“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Hanabi said.
“Yeah, you guys go ahead, I’ve got some things I’ve got to look into first.”
“Plu…” Plu slouched over.
Hunching over, Rai said, “Go on little buddy, it’s okay.”
“Plu!” it said, tossing its arms into the air.
“Alright, looks like we’re all here,” Eiji said, appearing beside the group of apprentices. He wore diver’s attire with floaties on each arm, including one across his waste.
“Come on, it’s already been an hour, let’s gooo…” Tofi complained.
“Rai’s not coming?” Eiji said. “Awe come on…” Eiji pouted, “But hey, your choice. We’ll save you an extra spot in case you come back. Let’s dive guys!”
Everyone cheered, walking in the direction of the water park.
Lily, Hanabi, and Alan stayed behind, momentarily.
“Wish you’d come,” Lily said.
“I don’t mind staying behind. I prefer the library anyway,” Alan said.
“Guys, I don’t need a babysitter. I’ll be alright,” Rai said.
“Hanabi!” Neptus came running up from behind. “You’re coming as well, right?”
“Yeup,” she replied, revealing a change of clothes in her bag.
“Alright, glad to hear.”
“Hey guys, you want to roll with us?” Ayame hollered from her carriage.
“Sure,” they replied.
“If you find anything out, you know where to find us,” Alan said.
“Right,” Rai said with a nod, as his friends turned to leave.
“So Neptus, where does the name come from?” Hanabi asked.
“We’ll let’s see…” their voices faded as they disappeared into the crowd of people around.
Later that day, Rai was standing outside the Library of Excalibur. “Here we go,” he said, taking his first step forward. There were nearly a thousand steps to make it to the entrance, and the last seventy-two, which were placed more vertically than the rest, were always the hardest.
“Hey Adrian, do you think we should help him?” Tina said. She and her fiancé were nearing the end of their mile run, and about halfway up the stairs to the library, they came across someone lying face-first on the steps.
“I’m fine… Just taking a quick rest…” Rai stated, holding a thumbs up, but then someone racing down the stairs accidentally stepped on him. “I’m not fine…”
While they helped him up, Tina noticed him, stating, “Hey, you’re the apprentice participating in the placement exam in a few months!”
“Yeah, that’s me,” Rai said, slowly rising.
“Here, we’ll help you,” Adrian said, lifting Rai on his back.
“You don’t have to, really,” Rai said.
“Hey, don’t be so bashful, it’s the least I can do with you defending us from the Minus out there,” Adrian said.
At the top, Tina hollered, “Adrian, we did it!” Turning around, she saw both her fiancé and Rai on the floor. “Oh boy...”
After, Rai waved goodbye, saying, “Thanks again.”
“Good luck in the final round of the placement exam!” Tina said.
“Get the gold- wait a sec… You’re not from our kingdom. Get silver!” Adrian joked.
“Think again pal, I’m going for all the hall points!” Rai shouted back, a competitive smile on his face. Facing the library, he sighed. Man… I’m still pretty worn out from the blink class… Even so, I’ve got to find out more about that thing, whatever will bring me closer to waking my sister up, I’m sure there are answers here somewhere; and so, he pressed on.
Tina, looking back, gripped her fiancé’s arm. “He’s so young… Maybe a few years older than Tommy...”
