vertically when the front of the trap closed, meaning that the trap was full, and the latch closed. Truly, the creators of this device must be the most famous of scholars. With this we have easily managed to stockpile additional food, and we now have a stockpile of crab shells that can be sold in bulk to merchants in the city. We should have little issue paying the new taxes, everyone was so excited and grateful, we even held another celebration to venerate the elemental spirits of the sea.


    Speaking of sea, Lukka has grown quite a bit in the last few months, almost enough that she could wrap herself around my forearm. She has had little need for hunting these last few weeks, as there is plenty of whale and crab meat for her. I admit that I may be partially to blame for that. However, she does not just get the food, there is some effort on her part.


    For that I purchased a group of clay pots, with a cork to seal the items within. So, every afternoon when I meet up with Lukka I place these clay pots together into the shallows and wait. Only one of the pots has any food, and I have noticed Lukka skimming and feeling each of the pots. It took little time for her to understand what they were for, and somehow, she just knew where the food was.


    At first, she would come over and give my feet a slight tap, I am sure she was asking for my assistance in opening the container. Of course, I refused or at least ignored her little fit. Once she realized I would not help, Lukka went at the pot like a storm. Spreading her body over the entire container, before realizing she would not be able to consume the entire thing. After a few moments, she positioned herself on top of another pot, then whipped one of her arms onto the other and pulled.


    Eventually the cork popped open, and she raced in to fill the hole, resting herself on top of the pot and reaching in one arm at a time. Sensing the meal other fish would swim by, attempting to get at the scraps, only to find themselves on the receiving end of one of Lukka¡¯s fists. This always continued for some time, as she would fill herself completely, consuming every scrap of food.


    It was a surprise when she stung my foot and dashed off with one of my pots, dragging along an item that was around half her total size. I was not expecting that, but it was a sight to see, it was hard not to chuckle just a bit.


    I must profess, it has been difficult to write these last few months. My dreams have been haunting, many of which I forget immediately upon waking. Only the cold sweat and fear remaining each morning. I am not sure I even wish to discuss it here, if I even know what it is that I am writing.


    The only aspect I can recall as I write this are the bodies, so many bodies. In my dream the sea is choked with them, bloated and decaying. I recall the screams of men, women, children, I do not know what these are, I have never participated in such a war. I have been a humble fisherman for as long as I can remember, yet now these visions haunt my dreams.


    One image stood out from the rest, even now I can vividly remember that image. It was of a mountain, standing tall and steadfast in the center of a whirling sea. But the wall upon which it was drawn was shattered, the mountain was on fire and the seas red with blood¡­

 Journal Entry 6

    Dear Reader,


    It has been months since I last wrote, the days have become shorter it seems. Not so much that the world has changed, but more that I am finding it hard to remember what it was that I was doing. Often waking far from home, unaware how I had arrived. The other villagers have begun to avoid me, they think I do not notice their pitying gazes, but I do.


    I have yet to go out to sea, my fishing boat still awaiting repairs. The carpenter has left my ship sitting on the shore for weeks¡­ months? For as long as I can remember I have been without a ship, yet he refuses to show me my vessel. What am I to do? It has been seemingly ages since I last experienced the sea. Relegated to the shore like a lonely dog, I am a man of the sea, the sea is my home. Yet here I stand, forced to scrawl my grievances upon a piece of paper no one will ever see.


    The other day I overheard some of the younger men discussing the war, apparently nothing has changed. With winter fast approaching the men say that the sides are settling into winter quarters, for now the battles would come to a momentary pause. This is the same kind of information the merchants brought over when they passed along their usual route, it did not matter much to the villagers so long as the supply of crab traps were still available.


    Here was an item that the other villagers would kill for, ever since we first purchased this strange contraption no villager has gone to sleep hungry. Our small community has begun to thrive, trading with the imperial town in the south. We do not make much, not when compared to the city dwellers, but for us out here on the edges of the empire, this much wealth is unheard of.


