He allowed himself several minutes to settle, slowing his breath and letting the ambient quiet assist in the gradual replenishment of his Psycheâhowever marginal the gain.
Once his internal cadence had steadied and the tension in his limbs dissolved into something softer, he lifted a single finger and drew it slowly through the air.
The page turned on its own.
The first entry read:
"đđˇđ¸đđľđŽđđ°đŽ đ˛đź đđąđŞđ˝ đđŽ đ˝đąđ˛đˇđ´. đĄđŽđŞđźđ¸đˇ đ˛đź đ˝đąđŽ đśđŽđŞđˇđ˛đˇđ° đđŽ đ°đ˛đżđŽ đ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđ¸đžđ°đąđ˝. đđ¸đ°đ˛đŹ đ˛đź đ¸đžđť đ°đťđ¸đđ˛đˇđ° đđ¸đžđŤđ˝ đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đđŽ đ´đˇđ¸đ đŞđˇđđ˝đąđ˛đˇđ°. đĄđŽđśđŽđśđŤđŽđť, đšđ¸đźđźđ˛đŤđľđŽ đťđŽđŞđđŽđť: đđ¸đťđ˝đŞđľ đŞđź đđŽ đŞđťđŽ, đđŽ đźđąđ¸đžđľđ đđ¸đ đđ¸đđŽ đ¸đđđđŽđđđŽđ đđ¸ đđ˝đžđđ°đ đđ¸đ¸ đđŽđŽđš."
He lingered in stillness, letting the text steep in the quiet.
The words hovered like mist at the edge of his mindâsimultaneously grounding and unsettling.
Eventually, he exhaled, a long breath pushed from somewhere beneath his ribcage, and turned the page.
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đĽđ¸đđđđśđ đđđđđ: 9
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đŚđđťđś đ¸đŻ đđźđą đŞđˇđ đđđť, đđđŽđźđźđ˛đˇđ°đź đŤđŽ đžđź đŞđľđľ.
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đŁđ¸đđŞđ, đŞ đ°đŞđťđťđ˛đźđ¸đˇ đŞđťđťđ˛đżđŽđ đŻđťđ¸đś đŞ đ˝đŽđśđšđľđŽ đžđš đˇđ¸đťđ˝đą. đđź đšđŽđť đ˛đ°đˇđ˛đźđ˝ đ˝đťđŞđđ˛đ˝đ˛đ¸đˇ, đ˝đ¸ đ°đžđ˛đđŽ đśđŽ, đŞ đđťđ˛đŽđźđ˝đŽđźđź đ¸đŻ đđđť đ¸đˇ đśđ đłđ¸đžđťđˇđŽđ đ˝đ¸ đśđ đ°đ˛đżđŽđˇ đ˝đŽđśđšđľđŽ, đ˝đąđŽ đ¸đˇđŽ đźđŽđŽđˇ đ˛đˇ đśđ đ´đ˛đˇđđľđ˛đˇđ° đżđ˛đźđ˛đ¸đˇ.
đŁđąđŽ đ°đŞđťđťđ˛đźđ¸đˇ đđŞđź đľđŽđ đŤđ đŞ đđˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đ¸đŻ đđ˛đˇđđŽđť, đ˝đąđ¸đźđŽ đŤđľđŽđźđźđŽđ đŤđ đ˝đąđŽ đđ¸đťđ đ¸đŻ đ˝đąđŽ đđźđąđŽđˇ đđđťđŽ, đđąđ¸ đąđ¸đľđ đđ˛đ˝đąđ˛đˇ đ˝đąđŽđś đŞđˇ đŽđśđŤđŽđť đ¸đŻ đąđ˛đź đđđť, đ˝đąđ¸đžđ°đą đđąđŞđ˝ đđźđšđŽđŹđ˝ đ¸đŻ đ˝đąđŽ đ˝đťđ˛đˇđ˛đ˝đ, đđąđ¸ đ´đˇđ¸đđź?
đđžđť đłđ¸đžđťđˇđŽđ đąđŞđź đ¸đˇđľđ đŤđŽđ°đžđˇ đŤđžđ˝...
đđ˝ đŻđŽđľđ˝ đžđˇđžđźđžđŞđľ đ˝đ¸ đľđŽđŞđżđŽ đśđ đąđ¸đśđŽ đźđ¸ đźđžđđđŽđˇđľđ, đŽđżđŽđťđđ˝đąđ˛đˇđ° đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đ đąđŞđ đŽđżđŽđť đťđŽđŞđľđľđ đ´đˇđ¸đđˇ. đđ˝'đź đŤđŞđťđŽđľđ đŤđŽđŽđˇ đŞ đđŞđ đŤđžđ˝ đ đŞđľđťđŽđŞđđ đśđ˛đźđź đ˝đąđŽđś, đŞđˇđ đŞđľđ˝đąđ¸đžđ°đą đ˝đąđŽđ đąđ˛đ đ˛đ˝ đđŽđľđľ, đ đźđŞđ đ˝đąđŽ đźđŞđđˇđŽđźđź đ˛đˇ đ˝đąđŽđ˛đť đŽđđŽđź, đśđ đšđŞđťđŽđˇđ˝đźâđŞ đľđ¸đˇđ°đ˛đˇđ°, đŞ đŻđŽđŞđť, đŞ đđ¸đžđŤđ˝ đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đ˝đąđŽđ đđ¸đžđľđ đŽđżđŽđť đźđŽđŽ đ˝đąđŽđ˛đť đđŞđžđ°đąđ˝đŽđť đŞđ°đŞđ˛đˇ.