“Yeah, I don’t like it either, but, Abminus aren’t like us,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“I hope so…”
Walking through the giant open doors of the library, Rai muttered, “Thanks for the heads up, Alan…” Giant pillars lined the sides of the entrance, each revealing a path down a different ocean of books, but it surpassed even that, stretching many stories high. The library’s layout had completely changed since he was last there, almost doubling in size! The number one elite often ventured in and out, sparing hardly any time to take a moment to rest when he returned home, though whenever he did return, along with the many riches and goods, he came bearing books. Eventually, with a healthy distribution from the neighboring kingdoms and empire, the Library of Excalibur came to fruition. You can find just about anything in here, from stories of Elites in the past, to sketches of Minus from a long-lost adventurer’s journal. The pillars rose to dizzying heights, decorated with paintings depicting art, battles, and many unknown faces. The floor beneath his feet was polished marble, reflecting the glow of chandeliers. Armor lined many walls, their polished surfaces gleaming, though, there was a healthy mix of every race’s history on display. Humans and Nefarians mingled freely, showing the library’s reputation as a place of learning and discovery, where all were welcome regardless of race or background. In the center of the library, Rai’s attention was drawn to a gleaming sword displayed prominently before everyone, though, it was incapable of being wielded, as it stretched from the first floor, all the way to the third. The silver blade was engraved with pink gemstones, and its hilt was wrapped in tattered black cloth; a worthy artwork done by the infamous Muire, from the Holy Land of Cronos. Tempted as he was to explore the place, Rai had a purpose here beyond marveling at the sights before him. Making his way to a nearby screen, he swiped through a listing of his past readings within the library. The interface displayed a detailed diagram of the library, with sections marked in various colors to indicate their status.
“Illuminating…” the machine stated, scanning Rai’s badge, revealing the words ‘Illuminating…’ and soon, the home page of the library appeared. “Clearance level, IE Apprentice.”
Sections fully in red caught Rai’s eye, indicating areas he had already explored and read. And yet, the vast majority of the diagram was bathed in shades of green, representing the vast amount of knowledge yet to be uncovered. “What’s the percent at?” Rai asked.
“Thirteen percent,” the machine responded.
“It went down three percent?!” The percentage was how many books in the library Rai had finished, or at least partially did. Those partly read were marked in yellow, but it was a section with a book marked purple that drew Rai’s attention. It was a rare sight, indicating a misplaced book, or, a book that didn’t belong within the library’s vast selection. They’re not unwelcome, since this library, in particular, takes in all stories, but the last time he stumbled across one of those, it turned out to be, pretty revealing… Rai’s cheeks blushed red. “Ahem…” With a determined look, Rai set his sights on the section he had decided to explore next. “Races and Relics.” When he arrived, the area was poorly lit. “Agriculture Post-Shattering,” he walked further on, “here we go, Races and Relics.”
He was skimming the books across the section of Minus, when someone nearby asked, “Excuse me, do you know where I can find the horror category? My friend and I have been looking everywhere…”
“No, sorry. I haven’t been here since the remodel, but you can use the screens up front, they should help you find the section you’re looking for,” Rai said.
“Okay, thank you,” he hurriedly turned away.
“Did you find out where?” someone else’s voice resonated around the corner.
“No, maybe we should go back up front.”
“All the back to the entrance… Which way is it again?”
“I don’t know…”
Rai shaking his head smiled, they weren’t away that the roots lined the library and showed the way back to the entrance. Skimming through many titles along the row of books, found something about Furies. “Furies of the Night…” He pulled it aside, along with a couple of other books, before stating, “alright onto the next aisle.” After gathering a fair number of books throughout the library, he found a spot in the corner and started to get to work.
***
As the sun blazed over the Kingdom of Excalibur, the water park was packed with people. Towering slides spiraled into the sky, pools sparkled like diamonds, and chit-chat was everywhere.
“Ayame was really able to section a space for seating, and just for us,” Hanabi said, applying sunscreen in the mirror.
“Perks of being Ayame, I suppose,” Lily said, doing the same.
Outside of the changing rooms, they met up with Ayame and Rina who were waiting for them.
Fu, the talking puppet, found himself reluctantly swaying in the grip of Tofi’s tiny hands.
“Some day off this is, look at those lines…” Fu said.
“Gumball, you’re silly,” Tofi, the pint-sized powerhouse, zipped through the crowds, while Fu flailed comically in her arms, leaving a trail of astonished onlookers in her wake as she climbed the towering waterslide, quickly appearing at the tallest one.
“Tofi wait, not this one,” Fu said.
“We made it to the top of the pool!” she said, glaring at the 30-foot-deep pool below.
“The what?” Fu said.
Tofi stood on top of the tube, which people were meant to slide into, “Okay Gumball, on three.”
“What’s on three?!” Fu questioned.
“One…”
“Tofi?!”
“Three!” Tofi shouted, jumping off the top of the water slide.