    However, the problem, like with all things is time. The village has had to purchase more and more traps, as these same devices were sold to other villages. In these last few months, the value of crab parts has decreased significantly, there are just too many. Unable to understand that catching more and more of the creatures will not solve the income problem.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    I am denigrated as a crazy old fool, that I should go dawdle along the coast and play with my little monster. Going so far as to threaten Lukka if I were to interfere with their business. Why do they ostracize me so? Have I not also lived here all my life? Grew up here and fished these waters since childhood? The villagers do not appear to think so, and my age has taken all the memories of my childhood with it. At this time, I can no longer even recall the faces of my wife and sons, in fact I cannot even remember our last meeting.


    These lapses in memory have been getting longer, these last few months have increased the stretches of darkness. At one point I had even forgotten my time with Lukka, it is only by rereading these letters that I have managed to remain centered. I do not know what is happening to me, I fear my time may be coming and that these moments of awareness will be slowly whittled away.


    Lukka was my focus, and although I did not wish to mention it here, for fear that my saying it will make it true¡­ The truth is that I fear Lukka is deceased. For the past month I have seen no sign of her, where previously she would always arrive to greet me. At first, I had accepted this, she should go about her business, live her life rather than hang around a decrepit fossil like myself. Secretly I hoped she would return, within a few days she would be back in her nook, rushing to greet me and take her place upon her throne.


    The possibility of her death has hit me harder than I had imagined, my lashing out at the villagers may be the true reason for my ostracization. Everyone knows of Lukka and my bond, aware of what I might do, of which I have been judging and demeaning them. I am truly a terrible person, I loathe myself, where could Lukka have gone and what will I do now that I have lost the last remaining family in my life.


    Her disappearance has triggered a new terror, sometimes I would see it in my sleep. Rare at first, but now haunt my dreams whenever I close my eyes. Visions of people I do not know, men, women, children, their faces devoid of features. Always I find myself holding one especially small boy, his body broken like a shattered cart, my hands soaked in blood, cradling the smashed skull.


    Rivers of tears poured from my eyes, I could never understand why, I could not recall any of these people, not even one. What relation did they have to me? Why did it feel so painful? Every morning for the last few weeks this is what has haunted me. So many questions, yet every time I try to recall why, my head aches and not long after I will find myself somewhere far from home, unable to recall why. What ails me so?

 Journal Entry 7

    Dear Reader,


    Wonderful news, Lukka is back! The world has gotten just a little bit lighter; I will not lie I feared that my last letter was to be my last. The truth is that my strength was faltering in these last few weeks, until yesterday. She found me before I was completely submerged within the sea, latching onto my chest.


    Hers was a comforting touch, strangely it felt as if she could understand my words. As a mother would when calming her child. One of her lengthy arms brushing up and down my balding skull, silly as it may seem I broke into tears. All the pain and suffering, the fear of the last few months dissipating with that touch.


    It was only in that moment, on the brink that I realized the truth, Lukka was my crutch. This creature of the sea had become the closest thing to family that I was able to recall. The only aspect of reality that appeared to exist, everything else I had thought to be real, merely fragments in a sea of dark memories. Who was I? What was I before this? I am but an empty husk, yet no one has the answers I seek.


    Those answers can only be found within that abyss of grey darkness. Yet I fear the further I delve the less likely I am to return. Everything I have witnessed are moments of pain, suffering, and death. I cannot help but fear the truth, for I am realizing that I am not who I believe myself to be.


    I have found that having Lukka within sight helps to ease the growing anxiety that torments my every waking moment. The only moments of the day in which I can feel safe and sane. I would also like you to know that I enjoy these quiet moments of contemplation when my mind can be at ease.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    But let me stop here with these fatalistic thoughts, for now I am still fine. Lukka has returned and for once I have some news, which had surprised me greatly.


