Chapter One: Dear Mother and Father.

Dear Mother and Father. 

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and high spirits, except of course for Father, whom should not be allowed near even the mildest of spirits or alcoholic beverages under all but the most dire circumstances.

I am pleased to tell you that my studies at the illustrious Feltersgate College are going rather well. The curriculum has certainly picked up from the previous years, and I can't wait to show off all of the new skills I am learning to my brothers when I return home in a few months.

It feels like years since I last saw you, and I am eager to hear how you all have been in my absence.

Yours Truly;

Your loving daughter Lissanda deGrave.

'There, that should satisfy them for now.' I thought.

Sending a child to attend the Feltersgate College of Arcanic Arts is a significant investment for anybody, but especially so for two merchants as relatively insignificant as my parents were. I never hear a whisper from my parents about what exactly it costs for me to attend, but I know a rough price range from casually eavesdropping my various classmates, and it makes my knees weak every time I think about it. 

How could I ever hope to explain to my parents that I'd unwittingly squandered my hopes of ever graduating the moment I'd arrived at my first class in her first year? I was supposed to be the family's best, brightest, and most capable. I was the one who would spread the name deGrave far and wide across the land. Lissanda deGrave, legendary Arcanist, slayer of demons, protector of the Empire, Archmage Supreme. Everything I'd ever dreamt of being.

All hopeless. Doomed to forever stay a dream. All because of my stupid classmates with their stupid heirarchies and their stupid political games. They were sixteen years old for heaven's sake! All anyone ever seemed to talk about was who was marrying who, sorry, whom. Or whomst or whatever! I was done! I'd had it up to here! I couldn't do it.

My five year old self would be scowling at me now, I was sure. Becoming an Arcanist has always been my dream, ever since Father first read to me the tale of 'Wizard Erky and the Whispering Wood.' Mother had scolded Father for even telling me that story, and admittedly it was not the sort of bedtime story that you'd read to your typical five year old, but it had captured my imagination. I wanted to ride the winds like Wizard Erky, to twist space around me and disappear. I wanted to learn the secrets of lost peoples, exploring abandoned temples and forbidden fortresses. To know the inner workings of reality itself, and to bend it all to my will!

I was not your ordinary five year old.

Like most childish dreams, I grew out of it. Mostly. These days I realize that most of the world map has been filled in, what were once secret paths have now been beaten into roads by the footfalls of all those who came before. In a way I felt cheated, like a world I was promised as a child turned out to have never existed. Yes, the dream itself died, but my lust for knowledge never faded.

Even as I debate to myself the merits of simply dropping out of college now, and saving my family half a year's tuition fees, a part of me knows that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the secrets that I've always sought.

That's why, after much meandering, I inevitably wound up in the same place I always did.

The school library.

"Good evening Miss deGrave." The on duty assistant librarian greeted me with a small bow. There had to be thousands of children attending the College, and it wouldn't be possible to remember each of them by name, the fact that he did a testament to how frequently I visit this dusty old place.

The librarian's words gave me pause, but a quick glance through a nearby window showed that yes, it was in fact nearing sunset. Gosh! It couldn't have taken me that long to write out one measly letter! I'd started writing but a few hours after lunch! It was only a small card! Well, whatever, I'm here now so I suppose I should make the most of it. Besides, I can check if Granny Gertrude’s third edition has finally arrived! 

"Miss deGrave, I cannot help but notice that you do not appear to be in possession of a book." The librarian continued, pointedly looking at my hands, which were entirely void of any form of literature. "More specifically, a certain copy of one 'Wandering Diary of Malabe the Mischievous'. I don't suppose you've left your study room door open again?".

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The exasperated tone of the librarian was really quite unfair. The Wandering Diary was well known for its, well, wandering. I was by no means the only student who'd misplaced the book throughout the years! Plus it considered the library its home, and more often than not simply found its way back here after a time.

Thankfully though, today I had come prepared! Unslinging my satchel and placing it in front of me, I pulled the tome out with exaggerated care, before placing it in front of the librarian. He looked at the book carefully for a few seconds, before his hand lashed out like lightning and slammed down onto the book right as it began, with no apparent outside force, to slide towards the edge of the desk. He shot me a dirty look, and carefully picked up the book.

"Careful Janis", I couldn't help but tease him a little bit, "I know you just think I’m careless, but that copy's got a bit of attitude." Janis scowled at me, though whether it was because of my teasing or because he didn’t like me using his first name, I couldn’t tell. Either way it made me feel better. 

