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  Lord Alessandre,

  I'm writing this letter to inform you that I have arrived at the Northern Coast. The air here is much more refreshing, it even tastes salty. I've been here for almost two weeks now, and I must say - Everything here is awesome! From the seafood to the wine, and even the scenery. Aside from all the fun things, I've kept my eyes on any information regarding that man.

  There is something I want to tell you.

  I don't know when this letter will get to you, but please write back as soon as you see it.

  I have packed my personal journal of the past week in this mail.

  Please read it.

  Your humble servant and companion,

  Tom

  ________________________________________________________________________________January, 11th

  I've Finally arrived at the harbour! The air smells so fishy that I want to throw up, I can't imagine how it smelled before the sun came out and dried everything. I settled in a motel near the ocean.

  Additional notes: Found a bar, the food here is AMAZING! I've never had such fresh fish, ever! There's also this...juice-ish drink they served, which was absolutely delicious. Forgot what it was called.

  Additional additional notes: T urns out it was a cocktail. I got drunk.

  Bet I fooled you for a moment, I'm a better drinker than that!

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  January, 12th

  I had a really nice dream last night...can't remember it anymore. It was something about a cocktail and a beautiful beach. Waking up felt painful - Not that I could remember anything.

  Enough of that. I went on a stroll after dinner and asked around for any clues. People here seemed just as confused as we are, honestly.

  Additional notes: I found an old man by the name of Frank at the bar. He gave me a seashell and told me to wait while he went to the bathroom. He never came back.

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  January, 13th

  I'm starting to LOVE the sun here. It's not scorching at all! It's warm and cozy, and I always fall asleep under it. Went to the church today, and I'm stunned at the artworks and sculptures here. I wholeheartedly recommend that we upgrade our own church like this.

  The sunsets are equally as stunning, there is just something so mesmerising about seeing the sun sink beneath the horizon in this golden-orange...almost divine coat of rays. The waters are painted golden too - there is this fine line where the water meets the sun...it's beautifully blurred and utterly stunning.

  The sunset really stirred my emotions; it's like a tinted window that brings this...beautiful, bittersweet feeling in your heart. I want to write a poem right here, right now, about how much I miss home. Turns out I really don't. At least not right now.

  Additional notes: Frank found me again, scolded me for not waiting for him as he went to the bathroom. He has to be playing with me. But my personality is as calm as the clouds at the harbour, so I forgive him.

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  January, 14th

  No way. No way. There is no way. Someone must have drugged my drink at the bar. I just saw a guy swallow a sword alive, breathe fire, and make a living pigeon out of my handkerchief. This is insane...

  Turns out...this is apparently a magician. It's a new trend, according to locals. I guess I haven't seen the outside world for a good few years. Time is leaving me behind...

  His name is Samuel, by the way. Apparently, he is famous, so we should totally check out his shows sometime.

  Additional notes: Well...Samuel said he knew THE man in person. According to him, he's a magician like him. Samuel said he would tell me for a few pounds. Prepare to be enlightened!

  Additional additional notes: He took my money and disappeared. Literally. I think we should check out his shows more now - I'm excited to see more fire breathing...

  and primarily, my fist on his face.

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  January, 15th

  I'm a little unsettled. Were those birds or humans?

  Not that it's important. Just another peaceful day. Good cocktails, good food, good view. What else could a man like me possibly ask for...maybe a wife. Er. But that's beside the point.

  I found twins on the streets today. Poor kids, mom starved, dad got shot, and a life ahead. I upgraded my suite to the biggest and most luxurious there is to fit those two in - all thanks to your promotion! Thank you, Lord Aless! I'm thinking about letting them in the estate as servants. I can already hear Elysande raving in my ear about how "there are always more people who need help than you can help." But I'll manage.

  Their names were Alex and Lucy, and they are so sweet! They always bite their fingernails when they get nervous, it's kind of funny to look at. They're so polite, too! I'm keeping them with me for sure. Not even Elysande gets in my way this time.

  Additional notes: There might be more to these twins. Allow me to investigate.