    Honestly, I could not even tell that it was her when the dark shape descended upon me. Gone is the little girl who could barely wrap my arm in her tentacles. In her place is a new Lukka, a grown Lukka, one who¡¯s arms are able completely encircle my entire body.


    I am not sure what she ate to become this size, but her main body alone is half my own. If we were to add the full length of her arms, she easily exceeds the size of an adult. My previous treats could barely whet her appetite now, the last few times I went fishing she snapped up both my catches and whatever poor unfortunate fish in the vicinity.


    It helped that her mimicry skills had grown significantly. Previously she could only shift colors, but now when she rested along the sandy floor, she was barely recognizable from her surroundings. Many a creature could be seen swimming lazily, going about their business, only to be suddenly snatched up and vanishing within the waiting maw.


    However, the truth is that none of the fish here in the shallows are enough to fill her belly any longer. I can tell, she only remains in the vicinity because of me, at times I fell her slide over, a single arm lightly slapping my feet. I truly believe that Lukka feels that something is not right, her feelings breaking through the barrier of species. At these moments I cannot help but both laugh and cry, for she has shown more humanity toward me than my own neighbors.


    I would like to happily inform you that these last few days have been filled with fitful rest. Not a single night has been burdened with the nightmares that had pained me these last few months. For once I was able to rest peacefully, and I truly believe this to be thanks to Lukka¡¯s presence.


    Tomorrow I will go and retrieve my boat, if the villagers do not return it, I will find other means to head to the reef. Lukka will not be forced to hunt at night, wasting away her mornings to spend time with me. I will find a way, at the week¡¯s end the two of us will hunt together. I will return to the sea, irrespective of what those fools say.

 Journal Entry 8

    Dear Reader,


    The last time I had a chance to write I had expressed my intention to go back to sea with Lukka. Thankfully, I was able to retrieve my boat, but I will mention that when I attempted to take it out to sea it began to take on water.


    It has been a few months since then, Lukka will occasionally head out to hunt, but we spend a lot of time together now. In the water, or on the shore, and work has kept me very busy, busy enough that I have collapse upon my bed every night. It helps to keep away the nightmares, my mind does not have the strength to torment me, for the time being it has been helpful.


    Since I do not have a ship, Lukka and I decided to build one ourselves. We started with some rafts, and they floated, but it was not stable and whenever Lukka latched on I would flip off into the water. That first week was hard, but I have felt myself get stronger, and now I have something to preoccupy my time, so the failures are not all bad.


    We had a stroke of luck, Lukka and I, when a merchant ship stopped by. He was interested in one of the shells Lukka had brought back, a gift for his children maybe or just a collector of such things, I was not sure. What he had though was a scroll, it was for a ship design from a desert country far to the southeast.


    Apparently, they used small boats, for one, maybe up to six people. The important part was that they only needed one person to use this canoe. Their design was narrow, a single paddle the only requirement to propel and control the vessel. Better yet very little shipbuilding knowledge was needed, it was just a tree trunk with the center dug out.Stolen novel; please report.


    It would take some time to complete the project, but time was all I had. These last few weeks were filled with just me and Lukka working on the canoe, or fishing in the shallows. Sometimes when Lukka came back from a hunt she would return with some interesting object, shiny like shells, pearls, and one time she even retrieved a handful of gold coins.


    She has been very helpful, I think the other villagers are suspicious of me, probably wondering why I have not starved yet. They believe me a doddering old fool, incapable of so much as wiping my own behind, let alone spear fishing in the reef. It is true that I am having to rely on Lukka, she has been the main breadwinner for this time, but once the canoe is finished, I will be able to go hunt as well.


    To be honest we were not that far from completion of the vessel, the central part had already been carved out, most of it. The outer hull just needed to be sanded down a little, carve away some of the rough edges, but otherwise it should be seaworthy. Not the best, but it should be okay for the shallows, the reef is not too far nor all that deep, so it should be fine.


