Day 4,613

The council has made a decision.

We know we cannot survive the coming days; it will be a long journey back to Arlonia, and the monsters are numerous. Even if we make our stand here in Arziron, it will only prolong our inevitable fate.

Thus… we agreed to divide our forces. One group will continue with the mission and head towards Thuron while acting as a diversion, and the other group will go back to Arlonia, tell of our discoveries and gather more men, then follow us to Thuron—if we are still alive.

I volunteered for the decoy force. There is no choice left for me. I can go back, yes, but the shame of leaving my comrades behind will haunt me for years to come. I did not survive the Behemoth Extermination just for this.

I haven’t told Eina yet, but I think she suspects something. She has been clinging to me more than usual. I know she will leave with the main force that will go back to Arlonia, which I am glad. She does not need to suffer a tragic death in an unfamiliar land. She is young and has so much to accomplish.

Tomorrow, we will be departing. I plan to give this journal to her as records of my life in case I die, which is likely now. I hope that she will find my experiences useful to her own.