Diaries. What are they? Memories inked in pen, snapshots of the moment, or simply musings of a person? They can be anything the writer desires. This is about a diary titled The Days That Go By, a collection of untold memories penned by none other than me, Velvet.
"The day I became an adventurer was a choice I made—to escape from a family that shunned me, save for three who truly cared." The first page revealed my heart, emotions flowing like ink across the paper.
It was on this very day I chose the path of adventure, long before I discovered the magic within me—a lucky spell cast by the self-proclaimed goddess for reasons unknown.
"I'm grateful for the man who trained me. May he rest in peace as I hope for a better tomorrow." Those wishful words resonated with the girls gathered around me, eager to delve into my diary.
"Velvet, you were trained by someone?" Ariel's voice cut through the air, her tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
"I was, but… his name escapes me; it's been ages." I admitted, memories swirling like autumn leaves in my mind.
"Ah, I know about him! I've been watching you for ages," Ruka chimed in, her voice teasing, as if she had followed my every move.
"So, you were stalking me?" I shifted slightly away, half-joking.
"I'm kidding!" she pouted, pulling me closer with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Ahah…" I chuckled, feeling the warmth of camaraderie.
"Oh! Vel, how about this page?" Poru pointed to my scribbled notes, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
As if compelled, I read aloud. "Today, I saw a petite girl with red hair and furious pink eyes. She looked to be in pain, so I helped her. She seemed irritated but thanked me before flying off with silver wings. I hoped to learn her name, wishing we might meet again."
"Huh?" I mused, recalling the incident. "Wasn't that the time I was still a student at Azure High?"
"You remembered me! Mmmh~" Poru squealed, leaping up to hug me tightly.
A wave of guilt washed over me as I realized I had lied. But her forgiving nature brought a warmth to my heart.
"Don't sweat it too much, Velvet. I had a feeling you might've forgotten, but I wasn't giving up on you!" Poru beamed, patting my head and making my cheeks flush.
"Ehm." I coughed, clearing my throat. "Well, we all have much to learn together, so let's make the best out of it." I chuckled, attempting to hide my embarrassment.
"Yes!" the girls chimed in unison, their smiles brightening the room.
Meowtorious, our orange-furred cat, inched closer, drawn to my diary. "Are you okay with showing us?" he asked, his tone innocent yet curious.
"Of course! I have no secrets here," I replied, feeling a sense of trust with the girls—Meowtorious included, despite joining us only a day prior.
As we read on, the day had been rather uneventful, aside from a few "indecent" incidents I might not want to recount.
"Diary page #30… I felt a strange sensation of heat, suffocation, and bubbling. It was horrible after I entered a shrine with a goddess statue, graceful yet watching everyone's moves. I thought it was a fun feature until, by unfortunate luck, I touched it. Magic surged through me, dissipating an hour later, and everyone looked at me strangely, making me nervous."
Ruka stood at a distance, eyeing me cautiously. "Please don't punish me for that," she pleaded, her eyes wide.
"I won't; it's been a long time. But be ready for the night," I smirked, turning toward her with a mock menacing grin.
"Please go easy!" she fidgeted, inching closer to the group.
Noira, the enigmatic robotic mage, slammed her hands on the table, a playful frown on her face. "That's all? What about my experiences?"
"I didn't have time to write down the new experiences, but I promise to do it when motivation strikes," I reassured her.
With our reading concluded, I proposed, "Shall we grab something to eat before heading to bed?"
In agreement, the girls nodded, and we set off to an inn known for its delicate foods. The evening passed with twists and turns, including a brawl that, thankfully, ended calmly.
Back home, the girls changed into pajamas while I tossed my shirt into the basket and sank onto my bed, restless yet tired.
"How peculiar. So you're the one taking care of my daughter," echoed a strange voice in my mind, illuminating the darkness as I slipped into a lucid dream.
Excitement surged through me as the dream formed—a white ground stretching infinitely. I wished to control my dreams, not pinching myself to wake, yet I realized I wasn't in control.
"Strange voice, I heard you before! Show yourself!" I pleaded into the void.
Before me, the figure of a dragon materialized—was it Poru's mother? Did she seek to assess my worthiness for her daughter, full of surprises and mischief?
"I see… so you found me," the dragon landed gracefully, halting my chaotic movements and allowing me control once more.
"You're… huge," I stammered, pointing in awe.
"A little rude, don't you think?" she huffed, then lifted me gently in her crystalline claws, their sharpness oddly familiar yet pain-free in this dream state.
"You'll feel it when you wake," the dragon quipped, reading my thoughts.
"Hard to believe," I retorted.
"It's a joke," she sighed. "I'll let you return to your empty state until you form a dream again. Then we'll discuss what I need to tell you." With that, she dropped me, casting a spell that left me drifting into unconsciousness.
And so begins another nonchalant day in the life of Velvet.