“You go inside it!” Fu shouted as they fell.
As the girls arrived at their recliners, they noticed a young male occupying one of their spots.
“Um, excuse me, these are our towels,” Ayame said.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know,” a young male stood up.
“Y-Your…” Rina blushed, hiding her face.
“Zach,” he said, “Please to meet you. Hey, Ayame, you wouldn’t happen to be attending this year's Skyward Finales, would you?” Zach said.
“Only because I have to,” Ayame said, folding her arms while rolling her eyes.
“Well, I hope to see you there,” he stated, whistling, and one flying creature swung in. The bird, gently landed on flat ground near Zach, squatting low to allow his rider to jump on.
“Where’d you get a Terec…” Lily said. These birds were extremely hard to tame, but once they did, they made great partners.
“Well, I am the reigning champ of last year's Skyward Finales. There’s no Terec faster than my pal here,” the bird flapped its wing in response.
“You’re leaving already?” Rina said.
“Figured, I stop by for a bit, not much else going on. When you fly for a living, you can go wherever, whenever.” People started to gather around the bird and its rider. Winking at Ayame, “Later,” he said, before flying off, however, Ayame didn’t pay it much attention.
“He was waiting for us…” Lily said.
“Pretty obvious…” Hanabi said.
“Did you see that? I can’t believe it was him! How do I look,” Ayame said to Rina, “Hold up,” pulling out her badge to check herself.
“Look! He just followed you,” Rina said.
“No way!” Ayame followed him back, then checked his story to see him with another girl. “Ew, who’s she?”
“Dislike…” Rina muttered.
Lily and Hanabi slowly inched away.
Seppe, the painter, observed the world’s tallest waterslide with an artist’s eye, his mind spinning with ideas. “If it were me, I’d possibly, put this here, and maybe move that there...”
A beachball, came flying over, knocking over his stand.
“Sorry!” Eiji came running over, picking up the ball. “Glad you’re alright,” he said, running towards the wave pool.
“I am, thank you,” Seppe said, lifting his stand and painting off the floor, before placing them upright.
Eiji stopped, “Not you, I’m talking about Willy here,” Eiji said, turning the face of the beachball, revealing the name of the company that produced the beach balls, Willison Corporation. “Seemed appropriate,” Eiji said, shrugging and darting off.
Daichi, rapidly descending one of the water park slides, slammed into the water. Swimming towards the shallow end, the sweet scent of honey swept by. His eyes widened at the sight of the park’s many food stalls before him.
“Hey Daichi, the lines down, let’s go for another slide!” Jack said. “Daichi?”
“Cotton candy, ice—apple crisp! And shri—buttered salmon, fish sticks, lobster, even crab!” With a satisfied grin, Daichi set off on a journey through the many types of seafood buffets before him, determined to sample every mouthwatering treat the park had to offer.
Jack, ever-motivated, shouted, “You’re right! We must eat to maintain and proceed in our gains! How could I have forgotten Knox’s teachings so quickly…” he proceeded to consume everything in sight alongside Daichi.
Tamarri, with his fur-covered body, stood out amidst the crowd, his towering presence drawing curious glances from bystanders, even so, though his appearance was intimidating, his gentle demeanor and warm smile quickly put others at ease as he explored.
“BEAR!”
Tamarri flinched. “Hey Ayame,” he said, turning around.
“Hi there,” Lily said, giving a friendly wave.
“Hey guys,” Jack and Daichi were both waddling their way to the group. Two workers had escorted them out of the buffet, shaking their heads as they left.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Did you try the Butter Pecan…”
“You bet-” Jack, holding his hand over his mouth, ran over to a bush and threw up.
“Lily!” Yuta happily shouted, running over with Plu and Alan.
“Thanks for watching Yuta for me,” Lily said to Alan.
“No problem,” Alan said, slightly huffing. “With Aegis away so often he probably gets bored in that estate.”
“Are you having fun,” Lily asked Plu.
“Plu!” it shouted happily, sporting a pair of goggles.
“Are you guys getting on any rides?” Tamarri asked.
“Sure am!” Lily said. “Like that one,” she pointed at the ride that the children were on.