đđ¸đťđ đŤđľđŽđźđź đ˝đąđŽđ˛đť đźđ¸đžđľđź. đ đđ˛đľđľ đśđ˛đźđź đ˝đąđŽđś đ˝đ¸đ¸, đŞđˇđ đ'đľđľ đ˝đťđ đŞđˇđ đżđ˛đźđ˛đ˝ đ˝đąđŽđś đ¸đˇđŽ đđŞđ. đđ¸đšđŽđŻđžđľđľđ đźđ¸đ¸đˇ...
đŚđŽ đŞđťđŽ đŞ đđŞđđź đŻđťđ¸đś đ˝đąđŽ đ˝đŽđśđšđľđŽ. đđŽđśđŤđŽđťđź đ¸đŻ đ˝đąđŽ đ°đŞđťđťđ˛đźđ¸đˇ đźđŞđ˛đ đ˛đ˝ đŹđ¸đžđľđ đ˝đŞđ´đŽ đžđš đ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđťđŽđŽ đđŽđŽđ´đź đ˝đ¸ đťđŽđŞđŹđą đ˛đ˝ đ¸đˇ đ¸đžđť đđŞđśđ˛đľđ˛đŞđťđź, đŞđˇđ đśđ đ˘đ¸đžđľ-đđŞđśđ˛đľđ˛đŞđť. đ đđŞđź đŹđąđ¸đźđŽđˇ đŤđ đŞđˇ đđśđŞđťđ¸đ´. đđŞđˇ đđ¸đž đ˛đśđŞđ°đ˛đˇđŽ đ˝đąđŞđ˝? đ đđ¸đžđľđ đąđŞđżđŽ đˇđŽđżđŽđť đ˝đąđ¸đžđ°đąđ˝ đśđ đŽđźđźđŽđˇđŹđŽ đ˝đ¸ đŤđŽ đľđ˛đˇđ´đŽđ đźđ¸ đŽđđ˝đťđ˛đŹđŞđŤđľđ đ˝đ¸ đŞ đđ¸đľđŻ, đđŽđ˝ đ˛đ˝ đŞđľđľ đŻđŽđŽđľđź đźđ˝đťđŞđˇđ°đŽđľđ đŹđ¸đťđťđŽđŹđ˝.
đđź đŞ đđťđ˛đŽđźđ˝đŽđźđź đ¸đŻ đđđť đśđ đłđ¸đžđťđˇđŽđ đđ˛đľđľ đŤđŽ đ˛đ˝'đź đłđ¸đžđťđˇđŽđ.
đđžđťđťđŽđˇđ˝đľđ đđŽ đŻđ˛đˇđ đ¸đžđťđźđŽđľđżđŽđź đťđŽđźđ˝đ˛đˇđ° đŞđ˝ đŞ đźđśđŞđľđľ đŹđŞđśđš đđŽ'đżđŽ đźđŽđ˝ đžđš. đŁđąđŽ đđŞđ đąđŞđź đŤđŽđŽđˇ đľđ¸đˇđ°, đśđ đźđŞđđˇđŽđźđź... đľđ¸đˇđ°đŽđť. đđ˝ đľđŽđŞđźđ˝ đ˝đąđŽ đŹđ¸đśđšđŞđˇđ đ˛đźđˇ'đ˝ đŞđľđľ đŤđŞđ, đ˛đ°đˇđ¸đťđ˛đˇđ° đđť 'đ'đś đ˝đ¸đ¸ đŹđ¸đ¸đľ đ˝đ¸ đźđšđŽđŞđ´,' đŁđŞđ´đ˛đˇđ° đľđ¸đ¸đ´đ¸đžđ˝.
đŚđąđŞđ˝ đŹđŞđˇ đ đźđŞđ. đđ˛đˇđđŽđť đ´đˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝đź, đŞđś đ đťđ˛đ°đąđ˝?
đŁđ¸đđŞđ đźđľđŽđŽđš đźđŽđŽđśđź đ˝đ¸ đŤđŽ đşđžđ˛đŹđ´ đ¸đŻ đŻđ¸đ¸đ˝. đ đąđŞđżđŽ đźđ¸ đśđžđŹđą đ˝đ¸ đźđŞđ đŤđžđ˝ đ˛đ˝'đź đ˝đ¸đ¸ đŽđŞđťđľđ đ˛đˇ đ˝đąđŽ đłđ¸đžđťđˇđŽđ đ˝đ¸ đźđ˝đŞđťđ˝ đŹđ¸đśđšđľđŞđ˛đˇđ˛đˇđ°, đ đźđžđšđšđ¸đźđŽ.
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đđťđśđ˛đźđŽ đŤđŽ đđŽ đđąđ¸ đŤđ˛đťđ˝đąđŽđ đ˝đąđŽ đźđ˝đśđťđź đŞđˇđ đźđžđˇ. đŁđťđžđľđ, đŤđľđŽđźđźđ˛đˇđ°đź đŤđŽ đžđź đŞđľđľ.
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The next coming week detailed of the perilous journey to the temple and the droves of creatures they'd encountered.
Statements like:
"đŁđąđŽ đđŞđđź đŞđťđŽ đľđ¸đˇđ° đŞđˇđ đŻđťđ¸đžđ°đąđ˝ đđ˛đ˝đą đšđŽđťđ˛đľ. đđˇ đłđžđźđ˝ đ˝đ¸đđŞđ, đ'đżđŽ đźđŽđŽđˇ đ˝đąđŽ đŹđ¸đąđ¸đťđ˝ đźđľđŞđ đźđŽđżđŽđťđŞđľ đŹđťđŽđŞđ˝đžđťđŽđź đ¸đŻ đżđŞđťđđ˛đˇđ° đľđŽđ˝đąđŞđľđ˛đ˝đ. đđ˝ đđ¸đžđľđ đŤđŽ đŞđˇ đžđˇđđŽđťđźđ˝đŞđ˝đŽđśđŽđˇđ˝ đ˝đ¸ đŹđľđŞđ˛đś đ˝đąđŽđ đđŽđťđŽ đśđŽđťđŽđľđ đŽđŻđŻđ˛đŹđ˛đŽđˇđ˝."
