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Page 1
I never had a diary back when I was still living with mom and dad. Most girls my age probably would, but I always found the concept of writing everything about your life weird and dumb. Why would I want to do that when I could instead enjoy every day as it comes along and reflect on the good instead of the bad? Were I to go back home and ask him, Laronde could no doubt come up with an answer to that question in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I can’t. Not until I’ve earned enough money for him. For all of them.
Page 2
Today, I created my first…substance. I’ll call it that instead of what it actually is, because I don’t want any of this to get out to someone nosy. Anyway, the flower-shaped object in the palm of my hand is a potent stimulant that raises the combat prowess of anyone who consumes it. I took a bite of it myself to see if it would melt me into a pile of goo. Since I’m obviously still here, I’d call my impromptu experiment a complete success! Plus, I feel a little stronger than before, too! (Albeit not enough to lift most objects, but it’s still something!)
I’ve decided to name this stimulant “black lotus.” Unassuming enough to evade suspicion from authorities, and I even modeled it after a flower. It’s the perfect plan.
Page 3
It wasn’t the perfect plan.
One of my buyers must have been a traitor the whole time, because as I write in this thing, I can see wanted posters for “the dealer.” And as far as I know, I’m the only “dealer” in Opistia! I probably should have thought of a backup plan in case this got out to the general public. What am I going to do now? My family won’t be pleased if they find out that I’ve been selling prohibited (or well, the government claims my materials to be illegal, which I obviously don’t agree with!) substances behind their back. Maybe I should just…leave and think for a while…stop and smell my namesake, perhaps?
Page 4
Well, now I’ve done it. I truly have. Instead of doing my best to fit in despite my new status as a wanted criminal, I made the frankly poor decision of fleeing from my home entirely to get away from Opistia. The following events aren’t particularly worth going over, but to keep it brief, Rosalyn “Rose” Horstred has now found herself tangled up with some company of mercenaries. Viridian, the leader of this group, seems more than happy to let me tag along.
Why they’re so willing to let in a criminal mastermind / child, I’ll never know.
Some part of me is too scared to ask.
Page 5
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that there’s a girl my age in this group. Her name is Elizabeth, but everyone just calls her Eliza, so I do as well. She’s only a year older than me and taller by a fair amount. I won’t lie and say that I’m anything other than embarrassed that she could pick me up with ease despite her petite stature. Especially with how empty-headed she can be. I’m sure that I could tell her to jump off a cliff and she would do so without hesitation, though such a thought disturbs me more than it amuses me.
Still…there’s something about that girl that makes me feel a strange affinity for her. It’s my job to protect her, if that big axe-wielding brother of hers lets me.
Page 6
Eliza and I went out to collect herbs today. I won’t lie: it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. Piggyback rides with Laronde are nice and all, but the company of a good friend (are we just that? Do I want to be something more?) can’t be beat. The only bad thing was when Dirk insisted on watching us the entire time. Doesn’t he know that we can take care of ourselves? Or well, I can. Admittedly, Eliza needs the support; I swear that one of these days, that absentmindedness of hers is going to get herself killed.
Page 7
A long time has passed since I last wrote here. The reason why I’m deciding to pick this up again is because…well, I might be in trouble. We’re in Holanis right now, waiting for Viridian to make a tough decision that could decide the fates of every single person present. Three will be chosen to scout ahead to look for danger that may be lurking near Jraeyan, whilst the other ten will siege the complex. I can feel the magical power all the way from here. It feels cold. So much unlike the warmth of Opistia, the warmth that I haven’t felt in so, so long…
…I miss my home.
Page 8
How long has it been since I wrote in this again? It’s had to be months, right? Keeping track of time isn’t easy when you’re on the run from people that wish to snuff out your life. None of the events that have transpired are ones that I want to recount, but what matters most of all is that I finally reunited with my beloved brother Laronde. I held back tears as we embraced for the first time in so, so many days. His touch was like the warmth of the sun had shone on me at last. All of it was like a dream come true.
And I was happy. So, so happy.
Page 9
This may very well be the last time that I write here. A lot has changed since I first picked up this diary on a whim. Me and so many other people have been teleported to the top of the Tower of Opistus, the place where our final battle awaits. I don’t know if we’ll all make it out alive, nor if I will. But I do know one thing: this journey has changed me for the better. Changed all of us for the better, I hope. No one will take my new life away from me.
I’ll show ‘em all how much they underestimated me. I won’t hold anything back, you jerks!
Page 10
These entries that I’ve written from my heart…perhaps they’ll be revealed to you one day, Eliza. Perhaps they won’t. But if they ever are, then know that a world with you in it is a world worth occupying for as long as I live.
-Rosalyn Horstred