“Depends on the followers,” Ayame said. “Say ‘Lumi Lumi.’” Turning the camera around, facing Tamarri.
“Lumi… Lumi…” he stated nervously.
Flipping the camera around, Ayame said, “Ok guys, what’re we doing next? A stroll to the wave pools maybe?”
“Tamma!” Tofi said, suddenly appearing and jumping on his back. “Do you want to play? I lost Gumball,” she said.
Elsewhere, Fu was dragging himself across the man-made beach, until he was at the foot of where Hanabi and Rina were lounging.
“Never… again…” Fu said, slapping his wooden face against the sand.
Back with the group, Tamarri, with a bright smile said, “Sure!”
“Yay!” Tofi said. “Let’s go on that one,” she stated pointing at the tallest ride.
“Huh?” Ayame looked at the comments, they were all suddenly shifting to her going on the ride Tofi mentioned. “Excalibur’s Towering Plung…” She looked up beside her at the ride towering into the heavens.
“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad,” Lily said, encouraging Ayame. Lily was gazing at the wrong ride. “It’s not that bad… Right…”
“Behind you,” Ayame said.
Lily looked at the towering ride, gulping. Later, as they were nearing the top, Lily had her hands over her eyes. “It is that bad!”
“Didn’t look that bad from down there,” Tamarri said, leaning over to see how high up they were.
“BEAR - don’t you move away from me!” Ayame shouted.
“Didn’t know you were afraid of heights too?” Alan said.
“I’m not afraid of heights, I’m afraid of uncertainties…” The tower swayed a little to the left, and then a little to the right, creaking as it did.
“Why do we have to wait…” Tofi said.
“Because Tofi, it's rude to cut in front of others when they’ve been waiting just as long as everyone else…” Tamarri said.
“Hmmm,” Tofi muttered.
“Hey guys!” Neptus shouted from the top. I didn’t know you were there the whole time.” Neptus waited for everyone else, letting others pass by until they arrived. They were now standing near the flat platform in which you would stand when getting ready to take the plunge.
Back on the beachfront where Hanabi, Rina, and Fu were sunbathing on recliners, Jack appeared with Plu and Yuta.
“You guys aren’t going on the ride with everyone else?” Hanabi said.
“Change of plan–not feeling well,” Jack said, lying face forward on the recliner.
“I wanted to go, but I didn’t meet the height requirement… Neither did Plu…” Yuta said, frowning.
“Awe, I’m sorry Yuta, one day I’m sure,” Hanabi said.
“B- But the other girl got to go…” Yuta said.
Plu nodded, folding its arms.
“Tofi’s… Tofi’s...” Hanabi wasn’t sure what to say.
“Tofi’s dad owns the place?” Rina said.
“Does he?” Hanabi whispered.
“No, I’m just helping out…” Rina whispered back. “She gets special permission. Why not ask Aegis to take you to Lu Lu Land,” Rina said to Yuta.
“Lu Lu Land?” Yuta replied.
“Yeah, it’s the best amusement park in the world! There are height requirements there too, but you’ll still have a blast. I used to go as a kid all the time,” Rina said.
“Lu Lu Land’s closed… Permanently…” Hanabi whispered.
“Is it…” Rina said in shock, however, seeing Yuta happy, she quickly changed the subject. “Where’s Daichi?”
Jack, lazily lifting his finger, pointed at Daichi, who was slumped in a hammock, one leg in and one leg out, saying, “Food coma.”
“Could you keep it down, I’m trying to get a little shut-eye over here,” Fu stated.
“Did that doll just talk?” someone nearby questioned.
A dog, sniffing the grounds, stopped by Fu. Seeing its wooden leg, it swiftly snatched it, taking Fu along as it darted off. “Hey!” Fu said, disappearing around the corner.
In the wave pool, another epic tale was unfolding.
“WILLY!” Eiji said as the waves beat against him. “I can’t- I can’t make it!” Kicking his feet, he swallowed water, struggling to breathe. Eiji had one arm in a tube which was his only support, but each time he swam out and extended a helping hand, the ball only floated further; pressured by the incoming waves. “Why do you reject me, Willy!? I’m trying to save you!”