And more chilling acknowledgments.
"đŁđąđŽ đźđ¸đ˛đľ đ°đťđ¸đđź đđŞđťđśđŽđť đ˝đąđŽ đŻđžđťđ˝đąđŽđť đˇđ¸đťđ˝đą đđŽ đ˝đťđŞđżđŽđľ, đ đŻđŽđŽđľ đ˛đ˝ đąđ˛đźđźđ˛đˇđ° đłđžđźđ˝ đŤđŽđˇđŽđŞđ˝đą đ˝đąđŽ đźđ¸đ˛đľ, đ˝đžđ°đ°đ˛đˇđ° đŞđ˝ đ¸đžđť đŤđ¸đ¸đ˝đź. đđżđŽđˇ đ˝đąđŽ đťđŞđ˛đˇ đźđśđŽđľđľđź đ¸đŻ đźđžđľđŻđžđť đŞđˇđ đ¸đľđ đźđśđ¸đ´đŽ, đ đźđśđŽđľđľ đ˛đ˝ đŻđ˛đťđźđ˝ đ˝đąđ˛đˇđ° đ˛đˇ đ˝đąđŽ đśđ¸đťđˇđ˛đˇđ° đŞđˇđ đ˛đź đ˝đąđŽ đľđŞđźđ˝ đźđŹđŽđˇđ˝ đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đ˝đŞđ˛đľđź đśđŽ đ˛đˇđ˝đ¸ đśđ đđťđŽđŞđśđź đŞđ˝ đˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝."
The world he finds himself lost in seemed wild and vibrant as he took to reading more of the journal.
"đŚđŽ đŹđťđ¸đźđźđŽđ đŞ đŻđ˛đŽđľđ đ¸đŻ đšđŽđ˝đťđ˛đŻđ˛đŽđ đŤđŽđŞđźđ˝đź, đ˝đąđŽđ˛đť đŹđ¸đťđšđźđŽđź đľđ¸đŹđ´đŽđ đśđ˛đ-đťđ¸đŞđť. đđžđť đđ˛đˇđđŽđť đđˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đźđŞđđź đŞ đŤđŞđźđŞđľđ˛đźđ´ đśđžđźđ˝ đŤđŽ đˇđŽđŞđť, đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đ¸đť đŞ đđŽđ¸đľđŞđ˝đŹđąđŽđť. đđŽđ˛đ˝đąđŽđť đŹđ¸đśđŻđ¸đťđ˝đź đśđŽ."
As the journal entries continued, things only seemed to escalate.
"đđšđ¸đľđ¸đ°đ˛đŽđź, đđŽđŞđťđŽđźđ˝ đźđŽđľđŻ. đ đąđŞđżđŽ đŻđ¸đžđˇđ đ˛đ˝ đąđŞđťđđŽđť đŞđˇđ đąđŞđťđđŽđť đ˝đ¸ đłđ¸đžđťđˇđŞđľ đŞđź đ¸đŻ đľđŞđ˝đŽ. đŚđŽ đąđŞđżđŽ đ¸đˇđľđ đťđŽđŞđŹđąđŽđ đ˝đąđŽ đŻđ˛đťđźđ˝ đŽđŹđ¸đ˝đ¸đśđŽ. đđ˝ đźđŽđŽđśđź đśđžđŹđą đźđŞđŻđŽđť đ˝đąđŞđˇ đ˝đąđŽ đ¸đˇđŽ đšđťđ˛đ¸đť. đ¨đŽđ˝ đźđ˝đ˛đľđľ, đśđ đđ¸đťđťđ đźđ¸đśđŽđąđ¸đ đšđŽđťđźđ˛đźđ˝đź."
And another...