    If you get the chance and decide to go explore, make sure to be aware of predators, the sea in this area may be calm and beautiful, but that beauty still hides a primal savagery beneath the surface. Lukka herself is an ambush predator of the sea, and we are lucky she does not possess a taste for people, honestly you would never notice her sneak up on you. Also, if she grows any larger that may be a distinct possibility.


    Lukka will never do that though. However, as you are reading this, just be careful. Especially of sharks, as they do come around every so often. In the shallows you may only run into the smaller varieties, but the ones out in the deep, they are big and sometimes they will come into the shallows. Just be aware of that, the sea is not safe, and is always seeking an opportunity to claim another body to add to its domain.


    As I wrote earlier, Lukka and I should be completed with this task soon. I will make sure to relay those details, as I am sure there will be many things to discuss after our first expedition. Wish me luck.

 Journal Entry 9

    Dear Reader,


    This week was a great success. After one or two failed attempts, a little bit of last-minute fixes, and a great deal of determination, the canoe worked.


    Lukka and I were able to make our way to the reef, it was a bit away from my hut, but it was worth it when I paddled past the village and that carpenter. I was again back at sea, and there was nothing they could do to stop me.


    It had been so long that I forgot how the wind felt on your face, not the breeze from when you are on shore, but when you are sailing or rowing against the wind. The feel of the ebb and flow of the churning waters below, everything that makes the sea so different from merely a body of water.


    Of course, I made sure to give Lukka a little pat every now and again on her oblong head. The big baby had taken to latching onto the underside of the canoe, using it as her own personal transport. Sometimes, I even caught her arms whipping out every now and then, just another snack on the go.


    Her occasional antics had the trip passing by much faster, time just seemed to zip by. The reef was further to the north of the island, an hour from the village. There were many shipwrecks in the area, a remnant of those attempting to evade storms further out at sea. It was not difficult to notice the reefs below, the water was normally crystal clear, but that was only in serene and calm weather. During the storms, the waters would become murky, churning maelstroms that hid the dangers from view.


    Now, I will mention that the canoe was not that large and may have been less stable than a larger fishing boat. Better than a raft I can say, but it would serve its purpose. There was plenty of room, just open space and some blocks of wood left to act as benches for people to sit. For now, Lukka and I used it as a place to store our catch.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Strangely enough, Lukka and I were the only ones out there that day. I tied the canoe to a rocky outcrop and proceeded to dive into the reef, with Lukka by my side. It had been a while since the last time I had gone fishing in such a manner, and it had showed. I could barely hold my breath for forty seconds, a far cry from the one and a half minutes I used to do.


    Luckily, I had Lukka with me, she would drag me alongside with her as we glided through the water. Darting along the rocks we were able to capture many fishes, mainly thanks to Lukka¡¯s speed and whiplike arms.


    You might ask, how I managed to stay down long enough to accomplish that? Well, Lukka seems aware of our needs to breathe, I never even had to motion to her to take me to surface. She always knew, not once did I come close to danger.


    I could not begin to tell you of the wide variety of creatures present, those predators of lesser size preyed upon the tiniest of fish. It was a mosaic of colors, of all kinds, dull greys to the brightest orange. Lukka made sure to always get her fill, she had a particular tendency for the giant clams. Wedging her arms between the closed lips and prying them open to get at the meaty insides, which she was then forced to protect from competitors.


    We had a massive haul, dozens of fishes, large and small, in addition to pearls and some silver coins Lukka picked up while scouring the seabed. This would be considered a success, and it was, but Lukka and I were bound to finish all of this by tomorrow. After all, Lukka seemed to have multiple stomachs, she could put away so much food.


    It was a productive week; I have had plenty of time to spend with Lukka and now there is plenty of food. I gave most of it to Lukka as she was hungry but kept a few choice fish for myself to place on the drying rack. With the coins and pearls gathered from this expedition, I should have no issue purchasing grains and fruit from the village.