People slowly exited the wave pool, though it didn’t stop Eiji from continuing his dramatic play.
“I’m almost certain he was my ride to the coffee shop one morning…” someone whispered.
Seppe, having finished his painting of a water slide, using Excalibur’s Towering Plunge as a basis for his ride, leaned back, nodding in approval. Plu walked up, swimming goggles still on, gazed at the painting for a short while, prompting Seppe to ask, “What do you think?”
“Plu,” it stated, waving it off as if it were nothing special.
“Hm, you must not have a taste for true art,” Seppe stated.
Plu, turning around, walked over to Seppe, kicking him in the shin. “Plu!” it said.
“Oh, you think you could do better,” Seppe said.
“Plu.”
“Oh yeah, how?! What by extending it like so and making it ridiculously higher!”
“Plu!”
“And I suppose you want me to add all sorts of extravagant designs alongside the ride, maybe throw in a series of tubes,” Seppe continued to paint away, “here are some ramps while we’re at it.” Seppe paused. “Huh, that’s rather nice…”
“Plu!” Plu replied, turning to leave, yet again.
“Still not enough?!” Seppe’s face boiled red, “I’ll show you!” Seppe, activating his powers, caused roots to swivel through the sand, their tips only barely showing in a faint blue glow. “Painters Paradox,” Seppe sucked the entire painting into his brush, swirling around and shooting it directly at the tower before him. The tower, before everyone’s eyes, slowly morphed into a super-tower; a water ride that stretched twice its original height. Lily and the rest, were placed in a strange elevator, which rocketed them to the very top.
Plu jumped up and down with joy.
“See, I told you my art… was perfect,” Seppe said, falling to a knee.
“Seppe!” Jack shouted. “Did you make this tower?”
“Indeed, impressive, no?”
“Seppe there are innocent lives on that ride, can you maintain it?” Hanabi said.
“Of course I can…” Blood splurged from Seppe’s mouth, and a tower railing slightly lost its shape. “Still, no need to worry, everyone is still upon the real stairs; I’ve only moved those who were next to the very top. They simply need to go down-” Seppe fell over, sweating profusely.
“I’ll help,” Hanabi said, leaning over and focusing flux to heal Seppe’s cracking core.
At the top, Lily, gazing over, fell backward, muttering, “Kill me now…”
Ayame, hands shaking, took out her badge, though it slipped out of her hand and fell, far down into the pool below. “Darn…”
“Now this is what I’m talking about!” Tofi said, diving into the slide. “Weeee!” she hollered. Everyone watched as her little body did backflips, barely clearing the gaps between the open spaces of the jumps on the way down. “This is so much fun!”
“Guess there’s only one way left to go…” Neptus said.
“Why me…” Lily said, when suddenly, the floor under Ayame lost form, causing her to fall through it. Lily quickly grabbed her arm, but then the floor underneath her melted as well, using the momentum of softening the floor, she swung, barely making it over to an open-tubed slide. Ayame landed on a similar slide beside her.
“No!” Ayame shouted, twirling on her way down the chaotic water slide.
“Quick, get in!” Neptus shouted and everyone jumped into a separate slide before the floor disappeared.
Tamarri, heart pounding, felt the rush of wind against his face as he flew down the twisting tubes. The inside of the tubes twisted in an assortment of colors and shapes, even showing artwork that resembled the elites.
“Eloise!” Alan’s voice echoed from afar, apparently having stumbled across artwork as well.
“Tofi!” Tamarri shouted. He could hear Tofi’s laughter mingling with his shouts, their voices bouncing off the walls of the enclosed slide as he plunged downward. She seems to be right.
Lily, splashing within the enclosed tube, couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through her veins. This is kind of fun! The swirling colors of the slide blurred together as she held on tightly, her fingers tracing the designs as she raced toward the bottom. When Lily’s enclosed tube opened up, Ayame appeared beside her on another slide.
Ayame’s breath came in short gasps, her heart racing as she struggled to maintain not getting tossed from the tube. “I’ll never ride a w-” A secret hole dropped Ayame down into another tube, where she proceeded to spiral within an enclosed tube the rest of the way down.