"đđŽđľđľ-đ˝đąđťđžđźđąđŽđź đźđ˝đŞđľđ´đŽđ đžđź đ˛đˇ đ˝đąđŽ đśđ¸đťđˇđ˛đˇđ°-đŻđ¸đ° đ˝đ¸đđŞđ. đŚđŽ đˇđŽđżđŽđť đąđŽđŞđťđ đ˝đąđŽđśâđ¸đˇđľđ đŻđŽđľđ˝ đŞ đźđžđđđŽđˇ đŞđŤđźđŽđˇđŹđŽ đ¸đŻ đŤđťđŽđŞđ˝đą. đŁđąđŽđ đąđžđˇđ˝ đˇđ¸đ˝ đ˝đąđťđ¸đžđ°đą đźđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đŤđžđ˝ đŤđ đđŽđ˝đŽđŹđ˝đ˛đˇđ° đ˝đąđŽđťđśđŞđľ đźđ˛đ°đˇđŞđ˝đžđťđŽđź; đđŽ đşđžđ˛đŹđ´đľđ đđťđŞđšđšđŽđ đ¸đžđťđźđŽđľđżđŽđź đ˛đˇ đ¸đžđť đŤđľđŞđˇđ´đŽđ˝đź đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đąđŞđ đŤđŽđŽđˇ đ°đŞđ˝đąđŽđťđ˛đˇđ° đŹđ¸đľđ đŞđľđľ đˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đŞđˇđ đ˝đąđŽđ đšđŞđźđźđŽđ đŤđ. đđľđ˝đąđ¸đžđ°đą đ¸đˇđŽ đ¸đŻ đ˝đąđŽ đźđŹđ¸đžđ˝đź đđ˛đđˇ'đ˝ đşđžđ˛đ˝đŽ đŞđŹđ˝ đşđžđ˛đŹđ´ đŽđˇđ¸đžđ°đą, đąđŽđť đŤđ¸đđ đŻđťđ¸đđŽđˇ đ˛đˇ đ˝đŽđťđťđ¸đť, đŞđź đąđŽđť đźđ¸đžđľ đđŞđź đˇđŽđŞđťđľđ đđťđŞđ˛đˇđŽđ đ˛đˇđ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđŽđ˛đť đŻđ¸đťđśđľđŽđźđź đżđŽđźđ˝đ˛đ°đŽđź. đŁđąđŽ đđśđŞđťđ¸đ´ đľđŽđŞđšđŽđ đ˛đˇ đŞđˇđ đđŞđź đŞđŤđľđŽ đ˝đ¸ đ˝đŽđŞđť đ˝đąđŽ đŻđŽđľđľ đŹđťđŽđŞđ˝đžđťđŽ đ¸đŻđŻ đąđŽđť, đźđ¸đśđŽđ˝đąđ˛đˇđ° đ đđ˛đđˇ'đ˝ đ´đˇđ¸đ đŹđ¸đžđľđ đŤđŽ đđ¸đˇđŽ, đˇđ¸đ˝ đľđ¸đ˛đ˝đŽđťđ˛đˇđ°, đ˝đąđŽ đđ˛đˇđđŽđť-đđˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đđŞđź đŞđŤđľđŽ đ˝đ¸ đ˝đŽđśđšđŽđť đąđ˛đź đ¸đđˇ đąđŽđŞđ˝ đźđ˛đ°đˇđŞđ˝đžđťđŽ đ˝đ¸ đľđžđťđŽ đ˝đąđŽ đŹđťđŽđŞđ˝đžđťđŽđź đŞđđŞđ, đđ˛đźđ˝đťđŞđŹđ˝đ˛đˇđ° đ˝đąđŽđś đłđžđźđ˝ đľđ¸đˇđ° đŽđˇđ¸đžđ°đą đŻđ¸đť đžđź đ˝đ¸ đŹđ¸đżđŽđť đąđŽđť đŞđˇđ đ°đŞđ˝đąđŽđť đ¸đžđť đ˝đąđ˛đˇđ°đź đŤđŽđŻđ¸đťđŽ đľđŽđŞđżđ˛đˇđ°."
Altha felt himself shiver at the thoughtâinvisible entities in the mist that could neither be heard or seen, only felt far too late. It sounded like something straight out of some strange folklore.
"First they were in a place with alot of trees so it was obviously a forest, then a grassland with scarce trees which should obviously be a savanna, so next should be a Rainforest... is that where I am?"
He thought of what he's seen of the temple's surrounding so far, within the barrier: the lack of trees, the barren rocky surface, the absence of truly intelligeable life anywhere. This couldn't be it, or could it? But if so, what could possibly produce this much geotransformation? And how long ago was this journal written?
He continued reading.
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đĽđ¸đđđđśđ đđđđđ: 18
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đŚđđťđś đ¸đŻ đđźđą đŞđˇđ đđđť, đđđŽđźđźđ˛đˇđ°đź đŤđŽ đžđź đŞđľđľ.
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đđ˝ đąđŞđź đŤđŽđŽđˇ đźđŽđżđŽđťđŞđľ đŞđťđđžđ¸đžđź đđŞđđź đźđ˛đˇđŹđŽ đđŽ đľđŞđźđ˝ đŞđŻđŻđ¸đťđđŽđ đ¸đžđťđźđŽđľđżđŽđź đ˝đąđŽ đľđžđđžđťđ đ¸đŻ đŞ đźđ˝đŞđŤđľđŽ đŹđŞđśđš.
đŁđąđŽ đŤđ˛đ¸đźđšđąđŽđťđŽ đąđŽđťđŽ đ˛đź đŞđŹđ˝đ˛đżđŽđľđ đąđ¸đźđ˝đ˛đľđŽ đ˝đ¸ đ¸đťđđŽđťđľđ đšđŞđźđźđŞđ°đŽ â đŞ đŻđŞđŹđ˝ đśđŞđđŽ đŽđżđ˛đđŽđˇđ˝ đ˝đąđťđ¸đžđ°đą đ˝đąđŽ đđ˛đľđđľđ˛đŻđŽ đŞđˇđ đźđŹđŞđťđŹđŽ đŹđ¸đżđŽđť.
đđťđ¸đś đ˝đąđŽ đśđ˛đ°đťđŞđ˝đ˛đ¸đˇ đ¸đŻ đ˝đąđŽ đđ˛đˇđ¸đťđˇ, đ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđŽ đśđ¸đťđŽ đđ˛đźđşđžđ˛đŽđ˝đ˛đˇđ° đľđŞđśđŽđˇđ˝-đźđ¸đˇđ° đ¸đŻ đ˝đąđŽ đđ˛đˇ-đđŽ đ˝đťđŽđŽđź.
đŁđąđŽđ˛đť đˇđ¸đŹđ˝đžđťđˇđŞđľ đđ˛đťđ°đŽđź đźđŽđŽđś đ˝đ¸ đźđŽđŽđš đ˛đˇđ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđŽ đžđˇđŹđ¸đˇđźđŹđ˛đ¸đžđź, đťđŽđˇđđ˛đˇđ° đźđľđŽđŽđš đŻđťđ¸đś đ¸đžđť đśđ˛đˇđđź đŞđˇđ đťđŽđšđľđŞđŹđ˛đˇđ° đ˛đ˝ đđ˛đ˝đą đąđŞđžđˇđ˝đŽđ đđŞđ´đŽđŻđžđľđˇđŽđźđź.
