Indeed, it was a strange occurrence.
After giving the book to Rera, he cautiously inspected her expression.
However, her eyes were lackluster, and her face clearly showed her confusion as she contemplated hard about things.
After he flipped a few pages, she talked to herself.
"Leave... no is it escape? Off life... killing, ah, this is cult!" her voice was troubled and her expression perfectly mirrored it.
'What an expressive girl' Irwiz thought.
It seems, this girl really didn't know much about the ancient Seraph language after all.
"Is the author maybe talking about escaping from the cult, and them killing people? The vocabulary in this is too hard..." Rera pouted.
She kept flipping the book but couldn't discern much information.
"Here, give it to me. I can also read some of them" Irwiz extended his hand to Rera.
"Tch, what a show off. As if you can read the ancient Seraph language more fluently than me" Rera rolled her eyes in response but still gave the book.
Indeed, now that Irwiz looked at the title, he instantly knew what the word meant.
It indeed meant diary.
Then, he flipped to the first page.
[I went out to help mom and dad with the village work today. It was so boring helping with these menial chores.
However, while Blackie was sniffing around agitated, and kept digging the earth, I tried to stop it. But then, I saw something shine. It was a gemstone. It seemed to have been a necklace before though. It looked nice so I brought it home.]
Irwiz flipped a few more pages. The diary's first few pages described the life of a rural village boy.
His name was Olly, and he had an older brother and two parents. Their family's life was ordinary, just tending to some livestock.
His older brother, however, seemed to have left the village to go make money in the city.
Since his older brother was the only one Olly spent time with, he was lonely and spent time with his dog Blackie instead.
[I finally fixed that necklace today. I even had to steal an iron chain from Uncle Blacksmith's inventory. He's so grudgy all the time so I doubt he would've given it to me anyways.
However, it was worth it. That necklace looks so much better now. I bet it can fetch a high price.]
[The necklace shone! I was wandering to the forest with Blackie but nearby some creepy looking trees, the gemstone started glowing a bit. I always hid it beneath my shirt since others will take it if they saw it, but it was heating up so I had to bring it out.
I wanted to search around more but mom called me... it was getting dark anyways. I will search tomorrow.]
The necklace shines? Irwiz didn't put much attention to the necklace until now but it seemed to contain some interesting properties.
[I am writing my diary on top of a tree today. Usually I do it before sleeping but tonight, I decided to sneak out and spend the night here. I have to find the reason the necklace shines after all.
It seemed to be pointing me in a direction... hopefully, the monsters in the forest won't get me.
Blah! Those monsters are just used to scare little children. I'm not a little kid anymore! I know they're not reBesides, I got Blackie with me so I'll be safe. Anyways, I will write in the next entry if I do find that thing my necklace is reacting with.
Maybe I'll even find a treasure trove hehe.]
[I finally found it. It was just some old book. So disappointed but this book is strange though. There is no title to this book but the insides are very weird. It has some strange symbols that I can't read. But the other parts make no sense at all.
Sorcerers? Wizards? Rituals? So strange. From what I saw from this book, apparently there are magical beasts that has strange powers. One of them even matches the description of those monsters the villagers talk about.
The Blood Fairies, the villagers say they abduct children but this book says these monsters feed on blood, especially human...
Ok, I should return to the village now. I'll read this book later, it seems very boring though]
And then, the whole vibe changed. Although the handwriting was still childish and out of place, some drops of blood seemed to have dried on some parts of this page.
[I returned to the village. But it was no more. EVERYONE HAD DIED. There were traces of the scary cults my parents talked about.]
[I WILL AVENGE MY PARENTS]
The last part especially, seemed to have been written in blood. It took a whole page.
The next several pages had been torn apart.
From the next untorn page, the handwriting had changed a lot. It has become less chaotic and more orderly and clean. It seemed like the one who wrote the diary had grown up.
[I have studied the Records of Mysticism and Journey Into the Abyss. I now know what that ritual they conducted in my village was. It was a blood sacrifice to the Deity of Madness.
Those cult worshippers from the Cult of Madness go around everywhere, conducting blood rituals to appease their god and receive blessings.
By studying the celestial stars and the correct time, I have now deduced the next time. I will follow their footsteps.
Although many years have passed, I still remember that day vividly. The heads of everyone hung from the ceiling. Mom, dad, everyone...]
The next two pages were pages that had eroded due to time. Nothing could be read from this.
The diary was ending soon.
[I have finally purged the main base of the Cult of Madness in Evelyn. Even though I am just a rank 3 now, I managed to poison their water and food and set up traps to kill their priests.
However, I know I am dying from that last spell from the bishop... But I am satisfied to have finally fulfilled my long desired revenge. I will now leave everything in this room.
With the help from the ritual I syphoned out, along with my life essence, this spot should be perfectly hidden. Only those that descended from our village would be able to discover this place.
Those that are reading this, I have left the Records of Mysticism and Journey Into the Abyss hidden beneath the blanket's top left spot, one meter deep.
The Necklace of Guidance has already shattered. Good luck on your journey to mysticism. However, I must warn you sternly that embarking on this path means certain death to anyone. It is a path filled with madness and insanity.
Oh brother... how I miss you so much. I hoped I can see your face one last time.]
That was the last page of the diary, written in blood that had dried. There were several more pages, but all were empty.