A New Bell Tolls

The day started like any other. I got in late last night; mother didn't say anything but I could tell she was perturbed. This morning I found out why. She and father are sending me on another mission. This time feels a bit different. Mother showed an urgency I haven't seen before, telling me that this is my chance to forge the world in the way that I want it. I have barely had the chance to think about that part of the conversation, to say true.
 
Things she said:

Wealth is useful for power, not for ourselves but to benefit others.

If I want to keep the world my parents built, then I need to fight for it.

What threw me off was what quickly followed. A bodyguard! A babysitter. I could see on my parent's face that they KNEW the insult they were inflicting upon me. I could see that they didn't care. I even caught the sparkle of knowing in my father's eyes- he knew that I would try to slip away from this dwarf, and he would not tolerate that. The dwarf in question was not what I expected.

Gwen.

From the start, I enjoyed her company much more than I anticipated. Despite her arms and armor and gruff mercenary appearance, Gwen has a lightness to her words and expression that make me feel comfortable. Moreso, she just feels honest. Not that I believe she never lies. But she feels genuine. The words fail me, so I must write more about her after I've had time to think. I must admit that I tried to give her the slip at a local tavern, but she unexpectedly saw me. Not indignant or angered in the least, she merely said "where you going, friend?" I really don't know what to make of her.

We walked the city for a while, and I bought us both clothes. She didn't wear hers. The sporting event was more fun than I anticipated, several muscly sweaty old men pawing at each other. Remarkable athleticism! It turned out to be a surprise double feature, as the villain Dreadnaught took the stage to accost the 'hero of Darynth', the Devil himself. The devil prevailed, though I did a small part to help the Dreadnaught.

I feel a cad for helping the Villain of this story, but it all turns back to something my mother said this morning. 'You must find the Devil of Darynth, to help save the city and fight in the next revolution.' I wanted to see what this 'Devil' on the stage would do against greater odds. Win, it turns out- nothing learned there. So we talked after the fact. I feigned to never have heard about this Devil, and the man who played the part, Armando, grew very indignant and ranted about the work that the Devil of Darynth was doing. Interesting.

We followed the crowd to the clock tower. I didn't have much interest in the event. I know that it will be a great windfall for my family's business, but honestly what is ONE more windfall, anyway? Gwen and Armando noticed two figures and pointed them to me. I recognized the one- a strange tall man I had seen at my home, talking to my parents. I circled to get a better look, using the techniques father taught me to blend into the crowd and to focus my intent, filter out the distractions from the things of import.

I think there was music, dancing, and a speech. The bell rang. "doom, doom doom".
 
I am exhausted and I still need to contemplate what happened next. I will write again soon, when I am ready.

The above text is the first translated from the enigmatic journal of Cas. After centuries of code-crackers trying their hand at deciphering this fiendishly complicated text, I am proud to say that I have done it. Without wanting to delay my work any further, I present the first translated text from the Journal of Cas, year 1306.
 
To note, translation will be arduous and long, as the journal is at least triple ciphered and mashes together pieces of five languages.
 

— Magalie Strassler, "Uncrackable: the Chronicles of Cas"