Year of the Phoenix 462

Dear Diary,

As the Year of the Slumbering Dragon has reached it's end, people are celebrating and welcoming the Year of the Rising Phoenix. Yet, I can't set my heart at ease. Now this isn't because of any sort of desire to return home, but rather out of the fear for one of the relatives who looked after me since I came to this world. Vanessa, my sister, had a political marriage with another high ranking noble from one of the small kingdoms part of the Four Clover Alliance. My sister had met the noble during a big party and they instantly hit it off. She ended up marrying into their family, and though it was done with politics in mind, they also both loved each other. She then gave birth to my nephew, Timothy, who I met a few times during my travels. He was a bright lad, and should be turning thirteen soon.

Around the start of the Year of the Slumbering Dragon, the city states to the east of this alliance have had a lot of civil unrest, and the Holy Xeno Empire had begun mobilising their army. They have yet to announce their supposed crusade, yet the target is quite obvious considering their geographical location. The only good new is the Heavenly Magic Kingdom has remained quiet as normal.

Through my merchant connections, I have heard news that wars is about to break out, and there is no better time then when everyone has lowered their guard to celebrate the new year. 2*

Through my merchant friends, I have heard that combat related products have sky rocketed in value recently, and I know more then one merchant who has been going east to sell armaments. But the imminent war isn't truly what I fear. Even if the kingdom falls, as high ranking nobles, they should be granted some form of clemency or chance to surrender. They would most likely become political prisoners, and not be forced into slavery-that is, if they were in a normal war. What I truly fear, is the conspiracy I heard from a noble connection.

This noble friend of mine happened to be involved in the intrigue and intelligence department of our nation. One night, when we went out to the local inn for a beer, he drank a bit too much. And during his drunken rancor, he mentioned that "Shadow Soul may be involved in stirring up the war" Those short words were enough to sober me up.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I don't believe he was truly drunk at that point, and that he may have done that on purpose knowing me, but due to this statement, I had begun organising to travel to them. Now most people believed that this organisation didn't exist, and was just an imaginary fairytale used to scare children, but those who knew of their actual existence feared it. And I knew. In the past some people mistakenly thought I was apart of their group due to being reincarnated, and I nearly lost my life because of that.

The Shadow Soul organisation supposedly consisted of around twelves core members, but their level of influence is unimaginable. The organisation specialises in kidnapping children and through illegal black soul magic, they would swap the souls of their members with kidnapped children. They would then posses the youthful body; while the child's soul would be implanted into to a body about to die of old age. Through this, they manage to create pseudo immortality, with their oldest members estimated to be alive since before the founding of some smaller nations, around 400 years old. There are no records on when the organisation was founded, but it is believed to have existed since before most written records. 1*

However, their eternal memory and wealth of knowledge isn't the only reason they are so powerful. The organisation is believed to be connected to many powerful figures in nations across Myristic. They will also get any job done, as long as an equivalently large sum of wealth is given for it. Lastly, they are impossible to hunt. Though an occasional blunder, or trace is found, every hunt for them has ended in failure. And it's no surprise considering their ability to swap bodies.

Thus, I have decided to embark on this two week journey to meet my sister and nephew. I have already bought the carriage as well as the magic glow powder, though the cost pains my merchant heart, it's better that my heart bleeds now rather then it bleeding from an accident. The powder provides a better headlight for the carriage then lamps, and are essential for night time travel. Lamps just don't cut it, and with no powerful flame magician, I had no choice but to buy it. Still, spending the Earth equivalent of 0.1 Million dollars just for this amount of powder is clearly a rip off. Even with magic, electricity can not be replaced well... 2*

If I did not travel at night as well, it would take over a month, many currently time was of importance. Luckily, because my noble connection asked to come along, I could make him pay his part. He really did set me up... Anyways, I will leave it at that. Time to leave.

Please be safe Vanessa, Timothy.

Today's Memo:

Heroes of the past -Lest we forget

The soldiers who have fought,

Dies many fruitless wars,

With their lives they bought,

Peace and Law.