Token, the mysterious and fantastical realm opposite Earth, is home to many creatures. Beasts, devils, goblins, centaurs, and so on. But it is also home to Demons, Elves, and Fairies. And just like Earth, there is war and suffering. Plagues, disease...
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"You say you found this...in a cave?" Lumi asked hesitantly with as she held the strange journal in her hands.
Jester nodded eagerly. "Yep! It was in a dark corner, sitting all alone and stuff. The cave was super cool, you really missed out! Hey, when you're done looking at this journal thing, I can take you there and we can all look at it! That'd be super fun, right?"
Lumi frowned slightly in concentration, the dim light of the Ookami tent casting shadows over the fragile pages she carefully turned. The leather of the cover was cracked and brittle, a testament to its age and the harsh conditions of its discovery. She brought it closer to her nose, curiosity piqued by the faint scent clinging to the pages—a mixture of mold and an earthy musk.
The texture of the journal was erratic; some pages were as smooth as silk whereas others bore the evident ripple of water damage. Yet even in their aged state, they felt strong between her fingers, residing stoically through so long abandoned.
Lumi began thumbing through the pages, noticing the meticulous care that had been given to each drawing. It was clear that whoever had filled this journal held profound knowledge, or perhaps a deep-seated fear, of the creatures depicted. There was a sketch of what looked like an aerial view of a dense forest, a winding river elegantly snaking its way through the trees. Beside it were notes written in a tight scrawl, indecipherable except for their urgent slant – perhaps coordinates or warnings.
One page turned to display a diagram of an intricate lock mechanism, complete with tumblers and gears, a craftsman's blueprint for safeguarding secrets. On another page was a drawing of what could only be interpreted as a ritualistic dance, figures garbed in elaborate costumes swirling in an apparently ceremonial fashion around an object that emitted illustrated waves of energy.
Several pages were dog-eared, with the corners turned down to mark them as significant – these sections held notes with borders highlighted by smears of some dark substance, maybe ink or blood. Words layered over words gave the impression that the writer's thoughts were too rapid to fully contain. And there, between those insistent lines, were hastily sketched portraits of individuals; eyes exaggeratedly large and full of expression.
But that wasn't what gave Lumi pause. It was the strangely detailed sketch near the back of the book, which Lumi realized was the last entry. It was of what looked like a Demi-Demon, with long white hair in two low pigtails, beautiful and sharp red eyes, and a long leather coat with a skull on its zipper. The demon's right hand was curled into a fist, clutching a dagger tightly.
"Fate is not for mortals to control...But it can be for a Demon..." Lumi read aloud, her brows furrowing at the cryptic message. "What in the world does that mean?"
Lucky leaned closer, squinting at the image. "She looks very...interesting. Who do you think she is?"
"I don't know," Lumi turned the book this way and that, examining it from every angle. "But this is definitely some language not used anymore."