    I may even decide to take my canoe and travel south, the stretch of coast there, just south of the mountains hosts the provincial capital of the island. Next week or the week after may be a good time to trade some of these pearls, I have heard that the continuing conflict has resulted in an increase in the price of such products.


    Well, look forward to the next writing, I do not know how things might turn out, but I am certain it will be entertaining. Once again, I have not had one of those nightmares. I am doing better now; in case you care to know.


    Good day to you stranger.

 Journal Entry 10

    Dear Reader,


    Things have been muted this month. Two children disappeared a week ago, and before that, one of the older fishermen from the village. It is not just our village either, a conclave was held a few nights ago, all the villages along the coast and the shore of the great lake met here. Dozens of villages spoke of disappearances, children, women, men, young and old. It did not matter, whatever was abducting them was not human.


    The corpse of the old fisherman washed onto the shore of a neighboring village just before the conclave. From what we were able to see, it was as if he was torn apart, honestly there was very little left of the body. Even the bones had been crushed, the ones we were able to recognize, whatever was left had been ravaged by bottom feeders, cleaning up what scraps remained.


    A thick haze hangs over the village these days, no one has seen the killer. Fear has started to affect the other villagers, I am also not immune from this, even with Lukka by my side I hesitate to enter the water. No one is sure whether it is a creature of the sea, or one from land. However, we are certain the victims show no signs of attack from beasts that we are familiar with.


    Although it is possible that an exotic beast merchant may have lost their cargo on our shores, it is also likely that whatever it is came here on its own. Almost all the victims disappeared while at sea, or close to the river or lake, yet there were few who were taken from further away. Unless it was a sea creature which was magically able to walk upon the earth, something we had never once seen before. A possibility was that there were two different creatures, or that it was a person and a beast, possibly a pet, one to capture the victims, and the other to consume them.


    A theory that made it obvious where the ire of the villagers would turn, an old recluse, living away from others, treated as an outcast and with a beast at his beck and call. Obviously, this is a false assumption, but given the situation and the simple logic, the villagers clung to it almost immediately.


    At first it was just the families of the victims who stoked the flames, soon enough those who had long since wanted me gone added their voice. The ostracization came first, like a leper I was turned away from every craftsman. My ability to survive was solely based on the hunting trips to the reef, without Lukka I was not sure what I may have done.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    For now, we could still eat, fish was plentiful and there were still some reserves of vegetables in the hut. The first big change occurred two nights ago, yet another villager disappeared, just my luck it had to be from out village and during a time when I was out at sea. They did not catch Lukka that night, but I fear the hunting parties are aiming for her now.


    Lukka has remained on alert, she has grown to understand some aspects of what I am saying, at least I believe that to be the case. She has remained hidden avoiding the others, even as they sneak around my hut, waiting to follow me back out to the reef.


    Earlier today I had the closest run in with death I believe. One of the younger villagers, a man whose sister recently disappeared threatened me. They are not certain that I am responsible, but they do believe Lukka is, without any evidence they claim her guilt and wish to end her life. I will not have it, Lukka is innocent, anyone with eyes would be able to tell that the wounds upon the victims were caused by rows of teeth. Something that Lukka does not possess, that is why I was certain of their mistake.


    However, these men and women were not driven by reason. They were driven by hate, anger, and fear, they did not have an answer thus they would strike out at whatever or whoever was closest to their false beliefs.


    I was lucky today others held the youth back, but I could see the smoldering anger in some of their eyes, it was only a matter of time until that last bit of restraint disappeared. If anyone else was to be taken within the next day or two, I fear it is I who will be found floating in the sea.


    It is important that I mention that the dreams, nightmares really, well they returned with a vengeance. I recall bits and pieces, a crumbling wall, a fleet of ships, burning sails, and the screams of women and children. After that it is just darkness and pain, whatever it was, I doubt that is the last I will be speaking of it. Ever since the attacks everything has been stressful, it is taking its toll and the nightmares will soon be the least of my worries.