đđ đšđťđ¸đżđ˛đđŽđˇđŹđŽ đ¸đť đšđťđ¸đŤđŞđŤđ˛đľđ˛đ˝đ, đđŽ đźđ˝đžđśđŤđľđŽđ đžđšđ¸đˇ đ˝đąđŽ đżđ˛đľđľđŞđ°đŽ đ¸đŻ đđˇđ´đŞ.
đđ˝đź đšđŽđ¸đšđľđŽ â đ˝đŞđŹđ˛đ˝đžđťđˇ đŤđžđ˝ đ°đŽđˇđŽđťđ¸đžđź â đ¸đŻđŻđŽđťđŽđ đžđź đŻđ¸đ¸đ đŞđˇđ đŤđťđ˛đŽđŻ đźđŞđˇđŹđ˝đžđŞđťđ.
đ đŻđ˛đˇđ đ˝đąđŽđś đŹđžđťđ˛đ¸đžđź, đŞđˇđ đšđŽđťđąđŞđšđź đđ¸đťđ˝đąđ đ¸đŻ đ˝đťđžđźđ˝.
đ đ¸đˇđľđ đđ˛đźđą 'đ˘đ˛đť đ´đˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝' đđ¸đžđľđ đŤđŽ đśđ¸đťđŽ đ¸đšđŽđˇ đ˝đ¸ đŽđđšđľđŞđ˛đˇđ˛đˇđ° đ˝đ¸ đžđź đđąđŞđ˝ đ˝đąđŽđ'đťđŽ đźđŞđđ˛đˇđ°âŚ
đ˘đ˝đ˛đľđľ, đąđŽ đąđŞđź đŹđąđŞđˇđ°đŽđ. đđˇđŹđťđŽđśđŽđˇđ˝đŞđľđľđ, đŤđžđ˝ đšđŽđťđŹđŽđšđ˝đ˛đŤđľđ.
đđžđť đŹđ¸đˇđżđŽđťđźđŞđ˝đ˛đ¸đˇđź đąđŞđżđŽ đ°đťđ¸đđˇ đľđŽđźđź đšđŽđťđŻđžđˇđŹđ˝đ¸đťđ, đśđ¸đťđŽ đźđąđŞđđŽđ đđ˛đ˝đą đˇđžđŞđˇđŹđŽ.
đđŽđˇđŽđŞđ˝đą đ˝đąđŽ đŹđťđ˛đśđźđ¸đˇ đŞđťđśđ¸đť đŞđˇđ đ˝đąđŽ đŽđ˝đŽđťđˇđŞđľ đąđŽđŞđ˝, đ˝đąđŽđťđŽ đ˛đź đŞ đśđŞđˇ â đđŽđŞđ˝đąđŽđťđŽđ, đŤđžđ˝ đˇđ¸đ˝ đđąđ¸đľđľđ đ˛đˇđđ˛đŻđŻđŽđťđŽđˇđ˝.
đđŞđźđ˝ đˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝, đ đđ¸đ´đŽ đŤđŽđŻđ¸đťđŽ đ˝đąđŽ đđŞđđˇ đŞđˇđ đŻđ¸đžđˇđ đśđđźđŽđľđŻ đŹđžđťđľđŽđ đŞđ°đŞđ˛đˇđźđ˝ đ˝đąđŽ đ˝đąđ˛đŹđ´ đšđŽđľđ˝ đ¸đŻ đśđ đđśđŞđťđ¸đ´,
đŞđˇđ đŞđź đŞđľđđŞđđź 'đ˘đ˛đť đđˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝' đđŞđź đŞđđŞđ´đŽ, đ˝đŞđ´đ˛đˇđ° đľđ¸đ¸đ´đ¸đžđ˝.
đđ¸đť đŞ đđąđ˛đľđŽ đąđŽ đđŞđź đłđžđźđ˝ đźđ˛đľđŽđˇđ˝, đľđ¸đ¸đ´đ˛đˇđ° đŞđ˝ đ˝đąđŽ đśđ¸đ¸đˇ.
đŁđąđŽ đˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đđŞđź đźđ˝đ˛đľđľ đŞ đľđ¸đˇđ° đđŞđđź đŻđťđ¸đś đšđŞđźđźđ˛đˇđ° đŹđ¸đśđšđľđŽđ˝đŽđľđ, đŞđˇđ đźđ¸ đ đŻđ˛đ°đžđťđŽđ đ'đ đśđŞđ´đŽ đźđśđŞđľđľ đ˝đŞđľđ´.
đđŽđťđąđŞđšđź đŻđ¸đ¸đľđ˛đźđąđľđ, đ đŤđťđ¸đ´đŽ đ˝đąđŽ đźđ˛đľđŽđˇđŹđŽ đđ˛đ˝đą đŞ đşđžđŽđźđ˝đ˛đ¸đˇ đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đŻđŽđľđ˝ đŞđŤđźđžđťđ đ˝đąđŽ đśđ¸đśđŽđˇđ˝ đ˛đ˝ đŽđźđŹđŞđšđŽđ đśđ đľđ˛đšđź:
"đ˘đ˝đŞđť đ¸đť đśđ¸đ¸đˇ?" đ đŞđźđ´đŽđ. "đđŻ đđ¸đž đŹđ¸đžđľđ đľđ˛đżđŽ đŞđź đ¸đˇđŽ, đđąđ˛đŹđą đđ¸đžđľđ đđ¸đž đŹđąđ¸đ¸đźđŽ?"