Looking on ahead, Neptus eyes widened. The slide?! Neptus propelled himself forward pushing off with his arms since he couldn’t gain a footing. Passing through a waterfall, he landed amongst another part of the slide. With each passing moment, the painted facade of the slide grew more unstable; the once-solid structure was now dissolving at a rapid rate. He glanced over at Tamarri who was descending another path beside him. “Tamarri!” The slide ahead of Tamarri was vanishing.
“What?!” Tamarri couldn’t make out what Neptus was saying.
Neptus, seeing the open tube about to become an enclosed tube, grabbed the upper half, swinging and busting out of the side.
“Oh no!” Tamarri shouted, seeing the slide end, but Neptus smacked into him, causing them both to crash and land on a safer path.
Alan nearing a curve, shouted, “Please no!” the momentum caused him to slide right off the water slide, his body twisting in mid-air before landing with a splash in the pool below. Popping his head out of the water, he muttered, “I’m alive…”
Tofi, popped out of the water next to him, “That was amazing!”
“Finally, some peace at last,” Fu said, but as the last remaining apprentices came crashing down, so did the entire painted fortress, wiping Fu out.
Eiji, looking back, witnessed a wave of paint rushing his way. “Oh! The paint wave coming. Eiji’s going for a ride!” He gripped his duck floatie, ready to go, but the wave smacked into him, sweeping him away.
“Th- The park?!” the manager of the place said in disbelief. “It’s ruined!” The paint, however, steadily faded, and soon the park was back to normal.
“No need to worry,” Seppe said, pointing to the sky, “My art, is perfect…” before he passed out.
Before the paint evaporated, Eiji’s beachball washed up next to him. “Hey Willy…” When it rotated around, the name brand on the ball stated, ‘Jimerson Corporations.’ “Imposter…” Eiji whispered, furrowing his brows.
“Plu!” Plu said, running over to the water where it tapped the tip of its leg in gently, before throwing its arms up triumphantly.
With a mixture of relief, everyone emerged from the waters, slowly dragging themselves over to the recliners, lying down one after the other.
***
“Come on, nothing, literally nothing!” Rai shouted, slamming a book down.
“Shhh,” the librarian behind him said.
“The entire library and you’re here...” Rai said. She replied simply by raising her finger to her mouth, implying he once again quieted down. “Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Focusing on the many books before him, he furrowed his brows. It doesn’t matter how many books I skim through, there’s nothing about that thing from the forest… Rai would go to the library almost every week to find anything he could about his sister’s condition. After flipping through enough books about Minus, Rai glanced at the book on Furies. Opening it, he read, ‘Knight Furies, nicknamed after Fury, Nefarian CEO & Founder of LuminaCo. Rai only knew of Fury because of the number one elite he admired so much. Their rivalry is legendary, everyone in the world knows of it. Rai continued to flip through a few more pages before finding a diagram of the blue demon face worn on the Furies. He flipped through a few more pages until coming to a page labeled, ‘Your Forever’, which looked to be a recording of a journal from some adventurer.
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Day 1
Today, I set out to the land of the dead…
This morning, each step forward, I feel a strange sense of purpose stirring within me, driving me onward. But these forests, they’re not safe, their twisted branches reach out like skeletal fingers trying to ensnare the unwary traveler. Tonight, I saw someone get snatched up by who knows what... Either way, despite the foreboding atmosphere that surrounds me, I press on. I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long, but you’ll have to wait a little while longer.
Until the day we meet again, love, your forever.
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Day 54
The days have turned to weeks since I first embarked on this journey, and still, the forest seems to stretch on endlessly. Bizarre and wicked plants appear around every corner! As I make camp beneath the shelter of a tree, I cannot help but feel a sense of unease. The occasional rustle of leaves or the distant cry of a night beast; I can’t say I’ve gotten much sleep as of late... I find myself longing for the warmth and comfort of home, but I know that I must press...
Until the day we meet again, love, your forever.
