Talus confessed to me today.

It feels more real now that it’s down on paper.

It happened this morning, after breakfast. She pulled me aside, away from prying eyes, and said that she wanted to go out with me. In hindsight, the way she bumbled awkwardly through it was adorable, especially because I know I would have done worse, but in the moment I was stuck between shock and elation.

After that, we talked for most of the day, while holding hands. It was nice. I told her about myself and my situation, how I created the grove and how I won’t leave, about my situation in coming here in the first place, and many of the things I've accomplished since.

She told me about herself as well. Apparently the injuries she had, at least the ones unrelated to giant bird attacks, were from weeks of dodging a gang of slavers that were after her, from her description they were the same ones that attacked us. When I told her about what happened when they attacked us all she said was ‘good’. She told me about her parents, how she hadn't seen them in years, though avoided why, it was the first time I’d seen her be shy. From the way she described them, they were intense, the father was a retired soldier, a veteran of several wars while the mother was a mercenary. They met on opposite sides of a war, and it seemed every time they fought, the other was on the opposing side. They grew to respect each others ability, and when they eventually met outside the battlefield they hit it off spectacularly, and the result is my new girlfriend. Just writing that last bit down makes me embarrassed and a little proud.

She was an only child, like me. But unlike me, she had aunts and uncles and cousins. She told me about the trouble she would get in with them with a melancholy sort of joy.

When we parted ways for sleep she kissed me on the cheek, before asking for the same. It was pleasant and embarrassing, I look forward to doing it again.

Anyway, Good Night Diary.