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  January, 16th

  It rained this morning. Not a storm, just some light, refreshing rain. This place is really a paradise! I found Alex playing with a drop of rain in his hands. Seeing him gather them all in is palm might have warmed my heart. However, for some reason, this felt off...but I'm not sure what exactly it is. The water drop is weird; it seems almost solid. Might be sleep deprived. Little Lucy is a lazybug. She slept till the afternoon. Watching her sleep makes me sleepy too.

  Additional notes: The night air is solid and refreshing. Love to take a stroll after dinner. Hearing the waves, the quiet chatters really calm your heart down. Life here is slow, I'm finally getting that.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

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  January, 17th

  The seagulls are really loud in the morning. It feels like a crowd of men screaming while I try to sleep. I observed Alex a bit more. I know for a fact that he is not just any kid. Lucy too. These twins seemed to know more than they showed. I'm going to pretend I didn't make this observation for now.

  Additional notes: Fell asleep in the bath, woke up to find the police at my door, thinking I was dead. The kids were crying their eyes out, too. This is really heartbreaking. I told them that it's all okay now. Apparently, they haven't slept all night until the police came.

  Additional additional notes: Just some thoughts. The insomnia has been better, but it's still here.

  I'm writing this late at night, so my thoughts might be everywhere. But I was thinking - what if there is another side of this world that we haven't found out yet? What most people see could very well be the surface. Think about it...there are so many questions this world has, but so few answers it actually gives.

  What if we were like the fish in the sea, yearning to know about land...or even worse, we never knew about this so-called "land"?

  What would YOU do? Would you be excited? Scared? Frustrated?

  But if you were to ask me...what would I do if I found out that the world is not what it is, may it be ugly or beautiful...

  I would be the one to pour the amber wine in their last feast, and tell them to get a good sleep.

  Because even if the sky fell down, someone would be there to hold it up - even if it's just a belief.

  Off to sleep. Got a big day and a big man to find.

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  January, 18th

  Wow. I really wrote a lot yesterday, huh?

  Regardless. There was a group of people following me this morning. I don't know what exactly they wanted, but I don't think they were of ill intentions.

  Dinner is surprisingly depressing today. Cold fish, two men fighting in the bar and a bad weather. There was nothing of interest other than that group of people. Oh, almost forgot, they were dressed similarly - a black trench coat and a burgundy tie.

  Additional notes: Alex got sick today, with a high fever and a bad cough.

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  January, 19th

  There was a young man across the street from my hotel named John. Since we were similarly aged, we talked lots at the bar; it was usually him complaining about his bossy wife. He has two kids, both boys. They would go to school every day on the horse carriage, and help him out with his fish-works at the end of the day. He would buy them each a slice of cake when he saw them. Looking at them having their weekly picnic on the weekends always made me feel a bit empty.

  He was a smart fellow with a bright future, a family and a peaceful life.

  Well.

  He died. Got trampled by a startled horse in the market. It was messy.

  Things like this always made me feel numb. Am I sad? Do I really care at all? If I don't know whether I care, would it be a hurtful lie to say that I did? What about his family?

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  January, 20th

  The horse belonged to a man. His name is Alfred, and I recognise him. I don't remember where, but I've definitely seen this guy before. John's wife was at his door, near lunch. She was screaming her lungs out, and threatening to kill him. Good thing I stepped in, but left quickly. I couldn't watch. Alex and Lucy saw it too, although I don't suppose this is new stuff for them, I still felt bad.

  I don't think Alfred deserved what John's wife threw at him. But I also don't think she deserved what life threw at her. Looks like there was no villain that I was trying to find after all. Oh, yeah. I was angry. I just found out. But how?

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  January, 21st

  Alfred was one of the people following me. I saw him again. So I confronted him, to which he seemed a bit scared. The other people dissipated into the crowds quickly. So I smiled and asked Alfred if he wanted to talk in the bar instead.

  Okay, so according to old man Alfred, he knows something vague regarding that man. But he could not recall what it was, much like trying to find a specific book in the estate library. I guess not everyone recalls as clearly as you, Aless.

