The dark mana energy seeping from out the darkness tickled at my skin. I activated my Petty Night Vision and saw I was in a tight circular room.

I awoke that night and accidentally caught him sobbing while on watch. I needed to take a piss, but forced myself to hold it in and pretended to be asleep.

Snapping me out of my trance was Mokoto, Quickstepping at the flame-embroidered lady, his body shimmering with a faint glow of Willpower. But the lady effortlessly knocked him away with an invisible force of power.

The journey to the southern hills was long and exhausting. If not for the decent pay for this quest, I would've asked Panuka and Mantis if they wanted to call it quits and abandon it. The only sliver of entertainment during this grueling quest was watching Biggs and Wedge taking turns guiding the wagon.

The following day, I noticed my wraiths had a wanting when eying certain massive trees. Allowing one of my wraiths to proceed, it seeped into the tree, turning it into a kodama—said a ghastly whisper.

The brisk nightly wind reached me within the abandoned watchtower. Along with it came my stench from training throughout the past day and the lingering stench of fish.

My clothes thrashed as I flew over the plains upon my sword. Despite the ravaging winds, I was doing well to keep my balance. I glanced down and smiled softly as a spark of fear crept within me—how do I still fear falling?

Sitting in my study with my personal guards and Cinda at my call, I slouched back in my chair, eyeing the pile of reports I had to painfully read through and sign off.

We had parted ways with Biggs the moment we arrived at the city. With the help of Wedge's wagon, we then made haste to the clerical.

Rosa's party fanned to the north while my party patrolled the southern side of the ruins.

After witnessing Cain being taken away by the guards, my party and I made haste to Biggs and Wedge. They were stationed at the West Gates with a few of their apprentices and a white covered pull wagon hitched to two vibrant brown horses.

Back in my studies, I worked diligently, signing off on repairs and reimbursing for essential shops destroyed by Cain and Mokoto. As I was signing documents, my eyes would glance over to the report of the fight drafted by the guards who were present.

I swung my feet off the bed and onto the wooden plank floors of the inn room. I stood and stretched deeply as if I was trying to grow a few inches. I made my way over to the circular covered window glistening with streaks of light that made it through.

Within the first few chapters of why Gideon started the journal, I learned Gideon was inspired by Plight of Soul and sought to achieve raw power. Hmph, he had no reason other than power; if he did, he definitely did not jot it down.

Oh, by the gods, my head was pounding. I yearned to lie down in my bed and drift away into bliss. But I couldn't. As the Chief of Dagon City, things needed to be done, so I sat in my cold study lit by the glass chandelier that I feared may one day come crashing down upon my head...

The thrashing evening wind was cold, torturing my skin through my thick leather jerkin.

I spent so much time with Lek that the barren plains north of the city began to form spots of green, and the dimming of the sun told me the day had passed its peak.

I thought I was hearing things for a moment, but Recall Memory would not allow me to fool myself. And Petty Danger Sense was still buzzing at the back of my head as I reentered the sunlight.

Thinking back on my life, I always wondered why I was giving life. I always questioned who my parents were and what had happened to them. Yet, no matter how hard I tried to remember my earliest memory, it was always within the walls of the Fire Kingdom.

Miles north within the Azure Mountains, below those dark looming clouds and throughout the mountain's steep footings and slopes, soldiers fought with might and wit.