    Tomorrow, Lukka and I will be heading to the reef. I am sure some of the villagers will follow me, either the creature will attack someone, or it will attack me. Either way, the hope is to prove that Lukka is not the monster everyone appears to think that she is.


    Wish me luck stranger.

 Captains Log 1

    To whoever receives this,


    My name is Cae of house Venox, of the illustrious Venox merchant clan. Our vessel has run aground, a treacherous series of storms blew us off course, much of the trade fleet was lost at sea. Our vessel the wailing shrike along with its sister the soaring fury managed to pull away from the wrathful seas. We believed ourselves blessed upon discovering the shores off in the distance, dwindling food supplies, and empty freshwater reserves had made us impatient, desperate.


    In our haste, we pressed forward, unaware of the danger that lay below. We were lucky, the hull of the shrike grazed the rocky shoals but ended up trapped upon them. The fury was not bestowed the same luck, her hull smashed hard upon the rocks, fracturing from the impact. Wood and men were flung into the dark waters below, high winds and rain whipping at us as we watched the tragedy unfold.


    There was nothing we could do, we were trapped, the rocks had torn into our hull. However, unlike the fury, they had ended up lodged inside, now acting as an anchor and plug to keep the shrike from taking on water. It was enough that the crew could continue removing the water from the ship, but we noticed the wood around the site is beginning to crack, when it does, we will sink.


    Now if you are reading this, then you may be asking why we do not simply depart the ship, that there is land not far from us. This is true and is also where this tale takes a turn for the worse. My ship running aground and stranding us here is not our main problem, the main problem is what is lurking outside.


    Three of my men, mutinous gits the lot of them, stole the only lifeboat, rowing away towards land while abandoning the rest of us onboard. I suspect they knew the distance was far enough that it would be difficult to swim. We also could not abandon what little cargo remained aboard the vessel, the wealth on board the flagship could at the very least ensure the expedition did not end in complete loss.


    We would not make a profit, but the items on board were the most expensive and together were enough to balance out all the losses incurred. The most likely outcome was that those three would find others, probably bandits or raiders and return after myself and the crew had weakened from exposure and hunger.


    My fears would be on what would happen on their return, and possibly from the other crew members after a day or two without supplies. None of those thoughts mattered when it appeared, the storm resulted in poor visibility, but I have spent too long at sea to not notice something like that.


    The mutineers were oblivious to the monstrous shadow cutting through the waves towards them, unaware of the creature heading in their direction. Whatever it was, it was large, the dark shadow around the same length, maybe larger than the rowboat.


    More of the crew appeared on deck beside me at that point, their focus was on the traitors, cursing them. Some of the more hawk-eyed crewmen soon switched their concern from the rowboat to something else, the fear visible in their eyes. I could only assume it was a similar expression that one we would see upon my own face.


    The sea devil did not wait long, its scaled snout emerged from the dark waters, the men had little time to scream as the massive jaws closed shut. Their boat snapped in half, like one would to a stray twig, with one of the men disappearing below the waves in the mouth of the gargantuan beast. Blood quickly spread, permeating that area in a dark crimson hue.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Both other men could be heard screaming in the distance, frantically swimming in our direction. They had not gone too far, but they were still enough of a distance that they could not cover quickly, at least not quicker than the beast. That one man was unlikely to be enough to satiate the large creature, of that, I was sure.


    My intuition was proven correct, as moments later the beast reappeared. Once again, the man had little chance, his frantic yells barely exiting his lips before the jaws closed around his lower half, shearing him in two.


    Panic, fear, and the abject specter of death was obvious in the expression of the last survivor. He swam like a man possessed, swinging his arms in big motions as fast as possible in his attempt to reach the shrike. Somehow, whether luck, or simply the beast being content with its meal, the man made it to the side of the ship, begging for someone to throw down a rope as he desperately attempted to climb up the sides of the vessel.


