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5th Vaeraleusday of High Winter, Second Age 1854

Dark Ahead

by Isenara Eiryant

3rd Seojungsday of High Winter, Second Age 1854: Tonight, I opened my heart to Zhyrissa, letting the weight of my thoughts spill out as the fire crackled between us. The ruined academy of magic looms ahead, its secrets tugging at me—not just for what we might find, but for what it could mean for Hithfaer, for Aranesi, for me. Could its ancient halls hold answers to Luthais’s schemes? Is the Soul Eater that killed me still there? Is it called that because of what it does to souls? Or is it more metaphorical? Are they sustenance to the creature? Or captured and imprisoned. The few mentions of the creature I was able to discover are usually from those who had defeated it, a few accounts of someone's soul being rescued from its clutches, but always shortly after being incapacitated. Not decades later like for us. But we're still here too, not entirely gone, but not entirely complete. Zhyrissa is a good companion, she listened and shared my fears without judgement. She said there's only one thing to do, and what happens after will be dealt with then. I feel happy to have met her. Of course I had to complain about another birthday on the road in a moment of weakness and she promised we'll make up for it after our return. I’d hoped for a moment to breathe, to celebrate with those I care about, not to be chasing ghosts in crumbling ruins. What if this academy reveals something that changes us forever? Aranesi and I have faced so much already—our shared body, our divided paths. Could this be where we find a way to balance it all, or where it unravels? I suppose we'll either celebrate a new start, or there will be nothing left to celebrate. I’ll keep moving forward, blade ready, because standing still isn’t who I am.
 
5th Judicday of High Winter, Second Age 1854: We reached an altar of Aranye, nestled on a fire ley line, a place that once bubbled as a healing hot spring, now fallen into ruin. Its faded glory spoke of renewal, of spring’s promise even in winter’s grip. I couldn’t help but think of the soul eater we’re bound to face at the academy. Could confronting it be our own renewal, a chance to burn away the doubts and fears that linger in our shared soul? I don’t trust books to tell me how to fight it, but standing at that altar, I felt a spark—maybe action, not study, will forge us anew. If Aranye’s altar is any sign, there’s power in restoring what’s broken. Perhaps facing the soul eater will mend something in us, make us stronger for whatever lies ahead—Luthais, the shadow elves, or beyond.
 
5th Vaeraleusday of High Winter, Second Age 1854: Today, we found a shadow rift, an unstable portal to the shadow realm pulsing with dark potential. For a moment, I saw the chance to harness it, to create a shadow ley line and turn our enemies’ strength against them. But Lady Aria chose caution, shutting it down—our foes’ ties to shadow run too deep, and she’s right to avoid arming them further. Closing the rift was tough work, but we got it done, sealing off that threat. It made me think of our own torn souls, Aranesi and I, caught between one body and two minds. Shutting the rift felt like stitching a wound—maybe facing the soul eater will be like that, too, a way to heal what’s been split. I can’t shake the thought that all these trials—altars, rifts, academies—are leading us somewhere bigger. If we can heal ourselves, could we heal Hithfaer, too? Restore vitality to the land? Or is Luthais waiting to tear it all open again?
 

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  1. The Expedition
    2nd Judicday to 4th Respitesday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  2. Mystery of the Winter Temple
    4th Respitesday to 5th Judicday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  3. Night of the Dead
    5th Vaeraleusday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  4. The Beginning
    5th Amerysday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  5. Home
    5th Respitesday of High Spring, Second Age 1853
  6. Ghosts and Dead Trees
    2nd Judicday of Fading Spring, Second Age 1853
  7. Far Afield
    5th Respitesday of Fading Spring, Second Age 1853
  8. Dead
    3rd Quindirsday of Summer's Dawn, Second Age 1853
  9. Wreckage
    1st Judicday of Summer's Twilight, SA 1853
  10. The Truth Revealed
    4th Amerysday of Summer's Twilight, SA 1853
  11. Of Ratmen and Skeletons
    3rd Brahmarusday of Rising Autumn, Second Age 1853
  12. The Neighbors
    1st Judicday of High Autumn, Second Age 1853:
  13. Eglasil, the Moon Elf neighbor
    3rd Respitsday of High Autumn, Second Age 1853
  14. Flames and Storms
    2nd Respitesday of High Autumn, Second Age 1853
  15. Island Ruins
    3rd Seojungsday of Autumn's Edge
  16. Ancient Discoveries
    4th Judicsday of Autumns Edge, Second Age 1853
  17. Visitors from across the Sea
    3rd Vaeraleusday of Winters Chill, Second Age 1853
  18. Lothithil Estate
    5th Seojungsday of Winters Chill, Second Age 1853
  19. Tirion Anor
    3rd Brahmarusday of High Winter, Second Age 1853
  20. Darkness Ended
    3rd Qindirsday of High Winter, Second Age 1853
  21. Unwelcome Visitors
    1st Respitesday of Winter's End, Second Age 1853
  22. War at our Doorstep
    3rd Seojungsday of Winter's End, Second Age 1853
  23. Conquest in the Dark
    5th Amerysday of Winter's End, Second Age 1853
  24. Terrors Beneath
    1st Qindirsday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1853
  25. The Journal Entry’s title
  26. The Journal Entry’s title
  27. Winter Dryad
    2nd Seojungsday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1853
  28. The Journal Entry’s title
  29. The Journal Entry’s title
  30. Thief!
    3rd Brahmarusday of High Spring, Second Age 1853
  31. Griffons
    3rd Respitesday of Rising Autumn, Second Age 1854
  32. The Journal Entry’s title
  33. The Journal Entry’s title
  34. The Voyage
    4th Judicday of High Autumn, Second Age 1854
  35. Bri'Inis
    5th Brahmarusday of High Autumn, Second Age 1854
  36. The Journal Entry’s title
  37. The Journal Entry’s title
  38. At war with nature
    5th Amerysday of High Autumn, Second Age 1854
  39. The Longest Night
    3rd Seojungsday of High Winter, Second Age 1854
  40. The Journal Entry’s title
  41. The Journal Entry’s title
  42. Dark Ahead
    5th Vaeraleusday of High Winter, Second Age 1854
  43. The Journal Entry’s title
  44. The Journal Entry’s title
  45. The Long Death
    1st Qindirsday of Winter's End, Second Age 1854
  46. The Journal Entry’s title
  47. The Journal Entry’s title
  48. Alone among enemies
    5th Amerysday of High Spring, Second Age 1855
  49. The Journal Entry’s title
  50. The Journal Entry’s title
  51. Beneath the Waves
    5th Judicday of Summer’s Dawn
  52. Temple of Storms
    2nd Brahmarusday of High Summer, Second Age 1855
  53. Summer Games
    3rd Vaeraleusday of High Summer, Second Age 1855
  54. Energy hijacking
    3rd Qindirsday of the High Summer, Second Age 1855

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.045 © 2017-2025 [en] | Anvil Time: 01:39, Dec 21 2025