  Alfred told me to meet him in this alleyway past midnight. I went, and he was not there.

  What's with old people these days trying to meet up with others? First Frank, now Alfred.

  Found out Alex followed me out. I tried to act angry, but I think we both knew that I really wasn't. I still don't get how this "fatherly love" that I'm supposed to feel works. Because I'm certainly not feeling it, and I couldn't care less when they slept, under the circumstance that they were alive and well, of course.

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  January, 22nd

  I found an abandoned basement under the entertainment room, where guests normally play board games. The reception lady told me I was hallucinating with a disgustingly arrogant expression. I replied by dragging her in front of it to show her. She would not admit to being wrong. I used some money you gave me to purchase the hotel so I could fire her. I can't stand people like this.

  I went exploring in the basement. As I went deeper, I found that someone lived there. It was this... middle-aged man wearing a ragged cloak, can't tell what the material was, but it looked expensive if it wasn't all torn up.

  It is now a good few hours since I last wrote in here, and it's late. The insomnia is getting to the point that my medication is no longer effective. I'm so tired, but I can't fall asleep. I feel like everything in the room is looking at me. The books, the words that I wrote, the clock...everything. Everything...?

  Additional notes: Now that I think about it...were there really a basement down there? I mean... my insomnia is getting worse and worse...Maybe I wronged the receptionist; she seemed genuinely worried about my mental state. I'm not going to hire her back, though, because I'm angry at her.

  Additional additional notes: There was no basement. I remember now, it was a sketch I drew at the back of the diary about my dream room. Somehow, I thought it became the basement of the hotel.

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  February, 1st??

  The fog in the town is getting worse and worse now. I need to get out of the harbour. I know he didn't want to hurt me, or be scared of him. I need to constantly remind myself. Marceus is FRIENDLY. He is FRIENDLY.

  I need to get out of here quickly, before the fog eats me as it did with Alfred and Frank... I don't want to miss a meeting that I organised on my own.

  Marceus will remain here. The fog is his home.

  Alex and Lucy are coming with me.

  We're leaving tonight. NO delaying.

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  January 23rd

  What the hell? When did I write the previous page? I'm so confused right now. What a joke, it's not even February. And why is that page so...drenched? I hope it's just tea.

  Went to the library today. This town's got a really small library. Its got nothing I need. Maybe tomorrow. I NEED sleep. Can't think at all.

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  *There seems to be a couple of pages ripped out.*

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  January 27th

  Sleep is FINALLY better! Saw a doctor, got new medications, and a healthier diet. Back in holiday mode!

  Additional notes:

  February is dangerous.

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  January, 28th

  What would you do on your last three days on earth, or rather, if the world was going to end in three days?

  Would you spend time with your loved ones, hold their hands until everyone eventually perishes?

  Would you fight back until the very last second, for that slim chance in impossibility?

  Would you get drunk until you couldn't remember a thing?

  Or perhaps you would end yourself before the day comes, just because the anticipation is too much?

  But if there was a thing that could save the entire world, you'd take it for sure, right? Even if the cost was your humanity. Or perhaps you have too much pride as a human that you'd rather die?

  Here's the problem.

  Who are You to decide?

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  February, 40th.

  I haven't found much, but I found a name. It was neither niche nor of great fame.

  For reasons I can't write it down, because that name never existed, although I'm sure it did.

  He didn't get shot, he was drowned.

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  February, 52nd.

  I think I have found him.

  The man who got lost in February.

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  Notes:

  Lord Aless, I am safe currently as you are reading the letter.

  "The man" seemed to have tempered with my memory the last time we parted.

  I don't remember anything up until Jan. 22nd.

  I will send you the diary in full, hopefully you are able to find something through it.

  I have sent Alex and Lucy on a carriage to the estate, hopefully you can give them a warm home.

  As of myself, I will be staying in the harbour for a little bit more. Please inform Elysande that the Etheric she gave me has been used - to no avail however. Please send some people over, just in case.

  Your loyal servant,

  Tom