    I will be honest with you, at first both myself and the crew were unwilling to assist him, he had attempted to betray us, was this not considered punishment from the pantheon of elemental lords. Why should we interfere with the world¡¯s judgement? If the tables were reversed, would he save any of us? No, they were ready to abandon us and return to finish the job when we became too weak to fight back.


    However, I simply could not leave him to such a fate, no matter how much I may have disliked him.


    We did end up throwing the rope down, letting the man grab hold and pulling him up towards the deck of the vessel. The man never made it on board.


    Just as we pulled him out of the water, his feet dangling over the roiling seas, I saw it. The shadow was there, watching, waiting, as if it understood what was happening, and this was all just a game. As the man¡¯s hopes rose, no one else noticed the danger, it was already too late to do anything, but I finally had managed to get a good view of the hunter.


    It was around fourteen or fifteen feet in length, about a third or half as wide, with tough scaled skin covering the entire length of its body. The underbelly appeared devoid of these same protections, but there was little to no chance of ever injuring it in the water. Also judging by the four short and stout fore and hind limbs, the reptilian creature was probably capable of travel by both land and sea. The final and most noticeable point were the jaws, these had to be a quarter of the creature¡¯s total length and lined with teeth as long as an adult¡¯s forearm.


    I watched in horror as the jaws closed shut, those same teeth ripping into the man¡¯s flesh. He let out one involuntary scream as the vice snapped shut, before dragging him into the depths below. The crew had quickly released their hold on the rope, the weight and power of the creature threatening to pull them overboard.


    Two days have passed since our initial stranding, the beast has always remained nearby, feasting on the remains of the fury. We have remained here in terror, trapped within the confines of our ship. We have no conceivable way of escape, no means of calling for help, and no strength to brave the calm waters below.


    What little food and water we had been able to scrounge together had been depleted yesterday. It is currently taking all my strength to simply write in this journal, a final log to chronicle the last journey of the shrike and her crew. We all fear that as the bodies from the fury run out, the beast will turn its attention here. I am under no illusion as to the strength of the shrike, if that beast bites down upon the hull it might shatter like an egg.


    My wish is for my crew and I to make it out of this alive, we will wait at most another two days. At that point we will have no strength to do anything, possibly dead from lack of food and water. We have decided to commit mass suicide at that time, as it will be preferable to allowing that monster to eat us alive.


    Signed,


    Cae Venox.

 Excerpt for Oral histories of coastal peoples

    ¡°This document is an excerpt written by historical scholar Yutpan Tabnit, of the Imperial library in Sulci. These excerpts are oral stories passed down in the tribe¡¯s native to the region. The purpose of this compendium is to catalogue and maintain knowledge passed down through the ages for storage in the Imperial libraries. These stories are transcribed as told, they have not been vetted for accuracy and are to be considered stories passed down through the ages.¡±


    Battle between the Divine beast and the Sea Devil of the Arati tribe


    On the first of the month of when the spirits converge with the land, at this time a spirit of death and gluttony crossed the threshold of spiritual realms and entered the living world. It brought with it death, destruction, and sorrow. Many fell to its ravenous maw; the silent death was what the ancestors named this beast. For none of its victims ever realized its presence, snatching them up within rows of teeth and dragging them to a watery grave.


    The beast was a creature of teeth and scales, with a mouth so wide it could swallow a man whole, shear the flesh, and smash the bone. It did not discriminate, beast or man, consuming old and young alike, its hunger never fulfilled. No spear could penetrate its armored shell, scales as strong as metal.


    In the village of the ancestors lived a foreign man, they knew not of his origins, only that his mind was addled and confused, yet his body was built like a veteran of the seas. The man was weathered, years of age visible upon his weather-beaten features, but he shown a great inner strength, even if his mind was unable to recount his past.


    This was the hero of the clan; the ancestors believed that in the realm of spirits he and the divine beast battled the sea devil in mortal combat for countless millennia, sometimes victorious, sometime not. That during one of these cataclysmic battles, the fabric separating the mortal and immortal planes were torn asunder, casting these mortal foes upon the shores of this land.


