Day 8

~~~Journal Entry 0900~~~

I took a little trip to visit Ron this morning and found Lahlee just sitting there with her bow hanging off her chair, eating a hearty breakfast. I helped myself to an empty seat beside her and had a bite to eat as well. She mentioned that she was leaving town and heading out across the land to Tir’Wess, and she would be gone for a while. She also urged me to make plenty of friends and try to get out and explore more. Lahlee also told me to find Gil and get a link pearl to join their little crew. I dunno how I’m supposed to find him, or what a link pearl is, but I guess I’ll keep an eye out.

I watched her leave and went back to the hunter’s guild for something to do. Was heavily intrigued by a job for smithies, but it was well out of my skill level. Ron suggested that I look into a city called Gailvone in the Barston mountain ranges. It’s a big mining city built in a hole of a valley. I’ll just see what I can figure out about it. OK, I really need to find something to do because I can’t just sit here and write.

~~~ Journal Entry 1000 ~~~

Well, now that I’ve gotten myself into something a bit out of my league, I feel kind of upset that I was so eager before. I should just keep my head up and see how this turns out. After all, I was the only one available.

Let me recap. The guild got a call from another adventurer that seemed to need a hand with this last quest. So now I’m just taking a breather while I figure out where I am and how I’m supposed to reach this person. I need to hurry.

~~~ Recorder 1300 ~~~

Xzander is running through a shallow canyon. He’s breathing very heavily and his pace is slow. He often falls to a speedy walk, for a bit then starts to jog again. After a few winding parts through the plateaus, a scream is heard at the distance. Xzander pushes himself and goes into a full sprint.

Xzander>> Oh no! Gotta … hurry!

He comes up to a fight with a female Elvan and a large group of birds. She seems to be losing and Xzander keeps sprinting to her. The recorder falls to the ground and is angled upwards not giving a good view of the fighting.

Elvan>> Please… Help me!!! *screams in pain*
Xzander>> Hold on, I’m coming! *tries to catch his breath*

The Elvan lets out one last piercing scream of agony as she is over run and falls to the ground.

Xzander>> NOOOO!!! *Screams in anger and charges in aimlessly*

After only a few seconds, Xzander begins to have trouble with the birds as well Even after cutting down only a fraction of them, the rest still swarm over him. He curses himself, knowing he will not last any longer. All of the sudden, an arrow comes out of nowhere and takes down a bird. Too busy with the rest of them to learn where it came from, he keeps his sword swinging as more birds go down by arrows. He starts to tire and falls to one knee but still swings bravely. Four birds have fallen from arrows and the 5th explodes into flames.

Faint female voice >> Hang in therrre, X!
Male voice >> Look out! More coming from there!

Xzander passes out and the recorder goes into static.

~~~ Recording Error: User Incapacitated ~~~

~~~ Recorder 1400 ~~~

Lahlee and 2 mages are looming over X as he comes out of daze with a groan.

Lahlee >> Arrre you alright, X?!
Xzander >> Ugh… I think so. *tries to get up*
Male Mage >> Woah, easy boy! Don’t over exert yourself. Rest for a while, drink some water.

The male mage takes out a bowl and conjures a ball of water to drop into it. Then he hands it to Xzander who takes it slowly and drinks in pain.

Male Mage >> You’re lucky to be alive right now. Names Hartimier. She’s Tisariel.
Tisariel >> How are you fairing?
Xzander >> *groan* I’ll be fine. What happened to the other lady?

Xzander looks around but the three give him nothing but silence. Suddenly

Hartimier >> She didn’t make it.
Tisariel >> I couldn’t get to her in time.

Xzander tries to get up again but Lahlee holds his shoulder down.

Lahlee >> X, this sort of thing happens. It’s alrrright, just calm down. Rrrelax.
Tisariel >> Please, X. Just take it easy for now.

Xzander shakes with rage but tries to do as he is told.

~~~ Recording Ended ~~~

~~~ Journal Entry 2300 ~~~

I can’t even begin to express how upset I am with myself right now. I don’t even want to write, but I have to document this. I have to get it off my chest for now. I can’t even rest because of it. Today I failed to help someone in need. She died because I was not strong enough or fast enough to help her. I cannot let this happen ever again! When I get back to town tomorrow, I will do everything that I can to train myself to be stronger, faster and better in every way. I cannot afford to fail again. I will not fail.