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After the long gruelling night, the morning had finally arrived. It took some serious effort, but Anna was able to stand up and get cleaned up before people started to leave their houses.

All three of them still felt groggy from the previous night's spillage of emotions, but there was nothing they could do, but keep moving on, they had a destination to reach after all.

Jack asked, “Howdy do this fine morning.”

Luna replied, “I’m okay, what time does the caravan plan on leaving?”

“Midday, give or take’a few bobs.”

The journey to Arisea Station from Greenvale would take about a week to complete. Greenvale being in the northern half and Arisea Station being south of the southern border meant they would have to travel through most of Cancole before they even got close to Arisea Station. Being a merchant cavern, they made stops at multiple cities and towns to sell their goods which ate up the travel time. The one good thing though was that once they reached the border, it would be a one-day trip through the no-man's land around Arisea Station to reach Arisea Station itself.

Anna did make herself useful by helping the merchant duo out. She did this by helping unpack goods and moving the light cargo around when needed. They didn’t spend all day around the cart, if they wouldn’t be moving for the rest of the day, one of them would walk around the town for a bit for no particular reason–if there was one, then it would probably simply be to breathe.

While travelling thankfully for them, not much did happen.

They did think about the past few days' events a couple of times, some of them wondering if what they did was correct or not. However, there was one thing that they all agreed on, which was Bree seeing Syrus and Elly seeing Anlesa. If they were in the right state of mind, were able to control their body better, and planned better they would’ve used the same form to meet both of them. It was a bad mistake, but with both parties most likely going to be distant from each other now, it was likely nothing bad would come from it, but that didn’t mean they were happy with said mistake.

Travelling through the new towns and cities was also a lovely experience for anyone from a small town who had never left their home. It was something Jen herself did before getting married–which ended up costing her most of her money, but nonetheless, an experience she enjoyed greatly.

But honestly, for Anna, it was just a blur. Not because Syrus had seen a hundred towns, or because Luna had visited a few of the cities before. No, it was just a simple uninterest in everything that was around them, which made Eva sad.

Then on the second last day of their trip, they were approaching the southern border of Cancole.

[I want to read George’s diary.] Eva stated, and without listening for any possible opposition from Syrus or Luna, her hands dived into their backpack to pull it out.

The book had a simple leather cover, stained in ash that Eva tried to carefully push with her hand and Manipulation attribute.

[...Go ahead.] (Luna)

Eva didn’t reply and their head nodded for a moment.

Out of everything to find in the burning house, they never expected to find a journal written by George. They didn’t even know their father even wrote in one; Jen was known to write in multiple and create notebooks for all sorts of things, but George never seemed to be interested in creating one himself.

Before Eva turned the first page, Eva pondered, [Do you think Mum made him do it?]

[I could see her pushing him to try it at least twice.] (Syrus)

They opened the first page.

The structure was written very simply. Date, followed by one, rarely two sentences. There wasn’t one for every day or even every month, but there was enough that half the book was filled.

03/10/1308, I am nervous.

His first message was as simple as it could possibly be.

Before opening they were curious what this journal would be about. Would it contain facts before their parents were married, hidden secrets and worries he faced in his day-to-day life, or the just release of emotion onto a page?

Nonetheless, the date said a thousand words.

[That’s just before…] (Luna)

04/10/1308, Jen said she felt the first kick.

George had started the diary late into Jen’s pregnancy, two months before Anna was born.

The following entries were what one would expect from George. Small comments about the joyful times, a few embarrassing and lovely moments with Jen and baby Anna, and sometimes a line about a major event in the village.

Then they reached the time when their parents were worried about her development before their souls awoke.

16/05/1313, I’m scared. I don’t want anyone to harm her.

30/11/1313, the year is about to be over, Anna is going to be five years old and is still barely moving…

Those pages were simply filled with worries and prayers that nothing bad would befall Anna, but that changed to words of excitement and joy once she started moving and talking.

01/01/1314, she has the cutest smile.

[He really knows how to make us embarrassed.] (Luna)

[Make you embarrassed, nothing embarrassing about a dad calling his daughter cute.] (Syrus)

[Why do you both have to be right…] (Eva)

George didn’t talk about his emotions or feelings besides any that involved Anna.

04/03/1314, Anna was amazing today.

…

07/07/1314, Anna won today’s game.

08/07/1314, I got to read to Anna tonight. Jen was right, how Eva’s eyes light up like stars during story time is beautiful and cute.

…

30/12/1314, Anna is such a brave child, I hope she is okay.

…

02/01/1315, Luna helped me today with the merchant, she certainly got her mum’s wit.

…

04/03/1315, sigh, I need to make sure to not only not get on the bad side of Jen, but Anna too! They must never know I stole the cookies because I needed to empty the bowl.

05/03/1315, they found out. I have been ordered to make a new batch. Jokes on them, I was already preparing them.

02/04/1316, Syrus is always so eager to help out, but I’m worried she will hurt herself. I know me and Jen are partly to blame, kids copy their parents, but I hope I can manage to teach them to pace herself properly.

…

01/02/1316, they have the cutest smile.

…

29/11/1318, Anna must be so worried about everything she kept in. I need to make sure she knows she did everything right and nothing about this is her fault, they truly are amazing girls.

1/12/1318, what a lovely night.

Reading through the book brought a small joy to the three of them.

Throughout the notes towards the end, there was one more thing George brought up, that he was secretly preparing for.

[Our birthday is about to come up…] (Eva)

Alberest festival was held at the start of the last month of the year, which was roughly also a week and a half before Anna’s birthday, 12/12/1308. They all knew their birthday was coming up. They didn’t forget the date of it, but it was something that was just squashed in the back of their mind under the weight of everything.

[And it’s going to be celebrated all alone in an old cart…] (Syrus)

While they ponder the happy moments gained and despairing realisation of the first birthday that they couldn’t celebrate with Jen or George.

The cart suddenly came to a stop.

Neigh!

The horse yelled and Anna could hear its hooves stamp in the ground.

“HA HA, we got you surrounded!” A new gravelly voice yelled from in front of where the cart was heading.

[Who is this bastard?!] Syrus roared out, furious at whomever was interrupting their reading of George’s diary.

The caravan had met some robbers.