It's over.

We found a third option - we fought the thing that came to destroy the world.

We won.

She died anyway.

I failed her.

I can't *ink blotch*

((OOC: The handwriting is shaky, and there are a few smudged places as if the writer had been too hasty, or water had dripped on it))

We finally found all the pieces of the Esclario. The legendary book that can be used to grant any wish. We should be celebrating - we finally have a way to lift the death curse on Iris.

The only problem is, the world is about to be destroyed. The only thing that can stop it is for someone to use the Esclario to seal the power away again.

We only get one wish.

How do I choose between the fate of the world and the life of the person who is more important to me than my own life?

Before I found this journal, I wouldn't have had a choice. Obviously it does no good to save Iris if the world ends the next day.

Now, I could take her through the doorway to another world - Akihiko's, or anybody's. Our world would end, and everyone would die. She would never, ever forgive me.

But she'd still be alive.

I... I think that might be worth it.

Does that make me evil, or just selfish? What would you do?

So I...don't normally ask questions like this. But I guess I've got a lot on my mind and I wanted to hear some other opinions...

I don't know how to do a proper poll thingy, so I guess just answer in the comments? I'd really appreciate hearing from some people, and I think Mitsuru and Minato would probably like to hear it, too...

If you had a choice between:
1. Living in fear for about a month, then fighting a battle you can't possibly win no matter what, and then the world ending, or,
2. Forgetting there was ever any fighting, forgetting there was anything to be afraid of, living a normal life and then one day - maybe years from now - the world suddenly ending without you ever knowing it was going to happen.

Which would you choose and why?

Oh, and would it make any difference to your choice if you knew you had to kill someone to pick the second option, and that someone used to be your friend, but turned out to be some kind of personification of death. And that someone is begging you to kill him, because he can't stand to see you hurting and scared.

Um, that's it. Thanks everyone.

*sounds of heavy breathing, grunts, and a series of thuds like someone punching a punching bag*

None of this makes any fucking sense!

*THUD*

Ryoji's a shadow? The Appraiser? What the fuck is the Appraiser?

And what kind of name is the Maternal Being, anyway?

I'm going to beat the crap out of him when he wakes up!

*THUD* How dare he *THUD* apologize like that *THUD* like he actually cares?

*THUD THUD THUD*

ARGH! WHAT IS GOING ON?!

((Ooc: handwriting is still large and a bit shaky, though improved from the last post))

Okay, I knew Iris had maybe more than her share of nurturing instinct. But this is ridiculous. And Nell is not helping.

I'm being mothered to death by my own partner!

Somebody help.

((The handwriting is large and wavering, like the printing of a child who has just learned to hold a pen.))

What the hell? What's going on this time?

Does anyone know how long this is supposed to last? I've got quests in progress, and one of them is time-sensitive. I can't go Raiding like this!

So, there appears to be an angel living in Valtessa. This would be weird enough, except I seem to be the only person who can see her.

Everyone else can hear her just fine. We found her because a quest had been submitted to the guild for someone to take care of the 'ghost in the forest'. She's been trying to get someone to help her and scaring them by accident, apparently.

She's lost all her memories. She has no idea who she is or how she got there, or why I'm the only one who can see her.

And Iris and Nell keep looking at me like they're not certain I'm still sane whenever I talk to the angel.

I'm... not quite sure what to do about it. At least she promised to stop scaring people, so it kind of counts as completing the quest.

Hey, Akihiko. Do you have this 'Halloween' celebration on your world?

It seems like the magic in this book translates things somehow, so I can understand you all.

But there are some words that just don't seem to be translating. I'm not even sure some of them are words. Here's some:

lol
wtf
btw
orz
XD
<3
^_^
):
\0/

among others. Can anyone tell me what they mean? And why they aren't translating?

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who tried to help. I... haven't had the heart to catch up on the comm. If I missed something important, please tell me.

We think we may have a way to cure her. It's risky, but better than nothing.

If any of you see or hear about a glowing column of light with a gem inside it appearing in your world, please tell me. So far they've only been appearing in Alterworlds linked to Zey Meruze, but they might start spreading out. We need them to save Iris.

If you do see one, don't go near it. They've already killed several people from my world. Iris seems to be the only one who can approach them safely.

Thanks.

Uh, hi everyone.

I wonder if someone would be willing to take me to Edge's world. I have been there before so I should be able to explain which one it is.

I don't have much money, but I have this glowing magical jewel thing that you can have, which you can sell there for a lot of money if you want. I really need to get to him. I really think he needs me.

Thanks.

((The handwriting is shaky and uneven, and there are several blurred places that are difficult to make out, as if the ink was splotched or got wet))

Does anyone here know anything about lifting or breaking curses or death magic? Anything?

Please, I... beg you. There's an innocent life at stake.

I'll do anything, pay anything, if you can save her.

Please.

Gods, I'm sick of low-rank quests. I thought once we ranked up we wouldn't have to do the damned things anymore. Fetch this, rescue that, make this, give me that.

I forgot that there aren't that many high-rank quests posted in a given week. And in the meantime, the low-rank crap at least pays the bills.

We took a quest today from Eva at the tavern for five jumbo steaks. AGAIN. That's the third time this month.

Steaks. Can't she cooked the damned things herself?

And it's Iris, so of course SHE can't just cook them. She has to use alchemy to make them. Which means I have to go to Valtessa and hunt bears until I have enough wild meat for her to use as ingredients.

Tomorrow I suppose Yach will want more shifty eyes.

I love being a Raider. Just... not every moment of it.