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Day 79
A maze of roots, leading ever deeper into the heart of darkness. The trees loom overhead, completely blocking off any hopes of climbing out to view the outside world. Decaying remains of deer and small critters linger nearby; and earlier, one of a bear... As I trudge through the undergrowth, I cannot help but feel a sense of dread gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. The days have grown long, each one blending into the next. And yet, despite the hardships I have faced, my resolve remains unshaken. How much farther could it be?
Until the day we meet again, your forever…
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Day 112
Today I stumbled upon a small village nestled among the trees. The villagers greeted me with cautious curiosity. Among them stood a young woman, she reminded me a lot of you... She introduced herself as Aria, the daughter of the village leader, and welcomed me with open arms into their humble community. I’m grateful for the sanctuary she offered me in this remote corner of the world.
Until the day we meet again, your forever.
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Day 137
It’s been... maybe a month? I’ve lost track, so we’ll go with Day 137. Since last I’ve journaled, I’ve immersed myself in the daily routines of village life, working alongside the villagers to tend to the crops and livestock. I’m mesmerized by their companionship and way of living, and, they’ve made me feel like like I have a home. Then there’s Aria… She’s something.
----------------------------------------
Day 153
I think I’ve found what I’ve been looking for…
He’s found it - Aria
----------------------------------------
Day ???
MINUS!! I’LL KILL THEM ALL!!!!!!
----------------------------------------
DAY ???
Until the day we meet again, your forever.
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Day 342 - give or take -
The long-awaited day has arrived, and yet the gates of the kingdom of the knight furies remain steadfastly closed, its daunting presence casting a shadow over the deserted landscape. All this time, clinging to the hope that you would emerge from beyond those forbidding walls to join me in the land of the living... But as the sun dips its head beneath the waves, I can’t help but think, you’re never going to come. Or perhaps, you met someone else. My heart can’t take this anymore!
Until the day we meet again, your forever.
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Day 345
One more day, one final chance to join me in this world before I cast myself into the abyss below. For I cannot bear to live another moment without you by my side, even if it means sacrificing my own life in the process.
Until the day we meet again, your forever.
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Day 346
As I sit writing this at the edge of the cliff with the waves crashing against the rocks far below, I realize that my fate was sealed long before I ever set foot on this accursed journey. YOU’VE FORSKAEN ME! Whether by the hand of destiny or the cruel whims of fate, I was born to be alone!
----------------------------------------
Day 347
With a heavy heart, this is goodbye. I find solace in the knowledge that, in the end, I will be reunited with my beloved once more, in a world beyond this cruel and disgusting one.
- Forever Yours
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Rai, closed the book, leaning back in his chair. “Geez, learn to let go...” Sighing, he closed his eyes, tilting the chair back. Still can’t believe we’re competing in games with Furies… Suddenly, giant holograms projected from the pink gems embedded within the super-sized sword in the center of the library. Rai was currently on the third floor, so he was at the tip of the enormous blade. Crowds of people gathered quickly, pushing one another to get a good view. Rai, curious, got up, squeezing his way through until he had a clear view of the video being transmitted on the screen. Next to him, he saw Kiku, sporting an oversized mantical-shaped hoodie. “Hey Kiku, what’re you doing here?” Kiku pointed at the giant hologram. Rai looked at the figures in it, eyes widening right after. “No way! Duke’s challenge is today?! I forgot.”
Duke was standing within Final Valley, the only arena where Elites may face each other. As an apprentice, you get to choose the arena, and if it's deemed suitable, that is where your challenge to jump into the rank of the elites will take place.
Opposing Duke, three-time winner of Mr. Illumina, and eighth-ranked elite, Knox.
Knox, stretching, gazed at Duke, “So, you intend to remove me as an elite do you…” massaging some kinks out of his neck, he continued, “You only get one chance to jump, it’s not too late to back down.”
“I won’t back down. Even if I lose, I’ll join the military. Serving the Empire, however, that may be, has always been my greatest honor in life,” Duke replied.
“You’re just like your father,” Knox said. In the stands, limited to a select few, Han watched alongside Marco and a few others.
“How do you think he will manage?” Marco asked.
“We will see soon enough,” Han said.
“Alright, show me what you’ve got!” Knox shouted.