đ đźđ˝đťđŞđˇđ°đŽ đđŞđ đ˝đ¸ đŤđŽđ°đ˛đˇ đŞ đŹđ¸đˇđżđŽđťđźđŞđ˝đ˛đ¸đˇ, đ'đľđľ đŞđđśđ˛đ˝ đ˛đ˝đź đ˝đąđŽ đźđ¸đťđ˝ đ¸đŻ đşđžđŽđťđ đŞ đŹđąđ˛đľđ đśđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đšđ¸đźđŽ đ˛đˇ đšđľđŞđ, đˇđ¸đ˝ đŞ đ˝đťđŞđżđŽđľđľđŽđť đ˛đˇ đŞđˇ đžđˇđŻđ¸đťđ°đ˛đżđ˛đˇđ° đľđŞđˇđ.
đđˇđ đđŽđ˝âŚ đąđŽ đŞđˇđźđđŽđťđŽđ.
đŚđ˛đ˝đąđ¸đžđ˝ đąđŽđźđ˛đ˝đŞđ˝đ˛đ¸đˇ, đąđŽ đźđŞđ˛đ đąđŽ đđ¸đžđľđ đŤđŽ đ˝đąđŽ đśđ¸đ¸đˇ.
đ đŞđźđ´đŽđ đąđ˛đś đđąđ, đŞđˇđ đžđˇđđŽđť đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đźđ˝đŽđŽđľ đąđŽđľđś â đšđŽđťđąđŞđšđź đđ˛đ˝đą đźđ¸đśđŽđ˝đąđ˛đˇđ° đťđŽđźđŽđśđŤđľđ˛đˇđ° đŞ đźđśđ˛đľđŽ â đąđŽ đťđŽđšđľđ˛đŽđ, "đđŽđŹđŞđžđźđŽ đźđ˝đŞđťđź, đˇđ¸ đśđŞđ˝đ˝đŽđť đąđ¸đ đŤđťđ˛đ°đąđ˝, đśđžđźđ˝ đŤđžđťđˇ."
đŁđąđŽđťđŽ đđŞđź đšđ¸đŽđ˝đťđ đ˛đˇ đąđ˛đź đ˝đ¸đˇđŽ, đˇđ¸đ˝ đłđžđźđ˝ đ˛đˇ đąđ˛đź đđ¸đťđđź. đ đąđŞđ đˇđ¸đ˝ đŽđđšđŽđŹđ˝đŽđ đ˝đąđŞđ˝. đđ¸đ˝ đŻđťđ¸đś đŞ đđ˛đˇđđŽđť-đđˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝ â đŞ đŻđ˛đ°đžđťđŽ đŤđťđŽđ đŻđ¸đť đđŞđť, đŻđ˛đťđŽ, đŞđˇđ đźđ˛đľđŽđˇđŹđŽ.
đŚđŽ đźđšđ¸đ´đŽ đžđˇđ˝đ˛đľ đđŞđđˇ đŹđťđŽđšđ˝ đ¸đżđŽđť đ˝đąđŽ đŽđŞđźđ˝đŽđťđˇ đťđ˛đđ°đŽđľđ˛đˇđŽđź. đđ˝ đđŞđź đ˝đąđŽ đŻđ˛đťđźđ˝ đ˝đťđžđľđ đąđžđśđŞđˇ đśđ¸đśđŽđˇđ˝ đ'đżđŽ đąđŞđ đ˛đˇ đđŽđŽđ´đź.
đđ¸đ, đŞđź đđŽ đŹđťđ¸đźđź đ˛đˇđ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđŽ đŻđ˛đˇđŞđľ đŽđŹđ¸đ˝đ¸đśđŽ â đ˝đąđŽ đ˝đąđťđŽđźđąđ¸đľđ đ¸đŻ đ˝đąđŽ đđťđžđ˛đźđ˛đŞđˇ đĄđŞđ˛đˇđŻđ¸đťđŽđźđ˝ â đ đŻđ˛đˇđ đśđđźđŽđľđŻ đźđ˝đťđŞđˇđ°đŽđľđ đąđ¸đšđŽđŻđžđľ. đŁđąđŽ đłđ¸đžđťđˇđŽđ, đ˝đąđ¸đžđ°đą đŻđťđŞđžđ°đąđ˝, đąđŞđź đˇđ¸đ˝ đŤđŽđŽđˇ đŞđź đąđŞđťđťđ¸đđ˛đˇđ° đŞđź đ đąđŞđ đŻđŽđŞđťđŽđ.
đđžđ˝ đąđ¸đšđŽ, đ đ´đˇđ¸đ, đ˛đź đ¸đŻđ˝đŽđˇ đ˝đąđŽ đľđŞđźđ˝ đŤđťđŽđŞđ˝đą đŤđŽđŻđ¸đťđŽ đđŽđźđŹđŽđˇđ˝. đ˘đ˝đ˛đľđľ, đ đšđťđŞđ đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đ˛đ˝ đŽđˇđđžđťđŽđź.
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đđťđśđ˛đźđŽ đŤđŽ đđŽ đđąđ¸ đŤđ˛đťđ˝đąđŽđ đ˝đąđŽ đźđ˝đśđťđź đŞđˇđ đźđžđˇ. đŁđťđžđľđ, đŤđľđŽđźđźđ˛đˇđ°đź đŤđŽ đžđź đŞđľđľ.
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A Rainforest as he'd suspected, he was still doubtful of the theory and yet how else could the journal have found it's way here?