    The devil, free from its chains, preyed upon the unsuspecting people. The hero cast down upon these shores broken and alone was unable to capture the monster. It is only when he reconnected with the Divine beast, she of many arms, the sea mother that the two were able to smite the devil and bring its terrible reign to an end.


    ¡°I will mention that these next pieces of information are corroborated by the crew of an Etruski merchant vessel. The captain¡¯s logs told of their fleet becoming marooned upon a reef not far from the shore. These men were stranded, unable to escape from the beast waiting below, this reality also coincides with the oral histories passed down in the Arati tribe.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Merchants from faraway lands were brought low by the elementals of wind and water, their fleet of ships sunk at sea with only a few able to escape. These men were caught upon the northeastern reefs, the shore of plenty where the devil had also claimed as its domain. Trapped upon the rocks, the foreigners were struck with hunger, disease, and sickness of the mind.


    Many were said to have chosen death over the gruesome fate that awaited them. However, on the sixth day as the sun rose, the hero and divine beast hunted down the devil. At their side were the ancestors, their spears sharpened, their arrows fletched, all with a single purpose, to kill the beast. To drive it back from the mortal plain to the dark pit from whence it came.


    The devil vicious and cruel as it was, did not lack in cunning. For when the great host arrived, to save the foreigners and end the great terror, the devil lying in wait pounced upon them. Striking those in the rear, its gaping maw crushing the war boats as if they were built from straw. Men were struck by its armored tail, smashing bone, and breaking skulls, devouring all that it could.


    Our ancestors were skilled warriors, honed for battle, they did not flee and instead turned to face the devil, dying with honor. It was through their sacrifice that the Divine beast was able to pounce upon the devil, coming from below and tying her arms around its jaws.


    The two beasts were intertwined in this struggle, a dance of death in which there could only be one victor. First to draw blood was the devil, its sword like claws tearing open one of the divine beasts¡¯ eyes. Bleeding, in pain, and with an eye missing, the divine continued the struggle, but unable to pierce the armored scales.


    It was the hero, witnessing the battle who with great courage dove into the waters below, and in a fit of divine rage thrust his spear within the belly of the devil. Distracted by its battle with the divine beast, the devil failed to notice the hero, unable to protect the soft underbelly below.


    With jaws clamped shut, the devil was unable to scream, even as the hero proceeded to open its belly. The ancestors did not come out unscathed, it had cost the tribe dozens of its best warriors, two arms of the divine beast, and one of her eyes.


    After the titanic battle, the foreigners were saved, their compensation plentiful, and the corpse of the devil was recovered. With it the ancestors created the slayer¡¯s armor, the very same sales that turned away the hunter¡¯s spears would now protect the greatest hunter of each generation. It was due to this armor that some of our tribe has managed to survive to this day and age.


    Rejoice young ones in the honor of the ancestors. Bask in their glory, and always abide by the warrior¡¯s code as set forth by the great hero. Only then can you bring glory to your family, and to the tribe.


    The slayer¡¯s armor was recovered from the remains of the tribe¡¯s village. Scattered bands of the Arati still exist, however much of the culture has been lost during the time of the great upheaval. Please head to the next exhibit to learn more, and please do not forget to donate, every silver goes to assist in bringing more treasures of the past to life.


    Thank you for visiting.

 Update 8/16/21

    Hey Everyone, this is not a chapter.


    I just wanted to let anyone who read this story know that it will be going on a Hiatus while I finish up my main story and work on the main story rewrite.


    If you enjoy this story I apologize, I have to prioritize my time and I felt that my writing on my stories were declining. I also might look inot rewriting this using a different perspective as I felt a roadblock in how to paint a picture with the current narrative style.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Thanks for listening, I just wanted to make sure that I did not vanish without informing you of the situation.


    Best Regards