The Honor of Beasts

Rosalia's Journal

August 14th, 1482 E.Y

Dear me,

Let's continue my story from yesterday, shall we...

After some minutes the stairs ended in yet another dead end. So many walls in this place! I plopped on the ground in frustration and then after staring at the wall murderously for a few minutes I noticed something. There was a brick that seemed off a bit. I pushed it....nothing happened. I was going to push it again when the wall started shaking! There was dust and debris everywhere. For a horrifying second, I thought the rocks above me were going to collapse, smashing me to death, with no one to know. I would be known as the princess who suddenly disappeared.

But then, the wall gradually slid open. And you would not believe what was on the other side! I still cannot believe it! I just stood there, speechless. I'm not even sure I can describe such.... sorry, I'm still speechless. It's just so very.... It was..... I don't know if there is a word that could hold all the mesmerising beauty and bewitching magnificence that laid before me. Ooof that was a hard sentence to write, so many long words.

When I was going down those stairs I thought I would find some underground cave that might be hiding gems and gold, not this. Not....here I'll try to describe it as best as I can:

I emerged into a breathtaking place with a vast blue sky dotted with white fluffy clouds and green rolling hills. There was a glimmering waterfall in the distance pouring into a crystal blue lake reflecting the sky above. I could hear the water rushing from where I was standing, its soothing melody like music to my ears. There were flowers and fruits of all colors and kinds. I ate a juicy, red apple! It's been months since I've even laid my eyes on apples yet here there is an apple tree just near my room! And there were other fruits that I never ever tasted! I couldn't believe it! How can all of this be here? We live in a desert, we have hills and dunes of sand, not lush grass. It was as if I had stepped into a different realm altogether!

Today when I met Demetri at our place in the library I just grabbed his hand and pulled him to that magical land. We stumbled on our way down several times, but I didn't care. I was bubbling to the top with excitement. He kept asking where I'm taking him, I didn't say anything.

You should have seen the look on his face when we entered that strange realm! I'm still laughing right now as I'm writing this. His jaw almost hit the floor and his eyes nearly bulged out of his face! I know maybe I looked like that too when I first found this place, but that didn't stop me from falling to the soft grass doubled over in laughter. Also, the grass is just so nice, it's way better than the coarse grass we have around the palace..

And then he just ran, screaming, with his hands raised up like a crazy old man. I followed, also screaming with joy. We ran and ran until we collapsed on the grass, spent out of energy. Oh yes, on the talk of energy...Demetri also sensed the powerful energy coming out of the place, it was a peculiar type of energy that we've never felt before. But he just shrugged it off and went to explore some more. This place must really be magical, I don't see how it may exist any other way. Anyhow, I don't really care how this place came to be here, all that matters is that it is. And that it's our secret place now, where no king, guards, or servants can find us.

Until next time...

September 8th, 1482 E.Y

Dear me,

I'm sorry I haven't been writing in you for some time now. It's just that whenever I want to, I fall asleep, too tired from the day's events. I might start writing in the mornings, like I'm doing now.

Life has never been better. Me and Demetri have been meeting everyday at Wonderhills for a month now (that's what we decided to call our magical place, we were wavering between that or Fantasy Hills). We eat and eat whatever tasty fruit we want! We play and race each other on the grassy hills, we roll down crying with laughter. Sometimes we stay a bit too much, drunk from the sun and juicy apples (yes I know what it means to be drunk).

But I feel that the servants and guards have begun to suspect something. And Master Jonathen too. See, he knows that Demetri has been going to the library a lot lately, but hasn't seen much progress in his studies, as Demetri told me today.

And the other day a maid came into my room, bringing my dinner but she didn't find me. She looked everywhere. I saw her, for I was peeking behind the tapestry waiting for her to turn her back. And indeed when she went into the drawing room, I emerged from my hiding spot, closed the door, then silently hurried to my bed. You should have seen her face when she found me lying there!! Then, I asked her with my most innocent voice who she was looking for. And the whole time I was trying so very hard not to laugh or smile! But the moment she left the room, I burst out laughing.

These days have really been the best, but we have to be more careful. Well, I got to go train now. Hopefully that insufferable Caleb won't be there. He for sure knows that something is going on with me and Demetri, but doesn't know what exactly. And I'd like to keep it that way. Oh, I can only imagine what would happen if he knew! His blabbing mouth would tell the entire kingdom! But there's also an advantage to him being present during my training. Then I can beat him up until I see fit. Hehehe...

Until next time...

September 17th, 1482 E.Y

Dear me,

Oh oh oh!! A few days ago we found a boy! At Wonderhills! He was just sitting near the lake watching the ducks when we stumbled upon him! We thought we were the only people who knew of this place, but apparently not. He was shy at first and seemed surprised when we appeared. He turned out to be a boy from the city! Can you believe it? We asked him how he found this place and he told us that he discovered a hidden tunnel and followed it here. We told him the same thing, however we excluded the fact that we were the prince and princess of Velidia. He could spread rumors, you know. His name is Milo and he was actually nice and friendly after we got introduced properly. And since then we have all been meeting at Wonderhills and playing together. It's nice having someone new and different with us. To be honest sometimes I get bored of Demetri. Now, it's even better and funner than before! Oh I just can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Let's move onto a different subject. So, as you know... well, actually I don't think I've mentioned this before. We are at war with Tegisouri, it's called the Golden War because it's over some gold mines. And it has been waged on for centuries! Just over some mines! Can you believe the idiocy and greed of men! Thinking of golden goblets instead of their poor people dying for their stupid war(I may be talking about my father, but don't tell him that...or I'll burn you...if I'm still alive to...such a horrifying life I live...and you too little journal of mine). Now, let's get back to what I was saying. So lately the Golden War (it actually has a nice ring to it) has been worsening, the last couple years have been good in terms of war and chaos, we had some sort of truce. But now...oh no no no, I think something bad is going to happen. Maybe not this month or even this year, maybe in a few years but something will happen, I know it. (All right, those may not have been my words, they may have been my father's, which I heard when I was spying...don't tell him that either).

That's enough for today. Time for traaaining.

Until next time...