Day 14:

What a stupid way to die. Honestly. If I were to die doing something, researching, discovering, anything, then I could at least accept my end peacefully. Even the archaic ideal of dying in battle would be better than this. I suppose I should explain the series of events that led to my current predicament. If this is to be my end, then let it be documented.

I set out for the myrrh tree early this morning. I, of course, did not bring my crystal chalice. (Why would I? It's not as if I needed it, and I wasn't planning to collect any myrrh) Upon arrival at the utmost end of the swamp I was attacked by the guardian monster, a magnificent Dragon Zombie. I won, but I escaped one death merely to find another. It's the myrrh tree that killed me.

It was so beautiful, so compelling that I just had to study it. To do so I climbed up on its base to get a closer view of the fronds. When I did that I must have come into contact with some myrrh, because now it seems that I've been... I guess "purified" is the only way to describe it. All of the miasma that was tainting me has vanished, taking my resistance to miasma with it. All my work, everything that I searched and poisoned myself for is gone.

Now that I'm without any tolerance and stuck in the heart of the foulest miasma field in the world, I can't leave the pure aura of the myrrh tree. I have two choices: stay and hope to be found, or go and pray I reach the chalice in time. Either way I risk an ignoble end. If I stay I could die of starvation. If I go I risk dying of exposure. Two slow deaths... I never dreamed there would be a time when I wished for a gang of monsters to ambush me. I need time to think.

I've decided. I can't just sit here waiting for something to happen. I'm going to make a run for camp. I'm going to leave this journal here at the base of the tree in case I fail. This way if I reach the chalice I can come back and retrieve the book before I leave. If I fall, then I hope one of the next caravans will grab the book and deliver it to Amidatty. Either way the cure will be safe, that's all that matters.

- X -

A depressed sigh floated through the morning air, followed by the crinkle and ruffle of a book being closed.

"I do recognize it. Thank you for returning the journal, I know the trip from Conall Curach is long and arduous. You have done us a great service."

The leader of the Tipa caravan stood silently before the elder Yuke, searching for the right words to give.

"It was the least we could do."

"Are you sure he's...?" The Yuke knew the answer already. If his student was fine, it would be he who was reporting right now.

"After we found the book we combed the entire swamp. We found his campsite, but no trace of De Nam. I'm so sorry, Amidatty. I know he was your favorite student."

"Yes, he was..."

The two lapsed into silence, staring out across the waters that surrounded Shella, until the caravaner turned and reached into her pack. Amidatty watched as she pulled out a frayed piece of red and white fabric.

"There's one more item I have for you. A monster dropped this after I killed it."

"That's De Nam's bandanna." Amidatty took the threadbare cloth from the caravan leader's hand. "Again, I thank you. De Nam would have been happy to know his findings had been recovered."

"You'll tell us what's in the journal, right? The caravan would like to know what happened, he was our friend too."

The elder nodded. "Of course. I'll have our scholars begin restoring the sections that have sustained water damage. Once the entries are legible I will summon you and we'll read it together."

"Thanks Amidatty."

The Yuke turned again to view the watery panorama, holding the journal tight. "It's what De Nam would have wanted."