The question gnawed at him: if this journal described a living biome â vivid and wild â how had it found its way here, in this inert, sterile ruin?
Unsure he kept reading hoping some answer would eventually reveal itself.
"đŚđŽ đšđŞđźđźđŽđ đ˝đąđŽ đĄđžđ˛đˇđź đ¸đŻ đđŞđľđľđŞđ˝đąđŽđˇ đ˝đ¸đđŞđâđđąđŞđ˝ đťđŽđśđŞđ˛đˇđź đ¸đŻ đŞđˇ đ¸đľđ đŁđŽđśđšđľđŽ đŤđžđťđ˛đŽđ đąđŞđľđŻđđŞđ đ˛đˇ đ¸đŤđźđ˛đđ˛đŞđˇ đźđľđŞđ°. đŁđąđŽ đŞđ˛đť đđ˛đ˝đąđ˛đˇ đđŞđź đđťđ đŞđˇđ đąđžđśđśđ˛đˇđ°. đŁđąđŽ đ°đŞđťđťđ˛đźđ¸đˇ đ˝đ¸đľđ đ˝đŞđľđŽ đ¸đŻ đŞ đđˇđ˛đ°đąđ˝ đđąđ¸ đ¸đˇđŹđŽ đđŞđťđŽđ đŽđˇđ˝đŽđť đ˝đąđŽ đ˝đŽđśđšđľđŽ đŻđ¸đť đťđŽđľđ˛đŹđź đŞđˇđ đťđŽđ˝đžđťđˇđŽđ đđ˛đ˝đą đąđ˛đź đ˝đžđˇđ°đžđŽ đ˝đžđťđˇđŽđ đ˝đ¸ đźđŞđľđ˝ đŞđˇđ đąđ˛đź đżđ¸đ˛đŹđŽ đŹđŞđžđ°đąđ˝ đťđŽđšđŽđŞđ˝đ˛đˇđ° đŞ đźđ˛đˇđ°đľđŽ đđ¸đťđ: 'đĄđŽđśđŽđśđŤđŽđť.' đđąđŽđ˝đąđŽđť đąđŽ đľđ˛đżđŽđ đ¸đť đˇđ¸đ˝, đ˝đąđŽđ đđ˛đđˇ'đ˝ đźđŞđ."
Finally it seemed after pages upon pages of journaling they were closer to reaching their destination. As statements such as "đŚđŽ'đżđŽ đ˝đťđŞđżđŽđľđľđŽđ đđŽđŽđšđŽđť đ˛đˇđ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđŽ đŻđ¸đťđŽđźđ˝'đź đđŽđˇđźđŽ đŻđ¸đľđ˛đŞđ°đŽ, đ˝đąđŽ đťđ˛đżđŽđťđź đąđŽđťđŽ đˇđ¸ đľđ¸đˇđ°đŽđť đŻđľđ¸đ. đŁđąđŽđ đđťđ˛đŻđ˝ đžđšđđŞđťđ. đđžđť đđŞđśđ˛đľđ˛đŞđťđź đťđŽđŻđžđźđŽđ đ˝đ¸ đđťđ˛đˇđ´ đŻđťđ¸đś đ˝đąđŽđś." Grew in frequency.
A few entries later and the journal read "đŁđąđŽ đŁđŽđśđšđľđŽ đ˛đź đŹđľđ¸đźđŽ. đŚđŽ đźđŽđŽ đ˛đ˝ đˇđ¸đ đ˛đˇ đ˝đąđŽ đđ˛đźđ˝đŞđˇđŹđŽ. đđ˝ đŻđ˛đťđźđ˝ đ đŻđŽđŞđťđŽđ đŞ đŹđŞđ˝đŞđŹđľđđźđś đľđŞđ đŞđąđŽđŞđ đŤđžđ˝ đ˝đąđŽ đ˝đŽđśđšđľđŽ đ˛đź đšđťđ¸đ˝đŽđŹđ˝đŽđ đŤđ đŞđˇ đđťđŹđŞđˇđŽ đđŞđťđťđ˛đŽđť đ¸đŻ đźđ¸đťđ˝đź. đđ˝ đľđ¸đ¸đ´đź đľđ˛đ´đŽ đŞ đźđžđˇ đťđŽđźđ˝đ˛đˇđ° đŞđ˝đ¸đš đŞ đźđ˝đťđŞđˇđ°đŽ đľđŞđˇđđŻđ¸đťđś, đ˛đ˝đź đźđ¸ đŤđťđ˛đ°đąđ˝."
The next page turned by itself following the motion of his finger, made his heart skip a beat as an emotional pulse, stronger than any pulse before that point caught wind of his senses.
His finger stopped and thw page paused mid turn as he remembered the prior warning the author gave.
"đđˇđ¸đđľđŽđđ°đŽ đ˛đź đđąđŞđ˝ đđŽ đ˝đąđ˛đˇđ´. đĄđŽđŞđźđ¸đˇ đ˛đź đ˝đąđŽ đśđŽđŞđˇđ˛đˇđ° đđŽ đ°đ˛đżđŽ đ˝đ¸ đ˝đąđ¸đžđ°đąđ˝. đđ¸đ°đ˛đŹ đ˛đź đ¸đžđť đ°đťđ¸đđ˛đˇđ° đđ¸đžđŤđ˝ đ˝đąđŞđ˝ đđŽ đ´đˇđ¸đ đŞđˇđđ˝đąđ˛đˇđ°. đĄđŽđśđŽđśđŤđŽđť, đšđ¸đźđźđ˛đŤđľđŽ đťđŽđŞđđŽđť: đđ¸đťđ˝đŞđľ đŞđź đđŽ đŞđťđŽ, đđŽ đźđąđ¸đžđľđ đđ¸đ đđ¸đđŽ đ¸đđđđŽđđđŽđ đđ¸ đđ˝đžđđ°đ đđ¸đ¸ đđŽđŽđš."