"Please," he eventually scoffed, opening the book and idly flipping through the pages, "The Wandering Diary is child's play to manage compared to some of the tomes we keep in here. I'd have to be pretty incompetent to lose something like this." Ouch, that was one time! I guess he really is in a sour mood today, usually he's just pretending.

As if it had heard what he'd said, and had decided to show everyone exactly what was what, the Diary suddenly slammed shut in the Janis' lands, flung itself across the room, landed near one of the many rows shelves, and started sliding its way down the aisle at a brisk walking pace.

"Child's play huh?" I said flatly.

Janis, for his part, seemed completely baffled by the book's behaviour. He sat watching the book go for a moment, before a light seemed to go on in his brain. "I should probably go get that." he muttered before calmly standing up from his desk, turning a little sign over so it said "Ring bell for assistance", and then, apparently satisfied that everything was in order, broke into a sprint in the direction of the diary.

I couldn't help but feel a little bad at Janis' misfortune. Despite how we talk to each other, I'd actually consider him to be one of the closer friends I'd made since coming to this dreadful place. While technically, as he was a servant of the college, I had the authority to order him around, I still didn't feel very comfortable doing so, for any of the staff in fact. Most of my classmates never bat an eye, but they've all grown up with butlers and maids. I had a Nanny, and boy let me tell you; the pits of hell would freeze over before she took orders from anybody.

There was a cry from down one of the isles, a different one to the one that Janis ran down, followed by a heavy thud which sounded suspiciously like a tall stack of books hitting the ground. Moments later, the accursed diary literally flew out of the aisle, dropping out of the air to land back on Janis' desk, exactly where I'd originally put it.

I gave the diary a long, critical look. "You know, you're not the only copy of the Wandering Diary I've encountered. For sure you're a tricky book but I've never seen one so... dedicated... to causing mischief."

The book did not reply, for it was a book and had no mouth. It did, however, do a backflip. Rising off of the table and somersaulting in the air before coming down again with a thump. This, I think, spoke volumes more about the book's temperament than could possibly have been conveyed with words.

Suddenly, Janis reappeared from the aisles. "Where is that fucking book!?" He spat, wildly scanning the room. His eyes fell to his desk to see the diary lying there, and you could almost hear the ‘AHA!’ as his eyes lit up. The Diary almost appeared to be trying to act innocent, in how still it was laying. 

Janis dramatically extended a single finger at the book and inhaled deeply, preparing to speak. The rest of the world seemed to fade away into the background, and I found all I could focus on was that pointing finger, and the words of power he was shouting.

"LISSANDA IT'S RIGHT THERE GRAB IT QUICK!" he bellowed.

The shout from Janis startled me out of my daze. Having been caught unawares, I turned and panickedly looked for the book. I looked at Janis. Janis looked at me. I looked at the book.

The book was gone.

To the sound of rustling paper we both watched in dismay as the diary once again took off down another isle, leather-bound covers flapping like wings.

Janis walked over to me, his face passive. "Why didn't you grab it?" He asked, not a trace of anger in his voice, which was scary because I knew exactly how vexed he'd be getting.

I sheepishly looked away, "I... err... I thought you were going to cast a spell. Like to hold the book in place? Stop it from moving?"

Janis just shook his head and sighed, shoulders deflating. "Oh well, it's just one book. Not the end of the world."

I gave him a surprised look, "Huh, usually you're absolutely pissed when you don't get your books back. Doesn't the Head Librarian get upset about it?"

"Yeah," he said, "Mrs. Serikutt doesn’t like it, but this is a library and things like this happen. I mean, how angry can she get about losing the Wandering freaking Diary anyways?" Oh, so it's okay to get upset at me for los- having it stolen, for a couple of days, but if he loses it it's fine huh?

"Wow, I'm actually kind of impressed. You're taking this much better than I thought you would."

"Yeah. It's such a shame you lost it in the library. If only I had been there to control it, but alas you; a poor ignorant student with absolutely zero knowledge of bookkeeping, had to go and open the book without proper supervision."

"What?" I narrowed my eyes at him. He continued, a small smirk forming on his lips.

"Oh well, I guess it can't be helped. Man, she's really gonna be pissed when she hears about this. Aren't you on your last strike before your library pass gets confiscated?"

"Oh you backstabbing... Fine! Come on I'll help you get that damned book!"

He smiled and stood up again, and we made our way to the aisles once more. "Oh, so kind of you. We always can use a bit of volunteer work!"

"Shut up, I'm only doing this because you blackmailed me. You owe me." I said.

"Actually, I think this finally makes us even."