"Through thought, meaning, and doubt I must remember to be wary of things too deep, and not stoke those fires." He said to himself outloud.
The page resumed it's motion and layed flat.
It emanated a certain allure as it's surface oozed with latent emotional energy, and perhaps even more odd was the note attacked to the page, a note that radiated a similar emotional wavelength but somehow seemed more refined... older.
The world extinguished.
A moment of absolute black followed â not simply a lack of light, but a suspension of phenomenological certainty. No ground, no orientation. And then, swiftly, the darkness drew back like the inhalation of some cosmic tide.
He found himself walking, though not by volition. His limbs moved autonomously, caught in the rhythm of a another's will.
He found himself approaching what appeared to be a sunâ immense, radiant, and unmistakably solarâ resting on the earth. It was not poetic exaggeration, nor allegory given shape; it was the sun itself, embedded in the earth like some divine relic misplaced by some careless God.
It was no meteor or comet or even a meer asteroid, no, a few feet from him what looked like the sun itself rested on the Earth.
He tried to stop and turn back but his feet, not his own shakily advanced forward, his red robe billowing behind him in the night's breeze.
As he walked into that sunken sun, he felt fear blossom from him , fear that was quickly replaced by the growing embrace of Fyr. Soon heat transfigured into warmth, and fear gave way to an unsettling familiarity, as though some primordial part of him had always known this place.
And as he emerged on the other side a path awaited â coals aglow with a sinister, smoldering red stretched out beneath a sky of deep indigo.
Above him, stars wept silently into the void. Below, a river encircled the landmass in totality â its current slow, its waters glass-like, and its surface veiled in a mist that moved with a sentient stillness. Whatever lay beneath those waters was occluded from both vision and understanding. What lurked just below that misty surface? Who could say.
At the end of the trail was a small island and waiting for her was a red-robed figure. The figure was dancing, the motions of their dance were always active, some parts more active than others, like the wild tendrils of Fyr.
And behind all of that was the temple, towering a small distance away.
The figure stood alone on the ashen plain, cloaked in crimson that bled into the fog like drying blood on snow. In their hand, they held a staff of an impossible blackâits surface dull and charred like obsidian long cooled, but from its twin ends bled fire.
Not just flame, it was molten light. The fire did not burn upward. It dripped, like the tears of a dying star, each ember falling slow and heavy to the ground, vanishing into the mist with a hiss
He scanned his surroundings for his companions, but they were absent â erased from this pocket of reality or perhaps never permitted entry. The only certainty he retained was the compulsion pulling him toward the island. It was not coercive, but it was absolute â like gravity with volition.
He turned to his Amarok, who had remained faithfully at his side. With a quiet gesture, he stroked its fur, grounding himself in that single act of familiarity.
On first contact, the heat kissed his toe with violence. A searing pain, instantaneous and primal, forced a sharp retreat.
He stood motionless, toe throbbing, eyes fixed upon the long and agonizing path ahead â a road that did not merely suggest suffering, but promised it, paved with pain both literal and symbolic.
A heavy gulp escaped his throat before he could suppress it. At his side, his Amarok nudged his hand with a gentle insistence, sensing his faltering resolve.
He smiled â barely â his voice trembling, hoarse, and unfamiliar in his own mouth.
"I'm alright... seems there's only one way forward now, huh girl?"
He lifted his gaze to the heavens above â the yawning vault of night, jeweled with stars as distant as fate â and offered up a quiet prayer. It was not rehearsed. It was born in the moment, like flame from flint:
"O Lord... He who seeded the sky with suns and scattered stars like pollen across the void â I ask humbly: shield me, your child, born of Fyr's ember. Blessed though I may be, I am no more than dust without You. Embros."
He bawled his fists and committed to the journey.
He petted his Amarok and looked across the burning coal and without thinking too much about it, he ran.
Each step sizzling like meat over a grill.
He ran and ran and ran but for every step taken was a moment longer that he would have to endure.
But no fire stays still. No path stays bearable.
And eventually he couldn't bear to run anymore, and the water, those misty, still waters overtime seemed more and more inviting.
He couldn't run so he walked, until meat melted off bone.
He couldn't walk so he crawled, the pain was still a brutal agony, and meat melted off bone.
He couldn't crawl so he dragged himself across. The coals flayed his palms and knees, searing flesh from sinew. The pain was unrelenting. Brutal. Elemental. But still he crawled. Stomach to earth, cheek to cinder, breath shallow and ragged.
He felt every single moment, every burn, every brief reprieve, every tissue, every muscle, he felt every second passing, and it all seemed like eternity.
Altha tried to evacuate the vision, but with his Psyche nearly depleted and the vision's growing influence, escape was a distant hope.
He tried to swallow, but his tongue clung to the roof of his mouth like parchment. His lips were cracked. Salt lined his face â the residue of tears long since shed and forgotten by time. He was parched in soul and body alike. The waters â strange and still and scented with promise called to him louder now.
And he, desperate, began to crawl toward them.
He nearly succumbed.
But before his fingers broke the water's plane, a sound cut through the fog â sharp, familiar, undeniable:
A howl.
It was his Amarok.
It pierced the veil and pulled him back.
He clenched his fists, though nerves screamed protest, and forced himself upright. It was not immediate, nor was it painless. It was a climb through brokenness. But inch by inch, fragment by fragment, he stood.
And by the time the stars crowned midnight, Altha walked upon the shores of that waiting island. And collapsed atop its sands.